Local Control and Survival After Induction Chemotherapy and Ablative Radiation Versus Resection for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma With Vascular Involvement

Objective: We sought to compare overall survival (OS) and disease control for patients with localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) treated with ablative dose radiotherapy (A-RT) versus resection. Summary background data: Locoregional treatment for PDAC includes resection when possible or palliative RT. A-RT may offer durable tumor control and encouraging survival. Methods: This was a single-institution retrospective analysis of patients with PDAC treated with induction chemotherapy followed by A-RT [>= 98 Gy biologically effective dose (BED) using 15-25 fractions in 3-4.5 Gy/fraction] or pancreatectomy. Results: One hundred and four patients received A-RT (49.8%) and 105 (50.2%) underwent resection. Patients receiving A-RT had larger median tumor size after induction chemotherapy [3.2 cm (undetectable-10.9) vs 2.6 cm (undetectable-10.7), P < 0.001], and were more likely to have celiac or hepatic artery encasement (48.1% vs 11.4%, P <0.001), or superior mesenteric artery encasement (43.3% vs 9.5%, P < 0.001); however, there was no difference in the degree of SMV/PV involvement (P = 0.123). There was no difference in locoregional recurrence/progression at 18-months between A-RT and resection; cumulative incidence was 16% [(95% confidence interval (CI) 10%-24%] versus 21% (95% CI 14%-30%), respectively (P= 0.252). However, patients receiving A-RT had a 19% higher 18-month cumulative incidence of distant recurrence/progression [58% (95% CI 48%-67%) vs 30% (95% CI 30%-49%), P= 0.004]. Median OS from completion of chemotherapy was 20.1 months for A-RT patients (95% CI 16.4-23.1 months) versus 32.9 months (95% CI 29.7-42.3 months) for resected patients (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Ablative radiation is a promising new treatment option for PDAC, offering locoregional disease control similar to that associated with resection and encouraging survival.

Automated summary

Ablative dose radiotherapy shows promising effects in localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) treatment, offering similar locoregional disease control as resection but weaker results in distant recurrence/progression.