Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX versus neoadjuvant gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy in resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (PREOPANC-2): a multicentre, open-label, phase 3 randomised trial.

BACKGROUND

The PREOPANC-2 trial aimed to evaluate whether neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX improved overall survival compared with neoadjuvant gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant gemcitabine in patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

In this investigator-initiated, open-label, nationwide, phase 3 randomised trial, patients aged 18 years or older with resectable or borderline resectable PDAC and a WHO performance status of 0 or 1 were enrolled across 19 Dutch centres. Patients in the FOLFIRINOX (FFX) group received FOLFIRINOX (85 mg/m intravenous oxaliplatin, 180 mg/m intravenous irinotecan, 400 mg/m intravenous leucovorin, followed by a 400 mg/m intravenous fluorouracil bolus and then continuous infusion at 2400 mg/m intravenously over 46 h every 14 days for eight cycles) followed by surgery without adjuvant treatment. Patients in the chemoradiotherapy (CRT) group received three cycles of neoadjuvant gemcitabine (1000 mg/m intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle and on days 1 and 8 only for cycles one and three) combined with hypofractionated radiotherapy (36 Gy in 15 fractions) during the second cycle only, followed by surgery and four cycles of adjuvant gemcitabine. Randomisation (1:1) was done using a minimisation technique and stratified by resectability status (resectable vs borderline resectable disease) and centre. The primary endpoint was overall survival in the modified intention-to-treat population, after excluding ineligible patients. Data on race and ethnicity were not collected. This trial is registered with EudraCT (2017-002036-17) and is complete.

FINDINGS

From June 5, 2018, to Jan 28, 2021, 375 patients were randomly assigned to the FFX group (n=188) or the CRT group (n=187). Six patients (three per group) were excluded due to ineligibility (n=4) or immediate withdrawal of informed consent after randomisation (n=2). 208 (56%) of 369 patients were male and 161 (44%) were female. After a median follow-up of 42·3 months (IQR 35·7-48·7), median overall survival was 21·9 months (95% CI 17·7-27·0) in the FFX group versus 21·3 months (16·8-25·5) in the CRT group (HR 0·88 [95% CI 0·69-1·13], p=0·32). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia (43 [25%] of 175 in the FFX group vs 38 [22%] of 176 in the CRT group), diarrhoea (41 [23%] vs two [1%]), and leukopenia (14 [8%] vs 26 [15%]). Serious adverse events occurred in 85 (49%) patients in the FFX group compared with 75 (43%) in the CRT group (p=0·26). Adverse events of grades 3 or worse occurred in 117 (67%) patients in the FFX group versus 106 (60%) patients in the CRT group (p=0·20). Treatment-related deaths occurred in two (1%) patients in the FFX group (multi-organ failure and intestinal mucositis) and one (1%) patient in the CRT group (upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage).

INTERPRETATION

This randomised trial did not show a difference in overall survival between neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX and neoadjuvant gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy in patients with resectable or borderline resectable PDAC. Both neoadjuvant treatment regimens may be considered in these patients.

FUNDING

Dutch Cancer Society and ZonMw.