title: [Gemcitabine in elderly patients with unresectable pancreas cancer].
abstract: The efficacy and safety of gemcitabine at a starting dose of 1,000 mg/m2 administrated once a week for 3 weeks with 1 week's rest was investigated in elderly 11 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. Objective response was not documented. However, pain intensity, analgesic consumption and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) were frequently improved. In total, a clinical benefit was observed in 8 out of 11 (73%) patients. Toxicity was mild and well tolerated. These results suggest that gemcitabine had a superior clinical benefit and a mild toxicity profile. Gemcitabine should be the standard treatment in elderly patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Gastroenterology, Onomichi General Hospital.
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanada
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Hirotoki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ooe
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasao
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obayashi
authors.forename: Goro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kajiyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine