Gemcitabine Therapy in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.
- Author:
Young Joo MIN
1
;
Kwang Ro JOO
;
Neung Hwa PARK
;
Tae Kwon YUN
;
Yang Won NAH
;
Chang Woo NAM
;
Jae Hoo PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea. yjmin@uuh.ulsan.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pancreatic Cancer;
Gemcitabine
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Aged, 80 and over;
Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/*therapeutic use;
Deoxycytidine/*analogs & derivatives/*therapeutic use;
Female;
Human;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Pancreatic Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*mortality/pathology;
Retrospective Studies;
Ribonucleotide Reductases/antagonists & inhibitors;
Survival Rate
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
2002;17(4):259-262
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer is an extremely aggressive disease. The 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only less than 5%. Current therapeutic options for patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease are limited. This analysis is a retrospective evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine regimen as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Seventeen chemotherapy-na ve patients with advanced or recurred pancreatic cancer were consecutively treated. Gemcitabine was diluted in normal saline and administered intravenously over 1 hour. Gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 was administered once weekly for 3 out of every 4 weeks. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 55 years (range 44~82 years). Based on RECIST criteria, there were 5 cases of stable disease (45%) and 6 cases of progressive disease (55%) among the 11 assessable patients. The median survival time was 189 days (range, 84 to 409 days), the 1 year survival rate was 18% in all 17 patients. Grade 3~4 toxic side effect was leucopenia only (29%) and was easily managed without infection. CONCLUSION: Gemcitabine is well tolerated, but has no objective response in advanced pancreatic cancer.
