Clinical outcomes of FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in the real world setting.

Abstract

440 Background: The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing in developed countries. Though FOLFIRINOX (FFX) and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GNP) are associated with increased toxicity and are addressed to a well selected population, there seems to have been a rapid incorporation of these regimens in the real world. Overall survival (OS) was 11.1 months for FFX and 8.5 months for GNP. Survival rate at 18 m with FFX was 18.6%; at 24 m with GNP was 9%. Questions have arisen about external validity of original trials and how could these regimens impact overall survival since they are available nowadays for second line settings. Methods: This is a retrospective study. The Departments of Pharmacy of 5 Spanish hospitals generated the listings of patients (pts) treated in first line with the new regimens, namely FFX or GNP. To avoid bias related to non-prospective data collection, we restricted the analysis to survival data, serious toxicity and 2nd line options. Results: From Jan 2012 to Dec 2016, a total of 136 pts (M/F 52/48 %) were treated. Med age 63 y (38-83 y), 95% adenocarcinoma. 48% head of pancreas. ECOG 88% 0-1. 36 % locally advanced and 64% metastatic. 88% had liver mets. In the 1st line 64% were treated with FFX and 36% with GNP. 5 (3,7%) pts died in the first 3 months of treatment, because of infectious complications. 16 pts were operated after chemotherapy. 60% of the pts could receive a 2nd line (43% GNP, 25% FFX, 32% other). 27 pts (19.8%) were treated with a 3rd line. More pts treated with FFX required G-CSF (85% vs 15%). The median OS was 13 months with no differences between regimens. Survival rate at 30 months was 25% for both regimens. Elevated Ca 19.9 levels and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) increased the risk of death during the first-line. Conclusions: Originally reported OS is not only reproduced but improved in the real world despite a less strict inclusion of pts. 25% of patients remain alive 30 months after diagnosis. Superiority could not be demonstrated for any of the schemes. The availability of both regimens seems to dilute the potential differences and it is not so important the election of the 1st line. Both NLR and Ca 19.9 level predicted risk of death during the 1st line impairing the possibility of being treated in 2nd line.