Summary
- Metastasis-directed radiation therapy, when added to standard chemotherapy, improved progression-free survival in patients with oligometastatic pancreatic cancer.
- Patients receiving metastasis-directed therapy had a PFS of 10.3 months compared to 2.5 months for those receiving standard chemotherapy alone.
- Metastatic pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat, but the new approach of targeted radiation therapy could potentially change the way the disease is managed.
- Metastasis-directed therapy involves high-dose radiation therapy targeting specific metastases, showing promising results for patients with oligometastatic disease with fewer than five metastases.
- A Phase III trial, called EXPAND, led by MD Anderson will further investigate the benefits of metastasis-directed therapy for patients with oligometastatic pancreatic cancer.
Exciting new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has shown promising results for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Adding metastasis-directed radiation therapy to standard chemotherapy has significantly improved progression-free survival, doubling the average time before disease progression compared to chemotherapy alone. This approach represents a potential paradigm shift in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, offering hope for improved outcomes for patients facing limited treatment options and poor prognosis.
The study, known as the EXTEND trial, focused on patients with oligometastatic pancreatic cancer, where the disease has spread to a limited number of sites. Metastasis-directed therapy, which targets these metastases with high-dose radiation, has shown effectiveness in various cancers and is now being explored as a treatment option for pancreatic cancer. The results of this study have paved the way for the Phase III EXPAND trial at MD Anderson, which will further investigate the benefits of metastasis-directed therapy on both progression-free survival and overall survival. These findings bring new hope for patients battling this challenging disease and underscore the importance of ongoing research and innovative treatment approaches in the fight against cancer.
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Oncology, Radiology