ABSTRACT Background Nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal‐IRI) plus 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU)/ levo ‐leucovorin ( Levo ‐LV) therapy is recommended as the standard of care for unresectable locally advanced (UR‐LA) and metastatic pancreatic cancer after failure of gemcitabine‐containing regimens. Although the concomitant administration of nal‐IRI and Levo ‐LV benefits from a reduced hospital stay, nal‐IRI is usually administered after Levo ‐LV owing to insufficient data on compatibility reactions. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of the sequential and concomitant administration of nal‐IRI and Levo ‐LV. Methods Data of patients with UR‐LA or metastatic pancreatic cancer who received nal‐IRI plus 5‐FU/Levo‐LV between 2020 and 2023 at Shizuoka Cancer Center were retrospectively collected. Patients were classified into the sequential administration group (Group S) and concomitant administration group (Group C) to compare adverse events, infusion time, and survival. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors in each group. Results A total of 94 patients were included (44 in Group S and 50 in Group C). There was no significant difference in the incidence of Grade 3 or higher adverse events between the two groups. The median total infusion times for nal‐IRI plus 5‐FU/Levo‐LV in Groups S and C were 271 and 149 min, respectively ( p < 0.001). Overall survival estimates were 5.6 months (95% confidence interval CI 3.78–8.57) in Group S and 8.4 months (95% CI 6.77–10.3) in Group C (unstratified HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.42–1.02; p = 0.058). In the multivariate analysis for PFS and OS, the method of administration was not identified as an independent prognostic factor. Concomitant administration of Levo ‐LV with nal‐IRI may not increase adverse events or impact efficacy while reducing infusion time. Conclusion Concomitant administration of Levo ‐LV with nal‐IRI may not increase adverse events or impact efficacy compared to sequential administration.
Wakabayashi et al. (Sun,) studied this question.