Erlotinib and Gemcitabine With or Without Panitumumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine, work in different ways to stop
the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell
growth. Monoclonal antibodies, such as panitumumab, can block tumor growth in different ways.
Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help
kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Panitumumab may also stop the growth of
pancreatic cancer by blocking blood flow to the tumor.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well giving panitumumab together with
gemcitabine and erlotinib works compared to giving gemcitabine and erlotinib alone in
treating patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.