Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin combination as first-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer: a multicenter phase II study

Abstract

Purpose : Gemcitabine is the only drug approved for single-agent therapy in advanced pancreatic carcinoma (APC). Gemcitabine-based combination chemotherapy has not yet shown promising results. Methods : This multicenter phase II study enrolled previously untreated patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients received 1,000 mg/m2 gemcitabine, 100-min infusion, day 1 and 100 mg/m2 oxaliplatin, 2-h infusion, day 2; q2w. The primary end point was response rate (RR). Results : Thirteen study centers enrolled 48 eligible patients of which 44 were evaluable. The RR, median overall survival, and median time to progression were 18.2%, 9.4 and 5.6 months, respectively. Sixteen patients (36.4%) experienced clinical benefit. The global quality of life scores improved by 11.71. Grade 3/4 peripheral sensory neuropathy was noted (2.1%), while the most common hematologic toxicity was anemia (grade 3/4, 6.3%). Conclusions : Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy showed a promising activity in APC patients and was well tolerated. Keywords : Advanced pancreatic cancer – Combination chemotherapy – Gemcitabine – GEMOX – Oxaliplatin