title: Recent updates on the role of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Single-agent gemcitabine remains the standard treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. Recent phase III trials have failed to show improvements in survival using gemcitabine in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, although the gemcitabine/oxaliplatin combination has shown some promise. The combination of gemcitabine with erlotinib was associated with a significant prolongation of survival. Promising results in a phase II trial of gemcitabine in combination with bevacizumab have led to a randomized comparative trial of the combination. Potential combinations with other biologic agents are being investigated.
authors.affiliation: The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center and Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, Nashville, USA. hburris@tnonc.com
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Burris
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D000093542:Gemcitabine