[Gemcitabine-based combinations in inoperable pancreatic cancers]

Abstract

Gemcitabine administered as a weekly 1,000 mg/m2 30 minutes infusion is considered as the standard treatment of non resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, the limited results obtained with this standard therapy justify gemcitabine-based combinations studies. We summarize the results of studies combining gemcitabine with 5FU, docetaxel, platinum-compounds, irinotecan and epirubicin. Some combinations seem to achieve an interesting efficacy, and are now compared to gemcitabine alone.