Outcome Analysis of Patients Treated with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxelfor Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

We examined the treatment outcome of 17 patients who received gemcitabine (GEM) + nab-paclitaxel (nabPTX) therapy (GnP therapy) as the first-line treatment for unresectable pancreatic cancer at our hospital. Thedisease staging at the time of treatment planning was such that 3 patients had Stage IIA disease, 4 patients hadStage III disease and 10 patients had Stage IV disease, and the resectability classification was such that 7 patientshad UR-LA and 10 patients had UR-M. The response to treatment was PR in 6 patients, SD in 8 patients and PDin 3 patients, and the response rate and disease control rate were 35.3% and 82.4%, respectively. Four patientsunderwent conversion surgery after GnP therapy. Three patients had UR-LA and one patient had UR-M. All resected patients had better overall survival than unresected patients. Conversion surgery should be attempted forpatients who have responded to multidisciplinary treatment and would tolerate surgery.