Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel until progression or alternating with FOLFIRI.3, as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: The Federation Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive-PRODIGE 37 randomised phase II study (FIRGEMAX).

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy is effective in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPA), but new approaches are still needed to improve patients' survival and quality of life. We have previously published good efficacy and tolerability results on a sequential treatment strategy of gemcitabine followed by an intensified FOLFIRI (5FU+irinotecan) regimen. In the present study, we evaluated the same sequence but replaced gemcitabine by the new gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel standard first-line combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We randomised chemotherapy-naive patients with proven mPA, bilirubin levels ≤1.5 upper limit of normal values and performance status 0-2 to alternately receive gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel for 2 months then FOLFIRI.3 for 2 months in arm A, or gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel alone until progression in arm B. The primary objective was to increase the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate from 40% (H0) to 60% (H1); using the binomial exact method, 124 patients were required. Analyses were carried out in preplanned modified intention-to-treat (mITT) and per-protocol (PP) populations. RESULTS: Between November 2015 and November 2016, 127 patients were enrolled. Main grade III-IV toxicities (% in arm A/B) were: diarrhoea (12.5/1.7), neutropenia (46.9/31, including febrile neutropenia: 1.6/0), skin toxicity (6.3/13.8), and peripheral neuropathy (6.3/8.6). No toxic deaths occurred. The objective response rate was 40.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 28.1-53.6) in arm A and 26.7% (95% CI: 16.1-39.7) in arm B. The primary end-point (6-month PFS rate) was 45.2% [one-sided 95% CI: 34.3-56.4] in arm A and 23.3% in arm B [one-sided 95% CI: 14.3-32.3] in the mITT population. In the PP population, median PFS and OS were 7.6 months and 6 months and 14.5 months and 12.2 months in arm A and B, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The FIRGEMAX strategy with gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel alternating with FOLFIRI.3 every 2 months, appears feasible and effective, with manageable toxicities, in patients able to reach >2mo of treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: EudraCT: 2014-004449-28: NCT: 0282701.

A randomized controlled, open-label early phase II trial comparing incidence of FOLFIRI.3-induced diarrhoea between Hangeshashinto and oral alkalization in Japanese patients with colorectal cancer.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: We conducted a pilot clinical trial to investigate whether Hangeshashinto (TJ-14) could be substituted for oral alkalization in patients scheduled to undergo chemotherapy by FOLFIRI.3 regimen for colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Patients with CRC were randomized 1:1 to a TJ-14 (7.5 g/day) group or an oral alkalization (sodium bicarbonate, 1.8 g/day; ursodeoxycholic acid, 300 mg/day) group. The primary endpoint was incident of late-onset diarrhoea. A total of 30 patients were randomized to either the TJ-14 group or the alkalization group. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was no statistical difference in age, concomitantly used drugs or UGT1A1 genotypes between the groups. In the alkalization group (n = 15), the frequency of grade 0/1/2 and grade 3 diarrhoea was 73% and 27%, respectively. In the TJ-14 group (n = 14), the frequency of grade 0/1/2 and grade 3 diarrhoea was 79% and 21%, respectively. Grade 4 diarrhoea was not observed in either group. There was no statistically significant difference in other adverse events or in response to FOLFIRI.3 between the groups. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This pilot trial suggests that TJ-14 is a promising alternative treatment option to reduce FOLFIRI.3-induced late-onset diarrhoea, although additional clinical study with a larger number of patients is necessary to confirm these results.

Fixed-dose rate gemcitabine alone or alternating with FOLFIRI.3 (irinotecan, leucovorin and fluorouracil) in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: an AGEO randomised phase II study (FIRGEM).

BACKGROUND: Fluorouracil and irinotecan-based, and gemcitabine-based regimens, are the standard of care in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. New approaches are needed to improve survival and quality of life. Whether a sequential approach alternating irinotecan, fluorouracil and gemcitabine may be effective and tolerable in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer is unknown. METHODS: In this randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial, patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, World Health Organisation (WHO) performance status 0-1, and bilirubin levels <1.5 upper limit of normal values (ULN) were randomised 1:1 to receive as first-line treatment either FOLFIRI.3 (irinotecan, leucovorin and fluorouracil) alternating with fixed-dose rate gemcitabine as 2-month periods (FIRGEM, arm A), or fixed-dose rate gemcitabine alone (arm B). Treatment was continued until disease progression or limiting toxicity. The primary end-point was the crude progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 6 months. The study is registered with EudraCT (N° 2006-005703-34). RESULTS: Between October 2007 and March 2011, 98 patients were enroled. The observed 6-month PFS rate was 43.5% (95% confidence interval (CI), [28.6-58.4%]) in arm A reaching the Fleming decision rules criteria to reject H0 and 26.1% (95% CI [12.9-39.3%]) in arm B. Objective response rates were 37% (23-51%) in arm A and 10% (1-19%) in arm B. Median PFS (5.0 versus 3.4 months, hazard ratio (HR)=0.59 [0.38-0.90]) and overall survival (11.0 versus 8.2 months, HR=0.71 [0.46-1.10]) were higher in arm A compared to arm B. The most frequent grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (49%/24%; febrile neutropenia, 4%/0% in arms A/B), diarrhoea (arm A, 12% and arm B, 0%), and nausea/vomiting (8%/4%). No toxic deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: The FIRGEM strategy appears to be effective and feasible in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.