Continuous Infusion Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Advanced Metastatic Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the maximum tolerated dose of continuous infusion gemcitabine in patients with metastatic malignancies.
• Determine the toxicity profile of this drug in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study.

Patients on dose levels 1-5 receive gemcitabine IV continuously over 72 hours on week 1. Patients on dose levels 6 and 7 receive gemcitabine IV continuously over 72 hours on weeks 1-3. Courses repeat every 2 weeks (for patients on dose levels 1-5) and every 4 weeks (for patients on dose levels 6 and 7) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of gemcitabine until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 3 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 27 patients will be accrued for this study.