Conversion of Unresectable Into Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: Chemoradiotherapy vs Chemotherapy

In a phase III trial (CONKO-007) led by Rainer Fietkau, researchers examined the effects of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with unresectable pancreatic tumors. The study enrolled 495 patients who underwent induction chemotherapy before randomization to either receive CRT or continue chemotherapy alone. Although the overall R0 resection rate did not significantly differ between the groups (25% for CRT and 18% for chemotherapy), CRT demonstrated a higher rate of R0 resections among those who underwent surgery. Overall survival rates remained similar between the two groups.