The effect of jaundice on the generation of anti-gastrin antibodies in G17DT immunized patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the ability of G17DT to generate anti-gastrin antibodies in jaundiced patients with biliary obstruction due to advanced pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
G17DT was administered to 41 patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma by intramuscular (i.m.) injection at a dose of 250mcg at weeks 0, 1 and 3 of the study.


RESULTS
Thirty-five of 41 patients participating in the study were categorized as responders in terms of their gastrin-17 antibody response. There was no correlation between the maximum G17 antibody response and the bilirubin level at either week 0 or week 12. The median survival of patients from the time of the first injection of G17DT was 204 days with 25% of patients surviving for <or=97 days and 25% of patients surviving for >or=305 days.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that G17DT administered to jaundiced patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is immunogenic and well tolerated.
Takhar
A S
AS
Academic Unit of Cancer Studies, D Floor, West Block, Queen's Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. arjun.takhar@nottingham.ac.uk
Gilliam
A D
AD
Watson
S A
SA
Henwood
M
M
Rowlands
B J
BJ
Broome
P
P
Beckingham
I J
IJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000009:adverse effects; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007565:Jaundice / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D005755:Gastrins; C482698:gastrin immunogen; D001663:Bilirubin