Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Research Articles

Top Pancreatic Tumor Articles from 2021 to Inform Your Cancer Patients.

More than 10,000 publications about pancreatic cancer were found on PubMed during the past year. To best inform patients with pancreatic cancer, the obvious, frequent questions asked during patient counseling when dealing with resectable pancreatic cancer, borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, and unresectable pancreatic cancer were considered. The publications highlighted are comprehensive on the current management of neoadjuvant therapy for resectable pancreatic cancer, the addition of radiation to neoadjuvant therapy for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, the utility of arterial resections in unresectable pancreatic cancer, and the role of minimally invasive approach to pancreatic cancer surgical therapy. These articles are high yield and comprehensive reviewon key issues facing surgical oncologists who operate on pancreaticcancer.

Impact of skeletal muscle mass on the prognosis of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a common therapeutic procedure for patients with pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to investigate the association between the total psoas area (TPA) and prognosis in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. This retrospective study included patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. TPA was measured at the level of the L3 vertebra using computed tomography. The patients were divided into low-TPA and normal-TPA groups. These dichotomizations were separately performed in patients with resectable and those with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. In total, 44 patients had resectable pancreatic cancer and 71 patients had borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Overall survival among patients with resectable pancreatic cancer did not differ between the normal- and low-TPA groups (median, 19.8 vs. 21.8months, p = 0.447), whereas among patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, the low-TPA group had shorter overall survival than the normal-TPA group (median, 21.8 vs. 32.9months, p = 0.006). Among patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, the low-TPA group was predictive of poor overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.57, p = 0.037). Low TPA is a risk factor of poor survival in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. TPA evaluation could potentially suggest the treatment strategy in this disease.

PD-1 blockade plus chemoradiotherapy as preoperative therapy for patients with BRPC/LAPC: A biomolecular exploratory, phase II trial

This is a phase II study of PD-1 blockade plus chemoradiotherapy as preoperative therapy for patients with locally advanced or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC or BRPC, respectively). Twenty-nine patients are enrolled in the study. The objective response rate (ORR) is 60%, and the R0 resection rate is 90% (9/10). The 12-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate and 12-month overall survival (OS) rate are 64% and 72%, respectively. Grade 3 or higher adverse events are anemia (8%), thrombocytopenia (8%), and jaundice (8%). Circulating tumor DNA analysis reveals that patients with a >50% decline in maximal somatic variant allelic frequency (maxVAF) between the first clinical evaluation and baseline have a longer survival outcome and a higher response rate and surgical rate than those who are not. PD-1 blockade plus chemoradiotherapy as preoperative therapy displays promising antitumor activity, and multiomics potential predictive biomarkers are identified and warrant further verification.

Comprehensive multimodal management of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: Current status and progress.

Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) is a complex clinical entity with specific biological features. Criteria for resectability need to be assessed in combination with tumor anatomy and oncology. Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for BRPC patients is associated with additional survival benefits. Research is currently focused on exploring the optimal NAT regimen and more reliable ways of assessing response to NAT. More attention to management standards during NAT, including biliary drainage and nutritional support, is needed. Surgery remains the cornerstone of BRPC treatment and multidisciplinary teams can help to evaluate whether patients are suitable for surgery and provide individualized management during the perioperative period, including NAT responsiveness and the selection of surgical timing.

First jejunal vein, jejunal trunk, and pancreatico-duodenectomy: resolving the literature conundrum.

A detailed knowledge of the surgical anatomy of tributaries of the superior mesenteric vein, especially proximal jejunal venous anatomy (first jejunal vein and jejunal trunk), is a key prerequisite for performing a safe pancreatico-duodenectomy. However, the available literature on the anatomical course and surgical relevance of these vessels is scarce, the nomenclature across the articles is heterogeneous, and the resulting evidence is confusing to interpret. Standardized terminology and an in-depth review of these vessels with regard to their course, termination, vascular relations, and variations will help the surgeons in planning and performing this complex surgery safely, especially when a venous resection and reconstruction is planned in cases of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. A uniform nomenclature and a unifying classification are proposed in this review for these two tributaries to help resolve the literature conundrum. This standardized terminology and anatomical description will assist the radiologists in reporting pancreatic protocol-computed tomography scans and surgeons in selecting the appropriate steps for the different anatomical orientations of these tributaries for the performance of safe pancreatic surgery. This will also help future researchers communicate in well-defined terms in reference to these tributaries so as to avoid confusion in future studies.

Cryopreserved allografts versus end-to-end anastomosis for the reconstruction of a segment-resected portomesenteric vein during advanced pancreatic cancer surgery

BackgroundPorto-mesenteric vein (PMV) infiltration of pancreatic cancer is classified as borderline resectable cancer. For en-bloc resectability, the probability of PMV resection and reconstruction is the most decisive factor. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze PMV resection and reconstruction during pancreatic cancer surgery using end-to-end anastomosis (EA) and a cryopreserved allograft (AG) and to verify the effectiveness of reconstruction using an AG. MethodsBetween May 2012 and June 2021, 84 patients (65 underwent EA, and 19 received AG reconstruction) underwent pancreatic cancer surgery with PMV reconstruction. An AG is a cadaveric graft with a diameter of 8–12 mm and is obtained from a liver transplant donor. Patency after reconstruction, disease recurrence, overall survival, and perioperative factors were assessed. ResultsThe median age was higher in EA patients (p = .022) and neoadjuvant therapy (p = .02) was more in AG patients. Upon histopathological examination, the R0 resection margin did not show a significant difference by reconstruction method. During a 36-month survival analysis, primary patency was significantly superior in EA patients (p = .004), and there was no significant difference in recurrence-free survival (p = .628) or overall survival (p = .638) rates. ConclusionCompared with EA, AG reconstruction after PMV resection during pancreatic cancer surgery showed a lower primary patency, but there was no difference in recurrence-free or overall survival rates. Therefore, the use of AG can be a viable option for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer surgery if the patient is properly followed-up postoperatively.

No survival benefit with suboptimal CA19-9 response: defining effective neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

Background/purposeNeoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is gaining popularity over a surgery-first (SF) approach in treating resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, what constitutes effective neoadjuvant chemotherapy is unknown. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed resectable and borderline resectable PDAC patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (2010–2019) at a single institution. Optimal CA19-9 response was defined as normalization AND >50% reduction. We utilized Kaplan-Meier and multivariable-adjusted Cox models and competing risk subdistribution methods for statistical analysis. Results586 patients were included in this study. The multivariable-adjusted analysis demonstrated OS benefit in the NAC group only when OS was calculated from diagnosis (HR = 0.72, p = 0.02), but not from surgery (HR = 0.81, p = 0.1). However, in 59 patients who achieved optimal CA19-9 response, OS is significantly longer than the 134 patients with suboptimal CA19-9 response (39.3 m vs. 21.5 m, p = 0.005) or the 117 SF patients (39.3 m vs. 19.5 m, p < 0.001). Notably, a suboptimal CA19-9 response conferred no OS advantage compared to SF patients. The accumulative incidence of liver metastases (but not other metastases) was significantly reduced only in patients with optimal CA19-9 response to NAC (multivariable-adjusted subdistribution HR = 0.26, p = 0.03). ConclusionCA19-9 response to NAC may serve as the marker for effective NAC. These findings warrant validation in a multi-institutional study.

Added value of digital FDG-PET/CT in disease staging and restaging in patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

BackgroundWe studied the added value of digital FDG-PET/CT in disease staging and restaging compared to the standard work-up with contrast enhanced CT (ceCT) and CA19-9 in patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer who received neo-adjuvant therapy. Primary endpoints were tumor response compared to ceCT and CA19.9 as well as the ability to detect distant metastatic disease. Methods35 patients were included in this dual-center prospective study. FDG-PET using digital photon counting technology combined with CT scans were acquired before (T1) and after neo-adjuvant therapy (T2). Patients were staged and restaged based on standard protocol with ceCT and CA 19.9, while all PET/CT scans were stored securely and not included in clinical decision making. After the pancreatic resection, an expert team retrospectively assessed the CT tumor diameter, CA19-9, tumor FDG-uptake, and appearance of metastatic disease of all patients for both time points. ResultsCA19-9 levels, CT tumor diameter, and tumor FDG-uptake on PET significantly decreased from T1 to T2 (p = 0.017, p = 0.001, and p < 0.0001). The change in FDG-uptake values showed a strong positive correlation with the change in CT tumor diameter and change in CA19-9 (R = 0.75 and R = 0.73, respectively). In addition, small-volume liver lesions were detected on digital PET/CT in 5/35 patients (14%), 4 of which were pathology confirmed at laparotomy. Only one of these five cases was detected on baseline staging ceCT (3%). ConclusionWe found that adding digital PET/CT strengthens restaging after neo-adjuvant therapy based on the observed strong correlation with ceCT tumor diameter and Ca19.9. Also, digital PET/CT was found to detect occult metastatic disease not visualized on ceCT, that would have resulted in altered disease staging and therapeutic strategy in a substantial proportion of patients.

A Prospective Study of Neoadjuvant Gemcitabine Plus Nab-paclitaxel in Patients with Borderline-resectable Pancreatic Cancer.

Objectives Neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical resection improves the borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) prognosis; however, the optimal therapeutic regimen remains unclear. Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) showed a high anti-tumor effect in primary lesions in a prospective study for metastatic disease. However, evidence concerning its feasibility is still lacking in patients with BRPC. We therefore evaluated the tolerability of neoadjuvant GnP (NAC-GnP) for BRPC. Methods This single-center prospective study evaluated 10 patients with BRPC who were treated with two cycles of NAC-GnP. The primary endpoint was feasibility for NAC-GnP. Treatment feasibility was defined as a successful outcome in at least eight patients. Results Ten patients who had BRPC in contact with the celiac artery (n=5), superior mesenteric artery (n=3), or hepatic artery (n=2) were enrolled. The median age was 75 (range, 40-82) years old. Grade 3 anorexia and grade 2 pneumonia occurred in one patient each, so treatment was feasible in eight patients. The median primary tumor reduction and response rates were 33% (range, 0-68%) and 60%, respectively. Six of eight patients who had abnormal CA19-9 levels at the time of enrolment showed a decrease in CA19-9 levels, with a median decrease of 72%. Five patients underwent radical resection, including R0 resection in four. Postoperative grade IIIa Clavien-Dindo complications occurred in one patient (upper gastrointestinal bleeding and pancreatic fistula). Conclusion Two-cycle NAC-GnP is a feasible treatment for patients with BRPC. Further studies on NAC-GnP in patients with BRPC are warranted.

Surgical outcomes after neoadjuvant ablative dose radiation among patients with borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreas cancer from the multi-institutional phase 2 Stereotactic MR-Guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy (SMART) trial.

718 Background: Acute grade 3+ toxicity was rare in the multi-institutional phase 2 stereotactic MR-guided on-table adaptive radiation therapy (SMART) trial (NCT03621644) for locally advanced and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC/BRPC). Surgery may be considered after ablative SMART although the feasibility and safety of this is not well understood. Postoperative outcomes of the subset of patients in the SMART trial are examined here. Methods: Trial eligibility included BRPC or LAPC without metastases after a minimum of 3 months of induction chemotherapy. All patients received SMART prescribed to 50 Gy in 5 fractions using an integrated 0.35T MR-radiation therapy device equipped with cutting edge soft tissue tracking, automatic beam gating, and on-table adaptive replanning. Surgery was permitted after SMART, often after multi-disciplinary review. Perioperative details and postoperative outcomes, including morbidity, mortality, and overall survival (OS), were analyzed. Results: 136 patients across 13 sites were enrolled between 2019-2022. 44 patients (32.4%) had surgery after SMART (33 BRPC, 11 LAPC). Surgical procedures included pancreaticoduodenectomy (81.8%), distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (9.1%), total pancreatectomy (6.8%), and distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection (2.3%). 52.3% required vascular resection/reconstruction, a majority of which were venous resections (65.2%), with a smaller proportion needing both venous/arterial (21.7%), or arterial (13%). Surgery was performed after a mean 51.4 ± 52.8 days from SMART. Postoperative hospitalization was 10.5 ± 8.9 days. Nine patients (20.5%) had Clavien-Dindo complications of grade III or higher; 3 deaths resulted from post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage in patients who had portal vein resection. One-year OS in patients who had surgery versus no surgery after SMART was 66% vs. 43%, respectively. Conclusions: These are the first prospectively evaluated surgical outcomes after 5-fraction ablative SMART for BRPC/LAPC. The rate of surgery for BRPC compares favorably to radiated patients on the Alliance A021501 trial. Despite the use of ablative radiation dose and frequent need for vascular resection, the incidence of serious surgical complications was similar to what is reported after non-ablative radiation therapy. However, several deaths occurred after surgery and we therefore we urge caution when considering surgery after ablative radiation therapy. Further analysis of other variables such as the time between SMART and surgery, approaches to vascular resections, and discrete events such as delayed gastric emptying, operative duration, and post-operative pancreatic fistula are needed to better understand the surgical morbidity seen in these patients. Clinical trial information: NCT03621644 .

Does neoadjuvant treatment in resectable pancreatic cancer improve disease outcomes? Systematic review and metanalysis of randomized controlled trials.

704 Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC). Whether these results are the same in upfront RPC is unknown. Methods: To evaluate the association of neoadjuvant treatment and outcomes in RPC a systematic review was performed including randomized trials of neoadjuvant treatment versus upfront surgery. Articles indexed in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were evaluated. Data regarding treatment regimens, R0 rates, disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were extracted. The outcomes were compared using a random effects model. The index I2 and the graphs of funnel plot were used for the interpretation of the data. Results: Of 3,229 abstracts, 6 randomized controlled trials were considered eligible with a combined sample size of 805 patients. Among the trials, the PACT-15, JSAP-05, and updated long-term results from PREOPANC and NEONAX trials were included. In the meta-analysis, we could see that neoadjuvant treatment in RPC does not improve DFS or OS; HR 0.72 [0.46-1.09] and HR 0.76 [0.52-1.11], respectively. Interestingly, R0 rates were improved about 20% with the neoadjuvant approach (HR 1.2 [1.04-1.37]). It is important to note that most studies evaluated gemcitabine-based regimens in the neoadjuvant setting. Conclusions: This metanalysis of six randomized controlled trials suggests that neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine-based regimens does not improve PFS or OS in RPC compared to upfront surgery followed by adjuvant treatment. Neoadjuvant treatment improves R0 rates in about 20%. Randomized ongoing trials are eagerly waited with more active combined regimens including modified FOLFIRINOX.[Table: see text]

Prognostic factors of multidisciplinary treatment for borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Results of a dual-center study.

680 Background: Multidisciplinary treatment of borderline resectable (BR)/unresectable locally advanced (UR-LA) pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has not yet been established. The purpose of this study is to explore factors that improve prognosis in radical surgery after multidisciplinary treatment for pancreatic cancer. Methods: We evaluated the following prognostic factors in 240 PDAC patients who underwent radical resection after multidisciplinary treatment. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to NCCN guidelines (BR PDAC invading the portal vein (BR-PV), BR pancreatic cancer in contact with the major arteries such as the hepatic artery, celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery (BR-A), and UR-LA), and prognostic factors were investigated. Patients with BR PDAC were treated with chemotherapy followed by surgery, while radiation therapy was added preoperatively in most cases with arterial invasion. All patients with UR-LA underwent surgery after nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (GnP) followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with S-1. Results: BR-PV/BR-A/UR-LA patients were 88/111/41, respectively. Prognosis was significantly better in the NAT group than in the upfront surgery group for both BR-PV/A (P=0.004/&lt;0.001). In univariate analysis of overall survival (OS) in 36 patients with BR-PV who underwent resection after NAT, the following factors were significantly favorable prognostic factors; tumor marker (TM) normalization (P=0.028), preoperative Glasgow prognostic score=0 (P=0.025), and preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI)&gt;42.5 (P=0.022). In univariate analysis in 39 patients with BR-A, the following factors were significantly favorable prognostic factors; TM normalization (P=0.033), preoperative PNI&gt;42.5 (P=0.013), intraoperative blood loss&gt;830 ml (P=0.013). Multivariate analysis revealed that high preoperative PNI was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 0.15 [0.02-0.85]; P=0.014) in BR-A patients. In patients with UR-LA who underwent radical resection after GnP and subsequent CRT, median duration of NAT was 8.8 months, and R0 resection was achieved in 36 patients (88%). 3-year OS was 77.4%, and 5-year OS 58.6%. Multivariate analysis revealed that CA19-9 normalization (hazard ratio 0.23 [0.02-0.88]; P=0.032) and PNI≥41.7 (HR 0.05 [0.01-0.62]; P=0.021) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: In both BR/UR-LA pancreatic cancer, normalization of TM and maintenance of good nutritional status during NAT until surgery may contribute to prolonged prognosis.

Greco-2: A randomized, phase 2 study of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in combination with rucosopasem (GC4711) in the treatment of locally advanced or borderline resectable nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer.

TPS766 Background: While treatment of pancreatic cancer has advanced, survival rates remain low. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT; high dose per fraction radiation) may exhibit improved clinical outcomes in locally advanced pancreatic cancer but carries potential gastrointestinal toxicity risks. Rucosopasem (GC4711) is one of a class of investigational selective dismutase mimetics that rapidly and specifically converts superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. Studies have shown that normal cells tolerate hydrogen peroxide fluxes better than cancer cells. As radiation response modifiers, dismutase mimetics have the potential to increase tumor control of SBRT without compromising radiation safety. In a pilot phase 1/2 trial in patients with pancreatic cancer, avasopasem, a dismutase mimetic related to rucosopasem, nearly doubled median overall survival in patients receiving SBRT vs placebo plus SBRT. Improvements versus placebo were also observed in local tumor control, time to metastases, and progression-free survival. Altogether, these data support the hypothesis that rucosopasem may improve survival and the benefit-risk ratio of SBRT by improving efficacy without increasing gastrointestinal toxicity. Methods: GRECO-2 is a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (NCT04698915) to determine the effect of adding rucosopasem to SBRT on overall survival in patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced, unresectable nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer following initial chemotherapy with a FOLFIRINOX-based regimen or a gemcitabine doublet. Approximately 160 patients will be randomized (approximately 35 sites) to receive rucosopasem 100 mg or placebo via IV infusion over 15 minutes, prior to each SBRT fraction (5 x 10 Gy). Patients judged to be resectable will undergo surgical exploration within 8 weeks after SBRT. The primary endpoint is overall survival. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, locoregional control, time to metastasis, surgical resection rate, RO resection rate, best overall response, in-field local response, and safety (acute and late toxicities). Exploratory endpoints include PRO-CTCAE and CA19-9 normalization. This trial (NCT04698915) is now enrolling. Clinical trial information: NCT04698915 .

Validation of the Anatomical and Biological Definitions of Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer According to the 2017 International Consensus for Survival and Recurrence in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Upfront Surgery.

The International Consensus Criteria (ICC) (2017) redefined patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (BR-PDAC) according to anatomical, biological, and conditional aspects. However, these new criteria have not been validated comprehensively. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to validate the anatomical and biological definitions of BR-PDAC for oncological outcomes in patients with resectable (R) and BR-PDAC undergoing upfront surgery. A total of 404 patients who underwent upfront surgery for R- and BR-PDAC from 2004 to 2020 were included. The patients were classified according to the ICC as follows: resectable (R) (n = 259), anatomical borderline (BR-A) (n = 43), biological borderline (BR-B) (n = 81), and anatomical and biologic borderline (BR-AB) (n = 21). Compared with the R and BR-B groups, the BR-A and BR-AB groups had higher postoperative complication rates (16.5% and 27.2% vs 32.5% and 33.4%; P < 0.001) and significantly lower R0 resection rates (85.7% and 80.2% vs 65.1% and 61.9%; P = 0.003). In contrast, compared with the R and BR-A groups, the BR-B (32.1%) and BR-AB (57.1%) groups had higher early recurrence rates (within postoperative 6 months) (16.5% and 25.6% vs 32.1% and 57.1%; P < 0.001) and significantly lower 3-year recurrence-free survival rates (36.1% and 20.7% vs 12.1% and 7.8%; P < 0.001). Anatomically defined BR-PDAC was associated with a higher risk of margin-positive resection and postoperative complication rates, while biologically defined BR-PDAC was associated with higher early recurrence rates and lower survival rates. Thus, the anatomical and biological definitions are useful in predicting the prognosis and determining the usefulness of neoadjuvant therapy.

DUPAN-II normalisation as a biological indicator during preoperative chemoradiation therapy for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

BackgroundDuke pancreatic mono-clonal antigen type 2 (DUPAN-II) is a famous tumour maker for pancreatic cancer (PC) as well as carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19-9). We evaluated the clinical implications of DUPAN-II levels as a biological indicator for PC during preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT).MethodsThis retrospective analysis included data from 221 consecutive patients with resectable and borderline resectable PC at diagnosis who underwent preoperative CRT between 2008 and 2017. We focused on 73 patients with elevated pre-CRT DUPAN-II levels (> 230 U/mL; more than 1.5 times the cut-off value for the normal range). Pre- and post-CRT DUPAN-II levels and the changes in DUPAN-II ratio were measured.ResultsUnivariate analysis identified normalisation of DUPAN-II levels after CRT as a significant prognostic factor (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.06, confidence interval [CI] = 1.03–4.24, p = 0.042). Total normalisation ratio was 49% (n = 36). Overall survival (OS) in patients with normalised DUPAN-II levels was significantly longer than that in 73 patients with elevated levels (5-year survival, 55% vs. 21%, p = 0.032) and in 60 patients who underwent tumour resection (5-year survival, 59% vs. 26%, p = 0.039).ConclusionNormalisation of DUPAN-II levels during preoperative CRT was a significant prognostic factor and could be an indicator to monitor treatment efficacy and predict patient prognosis.

Comparison of access to the superior mesenteric arteryduring the execution of the pancreatoduodenal resectionin patients with borderline-resectable cancer of the pancreatic head

The purpose of the study is to study the technical aspects of surgical treatment of borderline-resectable pancreatic head tumors Materials and methods. An analysis of the implementation of the DA was performed in 102 patients with borderline-resectable pancreatic head cancer. In 20% of patients, the tumor grows in the region of the celiac-mesenteric gap of the tumor (mesopancreas germination). In 25.6%, the tumor grows on the wall of the portal-superior mesenteric segment. In 12.7%, the tumor tightly covers the walls of the branches of the celiac trunk or superior mesenteric artery by less than 180 degrees, extending to the fascial sheath and adventitia of the vessel. Results. During the implementation of the DA with various methods of access to the IWL, no significant differences were revealed in the early postoperative period. Conclusion. The choice of access is determined by the “anatomy” of the spread of the tumor. AMS rear access is most convenient for IPDA isolation and ligation. Mesenteric access allows the most secure ligation of PDJV

A case of pancreatic head cancer with Trousseau’s syndrome treated with radical resection and anticoagulant therapy

BackgroundThe primary disease of Trousseau’s syndrome is often highly advanced cancer, and treatment of the primary disease after cerebral infarction is often difficult. We herein report a case of pancreatic head cancer with Trousseau’s syndrome treated with radical resection and anticoagulant therapy.Case presentationA 78-year-old man was admitted with dizziness and diagnosed with cerebral infarction. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography for a thorough checkup indicated borderline resectable pancreatic head cancer. Radical resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC; gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel) was scheduled. During the second course of NAC, multiple cerebral infarctions recurred, and the patient was diagnosed with Trousseau’s syndrome. Continuous intravenous infusion of heparin was started for cerebral infarction. Since it was impossible to continue NAC and there was no worsening of imaging findings, radical resection was planned. Thereafter, he underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with superior mesenteric vein resection. The patient progressed well and was discharged on the 19th day after surgery. He continued subcutaneous injection of heparin at home and is alive without recurrence of cancer or cerebral infarction at more than 21 months after surgery.ConclusionSurgical treatment may be an option for pancreatic cancer with Trousseau’s syndrome under favorable conditions.

A case of delayed pancreatic fistula after covered self-expandable metallic stent deployment for pancreatic head cancer.

A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital with obstructive jaundice. A tumor with poor contrast enhancement was found in the pancreatic head, but there was no evidence of pancreatic atrophy, irregular stenosis, or dilation of the main pancreatic duct. He was diagnosed with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer with distal malignant biliary obstruction. After plastic stent placement, serum bilirubin levels improved, and chemotherapy was started. However, he developed cholangitis; thus, the plastic stent was replaced with a covered self-expandable metallic stent. He subsequently developed a delayed pancreatic fistula due to main pancreatic duct disruption. An endoscopic nasopancreatic duct drainage tube was placed to bridge the main pancreatic duct disruption after removing the covered self-expandable metallic stent. In addition, endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural drainage was performed for the infected fluid collection caused by the pancreatic fistula, and the clinical symptoms quickly improved. This case presents the possibility of a delayed pancreatic fistula due to self-expandable metallic stent deployment. The need for considering such delayed complications when placing self-expanding metallic stents is highlighted.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Efficacy and Safety in Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

The current study was designed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. The study was a retrospective case control with propensity score similarity. From January 2017 to June 2022, data regarding 70 patients who had received radical resection of pancreatic cancer at the department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery of first affiliated hospital of Huzhou university was acquired. The neoadjuvant therapy group consisted of 35 patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy before surgery. Patients who received extensive surgical resection were included in the control group directly. The effect of the neoadjuvant therapy group was evaluated before the operation and serum tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen, cancer antigen 125 and cancer antigen 19-9 levels were compared before and after neoadjuvant therapy. Comparative analyses of perioperative surgical variables, postoperative pathological symptoms and postoperative complications were performed between both groups. Among the patients without complete remission or progressive disease after neoadjuvant therapy, 13 cases (37.14 %) were evaluated as partial response and 22 cases (62.86 %) were assessed as stable disease. After neoadjuvant therapy, serum levels of cancer antigen 19-9, cancer antigen 125 and carcinoembryonic antigen indexes revealed a significant (all p<0.05) downward trend. There were no statistically significant differences (all p>0.05) between the two groups regarding surgery type, operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, number of cases requiring blood transfusion, or postoperative hospital stay. Neoadjuvant treatment patient’s tumor diameters and the number of removed lymph nodes were significantly less (p<0.05) than those of the control group and their R0 resection rates were significantly greater (p<0.05) than those of the control group. There was no substantial variation in the frequency of complications between both groups (p>0.05). Preoperative neoadjuvant therapy for patients with minimally resectable pancreatic cancer can lower tumor marker levels. Moreover, it can produce a specific curative impact without raising surgical risk levels and boosting the R0 resection rate, which is safe and appropriate.

Safety and feasibility of pancreas resection after a-smart in pancreatic cancer:Multicenter analysis

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy coupled with radiotherapy (RT) may provide survival benefits when compared to upfront surgery in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. It is hypothesized that delivering precise, ablative doses of radiation allows for improved outcomes without increasing significant treatment-related toxicity. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of surgical resection after neoadjuvant ablative stereotactic magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiation therapy (A-SMART) in patients with pancreatic cancer.