pancreatic cancer new chemo regime

Patients with metastatic cancer of the pancreas showed better overall survival on a regimen of gemcitabine plus albumin-bound paclitaxel than with gemcitabine alone, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study. In a phase 3, international study conducted by the drug maker, some 850 patients were randomized to treatment cycles of either gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel or gemcitabine alone. Cycles continued until disease progression. Median overall survival, the study's primary endpoint, favored the combination (8.5 months vs. 6.7 with gemcitabine alone); 1- and 2-year survival rates were significantly higher as well. Neutropenia, fatigue, and neuropathy were all more frequent with the combination, however. "represents a new care standard, and offers an alternative to the [four-drug] combination known as FOLFIRINOX." ref