Adaptive MRI-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer – A phase II study

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has emerged as a promising new modality for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). The current study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of SBRT in patients with LAPC (NCT03648632). Methods: This prospective single institution phase II study recruited patients with histologically or cytologically proven adenocarcinoma of the pancreas after more than two months of combination chemotherapy with no sign of progressive disease. Patients were prescribed 50–60 Gy in 5–8 fractions. Patients were initially treated on a standard linac (n = 4). Since 2019, patients were treated using online magnetic resonance (MR) image-guidance on a 1.5 T MRI-linac, where the treatment plan was adapted to the anatomy of the day. The primary endpoint was resection rate. Results: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled between August 2018 and March 2022. All patients had non-resectable disease at time of diagnosis. Median follow-up from inclusion was 28.3 months (95 % CI 24.0-NR). Median progression-free and overall survival from inclusion were 7.8 months (95 % CI 5.0–14.8) and 16.5 months (95 % CI 10.7–22.6), respectively. Six patients experienced grade III treatment-related adverse events (jaundice, nausea, vomiting and/or constipation). One of the initial four patients receiving treatment on a standard linac experienced a grade IV perforation of the duodenum. Six patients (21 %) underwent resection. A further one patient was offered resection but declined. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that SBRT in patients with LAPC was associated with promising overall survival and resection rates. Furthermore, SBRT was safe and well tolerated, with limited severe toxicities.