title: [Has there been progress in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer?].
abstract: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers in the western world. The authors review the different chemotherapeutic regimens for the palliative approach of this disease. 5-fluorouracil has been the only drug with some efficacy for a longtime. Recently a clinical benefit has been obtained with gemcitabine. Polychemotherapy regimens based on gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin and/or epirubicin have been administered in clinical phase II trials. The superiority of polychemotherapy in terms of palliative benefits or survival is uncertain. Palliative care remains an important issue.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jerusalem
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bours
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fillet
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil