Experience of gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The combination gemcitabine-oxaliplatin (GEMOX) is frequently used in patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma (BTC). However, this is only based on phase II studies performed in selected patients.We assessed the efficacy and safety of the GEMOX regimen in non-selected patients with advanced BTC.


METHODS
All consecutive patients with advanced BTC received the GEMOX regimen in a setting outside a study: gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on day 1, and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m(2) on day 2, treatment repeated every 2 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicity.


RESULTS
Forty-four patients were enrolled.


RESULTS
1 complete and 6 partial responses (objective response rate = 16.3%), 18 tumour stabilizations (41.9%, disease control rate = 58.1%), median progression-free survival was 5.0 months and median overall survival was 11.0 months.


RESULTS
grade 3 neuropathy in 4 patients, grade 3 asthenia in 5 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The GEMOX combination was well tolerated, with a modest activity in non-selected patients with advanced BTC. This regimen should be compared to the new standard gemcitabine-cisplatin combination.
Hollebecque
Antoine
A
Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Lille, France.
Bouché
Olivier
O
Romano
Olivier
O
Scaglia
Elodie
E
Cattan
Stéphane
S
Zerbib
Philippe
P
Heurgue
Alexandra
A
Lagarde
Stéphanie
S
Mariette
Christophe
C
Triboulet
Jean-Pierre
JP
Pruvot
François-René
FR
Hebbar
Mohamed
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D003841:Deoxycytidine