Neoadjuvant Accelerated Short Course Radiation Therapy With Photons and Capecitabine for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Phase I: To determine the feasibility and tolerability of radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer delivered with high dose external beam radiation in a one week accelerated schedule with concurrent capecitabine * Phase II: To demonstrate a grade 3 or greater (any) toxicity rate of less than 20% Secondary * To determine local control and recurrence patterns of pancreatic cancer relative to a standard regimen of 50.4 Gy as seen in historical controls * To determine the pathologic response rate * To determine the progression-free survival * To determine the surgical morbidity * To determine 30-day post-operative mortality after pancreatic resection