Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1 family polypeptide A1 gene (UGT1A1) polymorphisms are associated with toxicity and efficacy in irinotecan monotherapy for refractory pancreatic cancer

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan monotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC).

Methods

Patients with APC refractory to gemcitabine and S-1 were included. Irinotecan (100 mg/m2) was administered on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity was observed. The relationship between uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1 family polypeptide A1 gene (UGT1A1) polymorphisms and clinical outcomes was evaluated.

Results

Between January 2007 and December 2011, 231 cycles were delivered in 56 patients. Irinotecan was administered as second-line chemotherapy in 35.7 % of patients and as third-line chemotherapy or later in 64.3 %. A partial response was achieved in two (3.6 %) and stable disease in 23 patients (41.0 %), giving a disease control rate of 44.6 %. The median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) were 2.9 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.8–3.5) months and 5.3 (95 % CI 4.5–6.8) months, respectively. Median survival from the first-line chemotherapy was 19.5 (95 % CI 15.3–23.8) months. Major grade 3/4 adverse events included neutropenia (28.6 %), anemia (12.5 %), and anorexia (10.7 %). Patients with *6 and/or *28 allele(s) (n = 15) were associated with grade 3/4 neutropenia and anorexia but showed longer TTP (5.3 vs. 1.8 months; p = 0.05), and OS (8.0 vs. 4.8 months; p = 0.09) than those without *6 and/or *28 (n = 29).

Conclusions

Salvage chemotherapy with irinotecan was moderately effective and well-tolerated in patients with APC refractory to gemcitabine and S-1. UGT1A1 polymorphisms were associated with toxicity and efficacy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

APC:

Advanced pancreatic cancer

UGT1A1:

Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1 family polypeptide A1 gene

TTP:

Time to progression

OS:

Overall survival

References

  1. Ando Y, Saka H, Ando M, Sawa T, Muro K, Ueoka H, Yokoyama A, Saitoh S, Shimokata K, Hasegawa Y (2000) Polymorphisms of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase gene and irinotecan toxicity: a pharmacogenetic analysis. Cancer Res 60:6921–6926

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Assaf E, Verlinde-Carvalho M, Delbaldo C, Grenier J, Sellam Z, Pouessel D, Bouaita L, Baumgaertner I, Sobhani I, Tayar C, Paul M, Culine S (2011) 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin combined with irinotecan and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) as second-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Oncology 80:301–306

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Boku N, Ohtsu A, Shimada Y, Shirao K, Seki S, Saito H, Sakata Y, Hyodo I (1999) Phase II study of a combination of irinotecan and cisplatin against metastatic gastric cancer. J Clin Oncol 17:319–323

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Burris HA III, Moore MJ, Andersen J, Green MR, Rothenberg ML, Modiano MR, Cripps MC, Portenoy RK, Storniolo AM, Tarassoff P, Nelson R, Dorr FA, Stephens CD, Von Hoff DD (1997) Improvements in survival and clinical benefit with gemcitabine as first-line therapy for patients with advanced pancreas cancer: a randomized trial. J Clin Oncol 15:2403–2413

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Conroy T, Desseigne F, Ychou M, Bouche O, Guimbaud R, Becouarn Y, Adenis A, Raoul JL, Gourgou-Bourgade S, de la Fouchardiere C, Bennouna J, Bachet JB, Khemissa-Akouz F, Pere-Verge D, Delbaldo C, Assenat E, Chauffert B, Michel P, Montoto-Grillot C, Ducreux M (2011) FOLFIRINOX versus gemcitabine for metastatic pancreatic cancer. N Engl J Med 364:1817–1825

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gebbia V, Maiello E, Giuliani F, Borsellino N, Arcara C, Colucci G (2010) Irinotecan plus bolus/infusional 5-Fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with pretreated advanced pancreatic carcinoma: a multicenter experience of the Gruppo Oncologico Italia Meridionale. Am J Clin Oncol 33:461–464

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Han JY, Lim HS, Shin ES, Yoo YK, Park YH, Lee JE, Jang IJ, Lee DH, Lee JS (2006) Comprehensive analysis of UGT1A polymorphisms predictive for pharmacokinetics and treatment outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with irinotecan and cisplatin. J Clin Oncol 24:2237–2244

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Isayama H, Nakai Y, Yamamoto K, Sasaki T, Mizuno S, Yagioka H, Yashima Y, Kawakubo K, Kogure H, Arizumi T, Togawa O, Ito Y, Matsubara S, Yamamoto N, Sasahira N, Hirano K, Tsujino T, Tada M, Omata M, Koike K (2011) Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy for patients with refractory pancreatic cancer. Oncology 80:97–101

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Klapdor R, Fenner C (2000) Irinotecan(Campto R): efficacy as third/forth line therapy in advanced pancreatic cancer. Anticancer Res 20:5209–5212

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lara PN Jr, Natale R, Crowley J, Lenz HJ, Redman MW, Carleton JE, Jett J, Langer CJ, Kuebler JP, Dakhil SR, Chansky K, Gandara DR (2009) Phase III trial of irinotecan/cisplatin compared with etoposide/cisplatin in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: clinical and pharmacogenomic results from SWOG S0124. J Clin Oncol 27:2530–2535

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Marcuello E, Altes A, Menoyo A, Del Rio E, Gomez-Pardo M, Baiget M (2004) UGT1A1 gene variations and irinotecan treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 91:678–682

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Meyerhardt JA, Kwok A, Ratain MJ, McGovren JP, Fuchs CS (2004) Relationship of baseline serum bilirubin to efficacy and toxicity of single-agent irinotecan in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol 22:1439–1446

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Minami H, Sai K, Saeki M, Saito Y, Ozawa S, Suzuki K, Kaniwa N, Sawada J, Hamaguchi T, Yamamoto N, Shirao K, Yamada Y, Ohmatsu H, Kubota K, Yoshida T, Ohtsu A, Saijo N (2007) Irinotecan pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and UGT1A genetic polymorphisms in Japanese: roles of UGT1A1*6 and *28. Pharmacogenet Genomics 17:497–504

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Moore MJ, Goldstein D, Hamm J, Figer A, Hecht JR, Gallinger S, Au HJ, Murawa P, Walde D, Wolff RA, Campos D, Lim R, Ding K, Clark G, Voskoglou-Nomikos T, Ptasynski M, Parulekar W (2007) Erlotinib plus gemcitabine compared with gemcitabine alone in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase III trial of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group. J Clin Oncol 25:1960–1966

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Morizane C, Okusaka T, Furuse J, Ishii H, Ueno H, Ikeda M, Nakachi K, Najima M, Ogura T, Suzuki E (2009) A phase II study of S-1 in gemcitabine-refractory metastatic pancreatic cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 63:313–319

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Nakai Y, Isayama H, Sasaki T, Sasahira N, Kogure H, Hirano K, Tsujino T, Ijichi H, Tateishi K, Tada M, Omata M, Koike K (2010) Impact of S-1 in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer in Japan. Jpn J Clin Oncol 40:774–780

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Oh SY, Kim HJ, Kim TH, Lee GW, Kim HG, Jeong CY, Kwon HC, Kang JH (2010) Pilot study of irinotecan/oxalipltin (IROX) combination chemotherapy for patients with gemcitabine- and 5-fluorouracil-refractory pancreatic cancer. Invest New Drugs 28:343–349

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Onoue M, Terada T, Kobayashi M, Katsura T, Matsumoto S, Yanagihara K, Nishimura T, Kanai M, Teramukai S, Shimizu A, Fukushima M, Inui K (2009) UGT1A1*6 polymorphism is most predictive of severe neutropenia induced by irinotecan in Japanese cancer patients. Int J Clin Oncol 14:136–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Pelzer U, Schwaner I, Stieler J, Adler M, Seraphin J, Dorken B, Riess H, Oettle H (2011) Best supportive care (BSC) versus oxaliplatin, folinic acid and 5-fluorouracil (OFF) plus BSC in patients for second-line advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase III-study from the German CONKO-study group. Eur J Cancer 47:1676–1681

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Reni M, Cordio S, Milandri C, Passoni P, Bonetto E, Oliani C, Luppi G, Nicoletti R, Galli L, Bordonaro R, Passardi A, Zerbi A, Balzano G, Aldrighetti L, Staudacher C, Villa E, Di Carlo V (2005) Gemcitabine versus cisplatin, epirubicin, fluorouracil, and gemcitabine in advanced pancreatic cancer: a randomised controlled multicentre phase III trial. Lancet Oncol 6:369–376

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Rocha Lima CM, Green MR, Rotche R, Miller WH Jr, Jeffrey GM, Cisar LA, Morganti A, Orlando N, Gruia G, Miller LL (2004) Irinotecan plus gemcitabine results in no survival advantage compared with gemcitabine monotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer despite increased tumor response rate. J Clin Oncol 22:3776–3783

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Saltz LB, Cox JV, Blanke C, Rosen LS, Fehrenbacher L, Moore MJ, Maroun JA, Ackland SP, Locker PK, Pirotta N, Elfring GL, Miller LL (2000) Irinotecan plus fluorouracil and leucovorin for metastatic colorectal cancer. Irinotecan Study Group. N Engl J Med 343:905–914

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Stathopoulos GP, Syrigos K, Aravantinos G, Polyzos A, Papakotoulas P, Fountzilas G, Potamianou A, Ziras N, Boukovinas J, Varthalitis J, Androulakis N, Kotsakis A, Samonis G, Georgoulias V (2006) A multicenter phase III trial comparing irinotecan-gemcitabine (IG) with gemcitabine (G) monotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Br J Cancer 95:587–592

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sudo K, Yamaguchi T, Nakamura K, Denda T, Hara T, Ishihara T, Yokosuka O (2011) Phase II study of S-1 in patients with gemcitabine-resistant advanced pancreatic cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 67:249–254

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Therasse P, Arbuck SG, Eisenhauer EA, Wanders J, Kaplan RS, Rubinstein L, Verweij J, Van Glabbeke M, van Oosterom AT, Christian MC, Gwyther SG (2000) New guidelines to evaluate the response to treatment in solid tumors. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, National Cancer Institute of the United States, National Cancer Institute of Canada. J Natl Cancer Inst 92:205–216

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Toffoli G, Cecchin E, Corona G, Russo A, Buonadonna A, D’Andrea M, Pasetto LM, Pessa S, Errante D, De Pangher V, Giusto M, Medici M, Gaion F, Sandri P, Galligioni E, Bonura S, Boccalon M, Biason P, Frustaci S (2006) The role of UGT1A1*28 polymorphism in the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of irinotecan in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol 24:3061–3068

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ueno H, Okusaka T, Funakoshi A, Ishii H, Yamao K, Ishikawa O, Ohkawa S, Saitoh S (2007) A phase II study of weekly irinotecan as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 59:447–454

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Wagener DJ, Verdonk HE, Dirix LY, Catimel G, Siegenthaler P, Buitenhuis M, Mathieu-Boue A, Verweij J (1995) Phase II trial of CPT-11 in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, an EORTC early clinical trials group study. Ann Oncol 6:129–132

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Yi SY, Park YS, Kim HS, Jun HJ, Kim KH, Chang MH, Park MJ, Uhm JE, Lee J, Park SH, Park JO, Lee JK, Lee KT, Lim HY, Kang WK (2009) Irinotecan monotherapy as second-line treatment in advanced pancreatic cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 63:1141–1145

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank two medical technologists Hiromitsu Yokota and Makiko Kurihara (Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo) for genotyping of UGT1A1 and a research coordinator Miyuki Tsuchida (Clinical Research Support Center, The University of Tokyo Hospital) for supporting data collection.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroyuki Isayama.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Takahara, N., Nakai, Y., Isayama, H. et al. Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1 family polypeptide A1 gene (UGT1A1) polymorphisms are associated with toxicity and efficacy in irinotecan monotherapy for refractory pancreatic cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 71, 85–92 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-012-1981-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-012-1981-0

Keywords

Navigation