RESULTS OF PANCREATECTOMY WITH RADIATION-THERAPY FOR PANCREATIC-CANCER

Background/Aims: Surgical resection provides the only chance for long- term survival for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. However, a major pro blem of surgery appears to be post-resection recurrence. The purpose o f the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative rad iotherapy (IORT) and/or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in combinati on with resective surgery. Methodology: 86 patients received radiother apy combined with resection surgery and 64 patients received surgery a lone. Of 86 patients, 37 received postoperative EBRT, 14 received IORT , and 31 received both. The primary outcome variable analyzed was surv ival. Results: The survival curve in patients who received radiotherap y combined with resective surgery was significantly better than that i n patients who only received surgery (MST: 12.8 vs. 7.9 months). The n umber of patients in both groups was equally populated on the basis of potentially prognostic factors such as gender and age of patients, ty pe of resection, vascular resection, location of the tumor, and pTNM c lassification. Among the subgroups of the patients, adjuvant radiother apy showed significant survival benefit in the patient group with pT3 tumor, pN positive and RO surgery. Conclusions: Adjuvant radiotherapy including IORT with resection surgery for adenocarcinoma of the pancre as is accomplished with acceptable risk and provides significant survi val benefit.