Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and tolerance of a postoperative course of gemcitabine (GEM) combined with continuous radiation after curative resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Methods and materials: Thirty patients (median age, 61 years; performance status, 0 to 1) with Stage II and III curatively resected pancreatic head adenocarcinoma were included. Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 (3 out of 4 weeks, two cycles) was given within 8 weeks of surgery and followed by GEM 300 mg/m2 weekly combined with continuous radiation (45 Gy in 25 fractions, 1.8 Gy per fraction).
Results: For GEM alone, all patients received the two courses with dose reductions in 14 of 30 patients (46%). All but 3 patients completed full chemoradiation; 1 stopped radiation because of subocclusion of a gastroenterostomy, and 2 did not start owing to disease progression. Reduction in GEM during radiation was necessary in 12 of 30 patients (40%). No toxic death was noted; World Health Organization Grade 3/4 hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities were seen in 10 of 30 patients (33%) and 3 of 30 patients (10%), respectively. After a median follow-up of 19 months, no late toxicity was reported. Eleven patients died from progressive disease; median disease-free survival and overall survival were 14.5 and 19 months, respectively.
Conclusion: This adjuvant combination is well tolerated and can be safely administered after curative surgery for pancreatic cancer. Further evaluation of this regimen is ongoing.