Combined chemotherapy of irinotecan and low-dose cisplatin (I/low-P) against metastatic biliary tract cancer.
There is no established or effective standard therapy for metastatic biliary tract cancer, resulting in poor prognosis. Recently, we performed combination chemotherapy of irinotecan and low-dose cisplatin (I/low-P) for three consecutive patients with metastatic biliary tract cancer. The regimen of I/low-P therapy consisted of irinotecan (60 mg/m(2)) and low-dose cisplatin (6 mg/m(2)), administered by intravenous infusion weekly or biweekly. Of the three patients, two showed a partial response, with durations of more than 20 months, and 2 months, respectively, while the third patient had stable disease for 3 months. One patient, who had jaundice, had grade 3 thrombocytopenia, but the other patients did not have any severe toxicities. Survival times were more than 20 months, 10 months, and 13 months, respectively. These outcomes suggest that I/low-P therapy is safe and may be worth trying as a first-line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic biliary tract cancer.
Sugita
Hiroki
H
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Hirota
Masahiko
M
Ichihara
Atsushi
A
Furuhashi
Satoshi
S
Kihara
Shinichi
S
Shimada
Shinya
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
D000077146:Irinotecan; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin