Gemcitabine Plus Pemetrexed Disodium in Treating Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Biliary Tract or Gallbladder Cancer

Summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy such as gemcitabine work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Pemetrexed disodium may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. Combining gemcitabine with pemetrexed disodium may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of gemcitabine when given together with pemetrexed disodium to see how well it works in treating patients with unresectable or metastatic biliary tract or gallbladder cancer.

Timeline

Start

2004-01

Primary completion

2007-02

Completion

2008-02

Publications

• Results Alberts SR, Foster NR, McWilliams RR, et al.: NCCTG phase I/II trial (N9943) of gemcitabine and pemetrexed in patients with unresectable or metastatic biliary tract carcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma: interim results. [Abstract] American Society of Clinical Oncology 2007 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, 19 -21 January 2007, Orlando, Florida A-149, 2007.
• Results Alberts SR, Sande JR, Foster NR, Quevedo FJ, McWilliams RR, Kugler JW, Fitch TR, Jaslowski AJ. Pemetrexed and gemcitabine for biliary tract and gallbladder carcinomas: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) phase I and II Trial, N9943. J Gastrointest Cancer. 2007;38(2-4):87-94. doi: 10.1007/s12029-008-9037-8. Epub 2008 Nov 21.
• Results McWilliams RR, Foster NR, Quevedo FJ, et al.: NCCTG phase I/II trial (N9943) of gemcitabine and pemetrexed in patients with biliary tract or gallbladder carcinoma: phase II results. [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 25 (Suppl 18): A-4578, 2007.

Drugs

Indications