A Boost May Improve Pancreatic Cancer Resection Rate

A "vessel boost" (VB) dose of radiation could increase the likelihood that patients with borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer will be able to undergo surgical resection, thus increasing survival outcomes, according to American oncologists.

In a study conducted by researchers at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, adding an extra dose of radiation to the 5 mm of tumor around areas of vessel involvement as part of standard chemoradiation increased the chances that the tumor could be resected.

However, when these patients were compared with patients who underwent no boost, the difference in median overall survival was not significant (17.6 vs 12.6 months; P = .10). This might be a function of the relatively small number of patients and the retrospective nature of the study.

"Our study shows a statistical trend in the increased rate of surgical resection and survival in patients who received a VB," the researchers report in their study, which was published online June 11 in Practical Radiation Oncology.

Notably, overall median survival was significantly better in patients who underwent surgery than in those who did not (28.7 vs 8.7 months; P < .001).

Importantly, a VB was not associated with a significant increase in acute toxicity or any radiation-associated late adverse effects, and appears to be safe and well tolerated.

In patients with pancreatic cancer, boosted radiation is important. "The only possibility for cure is with surgery, and often patients don't present with a stage that's easily resectable," said lead author Lora Wang, MD.

Pancreatic Cancer Facts

An estimated 46,420 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the U.S., and over 39,590 will die from the disease.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which survival has not improved substantially over nearly 40 years.

Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. 94% of pancreatic cancer patients will die within five years of diagnosis – only 6% will survive more than five years. 74% of patients die within the first year of diagnosis.

The average life expectancy after diagnosis with metastatic disease is just three to six months.

Few risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer are defined. Family history of the disease, smoking, age, and diabetes are risk factors.

Pancreatic cancer may cause only vague symptoms that could indicate many different conditions within the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include pain (usually abdominal or back pain), weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), loss of appetite, nausea, changes in stool, and diabetes.