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Paclitaxel-gemcitabine combination improved OS in pancreatic cancer
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33rd Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology
When combined with gemcitabine, cationic lipid complexed paclitaxel may extend median survival among patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, according to data presented at the 33rd Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology.
Matthias Löhr, MD, professor in the department of clinical science, intervention and technology at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, presented data from a phase-2 trial in which he and his colleagues assessed the safety and efficacy of combination gemcitabine plus cationic lipid complexed paclitaxel (EndoTAG-1) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.
The study included 200 patients who were randomly assigned to weekly gemcitabine infusions (1000 mg/m2) and twice weekly EndoTAG-1 at three different dose levels (11 mg/m2; 22 mg/m2 and 44 mg/m2) or gemcitabine alone. The treatment period lasted seven weeks.
The researchers reported a median overall survival rate of 9.4 months for patients in the combination group who received the highest dose of EndoTAG-1. Median OS for patients assigned gemcitabine alone was 7.2 months.
Patients (n=102) under amended protocol received repeated cycles of the combination. Median OS for these patients was 10.8 months for the highest dose of EndoTAG-1, compared with 6.8 months for gemcitabine alone.
At one year, survival rates were 17% for gemcitabine alone and 33% for combination with the highest EndoTAG-1 dose. Pyrexia and chills were the most prevalent of 34 adverse effects possibly associated with treatment.
For more information:
- Lohr JM, Haas S, Bechstein W, et al. #LBA7. Presented at: the 33rd Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology; Sept. 12-16, 2008; Stockholm.