Unresectable pancreatic cancer in the Hokuriku area]

To clarify the diagnosis and treatment for unresectable pancreatic cancer from April 2001 when gemcitabine was released, we conduct a retrospective survey in the Hokuriku area. We analyzed clinical data of 254 patients. Seventy-two percent of the patients was treated by any method, and 90.7% of those were treated with a protocol including gemcitabine. Gemcitabine was administered a standard protocol (1000 mg/m(2) for 3 consecutive weeks with one week rest) in 62.2% patients, and dose of gemcitabine was reduced or schedule was changed in others. The median survival time was 8.2 months in the therapy group, and were is no differences between gemcitabine monotherapy, multi-drug therapy including gemcitabine and radiation combining gemcitabine in survival time. Multivariable analysis clarify patient's age, performance status, ascites, pleural effusion, and any therapy were prognostic factors. This investigation revealed chemotherapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer with gemcitabine have been spread around the Hokuriku area, in addition various ways have been tried.