title: High-dose helical tomotherapy with concurrent full-dose chemotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve poor therapeutic outcome of current practice of chemoradiotherapy (CRT), high-dose helical tomotherapy (HT) with concurrent full-dose chemotherapy has been performed on patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), and the results were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 39 patients with LAPC treated with radiotherapy using HT (median, 58.4 Gy; range, 50.8-59.9 Gy) and concomitant chemotherapy between 2006 and 2009. Radiotherapy was directed to the primary tumor with a 0.5-cm margin without prophylactic nodal coverage. Twenty-nine patients (79%) received full-dose (1000 mg/m(2)) gemcitabine-based chemotherapy during HT. After completion of CRT, maintenance chemotherapy was administered to 37 patients (95%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up was 15.5 months (range, 3.4-43.9) for the entire cohort, and 22.5 months (range, 12.0-43.9) for the surviving patients. The 1- and 2-year local progression-free survival rates were 82.1% and 77.3%, respectively. Eight patients (21%) were converted to resectable status, including 1 with a pathological complete response. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 21.2 and 14.0 months, respectively. Acute toxicities were acceptable with no gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity higher than Grade 3. Severe late GI toxicity (≥ Grade 3) occurred in 10 patients (26%); 1 treatment-related death from GI bleeding was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose helical tomotherapy with concurrent full-dose chemotherapy resulted in improved local control and long-term survival in patients with LAPC. Future studies are needed to widen the therapeutic window by minimizing late GI toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jee Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Michael L C
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Woong Sub
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Koom
authors.forename: Hong In
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Yoonsun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Si Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jinsil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010094:Oxonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D003841:Deoxycytidine; C079198:S 1 (combination); D005641:Tegafur; D010094:Oxonic Acid; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine