Stereotactic body radiation therapy as an effective treatment for pancreatic cancer patients with local advanced stage

Abstract Background To analyze complication and prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients with local advanced stage treated with CyberKnife stereotactic body radiotherapy (CK-SBRT). Methods Between November 2018 and November 2021, 31 pancreatic cancer patients with local advanced stage up to our standards were treated by CK-SBRT. The total prescribed doses of 39-66Gy were divided into 6–10 fractions. Results By December 2021, among all enrolled patients, 28 patients died, in which 5 patients died of infection of biliary tract (17.86%), 12 of cachexia (31.71%), 2 of liver failure (6.46%), 1 of heart disease (3.23%), 1 of cerebral hemorrhage (3.23%), 7 of other unknown causes. Among the 5 patients died of infection of biliary tract, 4 patients received endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD). The overall survival rates of 1-year, 2-year were 32% and 13%, respectively. The progression-free rates of 1-year, 2-year were 85% and 72%, respectively. Conclusion CK-SBRT was proved to be an effective option to local advanced stage pancreatic cancer patients who refused resection, chemotherapy or any other therapies, achieving ideal effects. Meanwhile, we conjecture the patients with obstructive jaundice choose percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) over endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) to reduce the risk of infection.