Prolonged low-dose infusion for gemcitabine: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Standard gemcitabine (Gem) infusion is 30 minutes at 1,000-1,250 mg/m².
• Pharmacological data suggest prolonged Gem infusion enhances active metabolite accumulation.
• This indicates potential superiority over the standard 30-minute infusion protocol.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review studies on gemcitabine administered via prolonged infusion.
• To provide references supporting the use of prolonged infusion for gemcitabine therapy.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 19 studies (5 RCTs, 14 non-RCTs).
• Searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CNKI using keywords: Gem, prolonged infusion, low-dose.
• Evaluated study quality using Cochrane Handbook and methodological index for non-randomized studies.

Main Results:

• Gemcitabine administered as prolonged low-dose infusion (P-LDI) was assessed for efficacy and safety.
• All reviewed studies reported positive outcomes for Gem P-LDI.
• Gem P-LDI was found to be effective and well-tolerated across studies.

Conclusions:

• Gemcitabine administered as P-LDI is an effective and safe treatment option.
• This approach is also economical, making it suitable for specific patient groups.
• Particularly beneficial for patients with poor performance status or limited financial resources.