October 26, 2006
Pancreatic cancer patients responded to every-2-weeks treatment with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GemCis).
In a recent report published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers in Germany conducted a study "to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of gemcitabine plus cisplatin with single-agent gemcitabine as first-line chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer."
"Patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were randomly assigned to receive either gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 given on days 1 and 15 of a 4-week cycle (GemCis arm) or gemcitabine alone at a dose of 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 4-week regimen (Gem arm). The primary end point was overall survival; secondary end points were progression-free survival, response rate, safety, and quality of life," explained V. Heinemann and colleagues, University of Munich.
"One hundred ninety-five patients were enrolled and showed baseline characteristics well balanced between treatment arms. Combination treatment in the GemCis arm was associated with a prolonged median progression-free survival (5.3 months v3.1 months; hazard ratio [HR]=0.75; p=.053). Also, median overall survival was superior for patients treated in the GemCis arm as compared with the Gem arm (7.5 v 6.0 months), an advantage which did not, however, reach statistical significance (HR=0.80; p=.15).
"Tumor response rates were comparable between treatment arms (10.2% v 8.2%). The rate of stable disease was, however, greater in the combination arm (60.2% v 40.2%; p<.001). Grade 3 to 4 hematologic toxicity did not exceed 15% in both treatment arms," stated the investigators.
The researchers concluded, "These results support the efficacy and safety of an every-2-weeks treatment with gemcitabine plus cisplatin. Median overall survival and progression-free survival were more favorable in the combination arm as compared with gemcitabine alone, although the difference did not attain statistical significance."
Heinemann and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (Randomized phase III trial of gemcitabine plus cisplatin compared with gemcitabine alone in advanced pancreatic cancer. J Clin Oncol, 2006;24(24):3946-3952).
For additional information, contact V. Heinemann, University of Munich, Klinikum Grosshadern, Medical Klin & Poliklin 3, Medical Clinic 3, Marchioninistr 15, D-81377 Munich, Germany.
The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Clinical Oncology is: American Society Clinical Oncology, 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 300, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
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