Given that standard therapies for metastatic pancreatic cancer are not curative, leading oncologists argue that clinical trials should be the primary consideration for all eligible patients. Standard chemotherapy regimens are viewed as fallback options. This approach frames trials as the best path to advancing care, not an experimental last resort.
Palliative care, or supportive oncology, is engaged at the very beginning of a patient's journey with metastatic pancreatic cancer. This early integration helps manage the high symptom burden from the disease and treatment toxicities, improving quality of life from day one, rather than being a tool reserved for end-of-life care.
A patient's reminder that even clinically-graded "mild" side effects like grade 2 diarrhea can be debilitating highlights a disconnect between clinical assessment and patient experience. This underscores the need for oncologists to consider the real-world impact of toxicities, like the ability to leave the house, when choosing a treatment regimen.
A mentor's advice emphasizes that impactful research questions in oncology arise from deep clinical immersion. By focusing first on mastering patient care and understanding the disease's daily realities, young oncologists can identify the most critical unmet needs and formulate relevant research hypotheses, rather than starting from a purely academic perspective.