A rapid and systematic review of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of gemcitabine for the treatment of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the eighth most common cancer in the UK and the sixth most common cause of cancer death; in 1998, 3198 men and 3364 women died from this condition. In an average health authority with a population of 500,000, there would be approximately 60 new cases of pancreatic cancer per year, based on the age and sex distribution of England and Wales. Over 75% of these patients are over 65 years of age.