Tolerability and safety of gemcitabine plus S-1 as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Up-front surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy was standard care for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. Combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) as neoadjuvant treatment for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer significantly improved survival in the Prep-02/JSAP-05 trial. Following the results of the Prep-02/JSAP-05 trial, neoadjuvant GS therapy will be a standard option for the care of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. Common adverse events of neoadjuvant GS therapy include neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and skin rash. These adverse events are manageable with adequate and prompt care. Multidisciplinary therapy with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy might be required. It might be important to manage adverse events adequately to smoothly lead to the next therapy.