Pancreatic cancer: current and future treatment strategies

Cancer Treat Rev. 2009 Aug;35(5):431-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2009.02.005. Epub 2009 Mar 27.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a disease with a high mortality rate and short survival, as a result of the high incidence of metastatic disease at diagnosis, the fulminant clinical course and the lack of successful therapeutic strategies. The administration of chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of advanced disease has failed and currently, research focuses on the understanding of molecular pathways in order to investigate the role of targeted therapy. Trials on adjuvant and neo-adjuvant therapy of pancreatic cancer are also ongoing. This review presents the recent developments with newer chemotherapeutic and molecular-targeted agents, identifying the efforts for individualized treatment strategies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy / methods
  • Pancreatectomy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Radiotherapy
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / methods

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents