Journal Article

Comparative Study of the Toxicity Profile in Gallbladder Cancer patients receiving Gemcitabine-Cisplatin versus Paclitaxel-Cisplatin Combination Chemotherapy

Kumar, Neeraj, Gupta, Ashok Kumar

2025

Overview

Background: Gemcitabine-Cisplatin combination chemotherapy regimen is the standard treatment for advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC); however, the Paclitaxel-Cisplatin regimen is rarely preferred. Limited clinical studies have reported the hematological and nephrotoxic effects of Gemcitabine versus Paclitaxel based chemotherapy in combination with Cisplatin. Materials and Methods: A total of 55 patients with GBC participated in this prospective observational study. All patients had cytologically confirmed gallbladder cancer. The patients were divided into two study groups, i.e. Group A (n=32) patients received Gemcitabine-Cisplatin and in Group B (n=23) patients received Paclitaxel-Cisplatin based chemotherapy regimen. All the patients of both groups were examined for their hematological and renal parameters up to the fourth cycle of chemotherapy. Results: Significant changes observed in hematological, renal parameters as well as in malondialdehyde level (p < 0.05) from baseline, compared after fourth cycle of chemotherapy in both treatment groups. After comparison in between Group A and Group B, significant differences were observed in hematological (red blood cell, platelets and hemoglobin), renal (Urea and Creatinine) and malondialdehyde level after fourth cycle of chemotherapy (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that, after the fourth chemotherapy cycle, the Gemcitabine-Cisplatin regimen observed with less and comparatively manageable nephrological and hematological toxicity compared to the Paclitaxel-Cisplatin regimen.