Weekly high-dose 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid in metastatic pancreatic carcinoma: a phase II study of the EORTC GastroIntestinal Tract Cancer Cooperative Group.

The aim of the study was to assess the response rate and toxicity of high-dose 24 h infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) in metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Patients with measurable disease, performance status 0-2, and no prior chemotherapy were registered to receive cycles of leucovorin (LV) 500 mg/m2 (or l-LV 250 mg/m2 over 1 h followed by 5FU 2.6 g/m2 over 24 h, weekly for 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest. The main endpoints were the response rate and toxicity. From 37 patients, 36 were the analysed for toxicity, and 33 were eligible and analysed for response. The median age was 59 years (range 28-74 years), and the median performance status was 1. Partial response was observed in three patients (9%) (95% Confidential Interval (CI): [2-24]%). Main grade 3/4 National Cancer Institute (NCI) common toxicity criteria toxicities (patients) were diarrhoea (n = 3), vomiting (n = 2) and hand-foot syndrome (n = 5). Median time to progression was 7 weeks (95% CI: [6.4-11.7] weeks) and median survival 19 weeks (95% CI: [12-35] weeks). In conclusion, high-dose 5FU and folinic acid is well tolerated, but has only modest activity in pancreatic cancer.

Cisplatin, doxorubicin and ifosfamide in carcinosarcoma of the female genital tract. A phase II study of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Gynaecological Cancer Group (EORTC 55923).

Carcinosarcomas of the female genital tract are highly malignant tumours composed of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. In the past, these tumours were frequently treated as sarcomas. However, a number of arguments, including the sensitivity of these tumours to platinum-based chemotherapy, suggest that these tumours behave more like poorly differentiated carcinomas. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Gynaecological Cancer Group therefore decided to perform a prospective phase II study in patients with advanced or metastatic carcinosarcoma with an approach such as that used in gynaecological carcinomas. Eligible patients could have primary or recurrent disease, but prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy was not allowed. The treatment plan recommended upfront debulking, followed by chemotherapy with cisplatin, ifosfamide and doxorubicin. Patients who could be debulked to non-measurable disease remained eligible for the study, but the response assessment was restricted to patients who had measurable disease before the start of chemotherapy. A total of 48 patients (39 primary disease, 9 recurrent disease) were registered, 41 of them being eligible. In 9 patients, all macroscopic lesions could be removed, 32 patients were left with residual disease and were assessable for response. The overall response rate was 56%: a complete response (CR) was observed in 11 (34%) patients and partial response (PR) in 7 (22%) patients. No change occurred in 5 patients and progression in 2 patients. In 7 patients, response could not be assessed. Median survival for all of the 41 eligible patients was 26 months. Severe leucopenia and thrombocytopenia were common and necessitated dose reductions or delays in 60% of patients. From a clinical point of view, the most severe non-haematological toxicity was renal dysfunction, and one patient died of this complication in the absence of disease progression. The results of this study are in-line with the hypothesis that carcinosarcomas are chemosensitive, in particular for the currently investigated regimen. The treatment also included upfront cytoreduction when feasible. Considering the observed toxicities, alternative platinum-based regimens with more favourable toxicity profiles should be explored.

The effect of chemotherapy on the different components of advanced carcinosarcomas (malignant mixed mesodermal tumors) of the female genital tract.

The effect of chemotherapy on the different components of uterine and ovarian carcinosarcoma is largely unknown. This report describes six patients with advanced carcinosarcoma, five of whom received 4 cycles of doxorubicin and ifosfamide (AI) directed at the sarcomatous component of the tumor. Responses in these five patients at second-look laparotomy were: one complete response, two partial responses (persistence of only the carcinomatous component), one stable disease, and one progressive disease (both components still present in both cases). Thereafter 4 cycles of a cisplatin-based regimen were scheduled. Response to the cisplatin-containing regimen was only evaluated clinically. The sixth patient (with no macroscopic disease left after initial surgery) received 6 cycles of a cisplatin-based chemotherapy from the onset and was found to be in complete response at relaparotomy. Median progression-free survival for all patients was 15 months and median survival 21 months. A literature survey showed that carcinosarcoma differs from adult soft tissue sarcomas with respect to responsiveness to chemotherapy. Cisplatin and ifosfamide are active as single agents, whereas the response to single-agent doxorubicin seems to be lower. The data suggest, however, that superior response rates and increased survival times are achieved with cisplatin/doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. The sensitivity of carcinosarcoma to cisplatin supports the recent view that carcinosarcoma of the female genital tract is possibly a high grade carcinoma with metaplastic sarcomatous elements.