Although initial CA 19-9 levels have been shown to correlate with survival in patients with LAPC or metastatic disease, there is conflicting evidence regarding the predictive value of peri-treatment CA 19-9 levels in patients with LAPC treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy (5-8). In patients who receive chemoradiation for LAPC, data is limited regarding the prognostic significance of peri-treatment CA 19-9 (9-11). Our study aimed to investigate whether CA 19-9 provides prognostic information in patients with LAPC treated with CRT and #selleck chemical keyword# to determine whether such endpoints should be reported in future randomized trials. This could help to identify

patients who Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical may likely benefit from various therapeutic strategies. Methods Patients From December 1998 to October 2009, 253 consecutive patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) were identified. All patient data were entered retrospectively by a single investigator after approval

from the hospital institutional review board. Of the 253 patients, 159 underwent treatment with CRT or chemotherapy alone. Patients with metastatic disease at presentation and those who underwent surgery for Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical definitive resection were excluded. Patients with islet-cell tumors and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma were also excluded from the analysis. The variables evaluated included age, gender, race, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, weight loss >10%, chemotherapy regimen, grade 3-4 toxicity, tumor Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical diameter, and tumor location, T stage, nodal status, histologic grade, hemoglobin at diagnosis, pre and post CRT CA 19-9 and percent change from

pre and post CRT. Stage was determined according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system 6th edition (12). Patient data was obtained through the tumor registry and review of medical records and abstracted by a single investigator. To avoid false-positive elevation of serum CA19-9 due to hepatobiliary Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical diseases, chronic pancreatitis, obstruction of the common bile duct, all CA l9-9 levels were matched to a concomitant bilirubin to ensure biliary obstruction was not affecting the interpretation of CA 19-9 concentration. Patients with a serum bilirubin more than 2 mg/dL at the time of CA 19-9 measurement were excluded. The median pre-CRT CA 19-9 and post-CRT values were obtained. MYO10 This was tested in 50 point increments beginning at <50 to ≥1,000. Percent change in pre to post-CRT CA 19-9 levels were calculated as follows: [(pre-CRT CA 19-9)-(Post-CRT CA 19-9)]/(pre-CRT CA 19-9) and were tested using cut points of 10% increments were from <0% (increased) to ≥90%. Statistical analysis Survival was measured from the date of first post CRT CA 19-9 level until death or last follow-up to ensure meaningful interpretation for the variable when evaluating a decrease in value.