Annals of surgical oncology
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Multicenter Study
A multi-institutional phase II trial of preoperative full-dose gemcitabine and concurrent radiation for patients with potentially resectable pancreatic carcinoma.
We report the results of a multi-institutional phase II trial that used preoperative full-dose gemcitabine and radiotherapy for patients with potentially resectable pancreatic carcinoma. ⋯ Preoperative gemcitabine/radiotherapy is well tolerated and safe when delivered in a multi-institutional setting. This protocol had a high rate of subsequent resection, with acceptable morbidity. The high rate of negative margins and uninvolved nodes suggests a significant tumor response. Preliminary survival data are encouraging. This regimen should be considered in future neoadjuvant trials for pancreatic cancer.