Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is performed on carefully selected patients as part of a protocol-based clinical research program emphasizing the importance of multimodality management for patients with potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. Treatment schemas emphasize the importance of minimizing toxicity and treatment duration, while attempting to improve therapeutic efficacy. Cytotoxicity is enhanced by combining radiation therapy with more potent radiation-sensitizing agents. Because of the high incidence of liver metastases, systemic therapy is continued after chemoradiation and surgery with systemic agents of low toxicity directed at specific molecular events involved in pancreatic tumorigenesis such as inhibition of angiogenesis, induction of apoptosis, or arrest of the cell cycle.