High Resection Rates in Pancreatic Cancer with mFOLFIRINOX, Aggressive Surgery

Modified fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFIRINOX) coupled with aggressive surgery demonstrates high resection rates in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

Marlo Blazer, PharmD, of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and fellow researchers looked at 43 patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer or locally advanced pancreatic cancer who were treated with mFOLFIRINOX from January 2011 to August 2013. They retrospectively measured for response, toxicity, and extent of resection.

They found that resection was attempted in 31 of the patients and accomplished in 22 of them, including 11 patients with locally-advanced pancreatic cancer.

When resection was achieved, median progression-free survival was found to be 18 months compared to 8 months if no resection was attempted.

“Neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX is an effective, well-tolerated regimen for patients with advanced nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer,” the authors stated. “Although data are still maturing, resection appears to offer at least a progression-free survival advantage.”

Reference

1. Blazer, Marlo, PharmD, et al. “Neoadjuvant Modified (m) FOLFIRINOX for Locally Advanced Unresectable (LAPC) and Borderline Resectable (BRPC) Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas.” Annals of Surgical Oncology. DOI: 10.1245/s10434-014-4225-1. October 31, 2014.