ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety and efficacy of gemcitabine combined with S-1 in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 49 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, who did not receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy, were divided into two groups: the study group (25 cases), and control group (24 cases). Patients in the study group received gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m² via intravenous drip at the first and 8th days, and received S-1 80 mg/m², morning and evening (twice a day) for the first 14 days, and 21 days as a treatment cycle of chemotherapy.The control group was given GEMOX regimen: Gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m² via intravenous drip at the first and 8 days, and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² via intravenous drip at the first day, and 21 d for a treatment cycle of chemotherapy. The efficacy and adverse reactions in patients of the study and control groups were observed and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The efficiency of the study group was 32.0% and disease control rate was 72.0%. The efficiency of the control group was 25.0% and disease control rate was 58.3%. The differences between the two groups were statistically not significant (P > 0.05 for all). The clinical benefit rate in the study group and control group were 80.0% and 50.0%, respectively, showing a significant difference (P < 0.05). The median survival time was 9.7 months in patients of the study group and 9.0 months in the control group, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). The drug toxicity was well tolerated in both groups, and no chemotherapy-related death occurred. The major adverse reactions were myelosuppression and digestive tract reactions, and the adverse reactions in the study group were lower than those in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gemcitabine combined with S-1 is effective and safe in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer, with less side effects, and can be tolerated by the patients.</p>