[Assessment of the value of PEF (cisplatin, epirubicin, 5 fluorouracil) in advanced extrahepatic biliary tract and pancreatic cancer].

INTRODUCTION

Extrahepatic biliary tract and pancreatic cancer are relatively rare malignant tumors. Prognosis is usually poor and surgical treatment gives a chance of cure in nonadvanced cases only.

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY: Evaluation of efficacy and toxicity of PEF regimen (cisplatin + epirubicin + 5 fluorouracil) in advanced extrahepatic biliary tract and pancreatic cancer.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Chemotherapy regimen: cisplatin 20 mg/m2 i.v, epirubicin 25 mg/m2 i.v., 5 fluorouracil was given in 28 patients with advanced extrahepatic biliary tract and pancreatic cancer at the Clinic of Oncology of the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow in years 1997 to 2004. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks up to 6 cycles. 12 patients with extrahepatic biliary tract cancer and 16 patients with pancreatic cancer were treated.

RESULTS

Median time from the diagnosis to death was 8.8 months in patients with extrahepatic biliary tract and 8.7 months in patients with pancreatic cancer. 1-year survival was 25% and 16.7%, respectively. Hematological toxicity G 3 and G 4 occured in 5 patients (17.9% treated).

CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy PEF seems to be an active and well tolerated regimen of palliative chemotherapy for advanced extrahepatic biliary tract carcinomas and pancreas carcinomas. Overall survival in the pancreatic cancer group is comparable to results obtained with gemcitabine monotherapy.