Adjuvant gemcitabine versus NEOadjuvant gemcitabine/oxaliplatin plus adjuvant gemcitabine in resectable pancreatic cancer: a randomized multicenter phase III study (NEOPAC study)
2011

Comparing Gemcitabine Alone to Gemcitabine with Oxaliplatin in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Sample size: 310 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Heinrich Stefan, Pestalozzi Bernhard, Lesurtel Mickael, Berrevoet Frederik, Laurent Stéphanie, Delpero Jean-Robert, Raoul Jean-Luc, Bachellier Phillippe, Dufour Patrick, Moehler Markus, Weber Achim, Lang Hauke, Rogiers Xavier, Clavien Pierre-Alain

Primary Institution: University Hospital of Zurich

Hypothesis

Does neoadjuvant chemotherapy improve outcomes in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer compared to adjuvant chemotherapy alone?

Conclusion

The NEOPAC study aims to determine the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in improving survival rates for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer.

Supporting Evidence

  • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has shown a median survival of 26.5 months in previous trials.
  • Adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care but many patients cannot receive it due to surgical morbidity.
  • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can improve the nutritional status of patients before surgery.

Takeaway

This study is trying to find out if giving chemotherapy before surgery helps people with pancreatic cancer live longer and healthier.

Methodology

This is a randomized controlled phase III trial comparing standard treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias due to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Limitations

The study may not account for all variables affecting patient outcomes, and strict eligibility criteria may limit generalizability.

Participant Demographics

Patients must be at least 18 years old with resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-11-346

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