Predictive factors for tumor response to chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Systemic chemotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, at present, has been of limited value in clinical practice and only a small portion of patients obtains meaningful palliation.


METHODS
We retrospectively examined 96 patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma undergoing systemic chemotherapy to determine factors predictive of tumor response. None of the patients had received any prior anti-cancer treatment except for pancreatectomy.


RESULTS
Of these 96 patients, 5 patients (5.2%) showed partial response but none showed complete response. There was no responder with a performance status of 2 or 3, serum albumin level less than 3.5 g/dL, serum total bilirubin level equal to or more than 2.0 mg/dL, or peritoneal dissemination. Response rates tended to be higher in the subgroups of female patients, those with serum albumin level > or = 3.5 g/dL and those with serum carcinoembryonic antigen level < 10 ng/mL, although there were no significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with a poor performance status, hypoalbuminemia, jaundice, or peritoneal dissemination might be inappropriate candidates for systemic chemotherapy and might be treated with other experimental approaches or supportive care.
Fujishiro
M
M
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.
Okada
S
S
Ueno
H
H
Okusaka
T
T
Ikeda
M
M
Watanabe
H
H
Tanaka
N
N
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers