The role of nanoliposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/leucovorin in the continuum of care of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Cancer Med. 2023 Jul;12(13):14337-14345. doi: 10.1002/cam4.6111. Epub 2023 Jun 6.

Abstract

Background: The NAPOLI-I trial showed better outcome of nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) compared to 5-FU/LV in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer (advPDAC) progressed to gemcitabine-based therapy. This study aims to explore the real-world efficacy and safety of 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI.

Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter analysis including advPDAC patients receiving 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI after failure of gemcitabine-based therapy. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier method, univariate and multivariate analyses by Cox regression.

Results: A total of 296 patients (median age 64.4 years, ECOG PS ≥1 in 56% of cases) were treated at 11 Italian institutions between 2016 and 2018. 34% of them underwent primary tumor resection, and 79% received gemcitabine-nabpaclitaxel as first line. 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI was administered as second-line in 73% of cases. Objective response and disease control rate were 12% and 41%, respectively. Treatment was well tolerated with dose reductions in 50% of patients but no one permanent discontinuation; the commonest grade ≥3 toxicities were neutropenia (14%) and diarrhea (12%). Median PFS and OS from 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI initiation was 3.2 and 7.1 months, respectively.

Conclusions: These real-world data confirm the 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI efficacy and safety in advPDAC patients progressed to gemcitabine-based therapy, with outcomes comparable to NAPOLI-1, even in a less-selected population and with more modern therapeutic algorithm.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma* / drug therapy
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Camptothecin
  • Continuity of Patient Care
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan
  • Leucovorin / adverse effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Irinotecan
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil
  • Gemcitabine
  • Camptothecin