title: Primary resection versus neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by resection for locally resectable or potentially resectable pancreatic carcinoma without distant metastasis. A multi-centre prospectively randomised phase II-study of the Interdisciplinary Working Group Gastrointestinal Tumours (AIO, ARO, and CAO).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The disappointing results of surgical therapy alone of ductal pancreatic cancer can only be improved using multimodal approaches. In contrast to adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant chemoradiation is able to facilitate resectability with free margins and to lower lymphatic spread. Another advantage is better tolerability which consecutively allows applying multimodal treatment in a higher number of patients. Furthermore, the synopsis of the overall survival results of neoadjuvant trials suggests a higher rate compared to adjuvant trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  As there are no prospectively randomised studies for neoadjuvant therapy, the Interdisciplinary Study Group of Gastrointestinal Tumours of the German Cancer Aid has started such a trial. The study investigates the effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally resectable or probably resectable cancer of the pancreatic head without distant metastasis on median overall survival time compared to primary surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy is integrated into both arms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protocol of the study is presented in condensed form after an introducing survey on adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology of the University at Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. thomas.brunner@rob.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Gerhard G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Grabenbauer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Golcher
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hohenberger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents