Author Archives: pancreatica
“Modified” FOLFIRINOX Regimen Approved by FDA for 2nd Line Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
On the 22nd of October, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new combination therapy that includes the drug Onivyde for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas) who had earlier been treated until progression of disease while on gemcitabine or a gemcitabine-based regimen. Onivyde is liposomal irinotecan, a topoisomerase I […]
Pancreatic Cancer Work-up: Fine Needle Biopsy via EUS May Offer No Additional Risk
Although the true origin of the Latin phase “Primum non nocere” (First, do no harm) is a little murky, the principle can be traced to at least Hippocrates (or one of his students) written in Ionic Greek 2,500 years ago, and as recently as likely ALL first year training in contemporary medical schools. How might […]
Cell Surface Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan for the Earlier Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer
Yesterday, European researchers and those from MD Anderson Cancer Center/ University of Texas in Houston published an article in the prestigious journal, Nature, which carries the possibility of being a game-changer in the earlier diagnosis and consequent treatment of pancreatic cancer (ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas). It is difficult to overstate the potential for significant […]
Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Induction Chemo with Whipple Procedure + Vascular Targets
In a certain way, the initial treatment considerations for local and advanced pancreatic cancer (ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas) are not as complex as those of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Local cancer is typically treated with surgical resection – some version of the Whipple Procedure. And the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer is generally some […]
Clinical trial of Combination of Targeted Anti-Kras Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Dutch and primarily other European researchers are about to begin a human clinical trial involving a regimen of two relatively new targeted therapies (afatinib plus selumetinib) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer (ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas). Afatinib is known as Gilotrif in the U.S., and is produced by the family-owned global but German-headquartered Boehringer […]