Intra-arterial chemotherapy of advanced pancreatic cancer: a single center experience.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

The main aim of the present work was to determine response rates and time to progression in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with intra-arterial chemotherapy.

METHODOLOGY:

Nineteen chemotherapy-naive patients with measurable lesions were treated with intra-arterial 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2, leucovorin 100 mg/m2, carboplatin 300 mg/m2 and epirubicin 60 mg/m2 (FLEC regimen) every 21 days. Prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factors were administered on days 4-10 of each cycle.

RESULTS:

There were 16 patients evaluable for response, of whom 4 (25%) had a partial response, 7 (44%) showed stable disease, and 5 (31%) progressed. Marker response rate was 43%. Median time to progression was 4 months and median overall survival was 6 months. One-year overall survival was 16%. No grade 4 toxicity or severe complications relating to the angiographic procedure were observed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results show that intra-arterial FLEC is well tolerated and active against advanced pancreatic cancer.

• Authors: Carlo Milandri, Filippo Calzolari, Alessandro Passardi, Chiara Tison, Emanuela Giampalma, Lorenzo Cecconetto, Rita Golfieri
• Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) Vol. 54 Issue 80 Pg. 2373-7 (Dec 2007) ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 18265668 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Epirubicin
• Carboplatin
• Leucovorin
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (drug therapy, mortality)
• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Carboplatin (therapeutic use)
• Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion
• Disease Progression
• Epirubicin (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fluorouracil (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Infusions, Intra-Arterial
• Leucovorin (therapeutic use)
• Liver Neoplasms (secondary)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
• Treatment Outcome