Review

The role of second-line chemotherapy after gemcitabine failure in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

† Author for correspondence

Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Department of Internal Medicine III, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, D-81377 Munich, Germany.

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Email the corresponding author at stefan.boeck@med.uni-muenchen.de

Volker Heinemann

Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Department of Internal Medicine III, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, D-81377 Munich, Germany.

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Email the corresponding author at volker.heinemann@med.uni-muenchen.de

Published Online:31 Jan 2008https://doi.org/10.2217/14796694.4.1.41

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Abstract

Systemic chemotherapy with single-agent gemcitabine or a gemcitabine-based regimen still remains a standard of care for the treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer. To date, no standard treatment approach for patients that show progressive disease during gemcitabine therapy is defined. Several clinical trials have evaluated the safety and efficacy of second-line chemotherapy after gemcitabine failure in this patient population. Based on the currently available data, there is increasing evidence that selected patients may derive clinical benefit from salvage chemotherapy, also with regard to survival. However, results from large randomized Phase III trials are still lacking and therefore no evidence-based treatment recommendation can be given for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer after failure of first-line gemcitabine.

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Published online 31 January 2008

Published in print February 2008

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Financial & competing interests disclosure

Stefan Boeck and Volker Heinemann received research funding and honoraria for scientific presentations from Hoffman-La Roche, Germany and Lilly, Germany. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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