Pancreatic cancer with malignant ascites: clinical features and outcomes

Combined Intraperitoneal Paclitaxel and Systemic Chemotherapy for Patients with Massive Malignant Ascites Secondary to Pancreatic Cancer: A Report of Two Patients

The prognosis of patients with peritoneal metastases from pancreatic cancer is poor, largely due to massive ascites, which precludes systemic treatment. Two patients with a poor performance status and malignant ascites were treated with cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy followed by combined chemotherapy with intraperitoneal paclitaxel, intravenous gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel. These patients achieved a survival of 19 and 36 weeks with a relatively good quality of life. Combined intraperitoneal paclitaxel and systemic chemotherapy may provide effective palliative management for some patients with peritoneal metastases from pancreatic cancer.

Ascites Is a Poor Prognostic Factor in Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma and May Be Undertreated: A Prospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is associated with significant morbidity and mortality as most patients present with advanced disease. The development of ascites has been associated with poor outcomes and further characterization and contemporary management strategies are needed.

METHODS

A total of 437 patients enrolled in the Gastrointestinal Biobank at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center who had epithelial pancreatic malignancy were included in the prospective cohort group. Overall, 41.7% of patients included in this study developed ascites. Most patients with ascites (>80%) had high serum-ascites albumin gradient ascites. In both univariate and multivariate analysis, a history of ≥1 form of chemotherapy was significantly associated with ascites. Estimated median overall survival in patients with ascites was significantly lower than in patients without ascites, 473 days vs 573 days, and ascites had a hazard ratio of 1.37.

RESULTS

Patients with ascites who received diuretics and indwelling peritoneal catheter had an estimated median survival of 133 days from diagnosis of ascites, and those who received only the indwelling peritoneal catheter without diuretics had an estimated median survival of only 54 days. The estimated median survival from the diagnosis of ascites was 92 days, and the median time to puncture was 7 days. The median time from first tap to death was 45 days.

DISCUSSION

The use of diuretics is lower than would be expected for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with elevated serum-ascites albumin gradient. Other therapies such as beta blockers should be investigated in this subset of patients. The etiology of ascites in these patients is poorly understood, and further research is needed to establish treatment guidelines and improve outcomes.

Treatment outcomes of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel in pancreatic cancer patients with malignant ascites

BACKGROUND

Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) therapy has been shown to improve the prognosis in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC); however, the efficacy and safety of GnP in PC patients with malignant ascites (MA) remains unknown.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated PC patients with peritoneal dissemination who had received GnP as first-line chemotherapy at our institution between March 2015 and August 2021. The following patient data were reviewed: patient characteristics, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), adverse events (AEs), and relative dose intensity (RDI). The severity of MA was categorized based on the CT findings as grade 1 (small), grade 2 (moderate), or grade 3 (massive).

RESULTS

A total of 189 patients were included; the study endpoints were compared between patients with each ascites grade and 41 patients without MA. The MA was classified as grade 1 in 85 patients, grade 2 in 41 patients, and grade 3 in 22 patients. In the patients with MA, the median OS, PFS and ORR were 11.2 months, 5.7 months and 24.3%, respectively. The OS and PFS decreased with increasing the severity of MA; in particular, patients with grade 2 and 3 showed a poorer prognosis. There were no differences in AEs, except for anorexia, or the RDI according to the severity of MA.

CONCLUSION

GnP showed moderate efficacy with manageable safety profile in PC patients with MA. However, PC patients with moderate to massive ascites still have a dismal prognosis, and further development of effective treatments is needed.

Progress in the treatment of malignant ascites

Malignant ascites occurs as a symptom of the terminal stage of cancer, affecting the quality of life through abdominal distension, pain, nausea, anorexia, dyspnea and other symptoms. We describe the current main drug treatments in addition to surgery according to the traditional and new strategies. Traditional treatments were based on anti-tumor chemotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine treatments, as well as diuretics to relieve the patient's symptoms. New treatments mainly involve photothermal therapy, intestinal therapy and targeted immunity. This study emphasizes that both traditional and new therapies have certain advantages and disadvantages, and medication should be adjusted according to different periods of use and different patients. In conclusion, this article reviews the literature to systematically describe the primary treatment modalities for malignant ascites.

Oncologic Outcomes of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Highly Selected Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal metastases (PM) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are currently treated with palliative systemic chemotherapy alone, with unsatisfactory results. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may provide an oncologic benefit for highly selected patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with PDAC and isolated PM who completed ≥ 6 months of systemic chemotherapy with objective response between 2017 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients met the inclusion/exclusion criteria as per our previously published PDAC CRS/HIPEC protocol. Patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC were compared with matched patients who underwent systemic therapy alone. Overall survival (OS) from diagnosis of PM and progression-free survival (PFS) from CRS/HIPEC was evaluated.

RESULTS

In total, 61 patients met the inclusion criteria: 38 underwent systemic therapy alone and 23 CRS/HIPEC. There were no differences in baseline prognostic factors, including age, sex, tumor size, tumor location, anatomic resectability, or serum cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 (p > 0.05). Median OS from PM diagnosis in patients who underwent systemic therapy alone was 19 months with 1, 2, and 3 year OS of 81%, 31%, and 8%, respectively. In contrast, median OS from PM diagnosis in patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC was 41 months with improved 1, 2, and 3 year OS of 91%, 66%, and 59%, respectively (p = 0.002). In the 21 patients who achieved complete cytoreduction (CC-0), no adjuvant therapy was administered and the median PFS was 17 months.

CONCLUSIONS

CRS/HIPEC in highly selected patients with PDAC and PM results in promising oncologic outcomes that are unlikely to be achieved with systemic chemotherapy alone. Further investigation is warranted and ongoing (NCT04858009).

Clinical risk factors for ascites in metastatic pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Malignant ascites is common in metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) and its management still remains a clinical challenge. Early identification of patients at risk for ascites development may support and guide treatment decisions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of patients treated for mPC at the Medical University of Vienna between 2010 and 2019 were collected by retrospective chart review. Ascites was defined as clinically relevant accumulation of intraperitoneal fluid diagnosed by ultrasound or computer tomography scan of the abdomen. We investigated the association between general risk factors, metastatic sites, liver function, systemic inflammation as well as portal vein obstruction (PVO) and ascites development.

RESULTS

Among 581 patients with mPC included in this study, 122 (21.0%) developed ascites after a median of 8.7 months after diagnosis of metastatic disease. The occurrence of ascites led to an 8.9-fold increased risk of death [confidence interval (CI) 7.2-11, P < 0.001] with a median overall survival of 1 month thereafter. Clinical risk factors for ascites were male sex [hazard ratio (HR) 1.71, CI 1.00-2.90, P = 0.048], peritoneal carcinomatosis (HR 6.79, CI 4.09-11.3, P < 0.001), liver metastases (HR 2.16, CI 1.19-3.91, P = 0.011), an albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score grade 3 (HR 6.79, CI 2.11-21.8, P = 0.001), PVO (HR 2.28, CI 1.15-4.52, P = 0.019), and an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (HR 4.19, CI 1.58-11.1, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Survival after diagnosis of ascites is very limited in mPC patients. Male sex, liver and peritoneal metastases, impaired liver function, PVO, as well as systemic inflammation were identified as independent risk factors for ascites development in this uniquely large real-life patient cohort.

Malignant ascites in pancreatic cancer: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, molecular characterization, and therapeutic strategies

Malignant ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneum as a result of advanced cancer and often signifies the terminal phase of the disease. Management of malignant ascites remains a clinical challenge as symptom palliation is the current standard of cure. Previously, studies examining malignant ascites largely focused on ovarian and gastric cancer. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in research on malignant ascites in pancreatic cancer. Malignant ascites is usually diagnosed based on positive cytology, but cytology is not always diagnostic, indicating the need for novel diagnostic tools and biomarkers. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of malignant ascites in pancreatic cancer and the recent advances in the molecular characterization of malignant ascites fluid from patients with pancreatic cancer including analysis of soluble molecules and extracellular vesicles. Current standard of care treatment options such as paracenteses and diuretics are outlined along with new emerging treatment strategies such as immunotherapy and small-molecule based therapies. New potential investigative directions resulting from these studies are also highlighted.

Levels of tumor markers CEA/CA 19-9 in serum and peritoneal lavage predict postoperative recurrence in patients with pancreatic cancer

Aim

This study aimed to clarify the usefulness of tumor markers from peritoneal lavage in selecting patients with a high risk of recurrence and predicting site-specific recurrence in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods

The levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 (sCEA/sCA 19-9) and paired peritoneal lavage CEA and CA 19-9 (pCEA/pCA 19-9) were measured in 90 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent surgery. Using the cutoff values determined by maximally selected rank statistics for disease-free survival (DFS), the risk of recurrence and its patterns were evaluated in combination with different markers and different test specimens.

Results

In univariate and multivariate analysis, an elevated pCA 19-9 level (>1.3 U/mL) was an independent prognostic marker for both DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.391; P = .018) and overall survival (HR, 3.194; P = .033). Combination analyses contributed to further stratification of a very high risk of recurrence. Of the 58 patients with resectable pancreatic cancer who underwent curative resection, elevated pCA19-9 was also associated with inferior DFS and overall survival (OS). Patients with elevated pCA 19-9 levels were more likely to have an earlier onset of peritoneal recurrence than those with normal pCA 19-9 levels (P = .048, Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test).

Conclusion

pCA 19-9 is a reliable marker for predicting postoperative recurrence in patients with pancreatic cancer after surgery. Further risk stratification can be achieved by using combination assays. The combination of pCA 19-9 and sCA19-9 also serves as a predictor of recurrence site-specific recurrence.

Intraperitoneal oncolytic virotherapy for patients with malignant ascites: Characterization of clinical efficacy and antitumor immune response

Oncolytic viruses mediate antitumor responses through direct tumor cell lysis and induction of host antitumor immunity. However, the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic viruses against malignant ascites has rarely been explored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and immunomodulatory effect of an intraperitoneal injection of human type 5 recombinant adenovirus (called H101) against malignant ascites. Forty patients with malignant ascites were recruited and treated with intraperitoneal H101 in the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. The 4-week clinical responses were determined by an objective assessment of ascites volume change. The ascites response rate and ascites control rate were 40% (16/40) and 75% (30/40), respectively. The major adverse events following intraperitoneal H101 administration were mild-to-moderate abdominal pain (8/40, 20.0%) and fever (11/40, 27.5%); no grade III/IV adverse events were observed. Mass cytometry and immunocytological analysis at baseline, and days 7 and 14 post-treatment showed that intraperitoneally injected H101 led to marked tumor cell depletion, increased dendritic cell and CD8⁺ T cell densities. H101-meditated tumor-specific immune activation on day 14 post-treatment was further identified by enzyme-linked immunospot assay. In conclusion, intraperitoneal H101 administration was well tolerated and effective in treating malignant ascites; thus, its immune activation ability may be a promising tool in combination with immunotherapy.

Synopsis of a clinical practice guideline for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with peritoneal dissemination in Japan; Japan Peritoneal Malignancy Study Group

Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with peritoneal dissemination have a dismal prognosis because discontinuation of systemic chemotherapy is required for massive ascites or poor performance status. The natural history, diagnosis and treatment of PDAC with peritoneal dissemination have not been fully investigated. We systematically reviewed published information on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PDAC with peritoneal dissemination using the PubMed database (2000-2020) and provided recommendations in response to clinical questions. This guideline was created according to the "Minds Clinical Practice Guideline Development Guide 2017". The literature quality and body of evidence were evaluated with the GRADE System and classified into four levels ("strong", "medium", "weak", "very weak"). The strength of each final recommendation was decided by a vote of committee members based on the GRADE Grid method. These guidelines address three subjects: diagnostic, chemotherapeutic, and surgical approaches. They include nine clinical questions and statements with recommendation strengths, evidence levels, and agreement rates, in addition to one "column". This is the English synopsis of the 2021 Japanese clinical practice guideline for PDAC with peritoneal dissemination. It summarizes the clinical evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of PDAC with peritoneal dissemination and provides future perspectives.

Intraperitoneal Paclitaxel Treatment for Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Peritoneal Dissemination Provides a Survival Benefit

Background: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy using paclitaxel (i.p.-PTX) is expected to be a new therapeutic strategy for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and peritoneal dissemination. We evaluated the survival benefit of i.p.-PTX compared with standard systemic chemotherapy. Methods: Clinical data of 101 consecutive PDAC patients with peritoneal dissemination between 2007 and 2018 were analyzed. All patients were determined to have no other sites of distant organ metastasis to the lung, bone, or liver on contrast-enhanced CT imaging. Patients underwent staging laparoscopy or open laparotomy to confirm pathological evidence of peritoneal dissemination, and to exclude occult liver metastasis. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan−Meier method, and differences were compared using the log-rank test. Results: Forty-three patients were treated with i.p.-PTX (i.p.-PTX group) and forty-nine patients received standard systemic chemotherapy (Ctrl group). Nine patients did not receive any treatment (BSC group). The median survival time (MST) in the i.p.-PTX group was significantly longer than that in the Ctrl group (17.9 months vs. 10.2 months, p = 0.006). Negative peritoneal washing cytology was observed in 24 out of 43 patients in the i.p.-PTX group. The i.p.-PTX group tended to have a higher proportion of clinical responses than the Ctrl group (30% vs. 18%, p = 0.183). Conversion surgery was performed in 10 patients in the i.p.-PTX group and 2 patients in the Ctrl group after confirming disappearance of peritoneal dissemination with staging laparoscopy or open laparotomy (p = 0.005). The MST in patients who underwent surgical resection was significantly longer than that in patients who did not (27.4 months vs. 11.3 months; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: i.p.-PTX therapy provided improved survival in PDAC patients with peritoneal dissemination, and conversion surgery enhanced it in patients with favorable responses to chemotherapy. i.p.-PTX might become one of the treatment options to PDAC patients with peritoneal dissemination.

Randomized phase III trial of intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1 versus gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with peritoneal metastasis (SP study)

The prognosis of pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) with peritoneal metastasis remains dismal. Systemic chemotherapy alone may not be effective, and the combination of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with systemic chemotherapy is expected to prolong the overall survival in patients with peritoneal metastasis. We have designed a randomized phase III trial to confirm the superiority of intravenous (i.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) paclitaxel (PTX) with S-1 relative to gemcitabine plus nab-PTX (GnP), which is the current standard therapy for patients with metastatic PDAC. A total of 180 patients will be accrued from 30 institutions within 3 years. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either i.v. and i.p. PTX with S-1 or GnP (target of 90 patients per group). The primary endpoint is overall survival; secondary endpoints are progression-free survival, response rate, proportion with negative peritoneal washing cytology during chemotherapy, proportion requiring conversion surgery, and adverse event profiles. Japan Registry of Clinical Trials jRCTs051180199 (https://jrct.niph.go.jp/).

Improved prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal metastasis is one of the most important poor prognostic factors in advanced pancreatic cancer (PC). Whether the prognosis of PC with peritoneal metastasis has improved with the advent of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) and modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX) is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvements in treatment outcomes of PC with peritoneal metastasis.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated consecutive PC patients with peritoneal metastasis treated with chemotherapy at our institution between 2010 and 2019. We compared the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes according to the period of diagnosis (group A, 2010-2014; group B, 2015-2019) and chemotherapy regimen. We also examined the prognostic factors for overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Among 180 patients included (GnP 88; mFFX 14; other regimens 78), distant metastasis was confined to the peritoneum in 89 patients. Although group B had a worse performance status compared to group A, median OS was significantly longer in group B. GnP and mFFX showed a significantly higher objective response rate and disease control rate in addition to longer progression free survival and OS compared to other regimens. The administration of GnP or mFFX, performance status, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio ≥5 were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS. Furthermore, the amount of ascites and extent of peritoneal metastasis were significantly associated with OS in patients with distant metastasis confined to the peritoneum.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of PC with peritoneal metastasis has significantly improved over time with the advent of GnP and mFFX.

Conversion surgery in patients with pancreatic cancer and peritoneal metastasis

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most lethal malignancies globally. We have previously explored the clinical efficacy of intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel therapy for patients with PDAC and peritoneal metastasis, which demonstrated favourable response and disease control rates. However, the real implications of conversion surgery after IP therapy remain unclear.

Methods

We conducted two multicenter clinical trials of IP therapy with paclitaxel in patients with PDAC and peritoneal metastasis. We focused on patients who underwent conversion surgery and investigated the long-term outcomes, particularly, initial recurrence patterns and long-term survival.

Results

Seventy-nine patients with PDAC and peritoneal metastasis were treated, and 33 (41.8%) patients received SP (intravenous IP paclitaxel with S-1) and 46 (58.3%) were administered GAP (intravenous gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel combined with IP paclitaxel) combination therapy. Of the 79 patients, 16 (20.3%) underwent conversion surgery. The median time to surgery was 9.0 (range, 4.1-13.0) months after the initiation of chemotherapy. Finally, 13 (81.3%) patients underwent R0 resection. Evans grade was IIA in nine patients, IIB in four patients, III in two patients, and IV in one patient. The median overall survival time in patients who underwent conversion surgery was 32.5 (range, 13.5-66.9) months. Twelve (75.0%) patients were found to have experienced recurrence after conversion surgery. Especially, peritoneal recurrence was observed in 50% of patients as the initial recurrence pattern. The median recurrence-free survival time was 9.2 (range, 5.1-32.8) months, and three patients have survived without recurrence to date.

Conclusions

Our IP therapy displays promising clinical efficacy with acceptable tolerability in patients with PDAC and peritoneal metastasis. Although we could observe some super-responders in the cohort, further improvements in IP therapy are warranted.

Phase I study of intraperitoneal bevacizumab for treating refractory malignant ascites

OBJECTIVE

This prospective, dose-escalation phase I study evaluated the safety and efficacy of intraperitoneal bevacizumab in managing refractory malignant ascites and explored the recommended dose of bevacizumab for further study.

METHODS

Patients with refractory malignant ascites were enrolled. Bevacizumab was intraperitoneal administered weekly at an initial dose of 2.5 mg/kg, with dose escalation to 5 and 7.5 mg/kg performed following the standard "3 + 3" rule. The total duration of treatment was 2 or 3 weeks.

RESULTS

Between December 2013 and September 2014, 13 patients (2.5 mg/kg, n = 4; 5 mg/kg, n = 3; 7.5 mg/kg, n = 6) with refractory malignant ascites were enrolled. Bevacizumab was well tolerated, and the most common treatment-related adverse events were abdominal pain (5/13), abdominal distension (2/13), and fatigue (2/13). The dose-limiting toxicity at 7.5 mg/kg was grade 3 bowel obstruction (1/13). The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was not reached. The overall response and disease control rates were 7.7 and 61.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraperitoneal bevacizumab safe and well tolerated for treating malignant ascites, and the MTD was not reached at doses of 2.5 to 7.5 mg/kg. Intraperitoneal bevacizumab at 7.5 mg/kg weekly is recommended for further study to verify its anti-tumor activity.Trial registration: Clinical Trials NCT01852409.

Autotaxin in ascites promotes peritoneal dissemination in pancreatic cancer

Peritoneal dissemination and malignant ascites in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients represent a major clinical issue. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lipid mediator that modulates the progression of various cancers. Based on the increasing evidence showing that LPA is abundant in malignant ascites, we focused on autotaxin (ATX), which is a secreted enzyme that is important for the production of LPA. This study aimed to elucidate the importance of the ATX-LPA axis in malignant ascites in PDAC and to determine whether ATX works as a molecular target for treating peritoneal dissemination. In a PDAC peritoneal dissemination mouse model, the amount of ATX was significantly higher in ascites than in serum. An in vitro study using two PDAC cell lines, AsPC-1 and PANC-1, showed that ATX-LPA signaling promoted cancer cell migration via the activation of the downstream signaling, and this increased cell migration was suppressed by an ATX inhibitor, PF-8380. An in vivo study showed that PF-8380 suppressed peritoneal dissemination and decreased malignant ascites, and these results were validated by the biological analysis as well as the in vitro study. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the amount of ATX in ascites and the degree of disseminated cancer progression. These findings demonstrated that ATX in ascites works as a promotor of peritoneal dissemination, and the targeting of ATX must represent a useful and novel therapy for peritoneal dissemination of PDAC.

The role of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the surgical management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a systematic review

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis, particularly for patients with metastatic disease. Treatment for oligometastatic presentation has been reported in recent literature, but the role of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) remains unclear. We performed a systematic literature search of the PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases in order to identify clinical trials and case-series reporting on the safety and efficacy of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with PDAC-derived PM. Eight publications reporting on 85 patients were identified, using three different therapeutic strategies. First, 37 patients received cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for PDAC with PM. Grade 3 and 4 complications occurred in 37.8% of patients, without perioperative mortality. Median disease-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates varied from 4 to 36 months and 4 to 62 months, respectively. Secondly, 40 patients with resectable PDAC without PM received prophylactic HIPEC following pancreatic resection, with postoperative morbidity and mortality rates of 30% and 5%, and 5-year OS rates of 23-24%. Finally, eight patients with PDAC-derived peritoneal disease were converted to resectable disease after receiving neoadjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy and operated on with curative intent, achieving a median OS of 27.8 months. In conclusion, CRS with HIPEC for PDAC-derived PM appears to be safe, conferring the same postoperative morbidity and mortality as reported on non-pancreatic malignancies. In highly selected patients, it could be considered for short-term disease control. However, long-term survival remains poor. The addition of prophylactic HIPEC for resectable PDAC cannot be recommended.

Symptom Management in Pancreatic Cancer

OPINION STATEMENT

Despite extensive research that has identified new risk factors, genetic mutations, and therapeutic options, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma continues to be a leading cause of cancer related death. Patients with pancreatic cancer, along with their clinicians, must balance realistic hope alongside a life-threatening diagnosis. As the search for treatments to reduce the morbidity and mortality continues, symptom management and quality of life remain the focus of our efforts. In addition to side effects of cancer-directed therapy, patients are at risk for malnutrition, pain, and fatigue. These factors are often overlooked in practice, so a multidisciplinary team is critical in optimizing the care of patients.

A nomogram of preoperative predictors for occult metastasis in patients with PDAC during laparoscopic exploration

Background

Surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, most of patients lose the chance of surgery due to the unresectable disease at the time of diagnosis. Despite the improvement of radiological imaging, a portion of patients intended for radical resection were proven to be unresectable at surgical exploration due to occult metastasis.

Methods

Patients who were aimed to undergo radical pancreatectomy for PDAC from 2010 to 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients included underwent diagnostic laparoscopic exploration. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether distant metastasis were encountered during exploration. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for occult metastasis. A nomogram to predict occult metastasis of PDAC on exploration was developed and evaluated.

Results

A total of 273 patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopic exploration were included in this study. Nineteen (7.0%) patients were found with distant metastasis during exploration. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ALT>40U/L, CA19-9, CA125 and regional nodes enlargement were independent predictors for occult metastasis. Incorporating these four factors, the nomogram achieved concordance index of 0.799, with a well-fitted calibration curve.

Conclusions

Occult metastasis is not unusual during surgical exploration in patients with resectable or borderline resectable PDAC. The nomogram could achieve a personal prediction of unexpected distant metastasis on exploration. It may help to sift through patients with PDAC who would benefit from laparoscopic exploration.

Long-term outcomes of a long, partially covered metal stent for EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy in patients with malignant biliary obstruction (with video)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We previously reported safety and effectiveness of EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) using a long, partially covered metal stent (LP-CMS) for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). In this study, we aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes of EUS-HGS in an expanded cohort.

METHODS

One hundred ten patients undergoing EUS-HGS using an LP-CMS in 2 centers were retrospectively studied. Technical and functional success, adverse events, recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO), and reinterventions were evaluated.

RESULTS

The cause of MBO was pancreatic cancer in 50%, and the location of MBO was distal in 68%. The stent length was 8 cm in 2%, 10 cm in 84%, and 12 cm in 15%, with a median intragastric stent length of 54 mm. Technical and functional success rates were 100% and 94%, respectively. The adverse event rate was 25% (mild 15%, moderate 7%, severe 3%), but about one-half of adverse events were mild transient fever and abdominal pain. RBO developed in 33%, with a median cumulative time to RBO of 6.3 months. The major cause of RBO was hyperplasia at an uncovered portion. The presence of prior biliary drainage and short intragastric stent length were significantly associated with RBO. Reintervention for RBO was successfully achieved through the EUS-HGS route in 92%. The remaining reintervention procedures were 1 EUS-HGS and 2 percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage all in cases with hilar MBO.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-HGS using an LP-CMS for unresectable MBO was safe and effective. RBO was not uncommon, but reintervention through the EUS-HGS route was technically possible in most cases.

A phase I study of intraperitoneal paclitaxel combined with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel for pancreatic cancer with peritoneal metastasis

PURPOSE

A phase I study of intraperitoneal paclitaxel (ip PTX) combined with gemcitabine (GEM) plus nab-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) (GnP) was conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the recommended dose (RD) in pancreatic cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis in first-line setting.

METHODS

Based on the 3 + 3 dose-escalation model, ip PTX, GEM and nab-PTX were administered at doses of 20 or 30 mg/m², 800 or 1000 mg/m² and 100 or 125 mg/m² (level 1, 2 and 3, respectively) on days 1, 8 and 15 in 4-week cycles. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) defined as severe adverse events was evaluated during the first cycle of the treatment. Safety and preliminary efficacy were also investigated.

RESULTS

In total, 12 patients were enrolled. While 2 of the first 6 patients enrolled at level 1 experienced DLTs (grade 3 ip port dysfunction and grade 3 pneumonia), no DLT was observed in the next 6 patients enrolled at level 2 and 3. Therefore, we did not reach the MTD and the RD was determined to be level 3 (ip PTX of 30 mg/m², GEM of 1000 mg/m², and nab-PTX of 125 mg/m²). The major grade 3/4 adverse events included neutropenia (58%), anemia (33%), and ip port dysfunction (25%). The response rate was 25% and the median PFS was 5.4 (95% confidence interval; 2.4-16.0). The cytological status in peritoneal lavage turned negative in 8 patients (67%).

CONCLUSIONS

Ip PTX combined with GnP was feasible and potentially effective in pancreatic cancer with peritoneal metastasis as a first-line treatment deserved further evaluations.

Influence of peritoneal carcinomatosis on perioperative outcome in palliative gastric bypass for malignant gastric outlet obstruction - a retrospective cohort study

Background

Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is commonly associated with the presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) and preferably treated by surgical gastrojejunostomy (GJJ) in patients with good performance. Here, we aim to investigate the role of PC as a risk factor for perioperative morbidity and mortality in patients with GOO undergoing GJJ.

Methods

Perioperative data of 72 patients with malignant GOO who underwent palliative GJJ at our institution between 2010 and 2019 were collected within an institutional database.

To compare perioperative outcomes of patients with and without PC, extensive group analyses were carried out.

Results

A set of 39 (54.2%) patients was histologically diagnosed with concomitant PC while the remaining 33 (45.8%) patients showed no clinical signs of PC. In-house mortality due to surgical complications was significantly higher in patients with PC (9/39, 23.1%) than in patients without PC (2/33, 6.1%, p = .046). Considerable differences were observed in terms of surgical complications such as anastomotic leakage rates (2.8% vs. 0%, p = .187), delayed gastric emptying (33.3% vs. 15.2%, p = .076), paralytic ileus (23.1% vs. 9.1%, p = .113), and pneumonia (17.9% vs. 12.1%, p = .493) without reaching the level of statistical significance.

Conclusions

PC is an important predictor of perioperative morbidity and mortality patients undergoing GJJ for malignant GOO.

FOLFIRINOX in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a retrospective study

Background

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (pcm) in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (mpdac) is frequently encountered in day-to-day practice, but rarely addressed in the literature. The objective of the present study was to describe the management and outcome of patients diagnosed with pcm.

Methods

Data for all consecutive patients with mpdac treated in our centre between 1 January 2014 and 31 August 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Computed tomography imaging was centrally reviewed by a dedicated radiologist to determine the date of pcm diagnosis.

Results

The analysis included 48 patients. Median age in the group was 61 years, and 41 patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ecog ps) of 0-1. All patients presented with pcm either synchronously (group 1) or metachronously (group 2). Those groups differed significantly by baseline ecog ps and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (nlr), with ecog ps being poorer and nlr being higher in group 1. In addition to pcm, the main sites of metastasis were liver (62.5%) and lungs (31.3%). First-line chemotherapy in 36 patients (75%) was folfirinox (fluorouracil-irinotecan-leucovorin-oxaliplatin). The median overall survival for the entire population was 10.81 months [95% confidence interval (ci): 7.16 months to 14.16 months]; it was 13.17 months (95% ci: 5.9 months to 15.4 months) for patients treated with folfirinox. Median overall survival was 7.13 months (95% ci: 4.24 months to 10.41 months) for patients in group 1 and 14.34 months (95% ci: 9.79 months to 19.91 months) for patients in group 2, p = 0.1296.

Conclusions

Compared with other metastatic sites, synchronous pcm seems to be a poor prognostic factor. It could be more frequently associated with a poor ecog ps and a nlr greater than 5 in this group of patients. In patients with mpdac and pcm, either synchronous or metachronous, folfirinox remains an efficient regimen.

The Significance of Ascites in Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

Limited data exist on the impact of ascites in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We evaluated the survival outcomes of patients with PDAC and ascites.

METHODS

Retrospective, single-institution, case-control study including patients with newly diagnosed PDAC from 2007 to 2016. One hundred fifty-four patients with ascites at diagnosis (case group) and 154 controls were matched on age, sex, stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance, surgical treatment, lymph node, and margin status. Ascites was defined as computed tomography-detected fluid in the pelvic/peritoneal cavity. Overall survival was compared between groups via Cox proportional hazards models with a gamma frailty term to account for the correlation between matched pairs on entire cohort and by disease stages for subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

The 154 matched cases included 24 resectable, 19 borderline resectable, 51 locally advanced, and 60 metastatic disease. Patients with ascites had higher risk of death compared with those without (conditional hazard ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-2.03; P < 0.001). Stratified analysis showed a significant association between ascites and poor prognosis in patients with localized disease (conditional hazard ratio, 1.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-2.24; P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Radiographic ascites is a poor prognostic factor in PDAC. Our findings may aid physicians in considering systemic therapy prior to attempting local treatments.

Development and Biological Analysis of a Novel Orthotopic Peritoneal Dissemination Mouse Model Generated Using a Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Line

OBJECTIVES

Peritoneal dissemination (PD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We sought to develop and characterized a novel PD mouse model by using a previously established PDAC cell line TCC-Pan2.

METHODS

TCC-Pan2 cell line was characterized for growth rate, tumor markers, histology, and somatic mutations. TCC-Pan2 cells were implanted orthotopically to produce PD. TCC-Pan2 cells from these metastatic foci were expanded in vitro and then implanted orthotopically in mice. This PD model was used for comparing the antitumor effect of paclitaxel and NK105.

RESULTS

Orthotopically implanted TCC-Pan2 cells caused tumor formation and PD with high frequency in mice. A potent metastatic subline-Pan2M-was obtained. NK105 exerted a stronger antitumor effect than paclitaxel against Pan2M cells harboring a luciferase gene (Pan2MmLuc). Notably, the survival rate on day 80 in the Pan2MmLuc mouse model was 100% for the NK105 group and 0% for the paclitaxel group.

CONCLUSION

TCC-Pan2 cell line and Pan2MmLuc PD model can serve as useful tools for monitoring the responses to antineoplastic agents and for studying PDAC biology.

Apatinib concurrent gemcitabine for controlling malignant ascites in advanced pancreatic cancer patient: A case report

RATIONALE

Malignant ascites (MA) is one of the poor prognostic factors for advanced pancreatic cancer and can bring about serious symptoms. The improvement of quality of life for patients is priority. However, there is no standard method for the treatment for pancreatic cancer-mediated MA. Apatinib is a novel and highly selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. There are no reports of concurrent apatinib with gemcitabine in patients with pancreatic cancer-mediated MA.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Herein, we presented a 64-year-old man patient who visited hospital due to abdominal pain for 1 month.

DIAGNOSES

He was initially diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and his first symptom was MA.

INTERVENTIONS

After failing in tube drainage and gemcitabine therapy, the patient received gemcitabine combined apatinib orally and after administrated 1 month, the MA was evaluated as nearly clear response according to the RECIST 1.1 standard, and without further need of paracentesis. The CEA and CA199 reached the lowest level after administrating for 2.5 months during the treatment process.

OUTCOMES

10.5 months following apatinib administration, the patient achieved a progression-free survival for more than 11 months. Hypertension (grade IV), hand-foot syndrome (grade I) and proteinuria (grade II) were observed.

LESSONS

It indicated that apatinib concurrent gemcitabine may be a superior choice for pancreatic cancer-mediated MA. Further clinical trials required to confirm its efficacy and safety.

Multicenter Phase II Study of Intravenous and Intraperitoneal Paclitaxel With S-1 for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients With Peritoneal Metastasis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of intravenous (i.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) paclitaxel combined with S-1, "an oral fluoropyrimidine derivative containing tegafur, gimestat, and otastat potassium" in chemotherapy-naive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients with peritoneal metastasis.

BACKGROUND

PDAC patients with peritoneal metastasis (peritoneal deposits and/or positive peritoneal cytology) have an extremely poor prognosis. An effective treatment strategy remains elusive.

METHODS

Paclitaxel was administered i.v. at 50 mg/m and i.p. at 20 mg/m on days 1 and 8. S-1 was administered at 80 mg/m/d for 14 consecutive days, followed by 7 days of rest. The primary endpoint was 1-year overall survival (OS) rate. The secondary endpoints were antitumor effect and safety (UMIN000009446).

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients who were pathologically diagnosed with the presence of peritoneal dissemination (n = 22) and/or positive peritoneal cytology (n = 11) without other organ metastasis were enrolled. The tumor was located at the pancreatic head in 7 patients and the body/tail in 26 patients. The median survival time was 16.3 (11.47-22.57) months, and the 1-year survival rate was 62%. The response rate and disease control rate in assessable patients were 36% and 82%, respectively. OS in 8 patients who underwent conversion surgery was significantly higher than that of nonsurgical patients (n = 25, P = 0.0062). Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities occurred in 42% of the patients and nonhematologic adverse events in 18%. One patient died of thrombosis in the superior mesenteric artery.

CONCLUSIONS

This regimen has shown promising clinical efficacy with acceptable tolerability in chemotherapy-naive PDAC patients with peritoneal metastasis.

Survival benefit of intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients with peritoneal metastasis: a retrospective study in a single institution

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the clinical efficacy of intravenous (i.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) paclitaxel (PTX) combined with S-1 in patients with chemotherapy-naïve pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with peritoneal metastasis.

METHODS

Forty-nine patients were diagnosed with peritoneal metastasis during 2007-2014; 29 received gemcitabine or S-1-based chemo(radio)therapy from 2007 to 2011 (control group), and the remaining 20 received i.v. (50 mg/m² ) and i.p. (20 mg/m² ) PTX on days 1 and 8, and S-1 at 80 mg/m² per day for 14 consecutive days, followed by 7 days of rest from 2012 to 2014 (study group).

RESULTS

The median survival time in the study group was significantly longer than that in the control group (20 vs. 10 months, respectively; P = 0.004). At 1 year after initial treatment, a significant difference in ascites development on CT was found between the study (5/20 patients) and the control group (18/29 patients, P = 0.009). The frequency of objective response (9/20 patients) and conversion surgery (6/20 patients) in the study group was higher than those in the control group (8/29 and 2/29, respectively). Patients who underwent conversion surgery had improved survival in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of the S-1+i.v./i.p. PTX regimen was closely associated with improved overall survival in PDAC patients with peritoneal metastasis.

Pancreas Adenocarcinoma: Ascites, Clinical Manifestations, and Management Implications

BACKGROUND

Ascites develops in a subset of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) at presentation or as the disease advances. Limited data exist on the prognostic importance of malignant ascites in PAC. Our hypothesis is that this information will provide an understanding of the natural history and facilitate management decisions.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 180 patients treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center diagnosed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2014, with PAC and with ascites either at presentation or that developed during the disease course.

RESULTS

For the 180 patients, the overall survival was 15 months. The time from diagnosis to ascites presentation was 11 months, and the survival time after ascites development was 1.8 months (range, 1.6-2.3 months; 95% confidence interval). Of 62 patients (34%) who had ascitic fluid analyzed, 36 (58%) had positive cytology. Fifty-one (82%) patients had a serum ascites albumin gradient ≥ 1, and 11 (18%) had serum ascites albumin gradient < 1. Sixty-four (36%) patients had their ascites managed solely by serial paracenteses. A total of 116 patients required a catheter; of these, 108 (93%) had a Tenckhoff catheter, 4 (3%) a Pleurx catheter, 4 (3%) a pigtail catheter, and 1 (1%) a Denver catheter. Eight (7%) patients required 2 catheters to be placed, and in 6 (5%), Tenckhoff catheters had to be removed. The main observed complications were spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in 7 (11%) managed with paracenteses versus 26 (23%) who had a catheter placed, catheter malfunction in 8 (7%), and acute renal failure in 6 (3%). After ascites development, 79 (44%) patients received active anti-cancer therapy, and 101 (56%) patients were managed with supportive care alone.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with PAC who presented with or developed ascites, serial paracenteses and indwelling catheters are common methods used for providing symptomatic relief. The complication rate was higher with indwelling catheters, primarily related to infection (eg, bacterial peritonitis). Overall, ascites has a significantly negative prognostic import with a short median survival.

Intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1 for treatment of refractory pancreatic cancer with malignant ascites

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel (PTX) combined with S-1 for treatment of gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer with malignant ascites. Methods After the feasibility of this regimen was first confirmed in an interim analysis in 10 patients, a total of 35 patients were enrolled between April 2011 and December 2014. PTX was administered intravenously (50 mg/m(2)) and intraperitoneally (20 mg/m(2)) on days 1 and 8, and 80 mg/m(2) S-1 was administered on days 1-14 every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), the objective tumor response, efficacy against malignant ascites, and safety. Result In all 35 patients, the median OS and PFS were 4.8 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 2.1-5.3) months and 2.8 (95 % CI, 0.9-4.1) months, respectively. The 26 patients who were evaluable for efficacy achieved a response rate of 8 % and a disease control rate of 69 %. Malignant ascites had disappeared or decreased in 18 (69 %) patients, including complete resolution in 4 (15 %), and a negative change in cytological status was achieved in 8 (31 %) patients. The major grade 3/4 adverse events included neutropenia (34 %), anemia (31 %), nausea (9 %), and catheter-related infections (6 %). Conclusion Combination chemotherapy consisting of intravenous and intraperitoneal PTX with S-1 showed acceptable toxicity and favorable efficacy in pancreatic cancer patients with malignant ascites. (

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000005306).

Final analysis of a phase II study of modified FOLFIRINOX in locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Modifications of FOLFIRINOX are widely used despite the absence of prospective data validating efficacy in metastatic disease (metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC)) or locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). We conducted a multicentre phase II study of modified FOLFIRINOX in advanced pancreatic cancer to assess the impact of dose attenuation in MPC and efficacy in LAPC.

METHODS

Patients with untreated MPC or LAPC received modified FOLFIRINOX (irinotecan and bolus 5-fluorouracil reduced by 25%). Adverse events (AEs) were compared with full-dose FOLFIRINOX. Response rate (RR), median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) were determined.

RESULTS

In total, 31 and 44 patients with LAPC and MPC were enrolled, respectively. In MPC, efficacy of modified FOLFIRINOX was comparable with FOLFIRINOX with RR 35.1%, OS 10.2 months (95% CI 7.65-14.32) and PFS 6.1 months (95% CI 5.19-8.31). In LAPC, efficacy was notable with RR 17.2%, resection rate 41.9%, PFS 17.8 months (95% CI 11.0-23.9) and OS 26.6 months (95% CI 16.7, NA). Neutropenia (P<0.0001), vomiting (P<0.001) and fatigue (P=0.01) were significantly decreased. [(18)F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging response did not correlate with PFS or OS.

CONCLUSIONS

In this first prospective study of modified FOLFIRINOX in MPC and LAPC, we observed decreased AEs compared with historical control patients. In MPC, the efficacy appears comparable with FOLFIRINOX. In LAPC, PFS and OS were prolonged and support the continued use of FOLFIRINOX in this setting.