Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine and S-1 followed by chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
Methods: Patients with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer received four cycles of induction chemotherapy consisting of 30-min intravenous infusions of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 and oral S-1 40 mg/m(2) twice daily on days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle. Those without disease progression received chemoradiotherapy of 30 Gy in ten fractions with 250 mg/m(2) of gemcitabine on days 1 and 8.
Results: A total of 20 patients were treated. Median follow-up time was 431 days (range 133-1,014 days). Four cycles of induction chemotherapy were completed in 18 patients, and 16 patients received chemoradiotherapy, which was completed without delay in all. Grade 3-4 toxicities associated with induction chemotherapy were neutropenia (50%); anemia (20%); thrombocytopenia (10%); febrile neutropenia (5%); nausea (10%); anorexia (10%); and vomiting, fatigue, dehydration, stomatitis, and rash (5%). Grade 3-4 toxicities among those receiving chemoradiotherapy were neutropenia (13%) and anemia (6%). Median progression-free survival was 8.1 months. Median overall survival was 14.4 months, with a 1-year survival rate of 54.2%.
Conclusions: The regimen of induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine and S-1 followed by chemoradiotherapy used in the present study demonstrated promising activity in locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Further consideration of radiation schedule and duration of induction chemotherapy is required to enhance the efficacy of this strategy.