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[Does neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy augment the resectability of pancreatic cancers?]
1Service de chirurgie générale et digestive, Hôtel-Dieu, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Purpose Of The Study:
Pre-operative radiochemotherapy is the most recent therapeutic option in the pre-operative downstaging of pancreatic cancer and in decreasing the rate of positive resection margins. The purpose of the study was to evaluate tolerance and efficacy of pre-operative radiochemotherapy in unresectable pancreatic cancers.
Material And Methods:
This study included seven cases of pancreatic cancer considered unresectable. The patients received preoperatively 50 grays within a 5-week period associated with 5 FU and Platin during the 1st and 5th weeks.
Results:
After radiochemotherapy, tomodensitometric evaluation showed a minor response in two cases. A pancreatico-duodenectomy could be performed in these two patients without any increase of pre- or post-operative morbidity or mortality.
Conclusions:
The results of the study suggest that preoperative radiochemotherapy may increase pancreatic cancer resectability. This hypothesis should be confirmed by a prospective randomised trial.