A single institution analysis of treatment outcomes in pancreatic cancer through the decade. R. Katipamula, A. Conrad, S. Emani, K. Seetharaman; Saint Vincent's Hospital at WMC, Worcester, MA Abstract: Background: Despite advances in therapies for PancrCa, improvement in survival has been difficult to establish. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 204 consecutive patient with PancrCa presenting between 1990-2001 at Saint Vincent Hospital was done and the data obtained was analyzed for significaance using student t-test. Results: Of the 204 patients there were 103 males and 101 females. The age at diagnosis ranged from 33 to 93 years (mean=69, 95% CI=68,71). Of the 204 patients, 174 (85%) were already in stage 4 at diagnosis. In the cohort, 28 (14%) received Whipple surgery, 24 (12%) received 5-FU as first line treatment, 23 (11%) received Gemzar as first line treatment, and 23 (11%) received a second line treatment. Survival data was available on 195 of the 204 patients. The median survival for the 195 patients was 3.5 months and mean survival was 6.8 months (95% CI=5.5,8.1). For males, the median survival was 4.3 months and mean survival was 8.4 months (95% CI=6.1,10.7). For females, the median survival was 3.1 months and mean survival was 5.1 months (95% CI=3.9,6.3). Length of survival was greater in males than females (t=2.46, p=0.01). Length of survival for patients undergoing surgery (mean=12, 95% CI=6.7,17.3) was greater than that for patients not undergoing surgery (mean=6, 95% CI=4.7,7.3; t=3.00, p=0.003). Patients receiving 5-FU as first line treatment, had mean survival of 7.5 months (95% CI=4.4, 10.7), and patients receiving Gemzar as first line treatment had mean survival of 7.8 months (95% CI=3.1, 12.5). Patients receiving second line and experimental treatments had a mean survival rate of 15 months (95% CI=10.6, 19.8). Conclusions: Female patients had a poor prognosis compared to male patients. The introduction of newer chemotherapeutic agents in the last few years in the treatment of pancreatic cancer has improved the survival by a few months. However, being retrospective study observations could not be made on patient’s quality of life. Supported by an educational grant from Eli Lily Pharmaceuticals. Abstract No: 4241 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.