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Keep this study
Lead
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
This is a Phase I trial of gemcitabine given weekly as a 30 minute infusion administered concurrently with radiation in patients with locally advanced or locally recurrent pancreatic carcinoma. Patients will be treated with external beam radiation therapy in a standard manner. Gemcitabine will be administered as a 30 minute infusion beginning on the first day of irradiation and weekly afterwards for a total of 5 doses. Patients will be assessed clinically for acute toxicity which will be graded per RTOG and DCT toxicity grading system.
Age
Any age
Sex
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
You may be eligible if
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Histologically or cytologically proven unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or ampulla of Vater. Surgical consult at NCI confirming unresectability fulfills requirement.
Unresectable disease defined as tumor with: Gross involvement of regional nodes or direct extension to any of the following sites: Duodenum, Spleen, Bile duct , Colon, Peripancreatic tissue, Adjacent large vessels, Stomach.
Metastatic disease requiring local radiotherapy allowed. No CNS metastasis.
No lymphomas or neuroendocrine tumors.
No peritoneal carcinomatosis.
PRIOR/CONCURRENT THERAPY:
Biologic Therapy: More than 4 weeks since immunotherapy.
Chemotherapy:
No prior chemotherapy for newly diagnosed disease.
More than 4 weeks since chemotherapy for recurrent disease (6 weeks since nitrosoureas, mitomycin, or suramin).
Endocrine Therapy: More than 4 weeks since hormonal therapy.
Radiotherapy:
No prior radiotherapy for newly diagnosed disease.
No prior abdominal or pelvic radiotherapy.
More than 4 weeks since radiotherapy for recurrent disease. No prior radiotherapy for locally advanced disease after resection allowed.
Surgery:
Prior resection allowed.
Biliary decompression or gastric bypass allowed.
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age: 18 and over.
Performance status: ECOG 0-2.
Hematopoietic:
ANC greater than 2,000/mm(3).
Platelets greater than 100,000/mm(3).
Hepatic: AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times normal.
Renal:
Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL.
Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min,
Cardiovascular:
No myocardial infarction within 6 months.
No unstable angina.
No congestive heart failure (NYHA class III/IV).
OTHER:
HIV seronegative.
No medical or psychiatric contraindication to protocol therapy.
No concurrent malignancy other than: Skin cancer, Cervical carcinoma in situ.
No pregnant or nursing women.
Adequate contraception required of fertile patients.
