Patients' treatment preferences for potentially resectable tumors of the head of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND

The primary aim of this study was to assess if patients with potentially resectable ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) of the head of the pancreas would choose a Whipple procedure versus palliative chemotherapy.

METHODS

A cohort of adults with radiological resectable PDAC was enrolled at a tertiary Canadian teaching hospital. Participants were informed about treatment options, expected outcomes, and adverse events using data from the most recent scientific literature. Probability trade-off (PTO) was used to elicit treatment preferences.

RESULTS

Surgery was preferred by all participants except one (96.7% vs. 3.3%; P = 0.0001). For 90% of participants preferring surgery, the main reason was the hope of being cured (P = 0.001). If the risk of perioperative mortality was higher than 57%, the risk of perioperative morbidity higher than 85% and the survival benefit was less than 4 months, half of the participants preferred palliative chemotherapy. The likelihood of needing blood transfusions, the length of hospital stay, and long-term consequences such as diabetes or pancreatic exocrine insufficiency were negligible concerns to participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Informed patients with early-stage PDAC prefer resection over palliative chemotherapy. The dominating factor influencing their decision is the hope of a cure that overshadow the risks of complications, mortality and recurrent disease.