Clinical outcomes of second-line therapy following disease progression on first-line modified FOLFIRINOX for borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX) is one of the standard first-line therapies in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC). However, there is no globally accepted second-line therapy following progression on mFOLFIRINOX.

METHODS

Patients with BRPC and LAPC (n = 647) treated with first-line mFOLFIRINOX between January 2017 and December 2020 were included in this retrospective analysis. The details of the treatment outcomes and patterns of subsequent therapy after mFOLFIRINOX were reviewed.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up duration of 44.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 42.3-47.6), 322 patients exhibited disease progression on mFOLFIRINOX-locoregional progression only in 177 patients (55.0%) and distant metastasis in 145 patients (45.0%). The locoregional progression group demonstrated significantly longer post-progression survival (PPS) than that of the distant metastasis group (10.1 vs. 7.3 months, p = 0.002). In the locoregional progression group, survival outcomes did not differ between second-line chemoradiation/radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy (progression-free survival with second-line therapy [PFS-2], 3.2 vs. 4.3 months; p = 0.649; PPS, 10.7 vs. 10.2 months; p = 0.791). In patients who received second-line systemic chemotherapy following progression on mFOLFIRINOX (n = 211), gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel was associated with better disease control rates (69.2% vs. 42.3%, p = 0.005) and PFS-2 (3.8 vs. 1.7 months, p = 0.035) than gemcitabine monotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study showed the real-world practice pattern of subsequent therapy and clinical outcomes following progression on first-line mFOLFIRINOX in BRPC and LAPC. Further investigation is necessary to establish the optimal therapy after failure of mFOLFIRINOX.

Deep learning-based prediction of post-pancreaticoduodenectomy pancreatic fistula

Postoperative pancreatic fistula is a life-threatening complication with an unmet need for accurate prediction. This study was aimed to develop preoperative artificial intelligence-based prediction models. Patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy were enrolled and stratified into model development and validation sets by surgery between 2016 and 2017 or in 2018, respectively. Machine learning models based on clinical and body composition data, and deep learning models based on computed tomographic data, were developed, combined by ensemble voting, and final models were selected comparison with earlier model. Among the 1333 participants (training, n = 881; test, n = 452), postoperative pancreatic fistula occurred in 421 (47.8%) and 134 (31.8%) and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula occurred in 59 (6.7%) and 27 (6.0%) participants in the training and test datasets, respectively. In the test dataset, the area under the receiver operating curve [AUC (95% confidence interval)] of the selected preoperative model for predicting all and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula was 0.75 (0.71-0.80) and 0.68 (0.58-0.78). The ensemble model showed better predictive performance than the individual ML and DL models.

Clinical implication of the geometric location (fundal end versus cystic ductal end) of gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Management of early-stage gallbladder cancer is becoming more important as the rate of early detection is increasing. Although there have been many studies about the clinical implication of the invasion depth or peritoneal/hepatic location of gallbladder cancers, there is no study on the clinical implication of the geometric location of cancer along the longitudinal length of the gallbladder.

METHODS

The location of gallbladder cancer was defined as the geometric center of the primary site of a tumour, which lies on the longitudinal diameter of the surgical specimens. We compared the oncologic outcomes following surgery between gallbladder cancers located on the fundal end and those located on the cystic ductal end. We also analysed patients with stage 1 gallbladder cancer who recurred after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 575 patients with gallbladder cancer were included in this study. Patients with gallbladder cancer on the cystic ductal end had significantly lower rates of recurrence-free survival (P = 0.016) and overall survival (P = 0.023) compared to those with gallbladder cancer on the fundal end. Among 90 patients with stage 1 gallbladder cancer, three patients had a recurrence, all of whom had cystic ductal end gallbladder cancer and showed cystic duct invasion or concomitant xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis in permanent pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

Gallbladder cancers on the cystic ductal end had worse postoperative oncologic outcomes compared with those on the fundal end.

Comparison of Surgical Outcomes of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery in Adult Choledochal Cysts

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for cyst excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) is widely performed for adult choledochal cysts. Few articles compared the robotic and laparoscopic approaches for choledochal cysts. Methods: Between 2014 and 2022, 157 patients who underwent MIS for choledochal cysts were retrospectively analyzed. Perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent totally robotic surgery, robot-assisted surgery, and laparoscopic surgery were compared, respectively. Also, postoperative outcomes of patients with robotic reconstruction and laparoscopic reconstruction during HJ were compared. Results: Perioperative outcomes were comparable between robotic and laparoscopic groups. The suturing technique for the anterior and posterior walls of the HJ differed significantly between the robotic and laparoscopic reconstruction groups (P = .001). However, there were no significant differences in postoperative outcomes, including total complications (P = .304), major complications (P = .411), and postoperative interventions (P = .411), between the two groups. Conclusions: The robotic and laparoscopic approaches for adult choledochal cysts have comparable surgical outcomes. In the MIS era, robotic surgery could be an alternative surgical option for adult choledochal cysts.

Evaluation of postoperative outcomes of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy for left-sided pancreatic tumors based on the modified frailty index: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study compared the postoperative outcomes of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) for left-sided pancreatic tumors based on the modified frailty index (mFI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 2212 patients who underwent MIDP for left-sided pancreatic tumors between 2005 and 2019. Postoperative outcomes, including complications (morbidity and mortality), were analyzed using mFI, and the participants were divided into two groups: frail ( n =79) and nonfrail ( n =2133). A subanalysis of 495 MIDPs for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was conducted to compare oncological outcomes.

RESULTS

Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula was significantly higher in the frail group than in the nonfrail group. A significant between-group difference was observed in overall complications with Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥III. Furthermore, the proportion of all complications before readmission was higher in the frail group than in the nonfrail group. Among all readmitted patients, the frail group had a higher number of grade ≥IV patients requiring ICU treatment. The frail group's 90-day mortality was 1.3%; the difference was statistically significant (nonfrail: 0.3%, P =0.021). In the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, mFI ≥0.27 (odds ratio 3.231, 95% CI: 1.889-5.523, P <0.001), extended pancreatectomy, BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 , male sex, and malignancy were risk factors for Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥III.

CONCLUSION

mFI is a potential preoperative tool for predicting severe postoperative complications, including mortality, in patients who have undergone MIDP for left-sided tumors.

Analysis of Plasma Circulating Tumor DNA in Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Modified FOLFIRINOX: Clinical Relevance of DNA Damage Repair Gene Alteration Detection

PURPOSE

There are no reliable biomarkers to guide treatment for patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) in the neoadjuvant setting. We used plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing to search biomarkers for patients with BRPC receiving neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX in our phase 2 clinical trial (NCT02749136).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Among the 44 patients enrolled in the trial, patients with plasma ctDNA sequencing at baseline or post-operation were included in this analysis. Plasma cell-free DNA isolation and sequencing were performed using the Guardant 360 assay. Detection of genomic alterations, including DNA damage repair (DDR) genes, were examined for correlations with survival.

RESULTS

Among the 44 patients, 28 patients had ctDNA sequencing data qualified for the analysis and were included in this study. Among the 25 patients with baseline plasma ctDNA data, 10 patients (40%) had alterations of DDR genes detected at baseline, inclu-ding ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2 and MLH1, and showed significantly better progression-free survival than those without such DDR gene alterations detected (median, 26.6 vs. 13.5 months; log-rank p=0.004). Patients with somatic KRAS mutations detected at baseline (n=6) had significantly worse overall survival (median, 8.5 months vs. not applicable; log-rank p=0.003) than those without. Among 13 patients with post-operative plasma ctDNA data, eight patients (61.5%) had detectable somatic alterations.

CONCLUSION

Detection of DDR gene mutations from plasma ctDNA at baseline was associated with better survival outcomes of pati-ents with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX and may be a prognostic biomarker.

The clinical implication of minimally invasive versus open pancreatoduodenectomy for non-pancreatic periampullary cancer: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Most studies on minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) combine patients with pancreatic and periampullary cancers even though there is substantial heterogeneity between these tumors. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the role of MIPD compared to open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) in patients with non-pancreatic periampullary cancer (NPPC).

METHODS

A systematic review of Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases was performed by two independent reviewers to identify studies comparing MIPD and OPD for NPPC (ampullary, distal cholangio, and duodenal adenocarcinoma) (01/2015-12/2021). Individual patient data were required from all identified studies. Primary outcomes were (90-day) mortality, and major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo 3a-5). Secondary outcomes were postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), blood-loss, length of hospital stay (LOS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Overall, 16 studies with 1949 patients were included, combining 928 patients with ampullary, 526 with distal cholangio, and 461 with duodenal cancer. In total, 902 (46.3%) patients underwent MIPD, and 1047 (53.7%) patients underwent OPD. The rates of 90-day mortality, major morbidity, POPF, DGE, PPH, blood-loss, and length of hospital stay did not differ between MIPD and OPD. Operation time was 67 min longer in the MIPD group (P = 0.009). A decrease in DFS for ampullary (HR 2.27, P = 0.019) and distal cholangio (HR 1.84, P = 0.025) cancer, as well as a decrease in OS for distal cholangio (HR 1.71, P = 0.045) and duodenal cancer (HR 4.59, P < 0.001) was found in the MIPD group.

CONCLUSIONS

This individual patient data meta-analysis of MIPD versus OPD in patients with NPPC suggests that MIPD is not inferior in terms of short-term morbidity and mortality. Several major limitations in long-term data highlight a research gap that should be studied in prospective maintained international registries or randomized studies for ampullary, distal cholangio, and duodenum cancer separately.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42021277495) on the 25th of October 2021.

Integrative modeling of tumor genomes and epigenomes for enhanced cancer diagnosis by cell-free DNA

Multi-cancer early detection remains a key challenge in cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based liquid biopsy. Here, we perform cfDNA whole-genome sequencing to generate two test datasets covering 2125 patient samples of 9 cancer types and 1241 normal control samples, and also a reference dataset for background variant filtering based on 20,529 low-depth healthy samples. An external cfDNA dataset consisting of 208 cancer and 214 normal control samples is used for additional evaluation. Accuracy for cancer detection and tissue-of-origin localization is achieved using our algorithm, which incorporates cancer type-specific profiles of mutation distribution and chromatin organization in tumor tissues as model references. Our integrative model detects early-stage cancers, including those of pancreatic origin, with high sensitivity that is comparable to that of late-stage detection. Model interpretation reveals the contribution of cancer type-specific genomic and epigenomic features. Our methodologies may lay the groundwork for accurate cfDNA-based cancer diagnosis, especially at early stages.

Robotic versus laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgery is becoming increasingly popular in the field of pancreatic surgery. However, there are few studies of robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of RDP for PDAC.

METHODS

Patients who underwent RDP or laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) for PDAC between January 2015 and September 2020 were reviewed. Propensity score matching analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Of the 335 patients included in the study, 24 underwent RDP and 311 underwent LDP. A total of 21 RDP patients were matched 1:1 with LDP patients. RDP was associated with longer operative time (209.7 vs. 163.2 min; P = 0.003), lower open conversion rate (0% vs. 4.8%; P < 0.001), higher cost (15 722 vs. 12 699 dollars; P = 0.003), and a higher rate of achievement of an R0 resection margin (90.5% vs. 61.9%; P = 0.042). However, postoperative pancreatic fistula grade B or C showed no significant inter-group difference (9.5% vs. 9.5%). The median disease-free survival (34.5 vs. 17.3 months; P = 0.588) and overall survival (37.7 vs. 21.9 months; P = 0.171) were comparable between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

RDP is associated with longer operative time, a higher cost of surgery, and a higher likelihood of achieving R0 margins than LDP.

Comparison of EUS-guided ablation and surgical resection for nonfunctioning small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a propensity score-matching study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Treatment strategies for small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) <2 cm in size are still under debate. The feasibility and safety of EUS-guided ethanol ablation (EUS-EA) have been demonstrated. However, sample sizes in previous studies were small with no comparative studies on surgery. Therefore, we aimed to compare the safety and long-term outcomes of EUS-EA with those of surgery for the management of nonfunctioning small PNETs.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with PNETs who were managed by EUS-EA (from 2011 to 2018) and surgery (from 2000 to 2018) at Asan Medical Center. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to increase comparability. The primary outcome was early and late major adverse events (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III) after treatment. Secondary outcomes were 10-year overall (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates, length of hospital stay, and development of endocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

RESULTS

Of all patients, 97 and 188 patients were included in the EUS-EA and surgery groups, respectively. PSM created 89 matched pairs. EUS-EA was associated with a significantly lower rate of early major adverse events (0% vs 11.2%, P = .003). Late major adverse events occurred more frequently after surgery, with no significant difference between groups (3.4% vs 10.1%, P = .07). Both treatment modalities showed comparable 10-year OS and DSS rates. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the EUS-EA group (4 days vs 14.1 days, P < .001), and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency was less common after EUS-EA than after surgery (33.3% vs 48.6%, P = .121).

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-EA had fewer adverse events and a shorter hospital stay with similar OS and DSS rates compared with surgery, suggesting that EUS-EA may be a preferred alternative to surgical resection in selected patients with nonfunctioning small PNETs.

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.

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: Three case reports and a literature review

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma is defined as a tumor with a mixture of adenocarcinoma components and neuroendocrine neoplasm components. Each of these two components of mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma accounts for at least 30% of all tumors. Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma might be located in the ampulla of Vater, a very rare location compared to other organs. Thus, its treatment and prognosis plans have not been established yet. We report three cases of mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma occurring in the ampulla of Vater. Each patient had a different clinical course. In general, difficulty in preoperative diagnosis, risk of early recurrence, and poor disease course were main hallmarks of mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma arising from the ampulla of Vater. However, one patient in this case report survived although she did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy due to her old age. Therefore, it is important to establish a careful treatment strategy for mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma arising from the ampulla of Vater.

Survival Benefit of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Who Underwent Surgery Following Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX

Purpose

The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy following curative-intent surgery in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients who had received neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX is unclear. This study aimed to assess the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in this patient population.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study included 218 patients with localized non-metastatic PDAC who received neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX and underwent curative-intent surgery (R0 or R1) between January 2017 and December 2020. The association of adjuvant chemotherapy with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated in overall patients and in the propensity score matched (PSM) cohort. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to the pathology-proven lymph node status.

Results

Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 149 (68.3%) patients. In the overall cohort, the adjuvant chemotherapy group had significantly improved DFS and OS compared to the observation group (DFS: median 13.8 months [95% CI, 11.0-19.1] vs. 8.2 months [95% CI, 6.5-12.0], p<0.001; and OS: median 38.0 months [95% CI, 32.2-not assessable] vs. 25.7 months [95% CI, 18.3-not assessable], p=0.005). In the PSM cohort of 57 matched pairs of patients, DFS and OS were better in the adjuvant chemotherapy group than in the observation group (p<0.001 and p=0.038, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, adjuvant chemotherapy was a significant favorable prognostic factor (vs observation; DFS, hazard ratio [HR] 0.51 (95% CI, 0.36-0.71, p<0.001); OS, HR 0.45 (95% CI, 0.29-0.71, p<0.001).

Conclusion

Among PDAC patients who underwent surgery following neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX, adjuvant chemotherapy may be associated with improved survival. Randomized studies should be conducted to validate this finding.

Laparoscopic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy with major vein resection for pancreatic head cancer

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with major vein resection is a challenging procedure. Herein, we evaluated the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic vein resection in pancreatic head cancer with portal vein/superior mesenteric vein (PV/SMV) invasion, and compared the survival rate following laparoscopic surgery with that following open surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients with pancreatic head cancer who underwent surgery performed by a single surgeon from January 2015 to December 2017. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to compare the disease-free survival, while Cox-proportional hazard models were used to analyze prognostic factors for survival.

RESULTS

Among 76 patients, 63 underwent open PD and 13 underwent laparoscopic PD with PV/SMV resection. There was no significant difference in the rate of complications, including portal vein stenosis and portal vein thrombus, recurrence of tumors, or pathological outcomes after surgery between the groups. There was also no significant difference in disease-free survival (p = .803) between the two groups. Additionally, the surgical method was not an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic PD with major vein resection can be feasibly performed in select patients with abutment and focal narrowing of the PV/SMV in pancreatic head cancer.

Minimally invasive versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal bile duct cancer: an inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis of outcomes

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) has been extended to periampullary cancers, but the oncologic outcome of MIPD for distal bile duct cancer (DBDC) has not been confirmed yet.

METHODS

Patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for DBDC of stage I-IIb from 2015 to 2019 at a tertiary referral center were identified and divided into open PD (OPD) and MIPD groups, the latter including laparoscopic and robotic procedures. Survival was compared between the two groups after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using predetermined factors, and exploratory mediation analysis was performed using surgery-derived outcomes.

RESULTS

MIPD (n = 81) group had more female patients (46.9% vs 31.6%, p = 0.011) and longer operation time (366.2 min vs. 279.1 min, p < 0.001) than the OPD (n = 288) group before IPTW. Otherwise, intraoperative and immediate postoperative outcomes were comparable between the two groups. In oncologic outcomes, MIPD group showed comparable 3-year overall survival (78.2% vs 75.0%, p = 0.062) and recurrence-free survival (51.2% vs 53.4%, p = 0.871) rates with OPD group before IPTW, and MIPD was not related with survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-1.26, p = 0.18) and recurrence (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.67-1.53, p = 0.949) after IPTW with consideration of potential mediators. Sensitivity analysis using propensity score matching also showed similar results for survival (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.32-1.44, p = 0.312) and recurrence (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.67-1.88, p = 0.653).

CONCLUSION

MIPD and OPD groups showed similar postoperative and oncologic outcomes. MIPD could be a considerable treatment option without oncological compromise in high-volume centers.

Extranodal extension influences prognosis in pancreatic head cancer: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Extranodal extension (ENE) is an established prognostic factor in several gastrointestinal cancers. However, the prognostic impact remains unclear. Here, we investigated the prognostic implications of ENE in patients with surgically resected pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 476 surgically resected pancreatic head cancer patients who consecutively underwent upfront pancreaticoduodenectomy for pathologically confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between January 2009 and December 2013. We compared the disease-free survival (DFS) rates of the patients according to ENE status.

RESULTS

Among the 476 patients, patients with ENE had lower DFS rates than those without ENE (N0, 13 months; LN+/ENE-, 7 months; LN+/ENE+, 6 months; P < .001). In addition, even in the same N stage, patients with ENE had lower DFS rates than those without ENE (N0, 13 months; N1/ENE- 8 months; N1/ENE+, 7 months; N2/ENE-, 7 months; N2/ENE+, 4 months, P < .001). However, there was no significant difference in survival rates between patients in the N1/ENE+ group and those in the N2/ENE- group. Additionally, ENE was an independent prognostic factor for pancreatic cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Extranodal extension significantly predicted a poor prognosis among patients with pancreatic head cancer, especially those with nodal metastasis. Therefore, ENE should be considered a prognostic factor in future editions of the staging system.

Outcomes of Distal Pancreatectomy With Celiac Axis Resection for Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to show the clinical and oncologic outcomes of distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) from a high-volume single center and analyze them from diverse perspectives.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients with pancreatic body and tail cancer with celiac axis involvement who underwent DP-CAR were included in the study. The primary outcome was morbidity and 90-day mortality, and the secondary outcome was overall survival and disease-free survival.

RESULTS

Morbidity (Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥3) occurred in 12 patients (25.0%). Thirteen patients (27.1%) had pancreatic fistula grade B and 3 patients (6.3%) had delayed gastric emptying. The 90-day mortality was 2.1% (n = 1). The median overall survival was 25.5 months (interquartile range, 12.3-37.5 months) and median disease-free survival was 7.5 months (interquartile range, 4.0-17.0 months). During the follow-up period, 29.2% of participants survived for up to 3 years and 6.3% survived for up to 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite its associated morbidity and mortality, DP-CAR should be considered as the only therapeutic option for pancreatic body and tail cancer with celiac axis involvement when carried out on carefully selected patients performed by a highly experienced group.

Comparison of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage and percutaneous catheter drainage of postoperative fluid collection after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Backgrounds/Aims

Postoperative fluid collection is a common complication of pancreatic resection without clear management guidelines. This study aimed to compare outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided trans-gastric drainage and percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in patients who experienced this adverse event after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods

Demographic and clinical data and intervention outcomes of 53 patients who underwent drainage procedure (EUS-guided, n = 32; PCD, n = 21) for fluid collection after PD between January 2015 and June 2019 in our tertiary referral center were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Prior to drainage, 83.0% had leukocytosis and 92.5% presented with one or more of the following signs or symptoms: fever (69.8%), abdominal pain (69.8%), and nausea/vomiting (17.0%). Within 8 weeks of drainage, 77.4% showed a diameter decrease of more than 50% (87.5% in EUS vs. 66.7% in PCD, p = 0.09). Post-procedural intravenous antibiotics were used for an average of 8.1 ± 4.3 days and 12.4 ± 7.4 days for EUS group and PCD group, respectively (p = 0.01). The EUS group had a shorter post-procedural hospital stay than the PCD group (9.8 ± 1.1 vs. 15.8 ± 2.2 days, p < 0.01). However, the two groups showed no statistically significant difference in technical or clinical success rate, reintervention rate, or adverse event rate.

Conclusions

EUS-guided drainage and PCD are both safe and effective methods for managing fluid collection after PD. However, EUS-guided drainage can shorten hospital stay and duration of intravenous antibiotics use.

Impact of radiologic splenic vessel invasion in resectable left-sided pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: predictor of early systemic recurrence following upfront surgery

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to identify prognostic factors and the best candidates for neoadjuvant therapy among patients with resectable left-sided pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by analyzing the timing and pattern of recurrence following upfront surgery.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study included patients with resectable left-sided PDAC who underwent upfront distal pancreatectomy from 2005 to 2015. A minimum P value approach was used to evaluate the optimal cutoff of early recurrence. The predictors of recurrence were assessed with Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among 311 included patients, 241 (77.5%) had a recurrence at a median follow-up of 29.3 months. Systemic recurrence occurred in 194 patients (80.5%) and isolated local recurrence in 47 patients (19.5%). A recurrence-free survival cutoff of 12 months was selected to distinguish between early and late recurrence. The patients with early recurrence had a shorter median overall survival (16.1 vs. 39.9 months, P<0.001) and post-recurrence survival (9.6 vs. 17.2 months, P<0.001) than those with late recurrence. The patients with systemic recurrence had a shorter median overall survival (19.6 vs. 29.1 months, P=0.007) and post-recurrence survival (11.0 vs. 15.3 months, P=0.024) than those with an isolated local recurrence. In multivariable analysis, preoperative CA 19-9 ≥500 U/mL [odd ratio (OR) 2.037, P=0.035], radiologic splenic vessels invasion (OR 5.014, P<0.001), positive radial resection margin (OR 2.638, P<0.001), and no adjuvant chemotherapy (OR 2.084, P=0.001) were predictors of an early systemic recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiologic splenic vessels invasion may be considered to indicate a biologically borderline status in patients with anatomically resectable left-sided PDAC. Future clinical trials of neoadjuvant therapy targeting these patients should be conducted.

Preoperative data-based deep learning model for predicting postoperative survival in pancreatic cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor prognosis even after curative resection. A deep learning-based stratification of postoperative survival in the preoperative setting may aid the treatment decisions for improving prognosis. This study was aimed to develop a deep learning model based on preoperative data for predicting postoperative survival.

METHODS

The patients who underwent surgery for PDAC between January 2014 and May 2015. Clinical data-based machine learning models and computed tomography (CT) data-based deep learning models were developed separately, and ensemble learning was utilized to combine two models. The primary outcomes were the prediction of 2-year overall survival (OS) and 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS). The model's performance was measured by area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and was compared with that of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th stage.

RESULTS

The median OS and RFS were 23 and 10 months in training dataset (n = 229), and 22 and 11 months in test dataset (n = 53), respectively. The AUC of the ensemble model for predicting 2-year OS and 1-year RFS in the test dataset was 0.76 and 0.74, respectively. The performance of the ensemble model was comparable to that of the AJCC in predicting 2-year OS (AUC, 0.67; P = 0.35) and superior to the AJCC in predicting 1-year RFS (AUC, 0.54; P = 0.049).

CONCLUSION

and relevance: Our ensemble model based on routine preoperative variables showed good performance for predicting prognosis for PDAC patients after surgery.

Sensitive detection of cancer using deep learning model of cfDNA genome-wide methylation data

e18789

Background: Methylation analysis of cfDNA has been used to diagnose cancer in its early stages. Previous research has concentrated on local methylation signals using cancer type specific methylation markers. We used not just methylation markers, but also global methylation patterns for sensitive cancer detection. Methods: We generated methylation data from cancer patients (N = 717) and normal controls (N = 190) using cell-free methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and high-throughput sequencing (cfMeDIP-seq, N = 907) and cell free whole genome enzymatic methyl seq (cfWGEM-seq, N = 162) from cancer patients (N = 137) and normal controls (N = 25). We analyzed at the Illumina 450K methylation microarray (N = 3,479) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to find differentially methylated regions (DMR) in 6 cancer types (breast, lung, liver, ovarian, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer). After determining the overlapping DMRs of each dataset, the best 1661 regions that differed the most between the cancer patient group and the normal group were left. The selected marker-based model was cross-validated using cfMeDIP samples separated into training, validation, and test sets. Additionally, global methylation count values of cfMeDIP-seq data were used to train convolutional neural network. Finally, the global methylation pattern deep learning algorithm and the marker-based algorithm were combined to detect cancer. Results: Deep learning models based on selected markers and global methylation patterns achieved test data accuracy of 0.88-0.92 and 0.90-0.91, respectively, with AUC 0.94-0.96 and 0.95-0.96. The ensemble model of two models showed test data accuracy 0.91-0.92 and AUC 0.96-0.97 with the detection of early stage of cancers (stage 1:detection rate of 88-100%, stage 2:detection rate of 75-100%, stage 3:detection rate of 90-97%, stage 4:detection rate of 92-100%). Conclusions: In this study, we selected best markers by using tissue methylation dataset (TCGA) and cfDNA methylation datasets (cfMeDIP-seq, cfWGEM-seq). To train cancer detection models, we used not only the DMR pattern but also the global methylation pattern. And the ensemble model that included these features outperformed a single model. In the field of early cancer detection, our models show potential.

Real-world outcomes of adjuvant gemcitabine versus gemcitabine plus capecitabine for resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Background:

Adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard treatment after curative-intent surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The phase-3 ESPAC-4 trial demonstrated significantly improved overall survival (OS) with Gemcitabine plus capecitabine (GemCap) over Gemcitabine (Gem) in Europe. We conducted a retrospective efficacy and safety evaluation of GemCap versus Gem in an Asian population.

Methods:

This retrospective analysis included 292 patients with PDAC who received adjuvant Gem or GemCap after curative resection between January 2017 and December 2020 at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Results:

Adjuvant Gem and GemCap were administered to 161 (55.1%) and 131 (44.8%) patients, respectively. The Gem group had significantly older patients (median 66 versus 63 years, p = 0.001); otherwise, the groups had similar baseline characteristics. With median follow-up durations of 39.4 [95% confidence interval (CI), 36.9–45.0] and 39.4 (95% CI, 34.7–41.6) months in the Gem and GemCap groups, the median OS was 36.8 (95% CI, 29.7–43.5) and 46.1 (95% CI, 31.5–not reached) months in the Gem and GemCap groups, respectively [unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5–1.0; p = 0.07). The median recurrence-free survival was 14.3 (95% CI, 12.9–17.7) and 17.0 (95% CI, 13.3–28.2) months, respectively (p = 0.5). Hand-foot skin reactions (any grade, 15.3% versus 0.6%; p < 0.001), neutropenia (78.6% versus 67.7%, p = 0.04) and thrombocytopenia (30.5% versus 20.5%, p = 0.04) were more common in the GemCap group. Multivariate analysis revealed adjuvant GemCap – compared with Gem – to be significantly associated with better OS (adjusted HR = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4–0.9; p = 0.01). Otherwise, moderate or poor histological grade, lymph node positivity, positive resection margin, and elevated CA 19-9 (>median) were significantly associated with worse OS.

Conclusions:

Adjuvant GemCap showed the consistent clinical outcomes with the ESPAC-4 trial. As mFOLFIRINOX is the new standard treatment for medically fit patients with resected PDAC, further evaluation of optimal adjuvant chemotherapy in daily practice is warranted.

The impact of preoperative EUS-FNA for distal resectable pancreatic cancer: Is it really effective enough to take risks?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is frequently used for the preoperative histologic diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. However, debate continues regarding the clinical merits of preoperative EUS-FNA for the management of resectable pancreatic cancer. We aimed to evaluate the benefits and safety of preoperative EUS-FNA for resectable distal pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

The medical records of 304 consecutive patients with suspected distal pancreatic cancer who underwent EUS-FNA were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the clinical benefits of preoperative EUS-FNA. We also reviewed the medical records of 528 patients diagnosed with distal pancreatic cancer who underwent distal pancreatectomy with or without EUS-FNA. The recurrence rates and cancer-free survival periods of patients who did or did not undergo preoperative EUS-FNA were compared.

RESULTS

The diagnostic accuracy of preoperative EUS-FNA was high (sensitivity, 87.5%; specificity, 100%; positive predictive value 100%; accuracy, 90.7%; negative predictive value, 73.8%). Among patients, 26.7% (79/304) avoided surgery based on the preoperative EUS-FNA findings. Of the 528 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy, 193 patients received EUS-FNA and 335 did not. During follow-up (median 21.7 months), the recurrence rate was similar in the two groups (EUS-FNA, 72.7%; non-EUS-FNA, 75%; P = 0.58). The median cancer-free survival was also similar (P = 0.58); however, gastric wall recurrence was only encountered in the patients with EUS-FNA (n = 2).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative EUS-FNA is not associated with increased risks of cancer-specific or overall survival. However, clinicians must consider the potential risks of needle tract seeding, and care should be taken when selecting patients.

Clinical outcomes of EUS-guided transluminal drainage with a novel lumen-apposing metal stent for postoperative pancreatic fluid collection after pancreatic surgery

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

EUS-guided transluminal drainage (EUS-TD) is increasingly used for the treatment of postoperative pancreatic fluid collections (POPFCs). A novel lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) was recently developed and used for the drainage of POPFCs. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel LAMS in patients with POPFCs.

METHODS

Forty-seven patients with symptomatic POPFCs who underwent EUS-TD with a novel LAMS (Niti-S SPAXUS; Taewoong Medical Co, Ltd, Ilsan, South Korea) between April 2019 and July 2020 were included in this study. Clinical outcomes, including technical success, clinical success, and adverse events, were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

EUS-TD was technically successful in 41 of 47 patients (87.2%). Clinical success was achieved in 37 of 41 patients (90.2%). The mean procedure time was 13.7 ± 3.5 minutes. The mean POPFC size was 59 ± 18.9 mm. The mean time interval from surgery to EUS-TD was 24.2 ± 37.6 days. Five patients experienced 6 procedural adverse events (12.8%): 4 (8.5%) POPFC infections and 2 (4.3%) distal stent migrations. The 4 patients with POPFC infection underwent additional endoscopic interventions. Of the 2 patients with stent migration, 1 underwent laparoscopic exploration and surgical extraction of the stent and 1 (2.1%) experienced POPFC recurrence, which was managed with percutaneous drainage.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-TD for symptomatic POPFCs with a novel LAMS is technically feasible and effective, with an acceptable adverse event rate. Further larger-scale prospective studies are required to confirm the findings of this study.

Korean Surgical Practice Guideline for Pancreatic Cancer 2021: A summary of evidence-based surgical approaches

Pancreatic cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Korea. Despite the increasing incidence and high mortality rate of pancreatic cancer, there are no appropriate surgical practice guidelines for the current domestic medical situation. To enable standardization of management and facilitate improvements in surgical outcome, a total of 10 pancreatic surgical experts who are members of Korean Association of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery have developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date, evidence-based research findings and expert opinions. This is an English version of the Korean Surgical Practice Guideline for Pancreatic Cancer 2021. This guideline includes 13 surgical questions and 15 statements. Due to the lack of high-level evidence, strong recommendation is almost impossible. However, we believe that this guideline will help surgeons understand the current status of evidence and suggest what to investigate further to establish more solid recommendations in the future.

Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy: Chronologic changes in the trends and clinical outcomes through a 15-year, single-center experience with 2212 patients

BACKGROUND

We identified the chronologic changes in the clinical outcomes of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) for left-sided pancreatic tumors in a single high-volume center over a period of 15 years.

METHODS

Between 2005 and 2019, 2212 patients underwent planned MIDP. Chronologic changes were analyzed according to 5-year intervals (P1, P2, P3). Furthermore, we assessed the prognostic factors of open conversion and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

MIDP has steadily increased during the last 15 years when compared to open distal pancreatectomy, from 10.8% to 84.9%. Also, MIDP for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been steadily increasing from 5.6% to 68.4%. According to the 5-year intervals, lengths of hospital stay decreased, but age and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) ≥3 increased; conversely, the rates of Clavien-Dindo classification ≥grade 3 (9.5%) and postoperative pancreatic fistula (39.7%) showed no differences. The 90-day mortality and open conversion rates were 0.2% and 3.5%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed malignancy and extended pancreatectomy were risk factors for open conversion. Furthermore, the poor prognostic factors for severe complications were malignancy, extended pancreatectomy, and ASA ≥3.

CONCLUSION

MIDP has become a popular procedure not only for benign cases but also for malignant ones. However, well-organized training, experience and skill are necessary, especially for poor-performance patients and extensively malignant conditions.

Extranodal extension influences prognosis in pancreatic head cancer

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Background: Extranodal extension (ENE) is an established prognostic factor of several gastrointestinal cancers; furthermore, ENE is already included as one component of nodal category of oral cavity, penis, and vulvar cancers. However, the prognostic impact of ENE in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate prognostic implication of ENE in patients with surgically resected pancreatic cancer. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records and pathologic slides of 503 surgically resected pancreatic head cancer patients, who consecutively underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pathologically confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between January 2009 and December 2013. Patients were categorized into subgroups according to ENE status and AJCC 8th pancreatic cancer staging system. We compared the disease-free survival rates of the patients according to ENE status. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to evaluate prognostic factors for the disease-free survival of pancreatic head cancer. Results: ENE-positive patient group showed a larger tumor size, a higher rate of lymph node metastasis, and a tendency to be positive for lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and resection margin (p < 0.001). Patients with ENE had lower overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates compared with those without ENE (N0, 30 months; LN+/ENE-, 20 months; LN+/ENE+, 16 months; p < 0.001), (N0, 13 months; LN+/ENE-, 8 months; LN+/ENE+, 5 months; p < 0.001). Patients with higher N categories had lower OS and DFS rates. In addition, even in the same N stage, patients with ENE showed lower OS and DFS rates than those without ENE (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in survival rates between patients in the N1/ENE+ group and the N2/ENE- group. Additionally, ENE was an independent prognostic factor for pancreatic cancer. Conclusions: ENE significantly influenced adverse prognosis among patients with pancreatic head cancer especially for those with nodal metastasis. Therefore, ENE should be considered as a prognostic factor in the future editions of the AJCC staging system.

Controversial benefit of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin-based adjuvant chemotherapy for ampullary cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Although surgery is the primary treatment for ampullary cancer (AC), the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy (CTx) has not yet been confirmed.

METHODS

AC patients who were administered 5-fluorouracil(FU)/leucovorin(LV)-based CTx after curative intent surgery between 2011 and 2019 were included. Prognosis was compared between the observation (OB) and CTx groups after propensity score matching (PSM) using perioperative variables to control differences in patient characteristics.

RESULTS

Before PSM, of 475 patients, those in the CTx group (n = 281) had worse 5-year overall survival (OS) (82.1% vs. 78.5%, p = 0.017) and worse 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) (54.9% vs. 75.7%, p < 0.001) than those in the OB group (n = 194). In addition, the CTx group had a higher rate of poor prognostic factors such as a high T stage (p < 0.001), node metastasis (p < 0.001), and poor differentiation (p < 0.001). After PSM, perioperative outcomes were comparable. In addition, there were no significant differences in OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.085; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.688-1.710; p = 0.726) or RFS (HR, 0.883; 95% CI, 0.613 1.272; p = 0.505) between the CTx (n = 123) and OB (n = 123) groups even after stratification by TNM stage. Intestinal subtype showed better 5-year OS (83.7% vs 33.2%, p = 0.015) and RFS (46.5% vs 24.9%, p = 0.035) rate compared with pancreatobiliary/mixed subtype.

CONCLUSION

Patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy based on 5-FU/LV showed comparable oncologic outcomes to patients in the OB group even after stratification by tumor stage. The patients with intestinal subtype showed oncologic benefit for adjuvant 5-FU/LV CTx compared with pancreatobiliary or mixed subtypes.

Comparing survival rate and appropriate surgery methods according to tumor location in T2 gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

The survival outcomes and optimal extent of surgery of T2 gallbladder cancers remain controversial. We aimed to investigate the difference in overall/disease-free survival rates and assess the prognosis of T2 gallbladder cancers.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of 147 patients who underwent surgical resection for pathologically confirmed T2 gallbladder cancer between January 2003 and December 2012. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the tumor location (T2a vs. T2b) and three groups according to surgery method (simple cholecystectomy, cholecystectomy with lymph node dissection, and extended cholecystectomy). We compared the overall and disease-free survival rates according to T2 subgroups and surgery methods. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to evaluate prognostic factors for the overall survival of T2 gallbladder cancer.

RESULTS

Of all patients, 40 (27.2%) and 107 (72.8%) were diagnosed with T2a and T2b gallbladder cancers, respectively. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 75.0% vs. 73.8% (p = 0.653) and 72.5% vs. 70.1% (p = 0.479) in T2a and T2b gallbladder cancers, respectively. There was no difference in the survival rate among T2a gallbladder cancer according to the surgery method. However, in T2b gallbladder cancer, extended cholecystectomy showed a better overall survival than simple cholecystectomy and cholecystectomy with lymph node dissection groups (p = 0.043 and p = 0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

There is no difference in overall and disease-free survival rates according to the location of T2 gallbladder cancers. Extended cholecystectomy increases overall survival rate, especially in T2b gallbladder cancers.

Preoperative serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels predict early recurrence after the resection of early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a serious disease with a poor prognosis. Only a minority of patients undergo surgery due to the advanced stage of the disease, and patients with early-stage disease, who are expected to have a better prognosis, often experience recurrence. Thus, it is important to identify the risk factors for early recurrence and to develop an adequate treatment plan.

AIM

To evaluate the predictive factors associated with the early recurrence of early-stage PDAC.

METHODS

This study enrolled 407 patients with stage I PDAC undergoing upfront surgical resection between January 2000 and April 2016. Early recurrence was defined as a diagnosis of recurrence within 6 mo of surgery. The optimal cutoff values were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for early recurrence.

RESULTS

Of the 407 patients, 98 patients (24.1%) experienced early disease recurrence: 26 (26.5%) local and 72 (73.5%) distant sites. In total, 253 (62.2%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. On ROC curve analysis, the optimal cutoff values for early recurrence were 70 U/mL and 2.85 cm for carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) levels and tumor size, respectively. Of the 181 patients with CA 19-9 level > 70 U/mL, 59 (32.6%) had early recurrence, compared to 39 (17.4%) of 226 patients with CA 19-9 level ≤ 70 U/mL (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that CA 19-9 level > 70 U/mL (P = 0.006), tumor size > 2.85 cm (P = 0.004), poor differentiation (P = 0.008), and non-adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.025) were significant risk factors for early recurrence in early-stage PDAC.

CONCLUSION

Elevated CA 19-9 level (cutoff value > 70 U/mL) can be a reliable predictive factor for early recurrence in early-stage PDAC. As adjuvant chemotherapy can prevent early recurrence, it should be recommended for patients susceptible to early recurrence.

A comparison of robotic versus laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: Propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the perioperative and pathologic outcomes of robotic distal pancreatectomy compared with a laparoscopic approach.

METHODS

A total of 121 robotic distal pancreatectomies and 992 laparoscopic distal pancreatectomies were retrospectively evaluated, comparing the demographic, perioperative and pathologic outcomes. After 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) with 11 demographic variables, the factors were analysed again.

RESULTS

Following PSM, 104 robotic distal pancreatectomy patients were compared with 208 laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy patients. The operation time and proportion of spleen preservation were not different between the groups. The rates of open conversion were lower, whereas the hospital costs were higher in the robotic group. Other perioperative outcomes and pathologic factors did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although robotic distal pancreatectomy is more expensive, this operation is feasible, with a higher probability of proceeding with the planned operation and with low open conversion rate.

Analysis of KRAS Mutation Subtype in Tissue DNA and Cell-Free DNA Using Droplet Digital PCR and the Function of Cell-Free DNA as a Recurrence Predictive Marker in Pancreatic Cancer

KRAS mutation is a major regulator in the tumor progression of pancreatic cancer. Here, we compared the frequency and mutation burden of KRAS mutation subtypes with paired tumor tissue and blood in patients and examined their clinical significance. DNA from tumor tissues and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from preoperative blood were obtained from 70 patients with pancreatic cancer. Subtypes and mutation burdens of KRAS G12D and G12V mutations were evaluated using droplet digital PCR. Comparing the presence of mutations in tissue, accumulative and simultaneous mutations of G12D or G12V were identified of 67 (95.7%), and 48 patients (68.6%). Conversely, in blood, they were only identified in 18 (25.7%) and four (5.7%) patients; respectively. Next, comparing the mutation burden in tissue, the mutation burden varied from less than 0.1 to more than five, whereas that of cfDNA in blood was mostly between one and five, as cases with a mutation burden lower than 0.1 and higher than five were rare. Finally, the presence of the G12V mutation alone in cfDNA and the combination of the G12V mutation with elevated CA 19-9 levels were associated with poor recurrence-free survival. These fundamental data on the KRAS mutation subtypes and their clinical significance could support their potential as predictive markers for postoperative recurrence.

Minimally Invasive Versus Open Pancreatectomy for Right-Sided and Left-Sided G1/G2 Nonfunctioning Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Multicenter Matched Analysis with an Inverse Probability of Treatment-Weighting Method

BACKGROUND

Limited evidence exists for the safety and oncologic efficacy of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNETs) according to tumor location. This study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of MIS and open surgery (OS) for right- or left-sided NF-PNETs.

METHODS

The study collected data on patients who underwent surgical resection (pancreatoduodenectomy, distal/total/central pancreatectomy, duodenum-preserving pancreas head resection, or enucleation) of a localized NF-PNET between January 2000 and July 2017 at 14 institutions. The inverse probability of treatment-weighting method with propensity scores was used for analysis.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 859 patients: 478 OS and 381 MIS patients. A matched analysis by tumor location showed no differences in resection margin, intraoperative blood loss, or complications between MIS and OS. However, MIS was associated with a longer operation time for right-sided tumors (393.3 vs 316.7 min; P < 0.001) and a shorter postoperative hospital stay for left-sided tumors (8.9 vs 12.9 days; P < 0.01). The MIS group was associated with significantly higher survival rates than the OS group for right- and left-sided tumors, but survival did not differ for the patients divided by tumor grade and location. Multivariable analysis showed that MIS did not affect survival for any tumor location.

CONCLUSION

The short-term outcomes offered by MIS were comparable with those of OS except for a longer operation time for right-sided NF-PNETs. The oncologic outcomes were not compromised by MIS regardless of tumor location or grade. These findings suggest that MIS can be performed safely for selected patients with localized NF-PNETs.

Clinical Outcome of RAMPS for Left-Sided Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Comparison of Anterior RAMPS versus Posterior RAMPS for Patients without Periadrenal Infiltration

Radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) is considered an effective procedure for left-sided pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, whether there are differences in perioperative outcomes, pathologies, or survival outcomes between anterior RAMPS (aRAMPS) and posterior RAMPS (pRAMPS) has not been reported previously. We retrospectively reviewed and compared the demographic, perioperative, histopathologic, and survival data of patients who underwent aRAMPS or pRAMPS for PDAC. We also compared these two groups among patients without periadrenal infiltration or adrenal invasion. A total of 112 aRAMPS patients and 224 pRAMPS patients were evaluated. Periadrenal infiltration, neoadjuvant treatment, and concurrent vessel resection were more prevalent in the pRAMPS group. After excluding patients with periadrenal infiltration, 106 aRAMPS patients were compared with 157 pRAMPS patients. There were no significant differences between the aRAMPS and pRAMPS groups in the pathologic tumor size, resection margin, proportion of tangential margin in the R1 resection, and number of harvested lymph nodes. The median overall survival and disease-free survival also did not differ significantly between the two groups. We cautiously suggest that pRAMPS will not necessarily provide more beneficial histopathologic outcomes and survival rates for left-sided PDAC cases without periadrenal infiltration. If periadrenal infiltration is not suspected, aRAMPS alone should be sufficiently effective.

Surgical outcomes are hampered after endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol lavage and/or Taxol injection in cystic lesions of the pancreas

Backgrounds/Aims

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol lavage and Taxol injection (EUS-ELTI) for pancreatic cystic lesions have been recently performed in some medical centers. The aim of this study was to optimize patient selection and analyze outcomes of patients who underwent surgeries after EUS-ELTI for pancreatic cystic lesions.

Methods

Among 310 patients who underwent EUS-ELTI between January 2007 and December 2014, 23 underwent surgeries after EUS-ELTI owing to incomplete treatment and/or adverse events. Surgical outcomes of patients who underwent surgeries after EUSELTI were evaluated. Clinical outcomes of patients who underwent surgeries after EUS-ELTI were then retrospectively compared with those of patients who underwent upfront surgery for left-sided pancreatic lesions without an EUS-ELTI procedure.

Results

The pathology revealed degenerated cysts in 12 patients, mucinous cyst neoplasms in five, neuroendocrine tumors in two, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) in one, solid pseudopapillary tumor in one, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma arising from an IPMN in one, and hepatoid carcinoma in one. Twelve patients underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and five patients underwent open distal pancreatectomy. When clinical outcomes were retrospectively compared between patients who underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy after EUS-ELTI and those who did not receive an EUS-ELTI procedure, the spleen-preserving rate was 0% in the EUS-ELTI group and 61.7% (365/592) in the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Surgical outcomes are compromised after EUS-ELTI for cystic tumor of the pancreas. Further studies are needed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the EUS-ELTI procedure.

Comparison of perioperative outcomes in pancreatic head cancer patients following either a laparoscopic or open pancreaticoduodenectomy with a superior mesenteric artery first approach

Backgrounds/Aims

A superior mesenteric artery first approach (SFA) technique can improve the complete resection rate. It can be used to determine whether an operation can be performed by invading the superior mesenteric artery before performing a pancreatic transection in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes between laparoscopic and open SFA for PDAC.

Methods

Between January 2017 and August 2019, consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic and open pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for PDAC using SFA procedures were included and compared between laparoscopic and open procedures.

Results

Fourteen and 83 patients underwent laparoscopic and open surgeries, respectively. In perioperative outcomes, there were no significant differences in the amount of intraoperative blood loss or transfusion rate between the two groups. In the laparoscopic group, the operation time was longer with less patients showing wound infection. R0 resection rate and the number of retrieved lymph nodes showed no significant difference. The average time to adjuvant chemotherapy was longer in the open group. There was no significant difference in the mean survival time or the recurrence free period.

Conclusions

Patients who underwent laparoscopic PD using SFA showed perioperative outcomes comparable compared to those of patients who underwent open procedures performed by experienced surgeons.

Predictive Performance of Current Nodal Staging Systems in Various Categories of Pancreatic Cancer

BACKGROUND

Nodal staging systems (NSS) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) classify patients on the basis of number of metastatic lymph nodes (MLN), metastatic/retrieved lymph node ratio (LNR), and log odds of positive LN (LODDS). The relative prognostic performance of these NSS, however, remains unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We identified 2584 patients who underwent surgery for PDAC between 2010 and 2019. Subgroups of each staging system were classified using K-adaptive partitioning method and assessed by comparing time-dependent areas under the curve (AUC) 5 years after surgery.

RESULTS

Patients were subgrouped by MLN (0, 1-3, ≥ 4), LNR (0, 0-0.23, > 0.23), and LODDS (< - 3.5, - 3.5 to - 0.970, > - 0.97). All three NSS were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). The AUCs for OS were comparable for the MLN (0.622), LNR (0.609), and LODDS (0.596) systems. Subgroup evaluation based on 12 retrieved lymph nodes (RLN), R1 resection, and extent of resection showed that the AUCs of the MLN and LNR NSS were comparable for OS and RFS regardless of the number of RLNs, R1 resection, and extent of resection. By contrast, the AUCs of the LODDS NSS were lower.

CONCLUSION

The NSS based on the number of MLN is the best prognostic indicator, with prognostic performance comparable to the other NSS and greater convenience for practical use. This NSS was applicable regardless of the numbers of RLN, R1 resection, and extent of resection.

Metabolic activity by FDG-PET/CT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer and association with survival

BACKGROUND

The optimal prognostic markers for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic cancer are not yet established.

METHOD

Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery and underwent FDG-PET/CT between July 2012 and December 2017 were included. Metabolic parameters including standardised uptake value (SUV), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) on PET/CT, and response evaluations using PERCIST criteria, were investigated for its impact on survival and recurrence. Cox proportional hazards model was performed. Differences in risk were expressed as hazard ratio [HR] with 95% confidence interval [c.i.].

RESULTS

The patients with borderline resectable (N = 106) or locally advanced pancreatic cancer (N = 82) were identified. The median survival was 33.6 months. Decreased metabolic parameters of PET/CT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were associated with positive impacts on survival and recurrence such as SUVmax (HR 1.16, 95% c.i. 1.01 to 1.32, P = 0.025), SUVpeak (HR 1.26, 95% c.i. 1.05 to 1.51, P = 0.011), and MTV (HR 1.15, 95% c.i. 1.04 to 1.26, P = 0.005). Large delta values were related to a positive impact on recurrence such as SUVmax (HR 1.21, 95% c.i. 1.06 to 1.38, P = 0.005). Post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy SUVmax ≥3 (HR 3.46, 95% c.i. 1.21 to 9.91; P = 0.036) was an independent prognostic factor for negative impact on survival. Patients with post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy SUVmax <3 showed more chemotherapy cycles (8.7 versus 6.2, P = 0.001), more frequent complete metabolic response (25 vs 2.2%, P = 0.002), smaller tumour size (2.1 vs 3.1 cm, P = 0.002), and less frequent lymphovascular invasion (23.7 vs 51.1%, P = 0.020) than patients with SUVmax ≥3.

CONCLUSION

Reduction in metabolic tumour parameters of FDG- PET/CT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy indicates improved overall survival and recurrence-free survival.

Clinical Outcomes Between a Minimally Invasive and Open Extended Cholecystectomy for T2 Gallbladder Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Background: Although a minimally invasive extended cholecystectomy (MIEC) for T2 gallbladder cancer (T2 GBC) has been performed in many experienced centers, no oncologic comparison with open extended cholecystectomy (OEC) has yet been reported. Methods: T2 GBC patients who underwent MIEC (n = 60) or OEC (n = 135) were enrolled. We used propensity score matching (PSM) using pre- and intraoperative variables. Short- and long-term outcomes were then compared before and after PSM. Results: Before PSM, OEC patients more frequently showed completion of surgery after a simple cholecystectomy (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.551), and lymph node enlargement on preoperative computed tomography (SMD = -0.471). PSM was used to select 56 patients from each of the 2 patient groups. MIEC patients showed comparable complication rate (7.1% versus 12.5%, P = .365) and shorter hospital stay (5.7 days versus 9.8 days, P < .001). The median follow-up period was 26.2 months, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate (96.8% versus 91.1%, P = .464) and 5-year recurrence free survival (RFS) (54.7% versus 44.4%, P = .580) outcomes were still comparable between MIEC and OEC groups. Conclusion: MIEC have advantages such as early recovery and comparable short-term outcomes compared with OEC. MIEC showed comparable OS and RFS outcomes compared with OEC. MIEC is a safe option without oncological compromise for T2 GBC.

Perioperative and oncologic outcomes of right anterior sectionectomy for liver disease: A single-center experience with 415 patients

BACKGROUND

Right anterior sectionectomy (RAS) is technically difficult and performed infrequently, so there are few published reports about experiences with this surgery. We describe 10 years' worth of clinicopathologic and oncologic outcomes associated with RAS.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 415 patients treated with RAS for hepatic tumors located at segment five and/or eight between January 2008 and December 2017.

RESULTS

All patients underwent RAS with the alternative Glissonean pedicle clamp and Kelly clamp-crushing methods for transection. The mean operative time was 165 min, and the mean transection time was 28 min. Major morbidity (≥grade III) occurred in 28 cases (6.7%). Bile leakage occurred in 63 patients (15.1%), but no patients required reoperation. Grade A, B, and C post-hepatectomy liver failure occurred in 39 (9.4%), 7 (1.7%), and 0 patients, respectively. There were no in-hospital deaths caused by postoperative complications. The mean hospital stay was 13.3 days. The mean tumor size was 3.8 cm. Among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients (n = 361, 87.0%), the 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 78.3%, 64.4%, and the 5- and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 57.2%, 37.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

RAS was associated with acceptable procedure-related morbidity and mortality as well as appropriate oncologic outcomes for HCC patients.

The clinicopathologic and operative characteristics of patients with small nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND

Incidentally detected, small nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNETs) are increasingly diagnosed on imaging modalities. This retrospective investigation evaluated the clinicopathologic characteristics and perioperative and oncologic outcomes in patients with small NF-PNETs undergoing curative resection.

METHODS

The medical records of 444 patients who underwent pancreatic resection for NF-PNETs at a single, large-volume institution between January 2000 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into those with small (≤2 cm) and large (>2 cm) tumors based on the largest tumor diameter on preoperative computed tomography (CT). Outcomes were also evaluated in subgroups of patients with small NF-PNET who did and did not undergo lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS

Of the 444 patients with NF-PNETs, 195 (43.9%) had small (≤2 cm) and 249 (56.1%) had large (>2 cm) NF-PNETs. The rate of parenchyma-preserving surgery (14.4% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.014) and the ratio of spleen preservation for left-sided pancreatectomy (65.6% vs. 38.3%, p < 0.001) were higher in the small NF-PNET group. Size on CT >2 cm (p < 0.001, hazard ratio [HR]: 5.836, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.474-13.769), presence of perineural invasion (p < 0.001, HR: 3.025, 95% CI: 1.640-5.577), World Health Organization (WHO) Grade 2 (p = 0.007, HR: 2.861, 95% CI: 1.325-6.176), and WHO Grade 3 (p < 0.001, HR: 11.537, 95% CI: 5.282-25.199) were independent predictors of disease-free survival (DFS). DFS did not differ significantly in patients with small NF-PNETs who did and did not undergo lymphadenectomy (p = 0.886).

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of long-term oncologic outcomes suggests that surgical resection may cure small NF-PNETs. Minimally invasive surgery and organ-preserving surgery are acceptable treatment options for select patients with small NF-PNETs. The effect on survival outcomes of lymph node dissection for small NF-PNETs remains unclear.

Prognostic Impact of Perioperative CA19-9 Levels in Patients with Resected Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

We aimed to examine the predictive value of changes in perioperative carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 levels for patients operated for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). A total of 322 patients who underwent curative resection for pCCA were divided into three groups: normal preoperative CA19-9 (CA19-9 ≤ 37 U/mL), normalization (preoperative CA19-9 > 37 U/mL, postoperative CA19-9 ≤ 37 U/mL), and non-normalization (pre- and postoperative CA19-9 > 37 U/mL) groups. The association of clinicopathological factors with overall survival (OS) was investigated. The non-normalization group (n = 82) demonstrated significantly worse OS than the normal CA19-9 (n = 114) and normalization (n = 126) groups (5-year OS, 16.9%, 29.4%, and 34.4%, respectively; both p ≤ 0.001). The cutoff points of 300 U/mL for preoperative (p = 0.001) and 37 U/mL for postoperative (p < 0.001) CA19-9 levels showed the strongest prognostic values. In the non-normalization group, patients who underwent R1 resection displayed significantly worse OS than those who underwent R0 resection (median OS, 10.2 vs. 15.7 months; p = 0.016). Multivariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis (hazard ratio (HR), 2.07; p < 0.001), postoperative CA19-9 > 37 U/mL (HR, 1.94; p < 0.001), transfusion (HR, 1.74; p = 0.002), and T stage (T3,4) (HR, 1.67; p = 0.006) were related to worse OS. Persistent high CA19-9 level after resection of pCCA and R1 resection, especially in the non-normalization group, was associated with poor OS. A high postoperative CA19-9 level was an independent prognostic factor in resected pCCA.

Effectiveness of early endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage for postoperative fluid collection

BACKGROUND

Postoperative abdominal fluid collections (PAFCs) are a potentially fatal complication of pancreatobiliary surgery. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage has recently been shown to be effective in treating PAFCs of more than 4 weeks old. Little is currently known, however, regarding the EUS-guided drainage of PAFCs of less than 4 weeks. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of the early drainage (< 4 weeks) of PAFCs via EUS guidance.

METHODS

The data of patients who had undergone EUS-guided PAFC drainage between July 2008 and January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Data of EUS-guided PAFC drainage were obtained from prospectively collected EUS database of our institute and reviewed of patients' clinical parameters based on electrical medical record.

RESULTS

A total of 48 patients who had undergone EUS-guided PAFC drainage within 4 weeks of pancreatobiliary surgery were enrolled. The indications of procedure included abdominal pain (n = 27), fever (n = 18), leukocytosis (n = 2), and increased size of PAFC during external tube drainage (n = 1). Technical success was achieved in all cases, and the clinical success rate was 95.8% (46/48). Four patients underwent secondary procedures. The median period from surgery to EUS-guide drainage was 14 days (Interquartile range [IQR] 10-16), and median time to resolution was 23.5 days (IQR 8.5-33.8). Adverse events occurred in two cases that were developed intracystic bleeding and were successfully resolved by arterial coil embolization.

CONCLUSIONS

Early EUS-guided drainage is a technically feasible, effective, and safe method in patients who have developing PAFCs within 4 weeks of pancreatobiliary surgery.

Circulating tumour cells as an indicator of early and systemic recurrence after surgical resection in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Early recurrence in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a decisive factor in determining a patient's prognosis. We determined in our current study whether circulating tumour cells (CTCs) exist in the blood of PDAC patients and can be used as a predictor of recurrence patterns (i.e. time and site) after surgical resection. Between December 2017 and November 2018, the mononuclear cell layer was obtained from the peripheral blood of 36 patients diagnosed with PDAC. CTCs were then isolated using the CD-PRIME™ platform and detected via immunostaining. The patient records were analyzed to correlate these data with survival and recurrence patterns. Twelve patients were CTC-positive (33.3%) and showed a significantly frequent rate of systemic recurrence (distant metastases and peritoneal dissemination) (p = 0.025). On multi-variable logistic regression analysis, CTC positivity was an independent risk factor for early recurrence (p = 0.027) and for systemic recurrence (p = 0.033). In summary, the presence or absence of CTC in the blood of the patients with PDAC could help predict the recurrence pattern after surgery. PDAC patients with CTC positivity at tumour diagnosis should therefore undergo a comprehensive strategy for systemic therapy and active monitoring to detect possible early recurrence.

Spatial Distribution and Prognostic Implications of Tumor-Infiltrating FoxP3- CD4+ T Cells in Biliary Tract Cancer

PURPOSE

The clinical implications of tumor-infiltrating T cell subsets and their spatial distribution in biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin were investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 52 BTC patients treated with palliative gemcitabine plus cisplatin were included. Multiplexed immunohistochemistry was performed on tumor tissues, and immune infiltrates were separately analyzed for the stroma, tumor margin, and tumor core.

RESULTS

The density of CD8+ T cells, FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cells, and FoxP3+ CD4+ regulatory T cells was significantly higher in the tumor margin than in the stroma and tumor core. The density of LAG3- or TIM3-expressing CD8+ T cell and FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cell infiltrates was also higher in the tumor margin. In extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, there was a higher density of T cell subsets in the tumor core and regulatory T cells in all regions. A high density of FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cells in the tumor margin showed a trend toward better progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.092) and significantly better overall survival (OS) (p=0.012). In multivariate analyses, a high density of FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cells in the tumor margin was independently associated with favorable PFS and OS.

CONCLUSION

The tumor margin is the major site for the active infiltration of T cell subsets with higher levels of LAG3 and TIM3 expression in BTC. The density of tumor margin-infiltrating FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cells may be associated with clinical outcomes in BTC patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin.