Ablative Carbon Ion Radiotherapy With Pencil Beam Scanning for Locally Advanced Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Inclusion criteria

• Have the ability to sign the written informed consent;
• Ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas confirmed by histopathology or cytopathology;
• Distant metastasis was excluded by imaging assessment (PET-CT, cranial MRI), and was defined as locally advanced unresectable according to NCCN Guidelines Version 2022.1, that is, T4N0-2M0, Stage III (AJCC/UICC Version 8);
• The maximum diameter of pancreatic primary lesion and positive lymph node ≤7cm;
• Pancreas primary lesion or positive lymph node did not invade digestive tract (stomach, duodenum and small intestine);
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score 0-1;
• Adequate bone marrow function (neutrophil count ≥1.5×109/L, platelet count ≥100×109/L, hemoglobin ≥10.0g/dL);
• Adequate liver function (total bilirubin \<1.5 times the upper limit of normal value, aminotransferase \<2.5 times the upper limit of normal value);
• Adequate renal function (serum creatinine \<2mg/dL, or creatinine clearance \>50mL/min).

Exclusion criteria

• Multiple primary pancreatic lesions (\>1);
• Tumor invaded the adjacent digestive tract;
• Radiation therapy history;
• Other local treatments history for pancreatic cancer, such as HIFU and irreversible electroporation;
• The irradiation dose of organs at risk cannot reach the dose constraint;
• Other malignant tumors history;
• Inability to understand the purpose of treatment or unwillingness/inability to sign informed consent.