[Radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer]

Abstract

Background: The pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease for which cure is only possible in less than 20% of the best cases. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy so far have improved symptoms with little, but significant, increase in survival rates.

Methods: Retrospective assessment of 40 patients admitted at Department of Radiation Oncology of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein between April 1993 and August 1999 was done. Radical surgery with tumor resection was previously performed in 25 and palliative procedures or nothing in 15.

Results: Overall actuarial median survival was 14.8 months; and actuarial survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 70% and 22.2% respectively. Actuarial median survival for the group of patients with resected tumor was 21.4 and for the group of patients with non-resected tumor was 16.1 months. Expected survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 76% and 32% for the former group and 60% and 0% for the latter.

Conclusions: Results were similar to other published series. Better drugs and more frequent intraoperative radiotherapy are necessary.