Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in patients with unresectable biliary cancer including gall bladder cancer: a Korean Cancer Study Group phase II trial

• Published in: Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology 2010-03, Vol.65 (4), p.641-647
• Main Authors: Jang, Joung-Soon, Lim, Ho Yeong, Hwang, In Gyu, Song, Hong Suk, Yoo, NaeChoon, Yoon, SoYoung, Kim, Yeul Hong, Park, Eunsik, Byun, Jae Ho, Lee, Myung Ah, Oh, Suk Joong, Lee, Kyung Hee, Kim, Bong Seog, Oh, Sang Cheul, Kim, Sam Yong, Lee, Sang Jae
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biliary Tract Neoplasms - drug therapy; Biliary Tract Neoplasms - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer Research; Deoxycytidine - administration & dosage; Deoxycytidine - adverse effects; Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives; Diarrhea - chemically induced; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Gallbladder Neoplasms - drug therapy; Gallbladder Neoplasms - pathology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neutropenia - chemically induced; Oncology; Organoplatinum Compounds - administration & dosage; Organoplatinum Compounds - adverse effects; Original Article; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Survival Analysis; Thrombocytopenia - chemically induced; Treatment Outcome; Tumors
• ISSN: 0344-5704; 1432-0843
• DOI: 10.1007/s00280-009-1069-7

Purpose Chemotherapy represents a palliative treatment, with poor response rates and a median survival of less than 6 months in patients with biliary tract cancers (BTCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) in patients with BTCs including gall bladder cancer. Methods We carried out a nationwide multicenter phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of GEMOX as first-line therapy in patients with advanced BTCs. Eligible patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic BTCs received gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m 2 (day 1 and 8) and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m 2 (day 1), every 3 weeks. Results Fifty-three patients were evaluated, 60% had cholangiocarcinoma and the remaining 40% gall bladder cancer; the objective response rate was 18.9% (10/53 patients including 1 Complete response) [14.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.4–25.7%] in the treated population. Stable disease were observed in 27/53 (50.9%) patients, disease control rate was achieved in 69.8% of all patients. Median progression-free survival was 4.8 months (3.1–6.5, 95% CI) and median overall survival was 8.3 months (5.8–10.8, 95% CI). Grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (33.9% of patients) and thrombocytopenia (7.6%). Conclusions The GEMOX regimen demonstrated a modest antitumor activity and is well tolerated in patients with advanced BTCs.