TY - JOUR
T1 - Radiotherapy for Resectable and Borderline Resectable Pancreas Cancer
T2 - When and Why?
AU - Maxwell, Jessica E.
AU - Katz, Matthew H.G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply).
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - The role of (chemo) radiation in the perioperative management of patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is controversial. Herein, we review and interpret existing data relating to the ability of (chemo) radiation to “downstage” pancreatic tumors, delay recurrence, and prolong patients’ survival. In sum, the evidence suggests that while neoadjuvant (chemo) radiation may impact pathologic metrics favorably, it rarely converts anatomically unresectable tumors to resectable ones. And while data do support the ability of (chemo)radiation to delay cancer progression, its ability to prolong longevity has not been confirmed. It is possible that (chemo)radiation is effective in prolonging the survival of select patients, but to date, this cohort remains undefined due to heterogeneity in both the populations studied and the regimens used to treat them. Based on our interpretation of existing data, we currently administer neoadjuvant and adjuvant (chemo)radiation selectively to patients with localized pancreatic cancer who we consider at highest risk for local progression. We may also use it as an alternative to pancreatectomy in patients who are poor candidates for surgery. Ultimately, the role of (chemo)radiation in these settings is evolving. Better studies of patients most likely to benefit from its local effects are necessary to clearly define its place within the perioperative treatment algorithms used for patients with localized pancreatic cancer.
AB - The role of (chemo) radiation in the perioperative management of patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is controversial. Herein, we review and interpret existing data relating to the ability of (chemo) radiation to “downstage” pancreatic tumors, delay recurrence, and prolong patients’ survival. In sum, the evidence suggests that while neoadjuvant (chemo) radiation may impact pathologic metrics favorably, it rarely converts anatomically unresectable tumors to resectable ones. And while data do support the ability of (chemo)radiation to delay cancer progression, its ability to prolong longevity has not been confirmed. It is possible that (chemo)radiation is effective in prolonging the survival of select patients, but to date, this cohort remains undefined due to heterogeneity in both the populations studied and the regimens used to treat them. Based on our interpretation of existing data, we currently administer neoadjuvant and adjuvant (chemo)radiation selectively to patients with localized pancreatic cancer who we consider at highest risk for local progression. We may also use it as an alternative to pancreatectomy in patients who are poor candidates for surgery. Ultimately, the role of (chemo)radiation in these settings is evolving. Better studies of patients most likely to benefit from its local effects are necessary to clearly define its place within the perioperative treatment algorithms used for patients with localized pancreatic cancer.
KW - Adjuvant
KW - Borderline resectable
KW - Neoadjuvant
KW - Pancreas adenocarcinoma
KW - Radiotherapy
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U2 - 10.1007/s11605-020-04838-6
DO - 10.1007/s11605-020-04838-6
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33205307
AN - SCOPUS:85096105983
SN - 1091-255X
VL - 25
SP - 843
EP - 848
JO - Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
JF - Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
IS - 3
ER -