Gemcitabine/cisplatin versus 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin C chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a retrospective analysis of 93 patients
2011

Comparing Chemoradiotherapy Regimens for Pancreatic Cancer

Sample size: 93 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Brunner Thomas B, Sauer Rolf, Fietkau Rainer

Primary Institution: Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

Hypothesis

Is gemcitabine/cisplatin more effective than 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin C in treating locally advanced pancreatic cancer?

Conclusion

Gemcitabine/cisplatin was found to be superior to 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin C for overall survival in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Supporting Evidence

  • The median overall survival was 12.7 months for the GC group and 9.7 months for the FM group.
  • One-year overall survival rates were 53% for GC and 40% for FM.
  • GC led to more grade 3 leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia than FM.

Takeaway

This study looked at two treatments for pancreatic cancer and found that one treatment helped patients live longer than the other.

Methodology

A retrospective analysis of 93 patients treated with either 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin C or gemcitabine/cisplatin chemoradiotherapy.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias due to the retrospective nature of the study.

Limitations

The study is retrospective, which may introduce selection bias.

Participant Demographics

Patients had locally advanced pancreatic cancer, with a median age of 63 and a majority having cT4 tumors.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.009

Statistical Significance

p = 0.009

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1748-717X-6-88

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