A pilot study for combination chemotherapy using gemcitabine and S-1 for advanced pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We performed a pilot study of a modified combination chemotherapy regimen with S-1 plus gemcitabine for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Gemcitabine was administered at a dose of 1,000 mg/m(2) in a 30-min intravenous injection on days 1 and 15. S-1 was administered orally at a dose of 40 mg/m(2) twice daily for 14 consecutive days followed by a 14-day rest. Each cycle was repeated every 28 days.


RESULTS
Sixteen patients were enrolled. No complete response was observed and partial response was observed in 5 patients (31.3%), stable disease in 10 patients (62.5%) and progressive disease in 1 patient (6.3%). The median time to progression was 10.0 months (95% CI 4.4-N.A.) and the median survival time was 20.4 months (95% CI 8.6-24.1 months). The major toxicities were grade 3 neutropenia (25.0%) and grade 3 anemia (6.3%). There were no grade 4 toxicities.


CONCLUSIONS
Combination therapy with gemcitabine and S-1 using the modified 4-week schedule was well tolerated and efficacious for advanced pancreatic cancer.
Nakai
Yousuke
Y
Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Isayama
Hiroyuki
H
Sasaki
Takashi
T
Sasahira
Naoki
N
Ito
Yukiko
Y
Kogure
Hirofumi
H
Togawa
Osamu
O
Matsubara
Saburo
S
Arizumi
Toshihiko
T
Yagioka
Hiroshi
H
Yashima
Yoko
Y
Kawakubo
Kazumichi
K
Mizuno
Suguru
S
Yamamoto
Keisuke
K
Hirano
Kenji
K
Tsujino
Takeshi
T
Ijichi
Hideaki
H
Toda
Nobuo
N
Tada
Minoru
M
Kawabe
Takao
T
Omata
Masao
M
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010094:Oxonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D004338:Drug Combinations; D003841:Deoxycytidine; C079198:S 1 (combination); D005641:Tegafur; D010094:Oxonic Acid; D000093542:Gemcitabine