[Chemoradiation treatment of pancreatic cancer]

Chemoradiotherapy was recommended to 40 pancreatic cancer patients following exploratory and palliative operations. To raise radiosensitivity of tumors, 22 patients received simultaneous chemotherapy with i. v. injection of 5-fluorouracil, 250 mg, 30-40 min prior to irradiation (2 Gy). A short-term therapeutic effect was obtained in 12 patients who received high (60 Gy) or moderate (40 Gy) irradiation doses and 4-7 g of 5-fluorouracil. The summation of a side effect of radio- and chemotherapy was marked. The administration of 5-fluorouracil did not enhance pancreatic tumor radiosensitivity. The mean lifetime of the patients after treatment was 11.3 mos. To 11 patients before operation 5-fluorouracil was administered i. v., 500 mg, twice a week or 1 g once a week (the mean summary dose 7.5 g). Radiotherapy was given after 2-8 weeks (the optimal time of 4-6 weeks) at a mean dose of 47.8 Gy. The mean lifetime after treatment was 18.7 mos. Chemotherapy to 7 patients was given after radiotherapy which was discontinued at doses of 24-36 Gy because of a grave general state of the patients 5-fluorouracil was administered i. v., 500 mg, twice a week (the mean summary dose 3 g) or 1-3 courses of polychemotherapy were given. The mean lifetime after treatment was 9.4 mos. The mean lifetime of all 40 patients after treatment was 13 mos., the therapy was effective in 24 (60%) patients. Thus simultaneous or consecutive chemoradiotherapy is not indicated for pancreatic cancer patients in a grave condition.