Results of complex treatment of patients with operable pancreatic head cancer using preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy in multifractionation mode

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of treating patients with operable pancreatic cancer after preoperative intra-arterial infusion of chemotherapy combined with conformal radiation therapy in a multi-fractionation mode. Patients (n = 40) were randomized into two groups: the main one – intra-arterial infusion of chemotherapy + radiation therapy + surgery (n = 20), and control – intra-arterial infusion of chemotherapy + surgery (n = 20). Neoadjuvant therapy consisted of intra-arterial infusion of chemotherapy (chemoembolization of a pancreatic head tumor with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2) followed by intra-arterial chemo infusion with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2. In the main group, radiation therapy was also carried out in two fractions per day, 2 Gy with an interval of 4–6 hours, 5 days a week, up to a total dose of 50 Gy. In the main group, the lower incidence of postoperative pancreatitis and the pancreatic fistulas were statistically confirmed, the incidence of grade 2 therapeutic pathomorphisis increased, as well as the median life expectancy.

Imaging Finding Analysis and Prognosis Comparison of Pancreatic Head Cancer Invading the Peripheral Nerve Plexus Among Different Groups

Background: To compare imaging features and analyze prognostic differences among different groups with pancreatic head cancer invading the peripheral nerve plexus. Methods: We reviewed preoperative multislice spiral CT (MSCT) images, complete surgical records, and postoperative pathological results of 93 patients with pancreatic head cancer and peripheral nerve invasion. Two radiologists who were unaware of surgical and pathological results evaluated the MSCT images to determine peripheral nerve invasion of pancreatic head cancer. A pathologist who was unaware of the imaging findings grouped the patients based on surgical records and pathological findings. Pancreatic head cancer invasion of the anterior neural pathway was assigned to group A and invasion of pancreatic plexus 1, pancreatic plexus 2, and root of the mesenteric pathway to group B. Both groups were evaluated for peripheral nerve invasion, tumor size, dilatation of the common bile duct/main pancreatic duct, duodenal invasion, and prognosis of pancreatic head cancer.Results: A mass- and strand-like pattern or coarse reticular pattern was frequently observed when two groups of pancreatic head cancer invaded the peripheral nerve plexus. Intergroup differences in tumor size and common bile duct/main pancreatic duct dilatation were insignificant. The duodenal invasion rate was higher in group A than in group B; however, the intergroup difference was insignificant. The prognosis was poorer for group A than for group B.Conclusions: Although the intergroup differences in radiographic findings were not significant, the prognosis was poorer for group A than for group B.

Nomogram for Predicting the Prognoses of Patients With Pancreatic Head Cancer After Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Population-Based Study on SEER Data

ObjectiveIn this study, we retrieved the data available in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to identify the prognostic factors for patients with pancreatic head cancer who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy and developed a prediction model for clinical reference.MethodsWe screened the data between 1973 and 2015. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to control for the confounding factors. Kaplan-Meier (log-rank test) curves were used to compare the survival rates. A nomogram was established using multifactorial Cox regression.ResultsIn total, 4099 patients were identified. Their median survival was 22 months, with 74.2%, 36.5%, and 26.2% survival after 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The median cancer-specific survival was 24.0 months, with 71.1%, 32.6%, and 21.9% survival after 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The results of the Cox proportional risk regression showed that age, insurance status, gender, histological type, degree of tissue differentiation, T and N stages, tumor size, extent of regional lymph node dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy are independent factors affecting prognosis. PSM was used twice to eliminate any bias from the unbalanced covariates in the raw data. After PSM, the patients who had received postoperative radiotherapy were found to have a better survival prognosis and disease-specific survival prognosis than those who had not received radiotherapy [HR = 0.809, 95% CI (0.731–0.894), P < 0.001 and HR = 0.814, 95% CI (0.732–0.904), P < 0.001; respectively]. A similar result was observed for the patients who had received postoperative chemotherapy versus those who had not [HR = 0.703, 95% CI (0.633–0.78), P < 0.001 and HR = 0.736, 95% CI (0.658–0.822), P < 0.001, for survival and disease-specific survival prognoses, respectively]. Finally, the β coefficients of the Cox proportional risk regression were used to establish a nomogram.ConclusionAge, insurance status, gender, histological type, degree of differentiation, T and N stages, tumor size, regional lymph node dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy are factors affecting the prognosis in pancreatic head cancer after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy can improve patient survival. These still need to be further validated in the future.