Current Approaches for the Curative-Intent Surgical Treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most dreaded cancers worldwide. The incidence of this relatively rare cancer is increasing by almost 1.0% per year. It is estimated that it will become the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality within the next 10 years. Despite the advances in oncology, radical resection, followed by adjuvant systemic chemotherapy, still offers the only realistic chance of curing this disease. Patient selection in specialized and high-volume centers improved perioperative morbidity and mortality rates over the last two decades. Additionally, due to improvements in both surgical techniques and systemic chemotherapy, the indications for resection are expanding to include more locally advanced cases. However, the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy remains unclear. This paper summarizes the data regarding current surgical management of pancreatic cancer and reviews future treatment prospects and the latest advances in perioperative strategies. ABSTRACT: Radical resection is the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. However, only up to 20% of patients are considered eligible for surgical resection at the time of diagnosis. Although upfront surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy has become the gold standard of treatment for resectable pancreatic cancer there are numerous ongoing trials aiming to compare the clinical outcomes of various surgical strategies (e.g., upfront surgery or neoadjuvant treatment with subsequent resection). Neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery is considered the best approach in borderline resectable pancreatic tumors. Individuals with locally advanced disease are now candidates for palliative chemo- or chemoradiotherapy; however, some patients may become eligible for resection during the course of such treatment. When metastases are found, the cancer is qualified as unresectable. It is possible to perform radical pancreatic resection with metastasectomy in selected cases of oligometastatic disease. The role of multi-visceral resection, which involves reconstruction of major mesenteric veins, is well known. Nonetheless, there are some controversies in terms of arterial resection and reconstruction. Researchers are also trying to introduce personalized treatments. The careful, preliminary selection of patients eligible for surgery and other therapies should be based on tumor biology, among other factors. Such selection may play a key role in improving survival rates in patients with pancreatic cancer.