Benefit of Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel Rescue of Patients With Borderline Resectable or Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma After Early Failure of FOLFIRINOX

OBJECTIVES

Neoadjuvant therapy (NT) is used for advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). No clear guidelines exist for switching therapies when patients do not respond to initial NT. We sought to characterize patients who underwent early switch from FOLFIRINOX to gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (GA) as NT for PDAC.

METHODS

We identified patients at a single institution switched from FOLFIRINOX to GA within the first 4 months of NT for PDAC during 2012-2017. We compared clinicopathologic data and oncologic outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 25 patients who met the criteria, 21 showed a serologic or radiographic response to GA; 11 (52%) reached resection. Responders had decreased carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 levels from pretreatment to post-GA (P = 0.036). Resected responders had significantly decreased CA 19-9 comparing preswitch to post-GA (P = 0.048). The only predictor of GA response was prechemotherapy CA 19-9 of less than1000 U/mL (P = 0.021). Predictors of reaching resection were head/uncinate tumor (P = 0.010) and presenting stage lower than locally advanced (P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

When patients do not respond to neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX, early switch to GA should be considered. Future efforts should be directed toward identifying markers that will allow correct choice of initial therapy rather than attempting to rescue patients who respond poorly to first-line therapy.

A retrospective analysis of chemotherapy switch suggests improved outcome in surgically removed, biologically aggressive canine haemangiosarcoma

Haemangiosarcoma (HSA) has an aggressive biological behaviour and carries a poor prognosis, with less than 10% of treated dogs surviving longer than 1 year. In this retrospective study a varied metronomic chemotherapy (MC) regimen preceded by adjuvant doxorubicin-based maximum-tolerated dose chemotherapy (MTDC) was compared with MTDC, in terms of efficacy [time to metastasis, (TTM) and survival time (ST)] and safety in dogs with biologically aggressive HSA. Dogs were eligible if they had no metastasis after MTDC and received either no further chemotherapy or MC maintenance. Twelve dogs received MTDC, and 10 received MC thereafter. Median TTM and ST were significantly longer for dogs receiving MTDC-MC (not reached versus 150 days, P = 0.028; and not reached versus 168 days, P = 0.030, respectively). Treatment was well tolerated. MTDC followed by MC is safe and suggests improved TTM and ST in dogs with surgically removed, biologically aggressive HSA that are treated in the microscopic setting.

Surgical Considerations for Neoadjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenging disease process with a 5-year survival rate of only 11%. Neoadjuvant therapy in patients with localized pancreatic cancer has multiple theoretical benefits, including improved patient selection for surgery, early delivery of systemic therapy, and assessment of response to therapy. Herein, we review key surgical considerations when selecting patients for neoadjuvant therapy and curative-intent resection. Accurate determination of resectability at diagnosis is critical and should be based on not only anatomic criteria but also biologic and clinical criteria to determine optimal treatment sequencing. Borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic cancer is best treated with neoadjuvant therapy and resection, including vascular resection and reconstruction when appropriate. Lastly, providing nutritional, prehabilitation, and supportive care interventions to improve patient fitness prior to surgical intervention and adequately address the adverse effects of therapy is critical.

Chemotherapy switch for nonresponse or progression on neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Patients with localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma who do not respond to neoadjuvant therapy present a challenge. We sought to define the characteristics and outcomes of those patients to guide clinical practice.

METHODS

Patients included were those without evidence of biochemical or radiographic response and no evidence of distant progression at the first reassessment after initiation of therapy.

RESULTS

Of the 45 patients in the cohort, 23 (51.1%) proceeded to surgical exploration with all but one of those undergoing resection. The median overall survival of the study cohort was 28.6 and 48.6 months in those who underwent resection. A total of 13 patients (28.9%) underwent chemotherapy switch (CS) during their course of neoadjuvant therapy. The CS cohort demonstrated higher rates of radiologic progression (25% vs. 10%, p = 0.329), new or worse vascular involvement (58.3% vs. 30%, p = 0.082), and CA 19-9 increase (30.8% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.209) at initial re-staging. Despite this, overall survival was similar between the two groups (20.7 vs. 28.7 months, p = 0.674).

CONCLUSION

Non-responders to first-line neoadjuvant therapy have poor rates of curative-intent resection. However, resection should be undertaken when feasible. CS may be considered in patients who do not respond to first-line chemotherapy.