Targeted Drug Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer
Cover
Book Series Current Clinical Oncology
Book Targeted Cancer Therapy
Publisher Humana Press
DOI 10.1007/978-1-60327-424-1
Copyright 2008
ISBN 978-1-60327-423-4 (Print) 978-1-60327-424-1 (Online)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-60327-424-1_13
Pages 271-287
Subject Collection Medicine
SpringerLink Date Friday, March 07, 2008

 

Authors: Don L. Gibbons, Robert A. Wolff and Gauri Varadhachary


Abstract:
Only modest progress has been made in improving the overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients during the past 20 years with standard cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs. More work needs to be done to address the key biologic characteristics of pancreatic cancer that make it so aggressive, metastasizing at an early stage, and more refractory to standard treatments than most other solid tumor types. Here, we discuss the emerging role of targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer and the status of currently available and tested agents. We also point out the potential pitfalls in current trial designs and recommend new methods for testing novel compounds in this heterogeneous and difficult-to-treat group of patients.