Abstract
The advantages of neoadjuvant (preoperative) chemoradiation therapy for pancreatic cancer include the assurance that all resected patients receive multimodality therapy; the opportunity for patients with occult metastatic disease to manifest themselves; and the potential to improve resectability. Since 1994, Duke University Medical Center has treated over 180 patients with localized pancreatic cancer using neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil(5FU)-based chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Approximately 20% of patients demonstrate distant disease progression during CRT and avoid the morbidity of laparotomy. Almost 20% of locally advanced tumors on initial-staging CT can be resected following CRT. Patients who have successfully undergone resection have experienced favorable survival with an estimated 5-year survival rate of 36%. This article reviews the authors' experience and the lessons learned from it.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 675-684 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Oncology