Glimelius B et all conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial, (62) between 1991 and 1995, on patients with pancreatic and biliary cancer to estimate any gain in the quantity and quality of life produced by chemotherapy. 90 eligible patients below the age of 76 years with surgically non-curable pancreatic or biliary adenocarcinoma were randomized into two groups: immediate chemotherapy along with best supportive care or to best supportive care only. If the supportive measures did not lead to palliation in the latter group, chemotherapy was allowed. Chemotherapy was either sequential 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin combined with etoposide (FELv) or, in elderly and poor performance patients, the same regimen without etoposide (FLv). EORTC-QLQ-C30 instrument was used to evaluate quality of life.
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2.5 months, P < 0.01). Also, the quality-adjusted survival time was longer for patients randomized to chemotherapy (median 4 vs. 1 months, P < 0.01). Mean scale scores improved more often/deteriorated less frequently in the chemotherapy group than in the best supportive care group in the QLQ-C30. More patients in the chemotherapy group (36%, 17/49) had an improved or prolonged high quality of life for a minimum period of 4 months compared to those in the best supportive care group (10%, 4/41, P <
2.5 months, P < 0.01). Also, the quality-adjusted survival time was longer for patients randomized to chemotherapy (median 4 vs. 1 months, P < 0.01). Mean scale scores improved more often/deteriorated less frequently in the chemotherapy group than in the best supportive care group in the QLQ-C30. More patients in the chemotherapy group (36%, 17/49) had an improved or prolonged high quality of life for a minimum period of 4 months compared to those in the best supportive care group (10%, 4/41, P <