Lymph node ratio and preoperative CA 19-9 levels predict overall survival and recurrence-free survival in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Oncological outcomes in minimally invasive vs. open distal pancreatectomy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background

Advancements in surgical techniques have improved outcomes in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery. To date there have been no meta-analyses comparing robotic and laparoscopic approaches for distal pancreatectomies (DP) in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This systematic review and network meta-analysis aims to explore the oncological outcomes of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP), robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) and open distal pancreatectomy (ODP).

Methods

A systematic search was conducted for studies reporting laparoscopic, robotic or open surgery for DP. Frequentist network meta-analysis of oncological outcomes (overall survival, resection margins, tumor recurrence, examined lymph nodes, administration of adjuvant therapy) were performed.

Results

Fifteen studies totalling 9,301 patients were included in the network meta-analysis. 1,946, 605 and 6,750 patients underwent LDP, RDP and ODP respectively. LDP (HR: 0.761, 95% CI: 0.642-0.901, p = 0.002) and RDP (HR: 0.757, 95% CI: 0.617-0.928, p = 0.008) were associated with overall survival (OS) benefit when compared to ODP. LDP (HR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.793-1.27, p = 0.968) was not associated with OS benefit when compared to RDP. There were no significant differences between LDP, RDP and ODP for resection margins, tumor recurrence, examined lymph nodes and administration of adjuvant therapy.

Conclusion

This study highlights the longer OS in both LDP and RDP when compared to ODP for patients with PDAC.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, PROSPERO (CRD42022336417).

Elevated CA 19-9 is associated with worse survival in patients with resected ampullary adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The prognostic utility of Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) in ampullary adenocarcinoma is unclear. We sought to evaluate the association between initial tumor marker levels and survival in patients with resected ampullary adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

This was a single-institution, retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for ampullary adenocarcinoma from 1999 to 2021. CA 19-9 was assessed after biliary decompression. Contal and O'Quigley method determined optimal biomarker cutoff levels which were correlated with overall survival (OS) using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox Proportional Hazards Regression.

RESULTS

A total of 180 patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy. Patients with CA 19-9 >100 U/mL had a shorter median OS (28 vs. 132 months, p < 0.001) compared to patients with CA 19-9 ≤ 100 U/mL at diagnosis. Survival was similar between pancreaticobiliary and intestinal tumor subtypes when CA 19-9 was >100 U/mL (OS:25 vs. 33 months, p = 0.415). By Cox regression analysis, CA 19-9 >100 U/mL was independently associated with worse OS (HR 2.8, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative CA 19-9 >100 U/mL was associated with shorter OS in patients with resected ampullary adenocarcinoma. CA 19-9 may be useful when counseling patients about prognosis or when considering the role of perioperative systemic therapy.

Can combined use of tumor markers in pancreatic cancer be a solution to short- and long-term consequences?: A retrospective study

As in other types of cancer, tumor markers are used in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for disease follow-up, especially after surgery. There has been shown to be a significant correlation between the tumor marker levels and poor prognosis in locally or systemic advanced stage PDAC patients. However, there is no significant correlation between prognosis and marker levels in patients with early stage PDAC patients. This study aimed to examine the effect of the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (Ca19-9)/carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) ratio in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head on disease prognosis and mean survival. This retrospective study was conducted with 129 pancreatic head adenocarcinoma patients who were treated with whipple procedure at the Ankara University Surgical Oncology Clinic between 2010 and 2020. All patients' demographics, stage of the disease, CEA, CA 19-9 levels, and CEA/Ca 19-9 ratio were enrolled and compared statistically. A new cutoff value was calculated for the Ca19-9/CEA ratio. A Ca19-9/CEA ratio >29.77 showed 69.9% sensitivity and 70.9% specificity for the probability of the T3 and T4 stages. The cutoff value for the Ca19-9/CEA ratio was 27.18. This cutoff value had a sensitivity of 79.4% and a specificity of 80.3% for lymph node metastasis. Patients with a Ca19-9/CEA ratio below the cutoff value of 28.475 had a mean survival of 93.161 months and those with a value higher than the cutoff value had a mean survival of 28.541 months (P < .001). A simple combination of tumor markers was determined to have higher accuracy rates in predicting tumor prognosis and in determining mean survival, which are particularly needed in early stage cancers.

Predictive Model of Early Death of Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma After Curative Resection: A SEER-Based Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine the factors that predict early death and establish a predictive model for early death by analyzing clinical characteristics of patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (R-PDAC) who die early after radical surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent radical surgical resection for R-PDAC in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Patients with overall survival ≤ 12 months were assigned as early death group and above 1 year as the late death group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify factors significantly associated with early death. An early death predictive model was constructed based on the identified independent risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 9695 patients were analyzed, and the total incidence of early death was 30.72%. Multivariable analysis showed that factors significantly associated with early death included age at diagnosis, race, marital status, tumor location, tumor size, tumor grade, number of positive lymph nodes, number of examined lymph nodes, positive lymph node ratio, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The predictive model showed good discrimination with a C-index of 0.722 (95% confidence interval: 0.711-0.733) and convincing calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a predictive model that may be easily applied to patients with R-PDAC after radical resection to predict the chance of death within 1 year. For patients with high risk of early death, neoadjuvant therapy should be considered. Even after radical resection, more aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy (with or without combined radiotherapy) must be used to minimize the chance of early death.

Postoperative morbidity following pancreatic cancer surgery is significantly associated with worse overall patient survival; systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKROUND

The influence of postoperative morbidity on survival after potentially curative resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear.

METHODS

Medline, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched for studies reporting survival in patients with and without complications, defined according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, after primary, potentially curative resection for pancreatic cancer followed by adjuvant treatment. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Fourteen retrospective cohort studies comprising a total of 7.604 patients with an overall complication rate of 40.8% (n = 3.103 patients) were included. Median overall survival for the entire patient cohort ranged from 15.5 to 24 months. Overall survival in patients with severe postoperative complications ranged from 7.1 to 37.1 months and was significantly worse compared to the overall survival in patients without severe complications ranging from 16.5 to 38.2 months. Postoperative complication rates ranged from 24.3% to 64%, severe (Clavien-Dindo ≥ III) complication rates from 4.2% to 31%. Results sufficient for meta-analysis were reported by ten studies, representing 6.028 patients. Meta-analysis showed reduced overall survival following any complication (summary adjusted HR 1.47; 95% CI 1.23-1.76, p < 0.0001). Hazard of death was 1.5 times higher in patients experiencing severe postoperative complications than in patients without severe complications (summary adjusted HR 1.45; 95% CI 1.13-1.85, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative complications after potentially curative resection of PDAC are significantly associated with worse overall patient survival.

Nomogram using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Lymph node (LN) metastasis is an important prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer (GC). However, the evaluation of LN metastasis status in the preoperative setting is not accurate. Therefore, precise preoperative prediction of LN metastasis status is crucial for optimal treatment in patients with GC.

AIM

To develop a preoperative nomogram for LN metastasis using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and preoperative laboratory test findings in GC.

METHODS

In this study, the data of 566 GC patients who underwent preoperative F-18 FDG PET/CT and subsequent surgical resection were analyzed. The LN metastasis prediction model was developed in the training cohort and validated in the internal validation cohort. Routine preoperative laboratory tests, including albumin and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 were performed in all patients. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to validate the preoperative predictive indicators for LN metastasis.

RESULTS

Of the 566 patients, 232 (41%) had confirmed histopathologic LN metastasis. Univariate logistic regression revealed that the tumor location, blood hemoglobin, serum albumin levels, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, CA 19-9, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the primary tumor (T_SUVmax), and SUVmax of LN (N_SUVmax) were significantly associated with LN metastasis. In multivariate analysis, T_SUVmax (OR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.02–1.15; P = 0.011) and N_SUVmax (OR = 1.49; 95%CI: 1.19–1.97; P = 0.002) were found to be significant predictive factors for LN metastasis. The LN metastasis prediction model using T_SUVmax, N_SUVmax, serum albumin, and CA 19-9 yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.733 (95%CI: 0.683–0.784, P = 0.025) in the training cohort and AUC of 0.756 (95%CI: 0.678–0.833, P < 0.001) in the test cohort.

CONCLUSION

T_SUVmax and N_SUVmax measured by preoperative F-18 FDG PET/CT are independent predictive factors for LN metastasis in GC.

Survival in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer After Neoadjuvant Therapy and Surgical Resection

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to identify the survival of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and assess the effect of surgical resection after neoadjuvant therapy on patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of LAPC patients who respond favorably to neoadjuvant therapy undergo surgical resection. The impact of surgery on patient survival is largely unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All LAPC patients who presented to the institutional pancreatic multidisciplinary clinic (PMDC) from January 2013 to September 2017 were included in the study. Demographics and clinical data on neoadjuvant treatment and surgical resection were documented. Primary tumor resection rates after neoadjuvant therapy and overall survival (OS) were the primary study endpoints.

RESULTS

A total of 415 LAPC patients were included in the study. Stratification of neoadjuvant therapy in FOLFIRINOX-based, gemcitabine-based, and combination of the two, and subsequent outcome comparison did not demonstrate significant differences in OS of 331 non-resected LAPC patients (P = 0.134). Eighty-four patients underwent resection of the primary tumor (20%), after a median duration of 5 months of neoadjuvant therapy. FOLFIRINOX-based therapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy correlated with increased probability of resection (P = 0.006). Resected patients had better performance status, smaller median tumor size (P = 0.029), and lower median CA19-9 values (P < 0.001) at PMDC. Patients who underwent surgical resection had significant higher median OS compared with those who did not (35.3 vs 16.3 mo, P < 0.001). The difference remained significant when non-resected patients were matched for time of neoadjuvant therapy (19.9 mo, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection of LAPC after neoadjuvant therapy is feasible in a highly selected cohort of patients (20%) and is associated with significantly longer median overall survival.

The diversity between curatively resected pancreatic head and body-tail cancers based on the 8th edition of AJCC staging system: a multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

To our knowledge, there are no studies to systematically compare the detailed clinical significance between curatively resected pancreatic head (ph) and body-tail (pbt) ductal adenocarcinoma based on the new 8th edition of AJCC staging system (8th AJCC stage) that was just applied in clinical practice in 2018.

METHODS

Three hundred fifty-one patients with curatively resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) from three center hospitals were entered into this multicenter cohort study.

RESULTS

Increasing tumor size (P < 0.001), T stage (T1 + T2 vs T3 + T4, P = 0.003), frequent postoperative liver metastasis (PLM) (P = 0.002) and 8th AJCC stage (IA to VI, P < 0.001; I + II vs III + IV, P = 0.002) were closely associated with the progression of pbt cancers compared with that in ph cancer patients. Moreover, tumor size≥3 cm (P = 0.012), 8th AJCC stage (III + IV) (P = 0.025) and PLM (P = 0.010) were identified as independent risk factors in pbt cancers in logistic analysis. Patients with pbt cancers had a significantly worse overall survival compared with ph cancer patients (P = 0.003). Moreover, pbt was an independent unfavorable factor in multivariate analysis (P = 0.011). In addition to lymph nodes metastasis, 8th AJCC stage, vascular invasion and PLM, increasing tumor size and advanced T stage were also closely associated with the poor prognosis in 131 cases of pbt cancer patients compared with Ph cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

Pbt, as an independent unfavorable factor for the prognosis of PC patients, are much more aggressive than that in ph cancers according to 8th AJCC staging system. 8th AJCC staging system are more comprehensive and sensitive to reflect the malignant biology of pbt cancers.

Major Complications Independently Increase Long-Term Mortality After Pancreatoduodenectomy for Cancer

BACKGROUND

Postoperative major morbidity has been associated with worse survival gastrointestinal tumors. This association remains controversial in pancreatic cancer (PC). We analyzed whether major complications after surgical resection affect long-term survival.

METHODS

Records of all PC patients resected from 2007 to 2015 were reviewed. Major morbidity was defined as any grade-3 or higher 30-day complications, per the Clavien-Dindo Classification. Patients who died within 90 days after surgery were excluded from survival analysis.

RESULTS

Of 616 patients, 81.7% underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and 18.3% distal pancreatectomy (DP). Major complications occurred in 19.1% after PD and 15.9% after DP. In patients who survived > 90 days, the likelihood of receiving adjuvant treatment was 43.9% if major complications had occurred, vs. 68.5% if not (p < 0.001), and those who received it started the treatment median 10 days later compared with uncomplicated patients (median 60 days (50-72) vs. 50 days (41-61), p = 0.001). By univariate analysis, in addition to the conventional pathology-related prognostic determinants and the receipt of adjuvant treatment, major complications worsened long-term survival after PD (median OS 26 months vs. 15, p = 0.008). A difference was also seen after DP, but it did not reach statistical significance, likely related to the small sample size (median OS 33 months vs. 18, p = 0.189). At multivariate analysis for PD, major postoperative complications remained independently associated with worse survival [HR 1.37, 95%CI (1.01-1.86)].

CONCLUSIONS

Major surgical complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with worse long-term survival in pancreatic cancer. This effect is independent of the receipt of adjuvant treatment.

A robust 6-mRNA signature for prognosis prediction of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most fatal malignancies worldwide. PDAC prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers are still being explored. The aim of this study is to establish a robust molecular signature that can improve the ability to predict PDAC prognosis. 155 overlapping differentially expressed genes between tumor and non-tumor tissues from three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were explored. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method (LASSO) Cox regression model was employed for selecting prognostic genes. We developed a 6-mRNA signature that can distinguish high PDAC risk patients from low risk patients with significant differences in overall survival (OS). We further validated this signature prognostic value in three independent cohorts (GEO batch, P < 0.0001; ICGC, P = 0.0036; Fudan, P = 0.029). Furthermore, we found that our signature remained significant in patients with different histologic grade, TNM stage, locations of tumor entity, age and gender. Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that 6-mRNA signature can be an independent prognostic marker in each of the cohorts. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis also showed that our signature possessed a better predictive role of PDAC prognosis. Moreover, the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis showed that several tumorigenesis and metastasis related pathways were indeed associated with higher scores of risk. In conclusion, identifying the 6-mRNA signature could provide a valuable classification method to evaluate clinical prognosis and facilitate personalized treatment for PDAC patients. New therapeutic targets may be developed upon the functional analysis of the classifier genes and their related pathways.

Tumor location as an indicator of survival in T1 resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND

The latest 8th edition of the AJCC staging system emphasizes the importance of tumor size however, the clinical significance of the combination of tumor location with tumor size remains unknown.

METHODS

We conducted this study to investigate the prognostic role of tumor location in T1 resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Resectable PDAC patients from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2004-2014) were selected for the propensity score matching analysis. We used matched cohort to analyze the relationship between clinicopathologic features and survival of patients.

RESULT

Eight thousand, four hundred nine patients were included in the propensity score matching analysis and 4571 patients were selected for final analysis. In T1 patients, the patients with pancreatic head tumor had worse prognosis compared to the patients with body/tail tumors. Multivariate analysis result showed that pancreatic body/tail location was an independent indicator for better chances of survival in T1 PDAC patients (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95%CI, 0.52-0.93; P = 0.01). The modified staging system was more efficient than the AJCC 8th staging system.

CONCLUSION

Modified staging system exhibited a good assessment of the survival rate. The tumor location is a good prognostic indicator for T1 resectable PDAC patients. Modification of T1 subgroup according to tumor location exhibited favorable survival prediction effects.

Outcome of head compared to body and tail pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 93 studies

Background

Even when resectable pancreatic cancer (PC) is associated with a dismal prognosis. Initial presentation varies according with primary tumor location. Aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the prognosis associated with site (head versus body/tail) in patients with PC.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, Web of Science, EMBASE, Google Scholar, LILACS, and CINAHL databases from inception to March 2018. Studies reporting information on the independent prognostic role of site in PC and comparing overall survival (OS) in head versus body/tail tumors were selected. Data were aggregated using hazard ratios (HRs) for OS of head versus body/tail PC according to fixed- or random-effect model.

Results

A total of 93 studies including 254,429 patients were identified. Long-term prognosis of head was better than body/tail cancers (HR =0.96, 95% CI: 0.92-0.99; P=0.02). A pooled HR of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92-0.99, P=0.02) from multivariate analysis only (n=77 publications) showed that head site was an independent prognostic factor for survival.

Conclusions

Primary tumor location in the head of the pancreas at the time of diagnosis is a predictor of better survival. Such indicator should be acknowledged when designing future studies, in particular in the operable and neoadjuvant setting.

Comparison of prognostic prediction between nomogram based on lymph node ratio and AJCC 8th staging system for patients with resected pancreatic head carcinoma: a SEER analysis

Background

The prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma (PC) remains poor and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th staging system for survival prediction in PC patients after curative resection is still limited. Thus, the aim of this study is to refine a valuable prognostic model and novel staging system for PC with curative resection.

Methods

The data of 3,458 patients used in this study were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database registry of National Cancer Institute. The prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) was analyzed in the primary cohort and prognostic nomogram based on the LNR was established to create a novel staging system. Then, analyses were conducted to evaluate the application of the formulated nomogram staging system and the AJCC 8th staging system. The predictive performance of model was further validated in the internal validation cohort.

Results

Significant positive correlations were found between LNR and all factors except for surgical procedures. The results of univariate and multivariate analyses showed that LNR was identified as an independent prognostic indicator for overall survival (OS) in both primary and validation cohorts (all P < 0.001). A prognostic nomogram based on the LNR was formulated to obtain superior discriminatory abilities. Compared with the AJCC 8th staging system, the formulated nomogram staging system showed higher hazard ratios of stage II, III, and IV disease (reference to stage I disease) that were 1.637, 2.300, and 3.521, respectively, by univariate analyses in the primary cohort and the distinction between stage I, II, and III disease at the beginning or end of the survival curves was more apparent. All these results were further verified in the validation cohort.

Conclusion

LNR can be considered as a useful independent prognostic indicator for PC patients after curative resection regardless of the surgical procedures. Compared with the AJCC 8th staging system, the formulated nomogram showed superior predictive accuracy for OS and its novel staging system revealed better risk stratification.

Histologic Tumor Grade and Preoperative Bilary Drainage are the Unique Independent Prognostic Factors of Survival in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients After Pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal types of cancer; most patients die during the first 6 months after diagnosis. With a 5% 5-year survival rate, is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in developed countries. In this regard, several clinical, histopathologic and biological characteristics of the disease favoring long-term survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy have been reported to be significant prognostic factors. Despite the availability of this information, there is no consensus about the different prognostic factors reported in the literature, probably due to variations in patient selection, methods, and sample size studied. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical and pathologic features associated to prognosis of the disease after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical and pathologic data from 78 patients who underwent a potentially curative resection for PDAC at our institution between 2003 and 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Overall, high-grade PDAC cases showed larger tumor size (P=0.009) and a higher frequency of deaths in association with a nonsignificantly shortened patient overall survival (median of 12.5 vs. 21.7 mo; P=0.065) as compared with low-grade PDAC patients. High histologic grade (P=0.013), preoperative drainage on the main bile duct (P=0.014) and absence of adjuvant therapy (P=0.035) were associated with a significantly poorer outcome. Overall survival multivariate analysis showed histologic grade (P=0.019) and bile duct preoperative drainage (P=0.016) as the sole independent variables predicting an adverse outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that histologic tumor grade and preoperative biliary drainage are the only significant independent prognostic factors in PDAC patients after pancreatectomy.

Preoperative Serum Thymidine Kinase Activity as Novel Monitoring, Prognostic, and Predictive Biomarker in Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate serum thymidine kinase 1 (S-TK) activity as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

Using the sensitive TK activity assay DiviTum, preoperative serum samples from 404 PDAC, 28 chronic pancreatitis, and 25 autoimmune pancreatitis patients and 83 healthy volunteers were analyzed. The preoperative S-TK activities of 54 PDAC patients who received neoadjuvant therapy (nTx) were also compared with those of 258 PDAC patients who did not receive nTx.

RESULTS

The preoperative S-TK activities of PDAC patients were significantly higher and discriminatory from autoimmune and chronic pancreatitis patients and control groups. The S-TK activity in PDAC patients was associated with overall survival. Patients with S-TK activity of less than 80 Du (DiviTum units)/L demonstrated median survival of 20.3 months with an estimated 18.0% 5-year survival rate; for S-TK activity of 80 Du/L or greater, median survival was 15.1 months with a 6.8% 5-year survival rate. For early-stage PDAC, these differences were even more pronounced. The S-TK activity in the nTx group was significantly higher than that in the group not receiving nTx.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas reveal a significant increase in S-TK activity, which is associated with overall survival, especially in early tumor stages. Serum thymidine kinase 1 activity may be a useful parameter for monitoring nTx efficacy.

A novel messenger RNA signature as a prognostic biomarker for predicting relapse in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) death rate and recurrence rate have remained obstinately high. Current methods can not satisfy the need of predicting cancer relapse accurately. Utilizing expression profiles of 10 GEO datasets (N = 774), we identified 154 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PDAC and normal pancreas tissue or paracancerous tissue. Next we built a 16-mRNA-based signature by means of the LASSO COX regression model. We also validated the prognostic value of the signature. Patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk group according to the signature risk score; 1 year RFS was 45% (95% CI: 31.6%–63.9%) for high-risk group in contrast to 92.5% (95% CI: 86.3%–99.1%) for low-risk group. Moreover, it could predict RFS well in cases with the receipt of different treatment modalities. The 16-mRNA-based signature was an independent and powerful prognostic biomarker for RFS for PDAC patients (HR = 7.74, 95% CI: 3.25–18.45, p < 0.0001).

Gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel as second-line therapy following FOLFIRINOX in metastatic/advanced pancreatic cancer-retrospective analysis of response

BACKGROUND

Given the tolerability of nPG in first-line therapy, we desired to evaluate the response and toxicity profiles of second-line gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel (nPG) following FOLFIRINOX. Methods: We retrospectively identified 30 patients who received first-line FOLFIRINOX for unresectable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma followed by second-line nPG. Response was evaluated by RECIST criteria and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) change.

RESULTS

Median age was 63 years with 77% percent having metastatic disease. Nineteen patients (63%) achieved PR based on CA19-9. Median overall survival (OS) with nPG was 12.4 months (mo) and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.7 mo. Median PFS and OS for patients with at least stable CA19-9 were 4.7 and 13.9 mo since initiation of nPG. Patients with an increased CA19-9 level during nPG had a shorter median PFS (1.4 mo) and OS (5.3 mo). A significant PFS difference was demonstrated in patients with at least stable disease as the best RECIST response versus in those with progressive disease (5.4 vs. 1.9 mo, P<0.001). Grade 3/4 adverse events include thrombocytopenia (33%), anemia (23%), nausea (17%), lymphopenia (7%), infectious complications (6%), diarrhea (3%), and neuropathy (3%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a clinical benefit of second-line nPG. The study also suggests a possible use of CA19-9 to predict response to therapy.

The impact of neoadjuvant therapy on the histopathological features of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma - A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Due to increased rates of curative tumor resections exceeding 60% after FOLFIRINOX-treatment, neoadjuvant therapy/NTx is increasingly recognized as an effective therapy option for downstaging borderline or locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma/PDAC. Yet, the effects of NTx on the common histopathological features of PDAC have not been systematically analysed. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess the impact of NTx on relevant histopathological features of PDAC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Biomedical databases were systematically screened for predefined searching terms related to NTx and PDAC. The Preferred-Reporting-Items-for-Systematic-review-and-Meta-Analysis/PRISMA-guidelines were used to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. Articles meeting the predefined criteria were analysed on relevance, and a meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 9031 studies could be identified that analysed the effect of NTx on PDAC. Only 35 studies presented comparative data on the histological features of neoadjuvantly treated vs. upfront resected PDAC patients. In meta-analyses, the beneficial effect of NTx was reflected by reduced tumor size (T1/2: RR 2.87, 95%-CI: 1.52-5.42, P=0.001, T3/4: RR 0.78, 95%-CI: 0.69-0.89, P=0.0002), lower N-Stage (N0: RR 2.14, 95%-CI: 1.85-2.46, P<0.00001, N1: RR 0.59, 95%-CI: 0.53-0.65, P<0.00001), higher R0-rates (R0: RR 1.13, 95%-CI: 1.08-1.18, P<0.00001, R1: RR 0.66, 95%-CI: 0.58-0.76, P<0.00001), less perineural invasion (Pn1: RR 0.78, 95%-CI: 0.73-0.83, P<0.00001), less lymphatic vessel invasion (RR: 0.50, 95%-CI: 0.36-0.70, P<0.0001) and fewer G3-tumors (RR 0.82, 95%-CI: 0.71-0.94, P=0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

NTx in PDAC seems to exert its beneficial effect in borderline or locally advanced PDAC over genuine tumor downstaging. Thus, although at least 40% of all NTx treated patients remain unresectable even with modern NTx regimes, neoadjuvantly treated PDAC showed not only increasing resectability rates especially after FOLFIRINOX, but even reach a lower tumor stage than primarily resected PDAC.

Inhibition of Eph receptor A4 by 2,5-dimethylpyrrolyl benzoic acid suppresses human pancreatic cancer growing orthotopically in nude mice

Ephrin receptor A4 (EphA4) is overexpressed in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and activate cell growth. Recent studies have identified small molecules that block EphA4. In this study, we investigated the correlation between EphA4 expression and the prognosis of patients with PDAC. We also examined the cytostatic efficacy of 2,5-dimethylpyrrolyl benzoic acid (compound 1), a small molecule that blocks EphA4, in PDAC cells. Overall survival of patients with EphA4 positivity was significantly shorter than that of patients with EphA4 negativity (P = 0.029). In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that EphA4 expression was an independent prognostic factor in PDAC patients (P = 0.039). Compound 1 showed a cytostatic efficacy in PDAC cells expressing EphA4 in vitro and in vivo. Our study indicated that compound 1 suppressed both EphA4 and Akt phosphorylations, and induced apoptosis in PDAC cells expressing EphA4. In conclusion,compound 1 has a high potential as a therapeutic agent for patients with PDAC.

Long-term survival after resections for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Single centre study

AIM

To analyse the 5-year survival rate of patients undergoing radical surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and to identify prognostic factors.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained database of 90 consecutive patients who underwent radical resection for PDAC was analysed. Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank test and Cox regression analysis were used for the evaluation of prognostic factors. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

Mean age (± standard deviation) was 63.2±8.6 years (female 28.9% and male 71.1%). Tumour localisation was in the head in 76 (84.5%), multifocal in 3 (3.3%) and in the body/tail in 11 (12.2%). Pancreatic head resection was performed in 75 (83.3%), total pancreatectomy in 4 (4.4%) and distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy in 11 (12.2%), with standard lymphadenectomy. Venous resection was in 4 (4.4%). Thirty-day and in-hospital mortality occurred in 1 (1.1%), 90-day mortality was 3.3%. On univariate analysis absence of perineural and vascular invasion, stage, absence of lymph node infiltration and no need for transfusion were associated with improved overall survival. On multivariate analysis vascular invasion HR=3.137 (95%CI: 1.692-5.816; P = 0.0003) and postoperative complications HR=2.004 (95%CI: 1.198-3.354; P = 0.008) were identified as significant independent predictors of survival. The five-year survival rate was 18.9%, with five-year recurrence-free survival of 16.7%.

CONCLUSION

Vascular invasion and postoperative complications were independent prognostic factors after curative resections of pancreatic cancer in studied cohort.

CT imaging of early local recurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma following pancreaticoduodenectomy

PURPOSE

The objectives of this retrospective study were to describe the characteristics and topography of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and its early local recurrence after pancreaticoduodenectomy and identify predictive factors of local early recurrence by imaging computed tomography (CT).

METHODS

The institutional review board approved the study and did require additional informed consent for reviewing the patients' medical records and images. Patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for ductal adenocarcinoma, a preoperative CT scan, and adequate postoperative CT were included. After postoperative imaging, correlations among clinical and histological characteristics and preoperative imaging were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among the 123 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, 48 patients had sufficient follow-up imaging and were included in this study. A total of 33 patients experienced local early recurrence (Group 1), and 15 exhibited no local recurrence (Group 2). Local recurrence consisted of two types of anomalies: tissue nodules on surgical clips (94%) and peri-arterial encasement (82%). On preoperative imaging, the tumor diameter (p = 0.02) and the presence of a venous borderline resectable tumor (p < 0.0001) were predictive of local recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Tissue nodules on surgical clips and arterial encasement characterize early local recurrence, and nodules and encasement should not be considered common post-operative infiltration. The role of the radiologist is essential to assess the predictive factors of recurrence and to identify early local recurrence.

Substaging of Lymph Node Status in Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Has Strong Prognostic Correlations: Proposal for a Revised N Classification for TNM Staging

BACKGROUND

The current tumor-node-metastasis staging system for the pancreas does not incorporate the number of lymph nodes (LNs) with metastasis.

METHODS

Among 1649 pancreaticoduodenectomies, 227 stringently defined pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) that had undergone a specific approach of LN harvesting were analyzed for the prognostic value of LN substaging protocols used for other gastrointestinal (GI) organs.

RESULTS

The median number of LNs harvested was 18, and the median number of LNs with metastasis was 3. Lymph node metastasis was detected in 175 cases (77 %). The number of LNs involved correlated significantly with clinical outcome. When cases were substaged with the protocol already in use for the upper GI organs (N0: no metastasis, N1: metastasis to 1-2 LNs; N2: metastasis to ≥3 LNs), the median overall survival times were 35, 21, and 18 months, and the respective 3-year survival rates were 46, 34, and 20 % (p = 0.004). Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database also confirmed the survival differences between these substages (median overall survival times of 23, 15, and 14 months and respective 3-year survival rates of 37, 22, and 18 %; p < 0.0001). The substaging protocol for the lower GI organs (N0: no metastasis; N1: metastasis to 1-3 LNs; N2: metastasis to ≥4 LNs) also was significant, with median overall survival times of 35, 21, 18 months and respective 3-year survival rates of 46, 26, and 23 %; p = 0.009). The association between higher N stage and shorter survival persisted with multivariate modeling for both protocols, although the prognostic value of the upper GI protocol appeared to be slightly stronger according to the Akaike Information Criterion method.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, with proper LN harvesting, the LN metastasis rate in PDACs is very high (77 %). Substaging of LN metastasis has significant prognostic value and needs to be considered in the N staging of PDACs. The protocol already in use for other upper GI tract organs, which currently also is proven significant for ampulla, would be preferable, although the lower GI tract protocol also is applicable.

Long-term survival after resection of pancreatic cancer: A single-center retrospective analysis

AIM: To retrospectively analyze factors affecting the long-term survival of patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreatic resection.

METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2011, 195 patients underwent pancreatic resection in our hospital. The prognostic factors after pancreatic resection were analyzed in all 195 patients. After excluding the censored cases within an observational period, the clinicopathological characteristics of 20 patients who survived ≥ 5 (n = 20) and < 5 (n = 76) years were compared. For this comparison, we analyzed the patients who underwent surgery before June 2008 and were observed for more than 5 years. For statistical analyses, the log-rank test was used to compare the cumulative survival rates, and the χ² and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the two groups. The Cox-Hazard model was used for a multivariate analysis, and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. A multivariate analysis was conducted on the factors that were significant in the univariate analysis.

RESULTS: The median survival for all patients was 27.1 months, and the 5-year actuarial survival rate was 34.5%. The median observational period was 595 d. With the univariate analysis, the UICC stage was significantly associated with survival time, and the CA19-9 ≤ 200 U/mL, DUPAN-2 ≤ 180 U/mL, tumor size ≤ 20 mm, R0 resection, absence of lymph node metastasis, absence of extrapancreatic neural invasion, and absence of portal invasion were favorable prognostic factors. The multivariate analysis showed that tumor size ≤ 20 mm (HR = 0.40; 95%CI: 0.17-0.83, P = 0.012) and negative surgical margins (R0 resection) (HR = 0.48; 95%CI: 0.30-0.77, P = 0.003) were independent favorable prognostic factors. Among the 96 patients, 20 patients survived for 5 years or more, and 76 patients died within 5 years after operation. Comparison of the 20 5-year survivors with the 76 non-survivors showed that lower concentrations of DUPAN-2 (79.5 vs 312.5 U/mL, P = 0.032), tumor size ≤ 20 mm (35% vs 8%, P = 0.008), R0 resection (95% vs 61%, P = 0.004), and absence of lymph node metastases (60% vs 18%, P = 0.036) were significantly associated with the 5-year survival.

CONCLUSION: Negative surgical margins and a tumor size ≤ 20 mm were independent favorable prognostic factors. Histologically curative resection and early tumor detection are important factors in achieving long-term survival.

Prognostic factors related with survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma

The prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer is poor and this cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although surgical resection is the only curative treatment of choice for pancreatic cancer, the majority of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, thus only 10%-15% of them are suitable for curative resection and the overall survival is less than 5%. Chemotherapy for metastatic disease is to palliate symptoms of patients and to improve survival. Therefore, prognostic factors are important and a correct definition of poor prognostic factors may help to guide more aggressive adjuvant or aggressive treatment protocols in patients with pancreatic cancer. This article reviews the prognostic factors affecting survival of patients with pancreatic cancer in the light of recent advances in the literature.

The clinical utility of biomarkers in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and survival rates have seen minimal improvement over the past few decades. Although results are poor, surgical resection is considered the only curative therapeutic intervention for pancreatic cancer, thereby emphasizing the significance of effective diagnostic and prognostic tools to improve outcomes. As such, biomarkers play a promising role in the development of personalized treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer. Prognostic biomarkers, such as serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in particular, as well as cancer stem cell markers, provide valuable insight into the biological processes of an individual and their likely course of disease. This, consequently, allows for the assessment of optimal therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, current efforts target putative predictive biomarkers such as BRCA2, PALB2, and SPARC so as to determine their influence on tumor response on targeted therapies. As research progresses, more evidence will provide clinicians with guidelines on the utilization of biomarkers to accurately stage and tailor personalized treatment to the needs of specific patients with pancreatic cancer.

Clinical and pathologic features influencing survival in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to determine the clinicopathological features that influence survival in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA).

METHODS

The study used a single institution retrospective review of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for PDA from 1993 to 2010.

RESULTS

Two hundred forty-six consecutive cases of resected PDA were identified: 128 males (52 %), median age 68 years. Median hospital length of stay was 8 days and 30-day mortality rate was 2.4 %. There were 101 (41.1 %) postoperative complications, 77 % of which were Dindo-Clavien Grade 3 or less. Overall survival was 85, 63, 25, and 15 % at 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively, with a median survival of 17 months. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling demonstrated lymph node ratio was negatively correlated with survival at all time points. Preoperative hypertension was a poor prognostic factor at 6 months, 3 years, and 5 years. The absence of postoperative complications was protective at 6 months whereas pancreatic leaks were associated with worse survival at 6 months. Abdominal pain on presentation, operative time, and estimated blood loss were also associated with decreased survival at various time points.

CONCLUSION

The strongest prognostic variable for short- and long-term survival after PD for PDA is lymph node ratio. Short-term survival is influenced by the postoperative course.