EDISCIENCES

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, especially for elderly patients, because of their poor performance status and comorbidi- ties. Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) alone or in combination with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy seems to have positive results in pancreatic cancer patients, improving overall (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). OBJECTIVE: To monitor survival and tumour response of advanced pancreatic cancer elderly patients that are treated with mEHT. METHODS: this was a retrospective observational study. Elderly patients (>65 years) with stage III-IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma were selected. The sample included 32 patients that were divided into two groups: one with 13 (41%) patients that were treated with mEHT and the other with 19 (59%) patients that did not receive mEHT (no-mEHT). mEHT was performed using impedance coupling, applying a power of 60–150 wat- ts for 40–90 minutes. Efficacy was assessed monitoring tumour respose, overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Median age of patients was 70 years (range 66-92). mEHT resulted in a better tumour response than no-mEHT group with a dise- ase control rate of 85% versus 26% respectively (p=0.0018). The median OS and PFS of mEHT group were significantly greater than that of no- mEHT group, 18 months (range 10.3-28.6) versus 10.97 months (ran- ge 4.00-22.16) and 12 months (range 3-28.6) versus 4.53 months (range 1.33-17.57) respectively (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: mEHT may have a benefit for elderly pancreatic cancer patients, improving tumour response, OS and PFS.