A case of successful treatment of pancreatic cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Treatment of pancreatic cancer presents significant difficulties due to the aggressive course of the disease and the extremely low sensitivity of the tumor to standard chemotherapy. In recent years, researchers have increasingly considered the possibility of using immunotherapeutic drugs capable of potentiating the effectiveness of cytostatic therapy as part of antitumor treatment of such patients. They draw particular attention to the combination of interferon-γ and recombinant tumor necrosis factor thymosin-α-1, capable of activating an antitumor immune response, stimulating apoptosis of tumor cells, having a direct antiproliferative effect, causing destruction of neoplasm vessels, stimulating necrosis of tumor tissue.

DESCRIPTION: The patient with stage IV pancreatic head cancer underwent 13 courses of FOLFIRINOX therapy. Treatment was terminated because of increasing toxicity. According to computed tomography, disease progression was detected. The patient referred to cytokinogenetic therapy. After completion of the fourth treatment course, the partial response was seen on computed tomography scan. The TNFα level and the Karnofsky score both grew during the therapy.

CONCLUSION: Cytokinogenetic therapy made it possible to improve the patient’s quality of life, to stabilize his general condition and functional activity, to achieve partial regression of the tumor, and to increase the chances of survival.

Keywords

pancreatic cancer / interferon gamma / tumor necrosis factor alpha / case report

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