[The prognostic factors of pancreatic cancer can be different according to clinical stages].
OBJECTIVE
The prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer remains very poor. Although many studies have evaluated the prognostic factors of pancreatic cancer, their results are inconclusive because of different inclusion criteria, tumor stages, and treatment modalities. This large scale retrospective analysis was performed to assess whether active treatment of pancreatic cancer, even in its advanced stage, could improve patients' survival. In addition, we sought to identify factors associated with favorable prognosis of pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Between 1994 and 2004, a total of 971 patients with pancreatic cancer were treated at Asan Medical Center. The patients were classified into three groups according to clinical stages: resectable (RE, n=226), locally advanced (LA, n=409), and far advanced (FA, n=336). Treatment response and prognostic factors for survival were analyzed in each group.


RESULTS
Compared to supportive care, active treatment significantly increased the median survival time in all groups (RE: 18.0 vs. 9.0 months; LA: 10.0 vs. 7.0 months; FA: 5.0 vs. 3.0 months). Multivariate analysis showed that prognostic factors for survival differed according to clinical stages. In the RE group, unfavorable prognostic factors were high CA 19-9, poor histologic differentiation, large tumor size, and regional lymph node involvement. In the FA group, however, poor outcomes were associated with old age, poor performance status, and hypoalbuminemia.


CONCLUSIONS
More active treatment of pancreatic cancer, even in advanced stage, can make a significant difference in terms of patient's survival. The prognosis of resectable pancreatic cancer is dependent on tumor-related factors, while the prognosis of patients with far advanced pancreatic cancer is dependent on patient-related factors.
Kim
Yoon Ji
YJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Clinic, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Seo
Dong Wan
DW
Pack
Kwan Mi
KM
Jeong
Eunheui
E
Kim
Song Cheol
SC
Han
Duck Jong
DJ
Lee
Sang Soo
SS
Lee
Sung Koo
SK
Kim
Myung Hwan
MH
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen