FOLFOX-4 regimen or single-agent gemcitabine as first-line chemotherapy in advanced biliary tract cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare 2 different chemotherapy regimens for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC).


METHODS
Records of patients consecutively treated in our institution for advanced BTC from 2001 to 2006 were retrieved. Chemotherapy treatment with FOLFOX-4 regimen was routinely offered as first option; gemcitabine (GEM) as single agent was proposed as an alternative option to patients who refused central venous catheter implantation. Toxicity, overall response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) obtained with the 2 treatments were evaluated.


RESULTS
Twenty-two patients were treated with FOLFOX-4, whereas 18 patients received GEM. In the FOLFOX-4 group, the overall response rate was 13.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.7-33.3), with 1 complete response and 2 partial responses, and 54.5% (95% CI, 34.7-73.1) of disease control rate (complete response+partial response+stable disease). Median OS was 14.1 months (95% CI, 9.1-18.8) and median PFS 5.44 months (95% CI, 3.2-6.3). In the GEM group, we observed no objective response, whereas 27.7% (95% CI, 12.5-50.9) obtained disease control. Median OS was 8.3 months (95% CI, 4.7-12.9) and median PFS 3.9 months (95% CI, 2.2-5.4). Toxicity, mainly hematological, was acceptable for both treatments. On a multivariable Cox model including a propensity score, only the performance status and chemotherapy regimen were confirmed as strong predictors of OS, with an hazard ratio of 0.49 (95% CI, 0.24-0.99) in favor of FOLFOX-4.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil is well tolerated and seems to provide prolonged survival than GEM alone in advanced BTC treatment, but further randomized trials are warranted.
*Department of Oncology †Unit of Cancer Epidemiology and CPO Piemonte, San Giovanni Battista Hospital ‡Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
Anna Maria Teresa
AM
Novarino
Maria Antonietta
MA
Satolli
Isabella
I
Chiappino
Alice
A
Giacobino
Raffaella
R
Napoletano
Manuela
M
Ceccarelli
Gianni
G
Ciccone
Marina
M
Schena
Oscar
O
Bertetto
Libero
L
Ciuffreda
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000093542:Gemcitabine