Phase III trial comparing intensive induction chemoradiotherapy (60 Gy, infusional 5-FU and intermittent cisplatin) followed by maintenance gemcitabine with gemcitabine alone for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer. Definitive results of the 2000–01 FFCD/SFRO study

Background: The role of chemoradiation with systemic chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is uncertain. Patients and methods: One hundred and nineteen patients with LAPC, World Health Organization performance status of zero to two were randomly assigned to either the induction CHRT group (60 Gy, 2 Gy/fraction; concomitant 5-fluorouracil infusion, 300 mg/m 2 /day, days 1-5 for 6 weeks; cisplatin, 20 mg/m 2 /day, days 1-5 during weeks 1 and 5) or the induction gemcitabine group (GEM: 1000 mg/m 2 weekly for 7 weeks). Maintenance gemcitabine (1000 mg/ m 2 weekly, 3/4 weeks) was given in both arms until disease progression or toxicity. Results: Overall survival was shorter in the CHRT than in GEM arm [median survival 8.6 (99% confidence interval 7.1-11.4) and 13 months (8.7-18.1), P=0.03]. One-year survival was, respectively, 32% and 53%. These results were confirmed in a per-protocol analysis for patients who received 75% or more of the planned dose of radiotherapy. More overall grades 3-4 toxic effects were recorded in the CHRT arm, both during induction (36 versus 22%) and maintenance (32 versus 18%). Conclusion: This intensive induction schedule of CHRT was more toxic and less effective than gemcitabine alone.