Study characteristics.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy (NT) compared to upfront surgery (US) in patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science were searched to collect randomized controlled trials on preoperative neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer before April 7, 2023, and data were extracted after screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and HRs were obtained indirectly using enguage software; Stata 12.0 software was used for data analysis.ResultsA total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this study, comprising a total of 1058 cases, including 503 cases in the NT group and 555 cases in the US group. Using an intention-to-treat population (ITT) analysis, the results showed that neoadjuvant treatment improved the R0 resection rate (RR 2.71, 95% CI 1.59–4.62; P = 0.000; I2 = 46.20%) and overall survival (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.54–0.82; P = 0.000; I2 = 0.00%). In the subgroup of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, the R0 resection rate in the NT group versus the US group (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.93–1.39; P = 0.196; I2 = 0.00%) and overall survival (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.64–1.24; P = 0.489; I2 = 0.00%) were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPreoperative neoadjuvant treatment is of prognostic value in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, as it increases the R0 resection rate and improves overall survival compared to upfront surgery.</div

Sensitivity analysis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy (NT) compared to upfront surgery (US) in patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science were searched to collect randomized controlled trials on preoperative neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer before April 7, 2023, and data were extracted after screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and HRs were obtained indirectly using enguage software; Stata 12.0 software was used for data analysis.ResultsA total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this study, comprising a total of 1058 cases, including 503 cases in the NT group and 555 cases in the US group. Using an intention-to-treat population (ITT) analysis, the results showed that neoadjuvant treatment improved the R0 resection rate (RR 2.71, 95% CI 1.59–4.62; P = 0.000; I2 = 46.20%) and overall survival (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.54–0.82; P = 0.000; I2 = 0.00%). In the subgroup of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, the R0 resection rate in the NT group versus the US group (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.93–1.39; P = 0.196; I2 = 0.00%) and overall survival (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.64–1.24; P = 0.489; I2 = 0.00%) were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPreoperative neoadjuvant treatment is of prognostic value in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, as it increases the R0 resection rate and improves overall survival compared to upfront surgery.</div

R0 resection rate with subgroups for chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy.

R0 resection rate with subgroups for chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy.</p

Summary of the meta-analysis results.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy (NT) compared to upfront surgery (US) in patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science were searched to collect randomized controlled trials on preoperative neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer before April 7, 2023, and data were extracted after screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and HRs were obtained indirectly using enguage software; Stata 12.0 software was used for data analysis.ResultsA total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this study, comprising a total of 1058 cases, including 503 cases in the NT group and 555 cases in the US group. Using an intention-to-treat population (ITT) analysis, the results showed that neoadjuvant treatment improved the R0 resection rate (RR 2.71, 95% CI 1.59–4.62; P = 0.000; I2 = 46.20%) and overall survival (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.54–0.82; P = 0.000; I2 = 0.00%). In the subgroup of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, the R0 resection rate in the NT group versus the US group (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.93–1.39; P = 0.196; I2 = 0.00%) and overall survival (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.64–1.24; P = 0.489; I2 = 0.00%) were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPreoperative neoadjuvant treatment is of prognostic value in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, as it increases the R0 resection rate and improves overall survival compared to upfront surgery.</div

Egger’s test.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy (NT) compared to upfront surgery (US) in patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science were searched to collect randomized controlled trials on preoperative neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer before April 7, 2023, and data were extracted after screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and HRs were obtained indirectly using enguage software; Stata 12.0 software was used for data analysis.ResultsA total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this study, comprising a total of 1058 cases, including 503 cases in the NT group and 555 cases in the US group. Using an intention-to-treat population (ITT) analysis, the results showed that neoadjuvant treatment improved the R0 resection rate (RR 2.71, 95% CI 1.59–4.62; P = 0.000; I2 = 46.20%) and overall survival (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.54–0.82; P = 0.000; I2 = 0.00%). In the subgroup of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, the R0 resection rate in the NT group versus the US group (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.93–1.39; P = 0.196; I2 = 0.00%) and overall survival (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.64–1.24; P = 0.489; I2 = 0.00%) were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPreoperative neoadjuvant treatment is of prognostic value in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, as it increases the R0 resection rate and improves overall survival compared to upfront surgery.</div

Overall survival.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy (NT) compared to upfront surgery (US) in patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science were searched to collect randomized controlled trials on preoperative neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer before April 7, 2023, and data were extracted after screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and HRs were obtained indirectly using enguage software; Stata 12.0 software was used for data analysis.ResultsA total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this study, comprising a total of 1058 cases, including 503 cases in the NT group and 555 cases in the US group. Using an intention-to-treat population (ITT) analysis, the results showed that neoadjuvant treatment improved the R0 resection rate (RR 2.71, 95% CI 1.59–4.62; P = 0.000; I2 = 46.20%) and overall survival (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.54–0.82; P = 0.000; I2 = 0.00%). In the subgroup of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, the R0 resection rate in the NT group versus the US group (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.93–1.39; P = 0.196; I2 = 0.00%) and overall survival (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.64–1.24; P = 0.489; I2 = 0.00%) were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPreoperative neoadjuvant treatment is of prognostic value in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, as it increases the R0 resection rate and improves overall survival compared to upfront surgery.</div

R0 resection rate.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy (NT) compared to upfront surgery (US) in patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science were searched to collect randomized controlled trials on preoperative neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer before April 7, 2023, and data were extracted after screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and HRs were obtained indirectly using enguage software; Stata 12.0 software was used for data analysis.ResultsA total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this study, comprising a total of 1058 cases, including 503 cases in the NT group and 555 cases in the US group. Using an intention-to-treat population (ITT) analysis, the results showed that neoadjuvant treatment improved the R0 resection rate (RR 2.71, 95% CI 1.59–4.62; P = 0.000; I2 = 46.20%) and overall survival (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.54–0.82; P = 0.000; I2 = 0.00%). In the subgroup of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, the R0 resection rate in the NT group versus the US group (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.93–1.39; P = 0.196; I2 = 0.00%) and overall survival (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.64–1.24; P = 0.489; I2 = 0.00%) were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPreoperative neoadjuvant treatment is of prognostic value in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, as it increases the R0 resection rate and improves overall survival compared to upfront surgery.</div

R0 resection rate with subgroups for resectability status, b.

a. Overall survival with subgroups for resectability status.</p

Funnel plot.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy (NT) compared to upfront surgery (US) in patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science were searched to collect randomized controlled trials on preoperative neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer before April 7, 2023, and data were extracted after screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and HRs were obtained indirectly using enguage software; Stata 12.0 software was used for data analysis.ResultsA total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this study, comprising a total of 1058 cases, including 503 cases in the NT group and 555 cases in the US group. Using an intention-to-treat population (ITT) analysis, the results showed that neoadjuvant treatment improved the R0 resection rate (RR 2.71, 95% CI 1.59–4.62; P = 0.000; I2 = 46.20%) and overall survival (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.54–0.82; P = 0.000; I2 = 0.00%). In the subgroup of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, the R0 resection rate in the NT group versus the US group (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.93–1.39; P = 0.196; I2 = 0.00%) and overall survival (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.64–1.24; P = 0.489; I2 = 0.00%) were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPreoperative neoadjuvant treatment is of prognostic value in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, as it increases the R0 resection rate and improves overall survival compared to upfront surgery.</div

Overall survival with subgroups for chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy.

Overall survival with subgroups for chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy.</p