Tumors of ampulla of Vater: A case series and review of chemotherapy options

Periampullary cancer and neurological interactions: current understanding and future research directions

Periampullary cancer is a malignant tumor occurring around the ampullary region of the liver and pancreas, encompassing a variety of tissue types and sharing numerous biological characteristics, including interactions with the nervous system. The nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating organ development, maintaining physiological equilibrium, and ensuring life process plasticity, a role that is equally pivotal in oncology. Investigations into nerve-tumor interactions have unveiled their key part in controlling cancer progression, inhibiting anti-tumor immune responses, facilitating invasion and metastasis, and triggering neuropathic pain. Despite many mechanisms by which nerve fibers contribute to cancer advancement still being incompletely understood, the growing emphasis on the significance of nerves within the tumor microenvironment in recent years has set the stage for the development of groundbreaking therapies. This includes combining current neuroactive medications with established therapeutic protocols. This review centers on the mechanisms of Periampullary cancer's interactions with nerves, the influence of various types of nerve innervation on cancer evolution, and outlines the horizons for ongoing and forthcoming research.

[Treatment of Ampullary Adenocarcinoma]

The ampulla of Vater is a small projection formed by the confluence of the main pancreatic duct and common bile duct in the second part of the duodenum. Primary ampullary adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy, accounting for only 0.2% of gastrointestinal cancers and approximately 7% of all periampullary cancers. Jaundice from a biliary obstruction is the most common symptom of ampullary adenocarcinoma. In the early stages, radical pancreatoduodenectomy is the standard surgical approach. On the other hand, no randomized controlled trial has provided evidence to guide physicians on the choice of adjuvant/palliative chemotherapy because of the rarity of the disease and the paucity of related research. This paper reports the biology, histology, current therapeutic strategies, and potential future therapies of ampullary adenocarcinoma.

Proposal of nomograms to predict clinical outcomes in patients with ampulla of Vater cancer based on the Korea-Japan collaborative study

BACKGROUND

In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a nomogram to predict overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients who underwent curative resection of ampulla of Vater (AOV) cancer. This is the first study for nomograms in AOV cancer patients using retrospective data based on an international multicenter study.

METHODS

A total of 2007 patients with AOV adenocarcinoma who received operative therapy between 2002 January and 2015 December in Korea and Japan were retrospectively assessed to develop a prediction model. Nomograms for 5-year OS and 3-year RFS were constructed by dividing the patients who received and who did not receive adjuvant therapy after surgery, respectively. Significant risk factors were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. Performance assessment of the four prediction models was conducted by the Harrell's concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves using bootstrapping.

RESULTS

A total of 2007 and 1873 patients were collected for nomogram construction to predict 5-year OS and 3-year RFS. We developed four types of nomograms, including models for 5-year OS and 3-year RFS in patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy, and 5-year OS and 3-year RFS in patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy. The C-indices of these nomograms were 0.795 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.766-0.823), 0.712 (95% CI: 0.674-0.750), 0.804 (95% CI: 0.7778-0.829), and 0.703 (95% CI: 0.669-0.737), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This predictive model could help clinicians to choose optimal treatment and precisely predict prognosis in AOV cancer patients.

Remission from the 5-Fu-Based Chemotherapy to Gemcitabine-Based Chemotherapy-Based on the Pathological Classification of Periampullary Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background

Periampullary carcinoma, which includes ampullary carcinoma, pancreatic head cancer, distal common bile duct cancer, and duodenal papillary cancer, is a relatively rare malignancy with uncertain therapeutic options. Although several studies have investigated the efficacy of multiple adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for periampullary carcinoma treatment, the optimal regimen remains to be determined. The inherent heterogeneity of the mucosal origin divides periampullary carcinoma into intestinal and pancreaticobiliary types. Therefore, the selection of chemotherapy regimens based on pathological type may have potential therapeutic significance.

Case Presentation

A 72-year-old woman with moderately differentiated periampullary adenocarcinoma experienced disease progression after receiving FOLFOX regimen. Subsequently, the sample was subtyped first by H&E evaluation and then by the evaluation of an IHC panel composed of CK20, CDX2, MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC. The pathologists concluded that the patient’s sample was of the pancreaticobiliary (PB) subtype. The subsequent change to gemcitabine plus S-1 adjuvant therapy achieved remission of liver metastases based on the pathological classification of the cancer.

Conclusion

Based on the pathological classification, adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine may be beneficial for patients with PB subtype periampullary carcinoma. 5-Fu-based adjuvant chemotherapy may be beneficial for patients with intestinal subtype periampullary carcinoma.

Adjuvant therapy for periampullary carcinoma and the significance of histopathological typing: A systematic review

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The efficacy of adjuvant therapy for periampullary carcinoma is controversial.

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There is a trend of classification periampullary carcinoma into PB-type and IN-type, and the prognosis of different subtypes may be significantly different.

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The PB-type patients who accepted gemcitabine based chemotherapy and IN-type patients who accepted 5-FU based chemotherapy, maybe improved the prognosis.

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Chemoradiotherapy appears to be more effective in patients with advanced stages.

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There are few related studies on targeted therapy and immunotherapy, and further research is needed.

Objective

This review investigates the role of adjuvant therapy (AT) and the importance of histopathological typing in periampullary carcinoma (PAC) treatment.

Background

PAC is a relatively rare gastrointestinal malignancy. The regimen and effect of AT in PAC are still controversial. However, there is a treatment based on histopathological types (pancreaticobiliary-type, PB-type or intestinal-type, IN-type), but there are no clear guidelines indicating that typing can be used to guide the selection of AT drugs.

Methods

A literature search of PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted for studies published from January 2001 to August 2021 on the use of AT in PAC.

Results

A total of 75 studies were included in this review. According to existing studies, AT for PAC is mostly based on 5-FU or gemcitabine, but the effect is unknown. However, when PAC is classified into different histopathological types, AT with gemcitabine is beneficial for patients with the PB-type of PAC, while 5-FU-based AT is beneficial for patients with the IN-type of PAC. In addition, the benefits of AT are more pronounced in patients with a high-risk disease, such as patients with stage II/III, T3/T4 tumors, or positive lymph node involvement. There are few studies on targeted therapy and immunotherapy for PAC.

Conclusions

This review suggests that AT has potential survival benefits, especially when based on the histopathologic type that helps the choice of drugs during AT in PAC patients.

Ampullary Carcinoma: An Overview of a Rare Entity and Discussion of Current and Future Therapeutic Challenges

Ampullary carcinomas (ACs) represent a rare entity, accounting for approximately 0.2% of all gastrointestinal solid tumors and 20% of all periampullary cancers (PACs). Unfortunately, few data are available regarding the optimal therapeutic strategy for ACs due to their rarity, and physicians frequently encounter significant difficulties in the management of these malignancies. In this review, we will provide an overview of current evidence on AC, especially focusing on biological features, histological characteristics, and available data guiding present and future therapeutic strategies for these rare, and still barely known, tumors.

Ampullary carcinoma of the duodenum: current clinical issues and genomic overview

Ampullary carcinomas of the duodenum are uncommon. Moreover, the diversity in the clinical outcomes of these patients makes it difficult to interpret previous studies and clinical trial results. The difficulty in proper staging of ampullary carcinomas, especially with regard to the T category of the tumor in the TNM system, reflects the anatomic complexity and non-uniform histopathologic subtypes. One major reason for this difficulty in interpretation is that the tumors may arise from any of the three epithelia (duodenal, biliary, or pancreatic) that converge at this location. Generally, ampullary carcinomas are classified into intestinal and pancreaticobiliary types based on morphology and immunohistochemical features. While many studies have described their specific characteristics and clinical impact, the prognostic value of these subtypes is controversial. In recent years, whole-exome sequencing analyses have advanced our understanding of the genomic overview of ampullary carcinoma. Gene mutations serve as prognostic and predictive biomarkers for this disease. Therefore, basic knowledge of the genomic profile of ampullary carcinomas is required for surgeons to understand how best to apply precision medicine as well as surgery and adjuvant therapies. This review provides an overview of the current basic and clinical issues of ampullary carcinoma.

Crosstalk between miRNAs and signaling pathways involved in pancreatic cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with 5-year survival rates below 8%. Most patients with PC and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) die after relapse and cancer progression as well as resistance to treatment. Pancreatic tumors contain a high desmoplastic stroma that forms a rigid mass and has a potential role in tumor growth and metastasis. PC initiates from intraepithelial neoplasia lesions leading to invasive cancer through various pathways. These lesions harbor particular changes in signaling pathways involved in the tumorigenesis process. These events affect both the epithelial cells, including the tumor and the surrounding stroma, and eventually lead to the formation of complex signaling networks. Genetic studies of PC have revealed common molecular features such as the presence of mutations in KRAS gene in more than 90% of patients, as well as the inactivation or deletion mutations of some tumor suppressor genes including TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4. In recent years, studies have also identified different roles of microRNAs in PC pathogenesis as well as their importance in PC diagnosis and treatment, and their involvement in various signaling pathways. In this study, we discussed the most common pathways involved in PC and PDAC as well as their role in tumorigenesis and progression. Furthermore, the miRNAs participating in the regulation of these signaling pathways in PC progression are summarized in this study. Therefore, understanding more about pathways involved in PC can help with the development of new and effective therapies in the future.

Ampullary Adenocarcinoma Causing Small Intestinal Obstruction

Ampullary adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor that arises from the ampullary complex, distal to the confluence of common bile duct and pancreatic duct. It is a rare tumor and pathologically differentiated into intestinal or pancreaticobiliary in origin. Management is surgical resection. We report a case of a 67-year-old male who presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. Computed tomography scan showed a cystic mass compressing the duodenum and causing small intestinal obstruction. Pathologic evaluation was consistent with ampullary adenocarcinoma.

Does adjuvant treatment improve prognosis after curative resection of ampulla of Vater carcinoma? A multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Ampulla of Vater (AoV) carcinoma is a rare tumor that accounts for approximately 0.2% of gastrointestinal malignancies. There are no clinical guidelines concerning the treatment of AoV carcinoma. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of adjuvant treatment in AoV carcinoma following curative resection and define the "high-risk" group.

METHODS

Clinical data of patients who underwent curative resection for AoV carcinoma in four hospitals, namely Yonsei Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and National Cancer Center (n = 651; 2002-2015), were reviewed. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier estimates.

RESULTS

Data of 651 patients who had undergone curative resection were retrospectively reviewed. Age, T stage, N stage, and differentiation type remained strong and independent risk factors for RFS and OS. In early-stage AoV carcinoma (T1N0, T2N0), the non-adjuvant group had better prognosis based on the RFS and OS than the adjuvant group (P < .001, P = .007). In advanced T stage (T3N0, T4N0), the adjuvant group had better prognosis than the non-adjuvant group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > .05). In node-positive patients (any T, N1/2), adjuvant treatment did not affect RFS and OS (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant treatment after curative resection of AoV carcinoma is not associated with improved survival. The high-risk group (node-positive or advanced T stage (T3, T4)) treated with adjuvant treatment was not statistically associated with improved survival; however, our study showed that the adjuvant treatment for the high-risk group might help achieve better patient outcome.

Linking Helicobacter pylori with gallbladder and biliary tract cancer in Moroccan population using clinical and pathological profiles

It is of interest to assess the clinical and pathological aspects of Gallbladder and biliary tract carcinomas confirmed by histological data. It is also of further interest to evaluate the link between Helicobacter pylori and biliary tract cancers. Eighty-nine (89) cases (mean age 60±12 years) of Gallbladder and biliary tract cancer confirmed by histological data were enrolled for the study at the Department of Pathology in Mohammed VI University Hospital, in Morocco. The data such as age, sex, clinical and histo pathological features were collected. Bile duct specimens were investigated for H. pylori using Giemsa and immuno histo chemistry staining. Results show that bile duct stones were found in 53.9% of cases. It is known using histological data that adeno carcinoma is common accounting for 70 % of all bile duct tumors. Moreover, Helicobacter pylori was detected in 54% of cases linking with the presence of bile duct stones characterized by the histological subtype, the macroscopic classification and lymph node's presence (p<0.001). Thus, data collected suggest the potential association of Helicobacter pylori with gallbladder cancer possibly through the formation of bile duct stones.

Conversion surgery for initially unresectable carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater following pathological complete response to chemotherapy: a case report

Background

Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater with distant metastases is regarded as unresectable. Systemic chemotherapy is basically the treatment of choice for such tumors.

Case presentation

A 68-year-old woman was referred to our hospital and diagnosed with carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater with lymph node and multiple liver metastases. She underwent systemic chemotherapy with a combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin. After 19 months of treatment, the primary tumor and liver metastases were difficult to detect on follow-up images. Shrinkage of the enlarged lymph nodes was also confirmed. Surgical resection was performed with curative intent after a multidisciplinary meeting. Pathological examination of the resected specimen showed no residual tumors. Systemic chemotherapy achieved a pathological complete response. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient remained free of recurrent disease at 10 months of follow-up.

Conclusion

This case shows the possibility of conversion surgery after systemic chemotherapy for carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

Impact of tumor site on the prognosis of small bowel adenocarcinoma

Background:

Because of a lack of large-scale prospective studies there is no clear indication about the management of patients with small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA). This study evaluated clinical outcome of patients diagnosed with SBA at our institution.

Methods:

Clinicopathologic features, treatments, and clinical outcome of patients diagnosed with SBA between 2006 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Median time of survival was calculated and compared using the log-rank test. Multivariate Cox regression was used to test independence of significant factors in univariate analysis.

Results:

Forty patients were included in the study; the majority (82.5%) had a tumor in the duodenum (including ampulla of Vater) and an early stage disease at the diagnosis. Median overall survival (OS) in the whole study population was 26.5 months. Patients with a tumor of the lower part of the small intestine (jejunum, ileum, and appendix) showed a better OS compared with that of patients with upper SBA (40 months vs 26 months, respectively; P=0.09). Primary tumor site and stage were independent predictors of OS.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest a prognostic role for the primary tumor site. This finding deserves to be further investigated to ensure better classification as well as more effective management strategies for SBA.

Ampulla of Vater carcinoma: Molecular landscape and clinical implications

Ampulla of Vater is a peculiar anatomical structure, characterized by the crossroad of three distinct epithelia: Intestinal, ductal pancreatic and biliary. Adenocarcinomas arising in this area represent an opportunity to understand the comparative biology of all periampullary malignancies. These neoplasms can exhibit intestinal, pancreaticobiliary or mixed features, whereas the subclassification based on morphology and immunohistochemical features failed in demonstrating a robust prognostic reliability. In the last few years, the molecular landscape of this tumor entity has been uncovered, identifying alterations that may serve as prognostic and predictive biomarkers. In this review, the histological and genetic characteristics of ampullary carcinomas are discussed, taking into account the main clinical and therapeutic implications related to this tumor type as well.

Ampulla of Vater Carcinoma: Sequencing Analysis Identifies TP53 Status as a Novel Independent Prognostic Factor and Potentially Actionable ERBB, PI3K, and WNT Pathways Gene Mutations

OBJECTIVE

To identify molecular prognostic factors and potentially actionable mutations in ampulla of Vater cancer (AVC).

BACKGROUND

The largely variable outcomes of AVCs make clinical decisions difficult regarding the need of postsurgical therapy, which is based on morphological and immunohistochemical classification that do not adequately consider the varying degrees of heterogeneity present in many AVCs. No approved targeted therapies for AVC exist, but some show promising results requiring better molecular characterization to identify potential responders.

METHODS

We assessed 80 AVCs for the prognostic value of mutations of kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS), neuroblastoma RAS (NRAS), B rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (BRAF), TP53, and 4 membrane erythroblastosis oncogene B (ERBB) receptor tyrosine kinases (EGFR-ERBB1, HER2-ERBB2, HER3-ERBB3, HER4-ERBB4) amenable to pharmacological inhibition. Moreover, we evaluated mutations in 16 key components of rat sarcoma (RAS), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K), protein 53 (P53), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and wingless/integrated (WNT) pathways, recently associated to AVC by whole-exome sequencing.

RESULTS

TP53 and KRAS were mutated in 41% and 35% of cases, respectively, and emerged as independent prognostic factors together with tumor stage and regardless of the histotype (TP53: P = 0.0006; KRAS: P = 0.0018; stage IIB: P = 0.0117; stage III-IV: P = 0.0020). ERBB, WNT and PI3K pathway genes were mutated in 37.5% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

KRAS and TP53 mutations are negative predictors of survival in AVCs, regardless of histotype. Potentially actionable mutations in ERBB, WNT, and PI3K signaling pathway genes are present in 37.5% of all cases. These might be amenable to target therapy using available drugs like Everolimus in PI3K-mutated cases or compounds under active screening against ERBB and WNT signaling.

Translational study reveals a two-faced role of RBM3 in pancreatic cancer and suggests its potential value as a biomarker for improved patient stratification

Periampullary adenocarcinoma, including pancreatic cancer, is a heterogeneous group of tumors with dismal prognosis, partially due to lack of reliable targetable and predictive biomarkers. RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) has previously been shown to be an independent prognostic and predictive biomarker in several types of cancer. Herein, we examined the prognostic value of RBM3 in periampullary adenocarcinoma, as well as the effects following RBM3 suppression in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. RBM3 mRNA levels were examined in 176 pancreatic cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Immunohistochemical expression of RBM3 was analyzed in tissue microarrays with primary tumors and paired lymph node metastases from 175 consecutive patients with resected periampullary adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic cancer cells were transfected with anti-RBM3 siRNA in vitro and the influence on cell viability following chemotherapy, transwell migration and invasion was assessed. The results demonstrated that high mRNA-levels of RBM3 were significantly associated with a reduced overall survival (p = 0.026). RBM3 protein expression was significantly higher in lymph node metastases than in primary tumors (p = 0.005). High RBM3 protein expression was an independent predictive factor for the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy and an independent negative prognostic factor in untreated patients (p for interaction = 0.003). After siRNA suppression of RBM3 in vitro, pancreatic cancer cells displayed reduced migration and invasion compared to control, as well as a significantly increased resistance to chemotherapy. In conclusion, the strong indication of a positive response predictive effect of RBM3 expression in pancreatic cancer may be highly relevant in the clinical setting and merits further validation.

Development of a Prognostic Model That Predicts Survival After Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Ampullary Cancer

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to (i) identify independent predictors of survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy for ampullary cancer and (ii) develop a prognostic model of survival.

METHODS

Data were analyzed retrospectively on 110 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2002 and 2013. Subjects were categorized into 3 nodal subgroups as per the recently proposed nodal subclassification: N0 (node negative), N1 (1-2 metastatic nodes), or N2 (≥3 metastatic nodes). Clinicopathological features and overall survival were compared by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 79.8%, 42.2%, and 34.9%, respectively. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates for the N0 group were 85.2%, 71.9%, and 67.4%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates for the N1 and N2 subgroups were 81.5%, 49.4%, and 49.4% and 75%, 19.2%, and 6.4%, respectively (log rank, P < 0.0001). After performing a multivariate Cox regression analysis, vascular invasion and lymph node ratio were the only independent predictors of survival. Hence, a prediction model of survival was constructed based on those 2 variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Using data from a carefully selected cohort of patients, we created a pilot prognostic model of postresectional survival. The proposed model may help clinicians to guide treatments in the adjuvant setting.

Ampullary Cancers Harbor ELF3 Tumor Suppressor Gene Mutations and Exhibit Frequent WNT Dysregulation

The ampulla of Vater is a complex cellular environment from which adenocarcinomas arise to form a group of histopathologically heterogenous tumors. To evaluate the molecular features of these tumors, 98 ampullary adenocarcinomas were evaluated and compared to 44 distal bile duct and 18 duodenal adenocarcinomas. Genomic analyses revealed mutations in the WNT signaling pathway among half of the patients and in all three adenocarcinomas irrespective of their origin and histological morphology. These tumors were characterized by a high frequency of inactivating mutations of ELF3, a high rate of microsatellite instability, and common focal deletions and amplifications, suggesting common attributes in the molecular pathogenesis are at play in these tumors. The high frequency of WNT pathway activating mutation, coupled with small-molecule inhibitors of β-catenin in clinical trials, suggests future treatment decisions for these patients may be guided by genomic analysis.

Immunophenotyping of ampullary carcinomata allows for stratification of treatment specific subgroups

BACKGROUND

Ampullary carcinomata (AC) can be separated into intestinal (IT) or pancreatobiliary (PB) subtypes. Although morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular differentiation of IT and PB have been well documented; the prognostic significance of histological subtype and whether patients with either subtype benefit from differential chemotherapeutic regimens remains unclear.

METHODS

As part of a larger cohort study, patients who underwent resection for AC or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) were retrospectively identified. Clinicopathological covariates and outcome were obtained and MUC1, MUC2, CDX2 and CK20 were assessed with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Of 99 ACs, the resultant immunophenotypes indicated 48% and 22% were IT and PB, respectively. Thirty (30%) cases were quadruple negative (QN). Within the PDAC cohort (N = 257), the most prevalent immunophenotype was QN (53%). Subsequently, all QN ACs were classified as PB immunohistochemically yielding 47.5% and 52.5% classified as IT and PB, respectively. Involved regional lymph nodes and elevated T-stage were significantly associated with PB compared with IT AC (p = 0.0032 and 0.0396, respectively). Progression-free survival revealed inferior survival for PB versus IT AC (p = 0.0156).

CONCLUSIONS

AC can be classified into prognostic groups with unique clinicopathological characteristics using immunohistochemistry. Immunophenotypical similarity of PB and PDAC suggests that treatment regimens similar to those used in PDAC should be explored.

Prognostic Factors for the Selection of Patients Eligible for Second-Line Chemotherapy in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of second-line chemotherapy (CT2) after the failure of first-line chemotherapy (CT1) for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) has not been established. We investigated the favorable prognostic factors for CT2 to determine which patients could be expected to benefit from CT2.

METHODS

From a total of 168 patients who were treated with chemotherapy at our institution between January 2003 and December 2012, we retrospectively reviewed 50 patients who received CT2. Patients were treated with various chemotherapeutic combinations as CT1 and CT2. RESULts: The median overall survival (OS) of patients who received and CT2 was 10.2 and 5.5 months, respectively. Good performance status (PS), a serum albumin level >3.5 g/dl and metastasis to only 1 organ were independent prognostic factors that affected the OS of the patients who received CT2. Patients who had only 1 metastastic organ, a good PS and a serum albumin level >3.5 g/dl at the beginning of CT2 demonstrated prolonged survival compared to patients who did not exhibit these 3 factors (9.5 vs. 4.3 months, p < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

CT2 should be considered for patients with advanced BTC, especially for those who have only 1 metastatic organ and remain in generally good medical condition after the failure of CT1.

Recent advances for the treatment of pancreatic and biliary tract cancer after first-line treatment failure

Here, we evaluate clinical trials on chemotherapy for patients with pancreatic or biliary tract cancer after first-line treatment failure. Clinical trials on conventional and innovative medical treatments for progressive pancreatic and biliary cancer were analyzed. Metronomic chemotherapy, which consists of the administration of continuative low-dose of anticancer drugs, was also considered. A significant extension of overall survival was achieved with second-line, regimens in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer. Moreover, many Phase II studies, including chemotherapy and target molecules and immunotherapy, have reported promising results, in both pancreatic and biliary cancer. However, data in these patients' setting are very heterogeneous, and only few randomized studies are available.

[Papillary tumors - therapeutic concepts]

Papillary tumors originate from the various structures of the ampulla of Vater; therefore, these rare tumors represent a heterogeneous group of tumor entities. Intestinal differentiated adenomas are the most common benign lesions, whereas intestinal differentiated papillary carcinomas are the most common malignant tumors. Carcinomas with pancreaticobiliary differentiation have a poorer prognosis. Mesenchymal and neuroendocrine tumors are among the least frequent papillary tumors. Diagnosis is performed by side-view upper endoscopy and biopsy. In cases of suspected malignancy a complete staging with computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasound scanning is indicated to determine local tumor spread.Adenomas are removed by endoscopic snare papillectomy whereas the therapy of choice for papillary carcinomas is pancreatic head resection with systematic lymphadenectomy. Patients with papillary carcinomas are most likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy, which should be determined in an interdisciplinary consensus conference considering the histological differentiation of the tumor.

A case of periampullary adenocarcinoma in neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder with a known predisposition to gastrointestinal neoplasms such as stromal tumors and carcinoids. Adenocarcinomas (ACs) of the gastrointestinal tract are relatively rare in patients with NF-1, especially those found in the periampullary region. We present a case report of periampullary adenocarcinoma in a 56-year-old woman with NF-1 who presented with abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice.

Prognostic and treatment predictive significance of SATB1 and SATB2 expression in pancreatic and periampullary adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer and other pancreaticobiliary type periampullary adenocarcinomas have a dismal prognosis even after resection and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Intestinal type periampullary adenocarcinomas generally have a better prognosis, but little is known on optimal neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment. New prognostic and treatment predictive biomarkers are needed for improved treatment stratification of patients with both types of periampullary adenocarcinoma. Expression of the Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) has been demonstrated to confer a worse prognosis in several tumour types, whereas its close homologue SATB2 is a proposed diagnostic and favourable prognostic marker for colorectal cancer. The prognostic value of SATB1 and SATB2 expression in periampullary adenocarcinoma has not yet been described.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical expression of SATB1 and SATB2 was analysed in tissue microarrays with primary tumours and a subset of paired lymph node metastases from 175 patients operated with pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary adenocarcinoma. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis were applied to explore the impact of SATB1 and SATB2 expression on recurrence free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Positive expression of SATB1 was denoted in 16/106 primary pancreatobiliary type tumours and 11/65 metastases, and in 15/63 primary intestinal type tumours and 4/26 metastases, respectively. Expression of SATB1 was an independent predictor of a significantly shorter RFS and OS in pancreatobiliary type, but not in intestinal type adenocarcinomas. Moreover, SATB1 expression predicted an improved response to adjuvant chemotherapy in both tumour types. SATB2-expression was seen in 3/107 pancreatobiliary type primary tumours, and in 8/61 intestinal type primary tumours. The small number of cases with positive SATB2 expression did not allow for any firm conclusions on its prognostic value.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate the potential utility of SATB1 as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for chemotherapy response in both intestinal type and pancreatobiliary type periampullary adenocarcinomas, including pancreatic cancer.

Prognostic significance of standardized uptake value on preoperative ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in patients with ampullary adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with ampullary adenocarcinoma (AAC) after curative surgical resection.

METHODS

Fifty-two patients with AAC who had undergone (18)F-FDG PET/CT and subsequent curative resections were retrospectively enrolled. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and tumor to background ratio (TBR) were measured on (18)F-FDG PET/CT in all patients. The prognostic significances of PET/CT parameters and clinicopathologic factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 52 patients, 19 (36.5%) experienced tumor recurrence during the follow-up period and 18 (35.8%) died. The 3-year RFS and OS were 62.3 and 61.5%, respectively. Preoperative CA19-9 level, tumor differentiation, presence of lymph node metastasis, SUVmax, and TBR were significant prognostic factors for both RFS and OS (p < 0.05) on univariate analyses, and patient age showed significance only for predicting RFS (p < 0.05). On multivariate analyses, SUVmax and TBR were independent prognostic factors for RFS, and tumor differentiation, SUVmax, and TBR were independent prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSION

SUVmax and TBR on preoperative (18)F-FDG PET/CT are independent prognostic factors for predicting RFS and OS in patients with AAC; patients with high SUVmax (>4.80) or TBR (>1.75) had poor survival outcomes. The role of and indications for adjuvant therapy after curative resection of AAC are still unclear. (18)F-FDG uptake in the primary tumor could provide additive prognostic information for the decision-making process regarding adjuvant therapy.

Mitomycin-based hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for solitary ampullary cancer liver metastasis: an unusual treatment for an uncommon disease

Ampullary carcinoma is an uncommon gastrointestinal disease. Its natural history is often characterized by the occurrence of liver metastases. Among patients who undergo pancreatoduodenectomy, those presenting with lymph nodes involvement are more prone to early distant disease relapse. In this report, a patient previously diagnosed with ampullary carcinoma had been treated with curative surgery. After subsequent adjuvant gemcitabine, the patient developed significant myelotoxicity and suffered from a single liver metastasis a few months later. A hepatic intra-arterial mitomycin plus fluorouracil-based chemotherapy was administered in order to avoid any serious systemic toxicity. The treatment was well tolerated and no serious side effects occurred. Extra-hepatic cancer relapse, involving intra-thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes, was observed not long after the initial intra-hepatic almost complete response. In conclusion, the locoregional chemotherapy administration was effective in overcoming any systemic toxicities and showed activity against the liver metastasis but it did not prevent extra-hepatic cancer dissemination.

Metachronous bilateral pulmonary metastases from cancer of the ampulla duodeni

We present a 76-year-old man who underwent two lung resections for metastases originating from cancer of the Ampulla duodeni, 9 years-after pancreaticoduodenectomy with lymphadenectomy. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 2002; histological examination of the original tumor revealed a stage III tubular adenocarcinoma (pT3, N0, M0). Repetitive lung resection was performed in 2007 (left S8) and 2011 (right S1 and extirpation of a pericardial cyst). Although rarely performed, resection of bilateral pulmonary metastases from carcinoma of the papilla of Vater was done to improve the patient's chances for longterm survival.

Intestinal-type and pancreatobiliary-type adenocarcinomas: how does ampullary carcinoma differ from other periampullary malignancies?

BACKGROUND

Ampullary carcinomas typically have either intestinal or pancreatobiliary type of differentiation, histopathologically resembling carcinomas of its adjacent tissues (duodenum, bile duct, or pancreas). We evaluated whether the histologic type itself is more important for long-term survival than the fact that the tumor originated in the ampulla.

METHODS

Microscopic slides from 207 consecutive pancreatoduodenectomies were reviewed (72 pancreatic, 46 biliary, 61 ampullary, and 28 duodenal adenocarcinomas; 76 intestinal type, 131 pancreatobiliary type). Tumor size, nodal involvement, margin involvement, degree of differentiation, vascular involvement, and perineural growth, as well as overall survival, were compared between different origins of the same histologic type.

RESULTS

Intestinal-type ampullary adenocarcinomas had similar frequency of poor histopathologic factors compared to duodenal adenocarcinomas, and pancreatobiliary-type ampullary adenocarcinomas had similar frequency of poor histopathologic factors compared to pancreatobiliary-type biliary and pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Adjusting for tumor size and nodal involvement, there was no difference in long-term survival between patients with intestinal-type ampullary, duodenal, or biliary and pancreatic tumors (p = 0.79), and there was no difference in long-term survival between patients with pancreatobiliary-type ampullary, biliary, or pancreatic tumors (p = 0.41).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term survival for patients with ampullary carcinomas equals pancreatic, biliary, and duodenal carcinomas when the same histologic type is compared. It can be questioned whether ampullary carcinomas should be regarded as a separate entity in classification of solid tumors. Clinical trials on adjuvant treatments for periampullary carcinomas should stratify by pancreatobiliary type versus intestinal type of histologic differentiation.