Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this phase 2 study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ixabepilone plus cetuximab in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Eligible patients had advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma that was metastatic or not amenable to resection, a Karnofsky performance status ≥70%, and no prior therapy for advanced disease. Patients received ixabepilone 32 mg/m2 (3-hour IV infusion) every 3 weeks and cetuximab 250 mg/m2 (1-hour IV infusion) weekly. The primary efficacy end point was the 6-month survival rate. Secondary end points included tumor response rate, overall survival, progression- free survival, and tolerability. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients were enrolled on this study. The 6-month survival rate was 57% (31/54:95% CI: 43-71%) with a median overall survival of 7.6 months (95% CI: 5.5-12.2 months). Patients who developed acneiform rash (n = 36) had a median survival of 8.8 months, compared with 2.6 months for those without rash (n = 18). Of 31 patients with measurable disease (defined as response-evaluable), 4 had confirmed partial responses and an additional 24 had stable disease. The combination was generally well-tolerated with the most common grade 3/4 hematological toxicities being leucopenia (39%) and neutropenia (33%). The most common grade 3/4 nonhematologic toxicity was fatigue (17%). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of ixabepilone and cetuximab was active and had acceptable toxicity. The efficacy results are similar to single-agent ixabepilone and gemcitabine-based combination therapies in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Exploratory analyses suggest a trend toward improved survival for patients who experienced rash. Gastrointest Cancer Res 5:155-160.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 155-160 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Gastrointestinal Cancer Research |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 5 |
State | Published - Sep 1 2012 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology