A phase II trial of irinotecan (CPT-11) for unresectable biliary tree carcinoma Journal Article


Authors: Sanz-Altamira, P. M.; O'reilly, E.; Stuart, K. E.; Raeburn, L.; Steger, C.; Kemeny, N. E.; Saltz, L. B.
Article Title: A phase II trial of irinotecan (CPT-11) for unresectable biliary tree carcinoma
Abstract: Background: Unresectable adenocarcinomas of the biliary tree have a very poor prognosis. No good chemotherapeutic regimen is available. Irinotecan has not yet been fully tested in this disease. We evaluated its activity in unresectable bile duct cancers. Patients and methods: Twenty-five consecutive eligible patients at our two institutions were treated with irinotecan at a starting dose of 125 mg/m2. A cycle consisted of once-a-week treatments for four consecutive weeks, followed by two weeks of rest. All patients were required to have histologically confirmed diagnosis, clinically documented metastatic or unresectable carcinoma and measurable disease. Patients were evaluated for response, toxicity, and survival. Results: A total of 83 cycles of therapy were delivered. Two patients had a partial response (8%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0%-18%) and ten additional patients had stable disease for at least two months (40%; 95% CI: 20.8%-59.2%). The therapy was well tolerated, with moderate myelosuppression and diarrhea as the main toxicities. The overall median survival was 10 months. Conclusions: Irinotecan has minimal activity in biliary tree carcinomas, but is well tolerated with appropriate supportive care, and produces occasional objective responses.
Keywords: adult; cancer survival; clinical article; controlled study; treatment outcome; aged; middle aged; survival rate; clinical trial; drug activity; drug tolerability; histopathology; neutropenia; diarrhea; adenocarcinoma; metastasis; controlled clinical trial; infection; phase 2 clinical trial; anemia; bone marrow suppression; antineoplastic agents, phytogenic; camptothecin; irinotecan; asthenia; fever; alkaline phosphatase; drug response; nausea and vomiting; bile duct carcinoma; cholangiocarcinoma; gallbladder carcinoma; gallbladder neoplasms; l-lactate dehydrogenase; phase ii trial; disease activity; ca-19-9 antigen; aspartate aminotransferases; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article; biliary tree carcinoma
Journal Title: Annals of Oncology
Volume: 12
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0923-7534
Publisher: Oxford University Press  
Date Published: 2001-04-01
Start Page: 501
End Page: 504
Language: English
DOI: 10.1023/a:1011135014895
PUBMED: 11398883
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 21 May 2015 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Leonard B Saltz
    790 Saltz
  2. Eileen O'Reilly
    780 O'Reilly
  3. Nancy Kemeny
    543 Kemeny