RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. It is not yet known whether gemcitabine is more effective with or without radiation therapy in treating pancreatic cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to study the effectiveness of gemcitabine with or without radiation therapy in treating patients who have locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVES: * Compare the overall survival and progression-free of patients with locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine with or without radiotherapy. * Compare the objective response rate in patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the toxicity of these regimens in these patients. * Compare the quality of life (QOL) of patients treated with these regimens. * Determine the effect of gemcitabine and radiotherapy on the QOL of patients with improved objective response rate and progression-free and overall survival. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to performance status (0 vs. 1) and weight loss within the past 6 months (less than 10% vs. 10% or more). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. Arm I (Gemcitabine alone): * Induction: Patients receive gemcitabine intravenously (IV) over 30-60 minutes once weekly for 6 weeks followed by 1 week of rest. * Consolidation: After the 1 week of rest, patients receive gemcitabine IV once weekly for 3 weeks. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for 5 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Arm II (Gemcitabine with radiotherapy): * Induction: Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30-60 minutes once weekly for 6 weeks beginning on day 1. Patients also undergo concurrent radiotherapy 5 days a week for 5.5 weeks beginning on day 1. * Consolidation: Approximately 4 weeks after completion of radiotherapy, patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30-60 minutes once weekly for 3 weeks. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for 5 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life is assessed at baseline, week 6, week 15 (for arm II), week 16 (for arm I), and 9 months. Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for 1 year. Patients who receive treatment beyond 3 years are followed for survival. ACCRUAL: 74 patients were accrued for this study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
Induction: Patients receive the first cycle of gemcitabine 1000 mg/m\^2 intravenously once per week for 6 weeks followed by 1 week rest. Consolidation: Following the week of rest, treatment resume with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m\^2 administered intravenously once per week for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week rest, for 5 (4-week) cycles.
Induction: Patients receive gemcitabine 600 mg/m\^2 intravenous infusion over 30-60 minutes once a week for 6 weeks while receiving radiation therapy. The first gemcitabine dose is given on the first day of radiation therapy (prior to radiation), then weekly thereafter. All patients on Arm B receive radiation therapy Monday through Friday (no radiation on Saturday or Sunday), weeks 1-6, with once/week gemcitabine. The radiation dose per fraction is 180 cGy prescribed to the isocenter. The total dose of radiation is 5040 cGy given in 28 fractions over 5 1/2 weeks. Consolidation: Additional cycles of gemcitabine begin approximately 4 weeks after completion of radiation therapy.
Overall Survival Time
Overall survival was defined as the time from randomization (registration) to death from any cause. Patients alive at last follow-up were censored. Patients were followed every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for year 3. Patients received treatment beyond 3 years were also followed for survival.
Time frame: assessed every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months for year 3
Progression-free Survival Time
Time from randomization (registration) to the earlier of disease progression or death. Patients alive and progression-free at last follow-up were censored. Progressive disease was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions (taking as reference the baseline sum longest diameter), or the appearance of one or more new lesions and/or unequivocal progression of existing non-target lesions. Patients were followed every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for year 3. Patients who received treatment beyond 3 years were also followed for survival.
Time frame: assessed every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months for year 3
Overall Response
Response was assessed per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) by CT. Overall response included complete response (CR) and partial response (PR). CR was defined as the disappearance of all target and non-target lesions. PR was defined as CR of target lesions and persistence of one or more non-target lesions or at least a 30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions and non-progressive disease in the non-target lesions. The 71 eligible, treated participants were included in the analysis.
Time frame: assessed at week 8, and every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months for year 3
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
74
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Saint Joseph's Mercy Cancer Center
Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
California Cancer Center - Woodward Park Office
Fresno, California, United States
Doctors Medical Center
Modesto, California, United States
Memorial Medical Center Cancer Services
Modesto, California, United States
North Colorado Medical Center
Greeley, Colorado, United States
McKee Medical Center
Loveland, Colorado, United States
Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center
Farmington, Connecticut, United States
New Britain General Hospital
New Britain, Connecticut, United States
Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center at Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
...and 219 more locations