Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreas cancer rarely leads to radiological evidence of tumour regression

Background: Neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy has been proposed to improve resectability of locally-advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). However, the ability of neo-adjuvant therapy to induce radiological tumour regression has not been reported.Methods: Pre-and post-treatment computed tomography (CT) scans of patients undergoing neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy for LAPC were reviewed. LAPC was sub-classified into borderline resectable disease [≤180° involvement of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA); short-segment encasement/abutment of the common hepatic artery; or tumour-associated deformity, abutment or short-segment occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV)/ portal vein (PV) that was amenable to vascular resection and reconstruction] and locally advanced un-resectable pancreatic cancer (vascular involvement more than that described for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer). The radiological response and surgical resection rates were assessed.Results: Sixteen patients received neo-adjuvant therapy for LAPC during 2005–2008. Regression of major vascular involvement, i.e. un-encasement or regression of abutment of any involved vessels was not observed in any patient. Pre-and post-treatment tumour densities were not statistically different. Fifty per cent of patients with borderline resectable disease and none of the patients with locally advanced un-resectable pancreatic cancer eventually underwent surgical resection.Conclusion: Neo-adjuvant treatment does not induce radiological tumour regression of LAPC with major vascular involvement. Patient selection for neo-adjuvant trial enrolment should remain focused on borderline disease which may have a potential for surgical resection.     

Neoadjuvant therapy may lead to successful surgical resection and improved survival in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

Background:

Borderline resectable pancreatic cancers are technically amenable to surgical resection, but are associated with increased risk of locoregional recurrence. Patients with these tumours may be treated with neoadjuvant therapy in an attempt to improve margin-negative resection rates.

Methods:

The University of Cincinnati Pancreatic Cancer Database was retrospectively reviewed. Borderline resectable disease was defined by the following radiographic criteria: (i) short segment occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), portal vein (PV) or SMV/PV confluence; (ii) short segment hepatic artery encasement, or (iii) superior mesenteric artery/coeliac artery abutment of <180 degrees. Patients with resectable disease who had questionable metastatic disease or poor performance status were also included.

Results:

Twenty-nine patients met the criteria. Of these, 26 underwent a full course of neoadjuvant therapy. Twelve (46%) underwent surgical resection and 14 had tumour progression or were deemed unresectable at laparotomy. The most common neoadjuvant therapy regimen was gemcitabine-based chemotherapy alone (58%). Of those undergoing surgery, 67% had margin-negative (R0) resections and 42% required venous resection. Median survival was 15.5 months for unresected patients and 23.3 months for resected patients.

Discussion:

Borderline resectable pancreatic tumours can be treated neoadjuvantly, resulting in margin-negative resection and survival rates similar to those in initially resectable disease.     

Management of borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death among U.S. men and women. Despite much effort in translational research, pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains a challenging disease with an overall 5-year survival rate less than 5%. To date, the only potentially curative treatment for managing pancreatic adenocarcinoma is surgical resection. However, more than 80% of patients are deemed either unresectable or metastatic upon diagnosis. For borderline resectable disease, although there is no high-level evidence supporting its use, an initial approach involving neoadjuvant therapy is preferred, as opposed to immediate surgery. In this year's ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, several studies were presented with approaches towards treating borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Retrospective studies (Abstract #280, #304, #327) were presented and showed that neoadjuvant chemoradiation were associated with higher rates of negative margin resection and better survival. The tolerability of accelerated fraction radiotherapy with concomitant capecitabine was demonstrated in a phase I study (Abstract #329). More effective therapeutic approaches and prospective studies are needed for this devastating illness. This highlight article will focus on the management of borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.     

“可能切除的”胰腺癌的外科治疗策略

“可能切除的”胰腺癌介于“可切除”与“不可切除”之间,其定义的主要内涵是肠系膜上静脉、门静脉、肠系膜上动脉或肝总动脉是否为肿瘤侵犯及是否可切除重建,是目前的热点课题。“可能切除的”胰腺癌所涉及的外科相关问题包括：联合血管切除的安全性、有效性;淋巴清扫范围;标本切缘检测的标准化等。治疗方面建议对此类患者行新辅助放化疗,以增加R0切除的几率及可能性,但具体方案尚不统一,亦无RCT研究佐证。在目前多学科治疗模式及理念下,R1切除的价值及意义值得重新审视。     

Combined Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance-pH (MII-pH): Multicenter Report of Normal Values from 117 Children

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the USA. Although some patients will present with premalignant pancreatic lesions (i.e., intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms) or localized tumors amenable to curative resection, the majority of patients will unfortunately present with technically unresectable or metastatic disease. This review of the recent medical literature will discuss the optimal work-up and management of premalignant pancreatic lesions and the surgical management of localized, borderline resectable, and locally advanced (i.e., unresectable) pancreatic tumors. It will focus on new criteria used to define surgical “resectability,” the significance and clinical impact of surgical margins, the role of multimodality therapy in the management of patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced tumors, the role of surgery for local or distant recurrence, and minimally invasive surgical approaches.     

The role of neoadjuvant chemoradiation in pancreatic cancer

Although complete surgical resection, when possible, leads to prolonged survival in pancreatic cancer, if used alone, its results remain sub-optimal. Neoadjuvant strategies are recent in pancreatic cancer: in primary resectable tumors, they ensure that all patients obtain additional treatment to complete surgery; in locally advanced tumors, they allow a better selection of candidates for curative resection. By delaying surgery, neoadjuvant strategies modify the initial diagnostic process and the symptomatic treatment of pancreatic cancer. Several recent phase I-II studies have confirmed the feasibility and efficacy of the association of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which is well-tolerated and is associated with better local control and survival. Due to the aggressiveness of pancreatic cancers, most recent cytotoxic agents should be associated with modern radiation techniques. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is under evaluation in pancreatic cancers, and no randomized phase III trials comparing neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapeutic sequences has been reported. Moreover, radiological and pathological evaluations, not only at diagnosis, but also after preoperative chemoradiation, must be standardized to improve the selection of patients who will benefit from this multi-modal treatment.     

The endoscopist’s role in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies with little improvement in survival over the past several decades in spite of advances in imaging, risk factor identification, surgical technique and chemotherapy. This disappointing outcome is mainly due to failures to make an early diagnosis. In fact, the majority of the patients present with inoperable advanced stages of the disease. Though some of the new tumor markers are promising, we are still in search of the one that has a high sensitivity and accuracy, yet is inexpensive and easy to obtain. The paradigm of management has shifted from up-front surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy to neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery, especially for borderline resectable cancers and even for some resectable cancers. In this article, we will critically assess the limitations of tumor markers and review the advancements in endoscopic techniques in the management of pancreatic cancer.     

Selection criteria in resectable pancreatic cancer: A biological and morphological approach

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) remains one of the most aggressive tumors with a low rate of survival. Surgery is the only curative treatment for PDA, although only 20% of patients are resectable at diagnosis. During the last decade there was an improvement in survival in patients affected by PDA, possibly explained by the advances in cancer therapy and by improve patient selection by pancreatic surgeons. It is necessary to select patients not only on the basis of surgical resectability, but also on the basis of the biological nature of the tumor. Specific preoperative criteria can be identified in order to select patients who will benefit from surgical resection. Duration of symptoms and level of carbohydrate antigen 19.9 in resectable disease should be considered to avoid R1 resection and early relapse. Radiological assessment can help surgeons to distinguish resectable disease from borderline resectable disease and locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Better patient selection can increase survival rate and neoadjuvant treatment can help surgeons select patients who will benefit from surgery.     

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma

In spite of the high mortality in pancreatic cancer, significant progress is being made. This review discusses multimodality therapy for patients with pancreatic cancer. Surgical therapy currently offers the only potential monomodal cure for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, only 10-20% of patients present with tumors that are amenable to resection, and even after resection of localized cancers, long-term survival is rare. The addition of chemoradiation therapy significantly increases median survival. To achieve long-term success in treating this disease it is therefore increasingly important to identify effective neoadjuvant/adjuvant multimodality therapies. Preoperative chemoradiation for potentially resectable pancreatic cancer has the following advantages: (1) neoadjuvant treatment would eliminate the delay of adjuvant treatment due to postoperative complications; (2) neoadjuvant treatment could avoid unnecessary surgery for patients with metastatic disease evident on restaging after neoadjuvant therapy; (3) down-staging after neoadjuvant therapy may increase the likelihood of negative surgical margins; and (4) neoadjuvant treatment could prevent peritoneal tumor cell implantation and dissemination caused during surgery. This review systematically summarizes the current status, controversies, and prospects of neoadjuvant treatment of pancreatic cancer.     

Does pre‐operative chemoradiation for initially unresectable or borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma increase post‐operative morbidity? A case‐matched analysis

Background

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy for locally unresectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer may allow some patients to a undergo a resection, but whether or not this increases post-operative morbidity remains unclear.

Methods

The post-operative morbidity of 29 patients with initially locally unresectable/borderline pancreatic cancer who underwent a resection were compared with 29 patients with initially resectable tumours matched for age, gender, the presence of comorbidities (yes/no), American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score, tumour location (head/body-tail), procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy/distal pancreatectomy) and vascular resection (yes /no). Wilcoxon''s signed ranks test was used for continuous variables and McNemar''s chi-square test for categorical variables.

Results

Compared with patients with initially resectable tumours, patients who underwent a resection after pre-operative chemoradiation therapy had similar rates of overall post-operative complications (55% versus 41%, P = 0.42), major complications (21% versus 21%, P = 1), pancreatic leaks and fistulae (7% versus 10%, P = 1) and mortality (0% versus 1.7%, P = 1).

Conclusion

Although some previous studies have suggested differences in post-operative morbidity after chemoradiation, our case-matched analysis did not find statistical differences in surgical morbidity and mortality associated with pre-operative chemoradiation therapy.     

Gemcitabine based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy therapy in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

BackgroundSurgical resection is the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer, but surgical outcomes for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) are generally poor because of the complexity of the surgery and the advanced nature of the tumor. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) in BRPC patients could improve surgical outcome.MethodsBaseline characteristics and treatment outcomes for patients who underwent surgery for BRPC with (CCRT (+) group) and without neoadjuvant treatment (CCRT (?) group) were retrospectively compared. Treatment outcomes measured included overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and perioperative complications.ResultsA total of 30 patients were included in the CCRT (+) group and 21 patients in the CCRT (?) group. Baseline characteristics were not different before CCRT, but pathological examination after resection revealed reduced tumor size and a lower neurovascular invasion rate in the CCRT (+) group. Overall median survival time was 45.0 months in the CCRT (+) group and 23.5 months in the CCRT (?) group (p = 0.045). The CCRT (+) group had a lower recurrence rate (50.0% vs. 81.0%; p = 0.024) and a longer median disease-free survival period (21.0 months vs. 10.6 months; p = 0.004) than the CCRT (?) group. Perioperative complication rates were not different between the two groups.ConclusionsNeoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy combined with surgical resection yielded better treatment outcomes in patients with BRPC compared with surgery alone. Further larger prospective clinical trials with well defined enrollment criteria and treatment plan are needed.     

Neoadjuvant therapy for patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of response and resection percentages

BackgroundWe systematically reviewed and performed a meta-analysis of the available data regarding neoadjuvant chemo- and/or radiotherapy with special emphasis on tumor response/progression rates, toxicities, and clinical benefit, i.e. resection probabilities and survival estimates.Methods and findingsTrials were identified by searching PUBMED, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1966 to Feb 2015. A total of 18 studies (n = 959) were analyzed. the estimated fraction of patients with complete response was 2.8% (CI 0.8–4.7%) and with partial response 28.7% (CI 18.9%–38.5%). Stable disease was averaged to 45.9% (CI 32.9%–58.9%) in all patients and tumor progression under therapy occurred by estimation in 16.9% (CI 10.2%–23.6%) of the patients. The weighted frequency of those who underwent resection was 65.3% (CI 54.2%–76.5%), and the proportion of R0 resection amounted to 57.4% (CI 48.2%–66.5%). The weighted mean of median survival amounted to 17.9 months (range: 14.7–21.2 months) for the overall cohort of patients, 25.9 months (range: 21.1–30.7 months) for those who were resected, and 11.9 months (range: 10.4–13.5 months) for unresected patients.ConclusionsThe resection and R0 resection rates in the group of borderline resectable tumor patients after neoadjuvant therapy are similar to the resectable tumor patients, much higher than those in unresectable tumor patients. The survival estimates of borderline resectable tumor patients after neoadjuvant therapy were similar to resectable tumor patients. Patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer should be included in neoadjuvant protocols and subsequently be reevaluated for resection. How to find chemo-responsiveness before neoadjuvant chemotherapy so as to give individualized treatment is still an important issue.     

Neoadjuvant therapy for pancreas cancer: Past lessons and future therapies

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains a most deadly malignancy, with an overall 5-year survival of 5%. A subset of patients will be diagnosed with potentially resectable disease, and while complete surgical resection provides the only chance at cure, data from trials of postoperative chemoradiation and/or chemotherapy demonstrate a modest survival advantage over those patients who undergo resection alone. As such, most practitioners believe that completion of multimodality therapy is the optimal treatment. However, the sequence of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is frequently debated, as patients may benefit from a neoadjuvant approach by initiating chemotherapy and/or chemoradiation prior to resection. Here we review the rationale for neoadjuvant therapy, which includes a higher rate of completion of multimodality therapy, minimizing the risk of unnecessary surgical resection for patients who develop early metastatic disease, improved surgical outcomes and the potential for longer overall survival. However, there are no prospective, randomized studies of the neoadjuvant approach compared to a surgery-first strategy; the established and ongoing investigations of neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer are discussed in detail. Lastly, as the future of therapeutic regimens is likely to entail patient-specific genetic and molecular analyses, and the treatment that is best applied based on those data, a review of clinically relevant biomarkers in pancreatic cancer is also presented.     

Survival impact of distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic body carcinoma

BackgroundThe survival benefit associated with distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) for patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic body carcinoma is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of DP-CAR following neoadjuvant chemotherapy on survival in patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic body carcinoma.MethodsMedical records of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent distal pancreatectomy (DP, n = 102) and DP-CAR following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 32) between 2008 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Short- and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups.ResultsAll patients who underwent DP-CAR had tumor contact with the celiac axis. Of these, 30 patients underwent preoperative embolization of the common hepatic artery. The pretreatment tumor size of patients who underwent DP-CAR was larger (P < 0.001), and rates of blood transfusion (P = 0.003) and postoperative complications (P = 0.016) were higher in patients who underwent DP-CAR compared with patients who underwent DP. The 5-year survival rate of patients who underwent DP and DP-CAR were 50.6% and 41.1%, respectively (median survival time, 65.9 vs 37.0 months). For all 134 patients, pretreatment serum CA19-9 levels (P < 0.001), adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001), and lymph node status (P = 0.035) were independent prognostic factors of overall survival by multivariate analysis.ConclusionsDP-CAR following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic body carcinoma may bring the same survival impact as DP, despite increased morbidity.     

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Analysis of Upfront Surgery Versus Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma with Arterial Abutment

Combined arterial resection during pancreatectomy can be a challenging treatment, and outcome would be more favorable if the tumor becomes technically removable from the artery. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) is expected to achieve locoregional control and enable margin-negative resection. To investigate the effects of NACRT in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) which were deemed borderline resectable through preoperative imaging due to abutment of the major artery, including the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) or common hepatic artery (CHA), but were still considered to be technically removable. In the current study, comparisons were make between 71 patients who underwent upfront surgery and 21 patients who underwent NACRT followed by surgery in the strategy to preserve the artery, using unmatched and inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis (UMIN000017115). Fifty patients in the upfront surgery group and 18 in the NACRT group underwent curative resection (70% vs 86%, respectively; P = 0.16). The results of the propensity score weighted logistic regressions indicated that the incidences of pathological lymph node metastasis and a pathological positive resection margin were significantly lower in the NACRT group (odds ratio, 0.006; P < 0.001 and odds ratio, 0.007; P < 0.001, respectively). Among the propensity-score matched patients, the estimated 1- and 2-year survival rates in the upfront surgery group were 66.7% and 16.0%, respectively, and those in the NACRT group were 80.0% and 65.2%, respectively. In conclusion, it was suggested that chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery provided clinical benefits in patients with PDACs in contact with the SMA or CHA.     

A successful case of locally advanced pancreatic cancer undergoing curative distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection after combination chemotherapy of nab-paclitaxel with gemcitabine

Pancreatic cancer patients have a poor prognosis because of a low rate of resection that results from distant metastases or local advancement. We report a successful case of unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer in a patient who was curatively resected after combination therapy with nab-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) and gemcitabine (GEM). A 61-year-old man was referred for treatment of a 45-mm pancreatic tail tumor involving the celiac axis, common hepatic artery, and splenic artery that appeared as an abnormal soft-density mass on imaging. This patient’s tumor was defined as unresectable due to local advancement, and, therefore, the powerful combined chemotherapy regimen of nab-PTX with GEM was initiated to allow for possible resection later. After three cycles of chemotherapy, a CT scan revealed that the soft-density mass around the celiac axis and common hepatic artery had dramatically disappeared, and the tumor was then determined to be a resectable lesion. Thus, distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection was performed and curability was achieved. There has been no tumor recurrence or distant metastasis at more than 12 months after surgery, and the patient remains alive at 17 months after initial chemotherapy.     

Pancreatic cancer is 'always non-resectable'

Pancreatic cancer is characterized by its very aggressive biological behavior which makes it a rapidly disseminating and deadly tumor. Due to their initial 'silent' behavior, pancreatic cancers are generally diagnosed too late and at that point surgical or medical interventions are futile. The outcome of pancreatic cancer has not improved over the last decades. It is evident that only very few pancreatic cancers are potentially resectable and curable, but many times even these small cancers have poor prognostic factors. Furthermore, upon surgery many of the patients considered preoperatively to have resectable tumors are found to have non-resectable disease. The problem of pancreatic cancer is further compounded by the fact that most tumors are diagnosed in elderly, frail or chronically ill patients, which makes them poor surgical candidates, and only half or fewer of these patients can undergo surgery. The stress of surgery is poorly tolerated by many patients who either die, develop complications or are then unable to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. The bottom line is that pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive tumor. Currently, most cancers are treated by non-surgical methods, and the very few patients with tumors which are potentially resectable should be operated on in specialized, high-volume pancreatic centers.     

Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: More than an anatomical concept

Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) accounts for about 10–15% of newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer, and its management requires a skilled multidisciplinary team. The main definition of BRPC refers to resectability, but also a high risk of positive surgical margins and recurrence. This raises questions about the value of surgery and suggests an opportunity to utilize preoperative treatment in this subset of patients.Besides technical borderline resectable disease which is defined on anatomical and radiological criteria, there is also a biological borderline resectable disease which is defined on clinical and biological prognostic factors. Technical borderline resectable disease requires tumor shrinkage with aggressive therapy including modern drug combinations +/− radiotherapy to achieve radical surgery. Biological BRPC needs always an early systemic treatment in order to select the best candidates for subsequent radical surgery. It is important to distinguish between these different clinical scenarios, both in clinical practice and for clinical trials design.     

Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy and Prognosis in Patients with Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Background/AimsControversy regarding the effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) still exists. Here, we aimed to identify the potential benefits of neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery for resectable PDAC.MethodsWe reviewed radiologically resectable PDAC patients who received resection with curative intent at a tertiary hospital in South Korea between January 2012 and August 2019. A total of 202 patients underwent curative resection for resectable PDAC 167 underwent surgical resection first during this period, and 35 received neoadjuvant chemotherapy/chemoradiation therapy followed by surgery. Resectable PDAC patients were subdivided, and 13 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce selection bias.ResultsCompared with the group that received surgery first, the group that received neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery had significantly smaller tumors (22.0 mm vs 27.0 mm, p=0.004), a smaller proportion of patients with postoperative pathologic T stage (p=0.026), a smaller proportion of patients with lymphovascular invasion (20.0% vs 40.7%, p=0.022), and a larger proportion of patients with negative resection margins (74.3% vs 51.5%, p=0.049). After PSM, the group that received neoadjuvant therapy had a significantly longer progression-free survival than those in the group that underwent surgery first (29.6 months vs 15.1 months, p=0.002). Overall survival was not significantly different between the two groups after PSM analysis.ConclusionsWe observed significantly better surgical outcomes and progression-free survival with the addition of neoadjuvant therapy to the management of resectable PDAC. However, despite PSM, there was still selection bias due to the use of different regimens between the groups receiving surgery first and neoadjuvant therapy. Large homogeneous samples are needed in the future prospective studies.     

Use of expandable metallic biliary stents in resectable pancreatic cancer

AIM: To compare the efficacy of metal versus plastic stents for biliary strictures in patients with surgically resectable pancreatic cancer. METHODS: The medical records at MD Anderson Caner Center from September 2001 to May 2004 were reviewed. Fifty-five patients were identified to have either a metal biliary stent (13 patients, group A) or a plastic biliary stent (42 patients, group B) and subsequently went to surgery. These two groups were compared with regards to number of stents placed prior to surgery, time period between the last stent and surgery, and operative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Of the 13 patients in group A, 12 had pancreaticoduodenectomy performed and one had exploration only due to the peritoneal metastatses discovered at the time of surgery. Of the 12 patients with pancreaticoduodenectomy, 10 had pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 1 intraductal papillary mucinous tumor, and 1 ampullary cancer. Only 2 patients required an additional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) after initial metal stent placement until surgery. The average time between last stent placement and surgery was 106.5 days. Of the 42 patients in group B, 35 had pancreaticoduodenectomy and 7 had either palliative surgery or exploration due to metastatic diseases discovered at the time of surgery. Of the 35 patients, 27 had pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 5 ampullary cancer, 1 neuroendocrine tumor, 1 microcystic adenoma, and 1 autoimmune pancreatitis. Sixteen patients (38%) in group B required 3 or more ERCPs with plastic stents prior to surgery. The average time between last stent placement and surgery was 56.4 days. Preoperative chemoradiation was given to all 13 patients in group A and 31 of 42 patients in group B. There were no stent-related intra- or postoperative complications in both groups. Two of 13 patients (15%) with metal stents versus 39 of 42 patients (93%) with plastic stents, however, developed either cholangitis or cholestasis due to stent occlusion while waiting for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to the belief that metal stents are contraindicated for patients with surgically resectable pancreatic cancer, our study demonstrated that metal stents provided a longer patency rate, fewer ERCP sessions, and fewer episodes of cholangitis without adding any intra- or postoperative complications. Therefore, metal stents should be considered for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, especially if surgery is not immediately planned as more patients are now receiving preoperative chemoradiation.