A phase I trial of S-1 with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Impact of Preoperative Occult-Bacterial Translocation on Surgical Site Infection in Patients Undergoing Pancreatoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Occult-bacterial translocation (O-BT) has been reported as the condition in which microorganisms are detected in blood or lymph nodes by a highly sensitive method. However, the clinical impact of preoperative O-BT on postoperative complication is unclear.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective observational study with patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary diseases was conducted. Blood samples were collected immediately after induction of anesthesia. The status of O-BT was investigated using bacterium-specific ribosomal RNA-targeted reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The impact of O-BT on surgical site infection (SSI) was analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 155 patients were included. The positive rate in preoperative blood samples detected by RT-qPCR was significantly higher than that obtained by the culture method (32 of 155 vs 4 of 155, p < 0.001). Preoperative blood samples were contaminated with 1.0 to 19.2 bacterial cells/mL in positive patients, and 30 of the 41 detected microorganisms were obligate anaerobes. No differences in preoperative factors were observed between patients with positive and negative RT-qPCR results. The incidence of any SSI was significantly higher in patients with contaminated preoperative blood (≥1.2 bacterial cells/mL) than in other patients (14 of 27 vs 35 of 128, p = 0.013). Multivariable analysis indicated that contaminated preoperative blood was identified as one of the independent risk factors for SSI (odds ratio 2.71, 95% CI 1.04 to 7.24, p = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

O-BT, predominantly with obligate anaerobes, was commonly observed in preoperative blood samples. In addition to the previously known risk factors, O-BT may be one of the risk factors for SSI after pancreatoduodenectomy.

Peritoneal Lavage Tumor DNA as a Novel Biomarker for Predicting Peritoneal Recurrence in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The clinical role of peritoneal lavage cytology (CY) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains controversial, partly due to its low sensitivity. This study aimed to develop a new biomarker, defined as peritoneal lavage tumor DNA (ptDNA), using DNAs extracted from peritoneal lavage samples from patients with PDAC.

METHODS

Samples were collected intraoperatively from 89 PDAC patients who underwent pancreatectomy between 2012 and 2017. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to measure ptDNA for detection of KRAS mutations. The ptDNA status and clinical characteristics were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

Positive ptDNA was found in 41 patients, including all 9 patients positive for CY (CY+) and 32 patients negative for CY (CY-). The mutant allele frequency was significantly higher in the CY+ patients than in the CY- patients. The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly poorer in the high-ptDNA group than in the low-ptDNA group (median DFS, 11.0 vs. 18.8 months; p = 0.007; median OS, 28.7 vs not reached; p = 0.001). The survival curves of DFS and OS in the CY+ group were almost equal to those in the CY- and high-ptDNA group. In a multivariable analysis, ptDNA was an independent predictive factor for DFS (p = 0.025) and OS (p = 0.047). The estimated cumulative incidence of peritoneal recurrence was 45.5% in the high-ptDNA group. The ptDNA biomarker had a much higher sensitivity for peritoneal recurrence than CY, whereas CY had higher specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

As a promising biomarker, ptDNA may predict poor prognosis and peritoneal recurrence in PDAC, resolving the controversy surrounding CY.

Recurrence Patterns for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma after Upfront Resection Versus Resection Following Neoadjuvant Therapy: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) represents a paradigm shift in the management of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with perceived benefits including a higher R0 rate. However, it is unclear whether NAT affects the sites and patterns of recurrence after surgery. This review seeks to compare sites and patterns of recurrence after resection between patients undergoing upfront surgery (US) or after NAT. Methods: The EMBASE, SCOPUS, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched to identify eligible studies that compare recurrence patterns between patients who had NAT (followed by resection) with those that had US. The primary outcome included site-specific recurrence. Results: 26 articles were identified including 4986 patients who underwent resection. Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC, 47% 1074/2264) was the most common, followed by resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC 42%, 949/2264). The weighted overall recurrence rates were lower among the NAT group, 63.4% vs. 74% (US) (OR 0.67 (CI 0.52–0.87), p = 0.006). The overall weighted locoregional recurrence rate was lower amongst patients who received NAT when compared to US (12% vs. 27% OR 0.39 (CI 0.22–0.70), p = 0.004). In BRPC, locoregional recurrence rates improved with NAT (NAT 25.8% US 37.7% OR 0.62 (CI 0.44–0.87), p = 0.007). NAT was associated with a lower weighted liver recurrence rate (NAT 19.4% US 30.1% OR 0.55 (CI 0.34–0.89), p = 0.023). Lung and peritoneal recurrence rates did not differ between NAT and US cohorts (p = 0.705 and p = 0.549 respectively). NAT was associated with a significantly longer weighted mean time to first recurrence 18.8 months compared to US (15.7 months) (OR 0.18 (CI 0.05–0.32), p = 0.015). Conclusion: NAT was associated with lower overall recurrence rate and improved locoregional disease control particularly for those with BRPC. Although the burden of liver metastases was less, there was no overall effect upon distant metastatic disease.

Phase 2 Study of Neoadjuvant Treatment of Sequential S-1-Based Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy Followed by Systemic Chemotherapy with Gemcitabine for Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (HOPS-BR 01)

PURPOSE

Preoperative treatment is recommended for borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. However, the standard treatment has not yet been determined. We conducted a multicenter phase 2 study to investigate the efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment of sequential chemoradiation followed by chemotherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

All enrolled patients were treated by preoperative chemoradiation (a total dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions and orally administered S-1 at 80 mg/m² on the day of irradiation) followed by chemotherapy (administration of gemcitabine at 1000 mg/m²/dose on days 1, 8, and 15 in 3 cycles of 4 weeks) and attempted curative resection. The primary outcome was an R0 resection rate among patients who completed preoperative treatment and pancreatectomy. The threshold of the R0 resection rate was defined as 74% based on a previous study of up-front surgery.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients were included. Twenty-one patients could not undergo pancreatectomy because of progressive diseases (n = 14), adverse events (n = 5), or consent withdrawal (n = 2), and 4 patients underwent additional resection after dropping out. The resection rates were 53.3% and 62.2% in the per-protocol set (PPS) and full analysis set (FAS) populations, respectively. The R0 resection rates were 95.8% (95% confidence interval, 78.9%-99.9%) and 96.4% (81.7%-99.9%) in the PPS and FAS populations, respectively. The median overall survival and progression-free survival of all the included patients were 17.3 and 10.5 months, respectively. The median survival time of the patients with pancreatectomy was significantly longer than that of the patients without pancreatectomy in the PPS (27.9 vs 12.3 months; P = .001) and FAS populations (32.2 vs 11.8 months; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that a long duration of preoperative treatment of sequential chemoradiation followed by systemic chemotherapy provides a high rate of R0 resection and sufficient survival time in patients undergoing pancreatectomy.

A Prospective Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant S-1 with Concurrent Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Patients with Resectable and Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The ideal neoadjuvant treatment protocol for patients with pancreatic cancer (PDAC) remains unclear. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant hypofractionated chemoradiotherapy with S-1 for patients with resectable (R) and borderline resectable (BR) PDAC.

METHODS

Eligibility criteria included patients with R and BR PDAC, performance status 0-1, and age 20-85 years. Hypofractionated external-beam radiotherapy (30 Gy in 10 fractions) with concurrent S-1 (60 mg/m²) was delivered 5 days/week for 2 weeks prior to pancreatectomy.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients were enrolled in this study, including 33 R and 24 BR [19 BR tumors with portal vein contact (BR-PV) and 5 BR tumors with arterial contact (BR-A)]. The total rates of protocol treatment completion and resection were 91% (50/57) and 96% (55/57), respectively. Seven patients failed to complete S-1 due to cholangitis (n = 5) or neutropenia (n = 2). The most common grade 3 toxicities [Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0] were anorexia (7%), nausea (5%), neutropenia (4%), and leukopenia (4%). No patient experienced grade 4 toxicity. Pathologically negative margins (R0) were achieved in 54 of 55 patients (98%) who underwent pancreatectomy. Pathological response was classified as Evans grade I in 8 patients (15%), IIa in 31 patients (56%), IIb in 14 patients (25%), III in 1 patient (2%), and IV in 1 patient (2%), and operative morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade IIIb or less) was observed in 4 patients (8%). The 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates were 91 and 83% in R patients, respectively, and 77 and 58% in BR patients, respectively (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant S-1 with concurrent hypofractionated radiotherapy is tolerable and appears promising for patients with R and BR PDAC.

Clinical benefits of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head: an observational study using inverse probability of treatment weighting

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) and subset of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients who are most likely to benefit from this strategy remain elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of NACRT in patients with resectable (R) or borderline resectable (BR) adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. BR diseases were classified into two groups: lesions involving exclusively the portal vein system (BR-PV) and those abutting the major artery (BR-A).

METHODS

A total of 504 patients treated with curative intent for PDAC were analyzed (R, n = 273; BR-PV, n = 129; BR-A, n = 102). Patients who underwent upfront surgery and those who underwent NACRT followed by surgery were compared using propensity score-matched and inverse probability of treatment-weighted analyses (UMIN000019719).

RESULTS

No significant differences were noted in the incidences of curative resection among the three categories (R, BR-PV and BR-A). Propensity score-weighted logistic regression analysis revealed that the incidence of pathologically positive resection margins was reduced by NACRT only for BR patients. Among the propensity score-matched patients, NACRT rather than upfront surgery significantly prolonged the median survival time of BR-PV patients (28.4 vs. 20.1 months; P = 0.044) but not that of R-PDAC patients (28.6 vs. 33.7 months; P = 0.960). NACRT prolonged the median survival time of BR-A patients (18.1 vs. 10.0 months; P = 0.046), but the results remained unsatisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that NACRT improves R0 rates and increases the survival of patients with BR-PV adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head but not that of patients with R-PDAC.

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Analysis of Upfront Surgery Versus Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma with Arterial Abutment

Combined arterial resection during pancreatectomy can be a challenging treatment, and outcome would be more favorable if the tumor becomes technically removable from the artery. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) is expected to achieve locoregional control and enable margin-negative resection. To investigate the effects of NACRT in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) which were deemed borderline resectable through preoperative imaging due to abutment of the major artery, including the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) or common hepatic artery (CHA), but were still considered to be technically removable. In the current study, comparisons were make between 71 patients who underwent upfront surgery and 21 patients who underwent NACRT followed by surgery in the strategy to preserve the artery, using unmatched and inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis (UMIN000017115). Fifty patients in the upfront surgery group and 18 in the NACRT group underwent curative resection (70% vs 86%, respectively; P = 0.16). The results of the propensity score weighted logistic regressions indicated that the incidences of pathological lymph node metastasis and a pathological positive resection margin were significantly lower in the NACRT group (odds ratio, 0.006; P < 0.001 and odds ratio, 0.007; P < 0.001, respectively). Among the propensity-score matched patients, the estimated 1- and 2-year survival rates in the upfront surgery group were 66.7% and 16.0%, respectively, and those in the NACRT group were 80.0% and 65.2%, respectively. In conclusion, it was suggested that chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery provided clinical benefits in patients with PDACs in contact with the SMA or CHA.

ACTN4 copy number increase as a predictive biomarker for chemoradiotherapy of locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Background:

Several clinical trials have compared chemotherapy alone and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treatment. However, predictive biomarkers for optimal therapy of LAPC remain to be identified.

We retrospectively estimated amplification of the ACTN4 gene to determine its usefulness as a predictive biomarker for LAPC.

Methods:

The copy number of ACTN4 in 91 biopsy specimens of LAPC before treatment was evaluated using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH).

Results:

There were no statistically significant differences in overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) of LAPC between patients treated with chemotherapy alone or with CRT. In a subgroup analysis of patients treated with CRT, patients with a copy number increase (CNI) of ACTN4 had a worse prognosis of OS than those with a normal copy number (NCN) of ACTN4 (P=0.0005, log-rank test). However, OS in the subgroup treated with chemotherapy alone was not significantly different between patients with a CNI and a NCN of ACTN4. In the patients with a NCN of ACTN4, the median survival time of PFS in CRT-treated patients was longer than that of patients treated with chemotherapy alone (P=0.049).

Conclusions:

The copy number of ACTN4 is a predictive biomarker for CRT of LAPC.

Salvage chemoradiotherapy after primary chemotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a single-institution retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus on the indication for salvage chemoradiotherapy (CRT) after failure of primary chemotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Here we report on the retrospective analysis of patients who received salvage CRT after primary chemotherapy for LAPC. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of salvage CRT after primary chemotherapy for LAPC.

METHODS

Thirty patients who underwent salvage CRT, after the failure of primary chemotherapy for LAPC, were retrospectively enrolled from 2004 to 2011 at the authors' institution. All the patients had histologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

RESULTS

Primary chemotherapy was continued until progression or emergence of unacceptable toxicity. Eventually, 26 patients (87%) discontinued primary chemotherapy because of local tumor progression, whereas four patients (13%) discontinued chemotherapy because of interstitial pneumonitis caused by gemcitabine. After a median period of 7.9 months from starting chemotherapy, 30 patients underwent salvage CRT combined with either S-1 or 5-FU. Toxicities were generally mild and self-limiting. Median survival time (MST) from the start of salvage CRT was 8.8 months. The 6 month, 1-year and 2-year survival rates from the start of CRT were 77%, 33% and 26%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that a lower pre-CRT serum CA 19-9 level (≤ 1000 U/ml; p = 0.009) and a single regimen of primary chemotherapy (p = 0.004) were independent prognostic factors for survival after salvage CRT. The MST for the entire patient population from the start of primary chemotherapy was 17.8 months, with 2- and 3-year overall survival rates of 39% and 22%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

CRT had moderate anti-tumor activity and an acceptable toxicity profile in patients with LAPC, even after failure of gemcitabine-based primary chemotherapy. If there are any signs of failure of primary chemotherapy without distant metastasis, salvage CRT could be a treatment of choice as a second-line therapy. Patients with relatively low serum CA19-9 levels after primary chemotherapy may achieve higher survival rates after salvage CRT. The strategy of using chemotherapy alone as a primary treatment for LAPC, followed-by CRT with salvage intent should be further investigated in prospective clinical trials.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

2011-136

A multicenter phase II trial of S-1 with concurrent radiation therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of S-1 and concurrent radiation therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (PC).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Locally advanced PC patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma, who had no previous therapy were enrolled. Radiation therapy was delivered through 3 or more fields at a total dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions over 5.5 weeks. S-1 was administered orally at a dose of 80 mg/m2 twice daily on the day of irradiation during radiation therapy. After a 2- to 8-week break, patients received a maintenance dose of S-1 (80 mg/m2/day for 28 consecutive days, followed by a 14-day rest period) was then administered until the appearance of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary efficacy endpoint was survival, and the secondary efficacy endpoints were progression-free survival, response rate, and serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) response; the safety endpoint was toxicity.

RESULTS

Of the 60 evaluable patients, 16 patients achieved a partial response (27%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 16%-40%). The median progression-free survival period, overall survival period, and 1-year survival rate of the evaluable patients were 9.7 months (95% CI, 6.9-11.6 months), 16.2 months (95% CI, 13.5-21.3 months), and 72% (95%CI, 59%-82%), respectively. Of the 42 patients with a pretreatment serum CA19-9 level of ≥100 U/ml, 34 (81%) patients showed a decrease of greater than 50%. Leukopenia (6 patients, 10%) and anorexia (4 patients, 7%) were the major grade 3-4 toxicities with chemoradiation therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of S-1 with concurrent radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced PC was found to be very favorable, with only mild toxicity.

A phase II study of oral S-1 with concurrent radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy with S-1 alone for locally advanced pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

S-1 is a new oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer agent shown to be effective for pancreatic cancer. In a previous phase I trial, we evaluated the safety of S-1 combined with radiotherapy to determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The recommended dose of S-1 for phase II trials of chemoradiotherapy was determined as 80 mg/m(2)/day given on days 1-21 of a 28-day cycle. This phase II study was conducted to further evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy combined with S-1 (UMIN000004794).

METHODS

Eligible patients had locally advanced and unresectable pancreatic cancer without distant metastases, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1, adequate organ and marrow functions, and no prior anticancer therapy. Patients initially received 4 weeks of chemoradiotherapy. S-1 was given orally at a dose of 80 mg/m(2)/day twice daily on days 1-21. Radiotherapy was delivered in fractions of 1.25 Gy twice daily, 5 days per week for 4 weeks (total dose: 50 Gy in 40 fractions). One month after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, S-1 was administered for 14 days followed by a 14-day rest period. This cycle was repeated as maintenance therapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

RESULTS

Fifty patients were enrolled in this phase II study. Median follow-up was 14.6 months (range 5.4-58.9 months). Forty-three patients (86%) completed the scheduled course of chemoradiotherapy. There was no treatment-related death or grade 4 toxicity. The major toxic effects were leukopenia and nausea. The objective tumor response according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours criteria was partial response in 15 patients (30%) (95% confidence interval (CI), 18-45%), stable disease in 23 (46%), and progressive disease in 12 (24%). Median progression-free survival and median overall survival were 6.7 months (95% CI, 4.7-11.2 months) and 14.3 months (95% CI, 10.8-20.8 months), respectively. Survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 62 and 27%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy with S-1 and radiation in patients with locally advanced and unresectable pancreatic cancer is considered a promising, well-tolerated regimen that can be recommended as an effective treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy using S-1 followed by surgical resection in patients with pancreatic cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare short-term surgical results in pancreatic cancer patients who underwent surgical resection after neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT) using S-1.

METHODS

The study population comprised 77 patients with pancreatic cancer between 2006 and 2010. Out of 34 patients who underwent staging laparoscopy between 2008 and 2010, 31 patients without occult distant organ metastasis underwent chemoradiation and of whom 30 underwent pancreatectomy (NACRT group). Of the other 43 patients, 36 underwent surgical resection in 2006-2008, followed by adjuvant therapy (adjuvant group). The primary endpoint was frequency of pathological curative resection (R0).

RESULTS

The new regimen of NACRT was feasible and safe. Twenty-eight of 30 (93%) patients in the NACRT group had R0 resection, which was significantly higher than in the adjuvant group (21 of 36 patients, 58%, p = 0.005). The number and extent of metastatic lymph nodes in the NACRT group (1 (0-25), N0/1; 18 of 38) was significantly lower than in the adjuvant group (2 (0-19), N0/1; 23 of 30), p = 0.0363). The frequency of intractable ascites in the NACRT group (eight of 30) was significantly higher than in the adjuvant group (two of 36, p = 0.035).

CONCLUSION

Neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy using S-1 followed by pancreatectomy can improve the rate of pathologically curative resection and reduces the number and extent of lymph node metastasis.

A phase I trial of S-1 with concurrent radiotherapy in patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this phase I trial of S-1 chemotherapy in combination with pelvic radiotherapy for locally recurrent rectal cancer was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose (RD), and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of S-1.

METHODS

We enrolled 9 patients between April 2005 and March 2009. Radiotherapy (total dose, 60 Gy in 30 fractions) was given to the gross local recurrent tumor and pelvic nodal metastases using three-dimensional radiotherapy planning. We administered oral S-1 twice a day on days 1-14 and 22-35 during radiotherapy. The dose of S-1 was initially 60 mg/m(2)/day and was increased to determine the MTD and RD for this regimen.

RESULTS

DLT appeared at dose level 2 (70 mg/m(2)/day) in 2 patients, who experienced grade 3 enterocolitis and consequently required suspension of S-1 administration for longer than 2 weeks. Hematological toxicity was mild and reversible. At the initial evaluation, complete regression and partial regression were seen in 1 patient (11%) and 2 patients (22%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

This phase I trial of S-1 chemotherapy with pelvic radiotherapy for locally recurrent rectal cancer revealed that the MTD for S-1 was 70 mg/m(2)/day and the RD was 60 mg/m(2)/day.

Intraoperative radiotherapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer: a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of 144 patients

PURPOSE

To retrospectively analyze the results of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) + external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for unresectable pancreatic cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The records of 144 patients treated with IORT, with or without, EBRT were reviewed. One hundred and thirteen patients (78.5%) were treated with IORT + EBRT and 114 patients (79.2%) were treated in conjunction with chemotherapy. The median doses of IORT and EBRT were 25 Gy and 45 Gy, respectively. The median follow-up of all 144 patients was 9.6 months (range, 0.5-69.7 months).

RESULTS

At the time of this analysis, 131 of 144 patients (91.0%) had disease recurrences. Local progression was observed in 60 patients (41.7%), and the 2-year local control (LC) rate in all patients was 44.6%. Patients treated with IORT, with or without, EBRT had significantly more favorable LC (2-year LC, 50.9%) than those treated with IORT without EBRT (p = 0.0004). The 2-year overall survival (OS) rate and the median survival time in all 144 patients were 14.7% and 10.5 months, respectively. Patients treated with chemotherapy had a significantly favorable OS than those treated without chemotherapy (p < 0.0001). On univariate analysis, chemotherapy use alone had a significant impact on OS and on multivariate analysis; chemotherapy use was a significant prognostic factor. Late gastrointestinal morbidity of National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria Grade 3 was observed in 2 patients (1.4%).

CONCLUSION

IORT + EBRT yields a relatively favorable LC rate for unresectable pancreatic cancer with low frequency of severe late toxicity, and IORT combined with chemotherapy conferred a survival benefit compared with IORT without chemotherapy.

Phase II study of oral S-1 and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

S-1 is an oral fluoropyrimidine derivative that has demonstrated favorable antitumor activity in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of S-1 and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients with histopathologically proven, unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic cancer were eligible. Radiotherapy was delivered in 1.8 Gy daily fractions to a total dose of 50.4 Gy over 5.5 weeks. S-1 was administered orally twice a day at a dose of 80 mg/m(2)/day from day 1 to 14 and 22 to 35. Two weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, maintenance chemotherapy with S-1 was administered for 28 days every 6 weeks until progression.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were enrolled in this study. The most common Grade 3 toxicities during chemoradiotherapy were anorexia (24%) and nausea (12%). The overall response rate was 41% (95% confidence interval, 25%-58%) and overall disease control rate (partial response plus stable disease) was 97%. More than 50% decrease in serum CA 19-9 was seen in 27 of 29 evaluable patients (93%). The median progression-free survival was 8.7 months. The median overall survival and 1-year survival rate were 16.8 months and 70.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral S-1 and concurrent radiotherapy exerted a promising antitumor activity with acceptable toxicity in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. This combination therapy seems to be an attractive alternative to conventional chemoradiotherapy using 5-fluorouracil infusion.

Intraoperative radiotherapy for resected pancreatic cancer: a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of 210 patients

PURPOSE

To retrospectively analyze the results of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with or without external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for resected pancreatic cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The records of 210 patients treated with gross complete resection (R0: 147 patients; R1: 63 patients) and IORT with or without EBRT were reviewed. One hundred forty-seven patients (70.0%) were treated without EBRT and 114 patients (54.3%) were treated in conjunction with chemotherapy. The median doses of IORT and EBRT were 25 Gy (range, 20-30 Gy) and 45 Gy (range, 20-60Gy), respectively. The median follow-up of the surviving 62 patients was 26.3 months (range, 2.7-90.5 months).

RESULTS

At the time of this analysis, 150 of 210 patients (71.4%) had disease recurrences. Local failure was observed in 31 patients (14.8%), and the 2-year local control rate in all patients was 83.7%. The median survival time and the 2-year actuarial overall survival (OS) in all 210 patients were 19.1 months and 42.1%, respectively. Patients treated with IORT and chemotherapy had a significantly more favorable OS than those treated with IORT alone (p = 0.0011). On univariate analysis, chemotherapy use, degree of resection, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and pathological N stage had a significant impact on OS and on multivariate analysis; these four factors were significant prognostic factors. Late gastrointestinal morbidity of NCI-CTC Grade 4 was observed in 7 patients (3.3%).

CONCLUSION

IORT yields an excellent local control rate for resected pancreatic cancer with few frequencies of severe late toxicity, and IORT combined with chemotherapy confers a survival benefit compared with that of IORT alone.

Phase II study of gemcitabine chemotherapy alone for locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma: JCOG0506

OBJECTIVE

Chemoradiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil has been accepted as a standard care for locally advanced pancreatic cancer; however, it has not been shown to be superior to chemotherapy alone in the gemcitabine era. The present multicentre phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Gem monotherapy against locally advanced pancreatic cancer in comparison with the historical data of chemoradiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil.

METHODS

Eligibility criteria included patients with histologically proven locally advanced pancreatic cancer, all lesions encompassed by a square of 15 cm on one side, no prior treatment, good performance status and adequate organ function. Gemcitabine was given intravenously at a dose of 1000 mg/m(2) over 30 min on days 1, 8 and 15, repeated every 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was %1-year survival. Expected and threshold %1-year survival were 40 and 25%, respectively.

RESULTS

Between January 2006 and February 2007, 50 locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients were registered. The major grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropaenia (62%), thrombocytopaenia (18%), fatigue (12%) and infection-biliary tree (12%). Haematological toxicity was mostly transient and there was no episode of infection with grade 3-4 neutropaenia. Up to the final follow-up in February 2009, the median overall survival was 15.0 months with a %1-year survival of 64.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Gemcitabine monotherapy demonstrated far better survival than historical data for chemoradiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil with mild toxicities. Gemcitabine could be consider as a standard treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Surgical resection versus palliative chemoradiotherapy for the management of pancreatic cancer with local venous invasion: a decision analysis

BACKGROUND

Benefit from pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) combined with superior mesenteric-portal vein (SMV-PV) resection in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with local venous invasion remains controversial.

METHODS

Using formal decision analysis, we compared survival associated with PD plus SMV-PV resection when applied to patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma with isolated local venous invasion (Group 1) versus that achieved with palliative chemoradiotherapy when applied to patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (Group 2). Individual studies were identified using Medline. A total of 1,324 and 709 patients were analyzed for Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Patients with distant metastases were excluded.

RESULTS

Overall decision analysis favored surgical resection (Group 1) over palliative chemoradiotherapy (Group 2). Sensitivity analyses indicated that this decision is sensitive to the perioperative mortality rate and the percentage of surgical resections with microscopic (R1) or macroscopic (R2) residual tumor at the resection margin. In contrast, sensitivity analysis revealed that the decision is not sensitive to the percentage of cases in which true venous invasion by cancer is documented histologically.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection may confer a survival advantage over palliative chemoradiotherapy in select patients with pancreatic cancers with presumed local venous invasion.

Phase II trial of S-1 and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

S-1 has a favorable effect in unresectable pancreatic cancer and a potential radiosensitizer. In addition, daily oral administration of S-1 is more convenient than continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of S-1 and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

Eligibility criteria were histologically proven pancreatic adenocarcinoma, locally advanced disease, and no previous treatment. S-1 was administered orally at a dose of 40 mg/m(2) twice daily from day 1 to 14 and from day 22 to 35, and concurrent radiotherapy (a total dose of 50.4 Gy) was delivered in 28 fractions. One month after treatment completion, tumor response was evaluated by computed tomography (CT).

RESULTS

A total of 25 patients were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity on the basis of the intention-to-treat analysis. The response rate and disease control rate were 24.0 and 68.0%, respectively. There was no treatment-related death or grade 4 toxicity. The most common grade 3 hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities were thrombocytopenia (4.0%) and anorexia (20%), respectively. All toxicities were tolerable and transient. The median time-to-progression and median overall survival were 6.5 months (95% confidence interval, 4.1-9.0 months) and 12.9 months (95% confidence interval, 6.7-19.0 months), respectively, and the 1-year survival rate was estimated to be 43%.

CONCLUSIONS

S-1 and concurrent radiotherapy shows favorable efficacy for disease control against locally advanced pancreatic cancer and was well tolerated with no severe toxicities.