Combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and irinotecan in patients with previously treated carcinoma of an unknown primary site: a Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network Phase II trial.
BACKGROUND
The current study was performed to evaluate the activity of combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and irinotecan in patients with previously treated carcinoma of an unknown primary site.


METHODS
Patients with carcinoma of an unknown primary site who had received one previous chemotherapy regimen were eligible for this study. All patients received gemcitabine at a dose of 1000 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) and irinotecan at a dose of 100 mg/m2 i.v. on Days 1 and 8; treatment courses were repeated every 21 days. Patients were evaluated for response after completing two courses of treatment; responders/stable patients continued treatment for a recommended six courses.


RESULTS
Forty patients entered this multicenter, community-based Phase II trial between September 2000 and July 2003. Four of these 40 patients (10%) achieved objective responses (a partial response in 3 patients and a complete response in 1 patient). An additional 17 patients (43%) had stable disease/minor response at first reevaluation; 7 of these patients (18%) remained stable for longer than 6 months. The median survival for the entire group was 4.5 months, with 1-year and 2-year survival rates of 25% and 13%, respectively. The treatment was well tolerated by most patients. Neutropenia was the most common Grade 3/4 toxicity (according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, version 3.0) (occurring in 36% of patients). Myelosuppression-related complications were uncommon, as were severe nonhematologic toxicities.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of gemcitabine and irinotecan has modest activity and is well tolerated in patients with recurrent/refractory carcinoma of an unknown primary site. Treatment-related toxicity, particularly myelosuppression, appears to be less severe than toxicity produced by the taxane and platinum regimens frequently used in the first-line therapy of these patients. Evaluation of the gemcitabine and irinotecan combination as first-line therapy is indicated.
Hainsworth
John D
JD
Sarah Cannon Research Institute and Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, USA. jhainsworth@tnonc.com
Spigel
David R
DR
Raefsky
Eric L
EL
Kuzur
Michel E
ME
Yost
Kathleen
K
Kommor
Michael
M
Litchy
Sharlene
S
Greco
F Anthony
FA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin; D000093542:Gemcitabine