Clinical studies in the second line setting of advanced pancreatic cancer: are we making any progress?
Despite the enormous advances in clinical research in oncology, the prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma remains poor. The therapeutic options in this type of cancer are very limited, with modest results at present. In the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, four interesting trials on the second line treatment of pancreatic cancer were presented. The first study (Abstract #4017) with a phase II design suggested that maintenance therapy with sunitinib, after a complete course of standard first line treatment, was feasible and effective while the second phase I/II study (Abstract #4034) evaluated the role of trabedersen, an agent that inhibits TGF-β2 expression. Finally, the efficacy and toxicity of lapatinib combined with either FOLFOX (Abstract #e14533) or capecitabine (Abstract #e14569) were examined in the second line setting of pancreatic cancer.
Oncology Unit, Third Department of Medicine, University of Athens, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Vassilios S
VS
Ramfidis
Alexios S
AS
Strimpakos
Kostas N
KN
Syrigos
Muhammad W
MW
Saif
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D000077341:Lapatinib; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000627:therapeutic use
D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D011799:Quinazolines; D013873:Thionucleotides; D000077341:Lapatinib; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; C525712:Trabedersen; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil