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How do you approach the treatment of synchronous primary pancreatic and base of tongue cancers?

Hypothetically not an ideal surgical candidate due to weight loss. Both cancers are non-metastatic and resectable if disregarding other cancer and comorbidities. How do you sequent radiation and chemotherapy for each site, and would you consider surgery?
1 Answer
Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · University of Utah School of Medicine
Answered on

There are probably many possible pathways here although none of them are ideal. If the patient has a BRCA 1/2 or PALB2 mutation, or even if not, they could start with Gemcitabine + cisplatin for the pancreas cancer which might have some activity against the base of tongue cancer. If there is a respo...

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