Single-agent gemcitabine in elderly patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer
Kuriyama, H.; Kawana, K.; Taniguchi, R.; Jono, F.; Sakai, E.; Okubo, H.; Suzuki, H.; Kobayashi, S.; Murata, Y.; Inamori, M.; Hata, Y.; Nakajima, A.
Hepato-Gastroenterology 58(105): 26-30
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0172-6390 PMID: 21510281 Document Number: 14933
This study examines the effect of systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine (GEM) on survival in elderly patients (aged > or =70 years) with unresectable biliary tract cancer and compares it with best supportive care (BSC). We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive patients aged > or =70 years, with unresectable biliary tract cancer who were administered GEM (800-1000 mg/m2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks as a first-line treatment. Twenty-eight patients were enrolled: 13 (46.4%) received chemotherapy with GEM and 15 (53.6%) received BSC. No cases of complete or partial response were observed. Stable disease was observed in 9 patients (69.2%) and progressive disease in 2 patients (15.4%). Disease control rate was 69.2%. The median overall survival time of patients treated with GEM and BSC was 9.1 and 2.9 months, and the 1-year survival rates were 15.4% and 6.7% respectively. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in three patients (23.1%), leukopenia in two patients (15.4%) and anemia in one patient (7.7%). Grade 3 non-hematologic toxicities were constipation (7.7%) and fatigue (7.7%). Chemotherapy with single-agent GEM is a safe and well tolerated regimen for elderly patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer.
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