Sequential curative surgery and outcome in a multicenter randomized phase III trial comparing conversion chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy vs continuous chemotherapy in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer (CONKO-007 trial).

S Sabine Semrau R Robert Grützmann M Michael Ghadimi (From Bielefeld University, Medical School and University Medical Center Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Campus Hospital Lippe, Detmold, Germany (J.H.); the Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria (T.B.); the Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (C.S.); the Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany (P.B.); the Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein–Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (B.K., T.K.); Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany (R.C.); the Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (S.U.); the Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany (J.R.I.); the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute and San Raffaele Vita-Salute Universi...) U Uwe Wittel (Kliniken Nordoberpfalz AG, Klinik für Allgemein- und Visceralchirurgie, Weiden, Germany) L Lutz Jacobasch (11Praxis of Haematology and Oncology, Dresden, Germany) W Waldemar Uhl (Department of General and Visceral Surgery, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany) R Roland Croner (Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg; Universitätsklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Gefäß- und Transplantationschirurgie, Magdeburg, Germany) W Wolf Otto Bechstein D Dirk Thomas Waldschmidt (Uniklinik Koeln, Köln, Germany) S Stefan Hubert Boeck (Department of Hematology and Oncology, München Klinik Neuperlach and Department of Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospital, LMU Munich and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany) N Nicolas Moosmann A Anke C. Reinacher-Schick (COLOPREDICT Platform and Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany) H Henriette Golcher W Werner Adler (Rainer Fietkau, MD, Sabine Semrau, MD, and Annett Kallies, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT WERA, a Partnership Between DKFZ, and the Universities and University Hospitals in Wurzburg, Erlangen, Germany; Werner Adler, PhD, Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany, Helmut Oettle, MD, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany) A Annett Kallies (Rainer Fietkau, MD, Sabine Semrau, MD, and Annett Kallies, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT WERA, a Partnership Between DKFZ, and the Universities and University Hospitals in Wurzburg, Erlangen, Germany; Werner Adler, PhD, Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany, Helmut Oettle, MD, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany) M Markus Hecht (Institute of Organic Chemistry) A Andrea Tannapfel (COLOPREDICT Platform and Institute of Pathology, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany) B Benjamin Frey H Helmut Oettle (Rainer Fietkau, MD, Sabine Semrau, MD, and Annett Kallies, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT WERA, a Partnership Between DKFZ, and the Universities and University Hospitals in Wurzburg, Erlangen, Germany; Werner Adler, PhD, Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany, Helmut Oettle, MD, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany) R Rainer Fietkau

Abstract

e16458 Background: Secondary surgery is increasingly used in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. Objections have been raised about the potential harmful effect of preoperative radiotherapy on the surgical complication rate and a discussion on the benefits of major arterial and venous resection is being held. Methods: Within the CONKO-007 Trial an observational analysis of patients (pts.) with secondary surgery (S) was performed. The trial randomly assigned (1:1) pts with pancreatic cancer regarded as anatomically unresectable after initial chemotherapy (FOLFIRINOX or Gemcitabine, physicians’ choice) to Radiochemotherapy (RCT,50.4Gy+Gemcitabine) or further chemotherapy (CT) followed by second evaluation of resectability and surgical intervention at the discretion of the treatment center. The analysis consisted of a per-protocol approach. The endpoints of the present analyses were the rate of postoperative complications (non-hematological CTC-AE and Clavien-Dindo-CD), in-house mortality and survival. Results: This analysis included surgically treated 122 pts.; 60/167 following CT, 62/169 RCT of 336 randomized and previously 525 registered pts. 96/525 (18.2%) received curative intended surgery and 26 (4,9%) a surgical exploration. 11/122 pts. died closely to surgery (9.0%); 6 following RCT+S (d2-37, median d15), and 5 following CT+S (d 2-11, median d4). Cause of death after CT were related to impaired perfusion of the liver, lungs, colon; after RCT 3/6 had leakage or hemorrhage. CD-Grade 3/4: 10% (CT) vs. 11% (RCT; p = 1) and CTC-AE Grade 3/4: 10% vs. 6% (p = 0.52) did not differ. Median Overall Survival after resection did not differ by randomized treatment (p = 0.40), however by the extend of pancreatic resection (Pancreatoduodenectomy/distal pancreatectomy/central pancreatectomy vs. total pancreatectomy (23.0 vs. 13.0 mo., univariate, p = 0.01), the extend of resection of arterial vessels (TC, AMS, AH) vs. venous (VP; VMS) or no major vessel resection (10.0 vs. 23.0 mo.) multivariate, p = 0.002, HR: 1.42) and reaching R0 vs. R1/R2: (24.0 vs. 14.0 mo.) multivariate, p = 0.012; HR:1.97). Conclusions: Surgery was feasible in initial unresectable pancreatic cancer following RCT or CT in a multicenter approach with specific challenges in postoperative management. Survival was determined by extend of vessel resection and reaching R0. Clinical trial information: EudraCT Number: 2009-014476-21 .

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 43, Issue 16_suppl
Published June 01, 2025
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (20)

S

Sabine Semrau

R

Robert Grützmann

M

Michael Ghadimi

From Bielefeld University, Medical School and University Medical Center Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Campus Hospital Lippe, Detmold, Germany (J.H.); the Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria (T.B.); the Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (C.S.); the Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany (P.B.); the Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein–Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (B.K., T.K.); Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany (R.C.); the Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (S.U.); the Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany (J.R.I.); the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute and San Raffaele Vita-Salute Universi...

U

Uwe Wittel

Kliniken Nordoberpfalz AG, Klinik für Allgemein- und Visceralchirurgie, Weiden, Germany

L

Lutz Jacobasch

11Praxis of Haematology and Oncology, Dresden, Germany

W

Waldemar Uhl

Department of General and Visceral Surgery, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany

R

Roland Croner

Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg; Universitätsklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Gefäß- und Transplantationschirurgie, Magdeburg, Germany

W

Wolf Otto Bechstein

D

Dirk Thomas Waldschmidt

Uniklinik Koeln, Köln, Germany

S

Stefan Hubert Boeck

Department of Hematology and Oncology, München Klinik Neuperlach and Department of Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospital, LMU Munich and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany

N

Nicolas Moosmann

A

Anke C. Reinacher-Schick

COLOPREDICT Platform and Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany

H

Henriette Golcher

W

Werner Adler

Rainer Fietkau, MD, Sabine Semrau, MD, and Annett Kallies, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT WERA, a Partnership Between DKFZ, and the Universities and University Hospitals in Wurzburg, Erlangen, Germany; Werner Adler, PhD, Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany, Helmut Oettle, MD, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany

A

Annett Kallies

Rainer Fietkau, MD, Sabine Semrau, MD, and Annett Kallies, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT WERA, a Partnership Between DKFZ, and the Universities and University Hospitals in Wurzburg, Erlangen, Germany; Werner Adler, PhD, Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany, Helmut Oettle, MD, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany

M

Markus Hecht

Institute of Organic Chemistry

A

Andrea Tannapfel

COLOPREDICT Platform and Institute of Pathology, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany

B

Benjamin Frey

H

Helmut Oettle

Rainer Fietkau, MD, Sabine Semrau, MD, and Annett Kallies, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT WERA, a Partnership Between DKFZ, and the Universities and University Hospitals in Wurzburg, Erlangen, Germany; Werner Adler, PhD, Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany, Helmut Oettle, MD, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany

R

Rainer Fietkau