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Intra-arterial continuous infusion for treatment of pancreatic and biliary tract cancer

A dose-escalation study of fluorouracil combined with gemcitabine

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International Journal of Pancreatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Background. Systemic chemotherapy does not satisfactorily improve the poor prognosis of pancreas and biliary tract cancer unresectable or metastatic to the liver. Intra-arterial infusion of antineoplastic agents can give higher concentrations to the tumor and slighter concentrations to the whole body, with a potential of efficacy and lower toxicity, due to the hepatic clearance.

Methods. Based on a safe and ambulatorial technique of transcutaneous arterial port implantation, this study was designed to evaluate feasibility and toxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) intra-arterial continuous infusion combined with systemic gemcitabine with dose escalation. Seventeen patients affected by pancreatic (14) or biliary tract (3) cancer received up to six cycles of treatment. Treatment consisted of intravenous gemcitabine on d 1 and 8 and intra-arterial 5-FU continuous infusion on d 1–14 every 21 d. Dose-escalation levels were 900 and 1000 mg/m2 for gemcitabine and 8, 10, 12, 15, and 17 mg/kg/d for 5-FU. Consecutive cohorts of three patients were planned at each dose level.

Results. Gastrointestinal toxicity (vomiting and diarrhea [3rd–4th degree] and gastritis), constituted the dose-limiting toxicity, with a maximum-tolerated dose of 1000 mg/m2 for gemcitabine and 15 mg/kg/d for 5-FU. Hematological toxicity was present in a minority of patients. No patient had acute or later complications such as arterial thrombosis related to the implanted arterial port, sclerosis cholangitis, or chemical cholecistitis.

Conclusion. 5-Fluorouracil intra-arterial continuous infusion, combined with systemic gemcitabine, seems to be a feasible and safe regimen that could give interesting results in pancreatic cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Surgical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Battista, Torino

    Claudio Zanon, Roberta Buosi, Isabella Chiappino, Renzo Clara, Antonietta Satolli, Silvia Zai, Massimiliano Bortolini & Antonio Mussa

  2. University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara

    Oscar Alabiso

  3. Division of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera, Cuneo

    Maurizio Grosso

  4. Division of Oncology, Ospedale Santo, Spirito, Casale, Italy

    Mario Botta

Authors
  1. Claudio Zanon
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  2. Oscar Alabiso
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  3. Maurizio Grosso
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  4. Roberta Buosi
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  5. Isabella Chiappino
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  6. Renzo Clara
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  7. Antonietta Satolli
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  8. Silvia Zai
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  9. Massimiliano Bortolini
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  10. Mario Botta
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  11. Antonio Mussa
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Correspondence to Claudio Zanon.

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Zanon, C., Alabiso, O., Grosso, M. et al. Intra-arterial continuous infusion for treatment of pancreatic and biliary tract cancer. International Journal of Pancreatology 27, 225–233 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1385/IJGC:27:3:225

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/IJGC:27:3:225

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