Faculty Collaboration Database

Phase II study of gemcitabine in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma (E1298). A trial of the eastern cooperative oncology group. Oncology 2004;66(4):303-9

Date

06/26/2004

Pubmed ID

15218298

DOI

10.1159/000078331

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-3042645045 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   34 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Responses have been observed in several studies of docetaxel as treatment for advanced pancreatic carcinoma. This trial was designed to determine if the addition of docetaxel to gemcitabine therapy produced responses in >/=25% of patients with chemonaive advanced pancreatic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This trial involved patients with biopsy-proven, advanced carcinoma of the pancreas not amenable to surgical resection. Patients received docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) i.v. over 1 h followed by gemcitabine 2,000 mg/m(2) biweekly until progression or intolerable toxicity. The primary endpoint of the trial was to determine the objective response rate with secondary endpoints of progression-free survival and overall survival.

RESULTS: Out of the 32 eligible patients, 2 patients had a complete response and 2 patients had a partial response for an observed objective response rate of 12.5% (90% CI: 4.4, 26.4%). Median survival was 4.7 months. Most toxicities were hematologic, with 48% of patients experiencing grade 4 toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS: The confirmed complete response rate of 6% and partial response rate of 6% is encouraging, but the toxicity of this regimen appears significant. Based upon these results, this combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel is not worthy of further study. Different schedules and dosages may be more promising.

Author List

Shepard RC, Levy DE, Berlin JD, Stuart K, Harris JE, Aviles V, Thomas JP, Benson AB 3rd

Author

James P. Thomas MD, PhD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
Carcinoma
Deoxycytidine
Disease-Free Survival
Drug Administration Schedule
Female
Humans
Infusions, Intravenous
Male
Middle Aged
Pancreatic Neoplasms
Survival Analysis
Taxoids
Treatment Failure
United States