Capecitabine in pretreated metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. A case report and review of the literature.
Cholangiocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies. Patients with advanced or metastatic disease have a particularly dismal prognosis. The role of chemotherapy remains a matter of debate. A number of recent trials have shown that capecitabine in combination with other agents seems to be active as first-line treatment in advanced biliary cancer. Clinical data regarding the activity of capecitabine in pretreated patients are limited. In this report we describe a patient with previously treated, metastatic cholangiocarcinoma who developed stabilization of the disease for 7 months following chemotherapy with capecitabine. The patient had previously received 2 lines of chemotherapy. Capecitabine was tolerated fairly well without serious adverse events. We consider this observation to be important given the absence of active, non-surgical treatments in unresectable tumors.
Koutras
A K
AK
Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Patras Medical School, Rion, Greece. angkoutr@otenet.gr
Talampuka
G
G
Pagoni
N
N
Thomopoulos
K C
KC
Kalliolias
G
G
Kalogeropoulou
C
C
Kalofonos
H P
HP
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil