Gemcitabine and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma as second-line treatment: report of four cases.
BACKGROUND
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a chemoresistant cancer for which effective chemotherapy is not yet available. We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin as second-line chemotherapy in four patients with advanced, progressive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.


METHODS
Four patients were enrolled who had previous chemotherapy with epirubicin, cisplatin and protracted infusion of 5-FU. All these patients treated with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) on days 1 and 8 for 30 min, cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) i.v. on day 1 for 90 min, given every 21 days.


RESULTS
Two patients had partial response (PR), and two had stable disease (SD), with one of the latter showing a decrease in tumor size of 35%. Median time to progression was 5 months (range, 3-9 months) and median survival was 9 months (range, 8-16 months). Toxicity was mild and tolerable.


CONCLUSIONS
Gemcitabine and cisplatin combination chemotherapy may be an effective regimen for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Further study is warranted to determine the efficacy of this combination regimen.
Lee
Myung Ah
MA
Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
Woo
In Sook
IS
Kang
Jin-Hyoung
JH
Hong
Young Seon
YS
Lee
Kyung Shik
KS
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine