Saturday, January 28, 2023

Four is Better Than Two: New Chemotherapy Regimen Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a particularly aggressive form of cancer that has a poor prognosis. Currently, the standard of care for pancreatic cancer is a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has found that a new four-drug chemotherapy regimen may improve survival rates in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Study Methodology

The study, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, included 90 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either the standard chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine and capecitabine or the new four-drug regimen, which included gemcitabine, capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. The primary endpoint of the study was overall survival.

Results

The study found that patients who received the four-drug regimen had a median overall survival of 11.1 months, compared to 6.9 months for those who received the standard regimen. Additionally, the four-drug regimen was associated with a significant improvement in progression-free survival. The study authors concluded that the four-drug regimen is a "promising new option" for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Limitations

It should be noted that the study had a small sample size of 90 patients, which limits the generalizability of the results. Additionally, the study was not designed to compare the four-drug regimen to other treatment options, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapies. Larger, randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings of this study and determine the optimal treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study by researchers at UCLA has found that a four-drug chemotherapy regimen may improve survival rates in patients with pancreatic cancer. While the results are promising, larger, randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings and determine the optimal treatment for this aggressive form of cancer.

Reference

Janku F, et al. (2021). A Four-Drug Chemotherapy Regimen Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.20.01995

Additional Resources

Regional One Health,  https://www.regionalonehealth.org/cancer-care/cancer-treatment/

Original Article at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/pancreatic-cancer-4-drug-chemo-regimen-improves-survival-ucla


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Wednesday, January 25, 2023

 Expert Care for Malignant Hematological Conditions at the Regional One Health

 

Expert Care for Malignant Hematological Conditions

The Hematology Oncology Clinic at the Regional One Health Cancer Center offers compassionate, expert care for patients with malignant hematological conditions, such as bone marrow failure, acute and chronic leukemia, lymphomas, and myeloma. Their goal is to help every patient lead a normal, healthy life by providing exceptional monitoring, multidisciplinary treatment, and supportive medical care. The clinic provides excellence in medical care, comprehensive testing services, and a team of specialists in one location to help patients access the close monitoring they need to protect their health throughout their adult lives. The team is also dedicated to managing myeloma through the adaptation of novel therapies including immunotherapy and biological therapies, and providing community education and opportunities for patients to participate in potentially lifesaving clinical trials.

 

References 

Gandy, J., & Gale, R. P. (2016). Malignant hematology. In R. P. Gale & J. Gandy (Eds.), Oxford Textbook of Oncology (2nd ed., pp. 265-288). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780199685948.003.0025

Klingebiel, T., & Locatelli, F. (2020). Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children. Pediatric Clinics, 67(3), 627–644. https://ift.tt/clIwDUi

Kurland, B. E., & Love, R. B. (2020). Myelodysplastic Syndromes. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539239/

Additional References

Original Article at: https://www.regionalonehealth.org/cancer-care/cancer-treatment/ 

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