Behrman, Stephen W.

TPS4204 Background: The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable pancreatic cancer has yet to be defined. Recent phase II trial results demonstrate a median overall survival time (mOS) of only 22.4 months after treatment with perioperative modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX) with 36% not reaching surgery due to disease progression during neoadjuvant therapy. While potential benefits and shortcomings of neoadjuvant chemotherapy have been well documented, to date, no phase III trial has directly compared a perioperative versus an adjuvant chemotherapy strategy in resectable pancreatic cancer. Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology A021806 is an actively accruing randomized controlled phase III trial evaluating the efficacy of perioperative chemotherapy with mFOLFIRINOX in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. Methods: To qualify for enrollment, patients must have biopsy-proven localized resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Patients must have good performance status (ECOG 0 or 1) and be candidates to receive mFOLFIRINOX treatment. All patients enrolled undergo central radiologic eligibility review for quality control and are then randomized to either Arm 1 which consists of 8 cycles of neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX followed by 4 cycles of adjuvant mFOLFIRINOX or Arm 2 which includes upfront surgery followed by 12 cycles of adjuvant mFOLFIRINOX. The primary endpoint of the trial is overall survival with secondary endpoints evaluating disease-free survival, margin-negative resection rate, surgical complications, and chemotherapeutic adverse events. Additional correlative endpoints include quality of life and radiomic imaging assessments. A total enrollment of 352 patients is planned from the US and Canada; current enrollment for this trial is at 145 patients. An OS interim analysis will be performed when 50% of the events (124) are observed combining the two arms. If the trial continues after interim analysis, the final OS analysis will be performed with a total of 248 events (combined arms). If the Cox model (stratified by tumor location and ECOG PS) comparing OS between arms produces a one-sided p-value < 0.05, then we will conclude that the OS of the perioperative therapy arm is superior to adjuvant therapy. The Alliance A021806 phase III trial aims to define a new standard of care for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT04340141 .

Objective: To investigate the role of intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL) on development of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). Background: Minimizing EBL has been shown to decrease transfusions and provide better perioperative outcomes in PD. EBL is also felt to be influential on CR-POPF development. Methods: This study consists of 5534 PDs from a 17-institution collaborative (2003–2018). EBL was progressively categorized (≤150mL; 151–400mL; 401–1,000 mL; > 1,000 mL). Impact of additive EBL was assessed using 20 3– factor fistula risk score (FRS) scenarios reflective of endogenous CR-POPF risk. Results: CR-POPF developed in 13.6% of patients (N = 753) and median EBL was 400 mL (interquartile range 250-600 mL). CR-POPF and Grade C POPF were associated with elevated EBL (median 350 vs 400 mL, P = 0.002; 372 vs 500 mL, P < 0.001, respectively). Progressive EBL cohorts displayed incremental CR-POPF rates (8.5%, 13.4%, 15.2%, 16.9%; P < 0.001). EBL >400mL was associated with increased CR-POPF occurrence in 13/20 endogenous risk scenarios. Moreover, 8 of 10 scenarios predicated on a soft gland demonstrated increased CR-POPF incidence. Hypothetical projections demonstrate significant reductions in CR-POPF can be obtained with 1–, 2–, and 3-point decreases in FRS points attributed to EBL risk (12.2%, 17.4%, and 20.0%; P < 0.001). This is especially pronounced in high-risk (FRS7–10) patients, who demonstrate up to a 31% reduction (P < 0.001). Surgeons in the lowest-quartile of median EBL demonstrated CR-POPF rates less than half those in the upper-quartile (7.9% vs 18.8%; P < 0.001). Conclusion: EBL independently contributes significant biological risk to CR-POPF. Substantial reductions in CR-POPF occurrence are projected and obtainable by minimizing EBL. Decreased individual surgeon EBL is associated with improvements in CR-POPF.

Objective: This study aims to present a full spectrum of individual patient presentations of pancreatic fistula risk, and to define the utility of mitigation strategies amongst some of the most prevalent, and vulnerable scenarios surgeons encounter. Background: The FRS has been utilized to identify technical strategies associated with reduced CR-POPF incidence across various risk strata. However, risk-stratification using the FRS has never been investigated with greater granularity. By deriving all possible combinations of FRS elements, individualized risk assessment could be utilized for precision medicine purposes. Methods: FRS profiles and outcomes of 5533 PDs were accrued from 17 international institutions (2003–2019). The FRS was used to derive 80 unique combinations of patient “scenarios.” Risk-matched analyses were conducted using a Bonferroni adjustment to identify scenarios with increased vulnerability for CR-POPF occurrence. Subsequently, these scenarios were analyzed using multivariable regression to explore optimal mitigation approaches. Results: The overall CR-POPF rate was 13.6%. All 80 possible scenarios were encountered, with the most frequent being scenario #1 (8.1%) – the only negligible-risk scenario (CR-POPF rate = 0.7%). The moderate-risk zone had the most scenarios (50), patients (N = 3246), CR-POPFs (65.2%), and greatest non-zero discrepancy in CR-POPF rates between scenarios (18-fold). In the risk-matched analysis, 2 scenarios (#59 and 60) displayed increased vulnerability for CR-POPF relative to the moderate-risk zone (both P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed factors associated with CR-POPF in these scenarios: pancreaticogastrostomy reconstruction [odds ratio (OR) 4.67], omission of drain placement (OR 5.51), and prophylactic octreotide (OR 3.09). When comparing the utilization of best practice strategies to patients who did not have these conjointly utilized, there was a significant decrease in CR-POPF (10.7% vs 35.5%, P < 0.001; OR 0.20, 95% confidence interval 0.12–0.33). Conclusion: Through this data, a comprehensive fistula risk catalog has been created and the most clinically-impactful scenarios have been discerned. Focusing on individual scenarios provides a practical way to approach precision medicine, allowing for more directed and efficient management of CR-POPF.

The NCCN Guidelines for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma discuss the diagnosis and management of adenocarcinomas of the exocrine pancreas and are intended to assist with clinical decision-making. These NCCN Guidelines Insights discuss important updates to the 2019 version of the guidelines, focusing on postoperative adjuvant treatment of patients with pancreatic cancers.