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Ukrain
(NSC-631570) in the treatment of pancreas cancer
Zemskov
VS, Procopchuk OL, Susak YM, Zemskov SV, Hodysh YY, Zemskova MV
Kyiv
Centre for Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Kiev, Ukraine
The aim
of this study was to investigate the effects of Ukrain in the treatment of
pancreatic cancer.
Most patients with advanced pancreas cancer experience pain and have to limit
their daily activities because of tumor-related symptoms.
Currently, there is no satisfactory treatment for pancreas cancer.
The 12-month survival rate is approximately 18% for patients treated with
gemcitabine and only around 2% for those treated with 5-fluorouracil.
Between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1999 42 patients with advanced
symptomatic pancreas cancer were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin C
(5.4 g every second day, repeated 10 times) and Ukrain (10 mg every second day,
repeated 10 times) (21 patients), or vitamin C (5.4 g every second day x 10) and
normal saline (10 ml) (control group, 21 patients).
The primary measure of efficacy was overall survival.
Other evaluation criteria included change in body weight, pain intensity
(measured by analgesic consumption) and Kamofsky performance status.
The one-year survival was 81% in the Ukrain group compared with 14% in the
control group.
The 2-year survival was 43% in the Ukrain group compared with 5% in the control
group.
In a recent study of 126 patients treated with gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil,
none of the patients survived beyond 19 months. The longest survival in the
Ukrain group was 54 months after the start of therapy (from March 1996 to date).
The last follow-up of other patients was on September 6, 2000.
Median survival was 17.17 months for Ukrain-treated patients and 6.97 months for
the control group and mean survival was 21.86 and 8.92 months for the Ukrain and
control groups, respectively (p = 0.001).
Ukrain treatment was well tolerated.
We conclude that Ukrain prolongs survival of pancreas cancer patients.
To determine whether and to what extent this drug can be used as standard
therapy in pancreas cancer, a phase III study should be carried out.
PMID:
11345025 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11345025&dopt=Abstract
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