title: Comparison of the efficacy and the toxicity between gemcitabine with capecitabine (GC) and gemcitabine with erlotinib (GE) in unresectable pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively compared the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine combination with capecitabine or erlotinib in unresectable pancreatic cancer to know whether the combination with cytotoxic and target agent has more benefit comparing to combination of cytotoxic agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, treated with gemcitabine and capecitabine (GC) or gemcitabine and erlotinib (GE) as first line between October 2006 and July 2010, were reviewed. In GC group, patients were treated with gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and capecitabine 1,300 mg/m(2) bid was administered on days 1-14, repeated every 21 days. In GE group, gemcitabine was given at 1,000 mg/m(2) I.V for 30 min on days 1,8,15, and erlotinib was taken orally at 100 mg through days 1-28, repeated every 28 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rate was similar, 23.5 % in GE and 21.1 % in GC, but GC had better disease control rate with 73.7 % than GE with 52.9 %. GC also showed longer PFS and OS (5.37 and 14.43 months) than GE (2.63 and 6.23 months) (p = 0.032 for PFS and 0.002 for OS). In toxicity profiles, GC had more hematologic toxicities and GE had more non-hematologic toxicities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination with cytotoxic agents seems to have better efficacy and clinical outcome than combination with cytotoxic agent and target agent. The new combination should be developed for the treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University, 222 Banpo-daero Seocho-gu, 137-701 Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Kyoung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Hye-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Yoon-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: In Seok
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Young Kyoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Myung Ah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D011799:Quinazolines; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000093542:Gemcitabine