Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and irinotecan in patients with adenocarcinoma of the small intestine.
BACKGROUND
Small-bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare tumor that has a poor response to chemotherapy and a poor prognosis. Treatment strategies for SBA have not been clearly established.


METHODS
All patients with SBA treated using a combination of cisplatin and irinotecan (IP) as first-line chemotherapy at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Japan between January 1999 and February 2007 were studied retrospectively.


RESULTS
Eight patients received IP as first-line chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 9.5 months (range, 4.2-37.5 months). The median number of cycles of IP was three (range, 1-5). The overall response rate (complete or partial response) was 12.5% (complete response, n = 0; partial response, n = 1). The disease control rate (complete or partial response or stable disease) was 75%. The median time to treatment failure was 4.5 months (95% confidence interval, 0.9-5.8 months), and overall survival was 17.3 months (range, 1.9-21.3 months). The most common adverse events were neutropenia and anorexia.


CONCLUSIONS
IP combination chemotherapy may be an acceptable option for patients with SBA. Further studies are warranted to determine the optimal chemotherapeutic regimen for SBA.
Ono
Makiko
M
Gastrointestinal Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Shirao
Kuniaki
K
Takashima
Atsuo
A
Morizane
Chigusa
C
Okita
Natsuko
N
Takahari
Daisuke
D
Hirashima
Yoshinori
Y
Eguchi-Nakajima
Takako
T
Kato
Ken
K
Hamaguchi
Tetsuya
T
Yamada
Yasuhide
Y
Shimada
Yasuhiro
Y
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004379:Duodenal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007078:Ileal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000077146:Irinotecan; D007580:Jejunal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy
D000077146:Irinotecan; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin