Phase 2 Study of Erlotinib, Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin Combination Chemotherapy to Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Erlotinib is an orally available, reversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor of epidermal growth
factor receptor (EGFR). Association of chemoresistance with the activity of certain tyrosine
kinases (e.g. ErbB-1 and Src) has been described for pancreatic cancer and makes a strong
case for combining gemcitabine with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In a phase III trial, the
addition of erlotinib to gemcitabine improved survival compared with gemcitabine alone in
advanced pancreatic cancer (MJ Moor et al). Also, gemcitabine in combination with oxaliplatin
is superior to gemcitabine alone in terms of progression free survival and response rate in
one phase III trial (Louvet et al). Taken together, combining erlotinib with gemcitabine and
oxaliplatin may further improve the overall survival and clinical benefit of advanced
pancreatic cancer.