Pilot study in locally advanced unresectable pancreas carcinoma using a combination of accelerated radiotherapy and continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil.

Abstract

Thirteen patients with localized unresectable pancreas carcinoma were treated with a combination of accelerated radiotherapy and 5-fluorouracil. Radiotherapy consisted in 3 fractions of 1.1 Gy per day during 3 weeks up to a total dose of 45-50 Gy. 5-Fluorouracil was administered as continuous infusion in a dosis of 25 mg/kg/24 h the first and the third week concomitantly to radiotherapy. Grade 3 mucositis, diarrhoea and nausea/vomiting were observed in 15% of the patients. Eleven patients completed the treatment without modifications and in two patients the dose of 5-fluorouracil was reduced to 75% during the third week of treatment. Radiotherapy was always administered as planned. Median survival was 36 weeks.