title: Gemcitabine combined with 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the pancreas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gemcitabine is an active agent in pancreatic cancer, showing clinical synergy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of gemcitabine and 5-FU in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients (median age, 62 years), with advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, were enrolled in the study. The combination of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) and 5-FU (600 mg/m2) was administered on days 1, 8 and 15 and repeated every 28 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 168 cycles (median 4 cycles per patient) were administered. Partial responses were observed in 6 patients (14.2%) and stable disease in 11 (26.2%). The overall clinical benefit was 40.4%. Symptom relief and improvement of performance status were observed in 18 (42.8%) patients. The median time to progression, median duration of response and the median overall survival, were 6, 7 and 13 months, respectively. The most common grade 3 to 4 toxicities were neutropenia, anaemia and diarrhoea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of gemcitabine and 5-FU is an active regimen for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer with an acceptable toxicity profile.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Clinic, Department of Surgery, Areteion Hospital, University of Athens, Greece. gennatas@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gennatas
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Michalaki
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mouratidou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsavaris
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andreadis
authors.forename: Alexios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Photopoulos
authors.forename: Dionysios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Voros
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000093542:Gemcitabine