Dr. Ocean on Determining Optimal Frontline Treatments for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Allyson Ocean, ​MD, a medical oncologist and attending physician in gastrointestinal oncology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center; an associate professor of Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University; and medical oncologist at The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, discusses determining the optimal frontline treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

For the first-line treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, the best first option is a clinical trial, says Ocean, especially for patients who have been diagnosed with an aggressive and hard-to-treat disease. If a clinical trial is not available or the patient does not want to participate, then a more standard treatment regimen can be considered, such as FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane), adds Ocean.

A few factors can be used to determine the best frontline regimen for a patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer, Ocean explains, such as how fit they are, performance status, preference, quality of life, and the goals of their care. Additionally, sometimes their symptoms and whether they are in pain or have a lot of problems related to disease burden are considered. If a quicker response needs to be achieved, that may dictate choosing 1 regimen over the other, concludes Ocean.