Safety assessment of preoperative oil chemoembolization with nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel in patients with pancreatic head adenocarcinoma

Results of combined treatment of 36 patients suffering from pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma are evaluated, including preoperative chemotherapy using nanodispersed albumin-stabilized paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) in intraarterial oil chemoembolization or intravenous administration and radical surgical treatment. Intraarterial oily chemoembolization of the pancreatic head consisted of the introduction of 17 patients (main group) into the gastroduodenal artery of an emulsion of super-liquid lipiodol (Lipiodol Ultra Fluid) in an aqueous solution of nab-pacliaxel 50 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 400 mg/m2. 19 patients (control group) were administered nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 intravenously according to standard guidelines. Safety and tolerability assessment of combined treatment with preoperative application of nab-paclitaxel was carried out in advance. Pil-preserving pancreatoduodenal resection is considered safe on day 7–10, after completion of preoperative chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel. The use of nab-paclitaxel in preoperative intraarterial oily chemoembolization of the pancreatic head requires extension of the pancreatic crossing boundary to body level. Postoperative lethality and 4th degree complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification were not observed. In the main group, grade 3a complication was observed in 2 (12%) patients and was represented by bleeding from acute gastric erosions resolved endoscopically. In the control group, complications of degree 3 were also noted in 2 (11%) patients and were represented by: one bleeding from acute stomach erosions that required endoscopic hemostasis and an intraabdominal abscess allowed by percutaneous drainage. In the main group, complications of the 2nd degree were recorded in 8 (47%) patients: in 3 (17%) patients the formation of pancreatic fistula was noted, in 4 (23%) postoperative pancreatitis was detected, and in 1 (6%) gastrostasis phenomena that required conservative therapy. In the control group, complications of the 2nd degree were observed in 11 (58%) patients and were presented: pancreatic fistulae – in 2 (10%) patients, postoperative pancreatitis – in 6 (31%) and gastrostasis – in 3 (16%) patients. The most common complication observed in both groups was the suppression of a postoperative wound, corresponding to the 1st degree of severity: in the main group in 5 (29%) patients, in the control group in 7 (37%) patients. Thus, the use of intraarterial oil chemoembolization with nab-paclitaxel as a preoperative antitumor treatment can be considered safe.