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CC BY 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2025; 46(05): 435-452
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811946
ISMPO Guidelines

Indian Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Pancreatic Cancer

Authors

  • Viraj Lavingia

    1   Department of Medical Oncology, Shalby Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

  • Shruti Gohel 

    2   Department of Medical Oncology, HCG Cancer Center, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

  • Shailesh Shrikhande

    3   Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

  • Sujith K. Mullapally 

    4   Department of Medical Oncology, Apollo Proton Center, Chennai, India

  • Anant Ramaswamy

    5   Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

  • Vineet Talwar 

    6   Department of Medical Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi, India

  • Fen Saj 

    7   Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States

  • Tanvi Sood

    8   Department of Medical Oncology, Paras Health, Gurugram, Haryana, India

  • Anu R. I.

    9   Department of Applied Biomedical Sciences, L-Università ta′ Malta, Malta

  • Munita Menon

    10   Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

  • Shalini Singh

    11   Department of Radiation Oncology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

  • Senthil Rajappa

    12   Department of Medical Oncology, Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, India

  • Thomas Seufferlein

    13   Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany

  • Eileen O'Reilly

    14   Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States

  • Bhawna Sirohi 

    15   Department of Medical Oncology, BALCO Medical Centre, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
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Abstract

Pancreatic cancer needs a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. These consensus statements encompass all aspects of treatment of pancreatic cancer within the Indian context. This article outlines consensus-based Indian guidelines for pancreatic cancer (PC), created by a national panel of 39 experts using NCCN and ESMO frameworks. Recommendations were systematically developed via evidence review, expert discussion, and conflict-of-interest exclusions. Guidance covers standardized diagnostic workup, risk stratification and multidisciplinary management involving surgical oncology, medical oncology and radiation oncology. Tumor subtypes (resectable, borderline resectable, locally advanced) determine treatment pathways: upfront surgery for eligible patients and neoadjuvant therapy for downstaging, as appropriate. Preferred regimens for advanced/metastatic disease are outlined. Recommendations are tailored to Indian practice, integrating resource stratification and local access issues. Each guideline is graded for evidence strength and consensus level as per ESMO standards. Emphasis on surveillance and early integrated palliative care aims to optimize patient outcomes. These evidence-based guidelines seek to standardize and elevate PC care across diverse settings in India.

Keywords

guideline - medical oncology - pancreatic cancer treatment

Authors' Contributions

B.S. and V.L. contributed to the conception and design of the manuscript. All the authors contributed to the definition of intellectual content, literature search, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review. All the authors have read and approved the manuscript, met the requirements for authorship, and believe that the manuscript represents honest work.


Patient Consent

Patient consent is not required.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
22 September 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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