BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcome of intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) in the duct of Wirsung in patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients (eight men, one woman; mean age 72.4 +/- 9.1, range 52 - 80) with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma of the head or body underwent ERCP for biliary and/or pancreatic stent placement and placement of a nasopancreatic drain with/without nasobiliary drain. The ILBT dose administered was 30 - 50 Gy calculated at 1 cm from the iridium-192 wire axis. Seven patients received ILBT from the duct of Wirsung whereas two patients received dual-duct ILBT (duct of Wirsung and the common bile duct). Three patients received combined-modality treatment (ILBT with external beam radiotherapy and 5-fluorouracil). The patients were prospectively followed up. RESULTS: No endoscopy-related complications occurred. No radiation-related toxicity occurred in patients treated with ILBT alone. One patient undergoing combined-modality treatment developed gastric bleeding. Intraluminal source dislodgement occurred in three patients. Obvious tumor mass reduction of greater than 50 % was seen in three patients at 8 weeks after brachytherapy. Median survival was 11 months (range 6 - 37 months) and the 1-year and 3-year actuarial survival rates were 44 % and 15 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intraluminal brachytherapy in the duct of Wirsung in patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma is safe and feasible. Further clinical trials are warranted.
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcome of intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) in the duct of Wirsung in patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients (eight men, one woman; mean age 72.4 +/- 9.1, range 52 - 80) with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma of the head or body underwent ERCP for biliary and/or pancreatic stent placement and placement of a nasopancreatic drain with/without nasobiliary drain. The ILBT dose administered was 30 - 50 Gy calculated at 1 cm from the iridium-192 wire axis. Seven patients received ILBT from the duct of Wirsung whereas two patients received dual-duct ILBT (duct of Wirsung and the common bile duct). Three patients received combined-modality treatment (ILBT with external beam radiotherapy and 5-fluorouracil). The patients were prospectively followed up. RESULTS: No endoscopy-related complications occurred. No radiation-related toxicity occurred in patients treated with ILBT alone. One patient undergoing combined-modality treatment developed gastric bleeding. Intraluminal source dislodgement occurred in three patients. Obvious tumor mass reduction of greater than 50 % was seen in three patients at 8 weeks after brachytherapy. Median survival was 11 months (range 6 - 37 months) and the 1-year and 3-year actuarial survival rates were 44 % and 15 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intraluminal brachytherapy in the duct of Wirsung in patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma is safe and feasible. Further clinical trials are warranted.
Authors: Andre Bratanic; Dorotea Bozic; Antonio Mestrovic; Dinko Martinovic; Marko Kumric; Tina Ticinovic Kurir; Josko Bozic Journal: World J Gastrointest Oncol Date: 2021-12-15