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Adv Sci (Weinh) 2022 Jun 24:e2104594. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.

Desmoplasia is characteristic of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which exhibits 5-year survival rates of 3%. Desmoplasia presents physical and biochemical barriers that contribute to treatment resistance, yet depleting the stroma alone is unsuccessful and even detrimental to patient outcomes. This study is the first demonstration of targeted photoactivable multi-inhibitor liposomes (TPMILs) that induce both photodynamic and chemotherapeutic tumor insult, while simultaneously remediating desmoplasia in orthotopic PDAC. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 12;23(12). Epub 2022 Jun 12.

Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) describes a biological process in which polarized epithelial cells are converted into highly motile mesenchymal cells. It promotes cancer cell dissemination, allowing them to form distal metastases, and also involves drug resistance in metastatic cancers. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays essential roles in development and carcinogenesis. Read More

World J Gastrointest Surg 2022 May;14(5):429-441

Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2GW, United Kingdom.

Background: Para-aortic lymph nodes (PALN) are found in the aortocaval groove and they are staged as metastatic disease if involved by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The data in the literature is conflicting with some studies having associated PALN involvement with poor prognosis, while others not sharing the same results. PALN resection is not included in the standard lymphadenectomy during pancreatic resections as per the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery and there is no consensus on the management of these cases. Read More

BMC Gastroenterol 2022 Jun 21;22(1):302. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Department of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Background: Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare form of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized by infiltration of lipid-laden foamy macrophages within different tissues. Clinical manifestations of ECD are highly heterogeneous. Bone lesions are found in 80%-95% of patients, while extraosseous lesions usually involve the cardiovascular system, retroperitoneum, central nervous system (CNS), and skin. Read More

Eur Radiol 2022 Jun 21. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.

Objectives: To identify useful features to predict hidden pancreatic malignancies in patients with main pancreatic duct (MPD) abrupt cutoff and dilatation, but without visible focal pancreatic lesions on CT.

Methods: This retrospective study included 92 patients (mean age, 63.4 ± 10. Read More

Ann Surg Oncol 2022 Jun 18. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Division of Pancreatic Surgery, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.

Introduction: Liver steatosis (LS) has been increasingly described in preoperative imaging of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of preoperative LS on complications after PD and identify possible contributors to LS development in this specific cohort.

Methods: Pancreatic head adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients scheduled for PD, with preoperative CT-imaging available were included in the study. Read More

J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2022 Jun;20(6):663-673.e12

1Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.

Background: Individuals with a family history of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) or with a germline mutation in a PC susceptibility gene are at increased risk of developing PC. These high-risk individuals (HRIs) may benefit from PC surveillance.

Methods: A PC surveillance program was developed to evaluate the detection of premalignant lesions and early-stage PCs using biannual imaging and to determine whether locally advanced or metastatic PCs develop despite biannual surveillance. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2022 Jun 18. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract: Recently imaging with new PET radiotracers that act as fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPIs) showed promising results in oncology and even nononcology imaging. Here we report a case of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma, imaged with both 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT scans. The result indicated that imaging with 68Ga-FAPI-46 showed significant improvement in detection of metastases as well as local malignancy recurrence. Read More

J Transl Med 2022 Jun 15;20(1):272. Epub 2022 Jun 15.

Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.

Background: Ampullary adenocarcinoma (AAC) arises from the ampulla of Vater where the pancreatic duct and bile duct join and empty into the duodenum. It can be classified into intestinal and pancreatobiliary types based on histopathology or immunohistochemistry. However, there are no biomarkers for further classification of pancreatobiliary-type AAC which has important implications for its treatment. Read More

Open Biol 2022 Jun 15;12(6):210273. Epub 2022 Jun 15.

Anatomy and Structural Biology, Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.

Pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are grave illnesses with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Intravital imaging (IVI) is a powerful technique for visualizing physiological processes in both health and disease. However, the application of IVI to the murine pancreas presents significant challenges, as it is a deep, compliant, visceral organ that is difficult to access, easily damaged and susceptible to motion artefacts. Read More

GE Port J Gastroenterol 2022 May 19;29(3):151-162. Epub 2021 Nov 19.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignant neoplasms, with a 1-year survival rate after diagnosis of 24%, and a 5-year survival rate of only 9%. While this illustrates the behavior of its main histologic type - ductal adenocarcinoma, there are other histologic subtypes of pancreatic cancer that can harbor excellent prognosis. Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm, described as a rare low-grade malignant neoplasm by the World Health Organization, is the best example of that, having an overall 5-year survival rate of about 97%. Read More

Eur Radiol 2022 Jun 14. Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.

Objectives: To explore the diagnostic performance of EFSUMB CEUS Pancreatic Applications guidelines (version 2017) before and after the addition of iso-enhancement and very fast/fast washout as supplementary diagnostic criteria for PDAC.

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients diagnosed with solid pancreatic lesions from January 2017 to December 2020 were evaluated. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is reported to show hypo-enhancement in all phases according to the EFSUMB guidelines. Read More

J Surg Oncol 2022 Jun 14. Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Department of Medical Oncology, A.C. Camargo Cancer, CenterSão Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background And Objectives: To describe the patterns of disease relapse and follow-up of patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Additionally, we looked at patients' characteristics at relapse and survival.

Methods: We included patients with potentially resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed from 2008 to 2018 who were submitted to resection with clear macroscopic margins and started posttreatment surveillance. Read More

Photochem Photobiol 2022 Jun 14. Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts at Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most lethal of human malignancies. PDAC is characterized by dense fibrous stroma which obstructs drug delivery and plays complex tumor-promoting roles. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a light-based modality which has been demonstrated to be clinically feasible and effective for tumors of the pancreas. Read More

Am J Cancer Res 2022 15;12(5):2032-2049. Epub 2022 May 15.

Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu, China.

To develop an efficient prognostic model based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the preoperative MRI data of PDAC patients in two independent centers (defined as development cohort and validation cohort, respectively) were collected retrospectively, and the radiomics features of tumors were then extracted. Based on the optimal radiomics features which were significantly related to overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), the score of radiomics signature (Rad-score) was calculated, and its predictive efficiency was evaluated according to the area under receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). Subsequently, the clinical-radiomics nomogram which incorporated the Rad-score and clinical parameters was developed, and its discrimination, consistency and application value were tested by calibration curve, concordance index (C-index) and decision curve analysis (DCA). Read More

Endosc Int Open 2022 Jun 10;10(6):E910-E916. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Department of Gastroenterology and Pancreatology, CHU Toulouse-Rangueil (University Hospital Centre) and Toulouse University III, Toulouse, France.

In pancreatic cancer, the antitumor effect can only be assessed by means of a computed tomography (CT) scan using RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours) criteria. The aim of this study was to assess the intra-observer and interobserver agreement of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) imaging in assessing tumor volume in primary pancreatic cancer. During a Phase 1 gene therapy trial, 21 patients had EUS before the first and second EUS-guided in situ gene therapy injections. Read More

Br J Radiol 2022 Jun 10:20220072. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers in Medicine, Quibim SL., Valencia, Spain.

Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are generally classified into four categories based on contrast-enhanced CT at diagnosis: resectable, borderline resectable, unresectable, and metastatic disease. In the initial grading and staging of PDAC, structured radiological templates are useful but limited, as there is a need to define the aggressiveness and microscopic disease stage of these tumours to ensure adequate treatment allocation. Quantitative imaging analysis allows radiomics and dynamic imaging features to provide information of clinical outcomes, and to construct clinical models based on radiomics signatures or imaging phenotypes. Read More

Molecules 2022 May 27;27(11). Epub 2022 May 27.

Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Trogerstraße 18, 81675 Munich, Germany.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma constitute two aggressive tumor types that originate from the epithelial lining of the excretory ducts of the pancreatobiliary tract. Given their close histomorphological resemblance, a correct diagnosis can be challenging and almost impossible without clinical information. In this study, we investigated whether mass spectrometric peptide features could be employed to distinguish pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from cholangiocarcinoma. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2022 May 27;14(11). Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, 20089 Rozzano, Italy.

mutations characterize pancreatic cell transformation from the earliest stages of carcinogenesis, and are present in >95% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases. In search of novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of PDAC, we identified the proteins secreted by the normal human pancreatic cell line (HPDE) recently transformed by inducing the overexpression of the oncogene. We report a proteomic signature of -induced secreted proteins, which was confirmed in surgical tumor samples from resected PDAC patients. Read More

J Nucl Med 2022 Jun 9. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands.

Tumor visualization with near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging could aid exploration and resection of pancreatic cancer by visualizing the tumor in real time. Conjugation of the near-infrared fluorophore IRDye800CW to the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab enables targeting of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). The aim of this study was to determine if intraoperative tumor-specific imaging of pancreatic cancer with the fluorescent tracer bevacizumab-800CW is feasible and safe. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2022 Jul 5;47(7):e498-e499. Epub 2022 Apr 5.

From the Nuclear Medicine Unit.

Abstract: Dual-tracer PET/CT with both 18F-FDG and 68Ga-DOTA-conjugated peptides is currently used in clinical routine for characterizing pNET (pancreatic masses suspicious for neuroendocrine tumor). We describe here the case of a 81-year-old man with a pancreatic lesion showing high 68Ga-DOTATOC uptake and mild 18F-FDG avidity, thus suggesting a well-differentiated pNET, which resulted at endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration to be a clear cell renal cell carcinoma metastasis. In fact, the patient had right nephrectomy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma 27 years earlier. Read More

Tex Heart Inst J 2022 May;49(3)

Department of Clinical Oncology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Only 13 cases of renal cell carcinoma metastasis to the left atrium of the heart have been described. We report the case of a man in his 50s who had undergone radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in 2006 and presented with amnesia at our neurology department in 2020. Magnetic resonance images of the brain showed metastatic lesions; subsequent computed tomograms of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed a mass in the left atrium and multiple metastases in the lung, pleura, and pancreas. Read More

Eur Radiol 2022 Jun 3. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki city, Okayama, 701-0192, Japan.

Objectives: To examine the value of 3-T MRI for evaluating the difference between the pancreatic parenchyma of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with a concomitant invasive carcinoma (IPMN-IC) and the pancreatic parenchyma of patients without an IPMN-IC.

Methods: A total of 132 patients underwent abdominal 3-T MRI. Of the normal pancreatic parenchymal measurements, the pancreas-to-muscle signal intensity ratio in in-phase imaging (SIR-I), SIR in opposed-phase imaging (SIR-O), SIR in T2-weighted imaging (SIR-T2), ADC (×10 mm/s) in DWI, and proton density fat fraction (PDFF [%]) in multi-echo 3D DIXON were calculated. Read More

Front Oncol 2022 19;12:856306. Epub 2022 May 19.

Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.

This study aimed to investigate whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features could differentiate non-hypervascular pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). In this study, 131 patients with surgically and pathologically proven non-hypervascular PNETs ( = 44) or PDACs ( = 87) were enrolled. Two radiologists independently analyzed MRI imaging findings and clinical features. Read More

J Clin Oncol 2022 Jun 3:JCO2200194. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.

Purpose: Pancreatic cancer surveillance in high-risk individuals may lead to detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at an earlier stage and with improved survival. This study evaluated the yield and outcomes of 20 years of prospective surveillance in a large cohort of individuals with germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in .

Methods: Prospectively collected data were analyzed from individuals participating in pancreatic cancer surveillance. Read More

HPB (Oxford) 2022 May 16. Epub 2022 May 16.

Division of Hepato-Bilio-Pancreatic, Minimally Invasive, Robotic and Transplant Surgery, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy.

Background: During pancreatic resections assessing tumour boundaries and identifying the ideal resection margins can be challenging due to the associated pancreatic gland inflammation and texture. This is particularly true in the context of minimally invasive surgery, where there is a very limited or absent tactile feedback. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging can assist surgeons by simply providing valuable real-time intraoperative information at low cost with minimal side effects. Read More

Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2022 May 27;83(5):1-12. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.

Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of death from cancer but only a minority of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas are eligible for curative resection. The increasing role of neoadjuvant therapy provides hope of improving outcomes. However, progress is also reliant on advances in imaging that can identify disease earlier and accurately assess treatment response. Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022 May 25. Epub 2022 May 25.

Department of Radiation Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: The benefit of radiation therapy (RT) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. We hypothesized that a new mechanistic mathematical model of chemotherapy and radiation response could be used to predict clinical outcomes a priori, using a previously described baseline measurement of perfusion from computed tomography (CT) scans, normalized Area Under the Enhancement Curve (nAUC).

Methods And Materials: We simplified an existing mass transport model that predicted cancer cell death by replacing previously unknown variables with averaged direct measurements from randomly selected pathological sections of untreated PDAC. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 May 31;12(1):9053. Epub 2022 May 31.

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, People's Republic of China.

Glucagonoma is an extremely rare neuroendocrine tumor that arises from pancreatic islet alpha cells. Although glucagonoma is usually accompanied by a variety of characteristic clinical symptoms, early diagnosis is still difficult due to the scarcity of the disease. In this study, we present the cumulative experiences, clinical characteristics and treatments of seven patients diagnosed with glucagonoma during the past 10 years at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. Read More

Mol Pharm 2022 May 31. Epub 2022 May 31.

Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States.

Surgery remains the only potentially curative treatment option for pancreatic cancer, but resections are made more difficult by infiltrative disease, proximity of critical vasculature, peritumoral inflammation, and dense stroma. Surgeons are limited to tactile and visual cues to differentiate cancerous tissue from normal tissue. Furthermore, translating preoperative images to the intraoperative setting poses additional challenges for tumor detection, and can result in undetected and unresected lesions. Read More