Phase II studies of drug combinations in advanced pancreatic carcinoma: fluorouracil plus doxorubicin plus mitomycin C and two regimens of streptozotocin plus mitomycin C plus fluorouracil. The Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group.

One hundred thirty-three patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma and measurable disease were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus doxorubicin plus mitomycin C (FAM), streptozotocin plus mitomycin C plus 5-FU (SMF) in the regimen originally reported, and streptozotocin plus mitomycin C plus 5-FU with 5-FU and streptozotocin administered in five-day courses. Respective response rates for all patients were 13%, 15%, and 14%, and for previously untreated patients, 14%, 14%, and 15%. Median survivals for all previously untreated patients range from 3 months (FAM) to 4 1/2 months (original SMF). Predominant toxic reactions were vomiting, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Without evidence of greater therapeutic benefit, none of these regimens should be used in the routine treatment of advanced pancreatic carcinoma.