Neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer

-Global and Japanese perspectives-

Abstract

The outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer is still poor, and there is an urgent need to improve it. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation is characterized by high compliance and is becoming a regular part of the multidisciplinary treatment for pancreatic cancer. In Japan, Europe, and the United States, neoadjuvant therapy for patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer and conversion surgery for unresectable pancreatic cancer are becoming widely used. In recent years, evidence supporting the use of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer has been generated from many institutions. In particular, the Prep02/JSAP05 trial was the first to demonstrate the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. However, the outcomes of patients with pancreatic cancer are still not satisfactory. Clinical research to improve therapeutic regimens and search for useful biomarkers to determine the indications for surgery will continue.