• Germond C, Maroun J, Moore M, Zwaal C, Wong S, Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group. Use of gemcitabine in the treatment of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2005 Jun 24. 21 p. (Practice guideline report; no. 2-10). [27 references]

Gemcitabine should be offered as treatment to patients with advanced or unresectable pancreatic cancer. There is evidence from one randomized controlled trial that gemcitabine improves symptoms and modestly improves survival in patients with advanced or unresectable pancreatic cancer. These patients were symptomatic, had a life expectancy of at least twelve weeks, and a Karnofsky performance status of at least 50% (equivalent to an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] performance status of less than 3).

A clinical algorithm is provided for assessment of clinical benefit.

The recommendations are supported by randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses.

• Germond C, Maroun J, Moore M, Zwaal C, Wong S, Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group. Use of gemcitabine in the treatment of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2005 Jun 24. 21 p. (Practice guideline report; no. 2-10). [27 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

1998 May 22 (revised 2005 Jun 24)

Program in Evidence-based Care - State/Local Government Agency [Non-U.S.]

The Program in Evidence-based Care (PEBC) is a project supported by Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Cancer Care Ontario
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Provincial Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group

Members of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group disclosed potential conflict of interest information.

None available

This summary was completed by ECRI on August 19, 1999. The information was verified by the guideline developer as of September 17, 1999. This NGC summary was updated by ECRI on December 17, 2001 and most recently on June 23, 2003. The most recently updated information was verified by the guideline developer as of July 16, 2003. This summary was updated again on April 19, 2004. The information was verified by the guideline developer on April 29, 2004. This NGC summary was updated on August 18, 2006. The updated information was verified by the guideline developer on August 23, 2006.