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Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) increases the efficacy of cisplatinum plus gemcitabine combination in advanced pancreatic cancer
Author(s) -
Icli Fikri,
Akbulut Hakan,
Utkan Gungor,
Yalcin Bülent,
Dincol Dilek,
Isikdogan Abdurrahman,
Demirkazik Ahmet,
Onur Handan,
Cay Filiz,
Büyükcelik Abdullah
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.20728
Subject(s) - medicine , gemcitabine , chemotherapy , low molecular weight heparin , pancreatic cancer , gastroenterology , heparin , surgery , cancer , oncology
Background In this non‐randomized study we aimed to assess the efficacy of the addition of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to gemcitabine (GEM) plus cisplatinum (CDDP) combination chemotherapy on survival by prevention of thromboembolic complications in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC). Patients and Methods Between November 1999 and February 2004, 69 consecutive patients with APC were treated with GEM (800 mg/m 2 , day 1, day 8) plus CDDP (35 mg/m 2 , day 1, day 8) every 21 days ±LMWH (nadroparine calcium, 2,850 IU/day until disease progression). Ten out of 35 patients in LMWH group and 10 out of 34 patients in chemotherapy alone group had primary inoperable locally advanced disease and the rest of the patients had metastatic disease. Results Total response rate was 58.8% (11.7% CR) for the patients treated with LMWH and 12.1% for those treated without LMWH ( P = 0.0001). LMWH group had a better median time to progression (TTP) and survival when compared to control group (7.3 vs. 4.0 months, P = 0.0001; 13.0 vs. 5.5 months, P = 0.0001). The toxicity was similar and acceptable in both groups. Conclusion Addition of LMWH to GEM plus CDDP combination significantly improved the response and survival in patients with APC and the current schedule deserves to be tested in phase III trials. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007; 95: 507–512. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.