Aim: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of human cytokines on the growth and transcriptional regulation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, using 3D tumor spheroid models to identify key cytokine–gene interactions relevant to tumor progression. Methods: Human PDAC cell lines (PANC-1, CFPAC-1) were cultured in Matrigel-based 3D tumor spheroid systems and treated with a panel of 365 human cytokines. Tumor spheroid number and size were quantified over time. RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR were performed to profile transcriptional changes induced by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) in 2D versus 3D cultures. PADI2 function was validated using shRNA-mediated knockdown, followed by growth assays and western blot analysis. Results: TGFB1 suppressed pancreatic tumor spheroid formation and growth in 3D culture but showed no effect in 2D monolayer systems. Transcriptomic profiling revealed distinct TGFB1-regulated pathways in 3D spheroids, including PI3K–AKT, WNT, and amoebiasis signaling, while proteoglycan and focal adhesion pathways predominated in 2D. PADI2 expression was selectively upregulated by TGFB1 in 3D spheroids but not in 2D cultures. Functionally, PADI2 knockdown inhibited 3D tumor spheroid growth and potentiated TGFB1-mediated suppression, indicating that PADI2 supports tumor cell survival under TGFB1-induced stress. Conclusions: 3D tumor spheroid models better capture physiologically relevant cytokine responses than conventional 2D systems. TGFB1 acts as a potent inhibitor of pancreatic tumor spheroid growth through model-specific transcriptional reprogramming, while PADI2 serves as a TGFB1-induced survival factor and potential therapeutic target in PDAC.

Pancreatic surgery is a highly challenging abdominal procedure with high morbidity, where non-technical skills (NTS)—situational awareness, decision-making, communication, leadership—are critical to reducing adverse outcomes. However, traditional NTS training like didactic lectures and apprenticeships has limitations like high simulation costs and subjective assessments. This review synthesizes AI’s role in transforming pancreatic surgical NTS training: it enhances situational awareness via real-time feedback and 3D reconstruction, improves decision-making through anatomical guidance and immersive simulations, optimizes communication by decoding team mental models, and fosters adaptive leadership. It emphasizes aligning AI with socio-technical system perspective to avoid cognitive dependence, aiming to boost surgeons’ NTS and elevate patient care.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1097/JP9.0000000000000199.].

Objectives: Over the past two decades, the increasing prevalence of pancreatic diseases has established regenerative therapy for pancreatic cells as a key research focus. This study employs bibliometric analysis to assess the current state of pancreas regeneration research, identify key areas, and predict future trends. Over the past two decades, the rising prevalence of pancreatic diseases has positioned regenerative therapy for pancreatic cells as a critical area of research. This study utilizes bibliometric analysis to assess the current state of pancreas regeneration research, identify key focus areas, and forecast future trends. Methods: A systematic search and evaluation were performed on the annual publication output, major contributing countries and regions, active institutions and authors, core journals, references, and keywords related to pancreas regeneration. This research aimed to comprehensively and objectively analyze the current state of research in this field, providing a basis for further exploration and understanding of pancreas regeneration. Relevant publications on pancreas regeneration from January 1, 2004, to August 15, 2024, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Bibliometric data were analyzed via HistCite, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the bibliometrix R package. HistCite and the bibliometrix R package integrate and classify diverse literature types, while VOSviewer and CiteSpace conduct visual analyses and illustrate the interactions among various bibliographic features. These two aspects jointly elucidate the development of pancreas regeneration. Results: A total of 1,027 articles from 69 countries/regions, authored by 5,159 researchers and published in 494 journals, were identified. The United States had the highest number of publications on pancreas regeneration (n=324, 31.5%), followed by China (n=122, 11.9%), Germany (n=105, 10.2%), India (n=96, 9.3%), and Japan (n=85, 8.3%). The three most prolific authors were Susan Bonner-Weir from Harvard Medical School (n=10) and Alexandra E. Butler from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (n=10). Similarly, Patrick Collombat, affiliated with the National Institute of Health and Medical Research, has published 10 academic works. PLOS ONE published the greatest number of articles on pancreas regeneration (n=32), followed by Diabetes (n=25), Diabetologia (n=22), Pancreas (n=20), and Gastroenterology (n=16). "Regeneration" was the most frequently mentioned keyword, whereas "diabetes," "antioxidant activity," and "identification" emerged as trending topics. Conclusion: The United States has led in research on pancreas regeneration. Most research outputs are published in journals focused on pancreatic diseases and pathology, with a primary emphasis on beta-cells. Future research is expected to explore the molecular mechanisms of inflammation, the precise process of pancreas regeneration, and the mechanisms of pancreas regeneration related to diabetes. In addition, therapeutic strategies represent a crucial research dimension.

Neoantigens, also known as tumor-specific antigens (TSAs), represent a current research hotspot in the field of tumor immunology, offering immense potential for cancer treatment. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), an emerging and rapidly evolving treatment modality, provides novel insights into oncological treatment strategies. Traditional ACT has primarily targeted tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), with chimeric antigen receptor-T cell (CAR-T) therapy demonstrating promising clinical benefits in hematological malignancies, but it exhibits limited efficacy in solid tumors. In contrast to TAAs, neoantigens can be more specifically targeted on tumor cells, which render ACT targeting TSAs an innovative and optimized therapeutic approach. This review commences with an exploration of the sources of neoantigens, elaborates on the identification processes, and subsequently summarizes the preclinical and clinical trials of ACT targeting neoantigens in solid tumors. Ultimately, we also discuss the related challenges and offer prospects for future research in this field.

Pancreatic cancer remains highly lethal, with 5-year survival below 15%. While surgical resection is the only potentially curative approach, conventional imaging often fails to clearly delineate tumor boundaries and adjacent anatomy, compromising preoperative planning and surgical precision. This review summarizes recent advancements in photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) for pancreatic cancer imaging and surgical planning. A literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2018 and 2025, focusing on PCCT’s role in tumor visualization, comprehensive vascular mapping including invasion and anatomical variants, lymph node detection, and surgical navigation. PCCT provides ultra-high spatial resolution and intrinsic spectral imaging capabilities, significantly improving the visualization of low-contrast pancreatic tumors and subtle anatomical details. Emerging preliminary clinical evidence highlights PCCT’s potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy, precisely assess tumor resectability, and guide surgical interventions. As clinical adoption expands, PCCT may become a key imaging tool for precision management of pancreatic cancer.

We present a rare case of a 62-year-old female with ampullary adenocarcinoma complicated by portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). The patient presented with upper abdominal pain, jaundice, and fever. Imaging revealed a distal common bile duct mass with portal vein thrombosis. After multidisciplinary discussion, she underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection and reconstruction. Histopathology confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma and PVTT. The patient had an uneventful recovery and is disease-free at 6 months post-surgery.

Objective: Observational studies have suggested a correlation between gut microbiota and pancreatic cancer, but the causal relationship remains uncertain. This study aims to further investigate potential links between 207 gut microbiota and PC. Methods: We used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the causal relationships between gut microbiota and PC. The study analyzed genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from European populations, covering 207 gut microbiota (n = 7,738) and PC (n = 314,924). Results: Our research identified eight microbial species that have a causal link with PC. Parabacteroides merdae (p=0.032, OR=0.611, 95% CI: 0.389-0.959), Ruminococcus lactaris (p=0.030, OR=0.571, 95% CI: 0.344-0.948), and Veillonella (unclassified) (p=0.038, OR=0.781, 95% CI: 0.618-0.987) were negatively associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer. In contrast, Bacteroides coprocola (p=0.008, OR=1.464, 95% CI: 1.104-1.942), Bacteroides finegoldii (p=0.030, OR=1.253, 95% CI: 1.022-1.535), Bacteroides fragilis (p=0.033, OR=1.301, 95% CI: 1.021-1.657), Prevotella copri (p=0.003, OR=1.654, 95% CI: 1.188-2.301), and Holdemania (unclassified) (p=0.007, OR=1.428, 95% CI: 1.105-1.846) were identified as potential risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Additionally, during the progression of PC, nine types of gut microbiota may be affected. PC may decrease the levels of Alistipes senegalensis (p=0.041, OR=0.948, 95% CI: 0.901-0.998), Eubacterium ramulus (p=0.034, OR=0.928, 95% CI: 0.867-0.994), Eubacterium ventriosum (p=0.027, OR=0.913, 95% CI: 0.841-0.990), Ruminococcus lactaris (p=0.004, OR=0.910, 95% CI: 0.853-0.971), Eubacterium biforme (p=0.031, OR=0.904, 95% CI: 0.825-0.991), Bilophila (unclassified) (p=0.023, OR=0.944, 95% CI: 0.898-0.992), and Akkermansia muciniphila (p=0.022, OR=0.940, 95% CI: 0.892-0.991). Conversely, PC may increase the levels of Parabacteroides merdae (p=0.019, OR=1.066, 95% CI: 1.011-1.124) and Lachnospiraceae bacterium 1_1_57FAA (p=0.028, OR=1.153, 95% CI: 1.015-1.309). Conclusion: We identified eight gut microbiota species causally associated with PC. Three were negatively associated with the risk of PC, while five may contribute to its development. The progression of PC may decrease the levels of seven gut microbiota species and increase the levels of two. This study highlights the potential of gut microbiota for early diagnosis and treatment of PC. Further research is needed to determine whether these findings could serve as potential targets for preventing or treating PC.