In this article
At the 2018 ASCO conference, results from a clinical study on chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer drew significant attention from the oncology community. The study demonstrated that an innovative chemotherapy regimen could effectively treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) β the most common form of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 90% of all cases β and prolong patient survival by up to 20 months compared to the existing standard of care.
The clinical trial, known as PRODIGE 24 / CCTG PA.6, enrolled 493 patients with non-metastatic PDAC who had already undergone surgery to remove their tumors. In the 3β12 weeks following surgery, patients were randomly assigned to receive either gemcitabine β the existing standard chemotherapy β or mFOLFIRINOX (modified FOLFIRINOX), a newer regimen combining four chemotherapy components: oxaliplatin, leucovorin, irinotecan, and 5-fluorouracil.
With a median follow-up of 33.6 months, the results were striking. The mFOLFIRINOX group achieved a median disease-free survival of 21.6 months, compared to 12.8 months in the gemcitabine group. More significantly, median overall survival in the mFOLFIRINOX group reached 54.4 months β more than 20 months longer than the 35.0 months seen with gemcitabine. Importantly, the additional survival benefit came without unmanageable side effects.
Following these results, researchers plan to investigate whether administering chemotherapy before surgery β rather than after β could further improve outcomes. Pre-surgical chemotherapy may help shrink tumors before removal, reduce the risk of tumor micrometastasis, and increase the likelihood of complete surgical removal. The hope is that refining the timing of chemotherapy will continue to push survival rates higher and bring more meaningful options to patients with this difficult-to-treat cancer.
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination β travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
About Dr. Nishant Mittal
Dr. Nishant Mittal is a highly accomplished researcher with over 13 years of experience in the fields of cardiovascular biology and cancer research. Significant contributions to stem cell biology, developmental biology, and innovative research techniques mark his career. Research Highlights Dr. Mittal's research has focused on several key areas: 1) Cardioβ¦
β Reviewed for medical accuracy by the CancerFax review panel.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified oncology specialist. Every patient's case is different. Treatment decisions should always be made after a review of complete medical records by the treating medical team.
Treatment availability, eligibility, timelines, and access can change. Any clinical trial participation depends on detailed review and approval by the trial hospital or investigator.