Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Cancer of the Pancreas or Stomach
Gastric Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Gastric Cancer focused on measuring stage IV gastric cancer, recurrent gastric cancer, recurrent pancreatic cancer, stage IV pancreatic cancer
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven unresectable (including incomplete resections) or locally recurrent pancreatic or gastric cancer No evidence of metastases outside of the planned radiation field No cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas or pancreatic tumors of neuroendocrine origin PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance Status: ECOG 0-1 Life Expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin within normal limits Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST no greater than 3.0 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.3 times ULN Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No significant infection or medical illness No significant nausea or vomiting At least 1200 calories per day of oral nutrition PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior or concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: No prior or concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy (except focal fields for skin cancer that do not overlap with planned radiotherapy fields) Surgery: At least 21 days since laparotomy surgery
Sites / Locations
- CCOP - Scottsdale Oncology Program
- CCOP - Illinois Oncology Research Association
- CCOP - Carle Cancer Center
- CCOP - Cedar Rapids Oncology Project
- CCOP - Iowa Oncology Research Association
- Siouxland Hematology-Oncology
- CCOP - Wichita
- CCOP - Duluth
- Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
- CentraCare Clinic
- CCOP - Metro-Minnesota
- CCOP - Missouri Valley Cancer Consortium
- Medcenter One Health System
- Altru Health Systems
- CCOP - Toledo Community Hospital Oncology Program
- CCOP - Geisinger Clinic and Medical Center
- Rapid City Regional Hospital
- CCOP - Sioux Community Cancer Consortium
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
radiation + gemcitabine + cisplatin
Patients undergo radiotherapy to the tumor and lymph nodes, followed by a decrease in radiotherapy to the tumor alone. Radiation therapy is administered for a total of 5.5 weeks. Patients receive intravenous gemcitabine twice weekly over the first 3 weeks of radiotherapy. Cisplatin is administered intravenously twice weekly following gemcitabine therapy. Three patients are treated at each dose level. Dose escalation does not occur until all patients at a given dose level have completed radiotherapy and returned for a 4 week follow up. Patients exhibiting stable disease remain on therapy until disease progression or intolerable toxic effects. Patients experiencing toxic effects and no disease progression are retreated at a lower dose. Patients are followed every 3 months for the first 2 years then every 6 months for the next year.