Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiation Improves Recurrence-free and Overall Survival in Resectable and Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study is to analyze the outcomes of patients with resectable/borderline resectable PDAC who receive total neoadjuvant therapy vs upfront surgery. Methods and Analysis Patients who were treated at a single institution from 2006 to 2021 were included. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included disease free survival (DFS), rates of lymph node positivity, and R0 resection. All survival analyses were performed with intention-to-treat. Results 26 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation (TNT), 28 received neoadjuvant chemotherapy only (NAC), and 168 received upfront surgery. Demographics were comparable across all three groups. Patients who received TNT or NAC had longer OS and DFS compared to the surgery first patients ( P < .01). Patients who received TNT had a lymph node positivity rate of 0% at time of surgery compared to 5.3% and 13.3% in the NAC and surgery-first groups, respectively ( P < .01). The rate of R0 resection did not differ between groups ( P = .17). Conclusion Patients with resectable/borderline resectable PDAC who receive neoadjuvant therapy have longer OS and RFS relative to those who receive upfront surgery.