Gemcitabine With or Without Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
1969-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This randomized phase III trial is studying gemcitabine and bevacizumab to see how well they
work compared to gemcitabine alone in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic
pancreatic cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine, work in different ways to
stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies such as
bevacizumab can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances
to them without harming normal cells. Bevacizumab may also stop the growth of tumor cells by
stopping blood flow to the tumor. Combining gemcitabine with bevacizumab may kill more tumor
cells. It is not yet known whether gemcitabine is more effective with or without bevacizumab
in treating pancreatic cancer.