TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Chemotherapy
Source: Pancreatic Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: July 8, 2026 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
Context: Treatment Option Overview / The following types of treatment are used:
Chemotherapy (also called chemo) uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
Chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer is usually systemic, meaning it is injected into a vein or given by mouth. When given this way, the drugs enter the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body.
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Chemotherapy drugs used to treat pancreatic cancer may include:
capecitabine
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fluorouracil (5-FU)
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gemcitabine
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irinotecan
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irinotecan sucrosofate (also called nanoliposomal irinotecan)
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leucovorin (a vitamin that improves the effectiveness of 5-FU)
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oxaliplatin
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Combinations of these drugs may be used. Other chemotherapy drugs not listed here may also be used.
Chemotherapy may also be combined with other kinds of treatment. For example, it may be combined with radiation therapy or targeted therapy.
Learn more about how chemotherapy works, how it is given, common side effects, and more at Chemotherapy to Treat Cancer and Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice