Executive summary

123 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with gemcitabine-concurrent proton radiotherapy (GPT) were reviewed in this study by the Hyogo group, Japan. The study reported a median overall survival of 18.7 months for the total cohort. Cancer at the pancreatic body-tail and those without anterior peripancreatic invasion were independently associated with longer overall survival (P = 0.040 and P = 0.015). Lesions at the pancreatic body-tail had a higher volume ratio irradiated over 60 Gy equivalents at gross tumor volume than those at the pancreatic head (P < 0.001). The authors concluded that GPT is a promising treatment option for patients with LAPC at the pancreatic body-tail and those with LAPC without anterior peripancreatic invasion.

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