Pancreatic Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Pancreatic Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Adjuvant gemcitabine and concurrent continuous radiation (45 Gy) for resected pancreatic head carcinoma: a multicenter Belgian Phase II study.

Demols A, Peeters M, Polus M, Honoré P, Boterberg T, Gay F, Closon MT, Van Houtte P, Closset J, Van Laethem JL

Medico-surgical Department of Gastroenterology, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. ademols@ulb.ac.be

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and tolerance of a postoperative course of gemcitabine (GEM) combined with continuous radiation after curative resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty patients (median age, 61 years; performance status, 0 to 1) with Stage II and III curatively resected pancreatic head adenocarcinoma were included. Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 (3 out of 4 weeks, two cycles) was given within 8 weeks of surgery and followed by GEM 300 mg/m2 weekly combined with continuous radiation (45 Gy in 25 fractions, 1.8 Gy per fraction). RESULTS: For GEM alone, all patients received the two courses with dose reductions in 14 of 30 patients (46%). All but 3 patients completed full chemoradiation; 1 stopped radiation because of subocclusion of a gastroenterostomy, and 2 did not start owing to disease progression. Reduction in GEM during radiation was necessary in 12 of 30 patients (40%). No toxic death was noted; World Health Organization Grade 3/4 hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities were seen in 10 of 30 patients (33%) and 3 of 30 patients (10%), respectively. After a median follow-up of 19 months, no late toxicity was reported. Eleven patients died from progressive disease; median disease-free survival and overall survival were 14.5 and 19 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: This adjuvant combination is well tolerated and can be safely administered after curative surgery for pancreatic cancer. Further evaluation of this regimen is ongoing.

Published 20 July 2005 in Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 62(5): 1351-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Pancreatic Cancer Research Today. All Rights Reserved.