A case of pathological complete response after 2^nd line chemotherapy with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for a pancreatic cancer with multiple liver metastases

Abstract

A 42-year-old woman visited our hospital because of jaundice, and was diagnosed as pancreatic head cancer with multiple liver metastases. After 16 courses of 1^st line chemotherapy (mFOLFIRINOX), the size of the pancreatic cancer and liver metastases increased on CT. Twelve months after 2^nd line chemotherapy (GEM+nab-PTX), the pancreatic tumor and liver metastases were undetectable except for one liver metastatic lesion. Staging laparoscopy and excisional liver biopsy were performed. Histopathological examination revealed no cancer cells in the liver. Thus, we performed a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Histopathological examination revealed no viable tumor cells in the pancreas. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient is still alive without recurrence for twelve months after surgery.