Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Multianimal Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Tumor Measurements in Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Models
Published on: February 3, 2026
Meta-analysis on inoperable pancreatic cancer: a comparison between gemcitabine-based combination therapy and
De-Rong Xie1, Han-Lin Liang, Yu Wang
1Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China. xiederong@21cn.con
Aim:
To compare gemcitabine-based combination therapy and gemcitabine (GEM) alone in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APCa) through meta-analysis.
Methods:
MEDLINE and EMBASE searches were supplemented by information from trial registers of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for GEM-based combination therapy and GEM alone for APCa. A quantitative meta-analysis was carried out by two reviewers based on the inclusion criteria from all available RCTs. The meta-analysis involved overall survival (OS), objective remission rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), time to progress/progress free survival (TTP/PFS) and toxicity.
Results:
The meta-analysis included 22 RCTs. There was significant improvement in the GEM combination group with regard to the 6-mo survival rate (RD = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.06, P = 0.008), 1-year survival rate (RD = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01-0.05, P = 0.01), ORR (RD = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.07, P = 0.02), CBR (RD = 0.10, 95% CI 0.02-0.17, P = 0.01) and 6-mo TTP/PFS (RD = 0.07, 95% CI 0.04-0.10, P < 0.00001). However, the Grade 3-4 toxicity set by WHO was higher for the GEM combination group for neutropenia (RD = 0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.10, P = 0.02), thrombocytopenia (RD = 0.05, 95% CI 0.02-0.08, P = 0.002) and vomiting/nausea (RD = 0.03, 95% CI 0.00-0.05, P = 0.02).
Conclusion:
GEM-based combination therapy may improve the overall survival and palliation in optimal patients with APCa as compared with GEM alone.
