Resectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Research Articles

Tumor location, clinicopathological features, and perioperative and prognostic outcomes in patients who underwent pancreatic resection following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for resectable pancreatic cancer: A retrospective study

Background/Objective: Preoperative treatment of resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is gaining popularity worldwide. However, the characteristics of tumors located in the pancreatic head (Ph), or those in the body or tail (Pbt), after surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the clinicopathological features, perioperative outcomes, and prognosis of patients with resectable PDAC who underwent NACRT followed by curative pancreatic resection, focusing on distinguishing between Ph and Pbt PDACs. MethodsWe included 107 patients with resectable PDAC who underwent curative resection following NACRT between 2009 and 2023. Clinicopathological features, perioperative and prognostic outcomes, recurrence patterns, and prognoses were compared between Ph and Pbt PDAC groups. ResultsTumors were found in the Ph and Pbt in 64 and 43 patients, respectively. Albumin levels and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratios after NACRT were significantly lower in the Ph group than in the Pbt group. The Pbt group showed significantly higher rates of positive peritoneal lavage cytology and serosal, arterial, and portal vein invasion than the Ph group did. Overall and recurrence-free survival were similar between the two groups. The most common site of initial postoperative recurrence was the lung only in both groups; however, the rate of peritoneal dissemination only was significantly higher in the Pbt group than in the Ph group. ConclusionsThe prognoses based on tumor locations in the Ph and Pbt after surgery following NACRT are similar. Following the resection of resectable Pbt PDAC, the possibility of peritoneal dissemination recurrence should be considered.

Prolonged length of stay and omission of adjuvant therapy are associated with early mortality after pancreatic adenocarcinoma resection

BackgroundSurgical resection is the preferred treatment for non-metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but post-resection survival is highly variable. We use the National Cancer Database Participant Use Files to investigate risk factors associated with early mortality (survival less than one year) after pancreatic adenocarcinoma resection. Methods51,345 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma were identified. 16,234 had survival between three months and one year (early mortality), and 35,111 had survival greater than one year. Descriptive analyses and multivariate Cox regression models were performed to identify demographic, perioperative, and tumor biology factors associated with early mortality. A sub-analysis subsequently explored the relationship between the length of stay and chemotherapy utilization. ResultsOf the 51,345 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 16,234 had early mortality. In multivariate models adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, facility type, tumor characteristics, and hospital risk factors, patients with early mortality also had longer lengths of stay, more unplanned readmissions. They were more likely to receive treatment at non-academic centers. Adjuvant chemotherapy utilization was lower in patients with early mortality, particularly in those with longer lengths of stay. ConclusionReducing the length of stay, decreasing variability across different forms of health insurance, and increasing access to treatment at academic centers may reduce early mortality. Adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with a reduced risk of early mortality but is highly underutilized, especially in patients with prolonged hospital stays. Given that delays in receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with an increased risk of early mortality, interventions to decrease perioperative complications to ensure timely access to adjuvant chemotherapy may improve survival.

The Molecular Twin artificial-intelligence platform integrates multi-omic data to predict outcomes for pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients.

Contemporary analyses focused on a limited number of clinical and molecular biomarkers have been unable to accurately predict clinical outcomes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Here we describe a precision medicine platform known as the Molecular Twin consisting of advanced machine-learning models and use it to analyze a dataset of 6,363 clinical and multi-omic molecular features from patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to accurately predict disease survival (DS). We show that a full multi-omic model predicts DS with the highest accuracy and that plasma protein is the top single-omic predictor of DS. A parsimonious model learning only 589 multi-omic features demonstrated similar predictive performance as the full multi-omic model. Our platform enables discovery of parsimonious biomarker panels and performance assessment of outcome prediction models learning from resource-intensive panels. This approach has considerable potential to impact clinical care and democratize precision cancer medicine worldwide.

FOLFIRINOX plus high intensity focused ultrasound for locally advanced/borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A prospective single arm phase II trial.

670 Background: FOLFIRINOX has been the standard regimen for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) for palliation and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) for neoadjuvant treatment. According to the results of animal studies, concurrent use of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and chemotherapy can enhance the drug delivery to the target tissue. In this phase II trial, we aimed to evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy of FOLFIRINOX plus HIFU for patients with LAPC or BRPC. Methods: This study was designed as a prospective single center phase II trial (Study identifier: NCT05262452). We prospectively enrolled 60 patients (M:F=35:25; median age, 67.0 years old) with LAPC (n=23) or BRPC (n=37). The median tumor size was 4.0 cm (Interquartile range, 2.7-4.6). All patients were treated by FOLFIRINOX (oxaliplatin, 85mg/m2 of body-surface area; irinotecan, 180mg/m2; leucovorin, 400 mg/m2; and fluorouracil, 400 mg/m2 given as a bolus followed by 2400 mg/m2 given as a 46-hour continuous infusion) every 2 weeks until disease progression. HIFU was combined in the first 4 cycles of chemotherapy with following parameters: intensity of 2.0 kw/cm2, duty cycle of 1%, exposure time of 3 seconds and PRF of 10Hz. Follow-up contrast enhanced CT was taken every 4 cycles for the response evaluation using response evaluation criteria for solid tumor 1.1. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. All analyses were intention-to-treat. Results: Two patients withdrew the consent, and two patients could not complete planned 4 cycles of FOLFIRINOX plus HIFU treatment owing to sepsis from severe neutropenia related to chemotherapy. Among 56 patients who completed the 4 cycle of FOLFIRINOX plus HIFU and continued chemotherapy, partial response was achieved in 36 patients (60.0%, 36/60), and stable disease in 20 patients. Regarding the adverse effect (AE), 32 of 60 patients experienced grade 3 (n=22) or grade 4 (n=10) AE, all of them were related to FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy. No AE related to HIFU was observed. The estimated OS was 94.8%, 75.9% and 67.6% at 6-, 12- and 18 months, respectively. Regarding the PFS, the 6-, 12- and 18-month PFS was 91.9%, 70.3% and 56.2%, respectively. Conclusions: FOLFIRINOX plus HIFU was safe and effective treatment for LAPC/BRPC, providing 60.0% of partial response rate without any additional AE to chemotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT05262452 .

Postoperative complications following neoadjuvant therapy and surgery in a phase 2 borderline resectable pancreatic cancer clinical trial (Alliance A021501).

664 Background: Postoperative complications in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy and pancreatectomy in the national cooperative group setting have not been previously characterized. Further, the impact of preoperative hypofractionated radiotherapy on postoperative outcomes is largely unknown. We sought to quantify perioperative morbidity among patients with pancreatic cancer who received neoadjuvant modified FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy with or without hypofractionated radiotherapy on a multicenter clinical trial. Methods: The A021501 phase 2 trial randomized patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to 8 doses of mFOLFIRINOX (Arm 1) or 7 doses of mFOLFIRINOX then hypofractionated radiotherapy (Arm 2), followed by pancreatectomy (Dec 31, 2016-Jan 1, 2019). Patients underwent resection according to defined operative standards at enrolling centers without specific requirements for either surgeon or hospital volume. Surgical complications and adverse events were assessed and captured at a single time point of 90 days after surgery and compared between treatment arms. Results: Of 126 enrolled patients, 51 (40%) underwent pancreatectomy (n=32, Arm 1; n=19, Arm 2) at 28 institutions. Vascular resection was performed in 19 patients (37%). One patient in Arm 2 died within 90 days after surgery. Rates of any surgical complication were 19% (n=6) in Arm 1 and 42% (n=8) in Arm 2 (p=0.07). Median length of stay was 7 days (range 5-38 days). Five (10%) patients required reoperation within 90 days. Readmission rates were higher in Arm 2 than Arm 1 (16% vs. 42%, p=0.04) but there were no differences in rates of reoperation, pancreatic fistula or abscess requiring drainage, or wound infection between study arms. 54% of patients (n=26/48) experienced a grade 3 or higher adverse event, with no difference between treatment arms (47% versus 67%, p=0.7). Rates of initiation of adjuvant therapy did not differ between treatment arms (66% vs. 68%, p=0.4). Pancreatic fistula and abscess were associated with adjuvant therapy (p<0.01). No difference in overall survival was observed based on occurrence of surgical complications (HR 1.1; 95% CI 0.5-2.6). Conclusions: In this national cooperative group study of patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer,postoperative complications following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical resection were consistent with rates previously reported by high-volume institutions and using large datasets. Multimodality trials of preoperative therapy for locoregionally advanced pancreatic cancer may be safely performed in the cooperative group setting. Clinical trial information: NCT02839343 .

KRAS mutation status in the prediction of pancreatic tumor response after neoadjuvant systemic therapy and magnetic resonance-guided SBRT.

709 Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been incorporated into multi-modality treatment of locally advanced and borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). For non-metastatic inoperable PDAC patients (pts) who receive magnetic resonance-guided SBRT (MRgSBRT), baseline features that predict for treatment response remain unsettled. In localized PDAC, multiple studies have investigated the KRAS oncogene as a prognostic factor with mixed findings. In this single institution retrospective study of PDAC pts treated with MRgSBRT, we hypothesized that KRAS mutation status would be predictive of meaningful clinical outcomes. Methods: From an IRB approved dataset of PDAC pts treated with MRgSBRT between 2016 and 2022, 39 pts with non-metastatic inoperable pancreatic cancer, known KRAS mutation status, ≥ 3 months of neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST), and at least 3 months post-RT follow up were extracted for analysis. Baseline demographics, tumor and treatment characteristics, and clinical endpoints including conversion to resectability, best imaging response per RECIST v1.1, pathologic response (PR) per TRG-CAP, and overall survival (OS) after MRgSBRT were collected. Objective response (ORR) on both imaging and pathology was defined as complete response (CR) + partial response (PR); disease control (DC) was defined as CR + PR + stable disease (SD). Logistic regression was used to assess correlation between baseline variables and ORR. Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to determine association with OS. Results: Out of 39 pts, 21 (53%) were KRAS-mutated (KRAS-mt) and 18 (47%) were KRAS wild-type (KRAS-wt). Median age was 62, 54% were male, only 1 pt had ECOG > 1, and CA 19-9 at diagnosis was 197. Median duration of NST was 9 cycles, and common agents included Gemcitabine and Abraxane (21%); FOLFIRINOX (28%); a combination of the two regimens (41%); or other NSTs (10%). Median MRgSBRT dose fractionation was 50 Gy (range 35 – 50) in 5 fractions; all fractions underwent adaptive optimization. Thirty pts (77%) experienced DC on imaging, 16 (43%) had ORR, and 12 (31%) were converted to resectable following MRgSBRT. Cohort median OS was 12.3 months, and pts who had surgery had a non-significant median OS advantage (18 vs 12 months; p=0.19). KRAS-mt was associated with worse ORR (p=0.04; AUC=0.73) and decreased OS (HR: 2.15; p=0.03). In a clinical model incorporating baseline characteristics (age, ECOG, radiographic staging, CA 19-9 level, and KRAS), only KRAS predicted OS (HR: 3.02 for KRAS-mt; p=0.01). KRAS-mt status was also predictive of OS among pts who underwent surgery (HR: 5.24 for KRAS-mt; p=0.04). Conclusions: For localized PDAC pts inoperable at diagnosis who received NST followed by MRgSBRT, KRAS was the only significant predictor of ORR and OS, highlighting the need for further treatment intensification in KRAS-mt pts.

Body composition measurements and clinical outcomes in patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma – analysis from SWOG S1505

Sarcopenic obesity and muscle attenuation have been associated with survival in patients with borderline resectable and advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA); however, these relationships are unknown for patients with resectable PDA. This study examined the associations between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue as measured on baseline computed tomography (CT) and the overall survival (OS) of participants with resectable PDA in a secondary analysis of the Southwest Oncology Group S1505 clinical trial (identifier: NCT02562716). The S1505 phase II clinical trial enrolled patients with resectable PDA who were randomized to receive modified FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel as perioperative chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection. Baseline axial CT images at the L3 level were analyzed with externally validated software, and measurements were recorded for skeletal muscle area and skeletal muscle density, visceral adipose tissue area (VATA) and density, and subcutaneous adipose tissue area and density. The relationships between CT metrics and OS were analyzed using Cox regression models, with adjustment for baseline participant characteristics. Of 98 eligible participants with available baseline abdominal CT, 8 were excluded because of imaging quality (eg, orthopedic hardware), resulting in 90 evaluable cases: 51 men (57.0%; mean age, 63.2 years [SD, 8.5]; mean body mass index [BMI], 29.3kg/m2 [SD, 6.4]), 80 White (89.0%), 6 Black (7.0%), and 4 unknown race (4.0%). Sarcopenia was present in 32 participants (35.9%), and sarcopenic obesity was present in 10 participants (11.2%). Univariable analyses for the 6 variables of interest indicated that the standardized mean difference (hazard ratio [HR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57-0.98; P=.04) was statistically significantly associated with OS. In models adjusted for sex, race, age, BMI, performance score, contrast use, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity, VATA was statistically significantly associated with OS (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.00-2.51; P=.05). No difference was observed in OS between participants according to sarcopenic obesity or sarcopenia categories. The median OS estimates were 25.1 months for participants without sarcopenic obesity, 18.6 months for participants with sarcopenic obesity, 23.6 months for participants without sarcopenia, and 27.9 months for participants with sarcopenia. This was the first study to systematically evaluate body composition parameters in a prospective multicenter trial of patients with resectable PDA who received perioperative chemotherapy. Visceral adipose tissue was associated with survival; however, there was no association between OS and sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity. Further studies should evaluate these findings in more detail.

Immature stroma and high infiltration of CD15+ cells are predictive markers of poor prognosis in different subsets of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Preoperative treatment is commonly carried out for borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the relationship between the combination of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and their intratumoral heterogeneity along with their association with histological findings remains unclear, especially in patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy. We aimed to explore the therapeutic strategies for patients with PDAC with poor prognosis after receiving chemotherapy based on histological and immunological microenvironmental classifications. We investigated the correlation between the prognosis and histological immune microenvironmental factors of patients who initially underwent surgery (n = 100) and were receiving gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GEM + nabPTX) as preoperative chemotherapy (n = 103). Immune profiles were generated based on immune cell infiltration into the tumor, and their correlation with patient outcomes and histological features was analyzed. Tumor-infiltrating neutrophils (TINs) were identified as independent poor prognostic factors using multivariate analysis in both surgery-first and preoperative chemotherapy groups. The patients were further classified into four groups based on immune cell infiltration into the tumor. Patients with high CD15 infiltration into the tumor and immature stroma at the cancer margins showed the worst prognosis in the preoperative chemotherapy group. The analysis of mRNA expression and immunohistochemical features revealed that CXCR2, the receptor for CXCL8, was correlated with disease-free and overall survival. We inferred that patients with immature stroma at the margins and high infiltration of CD15+ neutrophils within the tumor showed the worst prognosis and they could particularly benefit from treatment with inhibitors targeting CXCR2 or CXCL8.

Abstract C070: Management of resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Results from a data-driven approach across University of California system

Abstract Introduction Practice guidelines for resection of surgical candidates in pancreatic adenocarcinoma are consensus-driven to ensure patients receive standardized care, but current evidence regarding peri-operative strategies regarding systemic and chemoradiation treatment is based on retrospective and metanalysis, which may lead to wide variation in implementation. Methods We used a database containing deidentified data patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who received surgical resections across five California academic medical centers to assess peri-operative outcomes and treatment strategies. We identified length of post-operative stay, rates of post-surgical hospital readmissions, pre-operative CA19-9 values, rates, type, duration and amount of neo-adjuvant, adjuvant, and chemoradiation therapy using structured data from EMR records at these sites. ANOVA, t-test and fisher exact tests were used to determine statistical significance of differences across institutions. Cox regression models were used to determine significance in survival differences between populations. Results. We identified 2,564 patients with PDAC diagnosis who had a surgical resection of the pancreas across five University of California sites. 1948 received pancreaticoduodenectomy, 549 received distal pancreatectomies, and 67 received total pancreatectomies. Median LOS was 8.0 days, with 7-day, 30-day, and 90-day readmission rates of 7.6, 17.7 and 23.2% respectively. There were significant differences in these rates across the five medical centers, though no association with site volume. Rate of completion of 6 months of peri-operative 5-FU based systemic therapy was 62% across all sites, but only 47% for 12 cycles of FOLFIRINOX. Patients receiving at least some NAC therapy more likely to complete the recommend six months than those who did not get any systemic therapy prior to surgical resection (77.8% vs 49.3%, p-value<0.001, Logistic regression with Wald test for significance). There were significant differences in the timing of peri-operative therapy across the sites, as well as the frequency of using pre- and post-operative chemo-radiation. Pre-operatively CA19-9, as well as use of perioperative Gemcitabine/Abraxane or FOLFIRINOX over Gemcitabine monotherapy were significant predictors of overall survival. Conclusion Post-operative length of stay and readmission rates were significantly different across these institutions, suggesting differential efficacy in supportive care strategies. Similarly, there is significant variation of peri-operative systemic therapy strategies. Patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy are significantly more likely to complete the guideline recommended six months of treatment. Rates of peri-operative chemoradiation were significantly different across medical centers, without corresponding difference in overall survival. By comparing practice differences across institutions, we may better understand how these differences affect efficacy. Citation Format: Travis Zack, Amir Ashraf-Ganjouei, Kurt Giles, Mohammed Adam, Julian Hong, Margaret Tempero, Eric Collisson. Management of resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Results from a data-driven approach across University of California system [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Pancreatic Cancer; 2023 Sep 27-30; Boston, Massachusetts. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(2 Suppl):Abstract nr C070.

Abstract A001: Preoperative treatment with mFOLFIRINOX +/- isotoxic high-dose stereotactic body radiation therapy (iHD-SBRT) for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (the STEREOPAC trial): A randomized comparative multicenter phase II trial

Abstract Background: Surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Neoadjuvant therapy is a rapidly emerging concept that needs to be explored and validated in terms of therapeutic options and survival benefit. In this setting, preoperative modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX) seems to be feasible and can be followed by radiation therapy with promising benefit for patients in terms of R0 resection, local control and survival. However, the best therapeutic sequence is not yet known and the role of adding high-dose SBRT to chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant strategy requires assessment in randomized trials. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact and efficacy of adding isotoxic high-dose SBRT (iHD-SBRT) to neoadjuvant mFFX in patients with borderline resectable PDAC. Methods: This is a randomized comparative multicentre phase II trial, planning to enrol patients (n= 256) diagnosed with a borderline resectable biopsy-confirmed PDAC. Patients will receive 4 cycles of mFFX (or 6 doses of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel [Gem/Nab-P] in case of intolerance). After full disease restaging, non-progressive patients will be randomized for receiving either 4 additional mFFX cycles (or 6 doses of Gem/Nab-P) (Arm A), or 2 mFFX cycles (or 3 doses of Gem/Nab-P) + iHD-SBRT (35 to 55Gy in 5 fractions) + 2 mFFX cycles (or 3 doses of Gem/Nab-P) (Arm B). Then curative surgery will be performed followed by adjuvant chemotherapy according to patient’s condition. The co-primary endpoints are R0 resection and disease-free survival after the complete sequence strategy. The secondary endpoints include resection rate, overall survival, locoregional failure/distant metastasis free interval, pathologic complete response, toxicity, postoperative complications and quality of life assessment. Discussion: This trial will help define the best neoadjuvant treatment sequence for borderline resectable PDAC and aims to evaluate if a total neoadjuvant treatment integrating iHD-SBRT improves the patients’ oncological outcomes. Trial registration: The study was registered at ClinicalTrails.gov (NCT05083247) on October 19th, 2021, and in the Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) EU CT database (2022-501181-22-01) on July 2022. The first patient was included on March 24, 2023. Citation Format: Christelle Bouchart, Julie Navez, Ivan Borbath, Karen Geboes, Timon Vandamme, Jean Closset, Luigi Moretti, Pieter Demetter, Marianne Paesmans, Jean-Luc Van Laethem. Preoperative treatment with mFOLFIRINOX +/- isotoxic high-dose stereotactic body radiation therapy (iHD-SBRT) for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (the STEREOPAC trial): A randomized comparative multicenter phase II trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Pancreatic Cancer; 2023 Sep 27-30; Boston, Massachusetts. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A001.

The neoadjuvant approach in resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: lessons learned

The neoadjuvant approach in resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: lessons learned

Staging Computed Tomography Parameters Predict the Need for Vein Resection during Pancreaticoduodenectomy in Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Surgery-first approach is the current standard of care for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and a proportion of these cases will require venous resection. This study aimed to identify parameters on staging computed tomography (CT) that predict the need for venous resection during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for resectable PDAC. We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on patients who underwent PD for resectable staged PDAC (as per NCCN criteria) between 2011 and 2020. Staging CTs were independently reviewed by two specialist radiologists blinded to the clinical outcomes. Univariate and multivariate risk analyses were performed. In total, 296 PDs were included. Venous resection was performed in 62 (21%) cases. There was a higher rate of resection margin positivity in the vein resection group (72.6% vs. 48.7%, p = 0.001). Tumour at the neck of the pancreas, superior mesenteric vein involvement of ≥10 mm and pancreatic duct dilatation were identified as independent predictors for venous resection. Staging CT parameters can predict the need for venous resection during PD for resectable cases of PDAC. This may assist in surgical planning, patient selection and counselling. Future efforts should concentrate on validating these results or identifying additional predictors in a multicentre and prospective setting.

The prognosis-based classification model in resectable pancreatic cancer

AimPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treatment is mainly based on the anatomical resectability classification. However, prognosis-based classification may be more reasonable. In this study, we stratified resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma according to preoperative factors and reconsidered treatment strategies. MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 131 patients who underwent upfront surgery for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2007 and 2019. Recurrence within 1 year after surgery was defined as early recurrence, and the risk factors for early recurrence were identified using preoperative factors. Subsequently, we calculated the scores and stratified the participant groups. ResultsFifty-five (42 %) patients who relapsed within 1 year showed significantly poorer survival than those without recurrence (median overall survival, 14.0 vs. 80.6 months; p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that a tumor diameter of ≥24 mm (p < 0.01) and preoperative serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level of ≥380 U/mL (p = 0.04) were the independent risk factors for early recurrence. Early recurrence score was created using these factors, stratifying the participant group into three groups of 0–2 points, and the prognosis was significantly different (median overall survival, 49.3 vs. 31.2 vs. 16.0 months; p < 0.01). ConclusionWe stratified the upfront surgical cases of resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The group with a score of 0 had a good prognosis, and upfront surgery was possibly not futile on patients in poor general condition. The group with a score of 2 had a poor prognosis and may require stronger preoperative treatment.

Lymph node examination and survival in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: retrospective study.

The minimum number of examined lymph nodes (ELN) required for adequate staging and best prediction of survival has not been established in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of ELN on staging and survival in PDAC. Patients undergoing partial or total pancreatectomy for PDAC at two European university hospitals between 2007 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Multivariate Cox regression model and survival analyses were performed to verify adequate staging. Overall 341 (73 per cent) patients showed lymph node metastasis (N1/N2), whereas 125 (27 per cent) patients had no lymph node involvement (N0). With increasing number of ELN, the proportion of positive lymph nodes increased. The minimum number of ELN needed to detect lymph node involvement was 21. In multivariate analysis, examination of <21 lymph nodes was a significant negative predictor for survival. Examination of ≥21 ELN reversed this effect and ruled out possible misclassification. The number of ELN affects survival in PDAC. Possible misclassification was identified when <21 lymph nodes were examined. Therefore, at least 21 lymph nodes must be examined to avoid false lymph node classification in all types of resection.

The value of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma following preoperative FOLFIRINOX: an international multicenter study

The value of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma following preoperative FOLFIRINOX: an international multicenter study

Impact of textbook oncologic outcome on long term survival after resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Impact of textbook oncologic outcome on long term survival after resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Predicting Recurrence-Free Survival After Upfront Surgery in Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Preoperative Risk Score Based on CA 19-9, CT, and 18F-FDG PET/CT.

To develop and validate a preoperative risk score incorporating carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, CT, and fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT variables to predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) after upfront surgery in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Patients with resectable PDAC who underwent upfront surgery between 2014 and 2017 (development set) or between 2018 and 2019 (test set) were retrospectively evaluated. In the development set, a risk-scoring system was developed using the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, including variables associated with RFS. In the test set, the performance of the risk score was evaluated using the Harrell C-index and compared with that of the postoperative pathological tumor stage. A total of 529 patients, including 335 (198 male; mean age ± standard deviation, 64 ± 9 years) and 194 (103 male; mean age, 66 ± 9 years) patients in the development and test sets, respectively, were evaluated. The risk score included five variables predicting RFS: tumor size (hazard ratio [HR], 1.29 per 1 cm increment; P < 0.001), maximal standardized uptake values of tumor ≥ 5.2 (HR, 1.29; P = 0.06), suspicious regional lymph nodes (HR, 1.43; P = 0.02), possible distant metastasis on 18F-FDG PET/CT (HR, 2.32; P = 0.03), and CA 19-9 (HR, 1.02 per 100 U/mL increment; P = 0.002). In the test set, the risk score showed good performance in predicting RFS (C-index, 0.61), similar to that of the pathologic tumor stage (C-index, 0.64; P = 0.17). The proposed risk score based on preoperative CA 19-9, CT, and 18F-FDG PET/CT variables may have clinical utility in selecting high-risk patients with resectable PDAC.

Metabolite changes associated with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a study using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analyses

Metabolite changes associated with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a study using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analyses

Resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and early dissemination – potential targets for neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and early dissemination – potential targets for neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Prognostic impact of resection margin status on survival after neoadjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

A greater than 1mm tumour-free resection margin (R0 >1mm) is a prognostic factor in upfront-resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. After neoadjuvant treatment (NAT); however, the prognostic impact of resection margin (R) status remains controversial. Randomised and non-randomised studies assessing the association of R status and survival in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after NAT were sought by systematic searches of MEDLINE, Web of Science and CENTRAL. Hazard ratios (HR) and their corresponding 95% CI were collected to generate log HR using the inverse-variance method. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed and the results presented as weighted HR. Sensitivity and meta-regression analyses were conducted to account for different surgical procedures and varying length of follow-up, respectively. Twenty-two studies with a total of 4929 patients were included. Based on univariable data, R0 greater than 1 mm was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival (OS) (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.57-1.97; P<0.00001) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.39-1.97; P<0.00001). Using adjusted data, R0 greater than 1 mm was significantly associated with prolonged OS (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.39-1.97; P<0.00001) and DFS (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.30-2.39; P=0.0003). Results for R1 direct were comparable in the entire cohort; however, no prognostic impact was detected in sensitivity analysis including only partial pancreatoduodenectomies. After NAT, a tumour-free margin greater than 1mm is independently associated with improved OS as well as DFS in patients undergoing surgical resection for pancreatic cancer.