Perioperative chemotherapy is associated with a survival advantage in early stage adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head

Waseem Lutfi, Mark S. Talamonti, Olga Kantor, Chi Hsiung Wang, Erik Liederbach, Susan J. Stocker, David J. Bentrem, Kevin K. Roggin, David J. Winchester, Robert Marsh, Richard A. Prinz, Marshall S. Baker*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background The value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of early stage pancreatic cancer is not yet clear. Methods We evaluated patients from the National Cancer Data Base who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for clinical stage I and II pancreatic adenocarcinoma between 2006 and 2012. Results In total, 7,881 patients were identified. Of these, 27.5% received no chemotherapy, 57.4% received adjuvant chemotherapy, 10.2% received neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone, and 4.9% received perioperative chemotherapy, both preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy use (neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone and perioperative chemotherapy) increased from 12.0% in 2006 to 20.2% in 2012. Patients who received chemotherapy prior to the operation (neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone and perioperative chemotherapy) had greater rates of margin negative (80.2% vs 73.0%, P < .001) and node negative (58.2% vs 28.7%, P < .001) resections and shorter mean durations of stay (12.0 vs 11.1 days, P = .012) than those receiving either adjuvant chemotherapy or no chemotherapy at all. There were no differences in 30-day unplanned readmissions (P = .074) and 90-day mortality (P = .227). On Cox survival analysis, adjusted for clinical variables including age and comorbid disease, patients undergoing perioperative chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone demonstrated significantly improved overall survival relative to that of patients undergoing resection alone (all P < .001). Patients receiving perioperative chemotherapy demonstrated a significant overall survival advantage compared with those receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–0.85). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone had a marginal overall survival benefit compared with adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.81–0.98). Conclusion Early stage pancreatic cancer patients who receive perioperative chemotherapy have better overall survival than those receiving no chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, or neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. Patterns of postoperative morbidity are similar regardless of the sequence of therapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be considered for patients presenting with early stage pancreatic cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)714-724
Number of pages11
JournalSurgery (United States)
Volume160
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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