Pancreatic Cancer

Xeloda and Abraxane for pancreatic cancer – pro

Most investigation of Xeloda in pancreatic cancer focused on combining it with gemcitabine. Less is know about combining it with Abraxane. In 2009, Abraxane for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel albumin [human]-bound particles for injectable suspension) was granted orphan status for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and Stage IIB-IV melanoma. An orphan designation means only that the FDA sees a need to investigate a drug for a specified indication.

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P 16 mutation in melanoma and pancreatic cancer – pro

Approximately 6-12% of melanoma cases are hereditary, and may have a strong link to the development of pancreatic cancer. The gene responsibel for this type of melanoma is autosomal dominant and located on chromosome 9p21. This gene, called p16 (also known as CDKN2A, INK4A, or MTS1), accounts for up to 40% of hereditary melanoma cases. It is a tumor suppressor gene involved in regulating cell growth. Currently, identification of teh P16 gene is not

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Gemcitabine and carboplatin for pancreatic cancer – pro

The EORTC-GI Group compared a regimen of Taxotere® and Gemzar® to a regimen of Taxetore® and Platinol® for the treatment of advanced or metastatic (80%) pancreatic cancer. Researchers from Austria evaluated the effects of Gemzar® with or without Xeloda® in 83 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. These combinations are mroe active than gemcitabine alone but witout a survival impact. Gemcitabine with carboplatin has support in a phase

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Second line chemo in pancreatic cancer – pro

Lay Summary: There is little evidence that treating with chemo after initial chemo fails is beneficial.   Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer profit from palliative chemotherapy but the role of second-line chemotherapy is not yet established. Pancreatic cancer affects more than 30,000 people in the United States each year and when the cancer does not respond to standard chemotherapy, additional treatments have not been approved. Research

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Gemzar and Xeloda for pancreatic cancer – pro

Gemzar and Xeloda for pancreatic cancer Lay Summary: Gemzar and Xeloda is an active regimen for pancreatic cancer and is recommended by NCCN. Data presented at the 13th European Conference (ECCO) revealed that using the combination of gemcitabine and capecitabine increased overall survival in some patients. Between May 2003 and January 2005, 533 patients with previously untreated or cytological proven locally advanced metastatic carcinoma of

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Screening for hereditary pancreatic cancer – pro

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine screening for pancreatic cancer in asymptomatic adults using abdominal palpation, ultrasonography, or serologic markers. The USPSTF found no evidence that screening for pancreatic cancer is effective in reducing mortality. There is a potential for significant harm due to the very low prevalence of pancreatic cancer, limited accuracy of available screening tests, the invasive

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Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin (GemOX) for pancreatic cancer – pro

Lay Summary: GemOX is an active regimen for pancreatic cancer. Locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinomas carry a very poor prognosis. In patients treated with the standard palliative treatment gemcitabine (GEM), median survival still remains only 6 months. Over the last several years, many trials have been designed combining GEM with various other drugs to treat chemo-naive patients, with the aim to improve overall survival. Unfortunately,

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Unresectable cholangiocarcinoma – chemo/RT – pro

Lay Summary: Combined chemotherapy and radiation is reasonable option for unresectable disease but remians to be farther explored. Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile ducts, which drain bile from the liver into the small intestine. It is a relatively rare cancer, with an annual incidence. If the tumor cannot be surgically removed, patients are often treated with palliative chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. Chemotherapy has been shown

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Florouracyl. mitomycin. streptozotocin for pancreatic cancer – pro

Lay Summary: Florouracyl. mitomycin. streptozotocin for pancreatic cancer is a somewhat active older regimen that fell out of favor but deserves another look. Aan older regimen of IV 5FU, leukovorin, mitomycin, streprozocin has been well studied in pancreatic cancer. One prospective randomized trial published in 2006 compared streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and 5-FU (SMF) with mitomycin C and 5-FU (MF) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. In

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Adjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer – pro

There is no universally accepted standard approach to treat patients with pancreatic cancer in the adjuvant setting. This controversy derives from several studies, each fraught with its own limitations. NCCN provides  several choices, among them gemcitabine and capecitabine,  Adjuvant gemcitabine plus capecitabine significantly improved overall survival compared with gemcitabine monotherapy in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, according

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