title: Does long-term survival in patients with pancreatic cancer really exist? Results from the CONKO-001 study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term survival (LTS) in patients (pts) with pancreatic cancer is still uncommon, little data is available to identify long-term survivors. The CONKO-001 study, which established gemcitabine after resection as adjuvant therapy, may provide data to answer this question.
  
  
  METHODS
  CONKO-001 pts with an overall survival ≥5 years were compared to those who survived <5 years. Central re-evaluation of primary histology was performed. Univariate analysis with the χ(2) -test identified qualifying factors. Logistic regression was used to investigate the influence of these covariates on LTS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the evaluable 354 CONKO-001 pts, 54 (15%) with an overall survival ≥5 years were identified. It was possible to obtain tumor specimens of 39 pts (72%). Histological re-evaluation confirmed adenocarcinoma in 38 pts, 1 showed a high-grade neuroendocrine tumor. Univariate analysis for all 53 LTS pts with adenocarcinoma compared to the remaining 300 non-LTS pts revealed as relevant active treatment, tumor grading, tumor size, lymph nodes. No significance could be demonstrated for resection margin, sex, age, Karnofsky performance status, CA 19-9 at study entry. In multivariate analysis, tumor grading, active treatment, tumor size, lymph node involvement were independent prognostic factors for LTS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term survival can be achieved in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinn
authors.forename: Jana K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Striefler
authors.forename: Bruno V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Sinn
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sallmon
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: Jens M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stieler
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pelzer
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahra
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dörken
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Denkert
authors.forename: Hanno
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Riess
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oettle
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
keywords: adjuvant therapy; gemcitabine; rate of cure