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Preoperative Capecitabine and Concurrent Radiation for Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

  • Pancreatic Tumors
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) represent a high-risk group of patients due to tumor or patient-related characteristics. The optimal management of these patients has not been fully defined.

Materials and Methods

All patients undergoing evaluation for PDA between 2005 and 2008 were identified. Clinical, radiographic, and pathological data were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were staged as borderline resectable using the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) classification.

Results

A total of 170 patients with PDA were identified, 40 with borderline resectable disease. Of these, 34 borderline resectable patients (85%) completed neoadjuvant therapy and were restaged; pancreatic resection was completed in 16 patients (46%). Also, 8 patients completed 50 Gy of radiation in 28 fractions in 6 weeks, whereas 8 patients received 50 Gy in 20 fractions in 4 weeks plus chronomodulated capecitabine. An R0 resection was achieved in 12 of the 16 patients (75%). Also, 5 patients (63%) treated in 20 fractions had >90% pathologic response versus 1 (13%) treated in 28 fractions (P < .05). Borderline resectable patients completing surgery had similar survival to patients with resectable disease who underwent surgery. Patients receiving accelerated fractionation radiation had improved survival compared with patients treated with standard fractionation protocol.

Conclusions

A neoadjuvant approach to borderline resectable PDA identifies patients who are most likely to benefit from pancreatic resection. Preoperative capecitabine-based chemoradiation is an effective, well-tolerated treatment for these patients. Neoadjuvant therapy for borderline resectable PDA warrants further investigation using treatment schedules that can safely intensify irradiation dose.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Sara Adair for her assistance in the data analysis and Aimee Strong and Lori Fitzgerald for assistance in collection of the clinical data. Sources of financial support: NIH Research Training Grant T32 HL007849 (JBS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Jayme B. Stokes MD, Dustin M. Walters MD, Reid B. Adams MD & Todd W. Bauer MD

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Norris J. Nolan MD & Edward B. Stelow MD

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Geoffrey R. Weiss MD

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Eduard E. de Lange MD

  5. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Tyvin A. Rich MD

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  1. Jayme B. Stokes MD
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  2. Norris J. Nolan MD
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Correspondence to Jayme B. Stokes MD.

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Stokes, J.B., Nolan, N.J., Stelow, E.B. et al. Preoperative Capecitabine and Concurrent Radiation for Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 18, 619–627 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-010-1456-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-010-1456-7

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