Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39165232›Full record

SynthesisJournal of surgical oncology2024

Focused ultrasound and concurrent chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer: A systematic review.

Sean Bennett, Dhruvin H Hirpara, Michael Raphael, Paul J Karanicolas

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of surgical oncology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Sean BennettDivision of General Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Dhruvin H HirparaDivision of General Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Michael RaphaelSunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Paul J KaranicolasDivision of General Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2906-7682

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesThe combination of focused ultrasound (FUS) and chemotherapy is a novel treatment for pancreatic cancer. This paper reviews the literature on this combined therapy.

methodsThe medical literature was searched according to PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were any study of patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing treatment with FUS and chemotherapy. Data extracted included stage, radiologic response, resection rate, survival, and adverse events.

resultsThe initial search yielded 212 citations; 10 studies met inclusion criteria (9 retrospective cohorts; 1 randomized trial). A total of 631 patients received FUS + chemotherapy; 63.6% being stage 4, and 29.7% stage 3. Patient selection, FUS parameters, and chemotherapy used were all heterogeneous. Overall survival ranged from 7.4 to 21.6 months, radiologic response rate was 44.1%, and 24.4% of stage 3 patients underwent resection. All four studies with a comparison group demonstrated improved survival. FUS + chemotherapy decreased pain in 69.7% of patients. Severe adverse events occurred in 0.65%.

conclusionsThe literature on combined FUS and chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer is heterogeneous. There is good evidence that adverse events are low, and that it provides effective palliation. There is evidence to suggest oncologic benefit, however, this is subject to selection bias and prospective trials are needed.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsPancreatic NeoplasmsUltrasonic TherapyCombined Modality TherapyHumanschemotherapyfocused ultrasoundpancreatic cancersystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39165232
PMCPMC11849704

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.