Download PDF
Z Gastroenterol 2000; 38(11): 909-912
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-10296
Kasuistik
© Karl Demeter Verlag im Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Chemotherapy with gemcitabine in patients with advanced gallbladder carcinoma

A. Teufel1 , T. Lehnert2 , W. Stremmel1 , J. Rudi1
  • Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik der Universität, Heidelberg
  • Chirurgische Universitätsklinik, Heidelberg
Further Information

Publication History

14.1.2000

7.6.2000

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Summary

Background: Advanced or metastatic gallbladder carcinoma is regarded not much sensitive to chemotherapy. Standard chemotherapy regimens have not been established up to now.

Patients: We report on 5 patients with advanced gallbladder carcinoma who received chemotherapy with gemcitabine.

Results: Of these 5 patients, 3 demonstrated a partial remission and stable disease was achieved in another patient. Only one patient had no benefit from treatment with gemcitabine.

Conclusion: We conclude that gemcitabine may be an effective drug in the palliative treatment of gallbladder cancer, and thus its efficiency warrants evaluation in further studies.

Chemotherapie mit Gemcitabine beim fortgeschrittenen Gallenblasenkarzinom

Hintergrund: Das Gallenblasenkarzinom wird in fortgeschrittenem Stadium als nur gering chemotherapiesensitiv angesehen. Standard-Chemotherapieprotokolle sind bisher nicht etabliert.

Patienten: Wir berichten über 5 Patienten, die eine Chemotherapie mit Gemcitabine erhielten.

Ergebnisse: Bei 3 von 5 Patienten zeigte sich unter Chemotherapie mit Gemcitabine eine partielle Remission, bei einem weiteren Patienten wurde ein stabiler Krankheitsverlauf erzielt. Nur ein Patient profitierte nicht von der Behandlung mit Gemcitabine.

Schlussfolgerung: Wir folgern daraus, dass Gemcitabine ein wirkungsvolles Medikament zur palliativen Behandlung des Gallenblasenkarzinoms sein kann. Die Effektivität von Gemcitabine beim fortgeschrittenen Gallenblasenkarzinom sollte in weiteren Studien untersucht werden.

Key words

Gallbladder Carcinoma - Gemcitabine - Palliative Chemotherapy

Schlüsselwörter

Gallenblasenkarzinom - Gemcitabine - palliative Chemotherapie

References

  • 1 Duarte I, Llanos O, Domke H, Harz C, Valdivieso V. Metaplasia and precursor lesions of gallbladder carcinoma. Frequency, distribution, and probability of detection in routine histologic samples.  Cancer. 1993;  72 1878-1884
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Silk Y N, Douglass H O, Nava H R, Driscoll D L, Tartarian G. Carcinoma of the gallbladder.  Ann Surg. 1989;  210 751-757
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 3 Abi-Rached B, Neugut A I. Diagnostic and management issues in gallbladder carcinoma.  Oncology. 1995;  9 19-24
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 4 Kopelson G, Harisiadis L, Tretter P, Chang C H. The role of radiation therapy in cancer of the extra-hepatic biliary system: An analysis of thirteen patients and a review of the literature of the effectiveness of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1977;  2 883-894
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 5 Patt Y Z, Jones D V Jr, Hoque A. et al . Phase II trial of intravenous fluorouracil and subcutaneous interferon alfa-2b for biliary tract cancer.  J Clin Oncol. 1996;  14 2311-2315
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 6 Harvey J H, Smith F P, Schein P S. 5-Fluorouracil, mitomycin, and doxorubicin (FAM) in carcinoma of the biliary tract.  J Clin Oncol. 1984;  2 1245-1248
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 7 King R S. Gemcitabine. New first-line therapy for pancreatic cancer.  Cancer Pract. 1996;  4 353-354
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 8 Zatloukal P, Kanitz E, Magyar P. et al . Gemcitabine in locally advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: The Central European phase II study.  Lung Cancer. 1998;  22 243-250
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 9 Lüftner D, Flath B, Akrivakis C. et al . Gemcitabine for palliative treatment in metastatic breast cancer.  J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 1998;  124 527-531
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 10 Aapro M S, Martin C, Hatty S. Gemcitabine - a safety review.  Anticancer Drugs. 1998;  9 191-201
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 11 Raderer M, Hejna M H, Valencak J B. et al . Two consecutive phase II studies of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/mitomycin C and of gemcitabine in patients with advanced biliary cancer.  Oncology. 1999;  56 177-180
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 12 Castro M P. Efficacy of gemcitabine in the treatment of patients with gallbladder carcinoma: A case report.  Cancer. 1998;  82 639-641
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 13 Gallardo J, Fodor M, Gamargo C, Orlandi L. Efficacy of gemcitabine in the treatment of patients with gallbladder carcinoma: A case report.  Cancer. 1998;  83 2419-2421
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 14 Metzger J, Sauerbruch T, Ko Y. Phase II trial of gemcitabine in gallbladder and biliary tract carcinomas.  Onkologie. 1998;  21 232-234
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 15 Hamrick R E Jr, Liner F J, Hastings P R, Cohn I. Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder.  Ann Surg. 1982;  195 270-273
    Search in Google Scholar

Address for correspondence:

Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Jochen Rudi

Medizinische Klinik IV Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg

Bergheimer Straße 58

69115 Heidelberg

Email: jochen_rudi@med.uni-heidelberg.de