Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the fourth cause of death in the Western world. Surgery remains the only treatment offering an advantage in terms of overall survival (5-year survival range, 15-25%), but unfortunately only 10-20% of patients present resectable disease at the time of diagnosis. Hence chemotherapy, possibly combined with radiation therapy, remains the only treatment option aimed at palliation of symptoms and ensuring a better quality of life. Notwithstanding the efforts to find more effective therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, significant results have not yet been achieved. Increasing interest has focused on integrated treatments, i.e. chemotherapy combined with targeted therapies, and a better selection of patients. This study examines the principal clinical trials that will help give clinicians an overview of the progress made in the systemic therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer patients in recent years.

Keywords

GemcitabineMedicinePancreatic cancerOncologyCancerPancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaChemotherapyClinical trialRadiation therapyInternal medicineIntensive care medicineQuality of life (healthcare)DiseaseAdenocarcinoma

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Publication Info

Year
2010
Type
review
Volume
23
Issue
5
Pages
1183-92
Citations
124
Access
Closed

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Mariacristina Di Marco, Roberto Di Cicilia, Marina Macchini et al. (2010). Metastatic pancreatic cancer: Is gemcitabine still the best standard treatment? (Review). Oncology Reports , 23 (5) , 1183-92. https://doi.org/10.3892/or_00000749

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DOI
10.3892/or_00000749