Five-Year Actual Overall Survival in Resected Pancreatic Cancer: A Contemporary Single-Institution Experience from a Multidisciplinary Perspective

Background: Successful surgical resection combined with effective perioperative therapy is essential for maximizing long-term survival for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients and Methods: All patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who underwent curative resection at our institution from January 2003 to May 2010 were reviewed. Demographic and clinical details were retrospectively collected from medical records and cancer registry data. Results: Overall, 176 patients were included in the analysis (148 with de novo resectable disease and 28 with borderline resectable disease at presentation). Among 106 patients who received all perioperative therapy at our institution, 94% received neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant treatment in addition to resection. Actual all-cause 5-year overall survival (OS) for all 176 patients was 30.7%, with a median OS of 33.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 28.1–39.6 months]. For patients who received all perioperative therapy at our institution, actual all-cause 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 32.1%, with a median DFS of 28.8 months (95% CI 20.1–43.6 months). Of these patients, 67/106 (63%) recurred: 8 (8%) locoregional only; 52 (49%) systemic only; and 7 (7%) combined recurrence. No difference in survival rates or recurrence patterns was seen between resectable and borderline resectable patients. In multivariate analysis, tumor differentiation (poor vs. non-poor) and lymph node ratio >20% produced a useful clinical model. Conclusion: The actual OS rates for resected pancreatic cancer shown in this study are reflective of those currently achievable at a tertiary medical center dedicated to this patient population. In considering these results, both frequency and type of adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy administered in the context of the clinical experience/management techniques of providers administering these treatments will be discussed.