Table 3.

Randomized trials of radiation therapy in unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Trial	Treatment	n	Median survival	Overall survival	Median time to progression	RT technique
ECOG (1985)33	(A) 40 Gy RT (2-wk break between each 20 Gy course) and 5-FU (600 mg/m2 IV bolus on d 1–3 of each course of RT and weekly after completion of RT)	34	8.3 mo	28% (1 yr)	4.4 mo	AP:PA
	(B) 5-FU (600 mg/m2 weekly)	37	8 mo	28% (1 yr)	4.2 mo
GITSG (1981)13	(A) 40 Gy RT (2-wk break between each 20 Gy course) and CT (bolus 5-FU 500 mg/m2 on d 1–3 of each course of RT and then every 4 wks for 2 yrs)	83	10 mo	40% (1 yr)	6 mo	AP:PA
	(B) 60 Gy RT (2-wk break between each 20 Gy course) and CT (bolus 5-FU 500 mg/m2 on d 1–3 of each 20 Gy course of RT and then every 4 wks for 2 yrs)	86	10 mo	40% (1 yr)	8 mo
	(C) 60 Gy RT (2-wk break between each 20 Gy course)	25	6 moa	10% (1 yr)a	3 moa
GITSG (1988)32	(A) RT (2-wk break between each 20 Gy course) and CT (bolus 5-FU 350 mg/m2 on d 1–3 of each course of RT, then SMF for 2 yrs starting d 64)	24	8 mo	19% (2 yr)	Not stated	CT plan, 3–4 fields
	(B) SMF chemotherapy for 2 yrs or until progression	24	10 moa	41% (2 yr)a
FFCD/SFRO (2008)34	(A) RT (60 Gy) and CT (5-FU/cisplatin during RT, and gemcitabine after RT)	59	8.4 mo	32% (1 yr)	6 mob	Conformal RT recommended
	(B) Gemcitabine	60	14.3 moa	53% (1 yr)	7 mob
ECOG 4201 (2008)35	(A) 50.4 Gy RT with concurrent gemcitabine 600 mg/m2 weekly x 6, then gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 weekly x 3 of 4 wks for 5 cycles	74 total	11.0 mo	Not stated	6.3 mo	3D conformal RT
	(B) Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2		9.2 moa		6.1 mo

Abbreviations: CI = continuous infusion; CT = chemotherapy; d = day; mo = month; SMF = streptozocin, mitomycin, 5-FU; 3D = 3-dimensional; wk = week; yr = year.

^aP < .05.

^bEstimated from graph.