title: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
abstract: Adjuvant 5-fluorouracil and concurrent radiation may improve survival following complete surgical resection in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, the morbidity and prolonged recovery associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy frequently prevents the timely delivery of postoperative chemoradiation. Therefore, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) has investigated the use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation in potentially resectable pancreatic cancer. We have incorporated a standardized approach to pretreatment staging, operative technique and pathologic evaluation. Our initial experience suggests that preoperative chemoradiation is well tolerated and may reduce loco-regional recurrence. Patients treated with rapid-fractionation preoperative chemoradiation had a significantly shorter duration of treatment compared with patients who received postoperative chemoradiation or standard-fractionation preoperative chemoradiation. New and more potent radiation-sensitizing agents such as gemcitabine may further enhance local control. Novel therapies directed at specific molecular events involved in pancreatic tumorigenesis may be incorporated into preoperative and postoperative regimens to attempt to reduce systemic relapse.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgical Oncology (TMB, JEL, PWTP, DBE), Radiation Oncology (NAJ), and Gastrointestinal Oncology and Digestive Diseases (RAW, JLA), The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Breslin
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Janjan
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Pisters
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000379:methods; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents