title: The Glasgow Prognostic Score is a good predictor of treatment outcome in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We analyzed the outcome of patients with advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer treated in our department from 2001 to 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 83 patients included in this study, 50 patients received single-agent treatment with gemcitabine (GEM), 9 patients GEM combined with radiotherapy (GEM+R) and 24 patients had best supportive care (BSC). We analyzed survival rates among the groups and risk factors for each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 3-year survival rates were dismal: GEM group 2.9%, GEM+R group 0% and BSC group 0%. Significant prognostic factors of the study were: performance status (PS), response rate and decrease in the CA19-9 level. Significant prognostic factors by the Cox proportional hazard model were the albumin level prior to treatment, CA19-9 levels before treatment, decrease in CA19-9 and response rate. Albumin levels and the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) were found to be factors affecting survival in the GEM group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this series of patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, good PS, decrease in CA19-9 after treatment and good GPS determined prior to treatment were independent prognostic factors for better overall survival.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Japan. mshimoda@dokkyomed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mitsugi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimoda
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Tokihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine