A phase I study of combined radiation therapy with 5-fluorouracil and low dose folinic acid in patients with locally advanced pancreatic or biliary carcinoma

Victor Hsue, C. Shun Wong, Malcolm Moore, Charles Erlichman, Bernard J. Cummings, Marcia Macleod

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the toxicities of a Phase I study of radiation therapy with concurrent 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and low dose folinic acid in patients with locally advanced pancreatic or biliary carcinoma. Methods and Materials: Twenty-seven patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the pancreas (n = 19), bile duct (n = 7), and gall bladder (n = 1) were entered into a Phase I study of combined radiation therapy, 5FU, and folinic acid. Radiation was given as a split course of 40 Gy in 20 daily fractions with a gap of 2 weeks after 20 Gy. 5-Fluorouracil, 300 to 375 mg/m2/day and folinic acid, 20 mg/m2/day were given as an i.v. bolus daily for 5 days beginning on day 1 and again on day 29. Results: Eight patients developed Grade 3 or 4 toxicities (National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria) including nausea and vomiting (n = 4), oral mucositis (n = 4), myelosuppression (n = 2), infection (n = 2), and diarrhea (n = 1). Four patients did not complete the planned protocol due to treatment toxicities. There were two treatment deaths secondary to septic neutropenia. Treatment toxicity appeared to be related to age (> 70), performance status (ECOG = 2), and 5FU dose (> 350 mg/m2/day). Conclusion: This protocol is poorly tolerated by elderly patients or those with poor performance status, and 350 mg/m2/day is our recommended dose for 5FU as given in this protocol.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)445-450
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
Volume34
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 1996

Keywords

  • 5-Fluorouracil
  • Folinic acid
  • Pancreatic carcinoma
  • Radiotherapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cancer Research

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