title: Prognostic factors in patients with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma are diagnosed with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic disease. The aim of this study was to investigate possible prognostic factors of survival in such patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fifteen patients were studied retrospectively. Twenty-four potential prognostic variables (demographics, clinical parameters, biochemical markers, treatment modality) were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean survival was 29.0 weeks. 21.9% survived more than 36 weeks. On multivariate analysis, 10 factors had an independent effect on survival: tumour localisation, metastasis, performance status, jaundice, weight loss, C reactive protein, CEA, CA 19-9, palliative surgery and chemotherapy. Patients managed only with palliative care had a hazard ratio of 8.94 versus those offered a combination of palliative surgery and chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many factors could be used as predictors of survival in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy and palliative surgery are associated with increased survival, and should be offered to all eligible patients.
authors.affiliation: HELGO (Hellenic Group of Oncology), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikitas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papadoniou
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kosmas
authors.forename: Kostadinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gennatas
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polyzos
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mouratidou
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skopelitis
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzivras
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sougioultzis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papastratis
authors.forename: Gavrilos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatzas
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papalambros
authors.forename: Nikolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsavaris
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors