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

The role of AMPK in pancreatic cancer: from carcinogenesis to treatment

Pancreatic cancer has doubled over the previous two decades. Routine therapies are becoming incredibly resistant and failing to compensate for the burden caused by this aggressive neoplasm. As genetic susceptibility has always been a highlighted concern for this disease, identifying the molecular pathways involved in the survival and function of pancreatic cancer cells provides insight into its variant etiologies, one of which is the role of AMPK. This regulating factor of cell metabolism is crucial in the homeostasis and growth of the cell. Herein, we review the possible role of AMPK in pancreatic cancer while considering its leading effects on glycolysis and autophagy. Then, we assess the probable therapeutic agents that have resulted from the suggested pathways. Studying the underlying genetic changes in pancreatic cancer provides a chance to detect and treat patients suffering from advanced stages of the disease, and those who have given up their hope on conventional therapies can gain an opportunity to combat this cancer.

The Emerging Role of Cytoreduction and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in Pancreatic Cancer

Peritoneal spread is a frequent cause of metastasis in both the synchronous and metachronous settings for patients with pancreatic cancer. Recent improvements in systemic chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer may now allow for the careful selection of patients with oligometastatic disease isolated to the peritoneum who may benefit from consolidative cytoreduction and HIPEC.

The Role of Surgery in "Oligometastatic" Pancreas Cancer

The majority of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer already have metastatic disease at the time of presentation, which results in a 5-year survival rate of only 13%. However, multiagent chemotherapy regimens can stabilize the disease in select patients with limited metastatic disease. For such patients, a combination of curative-intent therapy and systemic therapy may potentially enhance outcomes compared to using systemic therapy alone. Of note, the evidence supporting this approach is primarily derived from retrospective studies and may carry a significant selection bias. Looking ahead, ongoing prospective trials are exploring the efficacy of curative-intent therapy in managing oligometastatic pancreatic cancer and the implementation of treatment strategies based on specific biomarkers. The emergence of these trials, coupled with the development of less invasive therapeutic modalities, provides hope for patients with oligometastatic pancreatic cancer.

Clinical outcome of patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer treated with FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus Nab‑paclitaxel as a first‑line therapy: A retrospective analysis

The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefits of leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) vs. gemcitabine plus Nab-paclitaxel (GnP) as a first-line therapy for patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer. For this purpose, in-house data available for 45 patients who received FOLFIRINOX or GnP as first-line treatment between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. In total, 21 and 24 patients received FOLFIRINOX and GnP, respectively. Although there were no significant differences in the median progression-free survival, the median overall survival was longer in the FOLFIRINOX group than in the GnP group (16.7 vs. 7.2 months). A total of 14 patients received FOLFIRINOX followed by GnP, whereas 3 patients received GnP followed by FOLFIRINOX. All patients who did not switch to second-line therapy owing to poor feasibility were included in the GnP group. The data indicated that patients receiving GnP as first-line therapy were less likely to switch to FOLFIRINOX and, consequently, had a worse prognosis.

Antibiotic use influences outcomes in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients

Recent studies defined a potentially important role of the microbiome in modulating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and responses to therapies. We hypothesized that antibiotic usage may predict outcomes in patients with PDAC.

We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of patients with resectable or metastatic PDAC seen at MD Anderson Cancer from 2003 to 2017. Demographic, chemotherapy regimen and antibiotic use, duration, type, and reason for indication were recorded.

A total of 580 patients with PDAC were studied, 342 resected and 238 metastatic patients, selected retrospectively from our database. Antibiotic use, for longer than 48 hrs, was detected in 209 resected patients (61%) and 195 metastatic ones (62%). On resectable patients, we did not find differences in overall survival (OS) or progression‐free survival (PFS), based on antibiotic intake. However, in the metastatic cohort, antibiotic consumption was associated with a significantly longer OS (13.3 months vs. 9.0 months, HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.34–0.7, p = 0.0001) and PFS (4.4 months vs. 2 months, HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.34–0.68, p = <0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the impact of ATB remained significant for PFS (HR 0.59, p = 0.005) and borderline statistically significant for OS (HR 0.69, p = 0.06). When we analyzed by chemotherapy regimen, we found that patients who received gemcitabine‐based chemotherapy as first‐line therapy (n = 118) had significantly prolonged OS (HR 0.4, p 0.0013) and PFS (HR 0.55, p 0.02) if they received antibiotics, while those receiving 5FU‐based chemotherapy (n = 98) had only prolonged PFS (HR 0.54, p = 0.03).

Antibiotics‐associated modulation of the microbiome is associated with better outcomes in patients with metastatic PDAC.

We have analyzed the effect of antibiotics’ intake on two cohorts of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, resectable, and metastatic. We have found that on the metastatic cohort, antibiotics use was significantly associated with better outcomes, particularly, on patients that received gemcitabine based‐chemotherapy as the first line.

Incidence, Treatment, and Survival of Synchronous Peritoneal Metastases in Pancreatic Cancer: Update of a Nationwide Cohort

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to gain insight in the incidence, treatment, and survival of patients with synchronous pancreatic peritoneal metastases.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between 2008 and 2018 in the Netherlands Cancer Registry were evaluated. The patients were subcategorized as (1) synchronous peritoneal metastases, (2) synchronous systemic metastases, and (3) no metastases.

RESULTS

In total, 25,334 patients with pancreatic cancer were included. Among them, 3524 (14%) presented with synchronous peritoneal metastases, 10,659 (42%) with systemic metastases, and 11,151 (44%) without metastases at the time of diagnosis. The proportion of the patients diagnosed with peritoneal metastases increased over time (11%, 2008; 16%, 2018; P < 0.001). Of these patients, 964 (27%) received cancer treatment and 2560 (73%) received best supportive care. The median overall survival in patients with peritoneal metastases, systemic metastases, and without metastases was 1.9, 2.4, and 8.0 months, respectively (P < 0.001). In the patients with peritoneal metastases, the median overall survival was 5.0 months when undergoing cancer treatment and 1.3 months with best supportive care (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with pancreatic cancer are increasingly diagnosed with synchronous peritoneal metastases. Given the current dismal prognosis, research to improve treatment is designated for this patient category.

CPI-613 rewires lipid metabolism to enhance pancreatic cancer apoptosis via the AMPK-ACC signaling

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most rapidly progressive and deadly malignancies worldwide. Current treatment regimens only result in small improvements in overall survival for patients with this cancer type. CPI-613 (Devimistat), a novel lipoate analog inhibiting mitochondrial metabolism, shows the new hope for pancreatic cancer treatment as an efficient and well-tolerated therapeutic option treated alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

METHODS

Pancreatic cancer cells growing in planar 2D cultures and 3D scaffold were used as research platforms. Cell viability was measured by MTT and alamarBlue, and apoptosis was assessed by JC-1 staining and flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The mechanism behind CPI-613 action was analyzed by western blot, transmission electron microscopy, and lipolysis assay kits, in the presence or absence of additional signaling pathway inhibitors or gene modifications.

RESULTS

CPI-613 exhibits anticancer activity in pancreatic cancer cells by triggering ROS-associated apoptosis, which is accompanied by increased autophagy and repressed lipid metabolism through activating the AMPK signaling. Intriguingly, ACC, the key enzyme modulating lipid metabolism, is identified as a vital target of CPI-613, which is inactivated in an AMPK-dependent manner and influences apoptotic process upon CPI-613. Blockade or enhancement of autophagic process does not increase or blunt apoptosis to CPI-613, but inhibition of the AMPK-ACC signaling significantly attenuates apoptosis induced by CPI-613, suggesting CPI-613-mediated lipid metabolism reduction contributes to its cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings explore the critical role of lipid metabolism in apoptosis, providing new insights into the AMPK-ACC signaling axis in crosstalk between lipid metabolism and apoptosis in CPI-613 treatment.