Preoperative gemcitabine based chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced nonmetastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Abstract

e15677 Background: Almost 30% of patients with pancreatic cancer present with locally advanced tumours in absence of distant metastasis. Because surgical resection is often contraindicated by vascular invasion, this disease has a dismal prognosis. The combination of gemcitabine with concurrent radiation therapy is a promising approach that is being investigated in patients’ unresectable pancreatic cancer. Aim of the work: The efficacy of preoperative gemcitabine based chemo-radiotherapy in increasing the resectability rate for patients locally advanced, non metastatic pancreatic cancer was assessed. Methods: 25 patients were treated by preoperative gemcitabine based chemo-radiotherapy. Approximately 6 weeks after completion of chemo radiation, evaluation was performed regarding tumour response and resectability. Pancreatico-duodenectomy was done for operable patients with surgical reconstruction. Results: Patients who achieved complete remission (CR) were 2 out of 25 patients while those achieved partial remission (PR) were 11 out of 25, 6 of them were considered operable. Thus Pancreatico- duodenectomy was done for 8 patients with surgical reconstruction. The postoperative 30 day mortality occurred only in one patient. The postoperative morbidity occurred in the form of minor biliary leakage occurred only in 1 patient & leakage from gastrointestinal anaestomosis in 1 patient. Out of 8 patients who underwent radical surgical resection, only one patient developed local recurrence and simultaneous liver metastasis during the follow up period. The median survival was 12 months. Conclusions: preoperative gemcitabine based chemoradiation might benefit patients with locally advanced non metastatic pancreatic cancer by increasing the resectability without significant acute toxicity. No significant financial relationships to disclose.