Medical management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. In 2008, an estimated 34,290 people died from pancreatic cancer and 37,680 new cases were diagnosed. Despite modern treatment, 90% of patients die within 1 year of diagnosis. Pancreatectomy is still the only potentially curative approach, but most patients have incurable disease by the time they are diagnosed, and fewer than 20% are candidates for surgery. In the present paper the English-language literature addressing the medical management in pancreatic cancer was reviewed. Based on these data we will discuss the role of currently used chemotherapy and target therapy in pancreatic cancer, as well as perspectives of the emerging strategies that are arising in order to improve the outcomes of this complex disease.
Oncology Center, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil.
Daniela
D
Freitas
Gustavo Dos Santos
Gdos S
Fernandes
Paulo M
PM
Hoff
Jose Eduardo
JE
Cunha
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044383:Black People; D000069287:Capecitabine; D053843:DNA Mismatch Repair / Q000235:genetics; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000093542:Gemcitabine