Superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact in preoperative imaging indicates biological malignancy in anatomically resectable pancreatic cancer

Prognostic impacts of biological and conditional factors in patients with anatomically resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy

The efficacy of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for anatomically resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (R-PDAC) remains contentious. This study aims to elucidate the treatment outcomes of preoperative CRT for R-PDAC and to identify prognostic factors. This retrospective study included 109 R-PDAC patients treated with gemcitabine- or S-1 plus gemcitabine-based preoperative CRT from February 2005 to April 2023. Cox proportional hazards regression was employed to identify factors associated with worse overall survival (OS). Among the 109 cases, 90 patients (82.6%) underwent curative-intent resection following CRT. The median OS for the entire cohort was 36.5 months, significantly longer in resected cases than in unresected cases (40.6 vs 11.4 months). Multivariate analysis identified pretreatment serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥1 as independent prognostic factors. When these factors were scored (risk score 0-3) using pre-CRT serum CA19-9 level (≥640 U/mL) and CEA (≥6.1 ng/mL), OS for risk scores 1 (n = 41), 2 (n = 20) or 3 (n = 6) was significantly shorter than for risk score 0 (n = 42) (score 0 vs 1 vs 2 vs 3: 49.1 vs 33.8 vs 16.1 vs 16.8 months). The presence of portal vein invasion on imaging and post-CRT serum CA 19-9 level (≥111 U/mL) were independent prognostic factors in resected cases. Biological factors, including serum levels of CA19-9 and CEA, along with conditional factor of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥1, were identified as independent prognostic factors for R-PDAC patients treated with preoperative CRT. Preoperative CRT is considered effective for cases lacking these risk factors.

The minimum apparent diffusion coefficient value on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in resectable pancreatic cancer: a new prognostic factor for biologically borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

To identify the prognostic factors that can define biologically borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) in resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 121 R/BRPC patients who underwent upfront surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate the relationship between preoperative factors and overall survival (OS) for RPC. The OS of RPC patients was stratified based on a score, with each independent prognostic factor receiving 1 point. The OS of the R/BRPC patients was compared based on their scores.

RESULTS

Overall, 113 and eight patients had RPC and BRPC. Serum CA19-9 > 500 U/mL (p = 0.048), maximum tumor diameter > 30 mm (p = 0.01), superior mesenteric/portal vein contact < 180° (p = 0.04), and minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmin) ≤ 1020 × 10-6 mm2/s (p = 0.01) were identified as independent prognostic factors in RPC patients. RPC patients with a score of 0 had a significantly better prognosis than those with scores of 1 and 2-4 and BRPC patients (median OS: 99.3, 35.1, 19.0, and 8.4 months; p = 0.007, p < 0.001, and p = 0.003, respectively). No significant difference in the prognosis was observed between BRPC and RPC patients with scores of 1 and 2-4.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative ADCmin in RPC may be a new prognostic factor for biological BRPC.

Venous Resection During Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma-A Multicentre Propensity Score Matching Analysis of the Recurrence After Whipple's (RAW) Study

Background: Pancreatoduodenectomy with venous resection (PDVR) may be performed to achieve tumour clearance in patients with a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with venous involvement. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PDVR on PDAC outcomes. Methods: In total, 435 PDAC patients with either R0 status (n = 322) or R1 status within the superior mesenteric vein groove (n = 113) were extracted from the Recurrence After Whipple's (RAW) study dataset. PDVR patients were matched in a 1:2 ratio with standard PD patients. Comparisons were then made between the two groups (surgical radicality and survival). Results: A total of 81 PDVRs were matched with 162 PDs. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (5.7% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.032) and R1 resection rates (17.9% vs. 42%, p < 0.001) were higher in the PDVR group. Risk factors for R1 resection included venous resection (p < 0.001 for sleeve and p = 0.034 for segmental resection), pT3 (p = 0.007), and pN1 stage (p = 0.045). PDVR patients had lower median overall survival (OS, 21 vs. 30 months (m), p = 0.023) and disease-free survival (DFS, 17 m vs. 24 m, p = 0.043). Among PDVR patients, R status did not impact on OS (R0: 23 m, R1: 21 m, p = 0.928) or DFS (R0: 18 m, R1: 17 m, p = 0.558). Irrespective of R status, systemic recurrence was higher in the PDVR group (p = 0.034). Conclusions: Independent of R status, the PDVR group had lower overall survival and higher systemic recurrence rates.

Risk Factors for Early Liver Recurrence After Pancreatic Cancer Resection

BACKGROUND

Liver recurrence after resection is one of the most common types of recurrence and is a risk factor for poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for initial liver recurrence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 109 patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent resection between 2015 and 2022 were included. The influence of clinicopathologic variables on liver recurrence was analyzed to create a novel scoring system to predict liver recurrence.

RESULTS

The liver recurrence rate was 24%, with 17% recurrence within 1 year. Patients with liver recurrence had an extremely poor prognosis within 1 year (MST 12.4 [95% CI, 5.7-19.1]). In multivariate analysis, R-PV, large tumor diameter ≥45 mm, and venous invasion were independent risk factors for early liver recurrence. When each of these risk factors was scored as 1 point, the 1-year liver recurrence rates by score were 0 (0%), 1 (9%), 2 (30%), and 3 (84%).

CONCLUSION

The risk factors for postoperative early liver recurrence were R-PV, a tumor diameter ≥45 mm, and pathological venous invasion. Surgery for pancreatic cancer with these factors may require special treatment, such as hepatic arterial injection.

Impact of portal/superior mesenteric vein abutment angle on prognosis in pancreatic cancer: a single-center retrospective cohort study

Purpose

Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis; however, the implementation of neoadjuvant treatment enables borderline resectable cases to undergo curative resection and improves the overall survival rate. Attempts have been made to expand the eligibility criteria for neoadjuvant treatment, even in resectable cases. Some studies have suggested a correlation between vein abutment and poor prognosis or that the abutment angle may affect prognosis. This study investigated the anatomical factors affecting the vessel abutment angle and its prognostic value in pancreatic cancer.

Methods

Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery between 2012 and 2017 were included in this study. Patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment were excluded. Data from only the intent-to-treat pancreaticoduodenectomy group were included in the analysis. Clinicopathological characteristics; preoperative factors such as CA 19-9, preoperative biliary drainage, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, portal vein/superior mesenteric vein contact angle measured via CT scan; and intraoperative factors were collected for analysis.

Results

A total of 365 patients were included in this study, and the abutment group included 92 patients (25.2%). The abutment and no-contact groups did not show any significant differences in terms of the overall survival or disease-free survival rate. Among the abutment groups, patients with less than 90° and 90°-180° did not show any significant differences. In the multivariate analysis, the only preoperative factor that had a prognostic effect was CA 19-9, a biological factor.

Conclusion

When there is no vessel invasion in the abutment group, upfront surgery should be considered because the angle does not affect the overall prognosis.

Staging Computed Tomography Parameters Predict the Need for Vein Resection during Pancreaticoduodenectomy in Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Surgery-first approach is the current standard of care for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and a proportion of these cases will require venous resection. This study aimed to identify parameters on staging computed tomography (CT) that predict the need for venous resection during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for resectable PDAC.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on patients who underwent PD for resectable staged PDAC (as per NCCN criteria) between 2011 and 2020. Staging CTs were independently reviewed by two specialist radiologists blinded to the clinical outcomes. Univariate and multivariate risk analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In total, 296 PDs were included. Venous resection was performed in 62 (21%) cases. There was a higher rate of resection margin positivity in the vein resection group (72.6% vs. 48.7%, p = 0.001). Tumour at the neck of the pancreas, superior mesenteric vein involvement of ≥10 mm and pancreatic duct dilatation were identified as independent predictors for venous resection.

DISCUSSION

Staging CT parameters can predict the need for venous resection during PD for resectable cases of PDAC. This may assist in surgical planning, patient selection and counselling. Future efforts should concentrate on validating these results or identifying additional predictors in a multicentre and prospective setting.