A trial looking at chemotherapy for advanced cancer of the pancreas (GEM-CAP)

This trial compared gemcitabine alone with gemcitabine and capecitabine (Xeloda) for advanced pancreatic cancer. This trial was supported by Cancer Research UK.

Unfortunately, most people with pancreatic cancer cannot have surgery to cure their cancer because it is too advanced when it is diagnosed. Doctors believe that giving chemotherapy helps patients by improving symptoms.

Doctors often use a chemotherapy drug called gemcitabine. In this trial, they wanted to see if having capecitabine chemotherapy tablets alongside gemcitabine helped.

The aim of the trial was to see if having gemcitabine and capecitabine together is better than having gemcitabine alone for advanced cancer of the pancreas.