[Pancreatic cancer--characteristics of the Japanese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer and my opinion on this subject]

Abstract

Guidelines are meant to reduce differences in therapies among hospitals and increase awareness of gold-standard therapies. The Japanese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer were published on March 10, 2006. When compared with other Japanese guidelines, these guidelines are relatively new and their deficiencies are still being pointed out. They cover diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and adjuvant therapy. Each of the 22 sections gives three to six clinical questions. The recommendations are ranked from "A" to "D" as in other guidelines, and "B" or "D" remain in the surgical sections. Gemcitabine receives recommendation "A," showing the potential for future therapies for pancreatic carcinoma. The distinguishing features of these guidelines compared with others are that they were estimated by outsiders, the methodologies used in the reports on which they were based are described, recommendations for future therapy are given, and it was already reconsidered.