A novel biweekly pancreatic cancer treatment schedule with gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a common disease considered to be poorly responsive to antiblastic treatment. Recent clinical and preclinical results suggest that a combined treatment of gemcitabine ( GEM), 5-flurouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid ( FA) offers a clinical benefit in patients with advanced pancreas adenocarcinoma. The aim of this phase II clinical trial was to evaluate the antitumour activity and toxicity of a novel biweekly schedule of this combination in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. A total of 42 patients received a 30 min infusion of FA ( 100 mg m(-2)) and 5-FU ( 400 mg m(-2)) (FUFA) on days 1 - 3, and GEM 1000 mg m(-2) on day 1 every 15 days. We observed 13 objective responses ( two complete, 11 partial) and 23 stable diseases. The median time to progression was 9.75 months (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 6.88 - 12.62) and the median overall survival was 13.10 months ( 95% CI 9.64 - 16.56). There were seven cases of each grade III gastroenteric and haematological toxicity. The GEM plus FUFA combination appears to be well tolerated and very active in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.