A phase II trial of gemcitabine in patients with 5-FU-refractory pancreas cancer

Abstract

To assess the effect of gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreas cancer that had progressed despite prior treatment with 5-FU. Seventy-four patients were enrolled in this multicenter trial. Alleviation of cancer-related symptoms was the primary endpoint. Sixty-three patients completed a pain stabilization period and were treated with gemcitabine. Clinical Benefit Response was defined as a ≥50% reduction in pain intensity, ≥50% reduction in daily analgesic consumption, or ≥20 point improvement in KPS that was sustained for ≥4 consecutive weeks. Seventeen of 63 pts (27.0%) attained a Clinical Benefit Response (95% CI: 16.0% The median duration of Clinical Benefit Response was 14 weeks (range: 4–69 weeks). Median survival for patients treated with gemcitabine was 3.85 months (range: 0.3–18.0+ months). Therapy was generally well-tolerated with a low incidence of grade 3 or 4 toxicities. Systematic assessment of subjective out comes can be used to evaluate the clinical impact of new therapies for pancreas cancer, a highly symptomatic disease. Our findings suggest that gemcitabine is a useful palliative agent in patients with 5-FU-refractory pancreas cancer.