Thromboembolic Events During Perioperative Therapy for Resectable and Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer in the PREOPANC-2 Trial

R Ruth A.L. Willems (Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands) A Aniek E. van Diepen E Esther N. Dekker (Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) Q Quisette P. Janssen (Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) J Jacob L. van Dam (Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) N Nynke Michiels (Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands) C Casper W.F. van Eijck (Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Solid Tumour Immunology Research Rotterdam (STIRR), Rotterdam, the Netherlands) K Karlijn E.P.E. Hermans (Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands) B Bert A. Bonsing (Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands) K Koop P. Bosscha (Department of Surgery, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Den Bosch, the Netherlands) S Stefan A.W. Bouwense (Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands) O Olivier R. Busch (Department of Surgery, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) H Hugo ten Cate (Department of Internal Medicine and Thrombosis Expertise Center, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands) P Peter-Paul L.O. Coene (Department of Surgery, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) C Casper H.J. van Eijck (Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) N Nick van Es (Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam) E Erwin van der Harst (Department of Surgery, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) I Ignace H.J.T. de Hingh (Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, the Netherlands) T Tom M. Karsten (Department of Surgery, OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) G Geert Kazemier (Department of Surgery, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) M Marion B. van der Kolk (Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands) B Bas De Laat (4Department of Functional Coagulation, Synapse Research Institute, Maastricht, Netherlands) M Mike S.L. Liem (Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands) J J. Sven D. Mieog V Vincent B. Nieuwenhuijs (Department of Surgery, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands) G Gijsbert A. Patijn (Department of Surgery, Isala Oncology Center, Zwolle, the Netherlands) M Mark Roest H Hjalmar C. van Santvoort (Department of Surgery, St Antonius Hospital and University Medical Center Utrecht, Regional Academic Cancer Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands) L Liselot Valkenburg-van Iersel R Roeland F. de Wilde (Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) F Fennie Wit (Department of Surgery, Frisius MC, Location Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands) B Barbara M. Zonderhuis (Department of Surgery, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) M Marc G. Besselink (Department of Surgery, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) M Marjolein Y.V. Homs (Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands) G Geertjan van Tienhoven (Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam) J Johanna W. Wilmink (Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) B Bas Groot Koerkamp (Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands) J Judith de Vos-Geelen L Laurens V. Beerepoot M Marlies L. van Bekkum H Hendrik Bos L Lieke Brouwer-Hol A Anna M.E. Bruynzeel G Geert A. Cirkel J Jan Willem B. de Groot B Brigitte C.M. Haberkorn O Olaf J.L. Loosveld M Misha D.P. Luyer S Saskia A.C. Luelmo L Leonie J.M. Mekenkamp J Joost J.M.E. Nuyttens D D. ten Oever M Martijn W.J. Stommel M Mirte M. Streppel A Albert J. ten Tije E Eva Versteijne S Suzan Vrijaldenhoven D Daphne H.M. Droogh T T.F. Stoop B Bo T.M. Strijbos I Ingmar F. Rompen R R.T. Theijse M Maaike K. Veenstra E Eva M.M. Verkolf A Anouk J. de Wilde

Abstract

PURPOSE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is burdensome and associated with decreased survival. Although neoadjuvant treatment is increasingly used in patients with PDAC, data on VTE in this setting remain scarce. This study evaluated VTE incidence during (neo)adjuvant therapy for resectable and borderline resectable PDAC and its relation to survival. METHODS This study included patients from the investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized controlled phase III PREOPANC-2 trial. Patients were randomly assigned to neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin followed by surgery (FFX arm) or neoadjuvant gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT), followed by surgery and adjuvant gemcitabine (CRT arm). VTE was defined as both incidental and symptomatic lower- or upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism (PE), splanchnic vein thrombosis, and catheter-related thrombosis. VTE occurrence was retrospectively evaluated from random assignment to 12 months after random assignment. The association with overall survival (OS) was analyzed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS VTE was diagnosed in 28 of 325 patients (9%): nine (3%) preoperatively and 19 (8%) postoperatively. Most VTEs were symptomatic (54%). Although a higher proportion of patients developed postoperative VTE in the CRT arm (FFX 3% v CRT 12%, P = .02), the 12-month cumulative incidence did not differ between arms (6% v 11%, P = .06). Two patients died from PE-related causes in the CRT arm. VTE was independently associated with reduced OS (adjusted time-varying hazard ratio, 2.13, P = .002). CONCLUSION VTE occurred in 9% of patients with (borderline) resectable PDAC undergoing (neo)adjuvant treatment in the year after random assignment and was associated with decreased OS. These results underscore the need for standardized reporting of thromboembolic events in clinical trials and future studies assessing the potential benefits of thromboprophylaxis during neoadjuvant therapy.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 44, Issue 8
Published March 10, 2026
Pages 662-675
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (65)

R

Ruth A.L. Willems

Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

A

Aniek E. van Diepen

E

Esther N. Dekker

Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Q

Quisette P. Janssen

Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

J

Jacob L. van Dam

Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

N

Nynke Michiels

Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

C

Casper W.F. van Eijck

Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Solid Tumour Immunology Research Rotterdam (STIRR), Rotterdam, the Netherlands

K

Karlijn E.P.E. Hermans

Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

B

Bert A. Bonsing

Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

K

Koop P. Bosscha

Department of Surgery, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

S

Stefan A.W. Bouwense

Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

O

Olivier R. Busch

Department of Surgery, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

H

Hugo ten Cate

Department of Internal Medicine and Thrombosis Expertise Center, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

P

Peter-Paul L.O. Coene

Department of Surgery, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

C

Casper H.J. van Eijck

Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

N

Nick van Es

Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam

E

Erwin van der Harst

Department of Surgery, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

I

Ignace H.J.T. de Hingh

Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

T

Tom M. Karsten

Department of Surgery, OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

G

Geert Kazemier

Department of Surgery, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

M

Marion B. van der Kolk

Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

B

Bas De Laat

4Department of Functional Coagulation, Synapse Research Institute, Maastricht, Netherlands

M

Mike S.L. Liem

Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

J

J. Sven D. Mieog

V

Vincent B. Nieuwenhuijs

Department of Surgery, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands

G

Gijsbert A. Patijn

Department of Surgery, Isala Oncology Center, Zwolle, the Netherlands

M

Mark Roest

H

Hjalmar C. van Santvoort

Department of Surgery, St Antonius Hospital and University Medical Center Utrecht, Regional Academic Cancer Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

L

Liselot Valkenburg-van Iersel

R

Roeland F. de Wilde

Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Rotterdam, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

F

Fennie Wit

Department of Surgery, Frisius MC, Location Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands

B

Barbara M. Zonderhuis

Department of Surgery, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

M

Marc G. Besselink

Department of Surgery, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

M

Marjolein Y.V. Homs

Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands

G

Geertjan van Tienhoven

Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam

J

Johanna W. Wilmink

Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

B

Bas Groot Koerkamp

Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands

J

Judith de Vos-Geelen

L

Laurens V. Beerepoot

M

Marlies L. van Bekkum

H

Hendrik Bos

L

Lieke Brouwer-Hol

A

Anna M.E. Bruynzeel

G

Geert A. Cirkel

J

Jan Willem B. de Groot

B

Brigitte C.M. Haberkorn

O

Olaf J.L. Loosveld

M

Misha D.P. Luyer

S

Saskia A.C. Luelmo

L

Leonie J.M. Mekenkamp

J

Joost J.M.E. Nuyttens

D

D. ten Oever

M

Martijn W.J. Stommel

M

Mirte M. Streppel

A

Albert J. ten Tije

E

Eva Versteijne

S

Suzan Vrijaldenhoven

D

Daphne H.M. Droogh

T

T.F. Stoop

B

Bo T.M. Strijbos

I

Ingmar F. Rompen

R

R.T. Theijse

M

Maaike K. Veenstra

E

Eva M.M. Verkolf

A

Anouk J. de Wilde