gemcitabine + capecitabine + erlotinib + bevacizumab

This combination therapy, evaluated in the TARGET Phase I/II clinical trial led by the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, consists of gemcitabine, capecitabine, erlotinib, and bevacizumab for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The regimen combines a chemotherapy doublet (gemcitabine and capecitabine) with a biological doublet (erlotinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody). Gemcitabine acts as a nucleoside analogue that interferes with DNA synthesis, while capecitabine is a fluoropyrimidine carbamate prodrug of 5-fluorouracil. Erlotinib and bevacizumab target the EGFR and VEGF pathways, respectively, to inhibit tumor cell signaling and angiogenesis. The study was designed to assess whether targeting multiple tumor-stimulating mechanisms simultaneously could improve outcomes in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Other names

TARGET regimenGemCap-EB