Impact of different treatment methods on survival in advanced pancreatic cancer.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of different treatment methods on survival of patients treated for advanced pancreatic cancer at Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital from 1987 to 2003.


METHODS
Data on 262 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated from 1987 to 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. Four groups of patients were analyzed. One hundred eighty patients underwent palliative bypass or endoscopic bile duct stenting or observation alone. Forty three patients in addition to surgery were treated by radiotherapy. Twenty five patients received gemcitabine in standard doses and schedules. Fourteen patients received concomitant chemoradiotherapy (with gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil). All patients were grouped by treatment method and median survival was analyzed.


RESULTS
Median survival of patients treated by palliative surgery only or observation alone was 1.9 month, and for patients treated by palliative surgery and radiotherapy was 6.1 months (p=0.00007). Median survival of patients treated with gemcitabine was 9.5 months (p<0.001), and median survival of patients treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy was 8.5 months (p=0.00003).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in addition to surgical treatment should be treated by chemotherapy, concomitant chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy.
Brasiūniene
Birute
B
Department of Oncology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. birutebras@yahoo.com
Juozaityte
Elona
E
Barauskas
Giedrius
G
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000093542:Gemcitabine