Objective: To assess the value of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in the combined treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
Methods: All patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer at our hospital from January 2007 to December 2009, judged as unresectable and confirmed by histology or cytology, were recruited into this prospective study. They were randomly assigned into the IORT group (n=31) and control group (n=34). The IORT group received IORT plus internal drainage or laparotomy. The control group had internal drainage or laparotomy only. The evaluation of adverse results of two groups included: intraoperative and postoperative adverse events, recent post-operative side effects, analgesic effect, the level of tumor marker such as CA19-9 and the long-term survival.
Results: There was no difference in operation duration, intraoperative hemorrhage and postoperative recovery. Significant differences were found in hematotoxicology, analgesic effect, tumor marker decreasing and long-term survival.
Conclusion: IORT is a safe, reliable and easy-to-master technique without any obvious side effect. Its analgesic effect is better than the control group. Also IORT can retard the tumor growth and improve the patient survival.