Gemcitabine in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer: a comparative analysis of randomized trials

Semin Oncol. 2002 Dec;29(6 Suppl 20):9-16. doi: 10.1053/sonc.2002.37372.

Abstract

In view of the data available from randomized trials, gemcitabine has been established as a new standard for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. It was shown to improve clinical benefit response, time to progression, and survival when compared with agents such as 5-fluorouracil or metalloproteinase inhibitors. In one trial, the combination of cisplatin and gemcitabine significantly improved tumor response and time to progression as compared with gemcitabine alone, while a significant impact on survival yet needs to be shown. No significant, clinically meaningful survival benefit was observed when gemcitabine was combined with bolus or infusional 5-fluorouracil, capecitabine, metalloproteinase inhibitors, or the FTI tipifarnib. Numerous ongoing randomized trials are presently investigating gemcitabine-based combination regimens involving such agents as cisplatin, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil, capecitabine, or pemetrexed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Capecitabine
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / therapeutic use*
  • Docetaxel
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Gemcitabine
  • Glutamates / administration & dosage
  • Guanine / administration & dosage
  • Guanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxamic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Hydroxamic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Irinotecan
  • Organic Chemicals*
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Paclitaxel / analogs & derivatives*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pemetrexed
  • Phenylbutyrates
  • Quinolones / administration & dosage
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Taxoids*

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Glutamates
  • Hydroxamic Acids
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Phenylbutyrates
  • Quinolones
  • Taxoids
  • Pemetrexed
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Docetaxel
  • Guanine
  • Capecitabine
  • Irinotecan
  • Bay 12-9566
  • marimastat
  • tipifarnib
  • Paclitaxel
  • Cisplatin
  • Fluorouracil
  • Camptothecin
  • Gemcitabine