First-line chemotherapy with capecitabine and temozolomide in patients with metastatic pancreatic endocrine carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
Temozolomide is an active agent in metastatic pancreatic endocrine carcinomas. In vitro data indicate that the combination of capecitabine and temozolomide is synergistic for induction of apoptosis in neuroendocrine tumor cell lines. The authors retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of capecitabine and temozolomide in 30 patients with metastatic pancreatic endocrine carcinomas to assess response rate, progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).


METHODS
Patients with metastatic, well, or moderately differentiated pancreatic endocrine carcinomas who had not received prior systemic chemotherapy were treated with capecitabine (750 mg/m² twice daily, days 1-14) and temozolomide (200 mg/m² once daily, days 10-14) every 28 days.


RESULTS
Among 30 patients treated, 21 (70%) patients achieved an objective radiographic response. Median progression-free survival was 18 months. The rate of survival at two years was 92%. Only 4 patients (12%) experienced grade 3 or 4 adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of capecitabine and temozolomide is associated with an exceptionally high and durable response rate in metastatic endocrine carcinomas of the pancreas. Clinical endpoints, including response rate, survival, and toxicity, are superior to those observed with streptozocin-based regimens.
Strosberg
Jonathan R
JR
Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA. jonathan.strosberg@moffitt.org
Fine
Robert L
RL
Choi
Junsung
J
Nasir
Aejaz
A
Coppola
Domenico
D
Chen
Dung-Tsa
DT
Helm
James
J
Kvols
Larry
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D018273:Carcinoma, Islet Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077204:Temozolomide; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000077204:Temozolomide
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