Multidrug regimens for treatment of older patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer

Background and aims: Older patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (MPDAC) are under-represented in clinical trials.

Methods: Our single-center, retrospective study enrolled MPDAC patients ≥ 70 treated with chemotherapy RESULTS: 105 patients were divided in groups based on the received treatments: 44 gemcitabine or capecitabine monotherapy (A), 34 nabpaclitaxel-gemcitabine (B) 27 4-drugs combinations (gemcitabine, cisplatin, capecitabine plus either nab-paclitaxel or epirubicin or docetaxel) (C). Group A: median age was 78 (70-87) and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥80 was found in 84% of patients; Group B: median age 77 (71-84) and KPS ≥ 80 in 88% of patients; Group C: median age 73 (70-78) and KPS ≥ 80 in 93% of patients. Median OS was 7.9, 11.7 and 14.2 months in group A, B and C respectively; 1 and 2-year OS were 27% and 8% in group A; 44% and 5% in group B; 52% and 22% in group C. When lung metastatic only patients were excluded, patients <75 and ≥ 75 had similar OS in group A (6.4 vs 5.6 months) and in group B (12.3 vs 11.1 months). In group B grade 3 thrombocytopenia, fatigue and peripheral neuropathy were more frequent in patients ≥ 75.

Conclusions: In older patients, combination chemotherapy shows acceptable feasibility and promising efficacy.