Multimodality Treatment of Pancreatic Duct Carcinoma: A Prospective Randomized Study

Summary

The poor prognosis for pancreatic duct carcinoma requires researchers to continue searching for a therapy or therapies that can provide some hope for patients. Traditional systemic chemotherapy has been proven ineffective, mainly because to deliver sufficient drug concentration to the site of the disease risks severe, toxic side effects. Systemic immunotherapy also suffers the same handicap. Surgery alone may successfully remove a tumor, but the rate of recurrence is very high. One exciting new technique is the use of a targeting method to deliver anticancer drugs directly to the affected organ. Immunochemotherapeutic drugs are suspended in an emulsion which is then injected into the splenic artery and superior mesenteric artery via two arterial catheters. The drugs are delivered directly to the organ space occupied by the tumor, and the nature of the emulsion ensures that the drugs are retained in the region for extended periods. The results of this therapy are detailed in this chapter.