MIFA III (mitomycin-C, 5-fluorouracil, and adriamycin) chemotherapy for advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Twenty-nine patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were treated with a combination of mitomycin-C, 5-fluorouracil, and adriamycin (MIFA III). Four of these patients achieved a partial response, and two achieved a minor response. An additional seven patients had evidence of disease stabilization. The median survival period from initiation of therapy for responders was 13.5 months as compared to 7.6 months for those with stable disease and 3.2 months for nonresponders (p = 0.001). Myelosuppression was the primary toxicity. Prolongation of survival was demonstrated in responding patients who had failed prior chemotherapy. The MIFA III regimen is active, well tolerated, and warrants further investigation in previously untreated patients.