Efficacy of ukrain in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
BACKGROUND
This monocentric study evaluated the effect of ukrain in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Between January 1996 and December 1999 we treated 21 patients with 10 mg ukrain every second day x10. The control group received supportive treatment only.


RESULTS
Ukrain treatment was well tolerated. Mean values on pain measure and Karnofsky index were significantly better in the ukrain group than in controls ( P<0.05). One-year survival was 76% in the ukrain group, compared to 9.5% in the control group. Median survival after treatment with ukrain was 574 days, compared to 197 days in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrate that ukrain improves quality of life in patients suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer and significantly prolongs survival time in these patients.
Department of General Surgery, National Medical University, prosp. Holosiivsky, 59B, 03039 Kyiv, Ukraine.
Volodimir
V
Zemskov
Olga
O
Prokopchuk
Yaroslav
Y
Susak
Sergiy
S
Zemskov
Olexander
O
Tkachenko
Yuriy
Y
Hodysh
Wassil
W
Nowicky
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010617:Phenanthridines; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life
D000470:Alkaloids; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; D010617:Phenanthridines; C060921:ukrain