[Meta-analysis on gemcitabine of fixed-dose rate infusion plus oxaliplatin as first-line therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE:Recent clinical trials showed that gemcitabine (GEM) of fixed-dose rate infusion has certain effect on advanced pancreatic cancer. Some meta-analyses suggest that GEM plus cisplatin (DDP) or its analogues is better than GEM alone in treating advanced pancreatic cancer. This study was to evaluate the efficacy of GEM of fixed-dose rate infusion plus oxaliplatin (GEMOX regimen) as first-line therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer by meta-analysis. METHODS:Two reviewers performed the meta-analysis of all relative studies through searching the international literature, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, ASCO abstracts. This meta-analysis included all randomized evidences to compare GEMOX regimen with GEM alone with respect to overall survival rate and adverse events in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. RESULTS:Two randomized controlled trials (including 869 patients) were screened from 182 reports. GEMOX regimen was better than GEM alone in terms of 6-month survival rate [risk difference (RD)=0.09, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.03-0.16, P=0.005], 1-year survival rate (RD=0.05, 95% CI=-0.01-0.11, P=0.08), and objective remission rate (RD=0.06, 95% CI=0.02-0.10, P=0.006). WHO grade 3-4 adverse events analysis revealed that GEMOX was associated with a reduction in anemia (RD=-0.05, 95% CI=-0.08 - -0.01, P=0.01); the addition of oxaliplatin, however, significantly increased neuropathy (RD= 0.14, 95% CI=0.04-0.24, P=0.009) and nausea/vomiting (RD=0.13, 95% CI=0.08-0.18, P<0.001). The occurrence rates of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSION:Analyses of the available evidences suggest GEMOX regimen is promising as the first-line therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer, which encourages further clinical trials.