Pancreatic Cancer With Malignant Ascites. Issue 3 (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takahara, Naminatsu; Isayama, Hiroyuki; Nakai, Yousuke; Sasaki, Takashi; Saito, Kei; Hamada, Tsuyoshi; Mizuno, Suguru; Miyabayashi, Koji; Mohri, Dai; Kogure, Hirofumi; Matsubara, Saburo; Yamamoto, Natsuyo; Hirano, Kenji; Ijichi, Hideaki; Tateishi, Keisuke; Tada, Minoru; Koike, Kazuhiko
• Is Part Of: Pancreas. Volume 44:Issue 3(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Pancreas -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Pancreas -- Periodicals; Neuroendocrine tumors -- Periodicals; 616.37005
• DOI: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000000290
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3177

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Objectives</title> <p>Malignant ascites (MA) caused by peritoneal carcinomatosis is not uncommon in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, the clinical features and outcomes in these patients remain to be elucidated.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods</title> <p>Baseline characteristics and overall survival (OS) of consecutive patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who presented with MA were retrospectively evaluated.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results</title> <p>Of 494 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, 73 (15%) presented with MA. Patients with synchronous MA (n = 21), compared with those with metachronous MA (n = 52), had better performance status (<italic>P</italic> = 0.02), smaller amount of ascites (<italic>P</italic> < 0.01), and higher chance of receiving chemotherapy (57% vs 17%, <italic>P</italic> < 0.01), and resulted in longer OS (115 vs 42 days, <italic>P</italic> < 0.01). Overall survival was significantly longer in patients receiving chemotherapy than in those with best supportive care alone (124 vs 50 days, <italic>P</italic> < 0.01). In a multivariate analysis, chemotherapy was prognostic in addition to performance status, CRP, and small amount of MA; the hazard ratio of chemotherapy was 0.46, compared with best supportive care alone (<italic>P</italic> = 0.02).</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Although the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients with MA remains poor, selected patients may be candidate for chemotherapy, regardless of the timing of appearance of MA.</p> </sec> </abstract>