Regional hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy in primary or recurrent locally advanced pancreatic cancer : an open-label comparative cohort trial.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of delivering regional hyperthermia (HT) plus chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients suffering from locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC).

METHODS

Between January 2000 and December 2008, 68 patients affected by primary (56/68) or recurrent (12/68) LAPC were treated either with CRT alone or CRT plus HT. Radiotherapy (RT) consisted of 3D conformal irradiation of tumor and regional lymph nodes (dose ranged from 30 Gy/10 fractions to 66 Gy/33 fractions). Chemotherapy (CT) consisted of gemcitabine (GEM) alone or in association with either oxaliplatin, cisplatin, or 5-FU. HT was delivered twice a week, concomitant with RT.

RESULTS

In the current study, 60 of the original 68 patients were included. Median overall survival (OS) was 15 months in the HT group versus 11 months in the control group (log-rank test: p = 0.025). HT did not increase CRT toxicity.

CONCLUSION

HT can be added safely to CRT in LAPC, thus, resulting in slightly prolonged survival in certain cases.