Background/aim: Nanoliposomal irinotecan with 5-fluorouracil and L-leucovorin (nal-IRI/FL) is the standard regimen for metastatic pancreatic cancer, but there are no reports on prediction of early discontinuation. In this study, we investigated predictive factors of early discontinuation of nal-IRI/FL.
Patients and methods: The study included 36 patients who received nal-IRI/FL at Wakayama Medical University Hospital between June 2021 and May 2022. Those with time-to-treatment failure (TTF) ≤28 days were defined as the early discontinuation group (group ED), and those with TTF >28 days were placed in the continuation group (group C). Laboratory data were collected just before and every 14 days after initiation of nal-IRI/FL treatment.
Results: There were six patients (16.7%) in group ED and 30 patients (83.3%) in group C. The lymphocyte×albumin (LA) score before therapy was significantly lower in group ED (p=0.005). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, pre-treatment LA was the best predictor for early discontinuation, with a cutoff value of 4,142 (sensitivity: 1.00, specificity: 0.77, p=0.004). In group C, LA was significantly lower at 28 days before nal-IRI/FL treatment failure compared to the value before the start of therapy [median with range: 3,299 (1,478-6,994) vs. 4,304 (2,085-8,085), p=0.006].
Conclusion: The LA score is a useful marker for evaluating treatment continuity, and especially early discontinuation, of nal-IRI/FL in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Keywords: Nanoliposomal irinotecan; lymphocyte-albumin score; metastatic pancreatic cancer; treatment continuity.
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