Cancers of the Pancreas and Hepatobiliary System

Studying The Imaging Properties Of Liver Tumors On Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Primovist - A Hepatospecific Paramagnetic Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agent

The study was performed on 25 patients diagnosed with liver tumors, assigned magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with Primovist - a hepatospecific paramagnetic gadolinium-based contrast agent at the International Medical Center of Hue Central Hospital. The result is as followed: 11 HCCs, 1 biliary tract malignant tumor, 1 hepatic adenoma, 6 metastates, 2 FNH, 1 hepatic AML, 3 hemangiomas. 47 lesions in total, including 9 lesions smaller than 1cm, 12 lesions 1-2 cm, 26 lesions larger than 2 cm. All 11 HCCs are hypointense on T1W, hyperintense on T2W, intratumoral high signal on DWI, 9 cases have typical enhancement pattern on Dynamic phase (arterial enhancement with washout assessed on the portal venous phase), 10 cases have no enhancement on Hepatocellular phase. Metastasis lesions have peripheral enhancement on both arterial and venous phases, no enhancement on delayed phase due to not having hepatic cells. The the biliary tract tumor is pathologically correct, with minor peripheral enhancement 30 seconds after injection, gradual centripetal enhancement after 60 and 90 seconds, no enhancement on delayed phase due to not having hepatic cells. 3 cases with hemangiomas are hyperintense on T2WI, similar to blood vessels, hypointense on T1WI, pheripherally enhanced 30 seconds after injection, fully centripetal fill-in after 90 seconds, non-enhanced on delayed phase (20 minutes) due to not having hepatic cells. 2 cases with FNH have iso- or mildly hyperintense on T1W, isointense on T2W and hypointense on DWI, isointense on hepatocellular phase due to the reservation of hepatic cells. Liver MRI with Primovist is specific for Hepatic cells, playing a critical role in detecting small lesions and differentiating benign and malignant lesions of the liver, especially those without typical enhancement pattern on Dynamic phase.

Psychological Outcomes and Quality of Life in Relation to Pancreatectomy: A Systematic Review

This review aimed to inventory and analyze previous studies regarding quality of life (QoL) and psychological outcomes in relation to pancreatectomy. PubMed and PsycInfo databases were reviewed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Thirteen studies were selected, 9 of which focused on the QoL after surgery. Quality of life significantly improved 3 to 6 months after surgery. Regarding the postoperative experience, one study reported high fear of recurrence of cancer, whereas another emphasized various expressions of patient needs. One study explained how strategy and ability to adapt are not related to the type, the cause, nor the physical condition, but are mainly influenced by the age and the subjective experience of the patients. A last study showed that depression did not affect survival rate after surgery. Our systematic review found only few studies regarding the psychological condition after pancreatectomy and highlights the need to describe and characterize the patients' psychological characteristics in this setting.

Pancreatic cancer survivors' preferences, barriers, and facilitators related to physical activity and diet interventions

PURPOSE

To conduct a telephone survey establishing pancreatic cancer survivors' level of interest in, preferences for, and perceived barriers and facilitators to participating in exercise and diet intervention programming. These data will inform the development of such interventions for newly-diagnosed patients.

METHODS

Seventy-one survivors treated for resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma from October 2011 to August 2014 were identified through an institutional cancer registry and contacted via telephone. A telephone survey was conducted to query survivors' level of interest in, preferences for, and perceived barriers and facilitators to participating in an exercise and dietary intervention program shortly after disease diagnosis. Acceptability of a technology-based visual communication (e.g., Skype™, FaceTime®) intervention was also assessed.

RESULTS

Fifty participants completed the survey (response rate 71.8 %). Over two-thirds of participants reported interest in exercise and diet intervention programming. Over half reported comfort with a technology-delivered visual communication intervention. Barriers to participation included older age and physical, personal, and emotional problems. The most common facilitator was program awareness. Outcomes for future research important to participants were supportive care and quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Most pancreatic cancer patients are interested in exercise and diet interventions shortly after diagnosis; however, some barriers to program participation exist.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Future research and intervention planning for pancreatic cancer survivors should focus on developing messaging and strategies that provide support for survivorship outcomes, increase survivor awareness, address lack of familiarity with technology, reduce fears about potential barriers, and help survivors overcome these barriers. In so doing, survivorship needs can be better met and quality of life improved in this understudied population.

Persistent effect of mTOR inhibition on preneoplastic foci progression and gene expression in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous disease in which tumor subtypes can be identified based on the presence of adult liver progenitor cells. Having previously identified the mTOR pathway as critical to progenitor cell proliferation in a model of liver injury, we investigated the temporal activation of mTOR signaling in a rat model of hepatic carcinogenesis. The model employed chemical carcinogens and partial hepatectomy to induce progenitor marker-positive HCC. Immunohistochemical staining for phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 indicated robust mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activity in early preneoplastic lesions that peaked during the first week and waned over the subsequent 10 days. Continuous administration of rapamycin by subcutaneous pellet for 70 days markedly reduced the development of focal lesions, but resulted in activation of the PI3K signaling pathway. To test the hypothesis that early mTORC1 activation was critical to the development and progression of preneoplastic foci, we limited rapamycin administration to the 3-week period at the start of the protocol. Focal lesion burden was reduced to a degree indistinguishable from that seen with continuous administration. Short-term rapamycin did not result in the activation of PI3K or mTORC2 pathways. Microarray analysis revealed a persistent effect of short-term mTORC1 inhibition on gene expression that resulted in a genetic signature reminiscent of normal liver. We conclude that mTORC1 activation during the early stages of hepatic carcinogenesis may be critical due to the development of preneoplastic focal lesions in progenitor marker-positive HCC. mTORC1 inhibition may represent an effective chemopreventive strategy for this form of liver cancer.

Celiac plexus block in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs), an uncommon finding, are distinct from pancreatic carcinomas. When pNETs are unresectable and progressive, visceral pain often presents and is challenging to treat. Opioids commonly used for pain control are difficult to implement in this setting because of adverse side effects such as constipation. Neurolytic celiac plexus blocks are indicated in the treatment of visceral pain related to upper abdominal malignancies when opioid analgesia does not provide adequate relief or is contraindicated because of side effects. As a result, this article presents a brief review of pNETs, celiac plexus blocks, associated side effects, and contraindications along with related literature in the context of a case study.

Inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell growth by cucurbitacin B through modulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic cancer is a serious disease worldwide for its high mortality. Gemcitabine has become the frontline option for the treatment of this disease since its approval. However, resistance to the drug has been on the rise in recent years. Searching for other chemotherapeutic agents therefore has attracted much attention. Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a member of the triterpenoid family and has shown inhibitory effect on various cancer cells. In this study, we have assessed the effect of CuB on pancreatic cancer cells.

METHODS

The growth of human pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1) was monitored using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were evaluated with fluorescence-activated cell sorter and fluorescent microscopy. Western blot was used to determine the expression of relevant genes including phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3), STAT3, p53, p21, Bcl-2, survivin, and caspase 3.

RESULTS

Our results showed that CuB can inhibit the growth of PANC-1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, resulting in accumulation of G2/M phase cells and apoptosis. Furthermore, CuB treatment inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation, activated caspase 3, up-regulated the expression of p53 and p21, and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and survivin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that CuB may provide an effective regimen for the treatment of pancreatic cancers.

Development of a competitive radioimmunoassay for glypican-3 and the clinical application in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a promising specific tumor maker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study is to establish a method to detect serum GPC3 and evaluate the clinical application on clinical diagnosis.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A competitive radioimmunoassay for detecting serum GPC3 was developed. Clinical sera were detected by the proposed method and AFP, CA19-9 chemiluminescence immunoassay kit.

RESULTS

The proposed method with high sensitivity, specificity and precision had no or little detectable cross-reactivity with relating tumor markers in the dynamic range from 15 to 500 ng/mL, and the detection limit was 0.5 ng/mL. The level of GPC3 in HCC was obviously higher than that in normal liver or other liver diseases. Additionally, our method showed high shows higher sensitivity and specificity for GPC3 than AFP and combined AFP/CA19-9.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper provided an applicable competitive radioimmunoassay for GPC3 with high sensitivity, specificity and precision. In addition, using GPC3 for HCC diagnosis was more valuable than AFP.

Physical activity and gastrointestinal cancer survivorship

Research examining physical activity in gastrointestinal cancer survivors is in its early stages and has focused primarily on colorectal cancer. Moreover, the majority of the research to date has been observational in nature, with very little interventional research. Though limited, the results of this research have been promising in nature, showing positive associations between physical activity and quality of life as well as disease outcomes, including improved disease-free and overall survival. The potential benefits of physical activity for gastrointestinal cancer survivors warrant further research on the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between physical activity and colorectal cancer disease outcomes, to determine if these associations extend to other gastrointestinal cancers, and to determine appropriate physical activity interventions to realize any potential supportive care benefits in various gastrointestinal cancer survivor groups.