title: A phase I study of hypofractionated radiotherapy followed by systemic chemotherapy with full-dose gemcitabine in patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypofractionated radiotherapy can shorten the irradiation period and allow systemic chemotherapy with full-dose gemcitabine to be started earlier. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasible dose of hypofractionated radiotherapy that could be followed by full-dose gemcitabine in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study. Three patients received radiotherapy at 45Gy in 15 fractions (level 1) and six at 40 Gy in 8 fractions (level 2). Systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine was started 3 months after the start of irradiation and was administered as a 30-minute intravenous infusion of a dose of 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity at either level of radiotherapy. Gemcitabine was started in two of the three patients treated at the level 1 on schedule. At level 2, grade 3 nausea, vomiting and anorexia was observed in all 6 patients, and gemcitabine could not be started on schedule in 4 of the 6 patients. Two (22%) of the 9 patients achieved a partial response. The median time to progression was 5.8 months and the median overall survival time was 9.5 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypofractionated radiotherapy with 40 Gy in 8 fractions was not feasible in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
authors: Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan. jfuruse@east.ncc.go.jp
authors: Junji
authors: J
authors: Furuse
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Ishii
authors: Mitsuhiko
authors: M
authors: Kawashima
authors: Michitaka
authors: M
authors: Nagase
authors: Keiji
authors: K
authors: Nihei
authors: Kohei
authors: K
authors: Nakachi
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Ogino
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Yoshino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018450:Disease Progression; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine