[Effect of second-line treatment with capecitabine and thalidomide in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study investigates the efficacy and tolerability of capecitabine plus thalidomide in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who previously underwent gemcitabine-based therapy.

METHODS:

Sixty-one patients with unresectable or metastatic PC who had progressed on single-agent Gem or a Gem-containing regimen were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group (31 patients) was treated with capecitabine alone, and another group was treated with capecitabine plus thalidomide. Capecitabine was administered orally twice a day at a dose of 1, 250 mg/m(2) for 14-day followed by 7-day rest and oral thalidomide 100 mg was given daily without interruption until disease progression or occurrence of unacceptable toxicity.

RESULTS:

The PFS was 2.8 months (95%CI 2.4 - 3.2) vs. 3.1 months (95%CI 2.6-3.6, P < 0.05) and the OS was 6.1 months (95%CI 5.3 - 6.9) vs. 6.3 months (95%CI 5.2 - 7.4, P = 0.426). In the capecitabine alone group, one patient experienced a partial response (PR), 10 patients showed stable disease (SD) and 20 patients had progressive disease (PD). The another group, two patients experienced a partial response (PR), 11 patients SD, and 17 patients PD. The disease control rates were 35.5% and 43.3%, respectively. The major adverse reaction in the two groups was grade 3 diarrhea.

CONCLUSION:

Capecitabine plus thalidomide regimen is marginally effective and well tolerated in the second-line setting in patients with gemcitabine-refractory advanced pancreatic cancer.

• Authors: Sheng-bin Shi, Ting-hang Ma, Xiao-yong Tang, Chun-hua Li
• Journal: Zhonghua zhong liu za zhi [Chinese journal of oncology] (Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi) Vol. 35 Issue 4 Pg. 301-4 (Apr 2013) ISSN: 0253-3766 [Print] China
• PMID: 23985261 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Deoxycytidine
• Thalidomide
• Capecitabine
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Capecitabine
• Deoxycytidine (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Diarrhea (chemically induced)
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Fluorouracil (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Leukopenia (chemically induced)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Remission Induction
• Survival Rate
• Thalidomide (administration & dosage, adverse effects)