A recent clinical trial has found that minimally invasive surgery can effectively remove early-stage pancreatic cancers.
It provides patients with a quicker recovery and a lower risk of infection when compared to traditional open surgery.
According to Dr. Mohammad Abu Hilal, the lead researcher of the trial, the cancer recurrence rate and the ability to completely remove the cancer were essentially the same between the two groups.
“This trial can confirm that minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy is a safe, valid, efficient alternative approach to the open approach in the treatment of resectable pancreatic cancer,” Hilal stated during a recent media briefing held by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Impact on Standard Care and Availability Concerns
These results could potentially alter the standard of care for early-stage pancreatic cancer patients.
However, there are concerns about the availability of this type of surgery, especially in more rural areas or where surgeons might not have been trained in minimally invasive approaches.
It’s also important to note that only about 15% of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed at a stage where surgery is still an option. The rest are usually diagnosed too late for surgical intervention.
Details of the Trial
The trial, which took place from 2018 to 2021, involved more than 1,100 people with pancreatic cancer across 35 major medical centers in 12 countries.
Half of the patients received minimally invasive surgery, while the other half underwent standard open surgery.
The researchers found that surgeons could completely remove the tumor in 73% of patients who had minimally invasive surgery compared to 69% in the open surgery group.
Also, the rate of cancer recurrence in the pancreas was similar between the two groups.
Encouraging More Minimally Invasive Surgeries
These results suggest that minimally invasive surgery should be used more for treating early-stage pancreatic cancer patients.
However, not all hospitals might be able to offer this option at present due to lack of training or experience in performing minimally invasive surgery.
As Hilal explained, “The minimally invasive approach is quite complex and difficult—more difficult than the open approach.” He advises that patients should be referred to specialized centers for this type of surgery.
The researchers will continue to monitor the patients to compare their progress three and five years after the surgery.
The results of this trial should be considered preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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