What are the treatments for pancreatic cancer ?
The treatment of pancreatic cancer involves a team of various specialists. This team includes at least an oncologist, a radiotherapist, and a surgeon, with the possible addition of a pathologist.
This team meets during a Multidisciplinary Consultation Meet (MCM) to propose the most suitable treatment for the patient's case. The proposed treatment will be explained in detail by the doctor who will oversee the patient's care during a separate consultation, known as the "announcement consultation".
Pancreatic cancer treatments vary depending on the stage. For stage I and operable stage II cancers, surgical treatment will be proposed. This is currently the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. It is performed in about 20% of patients and is preferred for small tumors (less than 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter).
The surgical intervention is followed by adjuvant chemotherapy to eliminate any cancer cells that may have spread.
TO REMIND YOU
Chemotherapy aims to kill cancer cells, regardless of their location in the body. It works by targeting all rapidly renewing cells, such as cancer cells.
However, some normal cells also renew quickly, such as blood cells, hair follicle cells responsible for hair and body hair, or cells that line the digestive tract. Damage to these normal cells can lead to the side effects of certain chemotherapy treatments.
Before chemotherapy, biological tests are performed to check, in particular, that the numbers of red blood cells (responsible for transporting oxygen to various tissues), white blood cells (responsible for immune defense), and platelets (responsible for blood clotting) are normal. Indeed, one or more of these numbers may decrease during chemotherapy. They will be monitored throughout the treatment. It will also be important to check for infections, especially dental infections.
Chemotherapy is most often given as a combination of several drugs. In practice, these medications are administered through an intravenous infusion lasting about 3 hours.
To facilitate these infusions, a port is often implanted in the patient. This is a small reservoir placed under the skin below the collarbone. From this reservoir, a thin, flexible tube ( catheter ) is threaded into a large vein.
The medications are injected directly into the port, which is more comfortable for the patient than peripheral vein infusions. When chemotherapy is administered before surgery, it is called neoadjuvant . When given after surgery, it is called adjuvant .
For stage III cancers, chemotherapy will be proposed, sometimes combined with radiotherapy to reduce the tumor and relieve symptoms.
For stage IV cancers, chemotherapy or targeted therapy may be used to slow the progression of the cancer and improve quality of life.
Expert perspective
As their name suggests, targeted therapies specifically target molecules involved in the transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells or in the development of malignant tumors. Unlike chemotherapy drugs, which broadly inhibit the multiplication of cancer cells, targeted therapy drugs focus on the underlying mechanisms of cell carcinogenesis.
In recent years, significant progress has been made in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, particularly through new chemotherapy protocols. Additionally, many clinical trials are currently underway. There are currently 50 clinical trials open in France. All of them have the potential to bring new advancements in the treatment of pancreatic cancer..
Discover the clinical trials currently being recruited in France in pancreatic cancer
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Article updated on Jan 21, 2025
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