Impact of S-1 on the survival of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of S-1 on the prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
In total, 112 patients with pancreatic cancer who received chemotherapy between April 2001 and April 2007 were divided into 2 groups: PreS-1 (53 patients who started chemotherapy before January 2005) and PostS-1 (59 patients who started chemotherapy after February 2005, the time of S-1 introduction). Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared, and prognostic factors were analyzed.


RESULTS
Patient characteristics did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. S-1 was administered as a second-line monotherapy in 5.7% of the PreS-1 group and combined with gemcitabine as a first-line therapy in 27.1% or as second-line monotherapy in 23.7% in the PostS-1 group. Both progression-free survival and overall survival improved after introduction of S-1 (median progression-free survival, 4.4 and 5.3 months; P = 0.043; median overall survival, 9.5 and 13.1 months; P = 0.048 in PreS-1 and PostS-1 groups, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that the PostS-1 group (hazards ratio, 0.52; P = 0.003), performance status, and carcinoembryonic antigen were significant prognostic factors for survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Introduction of S-1 may improve the prognosis of Japanese patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Nakai
Yousuke
Y
Department of Gastroenterology, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Isayama
Hiroyuki
H
Sasaki
Takashi
T
Sasahira
Naoki
N
Ito
Yukiko
Y
Kogure
Hirofumi
H
Togawa
Osamu
O
Matsubara
Saburo
S
Arizumi
Toshihiko
T
Yagioka
Hiroshi
H
Yashima
Yoko
Y
Kawakubo
Kazumichi
K
Mizuno
Suguru
S
Yamamoto
Keisuke
K
Hirano
Kenji
K
Tsujino
Takeshi
T
Ijichi
Hideaki
H
Tateishi
Keisuke
K
Toda
Nobuo
N
Tada
Minoru
M
Omata
Masao
M
Koike
Kazuhiko
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010094:Oxonic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D005641:Tegafur / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D003841:Deoxycytidine; C079198:S 1 (combination); D005641:Tegafur; D010094:Oxonic Acid; D000093542:Gemcitabine