Survival After Combined Modality Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Authors:
  • SKShalom Kalnicki
    Shalom Kalnicki
  • JDJack Dalton
    Jack Dalton
  • HSHarry Snady
    Harry Snady
  • GSGary K. Schwartz
    Gary K. Schwartz
  • MCMargaret R. Chesser
    Margaret R. Chesser
  • DLDeborah Lehrer
    Deborah Lehrer
  • JMJohn Mandeli
    John Mandeli
  • CJCynthia Janus
    Cynthia Janus
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Abstract
Twenty consecutive patients with unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic cancer were treated with split courses of radiotherapy (RT) and simultaneous multidrug chemotherapy consisting of 5 fluorouracil, continuous infusion, streptozotocin, and cisplatin. A separate, retrospective study identified a group of 28 contemporary patients with less advanced pancreatic cancers, all of which were successfully resected. The survival rate of the two groups were similar over the first 2 years, although it initially favored the unresectable group. This pattern of survival among patients treated with combined modality therapy provides a basis for new studies. At the two clinical extremes, these include treatment of unresectable tumors previously considered ineligible for this treatment and initial treatment before resection of stage I tumors.