The actual status of the treatment of pancreatic ductal carcinoma: The demand and the role of radiation therapy

We aimed to survey the actual status of the treatment of pancreatic ductal carcinoma and to identify the role of radiation therapy. We analyzed all patients who were diagnosed with pancreatic ductal carcinoma from January 2011 to December 2017. A total of 342 patients were enrolled. Thirteen, 131, 36, and 162 patients had stage I, stage II, stage III, and stage IV disease, respectively (UICC TNM, 7th edition). Among the patients with stages I–III disease, 94 underwent surgery, and the median overall survival (OS) was 33 months. Of patients with stages I–III disease who were not suitable for surgery, 58 patients received chemotherapy, and the median OS was 12 months. Among them, 17 patients received chemoradiotherapy added on chemotherapy and the OS of them was significantly better than that of patients who received chemotherapy alone. Of patients with stage IV disease, 111 received chemotherapy, and the median OS was 6 months. This study evaluated the demand, role, and outcome of each treatment modality and determined the actual status of pancreatic ductal carcinoma treatment. The demand and role of radiation therapy remained small; however, radiation therapy might have certain importance as a local treatment.