ASCO News on CapTem chemotherapy trial
Associate Professor Pamela L. Kunz*, MD, of the Yale University School of Medicine, discusses new findings from the ECOG-ACRIN E2211 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01824875): Temozolomide With or Without Capecitabine in Treating Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
The study showed the longest progression-free survival and highest response rates with temozolomide plus capecitabine reported, to date, for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The presence of a deficiency of MGMT, the drug-resistance gene, was associated with greater odds of an objective response (ASCO Abstract 4004).
As Professor Kunz concludes:
“Capecitabine Temozolomide really should be considered a standard of care, and included in guidelines for patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors . . .
Routine use of MGMT testing is not recommended. However, for patients who really need objective responses, we can consider using MGMT testing”
She also refers to 2 follow up studies:
“One is the adjuvant use of CapTem following surgery for patients with high-risk pancreatic NETs”
Testing the Use of Chemotherapy After Surgery for High-Risk Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors – ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05040360
“. . .the other is looking at lutetium dotatate radioligand therapy vs capecitabine temozolomide in advanced pancreatic NETs”
Lutetium vs CapTem in advanced NETs – ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05247905
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Pamela L Kunz* is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology); Director, Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center; Chief, GI Medical Oncology; Vice Chief, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Medical Oncology