Patient Preferences for Neoadjuvant Therapy in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: Physicians are increasingly recommending neoadjuvant therapy (NT) before surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, patient preferences for and opinions regarding NT are poorly understood.

Methods: Survivors and caregivers from a national PDAC patient advocacy organization completed an online survey assessing preferences for NT versus surgery first (SF) and factors influencing their decision making.

Results: Among 54 participants, 74.1% had a personal history of PDAC. While most patients preferred SF for resectable disease, NT was the preferred treatment approach for borderline resectable, locally advanced, and resectable cancers with high carbohydrate antigen 19-9. The most important factor influencing patient decision making regarding NT was its impact on overall survival while the least important was published national guidelines. The most preferred rationale for NT was ability to downstage to surgical resection and early treatment of micrometastatic disease.

Conclusions: Among a national cohort of PDAC survivors and caregivers, the majority preferred SF for resectable PDAC, whereas NT was preferred when the resectability of a tumor was in question. The impact of NT on quantity and quality of life, as well as the likelihood of achieving surgical resection, was most highly valued by participants.