Small-field radiotherapy in combination with concomitant chemotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of small-field radiotherapy in combination with concomitant 5-fluorouracil (5FU) or cisplatin for locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma.


METHODS
From November 1993 to January 1999, 53 patients underwent continuous 5FU infusion at 200mg/m2 (27 patients) or a 30-min cisplatin infusion at 5mg/m2/day (26 patients) just prior to each irradiation. The radiation field was limited to cover the primary and the paraaortic regions at celiac and supramesenteric axis levels. A total dose of 50.4Gy in 28 sessions was given in 5.6 weeks.


RESULTS
Median and 1-year survival rates were 10.2 months and 35.2%, respectively. Local failure occurred in 19 patients (36%) and liver metastases in 16 patients (30%). All local recurrences occurred only within the radiation field.


CONCLUSIONS
Median survival rates were comparable to other studies. Because local failure occurred only within the radiation field, the use of relatively small-field radiotherapy may be justified in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma in addition to concurrent administration of either 5FU or cisplatin.
Tokuuye
Koichi
K
Radiation Oncology Division, The National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Sumi
Minako
M
Kagami
Yoshikazu
Y
Murayama
Shigeyuki
S
Ikeda
Hiroshi
H
Ikeda
Masafumi
M
Okusaka
Takuji
T
Ueno
Hideki
H
Okada
Shuichi
S
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil