1. Long-Term Relapse-Free Survival by Interdisciplinary Collaboration in a Patient with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer (UICC IV)
- Author
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Sandra Roehrig, Axel Wein, Heinz Albrecht, Gudrun Maennlein, Kerstin Wolff, Dane Muskoski, Kerstin Amann, Rolf Janka, Werner Hohenberger, Eckhart G. Hahn, Jürgen Siebler, Markus F. Neurath, and Frank Boxberger
- Subjects
Pancreatic cancer ,Chemotherapy with palliative intent ,Gemcitabine ,Weekly high-dose 5-FU as a 24-hour infusion ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,RC254-282 - Abstract
Introduction: The prognostic outlook for patients suffering from pancreatic cancer is generally poor. Particularly in cases of advanced and metastatic disease, long-term relapse-free survival may be achieved only in a few cases. Case Report: A 45-year-old patient presented with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Liver metastases had been intra-operatively confirmed by histology. Prior to initiating treatment, a portacath was surgically implanted. Subsequently, the patient received a weekly dose of 1,000 mg/m2 gemcitabine combined with 2,000 mg/m2 high-dose 5-fluorouracil as a 24-hour infusion for palliative treatment. As the patient was suffering from a stenosis of the ductus hepaticus communis, an endoprosthesis was primarily implanted. After 18 applications of chemotherapy during which only low toxic side effects such as nausea, vomiting and alopecia (NCI-CTC grade 1) presented, a partial remission of the primary tumor was observed. In the course of chemotherapy treatment, the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 tumor marker value normalized. Thus, the interdisciplinary tumor board of the University of Erlangen decided to perform a laparoscopy to evaluate the status of liver metastases after palliative chemotherapy treatment. Subsequently, the primary tumor could be completely resected (pT2, pN0, pM0, L0, V0, G2, R0); liver metastases were not observed. Eight years after the initial diagnosis, the patient is relapse-free, professionally fully integrated and presents with an excellent performance status. Conclusion: Patients suffering from metastatic pancreatic cancer may benefit from treatment combinations with palliative intent. In singular cases, patients may even have a curative treatment option, provided a close interdisciplinary collaboration exists.
- Published
- 2011
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