Abstract
Aim
A multi-centred, open-labelled, phase II study containing 46 patients was conducted to evaluate the clinical benefit of gemcitabine (1,400 mg/m2) combined with 5-FU (3 g/m2) in a 48 h continuous infusion (CI).
Methods
Both drugs were administered on days 1,8 and 15 of every 4 week cycle in chemotherapy-naïve patients with locally advanced un-resectable metastatic pancreatic carcinoma. The minimum follow-up was 6 months.
Results
Clinical benefit response was the primary endopint and this was achieved by 24.4% of the patients. Quality of life (QoL) improved in 16.6% of patients. Objective response was observed in 7% of the patients. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 14.4 weeks and the median overall survival (OS) time was 22.7 weeks. One-year survival was 25%. The most frequent grade 3–4 toxicities were neutropenia (4.5%), mucositis (7.5%) and hyperbilirubinaemia (10.5%).
Conclusions
This schedule was not superior in terms of clinical benefit, response rate, PFS and OS than standard gemcitabine treatment.
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Santasusana, J.M., García López, J.L., Bretón García, J.J. et al. A phase II trial of gemcitabine and weekly high-dose 5-fluorouracil in a 48-hour continuous-infusion schedule in patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma. A study of the Spanish Cooperative Group for Gastrointestinal Tumour Therapy (TTD). Clin Transl Oncol 7, 493–498 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02717002
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02717002