Chemoradiation in patients with isolated recurrent pancreatic cancer - therapeutical efficacy and probability of re-resection

Early outcomes of MR-guided SBRT for patients with recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Local treatment options for locally recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LR-PAC) are limited, with median survival time (MST) of 9-13 months (mos) following recurrence. MRI-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (MRgSBRT) provides the ability to dose escalate while sparing normal tissue. Here we report on the early outcomes of MRgSBRT for LR-PAC.

METHODS

Patients with prior resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with local recurrence treated with MRgSBRT at a single tertiary referral center from 5-2021 to 2-2023 were identified from our prospective database. MRgSBRT was delivered to 40-50 Gy in 4-5 fractions with target and OAR delineation per institutional standards. Endpoints included local control per RECIST v1.1, distant failure, overall survival (OS), and acute and chronic toxicities per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, v5.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients with LR-PAC were identified with median follow-up of 10.6 mos (2.8-26.5 mos) from MRgSBRT. There were 8 females and 7 males, with a median age of 69 years (50-83). One patient underwent neoadjuvant radiation for 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions followed by resection, and one underwent adjuvant radiation for 45 Gy in 25 fractions prior to recurrence. MRgSBRT was delivered a median of 18.8 mos (3.5-52.8 mos) following resection. OS following recurrence at 6 and 12 mos were 87% and 51%, respectively, with a median survival time of 14.1 mos (3.2-27.4 mos). Three patients experienced local failure at 5.9, 7.8, and 16.6 months from MgSBRT with local control of 92.3% and 83.9% at 6 and 12 months. 10 patients experienced distant failure at a median of 2.9 mos (0.3-6.7 mos). Grade 1-2 acute GI toxicity was noted in 47% of patients, and chronic GI toxicity in 31% of patients. No grade > 3 toxicities were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report on toxicity and outcomes of MRgSBRT for LR-PAC in the literature. MRgSBRT is a safe, feasible treatment modality with the potential for improved local control in this vulnerable population. Future research is necessary to better identify which patients yield the most benefit from MRgSBRT, which should continue to be used with systemic therapy as tolerated.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Jefferson IRB#20976, approved 2/17/21.

Salvage Ablative Radiotherapy for Isolated Local Recurrence of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma following Definitive Surgery

Introduction: The rate of isolated locoregional recurrence after surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) approaches 25%. Ablative radiation therapy (A-RT) has improved outcomes for locally advanced disease in the primary setting. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of salvage A-RT for isolated locoregional recurrence and examine the relationship between subsequent patterns of failure, radiation dose, and treatment volume. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all consecutive participants who underwent A-RT for an isolated locoregional recurrence of PDAC after prior surgery at our institution between 2016 and 2021. Treatment consisted of ablative dose (BED10 98-100 Gy) to the gross disease with an additional prophylactic low dose (BED10 < 50 Gy), with the elective volume covering a 1.5 cm isotropic expansion around the gross disease and the circumference of the involved vessels. Local and locoregional failure (LF and LRF, respectively) estimated by the cumulative incidence function with competing risks, distant metastasis-free and overall survival (DMFS and OS, respectively) estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and toxicities scored by CTCAE v5.0 are reported. Location of recurrence was mapped to the dose region on the initial radiation plan. Results: Among 65 participants (of whom two had two A-RT courses), the median age was 67 (range 37-87) years, 36 (55%) were male, and 53 (82%) had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy with a median disease-free interval to locoregional recurrence of 16 (range, 6-71) months. Twenty-seven participants (42%) received chemotherapy prior to A-RT. With a median follow-up of 35 months (95%CI, 26-56 months) from diagnosis of recurrence, 24-month OS and DMFS were 57% (95%CI, 46-72%) and 22% (95%CI, 14-37%), respectively, while 24-month cumulative incidence of in-field LF and total LRF were 28% (95%CI, 17-40%) and 36% (95%CI 24-48%), respectively. First failure after A-RT was distant in 35 patients (53.8%), locoregional in 12 patients (18.5%), and synchronous distant and locoregional in 10 patients (15.4%). Most locoregional failures occurred in elective low-dose volumes. Acute and chronic grade 3-4 toxicities were noted in 1 (1.5%) and 5 patients (7.5%), respectively. Conclusions: Salvage A-RT achieves favorable OS and local control outcomes in participants with an isolated locoregional recurrence of PDAC after surgical resection. Consideration should be given to extending high-dose fields to include adjacent segments of at-risk vessels beyond direct contact with the gross disease.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer - A systematic review of prospective data

Purpose

This systematic review aims to comprehensively summarize the current prospective evidence regarding Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) in various clinical contexts for pancreatic cancer including its use as neoadjuvant therapy for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC), induction therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), salvage therapy for isolated local recurrence (ILR), adjuvant therapy after radical resection, and as a palliative treatment. Special attention is given to the application of magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT).

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review of the Medline database via PubMed was conducted focusing on prospective studies published within the past decade. Data were extracted concerning study characteristics, outcome measures, toxicity profiles, SBRT dosage and fractionation regimens, as well as additional systemic therapies.

Results and conclusion

31 studies with in total 1,571 patients were included in this review encompassing 14 studies for LAPC, 9 for neoadjuvant treatment, 2 for adjuvant treatment, 2 for ILR, with an additional 4 studies evaluating MRgRT. In LAPC, SBRT demonstrates encouraging results, characterized by favorable local control rates. Several studies even report conversion to resectable disease with substantial resection rates reaching 39%. The adoption of MRgRT may provide a solution to the challenge to deliver ablative doses while minimizing severe toxicities. In BRPC, select prospective studies combining preoperative ablative-dose SBRT with modern induction systemic therapies have achieved remarkable resection rates of up to 80%. MRgRT also holds potential in this context. Adjuvant SBRT does not appear to confer relevant advantages over chemotherapy. While prospective data for SBRT in ILR and for palliative pain relief are limited, they corroborate positive findings from retrospective studies.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in pancreatic cancer allows high delivery of radiation doses on tumors without affecting surrounding tissue. This review aimed at the SBRT application in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

DATA SOURCES

We retrieved articles published in MEDLINE/PubMed from January 2017 to December 2022. Keywords used in the search included: "pancreatic adenocarcinoma" OR "pancreatic cancer" AND "stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR)" OR "stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)" OR "chemoradiotherapy (CRT)". English language articles with information on technical characteristics, doses and fractionation, indications, recurrence patterns, local control and toxicities of SBRT in pancreatic tumors were included. All articles were assessed for validity and relevant content.

RESULTS

Optimal doses and fractionation have not yet been defined. However, SBRT could be the standard treatment in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma in addition to CRT. Furthermore, the combination of SBRT with chemotherapy may have additive or synergic effect on pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

SBRT is an effective modality for patients with pancreatic cancer, supported by clinical practice guidelines as it has demonstrated good tolerance and good disease control. SBRT opens a possibility of improving outcomes for these patients, both in neoadjuvant treatment and with radical intent.

Treatment of primary or recurrent non-resectable pancreatic cancer with proton beam irradiation combined with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer accounts for around 4.6% of cancers deaths worldwide per year. Despite many advances in treatment regimes, the prognosis is still poor. Only 20% of tumors are primarily resectable. Recurrences-both with distant metastasis as well as locoregional-are frequent. For patients with primary nonresectable localized disease or localized recurrences, we offered chemoradiation to achieve local control over a long period of time. We here report our results on combined chemoradiation of pancreatic tumors and local recurrences using proton beam therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report on 25 patients with localized nonresectable pancreatic cancer (15 patients) or local recurrent disease (10 patients). All patients were treated with combined proton radiochemotherapy. Overall survival, progression-free survival, local control, and treatment-related toxicity were analyzed using statistically methods.

RESULTS

Median RT dose was 54.0 Gy (RBE) for proton irradiation. The toxicity of treatment was acceptable. Four CTCAE grade III and IV adverse events (bone marrow disfunction, gastrointestinal [GI] disorders, stent dislocation, myocardial infarction) were recorded during or directly after the end of radiotherapy; two of them were related to combined chemoradiation (bone marrow disfunction, GI disorders). Six weeks after radiotherapy, one additional grade IV toxicity was reported (ileus, caused by peritoneal carcinomatosis, not treatment related). The median progression-free survival was 5.9 months and median overall survival was 11.0 months. The pretherapy CA19‑9 level was a statistically significant prognostic factor for enhanced overall survival. Local control at 6 months and 12 months were determined to be 86% and 80%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Combined proton chemoradiation leads to high local control rates. Unfortunately, PFS and OS are driven by distant metastasis and were not improved compared to historical data and reports. With this in mind, enhanced chemotherapeutical regimes, in combination with local irradiation, should be evaluated.

Patterns of disease relapse and posttreatment follow-up of patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A single-center analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To describe the patterns of disease relapse and follow-up of patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Additionally, we looked at patients' characteristics at relapse and survival.

METHODS

We included patients with potentially resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed from 2008 to 2018 who were submitted to resection with clear macroscopic margins and started posttreatment surveillance.

RESULTS

The study population consists of 73 patients. The median interval between imaging studies was 3.2 months during the first 2 years of follow-up and 5.1 months thereafter. Forty-eight patients (65.8%) experienced disease relapse. The most frequent single site of relapse was locoregional (N = 21; 43.8%). At relapse, 31 patients (64.6%) were symptomatic and forty-two patients (87.6%) had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1. Most patients were able to undergo additional anticancer therapy (N = 41; 85.4%). Patients with asymptomatic relapses experienced longer median postrelapse survival (25.4 vs. 11.3 months; p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

A follow-up protocol that included imaging studies every 3 months in the first 2 years and every 6 months thereafter is able to diagnose disease relapse when patients have adequate performance status and are still able to undergo additional anticancer treatment.

FAPI PET/CT research progress in digestive system tumours

¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography has been used in clinical practice for many years. This modality is of great value for tumour diagnosis, staging, and efficacy evaluations, but it has many limitations in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system tumours. Fibroblast activation protein is highly expressed in gastrointestinal tumours. Various isotope-labelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitors are widely used in clinical research. These inhibitors have low background uptake in the brain, liver and oral/pharyngeal mucosa and show good contrast between the tumour and background, which makes up for the lack of fluorodeoxyglucose in the diagnosis of digestive system tumours. It better displays the primary tumours, metastases and regional lymph nodes of digestive system tumours, such as oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer and liver cancer, and also provides a new method for treating these tumours. Based on this background, this article introduces the current research status of fibroblast activation protein inhibitor positron emission tomography/computed tomography in various types of digestive system malignant tumours to provide more valuable information for diagnosing and treating digestive system tumours.

Carbon ion radiotherapy as definitive treatment in locally recurrent pancreatic cancer

Purpose

Data on management of locally recurrent pancreatic cancer (LRPC) after primary resection are limited. Recently, surprisingly high overall survival rates were reported after irradiation with carbon ions. Here, we report on our clinical experience using carbon ion radiotherapy as definitive treatment in LRPC at the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT).

Methods

Between 2015 and 2019, we treated 13 patients with LRPC with carbon ions with a median total dose of 48 Gy (RBE) in 12 fractions using an active raster-scanning technique at a rotating gantry. No concomitant chemotherapy was administered. Overall survival, local control, and toxicity rates were evaluated 18 months after the last patient finished radiotherapy.

Results

With a median follow-up time of 9.5 months, one patient is still alive (8%). Median OS was 12.7 months. Ten patients (77%) developed distant metastases. Additionally, one local recurrence (8%) and two regional tumor recurrences (15%) were observed. The estimated 1‑year local control and locoregional control rates were 87.5% and 75%, respectively. During radiotherapy, we registered one gastrointestinal bleeding CTCAE grade III (8%) due to gastritis. The bleeding was sufficiently managed with conservative therapy. No further higher-grade acute or late toxicities were observed.

Conclusion

We demonstrate high local control rates in a rare cohort of LRPC patients treated with carbon ion radiotherapy. The observed median overall survival rate was not improved compared to historical in-house data using photon radiotherapy. This is likely due to a high rate of distant tumor progression, highlighting the necessity of additional chemotherapy.

Impact of FAPI-PET/CT on Target Volume Definition in Radiation Therapy of Locally Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer

Simple Summary

We demonstrate how manual target definition based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography is highly unreliable and inconsistent. In a second step, we used a novel positron emission tomography tracer, FAPI (68Ga-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor) for target volume definition. FAPI-PET/CT contains biologic information as it visualizes cancer associated fibroblasts. The pioneering use of FAPI PET/CT in radiation treatment planning improved target definition in locally recurrent pancreatic cancer.

Abstract

(1) Background: A new radioactive positron emission tomography (PET) tracer uses inhibitors of fibroblast activation protein (FAPI) to visualize FAP-expressing cancer associated fibroblasts. Significant FAPI-uptake has recently been demonstrated in pancreatic cancer patients. Target volume delineation for radiation therapy still relies on often less precise conventional computed tomography (CT) imaging, especially in locally recurrent pancreatic cancer patients. The need for improvement in precise tumor detection and delineation led us to innovatively use the novel FAPI-PET/CT for radiation treatment planning. (2) Methods: Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) of seven locally recurrent pancreatic cancer cases were contoured by six radiation oncologists. In addition, FAPI-PET/CT was used to automatically delineate tumors. The interobserver variability in target definition was analyzed and FAPI-based automatic GTVs were compared to the manually defined GTVs. (3) Results: Target definition differed significantly between different radiation oncologists with mean dice similarity coefficients (DSCs) between 0.55 and 0.65. There was no significant difference between the volumes of automatic FAPI-GTVs based on the threshold of 2.0 and most of the manually contoured GTVs by radiation oncologists. (4) Conclusion: Due to its high tumor to background contrast, FAPI-PET/CT seems to be a superior imaging modality compared to the current gold standard contrast-enhanced CT in pancreatic cancer. For the first time, we demonstrate how FAPI-PET/CT could facilitate target definition and increases consistency in radiation oncology in pancreatic cancer.

Carbon ion radiotherapy as definitive treatment in non-metastasized pancreatic cancer: study protocol of the prospective phase II PACK-study

Background

Radiotherapy is known to improve local tumor control in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), although there is a lack of convincing data on a potential overall survival benefit of chemoradiotherapy over chemotherapy alone. To improve efficacy of radiotherapy, new approaches need to be evolved. Carbon ion radiotherapy is supposed to be more effective than photon radiotherapy due to a higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and due to a steep dose-gradient making dose delivery highly conformal.

Methods

The present Phase II PACK-study investigates carbon ion radiotherapy as definitive treatment in LAPC as well as in locally recurrent pancreatic cancer. A total irradiation dose of 48 Gy (RBE) will be delivered in twelve fractions. Concurrent chemotherapy is accepted, if indicated. The primary endpoint is the overall survival rate after 12 months. Secondary endpoints are progression free survival, safety, quality of life and impact on tumor markers CA 19–9 and CEA. A total of twenty-five patients are planned for recruitment over 2 years.

Discussion

Recently, Japanese researches could show promising results in a Phase I/II-study evaluating chemoradiotherapy of carbon ion radiotherapy and gemcitabine in LAPC. The present prospective PACK-study investigates the efficacy of carbon ion radiotherapy in pancreatic cancer at Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT) in Germany.

Trial registration

The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04194268 (Retrospectively registered on December, 11th 2019).

Analysis of the efficacy, safety and survival factors of stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with recurrence of pancreatic cancer

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) using Cyber Knife (CK) in the treatment of patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer after surgery, and analyze its survival-related factors. Methods: The primary endpoint was freedom from local progression (FFLP) and local control (LC) rate after CK. The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), symptom relief and toxicities. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal cut-off values of inflammatory composite indicators NLR, PLR, SII and PNI. The prognostic factors that affected these patients were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. Results: A total of 27 patients were enrolled. Median local recurrence disease free interval（DFI）was 11.3 (1.3-30.6) months, LC was 81.5% and 37.0% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Median PFS was 7.1 (1.3-27.1) months. Median OS was 11.3 (1.3-30.6) months. Symptom alleviation was observed in 16 of 17 patients (94.1%) within 2 weeks after CK. Subsequent chemotherapy, CA199≥50% decrease after CK were independent prognostic factors for OS (all P <0.05). Conclusion: SBRT is a safe and effective treatment approach for recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Encouraging local control rate, low toxicity, and effective symptom relief suggests the vital role of CK in the treatment of these patients. This clinical application needs to be further studied in the combination of CK and multimodal therapy.

Management of isolated recurrence after surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Recurrence of pancreatic cancer after primary pancreatectomy occurs in the vast majority of patients. The role of surgical treatment for recurrent pancreatic cancer is not well established.

METHODS

Patients who underwent primary pancreatectomy with curative intent from 2000 to 2014 at a single large-volume centre were evaluated retrospectively. CT or PET was used to select patients with an isolated recurrence. The clinicopathological features and survival outcomes were compared according to treatment modalities.

RESULTS

Of the 1610 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent resection, 1346 (83·6 per cent) were diagnosed with recurrent pancreatic cancer. Recurrence was locoregional in 366 patients (27·2 per cent), distant multifocal in 251 (18·6 per cent), distant isolated in 188 (14·0 per cent), locoregional plus distant in 153 (11·4 per cent) and peritoneal seeding in 388 (28·8 per cent). Of the 1346 patients with recurrence, 197 (14·6 per cent) had isolated recurrence; of these, 48 (24·4 per cent of all isolated recurrences; 3·6 per cent of all recurrences) underwent resection. Median survival of the 197 patients after diagnosis of isolated recurrence was 14·7 months; it was longer in patients who underwent surgical resection than among those treated non-surgically (23·5 versus 12·0 months; P = 0·014). Multivariable analysis showed that chemotherapy and resection for recurrence were associated with better prognosis. Median survival after recurrence was longest in the 23 patients with isolated pulmonary recurrence (33·3 months). Survival after recurrence was better in patients who underwent resection of isolated recurrence in the remnant pancreas (median 28·0 versus 12·0 months, P = 0·010) and lung (median 36·5 versus 9·5 months; P = 0·010) than in those who did not undergo resection.

CONCLUSION

Surgical resection may be considered an option for treatment of patients with isolated recurrent pancreatic cancer.

A prospective, multi-institution assessment of irreversible electroporation for treatment of locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: initial outcomes from the AHPBA pancreatic registry

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment and management of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) remains unclear and controversial. This study aimed to report the initial outcomes of the AHPBA Registry and evaluate the reproducibility of existing evidence that the addition of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE), a nonthermal ablative treatment, confers survival benefits beyond standard therapeutic options for patients with LAPC.

METHODS

From December 2015 to October 2017, patients with LAPC were treated with open-technique IRE following the AHPBA Registry Protocols. Patient demographics, long-term outcomes, and adverse events were recorded. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves for overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and time to progression (TTP).

RESULTS

A total of 152 patients underwent successful IRE. Morbidity and mortality were 18% and 2% respectively, with 19 (13%) patients experiencing severe adverse events. Nine (6%) patients presented with local recurrence. Median TTP, PFS, and OS from diagnosis were 27.3 months, 22.8 months, and 30.7 months respectively.

CONCLUSION

The combination of IRE with established multiagent therapy is safe and demonstrates encouraging survival among patients with LAPC. IRE is associated with a low rate of serious adverse events and has been optimized for more widespread adoption through the standardized protocols available through the AHPBA registry.

FOLFIRINOX-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for borderline and locally advanced pancreatic cancer: A pilot study from a tertiary centre

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, potentially relevant to increase resection rate in pancreatic cancer, is still debated.

AIMS

To assess tolerance, resection rate and outcomes of patients with non-metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated by concomitant chemoradiotherapy.

METHODS

This monocentric study included all consecutive patients treated from 2010 to 2014 for non-metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Chemotherapy was followed by chemoradiotherapy in operable patients, surgical resectability being assessed by CT-scan.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients were included: 41 patients had borderline and 38 locally advanced tumours. All patients were treated by chemotherapy (FOLFIRINOX), followed by chemoradiotherapy (median dose: 59 Gy, range 45-66 Gy) for 94% of patients. Thirty-seven patients (47%) could subsequently benefit from surgery with a complete R0 resection in 94% of cases, with a postoperative mortality of 5%. Median overall survival was 21.5 months (median follow-up: 48.8 months). Local control, overall and disease-free survival were significantly higher for patients who underwent resection compared to others, with 89.2% vs 59.5% (p = 0.01), 49.7 vs 17.4 months (p < 0.01) and 25.5 vs 9.2 months (p < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant treatment consisting of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy is an efficient strategy for patients with borderline and locally advanced pancreatic cancer, resulting in a 43% rate of secondary complete surgical resection associated with high local control, overall and disease-free survival.

Definitive chemoradiotherapy and salvage chemotherapy for patients with isolated locoregional recurrence after radical resection of primary pancreatic cancer

Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyze the safety and efficacy of definitive chemoradiotherapy and salvage chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients with isolated locoregional recurrence after radical resection and assess the factors associated with tumor response. Patients and methods: A retrospective study of isolated locoregional recurrent PC patients who were treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy and salvage chemotherapy at our institution between 2012 and 2017 was conducted. Medium dose of 56.0 Gy (range: 54.0 Gy - 60.2 Gy) in 1.8 Gy to 2.15 Gy daily fractions was prescribed to the PTV-G and 50.4 Gy was prescribed to the PTV-C. Patients received chemotherapy before, at the same time with or after radiotherapy. The overall survival (OS) and freedom from locoregional progression (FFLP) rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was performed to compare survival curves. The Cox regression was used to identify factors affecting response to treatment and survival. Results: Thirty-one patients were included. The median interval from the resection of primary PC to the diagnosis of the locoregional recurrence (DFI) was 7.4 months (range 0.2-44.6). Within a median follow-up from the start of radiotherapy (RT) of 31.7 months (95% CI: 20.0-43.5 months), the medium OS and FFLP rates from the start of RT were 23.6 and 12.0 months, respectively. DFI >6 months was shown to be a significant factor associated with favorable OS. Acute and late toxicity of grade 3 occurred in 3 patients (9.7%) and 1 patient (3.2%) respectively. No grade 4 toxicity or higher occurred. Conclusions: This single-institution retrospective analysis identified definitive chemoradiotherapy and salvage chemotherapy to be a feasible and tolerable treatment strategy for patients with isolated locoregional recurrence after radical resection of primary PC.

Proton Radiotherapy for Isolated Local Recurrence of Primary Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment for isolated local recurrence (ILR) of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after surgical resection remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of proton radiotherapy (PRT) for ILR of PDAC after surgery.

METHODS

The medical records of patients with ILR of PDAC after surgery who underwent proton beam therapy between 2011 and 2015 at Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

The study analyzed 30 patients (14 women and 16 men) with a median age of 65 years (range 38-81 years) who had initially undergone pancreatoduodenectomy (n = 23) or distal pancreatectomy (n = 7) for their primary tumors. Upon ILR, PRT was administered with a median total cumulative dose of 67.5 gray equivalent (GyE) (range 50-67.5 GyE) using 19 to 25 fractions. For 25 patients, concurrent chemotherapy was administered using gemcitabine (n = 18) or S-1 (n = 7). Four patients (13.3%) experienced acute grade ≥ 3 gastrointestinal toxicities. After a median follow-up period of 17.6 months (range 2.1-50.4 months), 23 patients had experienced tumor progression and 10 had died. Nine patients (30%) experienced local tumor progression. The median overall, progression-free, and local progression-free survival rates were 26.1, 12.3, and 41.2 months, respectively. Pre-PRT serum levels of cancer antigen 19-9 higher than 100 U/mL and duke pancreatic monoclonal antigen type 2 higher than 150 U/mL were significantly associated with shorter progression-free survival rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Proton radiotherapy for ILR of PDAC after surgery is well tolerated and produces good locoregional control and should be considered for eligible patients.

Combined Systemic Chemotherapy and CT-Guided High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for Isolated Local Manifestation of Pancreatic Cancer after Surgical Resection

BACKGROUND

Prospective data on the optimal management of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and isolated local manifestation (ILM) after surgery are lacking. Hence, no statements with respect to this entity have been released from most international guidelines including European Society for Medical Oncology, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and American Society for Clinical Oncology.

METHODS

We report for the first time a case-series of 3 patients with PDA and ILM receiving combined systemic chemotherapy and CT-guided high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (CT-HDRBT).

RESULTS

CT-HDRBT allowed in all patients with pronounced chemotherapy-induced side effects either a pause of cytostatic treatment or de-escalation to a "maintenance" therapy (dose reduction, interval prolongation, scheme modification with withdrawal of most toxic drugs).

CONCLUSION

Combining CT-HDRBT to systemic chemotherapy in patients with PDA and ILM is feasible and safe. As for patients with PDA and ILM no standard of care exists, designing an appropriate randomized prospective trial for this highly selected group of patients is challenging.

Prediction of overall survival after re-irradiation with stereotactic body radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer with a novel prognostic model (the SCAD score)

PURPOSE

To develop a predictive model for stratification of patients with pancreatic cancer who may achieve survival benefits from re-irradiation with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

METHODS

The score was developed based on clinical predictors of OS in 31 patients receiving two courses of SBRT with Cox proportional hazards model. Results were then validated in another cohort with 11 participants to assess the performance of the score.

RESULTS

In the training cohort, the median BED₁₀ of the first and second SBRT was 59.5 Gy (48-85.5 Gy) and 50.2 Gy (43.7-66.9 Gy) in 5-8 fractions, while in the validation cohort, the median BED₁₀ of the first and second SBRT was 59.5 Gy (52.5-66.9 Gy) and 47.7 Gy (40.6-54.8 Gy) in 5-8 fractions. The interval between the first and second SBRT of the training cohort and validation cohort was 10.5 months (6.1-24.3 months) and 12.8 months (6.5-29.1 months), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that tumor stage (P = 0.005), BED₁₀ (P = 0.006) and CA19-9 response (P = 0.04) were significantly predictive of overall survival, which formed SCAD score (named after the initials of factors). Patients with the score < 3 points had a superior OS compared with those with the score ≥ 3 points in the validation cohort (median OS has not been reached vs. 15.9 months, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

The SCAD score may have the potential to identify individuals benefiting from re-SBRT and be a step toward more personalized medicine.

Oncogenic TRIM31 confers gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer via activating the NF-κB signaling pathway

Background: Drug resistance is well known as a major obstacle for cancer recurrence and treatment failure, leading to poor survival in pancreatic cancer, which is a highly aggressive tumor. Identifying effective strategies to overcome drug resistance would have a significant clinical impact for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods: The protein and mRNA expression of TRIM31 in pancreatic cancer cell lines and patient tissues were determined using Real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. 89 human pancreatic cancer tissue samples were analyzed by IHC to investigate the association between TRIM31 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of pancreatic cancer patients. Functional assays, such as MTT, FACS, and Tunel assay used to determine the oncogenic role of TRIM31 in human pancreatic cancer progression. Furthermore, western blotting and luciferase assay were used to determine the mechanism of TRIM31 promotes chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells.

Results: The expression of TRIM31was markedly upregulated in pancreatic cancer cell lines and tissues, and high TRIM31 expression was associated with an aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis with pancreatic cancer patients. TRIM31 overexpression confers gemcitabine resistance on pancreatic cancer cells; however, inhibition of TRIM31 sensitized pancreatic cancer cell lines to gemcitabine cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, TRIM31 upregulated the levels of nuclear p65 by promoting K63-linked polyubiquitination of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and sustained the activation of nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) in pancreatic cancer cells.

Conclusions: Our findings provided evidence that TRIM31 is a potential therapeutic target for patients with pancreatic cancer. Targeting TRIM31 signaling may be a promising strategy to enhance gemcitabine response during pancreatic cancer chemo-resistance.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer: A single center experience

INTRODUCTION

Despite advances in treatment, notably in systemic therapy, the prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PADC) remains dismal. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an emerging tool in the complex management of PADC. We review outcomes of SBRT for PADC at our institution.

METHODS

We reviewed patients treated with SBRT for either unresectable PADC or locally recurrent PADC after surgery. Treatment was delivered using a robotic radiosurgery system with respiratory tracking. The median prescribed dose was 30 Gy (30-35 Gy), delivered in 5-6 fractions. Toxicities were reported as per CTCAE v4.0. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Between October 2010 and March 2016, 21 patients were treated at our institution. The median follow-up was 7 months (range: 1-28). The 1-year local control rate was 57%. The 1-year overall survival was 25% for locally advanced patients and 67% for those with local recurrences (p = 0.27). Eighty percent of cancer related deaths were due to metastatic progression. Five patients (24%) had Grade I-II gastrointestinal acute toxicity; one patient had fatal gastrointestinal bleeding 6 months after SBRT.

CONCLUSION

In PADC, fractionated SBRT dose schedules near 30 Gy may strike the best balance of local control and bowel toxicity. More work is required to integrate pancreatic SBRT with modern systemic therapy.

Carbon-ion radiotherapy for locoregional recurrence after primary surgery for pancreatic cancer

The efficacy and safety of carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) for locoregional recurrence after surgery for pancreatic cancer were retrospectively evaluated. The results for 30 patients showed that C-ion RT was performed safely with relatively long overall survival, good local control, and minimal toxicity.

Role of rapid kV-switching dual-energy CT in assessment of post-surgical local recurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of material-specific iodine (MS-I) images generated by rapid kV-switching single-source dual-energy computed tomography (rsDECT) for distinguishing post-operative changes from local tumor recurrence in patients on follow-up for pancreatic adenocarcinoma after surgical resection.

METHODS

In this IRB-approved HIPPA-compliant study, retrospective review of 51 patients who underwent surgical resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was conducted and were followed up using contrast-enhanced rsDECT (Discovery CT 750HD, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI). Independent qualitative assessment for presence of local tumor recurrence was performed by two radiologists who evaluated 65 keV (single-energy CT-equivalent interpretation) and 65 keV with MS-I (rsDECT interpretation) in separate sessions. Quantitative analysis of Hounsfield unit (HU, on 65 keV) and normalized iodine concentration (NIC on MS-I images; iodine concentration ratio in post-operative tissue to aorta) was measured. Follow-up imaging, temporal change of CEA and CA 19-9 or biopsy served as reference standard for presence and absence of local recurrence. Sensitivity and specificity of readers and quantitative parameters was calculated and receiver operating characteristic curves and Fisher's exact test were generated. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 51 patients (27 females, 24 males) with mean age of 64 years built the final cohort. Local recurrence was absent in 23 (Group A) and present in 28 (Group B) patients. The follow-up imaging was performed within 7 months of rsDECT. For both readers, the addition of MS-I increased the specificity for tissue characterization and improved reader confidence as compared to 65 keV (specificity: 80% and 56%, respectively) images alone. Quantitative analysis revealed a significantly lower NIC (0.28 vs. 0.35; p < 0.05) for non-recurrent tissue. However, HU was not significantly different for non-recurrent and recurrent tissue (0.63 vs. 0.70; p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In inherently complex cases of post-operative pancreatic adenocarcinoma, MS-I images from rsDECT can be a useful adjunct to conventional scans in characterizing loco-regional soft tissue.

Utility of (18) F-FDG PET/CT and CECT in conjunction with serum CA 19-9 for detecting recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

The roles of different cross-sectional imaging in evaluating the recurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma are not well established. We evaluated the utility of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in the diagnosis of recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma in conjunction with the tumor marker CA 19-9.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent CECT and FDG PET/CT along with serum CA 19-9 measurement as a follow-up or on a clinical suspicion of recurrent disease after initial surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Two observers blinded to the other imaging modality results retrospectively reviewed and interpreted the images in consensus using a three-point scale (negative, equivocal, or positive). Pathologic analysis by biopsy or further clinical and radiologic follow-up determined the true status of the suspected recurrences. The imaging results were compared with CA 19-9 levels and true disease status.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients were included in the study. Thirty-three patients (85%) had proven recurrent cancer and six patients (15%) had no evidence of disease. Twenty-four patients had elevated CA 19-9 and 15 patients had normal CA 19-9. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for recurrence were 90.9%, 100.0%, and 92.3% for PET/CT and 72.2%, 66.6%, and 71.7% for CECT, respectively. Sensitivity for locoregional recurrence was 94.4% for PET/CT but only 61.1% for CECT. PET/CT detected recurrence in 12 patients who had normal levels of CA 19-9. PET/CT showed lesions not visible on CECT in five (15%) patients. Although the sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT were higher than those of CECT, they were not statistically significant (p = 0.489 and p = 0.1489, respectively).

CONCLUSION

FDG PET/CT has a high sensitivity for pancreatic cancer recurrence. Normal CA 19-9 does not necessarily exclude these recurrences. FDG PET/CT is useful when CECT is equivocal and can detect recurrence in patients with normal CA 19-9.

Effective radiotherapeutic treatment intensification in patients with pancreatic cancer: higher doses alone, higher RBE or both?

Pancreatic cancer, especially in case of locally advanced stage has a poor prognosis. Radiotherapy in general can lead to tumor volume reduction, but further improvements, such as ion beam therapy have to be promoted in order to enable dose escalation, which in turn results in better local control rates and downsizing of the tumor itself. Ion beam therapy with its highly promising physical properties is also accompanied by distinct inter- and intrafractional challenges in case of robustness. First clinical results are promising, but further research in motion mitigation and biological treatment planning is necessary, in order to determine the best clinical rationales and conditions of ion beam therapy of pancreatic cancer. This review summarizes the current knowledge and studies on ion beam therapy of pancreatic cancer.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Isolated Local Recurrence After Surgical Resection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Appears to be Safe and Effective

BACKGROUND

A standardized treatment regimen for unresectable isolated local recurrence (ILR) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has not been established. This study evaluated the outcomes for patients with ILR who underwent stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

METHODS

The records of patients with ILR who underwent SBRT between 2010 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Symptom palliation and treatment-related toxicity were recorded. Associations between patient or treatment characteristics and overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local progression-free survival (LPFS) were assessed.

RESULTS

The study identified 51 patients who received SBRT for ILR. Of the 51 patients, 26 (51%) had not received radiation therapy before SBRT. The median OS was 36 months after diagnosis. From the first day of SBRT, the median OS, PFS, and LPFS were respectively 16, 7, and 10 months. Patients with a recurrence-free interval of 9 months or longer after surgery had superior OS (P = 0.019). Maintenance chemotherapy after SBRT was associated with superior OS (P < 0.001) and LPFS (P = 0.027). In the multivariable analysis, poorly differentiated tumor grade [hazard ratio (HR) 11.274], positive surgical margins (HR 0.126), and reception of maintenance chemotherapy (HR 0.141) were independently associated with OS. Positive surgical margins (HR 0.255) and maintenance chemotherapy (HR 0.299) were associated with improved LPFS. Of 16 patients, 10 (63%) experienced abdominal pain relief after SBRT. Four patients (8%) experienced grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity, and one patient experienced grade 4 gastrointestinal toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of SBRT for ILR improved pain for a majority of the patients with acceptable acute and late toxicity. The findings show that SBRT is a feasible treatment for select patients with ILR. For those who receive SBRT, maintenance chemotherapy should be considered.

Combination of Photon and Carbon Ion Irradiation with Targeted Therapy Substances Temsirolimus and Gemcitabine in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines

Background

This work investigates on putative cytotoxic effects in four different hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines after irradiation with photons or carbon ions in combination with new targeted molecular therapy using either Temsirolimus (TEM) or Gemcitabine (GEM).

Methods and materials

The HCC cell lines HepG2, Hep3B, HuH7, and PLC were cultured and irradiated with photons or carbon ions at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center using the raster-scanning method. For combination experiments, cell lines were first treated with Temsirolimus or GEM before irradiation. Cytotoxicity was measured by a clonogenic survival assay. The evaluation of the experiments and the obtained survival curves were based on the concept of additivity defined by Steel and Peckham.

Results

The results for the combination of carbon ions and both tested systemic substances TEM and GEM showed independent toxicities in all four cell lines. Supra-additive effects were observed in PLC cells for photon irradiation combined either with TEM or GEM and in HuH7 cells for the combination of photons with TEM.

Conclusion

Addition of targeted therapy substances Temsirolimus and GEM to photon irradiation showed additive cytotoxicity in HCC cell lines, whereas independent toxicities where reached by the combination of carbon ions to these substances. It can be assumed that combining 12C with systemic substances only has independent effects because heavy ions cause direct damage because of their high-LET character resulting in complex and clustered double-strand breaks. Nonetheless, further investigations are warranted in order to determine whether addition of systemic therapy allows a reduction of radiation doses in combination therapy. This could possibly lead to better responses and tolerances in patients with HCC.

Systematic review on the treatment of isolated local recurrence of pancreatic cancer after surgery; re-resection, chemoradiotherapy and SBRT

BACKGROUND

The majority of patients who have undergone a pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer develop disease recurrence within two years. In around 30% of these patients, isolated local recurrence (ILR) is found. The aim of this study was to systematically review treatment options for this subgroup of patients.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. Studies reporting on the treatment of ILR after initial curative-intent resection of primary pancreatic cancer were included. Primary endpoints were morbidity, mortality and survival after ILR treatment.

RESULTS

After screening 1152 studies, 18 studies reporting on 313 patients undergoing treatment for ILR were included. Treatment options for ILR included surgical re-resection (8 studies, 100 patients), chemoradiotherapy (7 studies, 153 patients) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) (4 studies, 60 patients). Morbidity and mortality were reported for re-resection (29% and 1%, respectively), chemoradiotherapy (54% and 0%) and SBRT (3% and 1%). Most patients had a prolonged disease-free interval before recurrence. Median survival after treatment of ILR of up to 32, 19 and 16 months was reported for re-resection, chemoradiotherapy and SBRT, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In selected patients, treatment of ILR following pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer seems safe, feasible and associated with relatively good survival.

Selective reoperation after primary resection as a feasible and safe treatment strategy for recurrent pancreatic cancer

Local recurrence frequently occurs in patients with pancreatic cancer after intended curative resections. However, no treatment strategies have been established for isolated local recurrence. Several series have demonstrated a survival benefit for reoperation in selected pancreatic recurrence cases. This study compares the difference in overall survival (OS) between surgery and nonsurgery groups in recurrent pancreatic cancer.All patients from 1990 to 2014 with recurrent pancreatic cancer who underwent curative resections were investigated and retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathological features and OS were compared.A total of 332 patients were recruited in this series. The majority had histologically pancreatic adenocarcinoma (289 patients, 87.0%). Fourteen of 332 patients (4.2%) with recurrent pancreatic cancer received subsequent resection. Most of these patients underwent curative surgery (R0 resection, 13 patients, 92.9%), and only 1 patient (7.1%) had microscopic residual tumor (R1 resection). Disease-free survival (DFS), OS, and postrecurrence survival (PRS) were all significantly longer in the surgery group (DFS 10.6 vs 6.1 months, P = 0.044; OS 57.8 vs 14.0 months, P < 0.001; PRS 14.1 vs 6.0 months, P < 0.001). The median survival times were comparable in patients with recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma who received surgery and those who did not (DFS 10.6 vs 6.1 months, P = 0.226; OS 23.7 vs 14.0 months, P = 0.074; PRS 8.9 vs 5.8 months, P = 0.183). However, the OS and PRS were superior in the patients who did not display adenocarcinoma histologically but underwent operation for recurrence (OS 97.2 vs 16.9 months, P = 0.016; PRS 65.7 vs 6.9 months, P = 0.010). Notably, DFS levels were similar (16.0 vs 7.0 months, P = 0.265).Surgery can feasibly and safely provide survival benefits in selective recurrent pancreatic cancer. In patients who are histologically negative for adenocarcinoma, survival is prolonged when the operation is performed with R0 resection. Patients with isolated recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma need multidisciplinary therapy. In addition to operation, chemoradiotherapy and intraoperative radiotherapy may also be considered; their roles should be further investigated.

The clinical usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in follow-up of curatively resected pancreatic cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography and serum tumor markers have limited value in detecting recurrence after curative surgery of pancreatic cancer. This study evaluated the clinical utility of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in diagnosing recurrence.

METHODS

One hundred ten patients underwent curative resection of pancreatic cancer were enrolled. The diagnostic value of abdominal computed tomography (CT), PET-CT and serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 concentration were compared. The prognostic value of SUVmax on PET-CT was evaluated.

RESULTS

PET-CT showed relatively higher sensitivity (84.5% vs. 75.0%) and accuracy (84.5% vs. 74.5%) than CT, whereas PET-CT plus CT showed greater sensitivity (97.6%) and accuracy (90.0%) than either alone. In detecting distant recurrences, PET-CT showed higher sensitivity (83.1% vs. 67.7%) than CT. Nineteen patients showed recurrences only on PET-CT, with eleven having invisible or suspected benign lesions on CT, and eight had recurrences in areas not covered by CT. SUVmax over 3.3 was predictive of poor survival after recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

PET-CT in combination with CT improves the detection of recurrence. PET-CT was especially advantageous in detecting recurrences in areas not covered by CT. If active post-operative surveillance after curative resection of pancreatic cancer is deemed beneficial, then it should include PET-CT combined with CT.

Optimization of carbon ion and proton treatment plans using the raster-scanning technique for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer

Background

The aim of the thesis is to improve radiation plans of patients with locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer by using carbon ion and proton beams.

Patients and methods

Using the treatment planning system Syngo RT Planning (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) a total of 50 treatment plans have been created for five patients with the dose schedule 15 × 3 Gy(RBE). With reference to the anatomy, five field configurations were considered to be relevant. The plans were analyzed with respect to dose distribution and individual anatomy, and compared using a customized index.

Results

Within the index the three-field configurations yielded the best results, though with a high variety of score points (field setup 5, carbon ion: median 74 (range 48–101)). The maximum dose in the myelon is low (e.g. case 3, carbon ion: 21.5 Gy(RBE)). A single posterior field generally spares the organs at risk, but the maximum dose in the myelon is high (e.g. case 3, carbon ion: 32.9 Gy(RBE)). Two oblique posterior fields resulted in acceptable maximum doses in the myelon (e.g. case 3, carbon ion: 26.9 Gy(RBE)). The single-field configuration and the two oblique posterior fields had a small score dispersion (carbon ion: median 66 and 58 (range 62–72 and 40–69)). In cases with topographic proximity of the organs at risk to the target volume, the single-field configuration scored as well as the three-field configurations.

Conclusion

In summary, the three-field configurations showed the best dose distributions. A single posterior field seems to be robust and beneficial in case of difficult topographical conditions and topographical proximity of organs at risk to the target volume. A setup with two oblique posterior fields is a reasonable compromise between three-field and single-field configurations.

Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemoradiation with gemcitabine after R1 resection in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of radiation therapy and chemoradiation with gemcitabine (GEM) after R1 resection in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC).

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 25 patients who were treated with postoperative radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiation (CRT) after surgery with microscopically positive resection margins for primary pancreatic cancer (PAC). Median age was 60 years (range 34 to 74 years), and there were 17 male and 8 female patients. Fractionated RT was applied with a median dose of 49.6 Gy (range 36 to 54 Gy). Eight patients received additional intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with a median dose of 12 Gy.

Results

Median overall survival (mOS) of all treated patients was 22 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.9 to 36.1 months) after date of resection and 21.1 months (95% CI 7.6 to 34.6 months) after start of (C)RT. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 13.0 months (95% CI 0.93 to 25 months). Grading (G2 vs. G3, P = 0.005) and gender (female vs. male, P = 0.01) were significantly correlated with OS. There was a significant difference in mPFS between male and female patients (P = 0.008). A total of 11 from 25 patients experienced local tumour progression, and 19 patients were diagnosed with either locoregional or distant failure.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that GEM-based CRT can be applied in analogy to neoadjuvant protocols in the adjuvant setting for PAC patients at high risk for disease recurrence after incomplete resection. Patients undergoing additive CRT have a rather good OS and PFS compared to historical control patient groups.

Palliative radiation therapy in patients with metastasized pancreatic cancer - description of a rare patient group

Background

Pancreatic cancer (PAC) patients experience a high rate of locoregional recurrences and distant metastasis finally leading to their demise even after curatively-intended multidisciplinary treatment approaches including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, clinical reports on bone and brain metastases in PAC patients are extremely rare and thus timing and dose description are not well defined. Our work therefore summarizes a mono-institutional experience on the use of radiotherapy (RT) for PAC patients with metastatic disease with the aim of identifying overall survival and treatment response in this rarely reported patient group.

Method

Forty-four PAC patients with 66 metastatic lesions were treated with palliative radiotherapy (RT). Thirty-three patients (48 lesions), 7 patients (11 lesions) and 5 patients (7 lesions) with bone, liver and brain metastases analyzed respectively were analyzed; one patient had both bone and cerebral metastases and was treated for the lesions, thus including him in both subgroups. Indications for RT were pain, neurological impairment, risk of pathological fracture or imminent danger for development of any of these conditions in case of tumor progression. Median age was 64 years (range 38 to 78 years) and there were 27 male (61%) and 17 (39%) female patients. Analyses of overall survival (OS) and local control were performed. OS was calculated from the first day of RT.

Results

Median overall survival (mOS) of all patients after start of RT was 4.2 months. Survival rates after 1, 3 and 6 months were 79.3%, 55.3% and 30.3% respectively. Patients presenting with bone metastasis had a mOS of 3.1 months and after 1, 3 and 6 months, survival rates were 75.3%, 46.5% and 19.9% respectively. Symptomatic response to therapy was recorded in 85% of all evaluated patients with bone metastasis. Patients undergoing radiosurgery because of liver metastasis were locally controlled in all but one patient after a median follow-up of 8.3 months.

Conclusion

Overall survival of all patients with metastatic disease was considerably worse. A major goal for the future must be the selection of an appropriate RT treatment in terms of duration and technique for these PAC patients.

Five-year experience with setup and implementation of an integrated database system for clinical documentation and research

In radiation oncology, where treatment concepts are elaborated in interdisciplinary collaborations, handling distributed, large heterogeneous amounts of data efficiently is very important, yet challenging, for an optimal treatment of the patient as well as for research itself. This becomes a strong focus, as we step into the era of modern personalized medicine, relying on various quantitative data information, thus involving the active contribution of multiple medical specialties. Hence, combining patient data from all involved information systems is inevitable for analyses. Therefore, we introduced a documentation and data management system integrated in the clinical environment for electronic data capture. We discuss our concept and five-year experience of a precise electronic documentation system, with special focus on the challenges we encountered. We specify how such a system can be designed and implemented to plan, tailor and conduct (multicenter) clinical trials, ultimately reaching the best clinical performance, and enhancing interdisciplinary and clinical research.

Radiotherapy for patients with isolated local recurrence of primary resected pancreatic cancer. Prolonged disease-free interval associated with favorable prognosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To evaluate the treatment outcomes of radiotherapy and prognostic factors for recurrent pancreatic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study comprised 30 patients who developed a locoregional recurrence of primarily resected pancreatic cancer and received radiotherapy between 2000 and 2013 with a median dose of 54 Gy (range, 39-60 Gy). Concurrent chemotherapy included gemcitabine for 18 patients and S-1 for seven patients. The treatment outcomes and prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

The median follow-up after radiotherapy was 14.6 months. The 1-year overall survival, local control, and progression-free survival rates were 69%, 67%, and 32%, respectively. The median overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 15.9 and 6.9 months, respectively. Tumor marker reduction and ≥ 50% reduction were observed in 18 and two patients, respectively. Of the seven patients who exhibited pain symptoms, four and two patients were partly and completely relieved, respectively. Late grade 3 ileus and gastroduodenal bleeding were observed in one patient each. Among the clinicopathological factors evaluated, only a disease-free interval of greater than 18.9 months exhibited a significant association with improved overall survival (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Radiotherapy for isolated locally recurrent pancreatic cancer resulted in encouraging local control, overall survival, and palliative effects with mild toxicity, particularly in patients with a prolonged disease-free interval. This treatment strategy should be prospectively evaluated.

Intensity of follow-up after pancreatic cancer resection

The prognosis of patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains dismal. Of the 15-20 % of patients who are candidates for potentially curative resection, 66-92 % will develop recurrent disease. Although guidelines for surveillance in the postoperative setting exist, they are not evidence based, and there is wide variability of strategies utilized. Current surveillance guidelines as suggested by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) include routine history and physical, measurement of serum cancer-associated antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels, and computed tomographic imaging at 3- to 6-month intervals for the first 2 years, and annually thereafter. However, the lack of prospective clinical data examining the efficacy of different surveillance strategies has led to a variability of the intensity of follow-up and a lack of consensus on its necessity and efficacy. Recent therapeutic advances may have the potential to significantly alter survival after recurrence, but a careful consideration of current surveillance strategies should be undertaken to optimize existing approaches in the face of high recurrence and low survival rates.