title: Single-agent gemcitabine in elderly patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effect of systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine (GEM) on survival in elderly patients (aged > or = 70 years) with unresectable biliary tract cancer as compared with best supportive care (BSC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer administered GEM (800-1,000 mg/m2) on days 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks as a first-line treatment. Eligibility included age 70 years and over, and bile duct carcinoma or gallbladder cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight patients were enrolled: 13 (46.4%) received chemotherapy with GEM and 15 (53.6%) received BSC. No cases of complete or partial response were observed. Stable and progressive disease was observed in 9 (69.2%) and 2 patients (15.4%), respectively. Disease control rate was 69.2%. The median overall survival time of patients treated with GEM and BSC was 9.1 and 2.9 months, and the 1-year survival rates were 15.4% and 6.7%, respectively. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in three (23.1%), leukopenia in two (15.4%) and anemia in one patient (7.7%). Grade 3 non-hematologic toxicities were constipation (7.7%) and fatigue (7.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy with single-agent GEM is a safe and well tolerated regimen for elderly patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Chigasaki Municipal Hospital, Chigasaki-city, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuriyama
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawana
authors.forename: Reo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Fumitake
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jono
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohubo
authors.forename: Hirobumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yoriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Masahiho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inamori
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nahajima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine