A contemporary analysis of survival for resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Survival after a resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) appears to be improving. Yet, in spite of advancements, prognosis remains disappointing. This study analyses a contemporary experience and identifies features associated with survival.
METHODS: Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted for 424 PDAC resections performed at two institutions (2001-2011). Multivariate analysis was performed to elicit characteristics independently associated with survival.
RESULTS: The median, 1-, and 5-year survivals were 21.3 m, 76%, and 23%, with 30/90-day mortalities of 0.7%/1.7%. 76% of patients received adjuvant therapy. Patients with major complications (Clavien Grade IIIb-IV) survived equivalently to patients with no complications (P = 0.33). The median and 5-year survival for a total pancreatectomy was 32.2 m/49%; for 90 'favourable biology' patients (R0/N0/M0) was 37.3 m/40%; and for IPMN (9% of series) was 21.2 m/46%. Elderly (>75 yo) and nonelderly patients had similar survival. Favorable prognostic features by multivariate analysis include lower POSSUM physiology score, R0 resection, absence of operative transfusion, G1/G2 grade, absence of lymphovascular invasion, T1/T2 stage, smaller tumor size, LN ratio <0.3, and receipt of adjuvant therapy.
CONCLUSION: This experience with resected PDAC shows decreasing morbidity and mortality rates along with modestly improving long-term survival, particularly for certain subgroups of patients. Survival is related to pathological features, pre-operative physiology, operative results and adjuvant therapy.