Downstaging of pancreatic carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation could improve survival in patients with pancreatic cancer because of a higher rate of R0 resections, lower rate of nodal metastasis (ypN) and of local recurrence. This approach was tested in a cohort to estimate its effect on survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional, conformal radiation to the primary tumor (55.8 Gy) and the lymphatics (50.4 Gy) was combined with chemotherapy. Resection was performed 6 weeks after completion of chemoradiation. RESULTS: 38 of 120 patients with locally advanced cancer underwent tumor resection thereafter. Three patients (8%) had pathologic complete response. Median tumor-specific survival was 29 months and overall survival 25 months. Patients with clear margins (35/38; 89%) had a 3-year disease-specific survival rate of 51% versus 0% with positive margins (p = 0.008). Nodal disease rate decreased from 50% at pretherapeutic imaging to 32% at resection. Patients with ypN0 status (n = 26/38) had a 3-year tumor-specific survival rate of 50% compared to 31% in patients with ypN1 status. At multivariate analysis, resection status and nodal spread significantly predicted tumor-specific survival. Chemoradiation was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The current results support randomized testing of neoadjuvant chemoradiation to prove survival prolongation. Compared to the literature this approach seems to reduce the number of positive nodes.

Maintenance chemotherapy after chemoradiation improves survival of patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma: a retrospective analysis of prospectively recruited patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Currently, there is no treatment standard for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (PaCa) after chemoradiation. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively assess overall survival and toxicity of chemotherapy in addition to chemoradiation in this patient group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional conformal irradiation to the primary tumor (55.8 Gy) and the lymphatics (50.4 Gy) was combined with 5-fluorouracil- or gemcitabine-based chemotherapy followed by additional chemotherapy with gemcitabine until progression or no further treatment. Decision for chemotherapy was taken at the discretion of the attending physician considering the patient's desire. RESULTS: A total of 172 patients were addressed to the local tumor board. Patients with (neo)adjuvant treatment or metastatic disease were excluded (n = 90). 82 patients were treated with chemoradiation and had additional chemotherapy (n = 40) or no further treatment (n = 42). Characteristics of the two groups were equally distributed. Patients with chemotherapy had significantly longer overall survival as compared to patients without (13 months vs. 8 months; p < 0.0001; median survival = 10.7 months for all patients). Acute toxicity of maintenance chemotherapy was relatively mild. CONCLUSION: Maintenance chemotherapy after chemoradiation for patients with locally advanced PaCa may significantly increase survival rates without severe side effects and is therefore recommended as standard treatment following chemoradiation.