Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39329454›Full record

SynthesisBJS open2024

Neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery in resectable pancreatic cancer: reconstructed patient-level meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Daniel Aliseda, Pablo Martí-Cruchaga, Gabriel Zozaya, Nuria Blanco, Mariano Ponz, Ana Chopitea, Javier Rodríguez, Eduardo Castañón, Fernando Pardo, Fernando Rotellar

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewComparative Study
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BJS open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing 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

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

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Pancreatic cancer in 2025: Have we found a solution?World journal of gastroenterology · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
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

10 authors.

Daniel AlisedaHPB and Liver Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-5025-6069
Pablo Martí-CruchagaHPB and Liver Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Gabriel ZozayaHPB and Liver Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Nuria BlancoHPB and Liver Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Mariano PonzInstitute of Health Research of Navarra (IdisNA), Pamplona, Spain.
Ana ChopiteaInstitute of Health Research of Navarra (IdisNA), Pamplona, Spain.
Javier RodríguezInstitute of Health Research of Navarra (IdisNA), Pamplona, Spain.
Eduardo CastañónInstitute of Health Research of Navarra (IdisNA), Pamplona, Spain.
Fernando PardoHPB and Liver Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Fernando RotellarHPB and Liver Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-6557-0712

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeoadjuvant treatment has shown promising results in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The potential benefits of neoadjuvant treatment on long-term overall survival in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have not yet been established. The aim of this study was to compare long-term overall survival of patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma based on whether they received neoadjuvant treatment or underwent upfront surgery.

methodsA systematic review including randomized clinical trials on the overall survival outcomes between neoadjuvant treatment and upfront surgery in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was conducted up to 1 August 2023 from PubMed, MEDLINE and Web of Science databases. Patient-level survival data was extracted and reconstructed from available Kaplan-Meier curves. A frequentist one-stage meta-analysis was employed, using Cox-based models and a non-parametric method (restricted mean survival time), to assess the difference in overall survival between groups. A Bayesian meta-analysis was also conducted.

resultsFive randomized clinical trials comprising 625 patients were included. Among patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, neoadjuvant treatment was not significantly associated with a reduction in the hazard of death compared with upfront surgery (shared frailty HR 0.88, 95% c.i. 0.72 to 1.08, P = 0.223); this result was consistent in the non-parametric restricted mean survival time model (+2.41 months, 95% c.i. -1.22 to 6.04, P < 0.194), in the sensitivity analysis that excluded randomized clinical trials with a high risk of bias (shared frailty HR 0.91 (95% c.i. 0.72 to 1.15; P = 0.424)) and in the Bayesian analysis with a posterior shared frailty HR of 0.86 (95% c.i. 0.70 to 1.05).

conclusionNeoadjuvant treatment does not demonstrate a survival advantage over upfront surgery for patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Pancreatic DuctalNeoadjuvant TherapyPancreatic NeoplasmsBayes TheoremHumansPancreatectomyRandomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Identifiers

PMID39329454
PMCPMC11428068

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.