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Excess Body Weight Linked with More Than 100,000 New Cancer Diagnoses Each Year in U.S. (11/12/2009)
According to estimates from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), excess body weight may be responsible for more than 100,000 new cancer diagnoses each year in the United States.
Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Families with Lynch Syndrome Defined (11/3/2009)
Researchers from several U.S. medical centers have reported that patients with Lynch syndrome have an 8.6-fold increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer compared with the general population. The details of this study appeared in the October 28, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Addition of Xeloda® to Gemzar® Improves Outcomes in Pancreatic Cancer (11/2/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) and the Central European Cooperative Oncology Group (CECOG) have reported that the addition of Xeloda® (capecitabine) to Gemzar® (gemcitabine) improves outcomes of patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. The details of this study appeared early online October 26, 2009 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Sutent® Improves Progression-free Survival in Patients with Well Differentiated Pancreatic Islet Cell Tumors (9/29/2009)
Researchers involved in an international randomized trial have reported that Sutent® (sunitinib) prolongs progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with progressive well differentiated pancreatic islet cell tumors with an acceptable toxicity profile. The details of this study were presented at the Joint ECCO 15 – 34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress in Berlin, September 20-24, 2009.
Adjuvant Gemzar® Prolongs Disease-free Survival in Resected Pancreatic Cancer (9/17/2009)
Researchers from Japan have reported that patients with resected pancreatic cancer who receive Gemzar® (gemcitabine) have an increased disease-free survival compared with patients randomized to a control group. The details of this study appeared in the September 2009 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
Chemotherapy Better than Alternative Medicine Approach for Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer (9/15/2009)
Researchers from Columbia University have reported that patients receiving Gemzar® (gemcitabine)-based chemotherapy for inoperable pancreatic cancer have a longer survival and better quality of life than those receiving an alternative medicine approach consisting of enzyme therapy, nutritional supplements, detoxification, and an organic diet. These results were published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on August 17, 2009.
Smoking Increases Risk of Pancreatic Cancer (8/26/2009)
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute have reported that smoking increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer and that smoking cessation lowers this risk to baseline in 15 years. The details of this study appeared in the August 15, 2009 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Study Confirms Increased Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in A, B, or AB Individuals (8/7/2009)
Researchers involved in a multicenter international trial have reported that individuals with the gene variant that results in A, B, or AB blood types appear to have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than individuals with the gene variant that results in blood type O. These results were published early online in Nature Genetics on August 4, 2009.
The Addition of Eloxatin® to Gemzar® May Not Improve Outcomes in Pancreatic Cancer (7/27/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Eastern Cooperative Group have reported that the addition of Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) to Gemzar® (gemcitabine) did not improve survival of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The same study also concluded that a fixed-dose rate of Gemzar was no better than the standard weekly administration. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on July 6, 2009.
Pancreatic Cancer Care Is Inconsistent (7/23/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Cancer Programs, American College of Surgeons have reported that the quality of care for patients with pancreatic cancer varies considerably among hospitals in the United States. The details of this study appeared in June 16, 2009 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
High Dietary Animal Fat Intake Increases Risk of Developing Pancreatic Cancer (7/15/2009)
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have reported that a high intake of dietary fat of animal origin increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on June 26, 2009.
Obesity Related to Incidence and Outcomes of Pancreatic Cancer (6/26/2009)
Researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that obesity during early adulthood increases the risk of pancreatic cancer and that obesity at an older age was associated with a lower survival from pancreatic cancer. The details of this study appeared in the June 24, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Healthy Lifestyle Associated with a Lower Incidence of Pancreatic Cancer (5/5/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the prospective National Institutes of Health-AARP diet and Health Study have reported that a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by more than 50%. The details of this study appeared in the April 27, 2009 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Obesity Worsens Outcomes After Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer (4/2/2009)
Researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Colorado have reported that pancreatic cancer patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 have a greater risk of recurrence and worse survival after surgery than patients with a lower BMI. The details of this study appeared in the March, 2009 issue of the Archives of Surgery.
Blood Type Linked to Risk of Pancreatic Cancer (3/23/2009)
Researchers from Harvard University have reported that individuals with A, AB, or B blood types may have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The details of this study were published in the March 18, 2009 issue of Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Sutent® Provides Significant Benefit for Advanced Pancreatic Islet Cell Tumors: Clinical Trial Stopped Early (3/17/2009)
Pfizer Inc has announced that Sutent® (sunitinib malate) has been shown to significantly increase progression-free survival in patients with advanced pancreatic islet cell tumors, leading to a halt in their Phase III trial.
Alcohol Modestly Increases Risk of Pancreatic Cancer (3/10/2009)
Researchers involved in a pooled analysis of 14 studies have concluded that individuals who consume more than about 2½ drinks per day are 22% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than nondrinkers. These results were published in an early online publication on March 3, 2009 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention.
Neoadjuvant Radiation Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer (12/12/2008)
Researchers from the Weill Cornell Medical College have reported that preoperative radiation nearly doubles the survival rate for patients with operable pancreatic cancer. The details of this review were published in the November 15, 2008 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics.
Possible Link between Hepatitis B Virus and Pancreatic Cancer (10/6/2008)
Researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas have reported that exposure to the hepatitis B virus may be associated with the development of pancreatic cancer. The study was recently published in the October 1, 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
EndoTAG-1® Shows Promise in Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (9/22/2008)
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the addition of the investigational drug EndoTAG-1® to chemotherapy with Gemzar® (gemcitabine) may improve survival among patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer. These results were presented in a late-breaking abstract at the 33rd Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
Removal of More Lymph Nodes May Improve Survival in Gastric and Pancreatic Cancers (8/4/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Cancer Programs, American College of Surgeons, recommend that at least 15 lymph nodes be removed and examined in patients with early gastric or pancreatic cancers. The results of this study were published in the July 2008 issue of the Archives of Surgery.
Normalization of N-telopeptide Associated with Improved Survival from Bone Metastasis Treated with Bisphosphonates (6/25/2008)
Researchers involved in a multicenter international trial have reported that normalization of N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) levels is associated with skeletal-related events and survival among patients with bone metastases from solid tumors treated with Zometa® (zoledronic acid) or Aredia® (pamidronate). These results were published in the July 1, 2008 issue of Cancer.
Gemzar® Improves Survival in Early Pancreatic Cancer (6/9/2008)
Researchers from Germany have reported that adjuvant Gemzar® (gemcitabine) significantly improves disease-free and overall survival of patients with early pancreatic cancer. The details of this study were reported in a late-breaking abstract at the 2008 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology May 30 to June 2 in Chicago.
Abraxane®/Gemzar® Promising in Pancreatic Cancer (4/24/2008)
Researchers from the Scottsdale Clinical Research Institute in Arizona have reported that Abraxane® (paclitaxel) and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) appeared promising for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 12-16, 2008 in San Diego.
Addition of Erbitux® Does Not Improve Outcomes in Pancreatic Cancer (4/14/2008)
Researchers from Italy have reported that the addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to Gemzar® (gemcitabine) and Platinol® (cisplatin) does not improve outcomes compared with chemotherapy only in advanced pancreatic cancer. These results were published in the January 2008 issue of Lancet Oncology.
Addition of Gemzar® in Early Pancreatic Cancer May Modestly Improve Survival (3/10/2008)
A multicenter U.S. and Canadian trial has shown that the addition of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) to 5-fluorouracil may modestly improve survival among patients undergoing surgery for early pancreatic cancer. The results of this Phase 3 randomized trial were published in the March 5, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Increasing Body Mass Associated with Increasing Cancer Incidence and Mortality (11/19/2007)
Researchers affiliated with the UK Million Women Study have reported that increasing body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increased risk of 10 specific types of cancer out of 17 evaluated. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication on November 6, 2007 in the British Medical Journal.
Different Chemotherapy Combinations Effective in Pancreatic Cancer (11/16/2007)
A multi-center randomized trial comparing three different palliative chemotherapy regimens for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer has found that all three regimens were equally effective but with differing side effects. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in the Annals of Oncology on October 24, 2007.
Surgery Underused for Early Pancreatic Cancer (10/30/2007)
Researchers from Northwestern University have determined that 38% of patients with early stage pancreatic cancer with no identifiable contraindications are not receiving appropriate surgery. The details of this study appeared in the August, 2007 issue of the Annals of Surgery.
Gemzar® Plus Second Chemotherapy Agent Provides Small Survival Benefit in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (10/8/2007)
Researchers from France have reported that the combination of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) with a second chemotherapy agent provides a small but significant improvement in survival compared with Gemzar only in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. The details of this metaanalysis were reported in the October, 2007 issue of Drugs and Aging.
Little Evidence That Lycopene Reduces Cancer Risk (7/23/2007)
According to a review conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is “no credible evidence” that lycopene reduces the risk of cancers such as prostate cancer, and “very limited evidence” that tomato consumption reduces risk. The review was published in the July 10,2007 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Addition of Tarceva® to Gemzar® Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer (5/9/2007)
An international randomized trial has demonstrated that the addition of Tarceva® (erlotinib) to Gemzar® (gemcitabine) improves survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on April 26, 2007.
Flavonols May Reduce Risk of Pancreatic Cancer (5/7/2007)
According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), higher intake of flavonols (compounds found in many plant-based foods) may reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, particularly in smokers.
Progressive Increase in Osteoporosis with Long-Term Androgen Deprivation (4/20/2007)
Researchers from Barcelona, Spain, have reported that the prevalence of osteoporosis is high before treatment and progressively increases with long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The details of this study appeared in the March 2007 issue of Urology.
Weekly Taxol®, Eloxatin®, Leucovorin and 5-FU Promising for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer (3/23/2007)
Researchers from the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center have reported significant and prolonged responses in 7 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with weekly Taxol (paclitaxel), Eloxatin, leucovorin, and 5-FU for 12 weeks. The details of this small phase II study were presented at the 2007 Gastrointestinal Symposium in Orlando Florida sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Increased Vitamin D Intake Reduces Risk of Pancreatic Cancer (9/20/2006)
Researchers at Northwestern University, Harvard Medical School, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have reported that persons who consumed more than 600 IU of vitamin D a day had a 41% reduction in the incidence of pancreatic cancer compared to those who consumed less than 150 units.
Addition of Camptosar® to Gemzar® Does Not Improve Survival with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (9/8/2006)
Researchers from Greece have reported that the addition of Camptosar (irinotecan) to Gemzar (gemcitabine) does not improve survival of patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Gemzar® Combined with Eloxatin® or Platinol® Improves Survival for Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (7/16/2006)
Researchers from Germany have reported that the addition of Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) or Platinol (cisplatin) to Gemzar (gemcitabine) improves progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The results of this meta-analysis of two randomized German trials were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. A second report at the same meeting suggested that Avastin® (bevacizumab) could be added to a regimen of Gemzar and Eloxatin without increasing toxicity in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Addition of Gemzar® to Adjuvant Therapy Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer (6/9/2006)
Researchers affiliated with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) have reported that the addition of Gemzar (gemcitabine) to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and chemoradiation significantly improves survival in patients with resectable cancer of the pancreatic head. The results from this phase III trial were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Volociximab (M200) Well Tolerated When Added to Gemzar® for Treatment of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer (6/8/2006)
According to the results of a phase II clinical trial presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, volociximab (M200) in combination with Gemzar® (gemcitabine) is well tolerated in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Tomudex® Plus Eloxatin® Effective in Gemzar®-Resistant Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer (3/24/2006)
Researchers from Italy have reported that approximately 50% of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have failed Gemzar (gemcitabine) based regimens benefit from treatment with Tomudex (raltitrexed) and Eloxatin (oxaliplatin). The details of this phase II study were reported in the March 27, 2006 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
Vaccine May Extend Survival in Pancreatic Cancer (12/1/2005)
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have reported promising results of a killed allogeneic pancreatic cell vaccine for the adjuvant treatment of resected pancreatic cancer.
Endoscopic Ultrasound Accurately Rules Out Pancreatic Cancer (10/25/2005)
Researchers from the H. Lee Moffitt Center and Research Institute and the University of California at Irvine have reported that endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is highly specific for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with a negative predictive value of 100%.
Processed Meat Associated with Increased Incidence of Pancreatic Cancer (10/10/2005)
Researchers from the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii and the University of Southern California have reported that a greater intake of processed and red meats is associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Promising in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (9/6/2005)
Researchers from China have reported that high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) relieves pain and appears active in the treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Long-Term Low-Dose Aspirin Does Not Prevent Cancer (7/6/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Health Study have reported that long-term low-dose aspirin use does not lower the risk of breast, colorectal, or other cancers.
Gemzar® Combination Superior to Gemzar Alone for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (6/8/2005)
Researchers from Italy have concluded that a regimen of Platinol® (cisplatin), Elleance® (epirubicin) and 5-fluorouracil (PEFG) was superior to Gemzar (gemcitabine) alone for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer Research Map Will Track Researchers, Studies and Funding Opportunities (5/24/2005)
The Pancreatic Cancer Research Map was first launched during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November 2004. The second phase has begun with the addition of grants from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) and the Lustgarten Foundation.
Addition of Tarceva™ to Gemzar® Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer (5/15/2005)
The addition of the targeted agent Tarceva (erlotinib) to the standard chemotherapy agent Gemzar (gemcitabine) improves survival in patients with advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer compared to Gemzar alone.
Addition of Xeloda® to Gemzar® Improves Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer in Patients with Good Performance Status (5/15/2005)
Researchers from Europe recently reported that the addition of Xeloda (capecitabine) to Gemzar (gemcitabine) improves the duration of survival in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who have a good performance status. Patients with a poor performance status do not derive survival benefit from the addition of Xeloda to Gemzar. These results were reported at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Gemzar® - New Standard of Care in Adjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer (5/15/2005)
According to researchers from Germany, adjuvant therapy with Gemzar (gemcitabine) should be the standard of care in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. These results were recently presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Thalomid® Palliates Cancer-Related Cachexia (3/21/2005)
Researchers from the UK have reported that Thalomid® (thalidomide) decreases weight and lean body loss in patients with pancreatic cancer. The details of this randomized trial appeared in the April 2005 issue of Gut.
Addition of Tarceva™ to Gemzar® Improves Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (2/3/2005)
According to results presented at the Second Annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium January 27-29, 2005 in Hollywood Florida, the addition of Tarceva™ (erlotibinib) to Gemzar® (gemcitabine) improves survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Ultrasound More Accurate Than CT in Staging Pancreatic Cancer (1/21/2005)
According to results recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, endoscopic ultrasound appears more accurate in correctly determining the extent of spread of pancreatic cancer than computed tomography (CT). This is important, as the specific stage of pancreatic cancer dictates treatment options.
Antioxidant Vitamins May not Prevent GI Cancers (10/8/2004)
A Cochrane report has concluded that researchers were unable to find evidence that supplementation with antioxidants prevents gastrointestinal cancers and in fact actually appears to increase overall mortality. The details of this review and meta-analysis appeared in the October 2, 2004 issue of the Lancet.
Survival of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer not Improved by Adding Camptosar® to Gemzar® (9/22/2004)
A multi-center randomized trial has shown that adding Camptosar® (irinotecan) to Gemzar® (gemcitabine) does not improve survival in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer despite an improvement in response rate. The details of this report appeared in the September 15, 2004 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Cetuximab (Erbitux®) plus Gemzar® Looks Promising for Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (7/2/2004)
Researchers from several U.S. cancer centers have reported that cetuximab (Erbitux) in combination with Gemzar® (gemcitabine) showed promising activity against advanced pancreatic cancer.
Trial Shows Benefit of Adjuvant Chemotherapy but not Chemoradiation for Resected Pancreatic Cancer (3/26/2004)
Researchers affiliated with the European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer have reported a survival advantage for adjuvant chemotherapy but not for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for resected pancreatic cancer. The results of this trial were published in the March 18, 2004 issue of
The New England Journal of Medicine.
1,2
Platinol®, Gemzar®, and 5-FU for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (3/24/2004)
Researchers from Italy have reported the outcomes of a phase II study of Platinol®, Gemzar®, and 5-FU which appears to be well-tolerated in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The results of this trial were published in the March 2004 issue of the
Annals of Oncology.
Adjuvant Multi-Modality Trial with Gemzar® vs. 5-FU in Pancreatic Cancer Nears Completion (12/3/2003)
The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)/U.S. intergroup study of pre- and post-chemoradiation 5-FU versus
Gemzar® for the adjuvant treatment of resected pancreatic cancer is approaching final analysis in 2004. The trial, the first of its kind in 25 years to team three cooperative groups together, will discern which agent is more effective when administered as pre- and post-chemoradiation for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. William Regine, MD, of the University of Maryland, detailed the study schema for his colleagues at the XXI Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium.
Prolonged Infusion of Gemzar® May Enhance Effectiveness for Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (9/15/2003)
A multicenter trial published in the September 15, 2003 issue of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology indicates that a 150 minute infusion of Gemzar® may be more effective than a 30 minute infusion for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer patients.
Randomized Trial Confirms Superiority of Gemzar® Over 5-FU for Pancreatic Cancer (8/22/2003)
Researchers in Taiwan have reported that concurrent Gemzar® and radiation was more effective than 5-FU and radiation for advanced pancreatic cancer.
1 This report appeared in the August 2003 issue of the
International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics.
Avastin™ Plus Gemzar®: An Active Regimen for Pancreatic Cancer (6/23/2003)
At the 2003 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers from the University of Chicago presented the results of a phase II study of bevacizumab (Avastin ") and
Gemzar® for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The observed a one year survival of 54% which was considered “encouraging”.
Raltitrexed Plus Camptosar® is an Effective Palliative Regimen for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer who have Failed Gemzar® (4/17/2003)
Researchers from Austria reported in the April 22, 2003 issue of the
British Journal of Cancer that Camptosar® improves the response rate of raltitrexed in patients with pancreatic cancer who have failed Gemzar®.
Raltitrexed Plus Camptosar® is an Effective Palliative Regimen for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer who have Failed Gemzar® (4/17/2003)
Researchers from Austria reported in the April 22, 2003 issue of the
British Journal of Cancer that Camptosar® improves the response rate of raltitrexed in patients with pancreatic cancer who have failed Gemzar®.
Doxil® and Taxotere® Provide Significant Palliation for Pancreatic Cancer (2/28/2003)
Pancreatic cancer is considered to be a chemotherapy-resistant disease. However, over the past decade, several drug combinations have been developed which provide some degree of palliation in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Combinations which include Gemzar® are currently considered the most active. A newer agent, the antifolate Alimta®, has also shown significant activity especially when combined with other agents. In addition to these agents, anthracyclines such as Ellence® have been effective. One of the most recent reports suggests that
Doxil® combined with
Taxotere® provides significant palliation for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Researchers in Greece evaluated this regimen for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer and reported their results in the December 2002 issue of
Anticancer Research.
Chronic Pancreatitis Markedly Increases the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer (11/15/2002)
Over the past several decades, the incidence of pancreatic cancer has been increasing and the disease is now the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Pancreatic cancer accounts for approximately 2% of all newly diagnosed cancers in the United States each year, but 5% of all cancer deaths. Pancreatic cancer is often called a silent killer because it usually does not cause any recognizable symptoms until it is advanced and has spread outside the pancreas. As a result, the majority of pancreatic cancers are not diagnosed until they have reached advanced stages and are considered incurable. At the present time, there are no good screening tests for pancreatic cancer. However, there are certain populations of patients who are at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer and they could be the target of more intensive efforts to detect early disease. Risk factors for the development of pancreatic cancer include smoking cigarettes, obesity, diabetes and chronic pancreatitis. The exact incidence of pancreatic cancer in patients with pancreatitis was the subject of a recent French study published in the journal
Gut. These researchers reported that approximately 1% of men with chronic pancreatitis, mostly from alcoholism, developed pancreatic cancer which was an approximate 25-fold increase compared to the general population.
Obesity, Inactivity and Glucose Intolerance Can Increase the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer (9/12/2002)
Several epidemiology studies have suggested that patients with diabetes have an increased incidence of pancreatic cancer. In a recent study published in the September 2002 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers from the National Cancer Institute have suggested that diet can play a role in pancreatic cancer. Specifically, they found that a diet that produces high glycemic load in obese women can lead to an increased incidence of pancreatic cancer.
Gemzar® and Epirubicin is an Active Drug Combination for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (8/27/2002)
Gemzar® alone or in combination with other drugs or radiation is probably the most active agent for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Gemzar® alone increases the one-year survival from 2% to 18%. However, responses are also observed with antifolate drugs such as 5-fluorouracil and Alimta®. In the August 27, 2002 issue of the
British Journal of Cancer, Italian researchers present data suggesting that epirubicin also augments the response rate in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Taking Aspirin May Lower the Incidence of Pancreatic Cancer in Women (8/9/2002)
The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID ) has been associated with a lower incidence of cancer of the colon and maybe other cancers as well. There is also evidence from laboratory studies that NSAIDs inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro, including pancreatic cancer. However, there has been no study of the effect of NSAID use and the incidence of pancreatic cancer. In the August 3, 2002, issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers from the University of Minnesota reported that women who use aspirin have a lower incidence of pancreatic cancer. They found no effect on the incidence of pancreatic cancer from the use of non-aspirin containing NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, Advil™, Nuprin™, Motrin™, Naprosyn™, Feldene™, and Clinoril™.
Pemetrexed (Alimta®) and Gemcitibine (Gemzar®) is an Active Regimen for the Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer (5/29/2002)
According to results of a study presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the combination of Alimta® and
Gemzar® produces significant activity in advanced pancreatic cancer.
Gemzar® Plus Oxaliplatin is a Well Tolerated Palliative Combination for Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (4/22/2002)
Researchers in Belgium and France have reported the results of a multicenter trial of
Gemzar® and oxaliplatin for treatment of patients with metastatic and locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. These data were published in the March 15 issue of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Mortality from Major Cancer Surgery and Morbidity From Prostate Surgery Lower in High Volume Hospitals Than in Low Volume Hospitals (4/16/2002)
There were two reports in the April 11 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine which strongly support the concept that patients facing major cancer surgery should select a high volume hospital near where they live.
Four Weeks of Anticoagulation Better Than One Week Following Cancer Surgery (4/5/2002)
Researchers from Sweden, Italy, England and Israel have reported in the March 28 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine that prolonged anticoagulation versus one week of anticoagulation is better for patients undergoing abdominal cancer surgery.
Plasma Free Metanephrines Best Test for Excluding or Confirming Pheochromocytoma (4/3/2002)
A multicenter international study has determined that plasma free metanephrines provide the best test for excluding or confirming the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The data establishing this was published in the March 20 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
Camptosar® Plus Gemzar® Has Significant Activity for Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (3/4/2002)
Researchers from several cancer centers evaluated the efficacy and safety of Camptosar® and Gemzar® for previously untreated patients with unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Their results were published in a recent edition of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology. In this study, 45 patients received repeated 21-day cycles at starting doses of Gemzar® 1,000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes followed immediately by Camptosar® 100 mg/m2 over 90 minutes, both given intravenously on days 1 and 8.
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