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| |  ASCO MEETING: Drug Combo Prolongs Survival For Pancreatic Cancer Patients ATLANTA, GA -- May 18, 1999 -- Patients with pancreatic cancer, the fourth-leading cause of cancer death among men and women, live longer with a combination chemotherapy regimen of Eli Lilly and Co.’s Gemzar(R) (gemcitabine HCl) and cisplatin, show the results of a study from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. The study was presented today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute researcher Philip Philip, M.D., was the lead investigator of the study, which evaluated 27 pancreatic cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease (cancer that has spread to other organs of the body). "When left untreated, pancreatic cancer can take the lives of patients within a few months," said Dr. Philip, Karmanos medical oncologist. "Our research suggests that this combination regimen may result in better survival and a higher remission rate for patients with non-operable pancreatic cancer." Patients received gemcitabine, followed by cisplatin, on a 28-day cycle in the Institute's outpatient centre. The study population included patients between 32 years old and 81 years old; the median age was 64. None of the patients had previously been treated with gemcitabine. Dr. Philip found that the overall tumour response rate to the regimen was 36.4 percent; median time to tumour progression was 6.2 months. Two patients' tumours responded completely to the regimen and six patients experienced partial responses (a 50 percent or greater decrease in tumour size). The median survival of all 27 patients was 7.4 months. "Gemcitabine has proven itself as an effective single agent against pancreatic cancer, however our research suggests that gemcitabine, when combined with another drug may be more effective in treating the disease," Dr. Philip said. "The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin every other week has significant therapeutic activity with tolerable side effects in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer." Thrombocytopenia, reduction of platelets in the blood and neutropenia (suppression of white blood cells) were the most common side effects of the regimen. Anemia (suppression of red blood cells) and nausea and vomiting were also reported. Red blood cell and platelet transfusions were required by 31 percent and eight percent of patients respectively. Serious infections complicating neutropenia were not seen. The American Cancer Society estimates that 28,600 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. About 20 percent of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are alive after one year and only four percent of patients are alive after five years making it the deadliest of all cancers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved gemcitabine for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In combination with cisplatin, gemcitabine is also approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Related Links: Gemzar, cisplatin, Eli Lilly and Co.
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