Meta-analysis of FOLFIRINOX regimen as the first-line chemotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the first-line chemotherapy FOLFIRINOX in treating pancreatic cancer. Pertinent studies were derived from the PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE. The outcomes were analyzed according to resection rate and radical (R0) resection rate. Data were expressed as weighted commix proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twenty-three studies, involving 968 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC), were examined. After treatment, 55% (95% CI 52–58%) of the patients underwent resection and 40% (95% CI 37–43%) underwent R0 resection, and the median overall survival ranged from 15.5 to 35.4 months, with a 10.0–27.1 months’ median progression-free survival. The meta-analysis shows that FOLFIRINOX, as the first-line therapy, has significant down-staging effects in patients with LAPC or BRPC, with a 40% R0 resection rate and the adverse events under control.