Combined irinotecan and oxaliplatin in patients with advanced pre-treated pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the clinical activity and toxicity of combination chemotherapy with irinotecan and oxaliplatin in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer that had progressed despite > or =1 course of a gemcitabine-containing regimen.


METHODS
Thirty patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and Karnofsky performance status > or =70 received oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2 on days 1 + 15 and irinotecan 60 mg/m2 on days 1 + 8 + 15 every 4 weeks. Patients were assessed on the basis of clinical benefit response, changes in serum tumour marker CA 19-9, objective tumour response, time to progressive disease (TTP), and survival.


RESULTS
Six patients (20%) had clinical benefit response (median duration of 7.2 months). CA 19-9 levels were reduced > or =50% from baseline in 8 patients (26%) and remained stable in 8 patients. CT scans revealed that 3 patients (10%) had a partial response and 7 (23%) had stable disease. Two patients (7%) were down-staged and underwent surgery. Median TTP was 4.1 months, median survival was 5.9 months and the 1-year survival rate was 23.3%. The most serious adverse events were grade 3-4 leukopenia in 2 patients (6%), grade 3 neuropathy in 2 (6%) and grade 3 diarrhoea in 1 (3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy with irinotecan and oxaliplatin is an active and well-tolerated combination in patients with advanced pre-treated pancreatic cancer.
Cantore
M
M
Department of Oncology, ASL 1, Massa-Carrara, Italy. mauriziocantore@hotmail.com
Rabbi
C
C
Fiorentini
G
G
Oliani
C
C
Zamagni
D
D
Iacono
C
C
Mambrini
A
A
Del Freo
A
A
Manni
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin