title: The role of radiotherapy in multimodal treatment of pancreatic carcinoma.
abstract: Pancreatic ductal carcinoma is one of the most lethal malignancies, but in recent years a number of positive developments have occurred in the management of pancreatic carcinoma. This article aims to give an overview of the current knowledge regarding the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The results of meta-analyses, phase III-studies, and phase II-studies using chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy for resectable and non-resectable PDAC were reviewed. The use of radiotherapy is discussed in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings as well as in the locally advanced situation. Whenever possible, radiotherapy should be performed as simultaneous chemoradiotherapy. Patients with PDAC should be offered entry into clinical trials to identify optimal treatment results.
authors.affiliation: Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology & Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. thomas.brunner@rob.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scott-Brown
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents