Objective responses after fractionated infusional brachytherapy of unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinomas.

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma is poor. Therefore, the treatment potential of an intratumoral infusional brachytherapy using macroaggregated human albumin in combination with radioactive chromic phosphate [32P] was investigated in this group of patients.

METHODS

Seventeen patients with unresectable tumors received intratumoral infusional brachytherapy. Treatment and assessment of response was performed with the aid of ultrasonography.

RESULTS

Four patients had complete response with a duration ranging from 2-57 weeks and 5 patients had partial response with a duration ranging from 4-21 weeks, corresponding to an objective response of 53% (9 of 17 patients). Six of these patients were alive 33-57 weeks after treatment. Radiation necrosis was observed in 1 patient after a 19,000-gray cumulative radiation dose and a slight decrease in blood counts was observed in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Intratumoral infusional brachytherapy using radioactive colloidal chromic phosphate has the potential to reduce inoperable pancreatic tumors with few side effects.