Neoadjuvant therapy enhances survival in localized pancreatic cancer

In a cohort study of 251 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection significantly improved overall survival (39.87 months vs. 18.86 months) and recurrence-free survival (25.67 months vs. 12.83 months) compared to upfront surgery. Elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were linked to worse survival outcomes, underscoring their prognostic significance. The results were confirmed in an independent cohort, highlighting the need for further prospective evaluation of patients with non-elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels.