Advances in palliative chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

With a high invasive ability and poor prognosis, the morbidity of pancreatic cancer is about 98%.Combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the primary management for locoregionally advanced pancreatic cancer, but its efficacy is limited. Results from a number of meta-analysis have confirmed that gemcitabine is associated with significantly better clinical response and one-year overall survival rates;therefore, currently gemcitabine is the standard chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine-based multi-drug regimens may have potentially favorable effects on patients' survival. However, evidence from phase Ⅲ clinical trials is lacking. Newer chemotherapy and targeted therapy agents are clearly needed for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.