S-1 plus CIK as second-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of S-1 (Tegafur, Gimeracil, and Oteracil Potassium Capsules) plus CIK (Cytokine-induced killer cells) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who had previously received gemcitabine-based therapy. In this prospective study, fifty-eight patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group (CT group) was given S-1 alone, and the other group (immuno-CT group) was given S-1 plus CIK. S-1 was administered orally twice a day at 80 mg/m²/day on days 1–21 of a 28-day cycle till disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred. CIK was given for one cycle of 28 days. The disease control rate for S-1 and CIK was 40.0 and 53.6 %, respectively (p = 0.621). The serum CA19-9 level decreased for more than 25 % was significantly different (33.3 and 60.7 % in CT group and immuno-CT group, respectively, p = 0.037). The median time to progression was 2.5 (95 % CI 2.3–2.8) and 2.9 (95 % CI 2.6–3.2) months (p = 0.037) for CT group and immuno-CT group, respectively. The median overall survival was 6.1 (95 % CI 5.7–6.5) and 6.6 (95 % CI 6.1–7.1) months (p = 0.09) for CT group and immuno-CT group, respectively. The difference in hematological toxicity, including leukocytopenia, anemia, and neutropenia, was insignificant between the two groups. In contrast, the differences in non-hematological toxicity, fatigue, and non-infective fever were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05). The S-1 plus CIK regimen was well tolerated in a second-line setting in patients with gemcitabine-refractory and advanced pancreatic cancer.