title: Novel therapies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Despite advances in our understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of pancreatic cancer, the disease remains a clinical challenge. Gemcitabine, the standard chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, offers modest improvement of tumor-related symptoms and marginal advantage of survival. New approaches, alone and in combination with gemcitabine, are being developed to combat this cancer. In this article we review the current status of investigations into several classes of agents: matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors; farnesyl transferase inhibitors; epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, including monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors; cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, and others. The scientific rationale, mechanism of action, and clinical trial data for these novel agents are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 426, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Simona M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.forename: Henry Q
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McConkey
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000093542:Gemcitabine