Updates and Review of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents high morbidity and mortality, projected to become the second leading cause of cancer death in the US.
• Resectable PDAC is defined by specific criteria regarding tumor proximity to major vasculature.
• Upfront surgery is the current standard of care for resectable PDAC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review updates in neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for resectable pancreatic cancer.
• To summarize current NAT regimens, clinical trials comparing NAT to upfront resection, and novel treatment modalities for PDAC.

Main Methods:

• Literature search for neoadjuvant therapy in resectable PDAC.
• Review of pertinent studies on current treatment regimens and clinical trials.
• Inclusion of data on emerging therapeutic modalities.

Main Results:

• Evidence from retrospective, prospective, and ongoing trials indicates a growing trend towards NAT for resectable PDAC.
• NAT is being increasingly considered as an alternative to upfront surgery.
• Immunotherapy, cell therapy, and matrix-depleting therapies are identified as promising future treatment options.

Conclusions:

• There is a paradigm shift towards considering neoadjuvant therapy for initially resectable pancreatic cancer.
• NAT is gaining traction as a viable alternative to upfront surgical resection for PDAC.
• Novel therapeutic strategies hold potential for advancing pancreatic cancer treatment.