Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for Carcinoma of the Pancreas

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IOR) was performed on 13 patients with carcinoma of the pancreas. Seven cases were resectable and 6 cases wre unresectable. Tumor regression was observed in 5 of 6 unresectable tumors. Relief of abdominal pain was achieved in all 6 cases. The median survival of 13 patients was 145 dyas. Intraarterial infusion of hypoxic cell radiosensitizer RK28 was examined as a model of future clinical application for IOR using a rabbit VX2 tumor system. The tumor regression slopes were statistically different (P<0.01). But the difference in long-term survival was not statistically significant (P<0.10). Intraarterial infusion of RK28 is clinically promising in the future.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IOR)

Carcinoms

Pancreas

Intraarterial infusion

Radiosensitizer

RK28

Rabbit

VX2 tumor