| Good news for patients with advanced biliary | | | | stable disease) was observed in 81.4% of patients |
| tract cancer. Combination of cisplatin and | | | | in the combination group and 71.8% in the |
| gemcitabine (Gemzar) have been shown to be an | | | | gemcitabine-only group (PÂ = .049). A complete |
| effective treatment option for patients with locally | | | | response was observed in 1 patient from each |
| advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer.  | | | | treatment |
| In developed nations, biliary tract cancer is | | | | Â |
| uncommon, but the incidence is increasing. Most | | | | The median overall survival was 11.7 months in |
| patients, when diagnosed, are already at | | | | the combination group and 8.1 months in the |
| advanced stage of the disease. Although | | | | gemcitabine-only group, representing a 36% |
| advanced biliary tract cancer responds to | | | | reduction in mortality. In addition, median |
| chemotherapy, there is no standard 1st line | | | | progression-free survival was 8.0 months in the |
| palliative regimen. | | | | combination group and 5.0 months in the |
| In the April 8 issue of the New England Journal of | | | | gemcitabine-only group (P < .001). |
| Medicine, British researchers reported that cisplatin | | | | Similar Adverse Events |
| plus gemcitabine was associated with a significant | | | | Adverse events were similar in the 2 groups. A |
| survival advantage, compared with gemcitabine | | | | higher, but not significant, incidence of neutropenia |
| alone. Toxicity was not substantially increased in | | | | was observed in the combination group and the |
| patients who received the combination regimen. | | | | infection rates were similar between the 2 groups. |
| The trial was conducted at 37 centers in the | | | | Patients in the gemcitabine-only group had |
| United Kingdom. A total of 410 patients with | | | | significantly worse liver function (27.1%) than |
| locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma, | | | | those in the combination group (16.7%) and the |
| gallbladder cancer, or ampullary cancer were | | | | authors speculated the better liver function was a |
| randomized to receive either 1) cisplatin followed | | | | reflection of the better disease control in the |
| by gemcitabine or 2) gemcitabine alone for up to | | | | combination group. |
| 24 weeks. | | | | N Engl J Med. 2010;362:1273-1281, 1335-1337. |
| Tumor control (complete or partial response or | | | | Please visit us at healthreason. |