Purpose: Advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) has a poor prognosis and chemotherapy remains the primary treatment modality. Gemcitabine (GEM) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are the most active drugs in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of the combination of these agents in APC.
Methods: Forty-four patients with APC were treated with GEM and infusional 5-FU with high dose leucovorin (LV5FU2) (GEMFUFOL regimen).
Results: A total of 240 chemotherapy cycles were administered. The overall response rate was 27.2%, and all responses were partial. Furthermore, disease stabilization was observed in 12 patients (27.2%). Median survival time and one-year survival rate were 9 months and 36.4%, respectively. The overall grade 3 or 4 adverse events were very low and mostly hematological.
Conclusion: GEMFUFOL is still an active regimen for the treatment of APC and has an acceptable toxicity.