Prognostic factors of long-term survival after resective procedures for pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Five-year survival rates following surgical resection of pancreatic cancer reported by the leading medical centers do not exceed 25%. It necessitates further extensive research in this area. The aim of the study was to determine prognostic factors of long-term survival after surgical treatment for pancreatic cancer.

METHODOLOGY

From 1980 to 1999, 212 patients underwent surgical resection for pancreatic carcinoma. Statistical analysis of prognostic factors of long-term survival after pancreatic cancer surgery estimated by Kaplan-Meier method was carried out using multiple regression model.

RESULTS

A group of 212 patients underwent surgery, where 98 had Whipple's resection, 50 Traverso, 35 total pancreatic resections, 25 left subtotal resections, and the remaining 4 segmental pancreatic body resections. Perioperative mortality was below 8%, 5-year survival approximately 15%, increasing to 65% in patients with early cancer. It was observed, that the following prognostic factors influenced the long-term survival rate: tumor size, localization, histopathologic type, and metastases to lymph nodes. The type and extent of surgery was of significance in the case of small neoplasms.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the analysis carried out, the authors conclude that the main prognostic factors for long-term survival after pancreatic cancer surgery are related to the tumor itself and show associations with the natural development biology.