A new clinic study found that giving chemotherapy before surgery can significantly improve survival for patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer, especially when the tumor is touching nearby blood vessels.
In the past, many patients had surgery first. But researchers analyzed data from about 1,400 patients and found an important difference. When tumors were touching a nearby vein, patients who had surgery first had lower survival rates. In contrast, patients who received chemotherapy before surgery had survival outcomes similar to those whose tumors were not touching any blood vessels. Chemotherapy can shrink the tumor and destroy microscopic cancer cells, increasing the chances of a successful operation.
Current national guidelines often recommend immediate surgery if a tumor touches less than 180 degrees of a major vein. Mayo Clinic researchers suggest a stricter approach: if a tumor has any contact with a vein, chemotherapy should come first. The study supports Mayo Clinic’s practice of giving chemotherapy before surgery to all pancreatic cancer patients and may help shape future treatment guidelines.