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Pereira et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2018;4:30 Journal of Cancer
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2018.13 Metastasis and Treatment

Review Open Access

Pancreatic cancer: treatment approaches and trends

Nabyla Paixão Pereira, José Raimundo Corrêa

Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalyses, Group of Applied Chemotherapy and Fluorescent Probes, Department of Cellular
Biology, Institute of Biological Science, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF 70910-900, Brazil.

Correspondence to: Dr. José Raimundo Corrêa, Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalyses, Group of Applied Chemotherapy
and Fluorescent Probes, Department of Cellular Biology, Institute of Biological Science, Campus universitário Darcy Ribeiro,
University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF 70910-900, Brazil. E-mail: correa@unb.br
How to cite this article: Pereira NP, Corrêa JR. Pancreatic cancer: treatment approaches and trends. J Cancer Metastasis Treat
2018;4:30. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2018.13

Received: 27 Feb 2018 First Decision: 28 Mar 2018 Revised: 8 Jun 2018 Accepted: 11 Jun 2018 Published: 25 Jun 2018

Science Editor: Shuen-Kuei Liao Copy Editor: Jun-Yao Li Production Editor: Cai-Hong Wang

Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging diseases due to its often late diagnose which results in limited
therapeutic options and poor prognosis. To date, the only curative treatment is complete tumor removal surgery but
only a few patients are eligible to do it. The median survival period after surgery followed by chemotherapy adjuvant
treatment is about 2 years. Since its approval by the FDA, Gemcitabine has become the first-line chemotherapy agent for
treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The FOLFIRINOX regimen is also used as a treatment scheme for pancreatic
cancer; however, this regimen has resulted in small improvements in overall patient’s survival. It is appropriated to clarify
that the FOLFIRINOX regimen can only be administered in patients with good performance status. Due to the absence
of outstanding result after patient’s treatment with diverse chemotherapeutic agents combinations or unsuccessful
administration of single-agent drugs to treat pancreatic cancer, the immunotherapy has become a new hope. A more
comprehensive understanding of cancer microenvironment and the chemical communication between cancer cells
and immune cells can result in new therapeutic approaches that will improve the elimination of pancreatic cancer cells,
enhancing life quality for these patients and increasing the overall survival.

Keywords: Pancreatic cancer, chemotherapy, gemcitabine, immunotherapy

INTRODUCTION
In recent decades the worldwide incidence of cancer has increased substantially. It has been estimated that
609,640 Americans will die from cancer this year and pancreatic cancer is ranked in the fourth position
[1]
among cancer-related deaths in the United States . This cancer type is responsible for 331,000 deaths per
[2-5]
year , and according to GLOBOCAN, 2016 almost 340,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed
[6]
each year worldwide.

© The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
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