S-1 monotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-agent S-1 in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer.

Methods: S-1 was administered orally at a dose of 80 mg/m2 for 28 days, followed by 14 days of rest (1 cycle); treatment was repeated until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient refusal.

Results: Forty-five patients were enrolled between January 2005 and June 2008. Among these, 29 patients received S-1 as first-line chemotherapy and 16 patients received S-1 as second-line chemotherapy. The response rates for first- and second-line chemotherapy were 17.2 and 18.8%, respectively. The median times to progression for the first- and second-line chemotherapy groups were 4.2 and 5.5 months (p = 0.91), respectively. The median overall survival and 1-year survival rate for each group were 8.7 and 8.0 months and 42.2 and 38.2%, respectively (p = 0.62). Only the first-line chemotherapy group experienced grade 3/4 toxicities, including leukopenia (6.9%), neutropenia (10.3%), anemia (6.9%), thrombocytopenia (10.3%) and total bilirubin elevation (3.4%).

Conclusion: S-1 monotherapy is a feasible and moderately efficacious treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer, as a first- or second-line chemotherapy regimen.