Timing of onset of systemic treatment in asymptomatic patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer: An international expert survey and case-vignette study.

Abstract

e16256 Background: The number of asymptomatic patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPDAC) is increasing, mostly due to increased use of imaging. Traditionally, systemic therapy is started immediately on disease detection. However, one perspective is that delaying therapy may preserve/maintain quality of life for longer. The impact on survival is unknown. The aim of this study was to gain further insights into current perspectives and clinical decision making regarding timing of start of systemic treatment in asymptomatic patients with mPDAC. Methods: An online survey (11 questions and 9 case vignettes) was sent to all first and last authors of published clinical trials on mPDAC over the past 10 years and medical oncologists of the Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Group. Differences in preferred treatment (i.e. immediate vs. delayed) between continents and years of experience (i.e. < 5 years, 5-10 years, > 11 years) were analyzed using the Fisher’s exact test. Results: Seventy-eight of 291 (27%) medical oncologists responded from 15 countries over 4 continents (62% Europe, 23% North America, 10% Asia, and 5% Australia). Most respondents worked in an academic hospital (73%) and reported more than 11 years’ experience (76%). The majority (63%) preferred immediate start of chemotherapy after diagnosis of metastastic disease. Thirty-two percent favored delayed treatment; 5% at symptom occurrence, 5% at objective disease progression, and 22% either at symptom occurrence or objective disease progression (whichever comes first). For the case vignettes, immediate treatment was preferred in 6/9 cases (67%). In the 3 remaining cases, delayed treatment was favored (case context: just one small lung metastasis, older age, significant comorbidities). The recommended timing of treatment (i.e. immediate or delayed treatment) was different between continents in 1/9 cases (11%, p = 0.012) and between years of experience in 5/7 cases (56%, all p < 0.001); medical oncologists from Europe and with < 5 years of experience preferred delayed treatment more often. Conclusions: This international survey based on case-vignettes indicated that immediate treatment was mostly preferred in asymptomatic patients with mPDAC. However, in one-third of cases, delayed treatment initiation was favored (e.g., due to patient selection and oncologists preference). The relation between timing of systemic treatment initiation and outcome in mPDAC is unknown and warrants further investigation.