Feasibility of 125I brachytherapy combined with arterial infusion chemotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

To evaluation the feasibility of Iodine-125 (¹²⁵I) brachytherapy combined with arterial infusion chemotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. A total of 72 cases with Stage III and IV were retrospectively reviewed. 23 cases receiving ¹²⁵I brachytherapy were classified as Group A. 27 cases receiving arterial infusion chemotherapy (gemcitabine + cisplatin, GP) were classified as Group B and 22 cases receiving ¹²⁵I brachytherapy combined with arterial infusion chemotherapy (GP) were classified as Group C. The evaluated indications were local control rate, survival rate, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, pain relief, and Karnofsky physical scores. Analysis of Variancep, Pearson chi-square test and Kaplan–Meier curves were used for analysis. The local control rate of group A and group C was significantly higher than group B (P < .001). Pearson chi-square test showed statistical difference of the 3 groups (χ² = 12.969, P = .044). The median survival of group A,B and C was 9 months, 6 months and 13 months, respectively. The survival time of group C was significantly higher than group B (χ² = 5.403, P = .020). The Log rank test showed statistical difference in the survival curve of the 3 groups (χ² = 6.501, P = .039). The difference of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 decline percentage between group B and C group was statistically significant (χ² = 5.959, P = .015). Patients in group A and group C relieved form pain after treatment with statistically significant (P < .001). Pain relief was much more effective in patients who received ¹²⁵I brachytherapy. Karnofsky physical scores after treatment were statistically higher than those before treatment in each group (P < .001). ¹²⁵I brachytherapy maybe one of the effective, safe and feasible alternative treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. ¹²⁵I brachytherapy combined with arterial infusion chemotherapy was effective in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.