Neo-adjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer: hope for the future

In 2018, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) was the 3rd highest cause cancer related death in the United States. Worldwide estimates in 2018 indicate 458,918 cases diagnosed with 432,242 deaths. Standard therapy for decades for localized PDAC has been to pursue surgical resection for localized disease. For the individuals who are diagnosed with localized PDAC and undergo surgical resection, historical survival has been reported to be around 24 months. While recent advancements in the use of multiagent systemic therapy has allowed for greater survival benefit, adjuvant therapy does have limitations. Recently, neo-adjuvant therapy for PDAC has become more accepted in practice. Areas covered: In this review, we will discuss the current guidelines for treatment of localized PDAC, the pros and cons of neo-adjuvant versus adjuvant therapy for PDAC, the utilization of available biomarkers for the management of PDAC, and future possibilities for clinical trials. Expert commentary: Neo-adjuvant therapy for localized PDAC has tremendous promise in leading to greater survival by treating for micro-metastatic disease along with selecting for patients for better outcomes. Further work based upon molecular insights will lead to better biomarkers for treatment assessment along with improvements in treatment.