FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab as a second-line therapy for metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab treatment outcome as second-line treatment for metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: Thirteen consecutive patients with metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who were refractory to first-line therapy consisting of gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin-based first-line chemotherapy given intravenously via intra-arterial infusion were treated with FOLFIRI [irinotecan (180 mg/m(2) i.v. over 90 min) concurrently with folinic acid (400 mg/m(2) i.v. over 120 min) followed by fluorouracil (400 mg/m(2) i.v. bolus) then fluorouracil 2400 mg/m(2) intravenous infusion over 46 h] and bevacizumab (5 mg/kg) every 2 wk. Tumor response was evaluated by computed tomography scan every 4 cycles. RESULTS: The best tumor responses using response evaluation criteria in solid tumor criteria were: complete response for 1 patient, partial response for 4 patients, and stable disease for 6 patients after 6 mo of follow-up. The response rate was 38.4% (95%CI: 12.5-89) and the disease control rate was 84.5% (95%CI: 42-100). Seven deaths occurred at the time of analysis, progression free survival was 8 mo (95%CI: 7-16), and median overall survival was 20 mo (95%CI: 8-48). No grade 4 toxic events were observed. Four grade 3 hematological toxicities and one grade 3 digestive toxicity occurred. An adaptive reduction in chemotherapy dosage was required in 2 patients due to hematological toxicity, and a delay in chemotherapy cycles was required for 3 patients. CONCLUSION: FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab combination treatment showed promising efficacy and safety as second-line treatment for metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after failure of the first-line treatment of gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin chemotherapy.