any advice on chemo treatments

Hi,
Xeloda (capecitabine) is a prodrug of 5FU for oral use.
GemCap(Gemzar+Xyloda) as I mentioned above in 2 studies,the overall response rate are 25% and 31%.
Xeloda usually administered twice a day,with water,12 hours apart and within 30min.after a meal.Its maxium effect will peak around 1.5hrs after the dose and it is excreted in urine(96% of the dose).
If you have severe side effects symptoms like the “hand-and-foot syndrome” ( eg. like numbness,tingling,swelling,blistering and pain);or severe diarrhea of more than 4 times/day;you are advised to consult with your doctor for dose adjustment.
I hope the info. helps,God bless.

Thanks for sharing this good information.

Anyway, my question is, does anyone know of other chemo regiments that have been successful with cc? I have been looking on the Internet and it seems that Cisplatin, Gemzar and 5FU are the main treatments for cc. Thanks for any thoughts – Sarah

Most systemic treatment (chemo) for CC are based on experiences in treating pancreatic cancer.
Chemo agents like mitomycin,doxorubicin,docetaxel,oxaliplatin,irinotecan also have been used for treatment of CC in regimens combined with Gemzar or 5FU.

Accordingto”systemic therapy for advanced cholangiocarcinoma”in uptodate.com
The “overall response rate”of the regimen
(which include partial and complete response) examples are as following.
Gemzar alone in two studys are 22.6% (2009)and 26.1%(2005)
Gemzar + cisplatin regimen in five studys are 17.1%(3/2007),27.8%(2009),27.5%(2005),32%(2006),34.5%(3/2006).
Gemzar+ capecitabine (GEMCAP)in 2 studys are 25%.(2008) & 31%(2005).
Gemzar + oxaliplatin(GEMOX) in 2 studys are 36%(bil.<2.5xnormal);22%(bil.>2.5xnormal)-(9/2004.);and 50% -including 1 complete response and 11 partial response in a population of 24 patients(Ann Oncol.2006 Jun17(suppl_7):vii68-vii72.
New systemic therapies using erlotinib -an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor ,does provide good result.According to uptodate.com,in one study,42 patients with advanced biliary cancer,57% of whom had received prior chemotherapy,received erlotinib(Tarceva)150mg daily.There were 3 partial responses and 7 additional pts remained progression-free at six months.further experience with this drug is needed,particularly combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Surgery provides the only possibility for a cure and among patients who undergo potentially curative resection,long term outcomes vary according to location and stage of the primary lesion,extent of surgery,associated comorbidities,and treatment-related complications.
Other” treatment options for locally advanced cholangiocarcinoma”as mention in uptodate.com include radiation therapy and chemoradiotherpy;local ablation,eg RFA;photodynamic therapy and orthotopic liver transplantation.
Clinical trials is another option too.