A Phase II Study of Gemcitabine, Cisplatin, and Abraxane in Advanced Biliary Cancers
This phase II trial studies how well gemcitabine hydrochloride, cisplatin, and nab-paclitaxel (paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation) work in treating patients with biliary cancers (which includes the gallbladder and bile ducts inside and outside the liver) that have spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine hydrochloride, cisplatin, and paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells.
• Patient must have histologically or cytologically confirmed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, or gallbladder cancer or may undergo a repeat biopsy for histologic confirmation if pre-existing biopsy is not sufficient for diagnosis
• Metastatic or unresectable disease documented on diagnostic imaging studies
• May not have received prior chemotherapy; if patient has received prior adjuvant therapy, must be \> 6 months from treatment
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,500 cells/mm\^3
• Platelets \>= 100,000/ul
• Hemoglobin \> 9.0 g/dL
• Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dL (in patients with known Gilbert's syndrome direct bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal \[ULN\] will be used as organ function criteria, instead of total bilirubin)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) = \< 5 x ULN
• Creatinine =\< 1.5 gm/dL
• Negative serum or urine pregnancy test in women with childbearing potential (WOCBP) defined as not post-menopausal for 12 months or no previous surgical sterilization, within one week prior to initiation of treatment; WOCBP must be using an adequate method of contraception to avoid pregnancy throughout the study and for up to 12 weeks after the last dose of study drug to minimize the risk of pregnancy
• A male subject of fathering potential must use an adequate method of contraception to avoid conception throughout the study and for up to 12 weeks after the last dose of study drug to minimize the risk of pregnancy; if the partner is pregnant or breastfeeding, the subject must use a condom
• Patients must sign an informed consent and authorization indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study and the known risks involved