RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known which treatment regimen is most effective for pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of fluorouracil and gemcitabine plus radiation therapy in treating patients with cancer of the pancreas who have undergone surgery.

Condition	Treatment or Intervention	Phase
stage I pancreatic cancer stage II pancreatic cancer stage III pancreatic cancer adenocarcinoma of the pancreas stage IVA pancreatic cancer	Drug: fluorouracil  Drug: gemcitabine  Procedure: chemotherapy  Procedure: radiation therapy	Phase III

Further Study Details: 

OBJECTIVES:

• Compare the overall and disease-free survival of patients with resected adenocarcinoma of the pancreas treated with adjuvant fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy preceded and followed by fluorouracil vs gemcitabine.
• Compare the local-regional and distant disease control in patients treated with these regimens.
• Compare the acute and late toxic effects of these regimens in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to nodal involvement (yes vs no), tumor diameter (less than 3 cm vs 3 cm or greater), and surgical margins (negative vs positive vs unknown). Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms.

• Arm I: Beginning 3-8 weeks after definitive surgical resection, patients receive fluorouracil IV continuously for 3 weeks. Beginning 1-2 weeks later, patients receive fluorouracil IV continuously concurrently with radiotherapy 5 days a week for 5.5 weeks. Beginning 3-5 weeks after completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive fluorouracil IV continuously for 4 weeks every 6 weeks for 2 courses.
• Arm II: Beginning 3-8 weeks after definitive surgical resection, patients receive gemcitabine IV once weekly for 3 weeks. Beginning 1-2 weeks later, patients receive chemoradiotherapy as in arm I. Beginning 3-5 weeks after completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive gemcitabine IV once weekly for 3 weeks every 4 weeks for 3 courses. Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 2 years, and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 518 patients will be accrued for this study within 8.6 years.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years and above,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas
• Stage T1-4, N0-1 (stage I-IVA)
• No M1 or NX staging
• Primary tumor of the pancreas (pancreatic head, neck, uncinate process, or body/tail) and maximum diameter/dimension and tumor status at surgical margin known
• Prior potentially curative gross resection within 3-8 weeks before study
• No non-adenocarcinomas, adenosquamous carcinomas, islet cell carcinomas, cystadenomas, cystadenocarcinomas, carcinoid tumors, duodenal carcinomas, distal bile duct carcinoma, or ampullary carcinoma
• No recurrent disease
• Post-resection CA-19-9 level required

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT no greater than 5 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Other:

• No significant nausea or vomiting
• No prior malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• Able to maintain adequate nutrition (at least 1,500 calories/day)
• Feeding tube allowed
• Not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Alabama
      MBCCOP - Gulf Coast, Mobile,  Alabama,  36688,  United States
      University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham,  Alabama,  35294-3300,  United States
Arizona
      Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson,  Arizona,  85724,  United States
      CCOP - Greater Phoenix, Phoenix,  Arizona,  85006-2726,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Phoenix (Carl T. Hayden), Phoenix,  Arizona,  85012,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Tucson, Tucson,  Arizona,  85723,  United States
Arkansas
      University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock,  Arkansas,  72205,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Little Rock (McClellan), Little Rock,  Arkansas,  72205,  United States
California
      CCOP - Bay Area Tumor Institute, Oakland,  California,  94609-3305,  United States
      CCOP - Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Santa Rosa,  California,  95403,  United States
      Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orange,  California,  92868,  United States
      City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte,  California,  91010,  United States
      David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base,  California,  94535,  United States
      Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles,  California,  90095-1781,  United States
      University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento,  California,  95817,  United States
      USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital, Los Angeles,  California,  90033-0804,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - San Francisco, San Francisco,  California,  94121,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - West Los Angeles, Los Angeles,  California,  90073,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic - Martinez, Martinez,  California,  94553,  United States
Colorado
      University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver,  Colorado,  80010,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Denver, Denver,  Colorado,  80220,  United States
District of Columbia
      MBCCOP - Howard University Cancer Center, Washington,  District of Columbia,  20060,  United States
Florida
      Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville,  Florida,  32224,  United States
Georgia
      CCOP - Atlanta Regional, Atlanta,  Georgia,  30342-1701,  United States
      Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon,  Georgia,  30905-5650,  United States
Hawaii
      Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Honolulu,  Hawaii,  96813-2424,  United States
      Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu,  Hawaii,  96859-5000,  United States
Illinois
      CCOP - Central Illinois, Decatur,  Illinois,  62526,  United States
      Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood,  Illinois,  60153-5500,  United States
      MBCCOP - University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago,  Illinois,  60612-7323,  United States
      Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago,  Illinois,  60611-3013,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Chicago (Westside Hospital), Chicago,  Illinois,  60612,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Hines (Hines Junior VA Hospital), Hines,  Illinois,  60141,  United States
Kansas
      CCOP - Wichita, Wichita,  Kansas,  67214-3882,  United States
      University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City,  Kansas,  66160-7353,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Wichita, Wichita,  Kansas,  67218,  United States
Kentucky
      Albert B. Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington,  Kentucky,  40536-0084,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Lexington, Lexington,  Kentucky,  40502-2236,  United States
Louisiana
      Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport,  Louisiana,  71130-3932,  United States
      MBCCOP - LSU Medical Center, New Orleans,  Louisiana,  70112,  United States
      Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans,  Louisiana,  70112,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - New Orleans, New Orleans,  Louisiana,  70112,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Shreveport, Shreveport,  Louisiana,  71130,  United States
Massachusetts
      Boston Medical Center, Boston,  Massachusetts,  02118,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Boston (Jamaica Plain), Jamaica Plain,  Massachusetts,  02130,  United States
Michigan
      Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit,  Michigan,  48201-1379,  United States
      CCOP - Ann Arbor Regional, Ann Arbor,  Michigan,  48106,  United States
      CCOP - Beaumont, Royal Oak,  Michigan,  48073-6769,  United States
      Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit,  Michigan,  48202,  United States
      Providence Hospital - Southfield, Southfield,  Michigan,  48075-9975,  United States
      University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor,  Michigan,  48109-0912,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor,  Michigan,  48105,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Detroit, Detroit,  Michigan,  48201-1932,  United States
Minnesota
      CCOP - Duluth, Duluth,  Minnesota,  55805,  United States
Mississippi
      Keesler Medical Center - Keesler AFB, Keesler AFB,  Mississippi,  39534-2576,  United States
      University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson,  Mississippi,  39216-4505,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Biloxi, Biloxi,  Mississippi,  39531-2410,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Jackson, Jackson,  Mississippi,  39216,  United States
Missouri
      CCOP - Cancer Research for the Ozarks, Springfield,  Missouri,  65807,  United States
      CCOP - Kansas City, Kansas City,  Missouri,  64131,  United States
      CCOP - St. Louis-Cape Girardeau, Saint Louis,  Missouri,  63141,  United States
      St. Louis University Health Sciences Center, Saint Louis,  Missouri,  63110,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Kansas City, Kansas City,  Missouri,  64128,  United States
Montana
      CCOP - Montana Cancer Consortium, Billings,  Montana,  59101,  United States
New Mexico
      MBCCOP - University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque,  New Mexico,  87131,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Albuquerque, Albuquerque,  New Mexico,  87108-5138,  United States
New York
      Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York,  New York,  10032,  United States
      St. Vincents Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York,  New York,  10011,  United States
      University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester,  New York,  14642,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Albany, Albany,  New York,  12208,  United States
      Western New York Urology Associates, Buffalo,  New York,  14220,  United States
North Carolina
      CCOP - Southeast Cancer Control Consortium, Winston Salem,  North Carolina,  27104-4241,  United States
Ohio
      Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital - Ohio State University, Columbus,  Ohio,  43210-1240,  United States
      Barrett Cancer Center, Cincinnati,  Ohio,  45267-0501,  United States
      CCOP - Columbus, Columbus,  Ohio,  43206,  United States
      CCOP - Dayton, Kettering,  Ohio,  45429,  United States
      Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland,  Ohio,  44195-9001,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Cincinnati, Cincinnati,  Ohio,  45220-2288,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Dayton, Dayton,  Ohio,  45428,  United States
Oklahoma
      Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City,  Oklahoma,  73104,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City,  Oklahoma,  73104,  United States
Oregon
      CCOP - Columbia River Program, Portland,  Oregon,  97225,  United States
      Oregon Cancer Institute, Portland,  Oregon,  97239,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Portland, Portland,  Oregon,  97207,  United States
South Carolina
      CCOP - Greenville, Greenville,  South Carolina,  29615,  United States
      CCOP - Upstate Carolina, Spartanburg,  South Carolina,  29303,  United States
      Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston,  South Carolina,  29425-0721,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Charleston, Charleston,  South Carolina,  29401-5799,  United States
Texas
      Baylor College of Medicine, Houston,  Texas,  77030,  United States
      Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston,  Texas,  78234-6200,  United States
      CCOP - Scott and White Hospital, Temple,  Texas,  76508,  United States
      Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock,  Texas,  79415,  United States
      University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston,  Texas,  77030-4095,  United States
      University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio,  Texas,  78284-7845,  United States
      University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston,  Texas,  77555-0565,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Houston, Houston,  Texas,  77030,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - San Antonio (Murphy), San Antonio,  Texas,  78284,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Temple, Temple,  Texas,  76504,  United States
Utah
      Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City,  Utah,  84112-5550,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City,  Utah,  84148,  United States
Virginia
      Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk,  Virginia,  23510-1115,  United States
Washington
      CCOP - Northwest, Tacoma,  Washington,  98405-0986,  United States
      CCOP - Virginia Mason Research Center, Seattle,  Washington,  98101,  United States
      Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma,  Washington,  98431-5000,  United States
      Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle,  Washington,  98104,  United States
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Seattle, Seattle,  Washington,  98108,  United States
Canada, British Columbia
      British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver,  British Columbia,  V5Z 4E6,  Canada

Study chairs or principal investigators

William F. Regine, MD,  Study Chair,  University of Kentucky   
Al Bowen Benson, MD, FACP,  Study Chair,  Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center   
John S. Macdonald, MD,  Study Chair,  St. Vincents Comprehensive Cancer Center   

Study ID Numbers:  CDR0000066076; RTOG-9704; E-R9704; SWOG-R9704
Record last reviewed:  April 2003
Last Updated:  October 13, 2004
Record first received:  November 1, 1999
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00003216
Health Authority: Unspecified
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-04-08