OBJECTIVES:

Peritoneal metastasis is one of the major sites of disease progression of pancreatic cancer. There have been few trials in the second-line setting after gemcitabine failure because patients can hardly be candidates for chemotherapy after failure in the first-line chemotherapy, especially those with malignant ascites. The safety and efficacy of weekly paclitaxel therapy was evaluated for pancreatic cancer patients with malignant ascites in this retrospective study.

METHODS:

The subjects of this retrospective study were 23 advanced pancreatic cancer patients with malignant ascites who received weekly paclitaxel therapy after gemcitabine failure. Paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2), div. for 1 h) was administered on Days 1, 8 and 15, every 4 weeks.

RESULTS:

While the disease control rate was 35%, decrease of ascites was obtained in 30% of the patients and ascites control rate was 61%. The median survival time was 101 days. Toxicities were mild, although one treatment-related death occurred.

CONCLUSIONS:

Weekly paclitaxel therapy may be useful treatment option for pancreatic cancer patients with malignant ascites after gemcitabine failure.