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World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2007; 13(20): 2852-2854
Published online May 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i20.2852
Experience with gemcitabine and cisplatin in the therapy of inoperable and metastatic cholangiocarcinoma
Chaiyut Charoentum, Sumitra Thongprasert, Busyamas Chewaskulyong, Sutthirak Munprakan
Chaiyut Charoentum, Sumitra Thongprasert, Busyamas Chewaskulyong, Sutthirak Munprakan, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Chaiyut Charoentum, MD, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intawaroros Road, Maung district, Chiang Mai 50200,Thailand. ccharoen@mail.med.cmu.ac.th
Telephone: +66-53-946488 Fax: +66-53-945481
Received: February 15, 2007
Revised: March 15, 2007
Accepted: March 21, 2007
Published online: May 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To study the activity of gemcitabine and cisplatin in a cohort of patients with inoperable or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS: Chemotherapy-naive patients with pathologically proven cholangiocarcinoma, receiving treatment that consisted of gemcitabine at 1250 mg/m2 in a 30-min infusion on d 1 and 8, and cisplatin at 75 mg/m2 at every 21-d cycle, were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS: From June 2003 to December 2005, 42 patients were evaluated. Twelve patients (28%) had unresectable disease and 30 (72%) had metastatic disease. There were 28 males and 14 females with a median age of 51 years (range 33-67) and median ECOG PS of 1 (range 0-2). A total of 171 cycles were given with a median number of cycles of 4 (range 1-6). There were 0 CR, 9 PR, 11 SD and 13 PD (response rate 21%). Grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities were: anemia in 33%, neutropenia in 22% and thrombocytopenia in 5%. Non-hematologic toxicity was generally mild. No cases of febrile neutropenia or treatment-related death were noted. The median survival was 10.8 mo (range 8.4-13 mo) and progression free survival was 8.5 mo. One-year survival rate was 40%.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin had consistent efficacy in patients with unresectable or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Keywords: Gemcitabine; Cisplatin; Cholangiocarcinoma