European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology
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Despite curative surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), most patients develop cancer recurrence and die from metastatic disease. Understanding of the patterns of failure after surgery can lead to new insights for novel therapeutic modalities. The aim of the present study is to describe the patterns of recurrence after curative resection of PDAC. ⋯ The vast majority of patients who undergo potentially curative surgery for PDAC develop cancer recurrence located in the abdominal cavity. Surgical resection margins with tumour involvement and tumour-free margins of less then 1mm are negative prognostic factors. Further research on better local surgical control, peri-operative locoregional treatment, and more effective adjuvant systemic therapy is necessary to improve long-term survival of patients with curable PDAC.