FOLFIRINOX <i>Versus</i> Gemcitabine-based Therapy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Lessons from Patient-derived Cell Lines
Sebastian K.S. Begg, David Jérémie Birnbaum, Jeffrey W. Clark, Mari Mino–Kenudson, Ulrich F. Wellner, Oliver Schilling, Keith D. Lillemoe, Andrew L. Warshaw, Carlos Fernández‐del Castillo, Andrew S. Liss
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: FOLFIRINOX [fluorouracil (5-FU), irinotecan, oxaliplatin] and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel are standard treatments for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Despite efficacy rates of less than 32%, evidence is lacking to guide the use of one drug over the other. Herein, we compared the sensitivity of patient-derived PDAC cell lines to each of these regimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Changes in the growth of 19 low-passage patient-derived PDAC cell lines were evaluated in response to treatment with FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine plus paclitaxel (Gem-Pac). RESULTS: ) to FOLFIRINOX and three cell lines exhibited optimal sensitivity to Gem-Pac. Several cell lines that were optimally sensitive to one drug regimen exhibited very poor response to the other. CONCLUSION: Further characterization of cancer cells exhibiting preferential sensitivity to each of these regimens may allow the identification of biomarkers to guide the selection of appropriate chemotherapy for a given patient.