Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for Operable Pancreatic Cancer

Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer-What Is Totality?

This article discusses the meaning of the word total in relation to total neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with improved disease-free survival in pancreatic cancer patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy with vascular resection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is becoming favored for all pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Patients with seemingly resectable disease infrequently still display vascular involvement intraoperatively. Outcomes following NAC versus upfront surgery in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with vascular resection are unknown.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of PDAC patients who underwent PD with vascular resection between January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2020, within a single academic center. Clinicopathologic characteristics and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between NAC versus upfront surgery cohorts using the Kaplan-Meier estimate and Cox proportional-hazards regression model.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients who underwent PD with vascular resection for PDAC were included. Forty-six patients (56%) received NAC. The NAC cohort more often had pathologic N0 status (47.8% vs. 8.6%, p < 0.001), had decreased vascular invasion (11% vs. 40%, p = 0.002), and completed chemotherapy (80% vs. 40%, p < 0.01). The NAC cohort demonstrated improved DFS (40.5 vs. 14.3 months, p = 0.007). In multivariable analysis, NAC remained independently associated with increased DFS (HR = 0.48, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

NAC was associated with improved clinicopathologic outcomes and DFS in PD with vascular resection. These findings demonstrate the advantage of NAC in PDAC patients undergoing PD with vascular resection.

Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in Localized Pancreatic Cancer: Is More Better?

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) poses a significant challenge in oncology due to its advanced stage upon diagnosis and limited treatment options. Surgical resection, the primary curative approach, often results in poor long-term survival rates, leading to the exploration of alternative strategies like neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT). While NAT aims to enhance resectability and overall survival, there appears to be potential for improvement, prompting consideration of alternative neoadjuvant strategies integrating full-dose chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) in TNT approaches. TNT integrates chemotherapy and radiotherapy prior to surgery, potentially improving margin-negative resection rates and enabling curative resection for locally advanced cases. The lingering question: is more always better? This article categorizes TNT strategies into six main groups based on radiotherapy (RT) techniques: (1) conventional chemoradiotherapy (CRT), (2) the Dutch PREOPANC approach, (3) hypofractionated ablative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (HFA-IMRT), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) techniques, which further divide into (4) non-ablative SBRT, (5) nearly ablative SBRT, and (6) adaptive ablative SBRT. A comprehensive analysis of the literature on TNT is provided for both borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), with detailed sections for each.

Pathological Complete Response in Patients With Resected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma After Preoperative Chemotherapy

Importance

Preoperative chemo(radio)therapy is increasingly used in patients with localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma, leading to pathological complete response (pCR) in a small subset of patients. However, multicenter studies with in-depth data about pCR are lacking.

Objective

To investigate the incidence, outcome, and risk factors of pCR after preoperative chemo(radio)therapy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This observational, international, multicenter cohort study assessed all consecutive patients with pathology-proven localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma who underwent resection after 2 or more cycles of chemotherapy (with or without radiotherapy) in 19 centers from 8 countries (January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2018). Data collection was performed from February 1, 2020, to April 30, 2022, and analyses from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. Median follow-up was 19 months.

Exposures

Preoperative chemotherapy (with or without radiotherapy) followed by resection.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The incidence of pCR (defined as absence of vital tumor cells in the sampled pancreas specimen after resection), its association with OS from surgery, and factors associated with pCR. Factors associated with overall survival (OS) and pCR were investigated with Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression models, respectively.

Results

Overall, 1758 patients (mean [SD] age, 64 [9] years; 879 [50.0%] male) were studied. The rate of pCR was 4.8% (n = 85), and pCR was associated with OS (hazard ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.26-0.83). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 95%, 82%, and 63% in patients with pCR vs 80%, 46%, and 30% in patients without pCR, respectively (P < .001). Factors associated with pCR included preoperative multiagent chemotherapy other than (m)FOLFIRINOX ([modified] leucovorin calcium [folinic acid], fluorouracil, irinotecan hydrochloride, and oxaliplatin) (odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% CI, 0.26-0.87), preoperative conventional radiotherapy (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.00-4.10), preoperative stereotactic body radiotherapy (OR, 8.91; 95% CI, 4.17-19.05), radiologic response (OR, 13.00; 95% CI, 7.02-24.08), and normal(ized) serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 after preoperative therapy (OR, 3.76; 95% CI, 1.79-7.89).

Conclusions and Relevance

This international, retrospective cohort study found that pCR occurred in 4.8% of patients with resected localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma after preoperative chemo(radio)therapy. Although pCR does not reflect cure, it is associated with improved OS, with a doubled 5-year OS of 63% compared with 30% in patients without pCR. Factors associated with pCR related to preoperative chemo(radio)therapy regimens and anatomical and biological disease response features may have implications for treatment strategies that require validation in prospective studies because they may not universally apply to all patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Median arcuate ligament release at the time of pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND

Celiac artery compression can complicate the performance of pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy due to the need for ligation of the gastroduodenal artery. Median arcuate ligament release restores normal arterial flow to the liver, spleen, and stomach and may avoid complications related to poor perfusion of the foregut.

METHODS

All patients who underwent median arcuate ligament release for celiac artery compression at the time of pancreatectomy between 2009 and 2023 were reviewed. Pre- and postoperative computed tomography was used to categorize celiac artery compression by the extent of compression (types A [<50%], B [50%-80%], and C [>80%]).

RESULTS

Of 695 patients who underwent pancreatectomy, 22 (3%) had celiac artery compression, and a majority (17) were identified on preoperative imaging. Median celiac artery compression was 52% (interquartile range = 18); 8 (36%) patients had type A and 14 (64%) had type B compression with a median celiac artery compression of 39% (interquartile range = 18) and 59% (interquartile range = 14), respectively (P < .001). Postoperative imaging was available for 20 (90%) patients, and a reduction in the median celiac artery compression occurred in all patients: type A, 14%, and type B, 31%. Complications included 1 (5%) death after hospital discharge, 1 (5%) pancreatic fistula, 1 (5%) delayed gastric emptying, and 4 (18%) readmissions. No patient had evidence of a biliary leak or liver dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative computed tomography allows accurate identification of celiac artery compression. Ligation of the gastroduodenal artery during pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy in the setting of celiac artery compression requires median arcuate ligament release to restore normal arterial flow to the foregut and avoid preventable complications.

Impact of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Transatlantic Trend and Postoperative Outcomes Analysis

BACKGROUND

The introduction of modern chemotherapy a decade ago has led to increased use of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). A recent North American study demonstrated increased use of NAT and improved operative outcomes in patients with PDAC. The aims of this study were to compare the use of NAT and short-term outcomes in patients with PDAC undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) among registries from the US and Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

STUDY DESIGN

Databases from 2 multicenter (voluntary) and 2 nationwide (mandatory) registries were queried from 2018 to 2020. Patients undergoing PD for PDAC were compared based on the use of upfront surgery vs NAT. Adoption of NAT was measured in each country over time. Thirty-day outcomes, including the composite measure (ideal outcomes), were compared by multivariable analyses. Sensitivity analyses of patients undergoing vascular resection were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 11,402 patients underwent PD for PDAC with 33.7% of patients receiving NAT. The use of NAT increased steadily from 28.3% in 2018 to 38.5% in 2020 (p < 0.0001). However, use of NAT varied widely by country: the US (46.8%), the Netherlands (44.9%), Sweden (11.0%), and Germany (7.8%). On multivariable analysis, NAT was significantly (p < 0.01) associated with reduced rates of serious morbidity, clinically relevant pancreatic fistulae, reoperations, and increased ideal outcomes. These associations remained on sensitivity analysis of patients undergoing vascular resection.

CONCLUSIONS

NAT before PD for pancreatic cancer varied widely among 4 Western audits yet increased by 26% during 3 years. NAT was associated with improved short-term outcomes.

Total neoadjuvant therapy in oesophageal and gastro-oesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and gastro-oesophageal junction represent a large burden of cancer death in the Western World with an increasing incidence. In the past two decades, the overall survival of patients on a potentially curative treatment pathway has more than doubled due to the addition of perioperative oncological therapies to surgery. However, patients often fail to respond to oncological treatment or struggle to complete their treatment after surgery. In this review, we discuss the current evidence for total neoadjuvant therapy and options for assessment of treatment response.

Total neoadjuvant therapy improves survival of patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer with arterial involvement

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer with arterial involvement (BR-A) pancreatic cancer.

Methods

We analyzed 81 patients initially diagnosed as BR-A who received initial treatments between 2007 and 2021. Among them, 18 patients who received upfront surgery were classified as the UFS group, while 30 patients who were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were classified as the NACRT group. Furthermore, 33 patients who planned to receive a combination treatment of over 6 months of systemic chemotherapies followed by chemoradiotherapy before surgery were classified as the TNT group.

Results

There were no significant differences in the patients' backgrounds between the three groups at the time of initial treatment. The resection rates of the UFS, NACRT, and TNT groups were 89%, 77%, and 67%, respectively. NACRT had no impact on the prognosis compared to upfront surgery. In sharp contrast, the TNT group had a significantly better prognosis compared to the other groups, especially after pancreatic resection. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that TNT and resection were independent prognostic factors for the patients of BR-A.

Conclusion

TNT can be a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with BR-A.

Pancreatic Cancer: A Review of Current Treatment and Novel Therapies

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes for cancer-related deaths in the United States. Majority of patients present with unresectable or metastatic disease. For those that present with localized disease, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to maximize survival and optimize outcomes. The quality and safety of surgery for pancreatic cancer have improved in recent years with increasing adoption of minimally invasive techniques and surgical adjuncts. Systemic chemotherapy has also evolved to impact survival. It is now increasingly being utilized in the neoadjuvant setting, often with concomitant radiation. Increased utilization of genomic testing in metastatic pancreatic cancer has led to better understanding of their biology, thereby allowing clinicians to consider potential targeted therapies. Similarly, targeted agents such as PARP inhibitors and immune checkpoint- inhibitors have emerged with promising results. In summary, pancreatic cancer remains a disease with poor long-term survival. However, recent developments have led to improved outcomes and have changed practice in the past decade. This review summarizes current practices in pancreatic cancer treatment and the milestones that brought us to where we are today, along with emerging therapies.

The Nomogram predicting the overall survival of patients with pancreatic cancer treated with radiotherapy: a study based on the SEER database and a Chinese cohort

Objective

Patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) have a poor prognosis. Radiotherapy (RT) is a standard palliative treatment in clinical practice, and there is no effective clinical prediction model to predict the prognosis of PC patients receiving radiotherapy. This study aimed to analyze PC's clinical characteristics, find the factors affecting PC patients' prognosis, and construct a visual Nomogram to predict overall survival (OS).

Methods

SEER*Stat software was used to collect clinical data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of 3570 patients treated with RT. At the same time, the relevant clinical data of 115 patients were collected from the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The SEER database data were randomly divided into the training and internal validation cohorts in a 7:3 ratio, with all patients at The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University as the external validation cohort. The lasso regression was used to screen the relevant variables. All non-zero variables were included in the multivariate analysis. Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression analysis was used to determine the independent prognostic factors. The Kaplan-Meier(K-M) method was used to plot the survival curves for different treatments (surgery, RT, chemotherapy, and combination therapy) and calculate the median OS. The Nomogram was constructed to predict the survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years, and the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were plotted with the calculated curves. Calculate the area under the curve (AUC), the Bootstrap method was used to plot the calibration curve, and the clinical efficacy of the prediction model was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

The median OS was 25.0, 18.0, 11.0, and 4.0 months in the surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy (SCRT), surgery combined with radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy (CRT), and RT alone cohorts, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, N stage, M stage, chemotherapy, surgery, lymph node surgery, and Grade were independent prognostic factors for patients. Nomogram models were constructed to predict patients' OS. 1-, 3-, and 5-year Time-dependent ROC curves were plotted, and AUC values were calculated. The results suggested that the AUCs were 0.77, 0.79, and 0.79 for the training cohort, 0.79, 0.82, and 0.81 for the internal validation cohort, and 0.73, 0.93, and 0.88 for the external validation cohort. The calibration curves Show that the model prediction probability is in high agreement with the actual observation probability, and the DCA curve shows a high net return.

Conclusion

SCRT significantly improves the OS of PC patients. We developed and validated a Nomogram to predict the OS of PC patients receiving RT.

Significance of multiple tumor markers measurements in conversion surgery for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the significance of multiple tumor markers (TMs) measurements in determining the indications for conversion surgery (CS) in the management of unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (UR-LAPC).

METHODS

A total of 103 patients with UR-LAPC, treated between 2008 and June 2021, were enrolled in this study. Three TMs, including carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and Duke pancreatic monoclonal antigen type 2 (DUPAN-2), were measured.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients (24%) underwent CS. The median preoperative treatment period was 9.5 months. The median survival time (MST) from the initial treatment for patients with CS was significantly longer than that for patients without surgery (34.6 vs. 18.9 months, P < 0.001). The number of elevated TMs before CS was one in five patients and two in five patients, while 15 patients had normal levels of all three TMs. Notably, the MST from the initial treatment for patients with all three preoperative normal TMs levels was favorable for 70.5 months. In contrast, patients with one or two preoperatively elevated TMs levels had a significantly worse prognosis (25.4 and 21.0 months, respectively, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the relapse-free survival of patients with three preoperative normal TMs levels was significantly longer than those with one or two elevated TMs levels (21.9 vs. 11.3 or 3.0 months, respectively, P < 0.001). Non-normal values of all TMs before CS were identified as independent poor prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Simultaneous measurement and assessment of the three TMs levels may help determine the surgical indications for UR-LAPC after systemic anticancer treatment.

State-of-the-Art and Upcoming Innovations in Pancreatic Cancer Care: A Step Forward to Precision Medicine

Pancreatic cancer remains a social and medical burden despite the tremendous advances that medicine has made in the last two decades. The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing, and it continues to be associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. The difficulty of early diagnosis (the lack of specific symptoms and biomarkers at early stages), the aggressiveness of the disease, and its resistance to systemic therapies are the main factors for the poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. The only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer is surgery, but the vast majority of patients with pancreatic cancer have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Pancreatic surgery is among the most challenging surgical procedures, but recent improvements in surgical techniques, careful patient selection, and the availability of minimally invasive techniques (e.g., robotic surgery) have dramatically reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with pancreatic surgery. Patients who are not candidates for surgery may benefit from locoregional and systemic therapy. In some cases (e.g., patients for whom marginal resection is feasible), systemic therapy may be considered a bridge to surgery to allow downstaging of the cancer; in other cases (e.g., metastatic disease), systemic therapy is considered the standard approach with the goal of prolonging patient survival. The complexity of patients with pancreatic cancer requires a personalized and multidisciplinary approach to choose the best treatment for each clinical situation. The aim of this article is to provide a literature review of the available treatments for the different stages of pancreatic cancer.

Current Approaches for the Curative-Intent Surgical Treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Radical resection is the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. However, only up to 20% of patients are considered eligible for surgical resection at the time of diagnosis. Although upfront surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy has become the gold standard of treatment for resectable pancreatic cancer there are numerous ongoing trials aiming to compare the clinical outcomes of various surgical strategies (e.g., upfront surgery or neoadjuvant treatment with subsequent resection). Neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery is considered the best approach in borderline resectable pancreatic tumors. Individuals with locally advanced disease are now candidates for palliative chemo- or chemoradiotherapy; however, some patients may become eligible for resection during the course of such treatment. When metastases are found, the cancer is qualified as unresectable. It is possible to perform radical pancreatic resection with metastasectomy in selected cases of oligometastatic disease. The role of multi-visceral resection, which involves reconstruction of major mesenteric veins, is well known. Nonetheless, there are some controversies in terms of arterial resection and reconstruction. Researchers are also trying to introduce personalized treatments. The careful, preliminary selection of patients eligible for surgery and other therapies should be based on tumor biology, among other factors. Such selection may play a key role in improving survival rates in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Preoperative treatments in borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer: current evidence and new perspectives

Surgery is the only curative treatment for non-metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but less than 20% of patients present a resectable disease at diagnosis. Treatment strategies and disease definition for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) vary in the different cancer centres. Preoperative chemotherapy (CT) is the standard of care for both BRPC and LAPC patients, however literature data are still controversial concerning the type, dose and duration of the different CT regimens, as well as regarding the integration of radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiation (CRT) in the therapeutic algorithm. In this unsettled debate, we aimed at focusing on the therapeutic regimens currently in use and relative literature data, to report international trials comparing the available therapeutic options or explore the introduction of new pharmacological agents, and to analyse possible new scenarios in microenvironment evaluation before and after neoadjuvant therapies or in patients' selection at a molecular level.

Comprehensive multimodal management of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: Current status and progress

Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) is a complex clinical entity with specific biological features. Criteria for resectability need to be assessed in combination with tumor anatomy and oncology. Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for BRPC patients is associated with additional survival benefits. Research is currently focused on exploring the optimal NAT regimen and more reliable ways of assessing response to NAT. More attention to management standards during NAT, including biliary drainage and nutritional support, is needed. Surgery remains the cornerstone of BRPC treatment and multidisciplinary teams can help to evaluate whether patients are suitable for surgery and provide individualized management during the perioperative period, including NAT responsiveness and the selection of surgical timing.

Evaluation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Survival Outcomes Among Patients With Surgically Resected Pancreatic Carcinoma With Node-Negative Disease After Neoadjuvant Therapy

Importance

Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is rarely associated with a complete histopathologic response in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) but results in downstaging of regional nodal disease. Such nodal downstaging after NAT may have implications for the use of additional adjuvant therapy (AT).

Objectives

To examine the prognostic implications of AT in patients with node-negative (N0) disease after NAT and to identify factors associated with progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Design, Setting, and Participants

A retrospective review was conducted using data from 2 high-volume, tertiary care academic centers (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Medical College of Wisconsin). Prospectively maintained pancreatic cancer databases at both institutes were searched to identify patients with localized PDAC treated with preoperative therapy and subsequent surgical resection between 2010 and 2019, with N0 disease on final histopathology.

Exposures

Patients received NAT consisting of chemotherapy with or without concomitant neoadjuvant radiation (NART). For patients who received NART, chemotherapy regimens were gemcitabine or 5-fluoururacil based and included stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) after all intended chemotherapy and approximately 4 to 5 weeks before anticipated surgery. Adjuvant therapy consisted of gemcitabine-based therapy or FOLFIRINOX; when used, adjuvant radiation was commonly administered as either SBRT or IMRT.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The association of AT with PFS and OS was evaluated in the overall cohort and in different subgroups. The interaction between AT and other clinicopathologic variables was examined on Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Results

In this cohort study, 430 consecutive patients were treated between 2010 and 2019. Patients had a mean (SD) age of 65.2 (9.4) years, and 220 (51.2%) were women. The predominant NAT was gemcitabine based (196 patients [45.6%]), with a median duration of 2.7 cycles (IQR, 1.5-3.4). Neoadjuvant radiation was administered to 279 patients (64.9%). Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed in 310 patients (72.1%), and 160 (37.2%) required concomitant vascular resection. The median lymph node yield was 26 (IQR, 19-34); perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and residual positive margins (R1) were found in 254 (59.3%), 92 (22.0%), and 87 (21.1%) patients, respectively. The restricted mean OS was 5.2 years (95% CI, 4.8-5.7). On adjusted analysis, PNI, LVI, and poorly differentiated tumors were independently associated with worse PFS and OS in N0 disease after NAT, with hazard ratios (95% CIs) of 2.04 (1.43-2.92; P < .001) and 1.68 (1.14-2.48; P = .009), 1.47 (1.08-1.98; P = .01) and 1.54 (1.10-2.14; P = .01), and 1.90 (1.18-3.07; P = .008) and 1.98 (1.20-3.26; P = .008), respectively. Although AT was associated with prolonged survival in the overall cohort, the effect was reduced in patients who received NART and strengthened in patients with PNI (AT × PNI interaction: hazard ratio, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.32-0.97]; P = .04).

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this cohort study suggest a survival benefit for AT in patients with N0 disease after NAT and surgical resection. This survival benefit may be most pronounced in patients with PNI.

Routine neoadjuvant chemotherapy for all patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma? A review of the evidence

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy that carries a poor prognosis because the majority of patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease. However, even patients who are fortunate enough to present with resectable disease are often plagued by high recurrence rates. While adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to decrease the risk of recurrence after surgery, post operative complications and poor performance status after surgery prevent up to 50% of patients from receiving it. Given the benefits of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with borderline resectable disease, it is understandable that neoadjuvant therapy has been steadily increasing in patients with resectable cancers as well. In this review paper, we highlight the rational and existing evidence of using neoadjuvant therapy in all patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Total Neoadjuvant Treatment for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Is Associated With Limited Lymph Node Yield but Improved Ratio

INTRODUCTION

The lymph node yield (LNY) and lymph node ratio (LNR) of nodal metastases following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) have been reported as prognostic parameters in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, they have not been compared in the setting of various neoadjuvant therapy modalities.

METHODS

A single institutional retrospective study identified 134 patients diagnosed with resectable, BLR- and LA-PDAC who underwent PD at Fox Chase Cancer Center between 2010 and 2019. Patients were categorized based on first-line treatment as follows: surgery first (SF), total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), and single modality neoadjuvant therapy (SMNT). The histopathological reports of the surgical specimens were examined to obtain LNY and determine the counts of lymph nodes with metastases. Subsequently, LNR was calculated as the number of positive lymph nodes divided by the number of lymph nodes examined.

RESULTS

Overall, 49, 38, 27, 12, and 8 patients underwent SF approach, SMNT, incomplete TNT, induction TNT, and consolidation TNT, respectively. There was no difference in R0 resection and vascular resection between the groups (P = 0.096 and 0.794, respectively). The median counts of LNY were 22, 15, 21, 11.5, and 10, respectively (P < 0.001). The average LNR was 0.16, 0.07, 0.03, 0.02, and 0.02, respectively (P < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in overall survival in the TNT groups (log-rank test P = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

PDAC patients who undergo the TNT modality exhibit lower LNY and improved LNR compared with the SF approach and SMNT neoadjuvant therapy groups. This is likely explained by the increased treatment response and lymph node obliteration associated with the TNT approach. Our results question the minimal requirement of 11-18 harvested lymph nodes for PD following TNT.

Neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer: a review and update on recent trials

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has been enthusiastically embraced for patients with operable pancreatic cancer (PDAC) in hopes of improving survival. However, the rapid integration of clinical trial data has made it difficult to discern optimal treatment strategies. The goal of this review is to summarize notable recent trials and their contributions to the field.

RECENT FINDINGS

The results of ESPAC-5F, NEOLAP-AIO-PAK-0113, SWOG1505, PREOPANC, HyperAcutePancreas, and ALLIANCE A021501 are reviewed in detail. These studies sequentially evaluate the different neoadjuvant treatment strategies, use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation, and immunotherapy in resectable, borderline-resectable, and locally advanced PDAC. Resection rate ranged from 24.4 to 95.7% (median 64.9%). These trials demonstrate median survival ranging from 14.9 to 41.0 months with progression-free survival ranging from 7.7 to 24.2 months. Survival results may be confounded by ability to reach resection, use of modern chemotherapy vs. gemcitabine monotherapy, and inclusion of locally advanced PDAC. Several upcoming trials will directly examine efficacy of NAT vs. adjuvant therapy, chemoradiation in the NAT setting, and molecular testing-driven chemotherapy selection.

SUMMARY

NAT is associated with improved survival for patients with borderline resectable PDAC but broader efficacy for resectable PDAC and optimal treatment strategy have yet to be defined.

Total neoadjuvant therapy is associated with improved overall survival and pathologic response in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Few studies have evaluated outcomes of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) compared with single modality neoadjuvant therapy (SMNT) or surgery first (SF) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

A single-institution retrospective review of PDAC patients who underwent pancreatectomy was conducted (1993-2019). Overall survival (OS) estimates from diagnosis and from surgery were determined using Kaplan-Meier methods; Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for covariates.

RESULTS

Surgery was performed upfront (SF) in 168 (46.9%), while 111 (31.0%) had chemotherapy or chemoradiation before resection (SMNT), and 79 (22.1%) underwent TNT (chemotherapy and chemoradiation). Resection margins were more frequently R0 in the TNT group (86.1%) compared with SMNT (64.0%) and SF (72%) (p < 0.001). Complete pathologic response was more common in the TNT group (10.1%) compared with SMNT (3.6%) or SF (0.6%) (p = 0.001), resulting in prolonged survival (median OS = 100.2 months). TNT patients demonstrated longer median OS from surgery (33.6 months) compared with SF (19.1 months) and SMNT (17.4 months) (p = 0.010), which persisted after controlling for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

TNT is associated with more frequent complete pathologic response, a higher rate of margin negative resection, and prolonged OS as compared with SF or SMNT. Additional studies to identify subgroups that derive the greatest benefit are warranted.

Factors associated with inability to return to intended oncologic treatment in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Return to Intended Oncologic Treatment (RIOT) has been proposed as a quality metric in the care of cancer patients. We sought to define factors associated with inability to RIOT in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients.

METHODS

The NCDB was queried for patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pathologic stage IB, IIA, or IIB PDAC from 2010 to 2016. Multivariable binary logistic regression models identified factors associated with failure to RIOT, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox multivariable regression models demonstrated the impact of failure to RIOT on survival.

RESULTS

Increasing age (p < .001), Hispanic race (p = .002), pathological stage IB (p = .004) and IIA (p = .001) as compared to IIB, increasing hospital stay (p < .001), and open surgical approach (p = .024) were associated with increased risk of inability to RIOT. Male sex (p < .001), Charlson-Deyo scores of 0 (p < .001) and 1 (p = .001) as compared to >2, negative surgical margins (p = .048), receiving care at academic institutions (p = .001), and increasing institutional case volume (p = .001) were associated with improved odds of RIOT.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient features can impact RIOT and should be considered when designing multi-modality treatment strategies.

Radiation therapy in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: A review

BACKGROUND

Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer constitutes a complex clinical entity, presenting the clinician with a locally aggressive disease that has a proclivity for distant spread. The benefits of radiation therapy, such as improved local control and improved survival, have been questioned. In this review we seek to summarize the existing evidence on radiation therapy in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer and highlight future areas of research.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of PubMed for clinical studies reporting outcomes in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer was performed in June 2021, with an emphasis placed on prospective studies.

RESULTS

Radiologic "downstaging" in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer is a rare event, although some evidence shows increased clinical response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy over radiation therapy. Margin status seems to be equivalent between regimens that use neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone and regimens that include neoadjuvant radiation therapy. Local control in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer is likely improved with radiation therapy; however, the benefit of improved local control in a disease marked by systemic failure has been questioned. Although some studies have shown improved survival with radiation therapy, differences in the delivery and tolerance of chemotherapy between the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting confound these results. When the evidence is evaluated as a whole, there is no clear survival benefit of radiation therapy in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

CONCLUSION

Once considered a staple of therapy, the role of radiation therapy in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer is evolving as systemic therapy regimens continues to improve. Increased clinical understanding of disease phenotype and response are needed to accurately tailor therapy for individual patients and to improve outcomes in this complex patient population.

Short-Course or Total Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Resectable and Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer - Current Status and Future Perspectives

Neoadjuvant therapy improves overall survival compared with a surgery-first approach in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC). Evidence of higher quality is required to determine whether neoadjuvant therapy has potential benefits and improves survival for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC). Most randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have explored short-course neoadjuvant chemotherapy (SNT), but total neoadjuvant chemotherapy (TNT) is now the experimental arm of ongoing RCTs. This article reviews the current status of SNT and TNT in RPC and BRPC, and provides perspectives of future challenges and research directions in this field.

Neoadjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Increased Use and Improved Optimal Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The introduction of more effective chemotherapy a decade ago has led to increased use of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of this study was to assess the evolving use of NAT in individuals with PDAC undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and to compare their outcomes with patients undergoing upfront operation.

STUDY DESIGN

The American College of Surgeons NSQIP Procedure Targeted Pancreatectomy database was queried from 2014 to 2019. Patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy were evaluated based on the use of NAT versus upfront operation. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine the effect of NAT on postoperative outcomes, including the composite measure optimal pancreatic surgery (OPS). Mann-Kendall trend tests were performed to assess the use of NAT and associated outcomes over time.

RESULTS

A total of 13,257 patients were identified who underwent PD for PDAC between 2014 and 2019. Overall, 33.6% of patients received NAT. The use of NAT increased steadily from 24.2% in 2014 to 42.7% in 2019 (p < 0.0001). On multivariable analysis, NAT was associated with reduced serious morbidity (odds ratio [OR] 0.83, p < 0.001), clinically relevant pancreatic fistulas (OR 0.52, p < 0.001), organ space infections (OR 0.74, p < 0.001), percutaneous drainage (OR 0.73, p < 0.001), reoperation (OR 0.76, p = 0.005), and prolonged length of stay (OR 0.63, p < 0.001). OPS was achieved more frequently in patients undergoing NAT (OR 1.433, p < 0.001) and improved over time in patients receiving NAT (50.7% to 56.6%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

NAT before pancreatoduodenectomy increased more than 3-fold over the past decade and was associated with improved optimal operative outcomes.

Surgical Management of Non-Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer in the United Kingdom: Results of a Nationwide Survey on Current Practice

Background

It is presently unclear what clinical pathways are followed for patients with non-metastatic PDAC in specialised centres for pancreatic surgery across the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods

Between August 2019 and August 2020 an electronic survey was conducted aiming at a national cohort of pancreatic surgeons in the UK. Participants replied to a list of standardised questions and clinical vignettes, and data were collected and analysed focusing on management preferences, resectability criteria, and contraindications to surgery.

Results

Within the study period, 65 pancreatic surgeons from 27 specialist centres in the UK (96%) completed the survey. Multidisciplinary team meetings are utilised universally for the management of patients with PDAC, however, different staging systems for resectability classification are being applied. In borderline resectable PDAC, most surgeons were keen to proceed with surgical exploration post NAT, but differences were noted in preferred chemotherapy regimens. Surgeons from standard volume institutions performed fewer vein resections annually and were more likely to deem patients with locally advanced PDAC as unresectable. Intra-institutional variability in patient management was also present and ranging between 20-80%.

Conclusions

Significant variability in the surgical management of non-metastatic PDAC was identified both on inter- and intra-institutional level.

Current Controversies in Neoadjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Over the last two decades, there have been significant changes in the management of patients with localized pancreatic cancer. The rationale for an evolution toward a neoadjuvant approach and summary of relevant clinical trials is reviewed. Controversies in identifying optimal neoadjuvant therapeutic approaches are discussed.

Total neoadjuvant therapy for initially inoperable pancreatic cancer: A systematic review of phase 2-3 studies

INTRODUCTION

Patients with initially inoperable non-metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC) have a poor prognosis, often similar to those with metastatic disease. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) plus concomitant or sequential radiotherapy (RT) may cause tumor shrinkage and allow for radical surgery. We pooled data of studies in which patients with locally advanced (unresectable) or borderline resectable PC were treated with a course of induction (or consolidation) CT followed or preceded by neoadjuvant CTRT regimen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched articles, including phase 2 or 3 studies, published in English from 2010 up to December 2020 in PubMed, SCOPUS, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. The primary outcomes were the pooled radical and R0 resection rates, median PFS and OS of included patients (those included in the intent to treat analysis).

RESULTS

A total of 28 studies were finally considered eligible for inclusion in quantitative analysis for a total of 2446 patients with locally advanced/borderline resectable PC. Overall the pooled rate of resection was 29.7% (95%CI 26.7-32.8%). In patients who completed the CT + CTRT program, the overall resection rate was 31.8% (95% 28.4-35.4%). After exclusion of studies that included resectable PCs, the overall resection rate was 19.9% (95%CI 17.3-22.7%). In studies were all patients had unresectable PC (n = 20 studies), the resection rate was 12.1% (95%CI 10-14.5%). In two studies that enrolled all borderline resectable PCs the resection rate was 59.2% (95%CI 48.9-68.8%). The pooled R0 resection rate was 68.7% (95%CI 64.7-72.3%). The median pooled OS was 15.7 months (95%CI 14-17.2 months) and the median pooled PFS was 10.7 (95%CI 9.3-12.1 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery is a treatment option in about one third of patients with initially inoperable PC, following total neoadjuvant therapy. In unresectable cases the resection rate was 12%. Median OS and PFS rates were comparable with historical data of advanced PCs. Optimal integration and sequence of chemo- and radiotherapy in unresectable PC must still be defined.

Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Therapy in Operable Pancreatic Cancer: Both Honey and Milk (but No Bread?)

Pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis. Resection is the best option for cure, supported by multimodal therapy to treat the systemic disease. While adjuvant therapy has become standard in those who are fit and who can tolerate the given regimen, the concept of perioperative (neoadjuvant) therapy is building momentum. The concepts of “borderline” and “locally advanced” have changed the previous dichotomized “resectable/non-resectable” into subcategories for which new algorithms have emerged, with neoadjuvant therapy discussed both for upfront resectable pancreatic cancer, for those deemed borderline resectable, and as “induction or conversion” therapy for locally advanced disease. The purpose of this invited commentary is to discuss some of the changing paradigms in multimodal therapy for operable pancreatic cancer. The PREOPANC trial presented randomized data on the role of neoadjuvant therapy for resectable and borderline cancers, but new questions have emerged. The role of combination therapy in the preoperative setting is discussed in the light of this trial. FOLFIRINOX has emerged as the most potent treatment regimen in the metastatic and adjuvant setting, but with no level I data to support neoadjuvant use yet. Several trials are ongoing to arrive at the best answer.