Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Despite advances in surgical, radiation and systemic therapy, the prognosis of pancreatic cancer remains poor. Most patients are not amendable to curative surgical resection at presentation. Chemo-radiotherapy is the standard of care for locally advanced pancreatic cancer, but its local control is poor. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a viable therapeutic option to maximise local control with a tolerable side-effect profile. It enables precise delivery of high-dose radiation over a short period (typically 1-5 days) and leads to better local control, disease outcome, and symptom palliation. SBRT can also be applied in neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or re-irradiation treatment. We review the technology, clinical application, and future direction of SBRT for treatment of pancreatic cancer.