Implementation of contemporary chemotherapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a population-based analysis

Anouk E. J. Latenstein, Tara M. Mackay, Geert-Jan Creemers, Casper H. J. van Eijck, Jan Willem B. de Groot, Nadia Haj Mohammad, Marjolein Y. V. Homs, Hanneke W. M. van Laarhoven, I. Quintus Molenaar, Bert-Jan ten Tije, Judith de Vos-Geelen, Marc G. Besselink, Lydia G. M. van der Geest, Johanna W. Wilmink*, Dutch Pancreatic Canc Grp

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Positive results of randomized trials led to the introduction of FOLFIRINOX in 2012 and gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel in 2015 for patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. It is unknown to which extent these new chemotherapeutic regimens have been implemented in clinical practice and what the impact has been on overall survival. Material and methods: Patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2007-2016 were included from the population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry. Multilevel logistic regression and Cox regression analyses, adjusting for patient, tumor, and hospital characteristics, were used to analyze variation of chemotherapy use. Results: In total, 8726 patients were included. The use of chemotherapy increased from 31% in 2007-2011 to 37% in 2012-2016 (p <.001). Variation in the use of any chemotherapy between centers decreased (adjusted range 2007-2011: 12-67%, 2012-2016: 20-54%) whereas overall survival increased from 5.6 months to 6.4 months (p <.001) for patients treated with chemotherapy. Use of FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel varied widely in 2015-2016, but both showed a more favorable overall survival compared to gemcitabine monotherapy (median 8.0 vs. 7.0 vs. 3.8 months, respectively). In the period 2015-2016, FOLFIRINOX was used in 60%, gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel in 9.7% and gemcitabine monotherapy in 25% of patients receiving chemotherapy. Conclusion: Nationwide variation in the use of chemotherapy decreased after the implementation of FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel. Still a considerable proportion of patients receives gemcitabine monotherapy. Overall survival did improve, but not clinically relevant. These results emphasize the need for a structured implementation of new chemotherapeutic regimens.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)705-712
Number of pages8
JournalActa Oncologica
Volume59
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Jun 2020

Keywords

  • LONG-TERM SURVIVAL
  • CANCER
  • GEMCITABINE
  • RESECTION
  • PATTERNS
  • CENTRALIZATION
  • FOLFIRINOX
  • BENEFIT

Cite this