Staging of cancer of the pancreas. Cancer of the Pancreas Task Force.

A new protocol for staging carcinoma of the exocrine pancreas has been retrospectively evaluated in 924 cases abstracted from 14 clinics and hospitals; these patients were treated between January 1, 1950, and December 31, 1976. Significant differences (P less than .05) were observed in the survival rates of Stage I patients, Stage II--III patients, and Stage IV patients who could be evaluated for survival. The median survival of Stage I patients treated by pancreatic resection (6.0 months) was approached in Stage II--III unresected cases with or without bypass procedures; these patients received radiation and/or chemotherapy postoperatively. It is suggested that his protocol may be useful in prospective clinical therapeutic investigations for the evaluation of newer protocols of medical, surgical, and radiotherapeutic treatment.