Background:A phase II study of dacarbazine (DTIC), was conductedto determine the response rate, duration of response, toxicity and overallsurvival of patients with advanced pancreatic islet cell tumors.
Patients and methods:Fifty patients with advanced pancreaticislet cell tumors, having progressive symptoms or evidence of rapidlyadvancing disease were entered on this study. DTIC was given by IV infusionat a dose of 850 mg/m2, over 60–90 minutes, repeated everyfour weeks.
Results:The response rate was 33% in 42 patients who hadmeasurable tumor, and 34% in the 50 patients (90% confidenceinterval (90% CI): 23%–47%). The majority of theresponses were seen in patients without prior chemotherapy. Median overallsurvival was 19.3 months. There were two lethal toxicities on the study, oneseptic shock and one myocardial infarction. Grade 4 toxicities were,hematological (5 patients), sepsis, neurological (depression and paranoidbehavior) and bleeding (1 patient each). The most common toxicity wasvomiting, grade 3 in 13% of patients.
Conclusions:DTIC has activity in advanced previously untreatedpancreatic islet cell tumors.