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Gemcitabine following radiotherapy with concurrent 5‐fluorouracil for nonmetastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

Gemcitabine has been shown to be an active agent in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This study was conducted to prospectively examine the tolerance and early efficacy of adjuvant gemcitabine following radiotherapy with concurrent 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) for nonmetastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Twenty‐three patients, median age 64 years, were treated with combined modality therapy. Nine patients underwent tumor resection before chemoradiation; 14 patients with locally unresectable tumors received definitive chemoradiation. Radiotherapy utilized four fields to the tumor and lymphatics to 45 Gy, plus a lateral boost to 50.4 Gy. Concurrent 5‐FU 500 mg/m2/day was administered on days 1–3 and 29–31, followed by 4 months of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2/week for 3 weeks (fourth week break). Adjuvant gemcitabine was well tolerated. Eighty‐three percent of the patients completed three to four cycles. The primary dose‐limiting toxicity was leukopenia, which was observed in 10 patients (43%). Nonhematologic toxicities were reported in five patients (22%). There were no cases of gemcitabine‐induced radiation recall and there have been no deaths attributed to treatment toxicity. Median follow‐up for the 23 patients was 12 months (range, 5–50); the actuarial median survival was 13 months. This report confirms that adjuvant gemcitabine following radiotherapy with concurrent 5‐FU for nonmetastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma can be safely administered. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.