Expanding surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer: the role of regional chemotherapy.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease that offers little chance of long-term survival for patients with unresectable tumors. Surgery remains the most effective means of attaining prolonged survival, yet its role remains limited. Regional chemotherapy has been described for patients with pancreatic cancer, including reports of objective tumor regression allowing for tumor resection in previously unresectable cases. However, comprehensive data have not been reviewed to date.

Methods

A review of the literature from 1995 to 2010 was performed to analyze the results of regional chemotherapy administered to patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Reports of individual cases, postoperative regional therapy, and treatment of mixed tumor types were excluded.

Results</

SUBMITTER: Davis JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3375496 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature