Age-Related Differences in the Prognosis of Pancreatic Cancer According to Perioperative Systemic Therapy

In this study, we retrospectively assessed the feasibility and prognostic efficacy of perioperative chemo(radio)therapy for pancreatic cancer (PC) patients according to age.

A total of 556 consecutive patients who underwent curative-intent pancreatectomy for PC between 2000 and 2018 were enrolled.

Of the 556 patients who underwent resection, 95 (17%) were elderly (age, ≥75 years). Postoperative complications did not significantly differ between the 2 age groups, and postoperative prognoses were also similar (recurrence-free survival [RFS], P = 0.68; overall survival [OS], P = 0.28). In this cohort, 103 patients (19%) underwent preoperative chemo(radio)therapy, and 417 (77%) underwent postoperative chemotherapy. Perioperative therapy was found to be significantly beneficial for younger patients (preoperative therapy: RFS, P = 0.006; OS, P < 0.001; postoperative therapy: RFS, P < 0.001; OS, P < 0.001). Conversely, no significant survival benefit of perioperative therapy was found for the elderly (preoperative therapy: RFS, P = 0.28; OS, P = 0.44; postoperative therapy: RFS, P = 0.77; OS, P = 0.08).

This study demonstrated that, although perioperative therapy is feasible for selected elderly patients with PC, this approach might not be as beneficial as it is for younger PC patients.