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Pancreatic Cancer: Local Success and Distant Failure

Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Dana-Farber/Partners Cancer Care, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Correspondence: David P. Ryan, M.D., MGH Cancer Center, Cox 6, 100 Blossom Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. Telephone: 617-726-8515; Fax: 617-724-3166; e-mail: ryan.david{at}mgh.harvard.edu

The cure rate for pancreatic cancer remains less than 5% despite more than 20 years of clinical trials. Nevertheless, a select group of patients benefit from therapy at all stages of disease and important concepts regarding patient care have emerged. The development of agents such as gemcitabine and docetaxel have spurred a new generation of clinical trials in pancreatic cancer. An appreciation for the results of the many adjuvant and neoadjuvant trials and the application of lessons learned in the care of these patients is necessary to design the new trials.

Key Words. Pancreatic neoplasms • Combined modality therapy • Pancreaticoduodenectomy • Radiotherapy • Clinical trials • Adjuvant therapy

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