Long-Term Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Therapy Versus Upfront Surgery for Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the long-term effects of neoadjuvant therapy and upfront surgery on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 202 patients, including 167 who had upfront surgery and 35 who received neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery. Surgical outcomes and survival rates were compared using propensity score matching to minimize selection bias.

Results: Neoadjuvant therapy showed significantly longer 75% OS (72.7 months vs. 28.3 months, p = 0.032) and PFS (29.6 months vs. 13.2 months, p < 0.001) compared to upfront surgery. Additionally, neoadjuvant therapy demonstrated significant improvements in surgical outcomes, including higher R0 resection rates (74.3% vs. 49.5%, p = 0.034), reduced tumor size (22.0 mm vs. 28.0 mm, p = 0.001), and decreased lymphovascular invasion (20.0% vs. 52.4%, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the potential benefits of neoadjuvant therapy for resectable PDAC. The improved survival rates, delayed disease progression, and enhanced surgical outcomes underscore the potential of neoadjuvant therapy in addressing this aggressive disease. Despite limitations such as the retrospective design and small sample size, these findings support the effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy in improving treatment outcomes for PDAC patients in real-world settings. Further prospective studies are required to validate these results.