Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancer of the Pancreas

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

Overview

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more that one drug may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining gemcitabine and docetaxel in treating patients who have locally advanced or metastatic cancer of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the objective response rate of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with combination gemcitabine and docetaxel. II. Determine the toxicity profile of this combination therapy in these patients. III. Assess the survival rate of these patients. OUTLINE: Patients receive docetaxel IV over 1 hour followed by gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes. Patients receive treatment every other week for 8 weeks (4 courses). Patients may continue treatment in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients are followed every 12 weeks until death. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: This study will accrue approximately 10 patients per month for a maximum of 33 patients.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Purpose

TREATMENT

Conditions

Pancreatic Cancer

Interventions

docetaxelDRUG

gemcitabine hydrochlorideDRUG

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 120 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma or poorly differentiated carcinoma of the pancreas Metastatic disease with at least 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion OR Locally advanced disease that is either recurrent or not amenable to surgery Measurable disease outside of prior radiation port or disease progression within the port PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1500/mm3 Platelet count at least 125,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (less than 3 times ULN if liver metastases) Renal: Creatinine no greater than ULN Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease At least 1 year since prior adjuvant chemotherapy Prior chemoradiotherapy as initial therapy allowed Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics See Chemotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified

Locations (10)

Indiana University Cancer Center

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Greater Baltimore Medical Center and Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Johns Hopkins Oncology Center

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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