Adjuvant capecitabine for biliary tract cancer: The BILCAP randomized study.

Abstract

4006 Background: Despite improvements in multidisciplinary management, BTC has a poor outcome. Approximately 20% of cases are suitable for surgical resection with a 5 year survival of < 10%. BILCAP aimed to determine whether capecitabine (Cape) improves overall survival (OS) compared to observation (Obs) following radical surgery. Methods: Patients with completely-resected cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or gallbladder cancer (including liver and pancreatic resection, as appropriate), with adequate biliary drainage, no ongoing infection, adequate renal, haematological and liver function, and ECOG PS ≤2, were randomized 1:1 to Cape (1250 mg/m2 D1-14 every 21 days, for 8 cycles) or Obs. Randomization was minimized on tumor site, resection status, ECOG PS and surgical center. The primary outcome was OS in the intention to treat (ITT) population. 410 patients were needed to detect a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.69 (2-sided α = 0.05 and 80% power). HR was estimated by Cox survival model with adjustment for the minimization factors. Primary analysis performed with at least 24 months (m) follow-up. Results: 447 participants were randomized to Cape (n = 223) or Obs (n = 224) from 44 UK sites between 2006-2014. Median age was 63y (IQR 55, 69) and 201 (45%), 232 (52%), and 14 (3%) patients were ECOG PS 0, 1 and 2 respectively. Primary site: 84 (19%) intrahepatic, 128 (28%) hilar, 156 (35%) extrahepatic CCA and 79 (18%) muscle-invasive gallbladder cancers. Resection margins: R0 in 279 (62%) and R1 in 168 (38%); 207 (46%) were node-negative. Follow up was at least 36m in > 80% of surviving patients. By ITT analysis (n = 447), median OS was 51m (95%CI 35, 59) for Cape and 36m (95%CI 30, 45) for Obs, HR 0.80 (95%CI 0.63, 1.04; p = 0.097). Sensitivity analyses with adjustment for nodal status, grade of disease and gender indicated HR 0.71 (95%CI 0.55, 0.92 p < 0.01). In the per-protocol analysis (Cape n = 210, Obs n = 220) median OS was 53m (95%CI 40, NR) for Cape and 36m (95%CI 30, 44) for Obs, HR 0.75 (95%CI 0.58, 0.97; p = 0.028). Median RFS (ITT) was 25m (95%CI 19, 37) for Cape and 18m (95%CI 13, 28) for Obs. Grade 3-4 toxicity was less than anticipated. Conclusions: Cape improves OS in BTC when used as adjuvant and should become standard of care. Clinical trial information: ISRCTN72785446.