Tarceva Sound Vs. Pancreatic Cancer

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Tarceva, the Genetech (DNA Quote) and OSI Pharmaceuticals (OSIP Quote) drug, lets advanced pancreatic cancer patients live longer, according to trial data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting Saturday.

The addition of Tarceva to gemcitabine chemotherapy improved overall survival by 23.5% compared with patients receiving the chemotherapy alone. The phase III safety and efficacy trials involved 569 patients, spanning 17 countries and 140 study centers.

Median survival for patients receiving Tarceva plus chemotherapy was 6.4 months vs. 5.9 months for those who took the gemcitabine and a placebo. Of patients who received Tarceva instead of a placebo, 72% reported a rash, compared with 29% in the placebo arm of the trial. Diarrhea was reported by 56% of patients who received Tarceva plus gemcitabine and by 41% of patients who received gemcitabine plus a placebo. ...