Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates Across Treatment Groups in Central Texas: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer remains a lethal type of malignancy. Our primary aim was to determine the survival rates amid therapeutic groups of patients in the Central Texas area. Methods: Our study consisted of a retrospective chart review and search of public records. All patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the Scott & White system across a five-year period were included (2014 to 2019). Biostatistical analysis of the data was performed. A Cox proportional hazards model delineated relationships. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Of the 284 patients included in the study, at least 141 patients identified as male (53.61%) and 122 as female (46.39%). Most patients were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (n=130: 49.43%). Patients were divided into three groups; Group 1 (n=96) received chemotherapy but no surgery (40.68%), Group 2 had surgery and chemotherapy or surgery only (n=67: 28.39%), and Group 3 received neither chemotherapy nor surgery (n=73: 30.93%). A significant difference in age was detected; the median age of Group 3 was 74.08 years, as compared to 68.9 and 63.76 years for Groups 1 and 2 (p-value<0.0001). The median number of days for survival was 216 days, 516 days, and 65 days for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Overall, for Group 2 the time to event (death) decreased by 89% (Hazard Ratio=0.107, 95% CI=(0.067,0.170), p-value <0.0001). Conclusion: Pancreatic cancer patients who underwent surgical intervention plus chemotherapy have a longer median survival time; more attention should focus on earlier diagnosis and timely referral to a regional hepatobiliary surgeon.Tabled 1EP02D-020GroupFrequencyPercentCumulative FrequencyCumulative PercentGroup 19640.689640.68Group 26728.3916369.07Group 37330.93236100.00Frequency Missing = 27 Open table in a new tab