Abstract | INTRODUCTION: AIMS: To review the emerging evidence for the clinical effectiveness of capecitabine in the management of carcinoma of the pancreas. EVIDENCE REVIEW: There is evidence from phase II testing that capecitabine is active in pancreatic cancer. The Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research/Central European Cooperative Oncology Group (SAKK/CECOG) phase III trial found that the combination of gemcitabine and capecitabine did not improve overall median survival as compared with gemcitabine alone (8.4 vs 7.3 months, respectively; P=0.314) but subgroup analysis in patients with good performance score [Karnofsky Performance Scores (KPS) ≥90] revealed a significant survival improvement with the combination arm (10.1 months) compared with single-agent gemcitabine (7.5 months; P=0.033). Preliminary data from the GemCap phase III trial indicated significantly improved response rates and survival for the combination of gemcitabine with capecitabine (7.4 months) compared with gemcitabine alone (6 months; P=0.026) but analysis of the mature data with adequate follow-up awaits reporting. CLINICAL POTENTIAL:
|
Authors | David B Smith, John P Neoptolemos |
Journal | Core evidence
(Core Evid)
Vol. 2
Issue 2
Pg. 111-9
(Nov 30 2007)
ISSN: 1555-1741 [Print] New Zealand |
PMID | 21221179
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|