Modulation of GemOx chemotherapy according to CIRS in elderly patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

The present study evaluated activity and toxicity of modulated doses of gemcitabine associated to oxaliplatin in patients with secondary CIRS and with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC) and metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (MPC). Since January 2006, untreated LAPC and MPC patients have been assessed with ADL, IADL, CIRS to modulate chemotherapy dosages according to co-morbidity stage. Patiens aged <75 years, co-morbidity stage primary/intermediate, or ≥75 years and co-morbidity stage primary, received gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m² as a 10 mg/m²/min infusion on day 1 and oxaliplatin 70 mg/m² as a 2-h infusion on day 2 every 2 weeks. Patiens aged <75 years, co-morbidity stage secondary or ≥75 years and co-morbidity stage intermediate/secondary patients received gemcitabine 800 mg/m². Primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints were disease control rate (DCR), PFS, OS and toxicity. Thirty-one patients were recruited: 26% (8/31) LAPC and 74% (23/31) MPC; median age 69 years. Co-morbidity stage primary/intermediate, 19; secondary, 12. Twenty-seven valuable patients: ORR 30% (CI±0.14); disease control rate 85% (CI±0.18). Median follow-up 13 months: median PFS and OS were 6 and 15 months, respectively. Valuable cycles 140. Grade 3/4 toxicity per patient: leukopenia, 18.5%; neutropenia, 55,5%; thrombocytopenia, 7.4%; SGOT/SGPT, 7.4%; gamma-GT, 7.4%; fever without neutropenia, 3.7%. Median received dose intensity: gemcitabine 400 mg/m2/w; oxaliplatin 35 mg/m2/w. Modulation of GemOx chemotherapy according, to CIRS stage in advanced pancreatic cancer confirms reported efficacy and tolerability.