Comparative Study of Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin and Gemcitabine Plus Fluorouracil in the Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Comparative study of gemcitabine plus cisplatin and gemcitabine plus fluorouracil in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer

Objective To compare the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine plus cisplatin and gemcitabine plus fluorouracil in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods Sixty patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were randomly divided into a GP group (gemcitabine + cisplatin, 30 cases) and a GF group (gemcitabine + fluorouracil, 30 cases). All patients were treated with gemcitabine at a dose of 1,000mg/m² (diluted in 100ml saline solution over 30 min) once a week for 3 consecutive weeks. The GP Group was followed by 40mg cisplatin via intravenous drip on days 15,16,17. Group GF was followed by 500mg/m²5-Fu (diluted in 5% glucose-saline (GS) 500ml, intravenously, over 6 hr) every day for five subsequent days. Results In the GP group, eight cases (32.0%) were PR and MR, the median survival time was 8.7 months, the Clinical Beneficial Rate (CBR) was 57.7%, and the CA19-9 decreased by over 50% in 13 cases (48.1%). In the GF group, 11 cases (45.8%) were PR and MR, the survival time was 10.1 months, the CBR was 82.1%, and CA19-9 decreased by over 50% in 15 cases(53.6%). There was a significant difference in the CBR between the two groups (P<0.05). The main toxicities in both groups were leucopenia and thrombocytopenia with no significant difference. Conclusions The treatment given to either the GP or GF group is a feasible and well-tolerated chemotherapy regimen for treating advanced pancreatic cancer with improved therapeutic efficacy and few side effects. The median survival period is long and the CBR is high, especially with the GF regimen.