Drug Therapy

Pancreatic Cancer

Drug Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Chemotherapy is an element of treatment for almost all patients with pancreatic cancer. Recent advances include the development of new drug agents, new drug combinations and new treatment protocols.

Treatment Settings for Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy strategies vary according to the stage and operability of the pancreatic tumor.

Preoperative Chemoradiation

Recent research shows that giving patients a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy (chemoradiation) before tumor removal surgery provides several benefits. Chemoradiation can shrink the tumor before surgery, enabling a more complete tumor removal. It can also provide better control of microscopic disease. Patients with borderline resectable tumors may receive an initial course of chemotherapy alone, followed by the chemoradiation treatment.

Postoperative Chemotherapy

Drug therapy is sometimes given to patients following surgery in an attempt to eliminate or slow the growth of any remaining microscopic cancer cells.

Chemotherapy for Metastatic Disease

For patients whose pancreatic cancer has spread to other organs, surgery and radiation therapy offer no benefit. Chemotherapy can help extend survival for these patients.

Last Review Date: July 25, 2011

Online Editor(s): Kathryn Adam