Adenocarcinoma of exocrine pancreas is a highly malignant tumor with extremely low resectability. Radiotherapy,by inducing necrosis and apoptosis of tumor cells through irradiation effects on cellular DNA,in combination with chemotherapy,has made great contribution to multimodal treatment of this malignancy. The development of radiation therapy for pancreatic carcinoma in recent years was reviewed in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings,and for locally advanced disease. Further evidence is required to show the impact of radiochemothera-py in the treatment of unresectable disease. 27 refs. Adenocarcinoma of exocrine pancreas is a highly malignant tumor with extremely low resectability. Radiotherapy, by inducing necrosis and apoptosis of tumor cells through irradiation effects on cellular DNA, in combination with chemotherapy, has made great contribution to multimodal treatment of this malignancy. The development of radiation therapy for pancreatic carcinoma in recent years was reviewed in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, and for advanced disease. Further evidence is required to show the impact of radiochemothera-py in the treatment of unresectable disease. 27 refs.