Gemcitabine plus epirubicin in advanced pancreatic cancer: A phase II multicenter trial

  • Authors:
    • Giovanni Pietro Ianniello
    • Michele Orditura
    • Antonio Rossi
    • Ferdinando De Vita
    • Luigi Maiorino
    • Francesco Carrozza
    • Luigi Manzione
    • Giuseppe Catalano
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 1, 2001     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.8.5.1111
  • Pages: 1111-1115
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Abstract

The aim of this phase II multicenter trial was to evaluate the activity of a novel combination of gemcitabine (GEM) and epirubicin (EPI) in advanced pancreatic cancer patients. Clinical benefit and response rate were the main efficacy end-points. From December 1997 to October 1999, 30 consecutive patients with measurable advanced pancreatic cancer were enrolled. Gemcitabine was administered intravenously in 30 min at a dose of 800 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15 followed by i.v. injection of epirubicin 25 mg/m2; treatment was repeated every 28 days. With regard to clinical benefit response, 8/21 patients (38%) experienced significant palliation of tumor-related symptoms; the median symptom control time was 25 weeks. No complete responses were recorded while 6 patients achieved a partial remission, for an overall response rate of 20%; 10 patients (30%) had a stable disease and 14 (46%) had progressive disease. The median time to progression was 14 weeks. Median survival was 26 weeks, with 6 patients (20%) having long-term survival at 46 weeks. In general, chemotherapy was well tolerated; 9 patients (30%) suffered from WHO grade 3-4 haematological toxicity and 5 patients (16.6%) suffered from grade 3 non-haematological toxicity. In conclusion, the GEM plus EPI regimen represent a feasible approach for improvement of clinical benefit in advanced pancreatic cancer patients, but confirmatory investigations are required.

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September-October 2001
Volume 8 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Ianniello GP, Orditura M, Rossi A, De Vita F, Maiorino L, Carrozza F, Manzione L and Catalano G: Gemcitabine plus epirubicin in advanced pancreatic cancer: A phase II multicenter trial. Oncol Rep 8: 1111-1115, 2001.
APA
Ianniello, G.P., Orditura, M., Rossi, A., De Vita, F., Maiorino, L., Carrozza, F. ... Catalano, G. (2001). Gemcitabine plus epirubicin in advanced pancreatic cancer: A phase II multicenter trial. Oncology Reports, 8, 1111-1115. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.8.5.1111
MLA
Ianniello, G. P., Orditura, M., Rossi, A., De Vita, F., Maiorino, L., Carrozza, F., Manzione, L., Catalano, G."Gemcitabine plus epirubicin in advanced pancreatic cancer: A phase II multicenter trial". Oncology Reports 8.5 (2001): 1111-1115.
Chicago
Ianniello, G. P., Orditura, M., Rossi, A., De Vita, F., Maiorino, L., Carrozza, F., Manzione, L., Catalano, G."Gemcitabine plus epirubicin in advanced pancreatic cancer: A phase II multicenter trial". Oncology Reports 8, no. 5 (2001): 1111-1115. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.8.5.1111