555 Palliative chemotherapy improves survival and quality of life in advanced pancreatic and biliary cancer

In order to estimate any gain in the quantity and quality of life by chemotherapy, 91 patients with pancreatic or biliary cancer were between Jan 1991 and Febr 1995 randomized to either primary chemotherapy in addition to best supportive care or to best supportive care, where chemotherapy was allowed if the supportive measures did not accomplish palliation. Chemotherapy was 5-FU/leucovorin (FLv) or FLy combined with etoposide. The EORTC QLQ C-30 instrument was used to evaluate quality of life. In the primary chemotherapy group, 16/39 (41%) had improved/prolonged high quality of life for at least 4 months compared to 4/39 (10%), P