Medicina
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
The effect of combined treatment methods on survival and toxicity in patients with pancreatic cancer.
In Lithuania, there were 476 new pancreatic cancer cases in 2005. Based on international scientific literature and the results of our retrospective studies, a prospective study has been designed. The aim of study was a prospective evaluation of the impact of two concomitant chemoradiation methods on the survival and the time to disease progression in patients diagnosed with resectable and unresectable pancreatic cancer and prospective evaluation of the safety of two concomitant chemoradiation methods for the treatment of resectable and unresectable pancreatic cancer. ⋯ RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. The treatment methods - radiotherapy and 5-fluorouracil or radiotherapy and gemcitabine - were equally effective when assessing the survival and time to disease progression in patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Treatment of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with radiotherapy and 5-fluorouracil was a safer approach than treatment with radiotherapy and gemcitabine, which induced more severe toxic adverse effects.