Outcomes of extended versus standard lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundPancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, and surgical resection is the only curative option. Extended lymphadenectomy (EPD) during pancreatoduodenectomy may improve staging and reduce recurrence, but its survival benefits over standard lymphadenectomy (SPD) remain controversial.MethodsA sys...

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Main Authors: Yu-Chun Xu, Yin-Hao Shi, Xiao-Feng Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1622966/full
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author Yu-Chun Xu
Yin-Hao Shi
Xiao-Feng Li
author_facet Yu-Chun Xu
Yin-Hao Shi
Xiao-Feng Li
author_sort Yu-Chun Xu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, and surgical resection is the only curative option. Extended lymphadenectomy (EPD) during pancreatoduodenectomy may improve staging and reduce recurrence, but its survival benefits over standard lymphadenectomy (SPD) remain controversial.MethodsA systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted on March 25, 2025. All studies that met the inclusion criteria were subjected to quality assessment and subsequently analyzed by meta-analytical methods.ResultsNine RCTs involving 1382 patients were analyzed. No significant differences were observed between EPD and SPD in OS (HR = 1.09, p = 0.384), DFS (HR = 1.08, p = 0.506), or recurrence (78.05% vs. 79.64%, p = 0.295). EPD retrieved more positive lymph nodes (MD = 0.66, p = 0.008), but did not improve prognosis. Postoperative morbidity (38.49% vs. 33.27%, p = 0.072), mortality (1.97% vs. 1.33%, p = 0.589), transfusion volume (MD = -31.27, p = 0.469), and hospital stay (MD = -0.15, p = 0.917) were comparable, though EPD increased operative time (MD = 53.24, p < 0.001).ConclusionsEPD reduces lymph node recurrence without improving OS or DFS, suggesting limited prognostic benefit. Its application in pancreatic cancer should be carefully considered.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42024594566.
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spelling doaj-art-1ea89a7e8ab04d4b8c0810ceadaa65a92025-08-20T02:35:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-06-011510.3389/fonc.2025.16229661622966Outcomes of extended versus standard lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysisYu-Chun Xu0Yin-Hao Shi1Xiao-Feng Li2Department of Gastroenterology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaBackgroundPancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, and surgical resection is the only curative option. Extended lymphadenectomy (EPD) during pancreatoduodenectomy may improve staging and reduce recurrence, but its survival benefits over standard lymphadenectomy (SPD) remain controversial.MethodsA systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted on March 25, 2025. All studies that met the inclusion criteria were subjected to quality assessment and subsequently analyzed by meta-analytical methods.ResultsNine RCTs involving 1382 patients were analyzed. No significant differences were observed between EPD and SPD in OS (HR = 1.09, p = 0.384), DFS (HR = 1.08, p = 0.506), or recurrence (78.05% vs. 79.64%, p = 0.295). EPD retrieved more positive lymph nodes (MD = 0.66, p = 0.008), but did not improve prognosis. Postoperative morbidity (38.49% vs. 33.27%, p = 0.072), mortality (1.97% vs. 1.33%, p = 0.589), transfusion volume (MD = -31.27, p = 0.469), and hospital stay (MD = -0.15, p = 0.917) were comparable, though EPD increased operative time (MD = 53.24, p < 0.001).ConclusionsEPD reduces lymph node recurrence without improving OS or DFS, suggesting limited prognostic benefit. Its application in pancreatic cancer should be carefully considered.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42024594566.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1622966/fullpancreatic cancerlymphadenectomyprognosiscomplicationsmeta-analysis
spellingShingle Yu-Chun Xu
Yin-Hao Shi
Xiao-Feng Li
Outcomes of extended versus standard lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Oncology
pancreatic cancer
lymphadenectomy
prognosis
complications
meta-analysis
title Outcomes of extended versus standard lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Outcomes of extended versus standard lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Outcomes of extended versus standard lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Outcomes of extended versus standard lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Outcomes of extended versus standard lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort outcomes of extended versus standard lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer systematic review and meta analysis
topic pancreatic cancer
lymphadenectomy
prognosis
complications
meta-analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1622966/full
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AT yinhaoshi outcomesofextendedversusstandardlymphadenectomyinpancreatoduodenectomyforpancreaticcancersystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT xiaofengli outcomesofextendedversusstandardlymphadenectomyinpancreatoduodenectomyforpancreaticcancersystematicreviewandmetaanalysis