Purpose of review: Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a grim prognosis and gemcitabine has been the reference treatment for 15 years. In this article, we will review current first-line treatments for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma focusing on randomized studies.
Recent findings: Among the numerous randomized phase III studies comparing gemcitabine as single agent to gemcitabine combined to a new agent, only the gemcitabine-erlotinib combination has shown a small, but statistical improvement in survival. A trend to better survival was also observed with a gemcitabine-capecitabine regimen. The use of low-weight heparin may be of value to reduce venous thromboembolic events. In selected patients with good performance status ECOG 0-1, the Folfirinox regimen, when compared with gemcitabine, was associated with more toxicities and significantly increased median survival from 6.8 to 11.1 months.
Summary: Gemcitabine (with or without erlotinib or capecitabine) is still the reference treatment in patients with ECOG performance status 2. Folfirinox is a new more toxic and more efficient regimen that may be considered in patients with good performance status.