Toxicity study of gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab followed by 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, and radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

337 Background: Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer experience higher response rates (though not always improved survival) with combinations of either platinum compounds or bevacizumab in combination with gemcitabine. In patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, improved response affects local control and surgical options. Methods: We piloted a three-drug combination of gemcitabine/oxaliplatin/5-FU/bevacizumab Q2w for four cycles, followed by oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2/q2w) and bevacizumab (5 mg/kg q2w) added to infusional 5-FU and radiation, in patients with pancreatic cancer that was unresectable or borderline resectable. Results: Nineteen patients have been treated, of whom 17 received the entire treatment. Median age was 60, with 12 women and 7 men. Stages were: one IIA, one IIB, and 17 III. Sixteen were unresectable and 3 borderline resectable by protocol-specified criteria. Major toxicities during chemotherapy were: grade 3 neutropenia (5/19); grade 2 neutropenia (7/19), anemia (2/19), thrombocytopenia (2/19). During chemoradiation major toxicities were: grade 3 nausea (3/19), vomiting (3/19), leukopenia (2/19); grade 2 nausea (5/19), leukopenia (4/19). One patient had grade 3 pulmonary embolism that led to withdrawal from the study. One patient had progressive pain early on; no other disease progression was noted during treatment. Five patients (3 inoperable, 2 borderline) went on to have surgery. Median survival was 14 months (range 3 to 40+). For the 5 patients who had surgery, median survival was 17.1 months (range 9.5 to 40+). Conclusions: We conclude that this regimen is well-tolerated by patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, and that the therapeutic results support further evaluation. Additional correlative studies are underway to identify characteristics associated with a favorable outcome.