Scoring system to predict prognosis of resected locally advanced pancreatic cancer after FOLFIRINOX induction chemotherapy

Effective chemotherapy protocols as induction treatment provide increasing opportunities for surgical resection of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Reliable recommendations on the indication for conversion surgery after induction treatment are currently lacking. A study in Germany investigated factors predictive of prognosis in resected LAPC after FOLFIRINOX induction and resulted in a scoring system to predict prognosis. Tumor shrinkage (one point), tumor density (two points), and postchemotherapy CA19-9 serum levels (two points) were independently associated with overall survival. Recurrence-free and overall survival were significantly shorter in patients with a score of 0-2 than in patients with a score of 3-5. The authors conclude that the scoring system identifies patients who may be candidates for additional treatment.