A Trial of Chemo & Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

During cycle I (chemoradiation), gemcitabine (200 mg/m2) and cetuximab 400mg/m2 initial dose followed by 250mg/m2 IV weekly will be given with continuous infusion 5-FU (200 mg/m2/day) delivered 5 of every 7 days and concurrent external beam radiation therapy. Cetuximab, gemcitabine and 5-FU will begin on the first week of external beam radiotherapy and will continue throughout the course of external beam radiation therapy, and will be discontinued following the conclusion of external beam radiation therapy. All patients will have a central venous access device placed to facilitate chemotherapy administration. During cycles 2 through 5 (chemotherapy), gemcitabine will be administered at a dose of 1000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes followed by cetuximab at a dose of 250mg/m2 over 30 minutes weekly for 3 weeks followed by one-week rest for four cycles.