Novel Sequenced Chemotherapy Regimen for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

The optimal first-line chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer, validated in phase 3 trials, is the triplet combination of infusional 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and either irinotecan or nanoliposome-encapsulated irinotecan (FOLFIRINOX or NALIRIFOX). Now, in an industry-supported, randomized, phase 2 trial involving patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, investigators compared the combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel to a novel sequenced regimen of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel followed by mFOLFOX-6 on a 6-week cycle.

Of 157 patients, the median age was 66, 94% had metastatic disease, only 18% had undergone prior surgery, and 4% had received prior chemotherapy. The primary endpoint of 12-month overall survival (OS) was higher with …