PURPOSE: We performed a phase I trial of protracted venous infusion (PVI) fluorouracil (5-FU) plus weekly gemcitabine with concurrent radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced pancreas cancer to determine the maximum-tolerated dose of gemcitabine that could be safely administered. We also sought to identify the toxicities associated with this treatment protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients with locally advanced pancreas cancer were treated with planned doses of radiation (59.4 Gy) and PVI of 5-FU (200 mg/m(2)/d) with gemcitabine doses of 50 to 100 mg/m(2)/wk. RESULTS: Two of three patients at the 100-mg/m(2)/wk dose level experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), as did three of four at the 50-mg/m(2)/wk dose level. One patient experienced a mucocutaneous reaction described as a Stevens-Johnson syndrome that was attributed to chemotherapy. Three patients developed gastric or duodenal ulcers with severe bleeding requiring transfusion. One patient developed severe thrombocytopenia lasting longer than 4 weeks. Three of the five episodes of DLT developed at radiation doses < or = 36 Gy. CONCLUSION: Based on this experience, we cannot recommend further investigation of regimens incorporating gemcitabine into regimens of radiation with PVI 5-FU. The mechanism of this synergistic toxicity remains to be determined.
PURPOSE: We performed a phase I trial of protracted venous infusion (PVI) fluorouracil (5-FU) plus weekly gemcitabine with concurrent radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced pancreas cancer to determine the maximum-tolerated dose of gemcitabine that could be safely administered. We also sought to identify the toxicities associated with this treatment protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients with locally advanced pancreas cancer were treated with planned doses of radiation (59.4 Gy) and PVI of 5-FU (200 mg/m(2)/d) with gemcitabine doses of 50 to 100 mg/m(2)/wk. RESULTS: Two of three patients at the 100-mg/m(2)/wk dose level experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), as did three of four at the 50-mg/m(2)/wk dose level. One patient experienced a mucocutaneous reaction described as a Stevens-Johnson syndrome that was attributed to chemotherapy. Three patients developed gastric or duodenal ulcers with severe bleeding requiring transfusion. One patient developed severe thrombocytopenia lasting longer than 4 weeks. Three of the five episodes of DLT developed at radiation doses < or = 36 Gy. CONCLUSION: Based on this experience, we cannot recommend further investigation of regimens incorporating gemcitabine into regimens of radiation with PVI 5-FU. The mechanism of this synergistic toxicity remains to be determined.
Authors: Harvey J Mamon; Donna Niedzwiecki; Donna Hollis; Benjamin R Tan; Robert J Mayer; Joel E Tepper; Richard M Goldberg; A William Blackstock; Charles S Fuchs Journal: Cancer Date: 2010-12-23 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: John B Ammori; Lisa M Colletti; Mark M Zalupski; Frederic E Eckhauser; Joel K Greenson; Justin Dimick; Theodore S Lawrence; Cornelius J McGinn Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2003 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 3.452