Long term survivors with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine alone or plus cisplatin: a retrospective analysis of an Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology multicenter study

The impact of metastatic sites on survival Rates and predictors of extended survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the role of site-specific metastatic patterns over time and assess factors associated with extended survival in metastatic PDAC. Half of all patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) present with metastatic disease. The site of metastasis plays a crucial role in clinical decision making due to its prognostic value.

METHODS

We examined 56,757 stage-IV PDAC patients from the National Cancer Database (2016-2019), categorizing them by metastatic site: multiple, liver, lung, brain, bone, carcinomatosis, or other. The site-specific prognostic value was assessed using log-rank tests while time-varying effects were assessed by Aalen's linear hazards model. Factors associated with extended survival (>3years) were assessed with logistic regression.

RESULTS

Median overall survival (mOS) in patients with distant lymph node-only metastases (9.0 months) and lung-only metastases (8.1 months) was significantly longer than in patients with liver-only metastases (4.6 months, p < 0.001). However, after six months, the metastatic site lost prognostic value. Logistic regression identified extended survivors (3.6 %) as more likely to be younger, Hispanic, privately insured, Charlson-index <2, having received chemotherapy, or having undergone primary or distant site surgery (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

While synchronous liver metastases are associated with worse outcomes than lung-only and lymph node-only metastases, this predictive value is diminished after six months. Therefore, treatment decisions beyond this time should not primarily depend on the metastatic site. Extended survival is possible in a small subset of patients with favorable tumor biology and good conditional status, who are more likely to undergo aggressive therapies.

[Sarcopenia in patients with pancreatic cancer, an independant prognostic factor]

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer is despite modern diagnostic tools and treatment regimen associated with poor outcome. Many patients show cachexia and sarcopenia.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis the SMI (cm²/m²) was measured by determining the skelettal muscle area in a computed tomography image at lumbar vertebrae 3. Further clinical parameters were measured to determine the outcome.

RESULTS

The mean survival after diagnosis in the population with sarcopenia was significantly lower (14,4 vs 17,7 months, p=0,046). Significantly shorter survival was also seen for higher age (p=0,006), no tumor resection (p=0,004), metastases (p=0,002) and high CA19-9 level (p=0,002) CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is an indipendant prognostic factor in patients with pancreatic cancer. SMI should be measured clinical practice and further studies are necessary to asses a potential therapeutic strategy.

Surgical treatment of hepatic oligometastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Database

BACKGROUND

Patients with liver-only metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma have traditionally been offered palliative chemotherapy alone. Recent studies have explored the role of surgical resection among patients with limited metastatic disease. National practice patterns and the impact of surgery among these patients remains unknown.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was queried for all patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma between 2010 and 2015. The primary outcome was overall survival from the time of diagnosis. Patients with liver-only metastatic disease were included. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to determine the association of patient, hospital, and regional factors with receipt of surgical resection. A propensity score-matched cohort (1:1) was generated by matching patient- and tumor-related factors (age, sex, race, comorbidity burden, primary tumor site, primary tumor size) among patients with liver-only stage IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma who received chemotherapy alone compared to those who received chemotherapy and underwent pancreatectomy and liver metastatectomy.

RESULTS

Among 312,426 patients who met the study criteria, one half (n = 140,043, 50.4%) had stage IV disease; metastatic sites included bone (n = 5493, 3.1%), brain (n = 620, 0.4%), lung (n = 16,580, 9.5%), and liver (n = 62,444, 35.7%). Patients with stage IV disease were more likely to be younger (odds ratio: 1.10, 95% confidence interval: 1.0-1.2; P = .03) and have poorly (odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.8-2.5; P < .001) or undifferentiated (odds ratio: 3.1, 95% confidence interval: 2.3-4.1; P < .001) tumors. Among stage IV patients with liver-only disease (n = 47,785, 14.9%), 891 patients (1.9%) underwent pancreatic resection. Patients who underwent resection were more likely to be younger (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.0-1.8; P = .03) and treated at an academic/research center (odds ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-3.5; P = .006). Median overall survival among patients who underwent resection was 10.74 months versus 3.4 months among patients who did not undergo resection. After controlling for patient and disease-related factors, patients who underwent surgical resection had a lower risk of death versus patients who did not undergo surgery (hazard ratio: 0.5, 95% confidence interval: 0.4-0.6; P < .001). After propensity score matching, patients who received multimodality treatment for liver-only metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (surgery, chemotherapy) had a longer median overall survival (15.6 months vs 8.1 months) compared to those who received chemotherapy alone (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that pancreatic resection in patients with liver metastases, in combination with chemotherapy and/or chemoradiation, may be associated with improved survival in well-selected patients. However, attempts at an aggressive surgical approach for patients with liver-only stage IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients should only be performed only under a well-designed prospective clinical trial.

Long-Term Survivors in Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective and Matched Pair Analysis

BACKGROUND

Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with a median overall survival (OS) of between 8 and 11 months. However, a significant number of patients experience a longer survival, more than 18 months. The aim of this study was to describe the "long-term survivor" population and to evaluate clinical and pathological factors that might affect survival.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients with mPDAC diagnosed in the Centre Leon Bérard (Lyon, France) between January 2010 and June 2015 and who survived more than 18 months were identified. They were compared with a control cohort matched on age, sex, performance status, stage at diagnosis, primary tumor localization, treatment, and liver metastasis. Their clinical features, treatment modalities, and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 94 patients were included, 47 in each cohort. Both cohorts had identical characteristics as follows: women (51%), performance status ≤1 (95.7%), median age at diagnosis (60 years), and metastasis at diagnosis (83%). Median OS was 26.87 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 23-31.08) in the long-term survivor group (LS group) and 9.79 months (95% CI 5.75-11.86) in the control group (C group). Potential factors of long-term survival were explored with a logistic model (LS group vs. C group). Three factors were identified as significant prognostic factors in the univariate analysis: lymphopenia (odds ratio [OR] _{ref: yes} = 0.26), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR; OR _{ref >5} = 0.31), and peritoneal carcinomatosis (OR _{ref: yes} = 0.40). NLR was the only remaining factor in our backward selection procedure.

CONCLUSION

A significant subset of patients with mPDAC can achieve long-term survival (≥18 months) in 2018. We identified low NLR as a significant prognostic factor associated with long-term survival in mPDAC.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) is one of the most lethal types of cancer. A subset of patients with mPDAC can achieve long-term survival (≥18 months) with a modern chemotherapy regimen, such as FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. We identified low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a significant prognostic factor associated with long-term survival in mPDAC. Prognostic factors such as NLR might allow accurate selection of patients with mPDAC in order to consider individual therapeutic approaches. NLR should be used as a stratification factor in clinical trials.

Multi-institutional phase I study of low-dose ultra-fractionated radiotherapy as a chemosensitizer for gemcitabine and erlotinib in patients with locally advanced or limited metastatic pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

Gemcitabine (G) has been shown to sensitize pancreatic cancer to radiotherapy but requires lower doses of G and thus delays aggressive systemic treatment, potentially leading to distant failure. We initiated a phase I trial combining ultra-fractionated low-dose radiotherapy with full dose G and erlotinib in the treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

Patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer confined to the abdomen and an ECOG performance status (PS) of 0-1 who had received 0-1 prior regimens (without G or E) and no prior radiotherapy were eligible. Patients were treated in 21 day cycles with G IV days 1 & 8, E once PO QD, and twice daily RT fractions separated by at least 4h on days 1, 2, 8, and 9. Whole abdominal RT fields were used. Primary endpoint was to define dose limiting toxicity (DLT) and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD).

RESULTS

27 patients (median age 64 years and 15 male) were enrolled between 11/24/08 and 4/12/12. 1 patient withdrew consent prior to receiving any protocol therapy. 17 patients had a PS of 1. The majority of patients were stage IV. One DLT was noted out of 7 patients at dose level (DL) 1. Subsequently no DLTs were noted in 3 patients each enrolled at DL2-4 or 11 patients in the expansion cohort. The majority of grade 3 toxicities were hematologic with 1 grade 5 bowel perforation in dose level 1 in cycle 4. Best response in 24 evaluable patients: PR (8), stable (15), PD 1. Median survival for the entire group was 9.1 months.

CONCLUSION

This phase I study combining low-dose ultra-fractionated RT as a sensitizer to full dose G plus E was well tolerated with encouraging efficacy. This represents a novel strategy worthy of further investigation in advanced pancreatic cancer patients.

Clinical characteristics of long-term survivors of inoperable pancreatic cancer: an 8-year cohort analysis in Korea

OBJECTIVES

Inoperable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is known to have an extremely poor prognosis. Although rare, there are some patients who have unexpected long-term survival, but the reason is not yet clear.

METHODS

A total of 482 inoperable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma of 1602 patients diagnosed at Severance Hospital between 2002 and 2009 were evaluated, who were selected statistically with a retrospective cohort study. They were divided into locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC). Short-term survivors (SS group) were defined as patients who survived less than 9 months with LAPC and 6 months with MPC. Patients who survived 3 times longer than the SS group were classified as long-term survivors (LS group). Predictive factors of long-survival were identified by comparing the 2 groups, and effects of these factors on survival were investigated statistically.

RESULTS

In multivariate analysis, better performance status and lower CA19-9 were related to overall survival in LAPC. In MPC, younger age, better performance status, peritoneal metastasis, higher serum albumin, lower CA19-9, and CA19-9 variation were related to overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

These parameters related to long-term survivors of advanced pancreatic cancer can be useful for the expectation of survival. In the near future, conjunction of these clinical factors and novel molecular biologic characteristics of individual patients can be used for the personalized therapy.

Prognostic factors related to add-on dendritic cell vaccines on patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy: a multicenter analysis

OBJECTIVE

Dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccines may have a significant benefit to patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. However, variations among clinical studies make it difficult to compare clinical outcomes. Here, we identified factors that determined the clinical benefits by analyzing data obtained at seven Japanese institutions that employed the same DC preparation and treatment regimens.

METHODS

Of 354 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 255 patients who received standard chemotherapy combined with peptide-pulsed DC vaccines were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean survival time from diagnosis was 16.5 months (95 % CI 14.4-18.5) and that from the first vaccination was 9.9 months (95 % CI 8.0-12.9). Known prognostic baseline factors related to advanced pancreatic cancer, namely ECOG-PS, peritoneal metastasis, liver metastasis, and the prognostic nutrition index, were also representative. Importantly, we found that erythema reaction after vaccination was an independent and treatment-related prognostic factor for better survival and that OK-432 might be a good adjuvant enhancing the antitumor immunity during DC vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of a multicenter clinical study suggesting the feasibility and possible clinical benefit of an add-on DC vaccine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy. These findings need to be addressed in well-controlled prospective randomized trials.

Overview of whole body gamma knife for locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a disease that seriously threatens the health of human beings. The treatment options currently available for pancreatic cancer are still limited. In this article, we describe the principle of whole body gamma knife and SBRT (a treatment similar to whole body gamma knife) for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. By improving the absorbed dose in the lesion, whole body gamma knife can control tumor progression and improve survival in patients with pancreatic cancer with low side effects. Despite that controversy still exists, the advantages of SBRT in the treatment of pancreatic cancer have been gradually recognized in foreign countries.