Futility in adenosquamous pancreatic cancer

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas (ASCP) is a rare and aggressive subtype of pancreatic cancer with a dismal prognosis. Futility in ASCP has been inadequately studied. The aim is to assess the incidence of futility in ASCP cases within a European cohort.

Retrospective, multicenter European study including all consecutive patients who underwent surgery for ASCP between 2010 and 2024.

patients operated for ASCP during the study period.

patients without a confirmed pathological diagnosis of ASCP, those who did not undergo surgery, or had extra-pancreatic disease. A pancreatectomy was considered futile if a patient died from postoperative complications within 90 days, or if cancer-related mortality or recurrence occurred within 6 months of the operation.

194 patients from 29 hospitals in 11 European countries were studied. Surgeries included 125 pancreaticoduodenectomies, 59 left pancreatectomies, and 10 total pancreatectomies. Major complications were observed in 25.3% of patients. Postoperative mortality was 5.7%. The rate of futility was 47.9%. Eleven patients (11,8%) died from postoperative complications, 69 patients (74,2%) had recurrence, and 13 patients (14%) died within 6 months due to cancer. In the multivariate analysis, a positive retroperitoneal margin, lymphatic invasion, and not receiving chemotherapy were associated with futility.

The futility observed in ASCP is notably high and related to a positive retroperitoneal margin, lymphatic invasion, and not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Defining futile patients with an international consensus definition is crucial and has significant implications for shared decision-making and care optimization.