Examination of resectable and borderline pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and chemoradiation therapy (NAC-RT) for the treatment of potentially resectable (PR) and borderline resectable (BR) pancreatic cancer. Patients with PR (n=14) and BR (n=13) pancreatic cancer who received NAC (n=15) or NAC-RT (n=12) were enrolled in our study. NAC comprised 2 cycles of S-1 or S-1 plus gemcitabine, and NAC-RT comprised hyperaccelerated radiation therapy and S-1 chemotherapy. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), partial response was observed in 10 patients (37%); stable disease (SD), in 11 patients (41%); and progressive disease (PD), in 6 patients (22%). The rates of curative surgery in patients with PR and BR pancreatic cancer were 57% and 38%, respectively. Curative surgery was performed in 8 patients with PR pancreatic cancer. Downstaging was observed in 3 patients and upstaging was observed in 1 patient. During the postoperative course, peritoneal dissemination was detected in 2 patients at 4 months after surgery. One patient survived for more than 3 years. Curative surgery was performed in 5 patients with BR pancreatic cancer. Downstaging was observed in 4 patients, and upstaging was observed in 1 patient. During the postoperative course, recurrence was detected in 3 patients and the remaining 2 patients survived with a recurrence-free status. The results of the present study indicate that NAC-RT may be useful for the treatment of patients with PR or BR pancreatic cancer. However, this protocol has disadvantages in that the possibility of resectability might be compromised and early recurrence might occur, Thus, this protocol warrants further evaluation. (author)