Capecitabine and Radiation Therapy in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer has traditionally been treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy with limited results. Preliminary studies of parts of this program in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer have produced favorable results with acceptable side effects. We feel that this treatment sequence may help to slow and/or control the growth of pancreatic cancer. This study will help doctors learn whether pancreatic cancer will respond to this treatment. This study will use the combination of two chemotherapy drugs, gemcitabine and cisplatin, before and after treatment with radiation therapy and an oral chemotherapy drug called capecitabine. This sequence of combination chemotherapy before and after radiation therapy, and radiation therapy with the drug capecitabine is what is under study. Parts of this sequence, for example, the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin, have shown promising results in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This research study is an attempt to combine these various parts.