Chemotherapy options

Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs designed to destroy cancer cells or impede their ability to grow and reproduce. For many pancreatic cancer patients, chemotherapy is an important part of treatment. Chemotherapy may be used alone, or in combination with other pancreatic cancer treatments like radiation therapy or surgery. For pancreatic cancer, chemotherapy is often given concurrently with radiation therapy.

When pancreatic cancer metastasizes, it spreads to other sites in the body through the bloodstream. The liver is a common site for pancreatic cancer to spread since the body’s blood supply is filtered by the liver. For pancreatic cancer patients with liver metastasis, our doctors may use systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy and/or targeted therapy.

Systemic chemotherapy

This type of chemotherapy means that chemotherapy drugs circulate through the bloodstream to cancer cells throughout the body.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a broad category of cancer therapies designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to better recognize and fight cancer. Immunotherapy may be used in combination with other treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses bio-engineered drugs that target specific genes or proteins found on cancer cells. These drugs may be used alone or in combination with other treatments.