Gemzar plus Avastin Does Not Improve Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 07/13/2010
Results from a recent Phase III trial indicate that the addition of the targeted therapy Avastin® (bevacizumab) to the chemotherapy drug Gemzar® (gemcitabine) does not improve survival in advanced pancreatic cancer. These findings were reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of ...

High Circulating Vitamin D Levels Don’t Reduce Risk of Less Common Cancers 07/12/2010
High levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream do not appear to reduce the risk of seven less common cancers: endometrial, esophageal, stomach, ovarian, pancreatic, kidney, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In fact, there was a suggestion that people with the highest vitamin D levels may have an increased risk of pancreatic ...

Afinitor Delays Progression of Advanced Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors 07/07/2010
In a recent Phase III trial, the targeted therapy Afinitor® (everolimus) more than doubled progression-free survival time among patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET). Results of this study were presented at the 12th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer. Neuroendocrine tumors form from cells that release hormones in response to a ...

Improved Survival in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer 06/23/2010
It appears that the chemotherapy combination known as FOLFIRINOX may improve survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer over a current standard-of-care, Gemzar® (gemcitabine). The results of this Phase III study were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms ...

AMG 479 Produces Promising Results in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer 06/07/2010
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer with a combination of AMG 479 and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) resulted in better progression-free and overall survival than treatment with Gemzar alone. These results were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of ...

Depression May Persist With Metastatic Cancer 05/26/2010
A substantial number of patients with metastatic cancer may suffer from depression which tends to persist and grow more severe toward the end of life, according to the results of a study published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] While cancer and other serious illnesses are risk factors ...

Novel Chemotherapy Regimen for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 03/31/2010
A novel chemotherapy regimen followed by radiation appears to be safe and effective for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, resulting in an overall survival of 66%. These study results were presented at the 2010 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in Orlando, Florida.1 Pancreatic cancer has one of ...

Soda Consumption May Be Linked to Pancreatic Cancer 02/09/2010
Individuals who consumed two or more sugary soft drinks per week experienced a statistically significant increased risk of pancreatic cancer when compared with individuals who did not consume soft drinks, according to the results of a study conducted in Singapore and published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, ...

Sutent Delays Progression of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors 01/25/2010
Among patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (a cancer that develops in the hormone-producing area of the pancreas), treatment with the targeted therapy Sutent® (sunitinib) more than doubled progression-free survival compared with placebo. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are a relatively uncommon ...

Excess Body Weight Linked with More Than 100,000 New Cancer Diagnoses Each Year in U.S. 11/09/2009
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. Excess body weight is increasingly recognized as a risk factor not only for cancer development but also for worse outcomes after ...

November Is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month 11/05/2009
As the month of November brings pancreatic cancer into focus, it’s time to increase public understanding of the disease, including its prevalence, approaches to screening and prevention, treatment options, and resources that offer updated pancreatic cancer information throughout the year. Pancreatic cancer is often detected at an advanced stage when it ...

Lynch Syndrome Increases Risk of Pancreatic Cancer 11/02/2009
Lynch Syndrome, an inherited cause of colorectal cancer that also increases the risk of several other types of cancer, results in a risk of pancreatic cancer that is several times higher than the risk in the general population. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Lynch ...

Number of Obesity-related Cancers Is Growing 10/03/2009
In 2008, excess body weight was responsible for over 124,000 new cancer diagnoses in Europe. These results were presented at a major European cancer conference. Obesity is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor not only for cancer development, but also for worse outcomes after cancer treatment. Links between obesity and ...

Chemotherapy Improves Pancreatic Cancer Survival 09/09/2009
Among patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, Gemzar® (gemcitabine)-based chemotherapy results in longer survival and better quality of life than an alternative treatment regimen consisting of enzyme therapy, nutritional supplements, detoxification, and an organic diet. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest ...

Obesity Increases Pancreatic Cancer Risks 06/25/2009
Obesity Increases Pancreatic Cancer Risks Overweight or obesity during early adulthood increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer and is also linked with a younger age at diagnosis. Overweight or obesity later in life is linked with worse pancreatic cancer survival. These results were published in the Journal of the American ...

Neoadjuvant Radiation Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 12/05/2008
Preoperative radiation nearly doubles the survival rate for patients with operable pancreatic cancer, according to the results of a study published in the November 15, 2008 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics.[1]The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded ...

Addition of Gemzar® in Early Pancreatic Cancer May Modestly Improve Survival 03/05/2008
The addition of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) to 5-fluorouracil may modestly improve survival among patients with early pancreatic cancer. Further study is necessary, however, to determine the true benefit of Gemzar in early pancreatic cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.The pancreas is an organ ...

Radiation Therapy May Be Effective in Early Pancreatic Cancer 02/11/2008
Radiation therapy may improve survival among patients diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer. These findings were recently published in the journal Cancer.The pancreas is an organ surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to the small intestine), gallbladder, liver, and spleen. The pancreas helps ...

Levels of CA 19-9 Following Treatment Not Indicative of Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 02/08/2008
Among patients with pancreatic cancer, levels of a specific component of certain carbohydrates (CA19-9) during and following treatment are not associated with survival outcomes. These results were recently published in The Lancet Oncology.The pancreas is an organ surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the ...

NCCN Updates Pancreatic Cancer Guidelines 12/12/2007
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 21 leading cancer centers, has updated its guidelines regarding the care of pancreatic cancer patients. The updated guidelines include a new section on supportive care and a greater emphasis on use of neoadjuvant (before surgery) therapy for patients with cancers ...

Different Chemotherapy Combinations Effective in Pancreatic Cancer 11/09/2007
According to an article recently published in Annals of Oncology, different chemotherapy regimens may be similarly effective in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer but produce varying side effects.The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to ...

Updates on the Management of Advanced Hepato-pancreato-biliary Malignancies 10/21/2007
Introduction The 14th European Cancer Conference of the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO) was held in Barcelona, Spain, September 23-27, 2007. The small size and very limited selection of abstracts for oral presentation allowed for detailed discussion of the proofread papers. In the Gastrointestinal Tract (Non-colorectal) session, new ...

Surgery Underused for Early Pancreatic Cancer 10/16/2007
Although surgical removal of the pancreas improves outcomes among patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer, many patients do not receive surgery. These results were published in the Annals of Surgery.The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to ...

Flavonols May Reduce Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Smokers 10/11/2007
According to the results of a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, higher dietary intake of flavonols (compounds found in many plant foods) may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, particularly among smokers. These results were previously presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association ...

Gemzar® plus Second Chemotherapy Agent Provides Small Survival Benefits in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 10/04/2007
According to results recently published in the journal Drugs and Aging, the combination of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) with a second chemotherapy agent provides small but significant improvements in survival compared with Gemzar only in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.The pancreas is an organ surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, ...

Optical Markers Offer Promise for Earlier Detection of Pancreatic Cancer 08/28/2007
According to the results of a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, evaluation of how light scatters off of tissue adjacent to the pancreas may help to identify pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage.The pancreas is an organ surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect ...

Updates in the Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Report from the 9th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 08/07/2007
 Introduction The 9th Annual World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer was held in Barcelona, Spain, June 28 through July 1, 2007 in association with the European Society of Medical Oncology. This meeting continues to grow and is a forum for the review of data recently presented at ...

Snus Increases Risk of Pancreatic Cancer 06/21/2007
According to an article recently published in The Lancet, Scandinavian moist snuff (snus) increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. However, it has not been confirmed that snus increases the risk of oral or lung cancer.Snuff is classified as a carcinogen; however, its use is increasing in several different ...

miRNA Expression Can Help Diagnose Pancreatic Cancer 05/02/2007
According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns can help to distinguish between pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis, ultimately improving the accuracy of diagnosing pancreatic cancer.The pancreas is an organ surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect ...

Addition of Tarceva® to Gemzar® Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 05/02/2007
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the addition of the targeted agent Tarceva® (erlotinib) to Gemzar® (gemcitabine) improves survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.The pancreas is an organ surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to ...

Flavonols May Reduce Risk of Pancreatic Cancer 04/25/2007
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.The pancreas is an organ surrounded by the ...

Type I Diabetes Associated with Increased Risk of Pancreatic Cancer 03/06/2007
According to an article recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, patients with type I diabetes are at an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.The pancreas is an organ surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to the small intestine), gallbladder, liver, ...

K-ras in Surgical Margins Associated with Worse Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer 01/26/2007
According to an article recently published in the journal Gut, among patients with pancreatic cancer, mutations within the gene known as K-ras found on the margins of surgically removed tissue are associated with poorer outcomes. Patients with K-ras mutations may benefit from more aggressive therapy or participation in a ...

Gemzar® Delays Recurrences in Early Pancreatic Cancer 01/17/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, treatment with Gemzar® (gemcitabine) following the surgical removal of pancreatic cancer delays the time to a cancer recurrence.The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect ...

Poor Oral Health Poses Increased Risk of Developing Pancreatic Cancer 01/17/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, men with poor oral health have a significantly increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer over those with good oral health.The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes ...

Talabostat plus Gemzar® Shows Potential in Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 01/16/2007
According to results from a press release from Point Therapeutics, the combination of the investigative agent talabostat plus the chemotherapy agent Gemzar® (gemcitabine) may be a potentially effective treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer. However, further trials, including trials directly comparing talabostat/Gemzar to Gemzar alone or in combination with other ...

Survival with Pancreatic Cancer Varies by Number of Lymph Nodes Removed 11/09/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, survival after surgery for pancreatic cancer is slightly better among patients who have a larger number of lymph nodes removed.Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers. It accounts for approximately ...

Higher Hospital Volume Linked with Better Survival After Gastrointestinal Surgery 11/08/2006
According to the results of a study conducted in Taiwan, patients with stomach, liver, colorectal, or esophageal cancers have better survival after surgery if the surgery is performed in a hospital that handles a greater number of these surgeries. These results were published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.The ...

Vitamin D May Reduce the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer 09/20/2006
According to the combined results of two large studies, individuals with the highest intake of vitamin D have a reduced risk of developing pancreatic cancer. These results were published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention. Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers. Pancreatic ...

Recent-onset Diabetes Linked with Pancreatic Cancer 09/14/2006
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, recent-onset diabetes may be a complication or marker of pancreatic cancer in some individuals. Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers. It accounts for approximately 2% of all newly ...

Addition of Irinotecan to Gemzar® Does Not Improve Survival with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 09/01/2006
Among patients with inoperable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer, combination chemotherapy with irinotecan and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) did not improve survival compared to chemotherapy with Gemzar alone. These results were published in the British Journal of Cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, ...

Addition of Eloxatin® or Platinol® to Gemzar® Improves Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 07/17/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the addition of the chemotherapy agents Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) or Platinol® (cisplatin) to Gemzar® (gemcitabine) improves progression-free and overall survival among patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is ...

Addition of Avastin® to Gemzar® Does Not Improve Survival as Initial Therapy in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 06/27/2006
According to a press release by Genentech, the addition of the targeted agent Avastin® (bevacizumab) to the chemotherapy agent Gemzar® (gemcitabine) does not appear to improve survival compared to Gemzar alone when used as initial therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the ...

Addition of Gemzar® to Adjuvant Therapy Improves Survival in Early Pancreatic Cancer 06/09/2006
According to results presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the addition of the chemotherapy agent Gemzar® (gemcitabine) to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and radiation therapy significantly improves survival in patients with operable pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen and ...

Tomudex® Plus Eloxatin® Effective in Gemzar®-Resistant Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer 03/23/2006
According to an article recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, treatment consisting of Tomudex® (raltitrexed) and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) provides benefit to some patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer that has stopped responding to Gemzar® (gemcitabine). The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ...

Increased Dietary Folate Decreases Risk of Pancreatic Cancer 03/15/2006
According to results recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, increased folate intake from food is associated with a decreased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Folate from supplements, however, did not decrease the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen. ...

GEMOX Active in Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer 02/24/2006
According to a an article recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) plus Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin), referred to as GEMOX, has activity in the treatment of pancreatic cancer that has stopped responding to Gemzar. The pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen. ...

Cytokeratin 20 Expression Linked to Poor Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 01/13/2006
According to an early on-line article published in the journal Cancer, strong expression of the protein cytokeratin 20 in pancreatic cancer is associated with significantly worse survival than low levels or no expression of cytokeratin 20. Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer who have a strong cytokeratin 20 expression may ...

More Extensive Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy May Allow for Greater Surgical Removal of Pancreatic Cancer 12/28/2005
According to a recent article published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, treatment consisting of Taxotere® (docetaxel) plus Gemzar® (gemcitabine), followed by radiation and more Gemzar prior to surgery, may allow for more complete removal of early-stage pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen. It produces ...

High Serum Insulin and Insulin Resistance Increase Pancreatic Cancer Risk 12/16/2005
In a study of male smokers, those with the highest serum insulin levels, insulin resistance, or diabetes were more likely than others to develop pancreatic cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all ...

Gene Expression Profiling Helps Distinguish Between Pancreatic Cancer and Benign Conditions 11/30/2005
According to a recent article published in Clinical Cancer Research, gene expression profiling may help distinguish between pancreatic cancer and benign conditions of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen. It produces juices that help digest foods as well as the hormones that help regulate blood ...

Vaccine May Extend Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 11/23/2005
According to preliminary results presented at the International Conference of the American Association of Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (AACR-NCI-EORTC), a new vaccine that is still in clinical trials may improve survival for patients with pancreatic cancer who are able ...

Further Data Associating Being Overweight with Increased Risk of Pancreatic Cancer 11/18/2005
According to an article recently published in Cancer Causes and Control, further data indicates that men who are overweight have an approximately two-fold increase in the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers. It accounts for approximately 2% of all ...

Xeloda® Improves Survival with Pancreatic Cancer 11/10/2005
According to a press release from Roche, results of a phase III clinical trial indicate that treatment of pancreatic cancer with the combination of Xeloda® (capecitabine) and gemcitabine results in better survival than treatment with gemcitabine alone. The pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen. It produces juices that ...

FDA Approves Tarceva® in Combination with Gemzar® for Pancreatic Cancer 11/03/2005
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tarceva® (erlotinib), when given in combination with the chemotherapy drug Gemzar® (gemcitabine), for the treatment of locally advanced, inoperable, or metastatic pancreatic cancer, according to a press release from OSI Pharmaceuticals and Genentech. The pancreas, a gland located in the abdomen, produces ...

Endoscopic Ultrasound Accurately Rules Out Pancreatic Cancer 10/19/2005
According to a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, patients who are suspected of having pancreatic cancer, but who have a negative endoscopic ultrasound, most likely do not have pancreatic cancer and can be spared further diagnostic testing. The pancreas is an organ surrounded by the stomach, small ...

Processed Meat Associated with Increased Incidence of Pancreatic Cancer 10/06/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, greater intake of processed and red meats is associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The pancreas, a gland located in the abdomen, produces juices that help digest foods as well as the hormones ...

CA19-9 Marker of Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 10/03/2005
According to a recent article published in the British Journal of Cancer, levels of the protein CA19-9 can predict survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. Patients who are predicted to have a worse survival may wish to pursue more aggressive therapies or participate in a clinical trial. The pancreas, a ...

Combination of Alimta® and Gemzar® Does Not Improve Pancreatic Cancer Survival 09/21/2005
According to a study published in the Annals of Oncology, combination chemotherapy with pemetrexed (Alimta®) and gemcitabine (Gemzar®) for treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer does not improve survival. As well, this combination increases toxicity more than treatment with Gemzar alone. The pancreas, a gland located in the abdomen, produces juices ...

HIFU Promising in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 09/02/2005
According to results recently published in the journal Radiology, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) relieves pain and appears active in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas, a gland located in the abdomen, produces juices that help digest foods and produces hormones glucagons and insulin, both of which help regulate ...

Elevated Pancreatic Cancer Risk Among First-Degree Relatives 08/03/2005
First-degree relatives (parents, siblings and children) of patients with pancreatic cancer are roughly twice as likely as the general population to develop pancreatic cancer themselves, according to a study published in the journal Cancer. Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers; it ...

Combination Chemotherapy in Addition to Gemzar® Improves Survival over Gemzar Alone in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 06/06/2005
According to a recent article published in The Lancet Oncology, combination chemotherapy in addition to Gemzar® (gemcitabine), referred to as the PEGF regimen, improves survival over Gemzar alone in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen and is responsible for producing juices ...

Addition of Tarceva™ to Gemzar® Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 05/17/2005
According to results recently presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers have found that the combination of the drugs Tarceva and Gemzar improves survival among patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is gland located in the abdomen and is responsible for producing ...

Addition of Xeloda® to Gemzar® Improves Survival in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer and Good Performance Status 05/15/2005
According to researchers from Europe, the addition of the drug Xeloda (capecitabine) to Gemzar (gemcitabine) improves the duration of survival in patients with advanced stage pancreatic cancer. These results were recently presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The pancreas is a gland located ...

Gemzar® - New Standard of Care in Adjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer 05/15/2005
According to results recently presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers believe chemotherapy with the drug Gemzar (gemcitabine) should be the new standard of care for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, as it significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with operable forms ...

Pancreatic Cancer Research Map Will Track Researchers, Studies and Funding Opportunities 05/10/2005
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 PanCAN and the Lustgarten Foundation. The map will help in simplifying the collaborations among researchers in the pancreatic cancer research community. The map ...

Addition of Tarceva™ to Gemzar® Improves Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 01/31/2005
According to results presented at the Second Annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, the addition of the targeted agent Tarceva™ (erlotibinib) to the chemotherapy agent Gemzar® (gemcitabine) improves survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that ...

Ultrasound More Accurate Than CT in Staging Pancreatic Cancer 01/14/2005
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. The pancreas is an organ that ...

Erbitux® Plus Gemzar® Looks Promising for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 07/07/2004
According to results recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the treatment combination consisting of Erbitux® (cetuximab) plus Gemzar®  (gemcitabine) appears promising for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver ...

Long-Term Results Indicate that Adjuvant Chemotherapy Without Radiation Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 03/19/2004
According to results recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the delivery of chemotherapy after surgery for early pancreatic cancer substantially increases patient survival over surgery alone. In contrast, chemotherapy plus radiation (chemoradiation) following surgery does not appear to produce any survival benefit over surgery alone ...

Surgeon Volume Directly Related to Surgical Outcomes 12/01/2003
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, operative mortality, or death related to a surgical procedure, is significantly reduced if surgeons have performed a large volume of the surgical procedure. 1 Several prior publications have indicated that outcomes of patients undergoing surgery may be ...

Further Evidence that Rubitecan Offers Benefit for Refractory Pancreatic Cancer 12/01/2003
According to results presented at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXI, the anticancer agent rubitecan (Orathecin™) appears to provide a treatment alternative to patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to ...

Chronic Aspirin Use May Increase Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Women 10/30/2003
According to results presented at the second annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, prolonged use of aspirin significantly increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer in women. 1 These results dispute findings published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2002. 2 Pancreatic cancer has one ...

CA 19-9 Levels Useful for Monitoring Pancreatic Cancer 10/17/2003
According to results published in the British Journal of Cancer, levels of the tumor marker CA 19-9 may provide a more accurate prediction of a patient’s long-term outcomes following surgery than the more commonly used assessments. 1 The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, ...

Oncophage® may Improve Survival in Operable Pancreatic Cancer 09/26/2003
According to results recently presented at the 2003 annual European Cancer Conference (ECCO 12) and issued in a press release by the Federation of European Cancer Societies, the heat-shock vaccine Oncophage® may improve survival in patients with operable pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by ...

Longer Infusions of Gemzar® may Improve Survival in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer 09/26/2003
According to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, prolonged infusions of the standard chemotherapy agent Gemzar® may improve survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the ...

Gemzar® More Effective than 5-FU in Pancreatic Cancer 08/28/2003
According to results recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, Gemzar® (gemcitabine) plus radiation therapy delays time to cancer progression compared with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus radiation therapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. 1 The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the ...

Avastin™ Plus Gemzar(R) Appears Promising for Pancreatic Cancer 07/21/2003
According to results presented at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the treatment combination of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) plus Avastin™ (bevacizumab) appears promising in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, ...

Raltitrexed and Camptosar® Effective in Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer 04/27/2003
According to an article recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, Camptosar® plus raltitrexed demonstrates anti-cancer activity inpatients with advanced pancreatic cancer that has stopped responding to Gemzar®. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver ...

Taxotere® and Doxil® Provide Palliation for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 03/03/2003
According to a recent article published in Anticancer Research, the chemotherapy combination Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Doxil® (doxorubicin HCl liposome injection) provides activity in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that ...

Ultrasound-Guided Injections of Biological Therapy Feasible in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 02/24/2003
According to a recent article published in Clinical Cancer Research, ultrasound-guided injections of a type of biologic therapy may improve effectiveness of treatment in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. 1 The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect ...

Gemzar® Plus Eloxatin® Yields High Responses in Pancreatic Cancer 09/13/2002
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) appears effective for patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ...

Aspirin May Lower the Incidence of Pancreatic Cancer in Women 08/16/2002
According to a recent article published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the use of aspirin-containing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may lower the incidence of pancreatic cancer in women. Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers and accounts for approximately 2% ...

Alimta® and Gemzar®: an Active Regimen for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 06/13/2002
According to results presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy combination of Alimta® (pemetrexed) plus Gemzar® (gemcitabine) appears to be highly active in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, ...

Virulizin® Granted “Fast-Track” Status by the FDA for Pancreatic Cancer 06/12/2002
The Food and Drug Administration recently granted “fast-track” status to the new immunotherapy agent, Virulizin® for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. 1 The designation of fast-track status expedites the review process of an agent prior to approval and is intended for life-threatening diseases. The pancreas is an organ ...

Photodynamic Therapy Effective for Some Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer 04/16/2002
According to a recent article published in the medical journal Gut, photodynamic therapy may be an effective treatment option for some patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to the small ...

Mortality from Some Cancer Surgeries Reduced in Large-Volume Hospitals 04/15/2002
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, death related to surgical procedures (surgical mortality) for some cancers may be significantly reduced if patients receive treatment in hospitals that perform large volumes of the surgical procedure annually. The surgical removal of cancer is ...

Rubitecan (Orathecin) Produces Responses in Refractory Pancreatic Cancer 04/09/2002
Results from a recent clinical trial indicate that rubitecan (Orathecin™), an oral chemotherapy agent, may be effective for the treatment of refractory pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to the small intestine), gallbladder, ...

Dietary Folate Reduces Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Male Smokers 02/21/2002
Male smokers with a high intake of dietary folate appear to have a significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer, according to the results of a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Folate is a form of a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in foods. Pancreatic cancer ...

Obesity Increases Risk of Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
Obesity significantly increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, according to the results of a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers and accounts for approximately 2% of all newly diagnosed cancers in ...

Adjuvant Chemotherapy Without Radiation Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
According to results recently published in the Lancet, the delivery of chemotherapy after surgery for early pancreatic cancer substantially increases patient survival over surgery alone. In contrast, chemotherapy plus radiation following surgery does not appear to produce any survival benefit over surgery alone in these patients. The pancreas is ...

New Vaccine Significantly Improves Survival in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
A novel type of vaccine has shown to nearly double the cancer-free survival time of patients with pancreatic cancer, according to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that ...

Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer: Removing Additional Lymph Nodes Appears Not to Improve Survival 02/21/2002
Persons with cancer of the head of the pancreas often undergo surgery to remove part or all of the pancreas, upper section of the small intestine, and nearby lymph nodes. Researchers have debated about whether a more extensive surgery, to remove more lymph nodes, might produce a better ...

Gemzar® Plus Radiation Promising for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
Results from a recent clinical trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology indicate that Gemzar® plus local radiation therapy is safe and may improve survival for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts ...

Marimastat a New Anticancer Drug for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
Marimastat, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, produces equivalent long-term survival with fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy in patients with advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer, according to recent results published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts ...

Gemzar® Plus Cisplatin Effective for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Gemzar® plus cisplatin is more effective than Gemzar® alone. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to the small ...

Gemzar® Plus Camptosar® Improves Survival for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
The chemotherapy combination consisting of Gemzar® plus Camptosar® improves survival for patients with advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer, according to physicians at the Baylor-Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas, Texas. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the ...

Herceptin Plus Gemzar® Improves Responses in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
The addition of Herceptin® to Gemzar® appears to prolong survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer that overexpresses HER2, according to results presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small ...

Polychemotherapy for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Improves Responses 02/21/2002
The chemotherapy combination consisting of cisplatin, epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil and Gemzar® (PEF-G) has demonstrated improved anti-cancer responses and quality of life for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the ...

IMC-225 Plus Gemzar® May Improve Survival in Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
According to results recently reported at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the addition of the investigational monoclonal antibody IMC-225 to Gemzar® may extend survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small ...

Gemzar®, UFT and Leucovorin Improves Quality of Life for Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
According to a recent study published in the journal Cancer, a combination of chemotherapy drugs consisting of Gemzar®, UFT and Leucovorin may improve the quality of life for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ...

Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: High-Dose Gemzar® Appears Safe and Effective 02/21/2002
Gemzar®, the only chemotherapy drug currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, may be more effective when administered in higher than the usual doses, according to a recent study by researchers in Austria. The pancreas, an organ that ...

Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Minimally Invasive Laparoscopy May Be Used to Alleviate Stomach and Bile Duct Obstruction 02/21/2002
The use of a procedure called a laparoscopy may allow treatment of the blockage of the bile ducts and stomach (at the small intestine) that often occurs in persons with pancreatic cancer, according to a new report by Spanish researchers. The laparoscopy appears to achieve the same results ...

Combined Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Prolong Survival and Improve Quality of Life in Patients with Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
Complete surgical removal of pancreatic cancer offers patients the best chance for cure. Unfortunately, most patients have locally advanced or metastatic cancer at the time of their diagnosis. Because the cancer cannot be completely removed by surgery, patient survival is often measured in months. There are few effective ...

Initial Surgery to Connect the Stomach with the Jejunum May Prevent Obstruction of the Stomach in Persons with Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
For persons with inoperable cancer of the head of the pancreas, a procedure called a gastrojejunostomy, performed during initial exploratory surgery, may help prevent any blockage of the stomach that could occur. This means that persons who undergo this procedure prophylactically may have a better chance to continue ...

Colloidal Phosphorus-32 Combined with External Beam Radiation Therapy and 5-Fluorouracil Offers Promise as Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
Current treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer that cannot be cured with surgery is poor with few good therapeutic choices. Physicians at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey have evaluated a new approach for the treatment of inoperable pancreatic cancer. They reported their initial results ...

Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Combination of Gemzar®, Epirubicin, and Neupogen® May Be More Effective than Gemzar® Alone 02/21/2002
Gemzar® is the only drug that is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. New research shows that epirubicin and a biologic therapy called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (Neupogen®) in combination with Gemzar® as treatment for pancreatic cancer ...

Cancer Surgery-Related Death Rates Are Lower in Hospitals that Treat More Patients 02/21/2002
Researchers in New York recently confirmed what has long been held by many cancer professionals: that the death rates from major cancer surgery in hospitals that treat a large number of persons with cancer are significantly lower than those in hospitals that treat fewer persons. This is likely ...

Gemzar® improves the overall well-being and survival of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and is the first new drug approved for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in years. (Journal of 02/21/2002
Surgically unresectable pancreatic cancer is an extremely aggressive and lethal disease. Few good treatment options exist for locally advanced or surgically unresectable pancreatic cancer. 5-FU (fluorouracil) chemotherapy is the most commonly utilized approach. Gemzar® is a novel chemotherapy agent that is active in treating many tumor ...

Irofulven Granted FDA “Fast-Track” Status for Pancreatic Cancer 02/21/2002
A new agent, called irofulven, has been granted “fast-track” status by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer that has stopped responding to chemotherapy. The pancreas is an organ that is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver to ...