Emerging biological therapies for pancreatic carcinoma

Aims: The incidence of pancreatic carcinoma remains approximately equal to its mortality, with the vast majority of patients having advanced disease at presentation. This review is an update of the promising novel approaches involving biological therapy that may be used in conjunction with new chemotherapeutic agents in the near future. Methods: A literature review was performed using the National Library of Medicine's Pubmed database, combined with recently published data from the AGA and ASCO conferences. Results: Rapid progress is being made in gene and molecular technology potentially enabling us to inhibit pancreatic carcinogenesis and to reduce disease progression. Different targets include signal transduction inhibitors, gene therapy, genetic prodrug activation therapy, antisense therapy, immunotherapy, matrix metalloproteinase and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition and hormonal manipulation. Conclusion: A variety of biological agents are currently undergoing clinical trials, targeting different areas of the pancreas' neoplastic process. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.