Nab-paclitaxel plus S-1 versus nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a randomized study.

purposeTo investigate the efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel plus S-1 (nab-P/S) versus nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (nab-P/G) as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

methodsTreatment-naïve patients with advanced PDAC were equally randomized to receive nab-P/S or nab-P/G. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints were ORR of the primary lesion, disease control rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. The trial was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03636308.

resultsA total of 110 patients were planned for enrollment, but the trial was prematurely closed because no better ORR was observed with nab-P/S among the first 40 patients assigned between 08/2018 and 06/2019. The ORR was numerically higher with nab-P/S versus nab-P/G (35.0% vs 25.0%, P = 0.49). The ORRs of the primary lesion for both arms were similar (30.0% and 25.0%, P = 0.72). Disease control rate was 70.0% in each arm. There was no significant difference in PFS and OS between the two arms (median PFS, 6.3 vs 5.7 months, P = 0.34; median OS, 10.2 vs 10.2 months, P = 0.92). Risks of hematological toxicity, liver injury and rash were significantly decreased in the nab-P/S arm.

conclusionsA biweekly combination of nab-P/S yielded comparable efficacy with nab-P/G but improved safety profile. It may be a promising and convenient alternative as first-line and neoadjuvant settings for advanced PDAC.