Phase II study of oral capecitabine in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: To determine the safety and efficacy of capecitabine (Xeloda; Roche Laboratories, Nutley, NJ) in patients with metastatic or unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Patients And Methods: Forty-two patients were treated with oral capecitabine 1,250 mg/m(2) administered twice daily (2,500 mg/m(2)/d) as intermittent therapy in 3-week cycles consisting of 2 weeks of treatment followed by 1 week without treatment. Tumor lesions were assessed by computed tomography scan or physical examination at 6-week intervals (after every two cycles).