Prognostic factors after resection of pancreatic cancer

The purpose of this study was to identify important prognostic factors related to the status of a pancreatic tumor, its treatment, and the patient's general condition.

Between April 1992 and December 2006, 140 patients underwent a pancreatic resection for invasive ductal carcinoma. Prognostic factors were defined by univariate and multivariate analyses.

The study included 103 tumors in the head of the pancreas and 37 tumors in the body or tail. The median survival time and the actuarial 5-year survival rate for all patients were 14.5 months and 12.3%, respectively. Using the significant prognostic factors identified by univariate analysis, multivariate analysis revealed that a preoperative serum CA19-9 concentration>100 U/ml (HR=1.84, p=0.0074), a tumor size>3 cm (HR=1.74, p=0.0235), venous involvement (HR=2.39, p=0.0006), a transfusion requirement of >or=1000 ml (HR=2.23, p=0.0006), and a serum albumin concentration on 1 postoperative month (1POM)<3 g/dl (HR=2.40, p=0.0009) were significant adverse prognostic factors. The presence of hypoalbuminemia on 1POM significantly correlated with a longer surgical procedure (p=0.0041), extended nerve plexus resection around the superior mesenteric artery (p=0.0456), and a longer postoperative hospital stay (p=0.0063).

To improve long-term survival, preserving the patient's general condition by performing a curative resection with a short operation time and minimal blood loss should be the most important principle in the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer.