Prognostic factors in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma receiving systemic chemotherapy.

The aim of the present study was to determine prognostic factors in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) receiving systemic chemotherapy. The relationship between patient characteristics and prognosis was examined in 103 consecutive patients with metastatic PC. The overall median survival time and 1-year survival rate were 3.2 months and 5.6%, respectively. Among the 20 potential prognostic variables investigated, only three variables, a serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level of > or =5 mg/dl, the performance status of 2-3 and a serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) level of > or =10,000 U/ml were identified as the factors independently associated with a shorter survival. A prognostic index based on the regression coefficients of these three factors was proposed to classify the patients into three groups, with good, intermediate and poor prognosis. The median survival time for these three groups was 5.2, 2.6 and 1.4 months, respectively. The findings of this study may be useful in determining treatment strategies and in designing future clinical trials of systemic chemotherapy for metastatic PC. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.