The predictors and patterns of the early recurrence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after pancreatectomy: the influence of pre- and post- operative adjuvant therapy: a single-center and retrospective analysis
Abstract Background The perioperative factors predicting or influencing early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) recurrence are unclear. This study attempted to identify the predictive factors for early PDAC recurrence post-pancreatectomy and the influence of pre- and post- operative adjuvant therapy. Methods One hundred and fifteen patients undergoing curative resection for PDAC between 2000 and 2016 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: those who did and did not experience PDAC recurrence within 6 months postoperatively. Results Thirty-four (30%) patients experienced early recurrence. Multivariate analyses demonstrated postoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) de-normalization, no postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT), and serosal invasion were independent risk factors for early recurrence (P<0.001, P=0.001, and P=0.010, respectively). A subgroup analysis showed patients with (n=51) and without (n=64) preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) had different predictors. Although postoperative ACT was not a significant indicator in patients with preoperative CRT, CA19-9 de-normalization and no postoperative ACT were significant indicators in patients without preoperative CRT. Preoperative CRT strongly prevented early local recurrence while postoperative ACT prevented early distant recurrence. Conclusions CA19-9 de-normalization was an important predictor of early recurrence of PDAC. Although postoperative ACT was an important preventive measure against early recurrence, particularly for distant recurrence, preoperative CRT might compensate for a lack of postoperative ACT. Preoperative CRT could strongly prevent the early local recurrence of PDAC. These perioperative adjuvant therapies could have a complementary relationship.