Caterina Vivaldi1, Francesca Salani2, Giulia Rovesti3, Irene Pecora2, Silvia Catanese2, Andrea Casadei-Gardini4, Valentina Massa2, Laura Bernardini2, Laura Riggi3, Kalliopi Andrikou3, Giovanni I Rapposelli4, Vincenzo Formica5, Monica Lencioni2, Alfredo Falcone1, Enrico Vasile2, Lorenzo Fornaro6. 1. Unit of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy; Department of Translational Research and New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Savi 6, Pisa, 56126, Italy. 2. Unit of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy. 3. Department of Oncology and Hematology, Division of Oncology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo 71, Modena, 41100, Italy. 4. Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per Lo Studio e La Cura Dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli N. 40, Meldola, 47014, Italy. 5. Medical Oncology Unit, Tor Vergata University, Viale Oxford 81, Rome, 00133, Italy. 6. Unit of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy. Electronic address: lorenzo.fornaro@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (Gem-Nab) represents a standard first-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC), but few data are available for elderly patients. We aimed to add evidence about safety and efficacy of Gem-Nab in this population. METHODS: We collected data of 156 patients with mPC aged ≥65 years receiving Gem-Nab. Patients were stratified according to age: <70 (group 1: 65 patients) and ≥70 years (group 2: 91 patients). RESULTS: The median age was 71 years (range: 65-87 years). The toxicity profile was similar between group 1 and 2, except for all-grade anaemia (92.1% vs. 78.7%, respectively; p = 0.04) and neurotoxicity (61.9% vs. 40.4%, respectively; p = 0.02), also as a result of a lower dose intensity of nab-paclitaxel (83.3% vs. 90.5%, respectively; p = 0.04) administered to oldest patients. The response rate was 25.6% (group 1 vs. 2: 20.0% vs. 29.7%; p = 0.12). After a median follow-up of 26.5 months, median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). The starting dose of Gem-Nab did not affect PFS and OS (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Gem-Nab is active and effective in older patients with mPC, with the results in line with the general mPC population enrolled in clinical trials. Mild dose modifications for elderly patients might be considered to improve safety without impairing efficacy.
BACKGROUND:Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (Gem-Nab) represents a standard first-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC), but few data are available for elderly patients. We aimed to add evidence about safety and efficacy of Gem-Nab in this population. METHODS: We collected data of 156 patients with mPC aged ≥65 years receiving Gem-Nab. Patients were stratified according to age: <70 (group 1: 65 patients) and ≥70 years (group 2: 91 patients). RESULTS: The median age was 71 years (range: 65-87 years). The toxicity profile was similar between group 1 and 2, except for all-grade anaemia (92.1% vs. 78.7%, respectively; p = 0.04) and neurotoxicity (61.9% vs. 40.4%, respectively; p = 0.02), also as a result of a lower dose intensity of nab-paclitaxel (83.3% vs. 90.5%, respectively; p = 0.04) administered to oldest patients. The response rate was 25.6% (group 1 vs. 2: 20.0% vs. 29.7%; p = 0.12). After a median follow-up of 26.5 months, median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). The starting dose of Gem-Nab did not affect PFS and OS (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION:Gem-Nab is active and effective in older patients with mPC, with the results in line with the general mPC population enrolled in clinical trials. Mild dose modifications for elderly patients might be considered to improve safety without impairing efficacy.