Clinical Factors as a Component of the Personalized Treatment Approach to Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: a Systematic Literature Review

Introduction

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at late stages, where disease is either locally advanced unresectable or metastatic. Despite advances, long-term survival is relatively non-existent.

Discussion

This review article discusses clinical factors commonly encountered in practice that should be incorporated into the decision-making process to optimize patient outcomes, including performance status, nutrition and cachexia, pain, psychological distress, medical comorbidities, advanced age, and treatment selection.

Conclusion

Identification and optimization of these clinical factors could make a meaningful impact on the patient’s quality of life.