Phase Ib study of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin with erlotinib in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer.

e14503 Background: Gemcitabine (GEM) with a platinum agent such as oxaliplatin (OX) is standard therapy for advanced biliary tract cancers (ABTC). The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) erlotinib has also shown modest benefit in ABTC. Erlotinib (E) induces G1/S cell cycle arrest and may exhibit sequence-specific synergy with GEM. Given continuously, it may antagonize the action of chemotherapy against cycling tumor cells but intermittent pulsatile dosing of EGFR TKIs in combination with chemotherapy may lead to maximum efficacy. The purpose of this study is to assess the tolerability of E when pulsed with GEM and OX (GEMOX). Methods: This investigator initiated, single institution phase Ib study (NCT00987766) used a standard 3+3 dose-escalation model in patients with ABTC, pancreas cancer or duodenal cancer. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of pulsatile E in combination with GEMOX. Patients received escalating doses of E starting at...