Surgery and drug therapy of advanced pancreatic cancer

By applying an en bloc resection of the pancreas with adjacent soft tissue, regional lymph nodes and pertinent vascular structures, a better prognosis could be made for patients with stages I or II carcinoma of the pancreas. The patients with stages III or IV of carcinoma of the pancreas could only be treated to a certain degree of effectiveness by using systemic combination chemotherapy with a very limited prognosis. Recent development of slow releasing anticancer agents would give more positive aspect for the management of persistent pains due to carcinoma of the pancreas with the absence of systemic side effect.