title: Combination of Two Targeted Medications (Bevacizumab Plus Cetuximab) Improve the Therapeutic Response of Pancreatic Carcinoma.
abstract: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of the targeted medications, bevacizumab and cetuximab, in combination with cytostatic drugs in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. In this retrospective phase 2 study, a total of 59 patients with pancreatic cancer were recruited and received conventional (gemcitabine, cisplatin, and fluorouracil) or targeted regimen (conventional plus bevacizumab and cetuximab for the first cycle) in 2-week intervals for four cycles. The primary end-point for this study was the overall response rate. Secondary end-points were progression-free survival and the safety profiles of the combined therapy. The median time-to-progression and overall survival were 3 and 7 months, respectively, in the conventional treatment group as well as 11 and 13 months, respectively, in the targeted medications treatment group. The most common adverse events in both treatment groups were nausea and vomiting. Moderate (Grade 2) nausea and vomiting were more common in the conventional group than the targeted group but severe (Grade 3) nausea and vomiting were more common in the targeted group. Bevacizumab and cetuximab in combination with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and fluorouracil may help lengthen overall survival up to six months for patients with pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital (C-JT, C-KW, C-CC, C-IH); Department of Internal Medicine (C-JT, C-KW, C-IH); Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University (M-TH, L-JK, P-LW, RJC); Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital (M-TH, C-HW); Center of Excellence for Cancer Research, Taipei Medical University (C-HW); Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital (C-HW); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University (C-KW, C-JT); Department of Chinese Medicine (C-KW, C-JT); Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Center (C-KW, C-JT); Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine (C-CC); Cancer Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital (Y-JC); Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University (Y-JC, L-JK, P-LW); Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei (Y-JC, L-JK, P-LW, R-JC); Department of Food Science (C-JW); Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung (C-JW); Program for Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University (P-LW); and School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-YC).
authors.forename: Cheng-Jeng
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Ming-Te
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chien-Kai
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chen-Jei
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Chun-Chao
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Cheng-I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Yu-Jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chang-Jer
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li-Jen
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Po-Lei
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ray-Jade
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hung-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chiou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000068818:Cetuximab