National Cancer Center with 8 Academic Societies established the first guidelines for treatment of pancreatic cancer, the 5th leading cause of cancer death

Last Wednesday 24th, the National Cancer Center directed by President Gwan-Seo Hong and eight academic societies announced that they set the first guidelines for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in Korea.

＊ 8 Societies: Korean Society for Radiation Oncology, Korean Society for Pathology, Korean Society for Abdominal Radiology, Korean Society for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Korean Society for Oncology, Korean Society for Pancreatic Biliary Surgery, Korean Society for Nuclear Medicine, Korean Society for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery (Korean Pancreatic Surgery Association) 

The Korean Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Guidelines is the first guidelines in Korea in the field of pancreatic cancer, prepared by 54 multidisciplinary experts over a period of about one and half years. It also was recognized as a guideline that meets the evaluation criteria of the Korean Medical Association with excellent scores for the first time as a guideline for carcinoma, in which a related society has participated as a multidisciplinary system.

It has covered all fields of pancreatic cancer treatment, including imaging tests, nuclear medicine tests, gastrointestinal endoscopy, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and pathology. The guidelines were also described in details and in a relatively easy way to help understanding better, adding an algorithm picture of diagnosis and treatment.

In the field of diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, it was to set a test method suitable for the actual situation considering the characteristics and diagnostic environment for Korean patients. 

In addition to the typical imaging findings such as dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and MRI, various imaging findings were suggested according to the reality in Korea, utilizing additional imaging findings and nuclear medicine tests including PET/CT, ultrasound endoscopy, and diagnostic tests. 

Unlike the other guidelines for most carcinomas, specialized descriptions in the field of pathology were added with the several pathology experts participated.

Referring to the field of treatment of pancreatic cancer, the evaluation of evidences and level of recommendations for current issues were also presented including endoscopic treatment (bile duct drainage, duodenal stent), the latest knowledge on surgery (diagnostic laparoscopy, minimally invasive pancreatectomy, enlarged lymphectomy, vasectomy), classification and resection feasibility evaluation of localized pancreatic cancer, border resection possibility, prior adjuvant treatment, postoperative adjuvant treatment, and treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

The evaluation of the recently developed new radiation therapy (stereoscopic body radiation therapy, particle radiation therapy), and the evidence and recommendation grades for various new drugs including primary and secondary treatments were also presented.

Doctor Sun-Whe Kim & Woo-Jin Lee

"Pancreatic cancer is the 8th most common cancer in Korea and the 5th leading cause of cancer death," said Doctor Sun-Whe Kim at the Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Cancer Center of the National Cancer Center (Chief of the Medical Guideline Establishment Committee). “In order to overcome pancreatic cancer, numerous new research results and treatments are published every year domestically and abroad.  It was necessary to develop evidence that reflects the characteristics and treatment conditions of Korean pancreatic cancer patients.” he explained the cause of publishing guidelines. 

Doctor Woo-Jin Lee at the Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Cancer Center of the National Cancer Center, who is the general secretary of the Medical Guideline Establishment Committee, explained, “As clinical evidence for new treatments and drugs is accumulated, we can continue to reflect them in the guidelines to help extend the life of patients who suffer from pancreatic cancer and improve their life quality. We will contribute to improving health care and help efficiently utilize limited resources of health care."