Intra-arterial chemotherapy of advanced pancreatic cancer: a single center experience.

Carlo Milandri, Filippo Calzolari, Alessandro Passardi, Chiara Tison, Emanuela Giampalma, Lorenzo Cecconetto, Rita Golfieri

Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology 2008;54(80):2373-7

PMID: 18265668

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Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The main aim of the present work was to determine response rates and time to progression in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with intra-arterial chemotherapy.

METHODOLOGY

Nineteen chemotherapy-naive patients with measurable lesions were treated with intra-arterial 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2, leucovorin 100 mg/m2, carboplatin 300 mg/m2 and epirubicin 60 mg/m2 (FLEC regimen) every 21 days. Prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factors were administered on days 4-10 of each cycle.

RESULTS

There were 16 patients evaluable for response, of whom 4 (25%) had a partial response, 7 (44%) showed stable disease, and 5 (31%) progressed. Marker response rate was 43%. Median time to progression was 4 months and median overall survival was 6 months. One-year overall survival was 16%. No grade 4 toxicity or severe complications relating to the angiographic procedure were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that intra-arterial FLEC is well tolerated and active against advanced pancreatic cancer.

Address: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Meldola, Italy. [email protected]

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https://medlineplus.gov/pancreaticcancer.html

MeSH Terms: Adenocarcinoma, Adult, Aged, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Carboplatin, Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion, Disease Progression, Epirubicin, Female, Fluorouracil, Humans, Infusions, Intra-Arterial, Leucovorin, Liver Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Treatment Outcome