New developments in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Highlights from the 45th ASCO annual meeting. Orlando, FL, USA. May 29-June 2, 2009

The results of the trials presented at this year's ASCO annual meeting underline the challenges of not only treating but also studying locally advanced pancreatic cancer, with any appreciable effect of treatment gained at the cost of considerable toxicity. That response was observed in small numbers of patients in the presented trials speaks to the importance of rational selection of treatment in individual patients in order to achieve maximal survival with minimal treatment-associated morbidity. Further understanding of tumor biology and identification of both prognostic and predictive factors will help define personalized treatment approaches for individual patients.