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Current Treatment Options in Oncology Jul 2023Functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) are rare and heterogeneous diseases in terms of both clinical and pathological aspects. These tumors secrete... (Review)
Review
Functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) are rare and heterogeneous diseases in terms of both clinical and pathological aspects. These tumors secrete hormones or peptides, which may cause a wide variety of symptoms related to a clinical syndrome. The management of functional pNENs is still challenging for clinicians due to the need to control both tumor growth and specific symptoms. Surgery remains the cornerstone in the management of local disease because it can definitively cure the patient. However, when the disease is not resectable, a broad spectrum of therapeutic options, including locoregional therapy, somatostatin analogs (SSAs), targeted therapies, peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), and chemotherapy, are available. The present review summarizes the main key issues regarding the clinical management of these tumors, providing a specific highlight on their therapeutic approach.
Topics: Humans; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Somatostatin; Receptors, Somatostatin; Intestinal Neoplasms; Stomach Neoplasms
PubMed: 37103745
DOI: 10.1007/s11864-023-01085-0 -
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2023Currently, no specific treatment is available for acute onset pancreatitis (AP), and management relies on symptomatic and supportive standard of care (SOC). Fuzapladib...
BACKGROUND
Currently, no specific treatment is available for acute onset pancreatitis (AP), and management relies on symptomatic and supportive standard of care (SOC). Fuzapladib is a novel leukocyte function-associated antigen type-1 (LFA-1) activation inhibitor, blocking activation and subsequent adhesion and migration of neutrophils, potentially decreasing the risk of pancreatitis progression and systemic inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the safety and clinical response of dogs with AP after 3 days of administration of fuzapladib.
ANIMALS
Sixty-one client-owned dogs with presumptive AP.
METHODS
Randomized, masked, and placebo controlled multicenter study. Sixty-one dogs with AP were included for safety assessment, whereas 35 evaluable cases (fuzapladib, n = 16; placebo, n = 19) were included for clinical evaluation. Clinical improvement was assessed based on the change in the modified clinical activity index (MCAI) score on Day 3 compared to Day 0. Secondary variables included canine acute pancreatitis clinical severity index (CAPCSI) scores and serum concentrations of canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, cytokines, and C-reactive protein.
RESULTS
Fuzapladib was well tolerated by all treated dogs. Mean change in MCAI scores was significantly higher in the fuzapladib-treated (-7.75) than the placebo group (-5.68; P = .02, 95% confidence interval [CI] for the difference, -4.33, -0.35), suggesting clinical improvement in fuzapladib-treated dogs. No significant difference was found in any of the secondary variables between groups.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Administration of fuzapladib to dogs was safe, and a favorable response was detected in 2 clinical activity scores. Effects of fuzapladib on survival and duration of hospitalization were not studied.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Acute Disease; C-Reactive Protein; Cytokines; Dog Diseases; Inflammation; Pancreatitis; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 37811705
DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16897 -
Gastroenterology Dec 2023Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly malignancy with high intratumoral heterogeneity. There is a lack of effective therapeutics for PDAC. Entosis, a form...
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly malignancy with high intratumoral heterogeneity. There is a lack of effective therapeutics for PDAC. Entosis, a form of nonapoptotic regulated cell death mediated by cell-in-cell structures (CICs), has been reported in multiple cancers. However, the role of entosis in PDAC progression remains unclear.
METHODS
CICs were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. The formation of CICs was induced by suspension culture. Through fluorescence-activated cell sorting and single-cell RNA sequencing, entosis-forming cells were collected and their differential gene expression was analyzed. Cell functional assays and mouse models were used to investigate malignant phenotypes. Clinical correlations between entosis and PDAC were established by retrospective analysis.
RESULTS
Entosis was associated with an unfavorable prognosis for patients with PDAC and was more prevalent in liver metastases than in primary tumors. The single-cell RNA sequencing results revealed that several oncogenes were up-regulated in entosis-forming cells compared with parental cells. These highly entotic cells demonstrated higher oncogenic characteristics in vitro and in vivo. NET1, neuroepithelial cell transforming gene 1, is an entosis-related gene that plays a pivotal role in PDAC progression and is correlated with poor outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Entosis is correlated with PDAC progression, especially in liver metastasis. NET1 is a newly validated entosis-related gene and a molecular marker of poor outcomes. PDAC cells generate a highly aggressive subpopulation marked by up-regulated NET1 via entosis, which may drive PDAC progression.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Humans; Entosis; Retrospective Studies; Cell Line, Tumor; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Cell Proliferation
PubMed: 37657757
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.08.035 -
Cell Stem Cell Aug 2023While adult pancreatic stem cells are thought not to exist, it is now appreciated that the acinar compartment harbors progenitors, including tissue-repairing facultative...
While adult pancreatic stem cells are thought not to exist, it is now appreciated that the acinar compartment harbors progenitors, including tissue-repairing facultative progenitors (FPs). Here, we study a pancreatic acinar population marked by trefoil factor 2 (Tff2) expression. Long-term lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of Tff2-DTR-CreER-targeted cells defines a transit-amplifying progenitor (TAP) population that contributes to normal homeostasis. Following acute and chronic injury, Tff2 cells, distinct from FPs, undergo depopulation but are eventually replenished. At baseline, oncogenic Kras-targeted Tff2 cells are resistant to PDAC initiation. However, Kras activation in Tff2 cells leads to survival and clonal expansion following pancreatitis and a cancer stem/progenitor cell-like state. Selective ablation of Tff2 cells prior to Kras activation in Mist1 acinar or Dclk1 FP cells results in enhanced tumorigenesis, which can be partially rescued by adenoviral Tff2 treatment. Together, Tff2 defines a pancreatic TAP population that protects against Kras-driven carcinogenesis.
Topics: Humans; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Trefoil Factor-2; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Pancreas; Acinar Cells; Carcinogenesis
PubMed: 37541213
DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.07.002 -
Endocrine-related Cancer May 2024Insulinoma and glucagonoma are two rare functioning neoplasms of the neuroendocrine cells of the pancreas, respectively, characterized by an uncontrolled over-secretion... (Review)
Review
Insulinoma and glucagonoma are two rare functioning neoplasms of the neuroendocrine cells of the pancreas, respectively, characterized by an uncontrolled over-secretion of insulin or glucagon, responsible for the development of the hypoglycemic syndrome and the glucagonoma syndrome. They prevalently arise as sporadic tumors; only about 10% of cases develop in the context of rare inherited tumor syndromes, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), being the result of an autosomal-dominant germline heterozygous loss-of-function mutation in a tumor-suppressor gene. Here, we reviewed the main epidemiological and clinical aspects of insulinoma and glucagonoma in the context of genetic syndromes.
Topics: Humans; Insulinoma; Glucagonoma; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1; Pancreas
PubMed: 38552306
DOI: 10.1530/ERC-23-0245 -
Internal and Emergency Medicine Nov 2023Overweight and obesity are some of the most important health challenges. Many diseases are related to these metabolic disorders, and, among them, the pancreatic fat... (Review)
Review
Overweight and obesity are some of the most important health challenges. Many diseases are related to these metabolic disorders, and, among them, the pancreatic fat accumulation, also called "pancreatic steatosis" or "nonalcoholic fatty pancreas", seems to have an emerging role in different conditions. There are different method to evaluate the fat content in the pancreas, such as histology, different imaging techniques and endoscopic ultrasound, but there is no gold standard for the correct diagnosis and for the identification of "inter/intralobular" and "intra-acinar" pancreatic fat. However, the fat storage in the pancreas is linked to chronic inflammation and to several conditions, such as acute and chronic pancreatitis, type 2 diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer. In addition, pancreatic fat accumulation has also been demonstrated to play a role in surgical outcome after pancreatectomy, in particular for the development of postoperative pancreatic fistula. Different possible therapeutic approaches have been proposed, but there is still a lack of evidence. The aim of this review is to report the current evidence about the relationship between the obesity, the pancreatic fat accumulation and its potential role in pancreatic diseases.
Topics: Humans; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Pancreas; Pancreatic Diseases; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Obesity
PubMed: 37462859
DOI: 10.1007/s11739-023-03364-y -
Annals of Surgery Dec 2023To present comprehensive information on the clinicopathological, molecular, survival characteristics, and quality of life (QOL) after surgery for solid pseudopapillary...
OBJECTIVE
To present comprehensive information on the clinicopathological, molecular, survival characteristics, and quality of life (QOL) after surgery for solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas in a large cohort after long-term follow-up.
BACKGROUND
SPN is a rare tumor with an uncertain malignant potential, and solid information on long-term prognosis and QOL remains limited.
METHODS
All hospitalized patients with SPNs who underwent surgery between 2001 and 2021 at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathological characteristics of the patients were retrieved. A cross-sectional telephone questionnaire was administered to inquire about the QOL. Molecular analyses were performed using whole-exome sequencing.
RESULTS
Exactly 454 patients with SPN were enrolled, of whom 18.5% were males and 81.5% were females. The mean patient age was 31 ± 12 years. In total, 61.3% of the patients had no symptoms. The size of the tumors was 5.38 ± 3.70 cm; 83.4% were solid cystic tumors, and 40.1% had calcifications. The proportions of local resection, distal pancreatectomy with or without splenectomy, and pancreaticoduodenectomy with or without pylorus preservation were 29.7%, 28.9% or 22.9%, and 11% or 6.8%, respectively. Over the years, there has been a significant shift from open to minimally invasive surgery. Among all surgical procedures, pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) had the highest incidence of grade 2 to 4 complications (up to 32.3%), compared with 6.7% in distal pancreatectomy ( P < 0.001). Regarding histopathology, tissue invasion, perineural invasion, cancerous microvascular emboli, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis were present in 16.5%, 2.2%, 0.7%, 2.0%, and 3.1% of patients, respectively. Sixty patients were lost to follow-up. Sixteen of the 390 patients who underwent resection (4.1%) experienced local recurrence or distant metastasis after surgery. In total, 361 patients responded to the telephone survey. Nearly 80% of patients claimed their QOL was not significantly affected after surgery; however, the remaining 20% complained of lower QOL during 3 to 6 years of follow-up after surgery. No clinicopathological factor could reliably predict clinical recurrence or metastasis after resection. A total of 28 driver genes were detected with mutations in at least 2 tumor samples and the top 3 frequently mutated genes were CTNNB1 , ATRNL1 , and MUC16 .
CONCLUSIONS
This study presented the largest cohort of patients with SPN after surgery from a single center and reported the QOL of these patients. SPN is associated with extremely favorable long-term survival, even in patients with metastasis, and most patients have a good QOL after surgery.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Young Adult; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Cross-Sectional Studies; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreas; Pancreatectomy; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
PubMed: 37036095
DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005842 -
Journal of Gastroenterology Sep 2023Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal cancers, and developing an efficient and reliable approach for its early-stage diagnosis... (Review)
Review
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal cancers, and developing an efficient and reliable approach for its early-stage diagnosis is urgently needed. Precancerous lesions of PDAC, such as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), arise through multiple steps of driver gene alterations in KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, SMAD4, or GNAS. Hallmark mutations play a role in tumor initiation and progression, and their detection in bodily fluids is crucial for diagnosis. Recently, liquid biopsy has gained attention as an approach to complement pathological diagnosis, and in addition to mutation signatures in cell-free DNA, cell-free RNA, and extracellular vesicles have been investigated as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers. Integrating such molecular information to revise the diagnostic criteria for pancreatic cancer can enable a better understanding of the pathogenesis underlying inter-patient heterogeneity, such as sensitivity to chemotherapy and disease outcomes. This review discusses the current diagnostic approaches and clinical applications of genetic analysis in pancreatic cancer and diagnostic attempts by liquid biopsy and molecular analyses using pancreatic juice, duodenal fluid, and blood samples. Emerging knowledge in the rapidly advancing liquid biopsy field is promising for molecular profiling and diagnosing pancreatic diseases with significant diversity.
Topics: Humans; Pathology, Molecular; Early Detection of Cancer; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Mutation; Liquid Biopsy
PubMed: 37470859
DOI: 10.1007/s00535-023-02024-4 -
The Lancet. Gastroenterology &... Jul 2023Prevention of common diseases of the pancreas or interception of their progression is as attractive in theory as it is elusive in practice. The fundamental challenge has... (Review)
Review
Prevention of common diseases of the pancreas or interception of their progression is as attractive in theory as it is elusive in practice. The fundamental challenge has been an incomplete understanding of targets coupled with a multitude of intertwined factors that are associated with the development of pancreatic diseases. Evidence over the past decade has shown unique morphological features, distinctive biomarkers, and complex relationships of intrapancreatic fat deposition. Fatty change of the pancreas has also been shown to affect at least 16% of the global population. This knowledge has solidified the pivotal role of fatty change of the pancreas in acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and diabetes. The pancreatic diseases originating from intrapancreatic fat (PANDORA) hypothesis advanced in this Personal View cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries with a view to tackling these diseases. New holistic understanding of pancreatic diseases is well positioned to propel pancreatology through lasting research breakthroughs and clinical advances.
Topics: Humans; Pancreatitis; Acute Disease; Gastroenterology; Pancreas; Pancreatic Diseases
PubMed: 37094599
DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(23)00064-X -
Gastroenterology Jul 2023Pancreatitis is a disease continuum, starting with acute pancreatitis (AP) and progressing in some cases to recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) and chronic pancreatitis...
Distinct Serum Immune Profiles Define the Spectrum of Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis From the Multicenter Prospective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for Epidemiologic and Translational Studies (PROCEED) Study.
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Pancreatitis is a disease continuum, starting with acute pancreatitis (AP) and progressing in some cases to recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Currently, there are no approved therapies or early diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for pancreatitis. The current study examined whether patient serum immune profiling could identify noninvasive biomarkers and provide mechanistic insight into the disease continuum of pancreatitis.
METHODS
Using Olink immunoassay, we assessed the protein levels of 92 immune markers in serum samples from participants enrolled in the Prospective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for Epidemiologic and Translational Studies (PROCEED) study of the Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC) consortium. Samples (N = 231) were obtained from individuals without pancreatic disease (n = 56) and from those with chronic abdominal pain (CAP) (n = 24), AP (n = 38), RAP (n = 56), and CP (n = 57).
RESULTS
A total of 33 immune markers differentiated the combined pancreatitis groups from controls. Immune markers related to interleukin (IL) 17 signaling distinguished CP from AP and RAP. Similarly, the serum level of IL17A and C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 differentiated CP from CAP, suggesting the involvement of T helper 17 cells in CP pathogenesis. The receiver operator characteristic curve with 2 immune markers (IL17A and sulfotransferase 1A1) could differentiate CP from CAP (optimistic area under the curve = 0.78). The macrophage classical activation pathway elevated along the continuum of pancreatitis, suggesting an accumulation of proinflammatory signals over disease progression. Several immune markers were associated with smoking, alcohol, and diabetes status.
CONCLUSIONS
Immune profiling of serum samples from a large pancreatitis cohort led to identifying distinct immune markers that could serve as potential biomarkers to differentiate the varying pancreatitis disease states. In addition, the finding of IL17 signaling in CP could provide insight into the immune mechanisms underlying disease progression.
Topics: Humans; Acute Disease; Pancreatitis, Chronic; Disease Progression; Abdominal Pain; Diabetes Mellitus; Biomarkers
PubMed: 37061168
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.03.236