Combined immunopharmaceutical therapy of patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This paper presents the results of a prospective randomized study of targeting locoregional chemotherapy and targeting locoregional immunostimulation therapy implemented in 36, out of 66, patients with a histological diagnosis of pancreatic duct carcinoma seen by our group from 1991 to Sept. 1994.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

Sixty-six patients with unresectable pancreatic duct carcinoma were separated into two groups. The first group received laparotomy (n = 30), with palliative gastric bypass (n = 8) or with palliative biliary bypass (n = 18). The second group received laparotomy (n = 36), with palliative gastric bypass (n = 9) or with palliative biliary bypass (n = 20), supplemented with locoregional immunostimulation and locoregional chemotherapy. This therapy consisted of ten days of infusion with Proleukin (IL2) and Imukin (gamma-IFN), emulsified in Lipidiol-Urographin. This infusion was performed five days trans-splenically and five days trans-tumorally. Fifteen days later, targeting locoregional chemotherapy was administered, again emulsified in Lipidiol-Urographin.

RESULTS

All the patients in the first group are dead, with a mean survival of 4.5 months, as of November 1995. Presently, 47% (n = 17) of the second group have achieved a positive objective response, with a mean survival of 14.1 months. During re-exploration, eight patients became tumor free after pancreatic resection, which became feasible after our therapy and six are alive and have remained tumor free to date.

CONCLUSION

Targeting locoregional immunotherapy, combined with locoregional chemotherapy appears to be a promising therapy, meriting further consideration for clinical application in patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal carcinoma.