Complete Remission After Palliative Radiation and Chemotherapy in Stage IV BRCA1-Positive Pancreatic Cancer: A Case of a Patient Who Was Cured 11 Years After Treatment

Pancreatic cancer is associated with high mortality rates due to its markedly aggressive nature and typically late diagnosis. This is especially true for stage IV, in which the prognosis averages only a few months of median survival. We report a case that highlights the benefits of offering palliative treatment for terminal-stage pancreatic cancer to achieve unexpectedly prolonged survival and potential cure. A complete response was observed following low-dose palliative radiation and chemotherapy in a 54-year-old female patient who was BRCA1-positive and presented with stage IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma. There was no residual cancer or further metastasis seen on follow-up computed tomography (CT) imaging. The patient remained cancer-free and asymptomatic 11 years after the initial diagnosis.