Targeting angiogenesis has not been successful as a treatment for pancreatic cancer. Studies using monoclonal antibodies or small molecule inhibitors of the VEGFR pathway have failed to demonstrate benefit. Now, a phase II study has shown that sorafenib does not improve the efficacy of gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Saif, M. W. Anti-angiogenesis therapy in pancreatic carcinoma. JOP 7, 163–173 (2006).
Cascinu, S. et al. Sorafenib does not improve efficacy of chemotherapy in advanced pancreatic cancer: A GISCAD randomized phase II study. Dig. Liver Dis. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dld.2013.09.020.
Kindler, H. L. et al. Gemcitabine plus bevacizumab compared with gemcitabine plus placebo in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: phase III trial of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB 80303). J. Clin. Oncol. 28, 3617–3622 (2010).
Richly, H. et al. Prospective randomized phase II trial with gemcitabine versus gemcitabine plus sunitinib in advanced pancreatic cancer: a study of the CESAR Central European Society for Anticancer Drug Research-EWIV [abstract]. J. Clin. Oncol. 31 (Suppl.), 4035 (2013).
Kindler, H. L. et al. Axitinib plus gemcitabine versus placebo plus gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a double-blind randomised phase 3 study. Lancet Oncol. 12, 256–262 (2011).
Van Cutsem, E. et al. Phase III trial of bevacizumab in combination with gemcitabine and erlotinib in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. J. Clin. Oncol. 27, 2231–2237 (2009).
Astsaturov, N. J. et al. A randomized phase II and coagulation study of bevacizumab alone or with docetaxel in patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J. Clin. Oncol. ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings Part I. Vol. 25, No. 18S (Suppl.), 4556 (2007).
Gonçalves, A. et al. BAYPAN study: a double-blind phase III randomized trial comparing gemcitabine plus sorafenib and gemcitabine plus placebo in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Ann. Oncol. 23, 2799–2805 (2012).
Heinemann, V. et al. Randomized phase III trial of gemcitabine plus cisplatin compared with gemcitabine alone in advanced pancreatic cancer. J. Clin. Oncol. 24, 3946–3952 (2006).
Loges, S., Schmidt, T. & Carmeliet, P. Mechanisms of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy and development of third-generation anti-angiogenic drug candidates. Genes Cancer 1, 12–25 (2010).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The author declares no competing financial interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saif, M. Sorafenib: no effect on efficacy of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 11, 8–9 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2013.234
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2013.234