Adjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer — The Debate Continues

Abstract

Surgical therapy currently offers the only potential cure for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Surgical morbidity and mortality have decreased dramatically in recent years; the perioperative mortality associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy in major centers is approximately 1 percent. However, only a few patients present with tumors that are amenable to resection, and even after resection of a seemingly localized neoplasm, long-term survival is poor.¹ Since many medical centers now have the capacity to resect pancreatic cancer safely, it is increasingly important to identify effective postoperative (adjuvant) therapy if we are to achieve long-term success in treating this disease.The potential benefit of adjuvant therapy . . .