Combination of gemcitabine and cetuximab in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma: a phase II study of the Belgian Group of Digestive Oncology

Background: Cholangiocarcinomas are uncommon tumours with a poor prognosis, that frequently present epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression. Methods: In a multi-centre phase II trial, patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, naïve to chemotherapy, received Cetuximab (400 mg/m2 at week 1, then 250 mg/m2/week) and Gemcitabine (1 g/m2 on day 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks). Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 6 months, using a Simon 2-stage design. Moreover, we assessed the impact of KRAS status and skin toxic effect on efficacy. Results: Forty-four patients (41% locally advanced/59% metastatic) were enrolled. Median age was 61.5 years; ECOG PS was 0 (68%) or 1. Six months PFS reached 47%. Median OS was 13.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 9.8-31.8 months]. Nine patients (20.4%) had PR and disease-control rate was 79.5%. Grade 3/4-related toxic effects were haematological (52.2%), skin rash (13.6%) and fatigue (11.4%). KRAS mutations were found in 7 of 27 patients and had no influence on PFS. Skin toxic effect =grade 2 was associated with increased PFS (P = 0.05).Conclusion(s): Our study met its primary end point, suggesting that Gemcitabine-Cetuximab has activity in cholangiocarcinoma. KRAS status was not associated with PFS, unlike skin toxic effect, which could be used as a surrogate marker for efficacy

Adjuvant Gemcitabine Alone Versus Gemcitabine-Based Chemoradiotherapy After Curative Resection for Pancreatic Cancer: A Randomized EORTC-40013-22012/FFCD-9203/GERCOR Phase II Study

PURPOSE: The role of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in resectable pancreatic cancer is still debated. This randomized phase II intergroup study explores the feasibility and tolerability of a gemcitabine-based CRT regimen after R0 resection of pancreatic head cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Within 8 weeks after surgery, patients were randomly assigned to receive either four cycles of gemcitabine (control arm) or gemcitabine for two cycles followed by weekly gemcitabine with concurrent radiation (50.4 Gy; CRT arm). The primary objective was to exclude a 40% rate of grade 4 hematologic or GI toxicity in the CRT arm with type I and II errors of 10%. Secondary end points were late toxicity, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Between September 2004 and January 2007, 90 patients were randomly assigned (45:45). Patient characteristics were similar in both arms. Treatment was completed per protocol by 86.7% and 73.3% (80% CI, 63.1% to 81.9%; 95% CI, 58.1% to 85.4%) in the control and CRT arms, respectively, and grade 4 toxicity was 0% and 4.7% (two of 43; 80% CI, 1.2% to 11.9%), respectively. In the CRT arm, three patients experienced grade 3-related late toxicity. Median DFS was 12 months in the CRT arm and 11 months in the control arm. Median OS was 24 months in both arms. First local recurrence was less frequent in the CRT arm (11% v 24%). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant gemcitabine-based CRT is feasible, well-tolerated, and not deleterious; adding this treatment to full-dose adjuvant gemcitabine after resection of pancreatic cancer should be evaluated in a phase III trial