Abstract
BACKGROUND
There is no effective systemic therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. A recent trial reported a moderate antitumor activity for gemcitabine among Asian patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. This led to our examination of the efficacy and tolerability of the drug in a population of U.S. patients.
METHODS
Thirty patients with measurable, unresectable, or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma who had received at least one previous form of systemic therapy were enrolled. All patients were required to have adequate major organ function and performance status. Patients received gemcitabine (1000 mg/m^2^ intravenously over 30 minutes weekly) for 3 consecutive weeks followed by a 1βweek rest. Patients were assessed radiographically every 8 weeks.
RESULTS
All 30 patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Ninety cycles of therapy were administered (median 2, range 1β8). No complete or partial responses were observed. Nine patients (30%) had stable disease (median duration 7.4 months, range 2β17). Median survival for all 30 patients was 6.9 months (95% confidence interval, 4.5β13.5) and the 1βyear survival rate was 40%. Mild hematologic toxicity occurred. Two patients (7%) developed Grade 4 neutropenia and one patient (3%) experienced Grade 3 thrombocytopenia. There were no episodes of febrile neutropenia. One patient who had previously undergone orthotopic liver transplantation developed hemolyticβuremic syndrome that resolved with discontinuation of chemotherapy and plasmapheresis.
CONCLUSIONS
Although generally well tolerated, gemcitabine had minimal effect in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer 2002;94:3186β91. Β© 2002 American Cancer Society.
DOI 10.1002/cncr.10607