Effects of chemotherapy on patients with unresectable or metastatic adenocarcinoma of gallbladder.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of combination chemotherapy on disease status, toxicity and survival of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of gallbladder.


METHODS
Single arm study of twenty patients, with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of gallbladder, who presented to oncology clinic at Ziauddin Hospital Nazimabad Karachi from January 1997 to December 1998. Patients received combination of 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and Folinic Acid daily for five days.


RESULTS
Out of twenty patients, two (10%) were males and eighteen (90%) were females. Twelve (60%) patients showed symptomatic relief for a mean duration of 4.7 +/- 3.2 months. Disease remained stable in ten (50%) patients, progressed in nine (45%), and one (5%) showed partial remission of disease. Toxicity with chemotherapy was acceptable, without severe side effects. None of the patients suffered from febrile neutropenia. Overall survival was 13.6 +/- 12.3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
5-Fluorouracil with Folinic acid therapy does not result in significant objective responses, however, stabilization of disease process occurred in 55% of patients. Symptomatic relief was observed more frequently. This combination deserves further evaluation.
Qayyum
Abdul
A
Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi.
Mujtaba
Iqbal
I
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil