Impact of Different Modalities of Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Review and Meta-Analysis

  • Amanda H Lim
  • , Olga Sukocheva
  • , Jana Bednarz
  • , Dylan Bartholomeusz
  • , Christopher K Rayner
  • , Edmund Tse
  • , Nam Q Nguyen

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a high-mortality cancer in dire need of more effective therapeutic strategies. Six randomized controlled trials have compared chemotherapy with chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), but these trials only involved conventional external beam radiotherapy. Over the last decade, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has risen to prominence over conventional external beam radiotherapy. Moreover, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided brachytherapy has been used in a trial setting, though it is not routinely used in LAPC. In this review, we report a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that have compared chemotherapy with chemoradiotherapy and review two-arm trials assessing survival outcomes with chemotherapy and SBRT over chemotherapy only. We also review the increasing role of EUS-guided brachytherapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2413-2424
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Australia)
Volume40
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - Oct 2025

Keywords

  • EBRT
  • EUS
  • SBRT
  • brachytherapy
  • chemoradiotherapy
  • fine-needle injection
  • locally advanced
  • pancreatic cancer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

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