The Clinical Efficacy Of S-1 Combined With Gemcitabine In Senile Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer And The Drugs' Effects On Quality Of Life

Objective: This study aimed to explore the clinical efficacy of S-1 combined with gemcitabine in senile patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, and the drugs' effects on quality of life. Methods: 64 senile patients with advanced pancreatic cancer admitted to our hospital were retrospectively analyzed according to their clinicopathological characteristics and divided into a control group (n=32) and an observation group (n=32). After treatment with S-1, the control group was compared with the observation group which was treated with S-1 and gemcitabine in terms of clinical efficacy, serum natural killer T (NKT), Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), T cell subsets of immune function indexes (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+), toxic reaction, quality of life (QOL), and survival time. Results: The observation group reported a higher effective rate of treatment than the control group (P<0.05), and the treatment resulted in the elevation of the NKT, IFN-gamma, CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/ CD8+, and QOL scores, and a reduction in CD8+ in both groups, after which, the NKT, IFN-gamma, CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/ CD8+ levels were higher, and the CD8+ level was lower in the observation group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Without any statistical differences in the toxic reaction rate calculated based on the toxic reactions including neutropenia, aleucocytosis and nausea/vomiting (P>0.05), the observation group had a longer median survival time, a median disease progression time, and a higher 1-year survival time rate than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Considering, the combination of S-1 and gemcitabine compared with the application of S-1 alone, the combination of S-1 and gemcitabine can achieve a better efficacy, improve QOL, and extend the survival time of senile patients with advanced pancreatic cancer without additional adverse reactions. Those advantages are thought to be associated with the improved structures of the T-cell subsets and expressions of NKT and IFN-gamma.