The Use of Chemotherapy Drug Post-Surgical Intervention in Pancreatic Cancer Patients

German researchers reported that the use of chemotherapy drug gemcitabine (Gemzar) after surgical intervention to pancreatic cancer patients can extend life. However, some scientists disputed this finding and said that the result was no longer demonstrable of clinical accuracy. The Director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Group at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore, Dr. Nilofer Azad emphasized, "There are other drug combinations that we are looking at now…” For instance, there was a study conducted by Japanese researchers that showed a remarkable increase in survival rate when an experimental drug is combined with gemcitabine. In spite of its impetus clinical advancement, however, pancreatic cancer remains a fatal disease. And the key to mobilize this problem is through early detection, while the neoplasm is still benign and curable. "The best way we can lower the death rate from pancreatic cancer is to diagnose it when it is very early on," Azad stressed.