ABSTRACT
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains a therapeutic challenge for clinicians. It is estimated that in 2005 there will be 32,180 new cases of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and 31,800 deaths (1). Worldwide, the incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is 236,306, with annual death rates over 227,000 (2). Recently there has been an improved survival in patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but this increased survival is only from 3% (1983-1985) to 4% (1998-2002) (1). Most patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma are likely to die from their disease.
