OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of gemcitabine combined with S-1 in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 49 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, who did not receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy, were divided into two groups: the study group (25 cases), and control group (24 cases). Patients in the study group received gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m² via intravenous drip at the first and 8th days, and received S-1 80 mg/m², morning and evening (twice a day) for the first 14 days, and 21 days as a treatment cycle of chemotherapy.The control group was given GEMOX regimen: Gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m² via intravenous drip at the first and 8 days, and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² via intravenous drip at the first day, and 21 d for a treatment cycle of chemotherapy. The efficacy and adverse reactions in patients of the study and control groups were observed and compared.

RESULTSThe efficiency of the study group was 32.0% and disease control rate was 72.0%. The efficiency of the control group was 25.0% and disease control rate was 58.3%. The differences between the two groups were statistically not significant (P > 0.05 for all). The clinical benefit rate in the study group and control group were 80.0% and 50.0%, respectively, showing a significant difference (P < 0.05). The median survival time was 9.7 months in patients of the study group and 9.0 months in the control group, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). The drug toxicity was well tolerated in both groups, and no chemotherapy-related death occurred. The major adverse reactions were myelosuppression and digestive tract reactions, and the adverse reactions in the study group were lower than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSGemcitabine combined with S-1 is effective and safe in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer, with less side effects, and can be tolerated by the patients.