Scientists: Adding Drug to Standard Therapy For Pancreatic Cancer Improved Patient Survival in Most Common Form

A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) states that adding a drug called gencitabine to standard chemo and radiation therapy improved survival for patients with cancer of the pancreatic head, the most common form of pancreatic cancer. The researchers report their findings in the March 5, 2008 issue of JAMA.

The research team also concluded that new, more effective systemic therapy is needed to improve survival of patients in this form of cancer.

The study of survival rates in pancreatic cancer patients who got gencitabine added to their therapy lasted four years and involved patients and researchers at medical centers around the country.

'This study will change standard practice across the country for post-operative treatment of this type of pancreatic cancer,' says the principal investigator, William F. Regine, M.D., professor and chairman of radiation oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief of radiation oncology at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center.

Dr. Regine admitted that the study results were not statistically significant but called them “clinically meaningful.” He says there was consistent improvement in survival of patients with cancer of the pancreatic head that got the drug.