Regular Article

British Journal of Cancer (1999) 79, 491–494. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6690076 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 14 January 1999

Intensive weekly chemotherapy is not effective in advanced pancreatic cancer patients: a report from the Italian Group for the Study of Digestive Tract Cancer (GISCAD)

S Cascinu1, L Frontini1, G Comella1, S Barni1, R Labianca1, N Battelli1, R Casaretti1, S Zonato1, M Pirovano1, G Catalano1 and R Cellerino1

1Departments and Units of Medical Oncology, Ancona, Naples, Milan, Monza,, Pesaro, Italy

Correspondence: S Cascinu, Sezione di Oncologia Sperimentale, Unità Operativa di Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera 'Ospedale S. Salvatore' Pesaro, Via Lombroso 61100 Pesaro, Italy

Received 17 December 1997; Revised 24 March 1998; Accepted 15 June 1998.

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Abstract

Twenty-two patients, with locally advanced unresectable and/or metastatic pancreatic carcinoma, received weekly administration of cisplatin 40 mg m–2, 5-fluorouracil 500 mg m–2, epidoxorubicin 35 mg m–2, 6S stereoisomer of leucovorin 250 mg m–2 and glutathione 1.5 mg m–2, supported by a daily administration of lenograstim at a dose of 5 mug kg–1. Nineteen patients were men and three were women. Median age was 63 years (range 47–70). At study entry, pain was present in 15 out of 22 patients (68%) with a mean value of Scott–Huskisson scale of 27.6 plusminus 23.8, whereas a weight loss >10% was present in 15 patients. After eight weekly treatments, three partial responses were achieved for a response rate of 13% (95% CI 0–26%), five patients had stable disease and 14 progressed on therapy. Pain was present in 9 out of 22 patients (40%) with a mean value of Scott–Huskisson scale of 12.3 plusminus 18.4. Eight patients (36%) (three partial response and five stable disease) had a positive weight change. Toxicity was mild: WHO grade III or IV toxicity was recorded in terms of anaemia in 7 out of 188 cycles (3.7%), of neutropenia in 9 out of 188 cycles (4.7%) and of thrombocytopenia in 3 out of 188 cycles (1.5%). Median survival of all patients was 6 months. The outcome of this intensive chemotherapy regimen does not support its use in pancreatic cancer.

Keywords:

pancreatic cancer, intensive chemotherapy, palliation

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