EARLY INCREASE of CA 19-9 in ADVANCED PANCREATIC CANCER RECEIVING FOLFIRINOX. Is it a sign of efficacy?.

INTRODUCTION: Advanced pancreatic cancer (APC), one of the most aggressive tunors, was considered to be resistant to chemotherapy for decades. FOLFIRINOX (5-FU, leucovorin, iNinotecah and oxaliplatin) regimen showed an improvement of quality of life and overall sUrvival.ir APb patients with good performance status (ECOG < 2). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven patients diagnosed with APO, during a six-month period, received FOLFIRINOX as first line treat- ment. Tumor measurement Was assesed every two months and CA 19-9, tHe specific tumor marker of pahcteatid can6er, was assessed every two wedks at every cycle. RESULTS: Three patients ouf of seven receiving FOLFiRINOX dtpe- riented an early And transitory increase of CA 19-9 after th6 first two cybles resulting ih a considerable response with a median survival of 15 mnths and suggesting a fhdel of fdmor release syndrome. CONCLUSION: This phenoMenon of early and transitory increase of CA 19-9 in APC could reflect the high efficacy of FOLFIRINOX and could predict better out- come in these patients.