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Two Treatment Options Before Surgery Show Similar Results in Pancreatic Cancer

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Two Treatment Options Before Surgery Show Similar Results in Pancreatic Cancer

For people with pancreatic cancer that can be removed with surgery, doctors often give chemotherapy before the operation to try to improve outcomes. A new study compared two common options for this “neoadjuvant” treatment and found that both worked about the same in helping people live longer.

The study included 369 patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. One group received a strong combination of chemotherapy drugs called FOLFIRINOX. The other group got chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus radiation, followed by more gemcitabine after surgery.

After more than three years of follow-up, the average survival was nearly the same in both groups—about 22 months. This means that either treatment plan can be considered safe and effective for patients in this situation.

Each treatment had different side effects. FOLFIRINOX caused more diarrhea, while the gemcitabine and radiation group had more problems with low white blood cell counts. Still, the number of serious side effects and treatment-related deaths was similar between both groups.

This research shows that there isn’t just one “best” way to prepare for pancreatic cancer surgery. Both FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy are reasonable choices. Doctors can help decide which treatment is better based on the patient’s health, preferences, and how the cancer is behaving.

If you or a loved one is facing surgery for pancreatic cancer, talk to your care team about all the options available.

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Dr. Harsh J Shah

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Dr Harsh Shah - GI & HPB Oncosurgeon in India
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