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Objective:To evaluate the physicochemical properties, degradation and drug release behaviour, cytocompatibility and bacteriostatic properties in vitro of porous magnesium alloy scaffolds containing vancomycin/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). Methods:Porous magnesium scaffolds (Mg-2Zn-0.3Ca) were prepared using the template replication technique. The MgF 2 surface layer was obtained by high temperature fluorination. The vancomycin/PLGA porous magnesium alloy drug-loaded scaffolds were obtained by homogeneous lifting after submersion in a dichloromethane solution of PLGA containing vancomycin hydrochloride. According to the products at each stage of the preparation (scaffolds of magnesium alloy, magnesium fluoride alloy, PLGA coated magnesium fluoride alloy, and vancomycin/PLGA magnesium fluoride alloy), they were divided into an Mg group, an MgF 2 group, a PLGA group, and a vancomycin/PLGA group. Immediately after preparation, the material science characterization, degradation rate, drug release rate, antibacterial properties, hemocompatibility, and cell proliferation and differentiation ability of the scaffolds were measured and evaluated. Results:Vancomycin-loaded magnesium alloy scaffolds were successfully prepared with an average porosity of 66.39%. Their degradation rate [(0.540±0.102) mm/year] was significantly lower than that of the Mg ones [(10.048±0.297) mm/year] ( P<0.05). Their pH of degradation in Hank equilibrium salt solution was close to the physiological pH. Their release of vancomycin was fast in the first 48 h and gradually slowed down after 48 h. Their cumulative drug concentration reached a maximum of 43 mg/L at d 11; their vancomycin was still released slowly after d 11. The antimicrobial rate in the vancomycin/PLGA group (97.89%±0.28%) was significantly higher than that in the Mg group (74.92%±2.20%), the MgF 2 group (78.46%±2.59%) and the PLGA group (61.08%±4.21%) ( P<0.05). Their hemolysis rate (0.55%) was much lower than the requirement of ISO 10993-4 (5%). The extract liquid from them promoted the proliferation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), showing a gradually increased proliferation rate from d1 (104.80%±5.13%) to d3 (112.36%±2.07%) and d7 (127.79%±4.61%). The calcium nodules in BMSCs were significantly increased at d 14, with an OD value of absorbance of 1.189±0.020, significantly higher than that in the Mg group (0.803±0.020), the MgF 2 group (0.878±0.028) and the PLGA group (0.887±0.026) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Vancomycin/PLGA-loaded porous magnesium alloy scaffolds exhibit good material properties, antibacterial properties, biocompatibility and osteogenic properties in vitro.
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Objective:To analyze the clinical and pathological features and gene mutations of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC).Methods:Clinical data of 34 patients with PACC admitted to the Department of Pancreatic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from December 2009 to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed to summarize its clinical characteristics, and the expressions of α1-ACT, CaM5.2, Syn and CgA in pancreatic tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Next-generation gene sequencing technology was used to detect gene mutations in tumor specimens.Results:Among the 34 PACC patients, 23(68%) were males and 11(32%) were females; the age ranged from 25 to 75 years, with an average age of 54 years. The first symptom was abdominal pain or distension in 21 cases (62%), skin or scleral yellow staining in 4 cases(12%), and 9 cases(26%) were found in routine physical examination. BMI was 17.6-34.0 kg/m 2, of which 3 cases (9%) were <18.5 kg/m 2, 23 cases (68%) were 18.5-24.0 kg/m 2, and 8 cases (23%) were >24.0 kg/m 2. Preoperative examination showed elevated CA19-9 in 7 cases (20.6%), elevated CEA in 3 cases (8.8%), and elevated AFP in 7 cases (20.6%). Blood amylase was 16-247 U/L, with an average of 80 U/L. Enhanced CT showed that the lesion was irregular in shape, showing inhomogeneity and slightly low density, with areas of cystic degeneration and necrosis. The tumor was located in the head of the pancreas in 14 cases (41%), the body and tail of the pancreas in 19 cases (56%), and the neck of the pancreas in 1 case (3%). The largest tumor diameter was 1.5-15.5 cm, with an average of 5.4 cm. Postoperative pathologic stage I was confirmed in 4 cases (12%), stage Ⅱ in 14 cases (41%), stage Ⅲ in 14 cases (41%) and stage Ⅳ in 2 cases (6%). Immunohistochemical results showed that both α1-ACT and CaM5.2 were positively expressed (100%). Syn was positive in 8 cases (23.5%) and CgA was positive in 6 cases (17.6%). Ki-67 index was from 9% to 70%, with an average of 41%. Gene sequencing of pancreatic tumor tissue from 6 patients showed BRCA2 mutation in 2 patients (7155C>G), K-ras mutation in 1 patient (35G>T), RET mutation in 1 patient (200G>A), and LKB1 mutation (234G>T) in 1 patient, and one double mutation of K-ras and RET (35G>A, 1 798C>T). 30 patients were followed up, and the median survival was 38.3 months. Conclusions:PACC was a rare pancreatic tumor with no specific clinical manifestations. The positive expression rates of α1-ACT and CAM5.2 in tumor tissues were 100%. BRCA2, K-ras, RET and LKB1 were common gene mutations.
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As a new direction of pancreatic cancer treatment, neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer has been confirmed to be able to improve the prognosis of the patients. Under multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) mode, neoadjuvant therapy combines multidisciplinary advantages to solve patients′ problems of diagnosis and treatment, provides accurate, comprehensive and individual treatments, and maximizes the clinical benefit for patients. In this article, we summarize the present problems of neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer in patient selection, treatment regimen selection, treatment response evaluation and surgical selection, and explore the direction of clinical research and neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer under MDT mode.
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Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal malignancy with an overall 5-year survival rate less than 9%, mainly due to late diagnosis and lack of effective therapeutic options.In the last decade, post-operative survival has been enhanced with advent of neoadjuvant therapy and combined adjuvant therapy.Furthermore, the information gained from the omics data, including next generation sequencing data, hasn′t yet begun to affect treatment of pancreatic cancer patients.However, in terms of precision medicine, pancreatic cancer has always lagged behind other tumors.Therefore, combined with practical experience, summary of the latest development and research progress of precise medical treatment of pancreatic cancer, especially from the fields of molecular biology and experimental models, is of critical importance. Further development of precise medicine for pancreatic cancer based on platforms using PDX and organoid model would promisingly help in effective improvement of clinical treatment.
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Objective@#To examine the prognostic value of four important driver gene mutations in patients with radical resection of pancreatic cancer.@*Methods@#The clinical data and follow-up data of pancreatic cancer patients undergoing radical pancreatectomy and targeted sequencing from January 2016 to March 2018 at Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.There were 159 males and 88 females,aged of (60.8±8.7)years(range:33-83 years) and preoperative CA19-9 of (492.4±496.6)kU/L(range: 2-1 200 kU/L). One hundred and fifty nine cases of tumors were located in the head and 88 cases in the body and tail of the pancreas. After univariate analysis of clinical pathological factors (including gender, age, preoperative CA19-9, tumor location, tumor differentiation, pathological T and N stage, Micr. perineural invasion, Micr. lympho-vascular invasion, resection margin), the variable whose P<0.1 was included in COX regression model with four important driver gene mutations to find which mutation was related to prognosis independently. The number of gene mutations and KRAS subgroups were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve.@*Results@#Among 247 patients,the number of KRAS,TP53, SMAD4 and CDKN2A mutations was 212 cases(85.8%), 160 cases(64.8%), 66 cases(26.7%) and 44 cases(17.8%),respectively.KRAS mutation was correlated with the tumor differentiation and pathological T stage (χ2=24.570/6.690, P=0.000/0.035), TP53 mutation was correlated with the tumor differentiation and the resected margin(χ2=5.500/4.620, P=0.019/0.032), and CDKN2A mutation was correlated with gender(χ2=16.574, P=0.000).COX regression model analysis showed that only KRAS mutation was an independent risk factor for disease free survival and overall survival(HR=1.776, 95%CI: 1.079-2.923, P=0.024; HR=1.923, 95%CI: 1.016-3.639, P=0.045); KRASG12D mutation was associated with shorter OS(P=0.007).@*Conclusion@#KRAS and its subgroup KRASG12D mutation can be used as a prognostic index for patients with radical resection of pancreatic cancer.
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Pancreatic cancer is a common malignancy with the worst prognosis.Radical surgery has been the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer.With the advancement of surgical techniques and the implementation of the concept of comprehensive treatment for cancer in recent years,neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer has received more attention.There are continuing controversies in the hotspots and difficulties,with opportunities and challenges coexisting.Four famous experts and their teams in pancreatic surgery discussed selection strategy of neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer based on clinical experiences.Professor Wang Chunyou proposed that surgery was prior for patients with a higher likelihood of achieving R0 resection for pancreatic cancer to avoid the possibility of tumor progression and loss the opportanity of radical resection during neoadjuvant therapy.For patients with less chance of radical resection for pancreatic cancer and unresectable pancreatic cancer,neoadjuvant therapy is worthy of a positive attempt.Professor Jin Gang and his team believed that neoadjuvant therapy played an important role in improving the survival time of patients with pancreatic head cancer,especially with borderline resectable pancreatic head cancer.After neoadjuvant therapy,pancreatic surgeons should pay attention to improvement of surgery safety and R0 resection rate.Professor Dai Menghua and his team suggested that patients with resectable pancreatic cancer and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer could benefit from neoadjuvant therapy,which required proof from clinical trials.Surgeons should choose the appropriate treatment strategy based on guidelines and individual conditions for patients with pancreatic cancer.Professor Shao Cheghao and his team suggested that surgical treatment after neoadjuvant therapy or translational therapy for locally advanced pancreatic head cancer is safe,effective and feasible,especially for pancreaticoduodenectomy with combined revascularization.For the treatment of patients with pancreatic head cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy,the choice of next treatment options,evaluation indicators,timing of surgery and surgical methods need to be further studied.
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Objective To investigate the utility of plasma procalcitonin (PCT) as an early predictor for postoperative complications in patients who underwent elective pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).Methods Clinical data of 87 patients who underwent elective PD in Changhai Hospital from March.1, 2016 to Dec.31, 2016 were collected.The general data, postoperative recovery, serum PCT level and white blood cell (WBC) count before, 1 d, 3 d and 5 d after PD were recorded.ROC curve was drawn and AUC was calculated to determine the cutoff value, sensitivity and specificity.Patients were divided into complication group (n=42) and noncomplication group (n=45) based on the occurrence of post-operative complications, and the comparisons between the two groups were performed.Results There were no significant differences on the age, gender, diabetes, obstructive jaundice, laboratory tests including PCT, operative time, blood loss volume during surgery and tumor type between the two groups, which were comparable.Complication group had longer hospitalization than noncomplication group (24 d vs 15 d,P0.05), but the plasma PCT level in patients with pancreatic fistula and peritoneal infection on 3 d and 5 d after PD was significantly higher than those in noncomplication group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05).The combination of plasma PCT and WBC on 3 d and 5 d after PD was superior to PCT or WBC alone in predicting pancreatic fistula (sensitivity 88.9%, 72.7%;specificity 68.5%, 78.2%) and abdominal infection (sensitivity 100%, 100%;specificity 45.9%, 44.4%).Conclusions Plasma PCT could predict the occurrence of abdominal infection and pancreatic fistula after PD.The combination of PCT and WBC might be more valuable in predicting abdominal infection and pancreatic fistula.
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Objective@#To compare the clinical therapeutic effects of arterial first approach pancreaticoduodenectomy(AFA-PD) with standard approach pancreaticoduodenectomy(SPD) in the treatment of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC).@*Methods@#A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 113 cases of pancreatic cancer patients from January 2014 to August 2015 at Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, including 43 cases in AFA-PD group and 70 cases in SPD group.Every patient had gone high-resolusion computed tomography before the surgery, when BRPC was definitely diagnosed by both experienced radiologist and pancreatic surgeon.There were 24 males and 19 females in the AFA-PD group, with average age of (61.6±10.2)years.And in the SPD group, there were 47 males and 23 females, with average age of (62.7±9.4)years.@*Results@#The operation time was (210.7±31.5)minutes in AFA-PD group, (187.9±27.4)minutes in SPD group, and peroperative bleeding volume was (1 007.1±566.3)ml in AFA-PD group, (700.0±390.0)ml in the other group.Those two indicators of AFA-PD group, compared with SPD group, were relatively higher, the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.01). And with regard to postoperative diarrhea(9.3% vs.5.7%), postoperative 1, 3 days of white blood cells(postoperative 1 day: (13.3±1.1)×109/L vs.(12.4±2.4)×109/L; postoperative 3 days: (12.7±1.6)×109/L vs.(11.7±2.5)×109/L), postoperative 1, 3, 5 days of peritoneal drainage fluid volume(postoperative 1 day: (184±42)ml vs.(156±54)ml; postoperative 3 days: (155±48)ml vs.(133±35)ml; postoperative 5 days: (66±20)ml vs.(47±31)ml), the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). One patient in the SPD group was treated with unplanned secondary surgery for postoperative intraperitoneal hemorrhage, and the patient was cured and discharged.There was no death in the two groups within 30 days after surgical operation and no patient with positive gastric margin, duodenal margin, or anterior margin.The resection rate of superiormesenteric artery(SMA) margin R0 in AFA-PD group was higher than that in SPD group (P=0.019). The two groups were followed up for 14 to 30 months.As for AFA-PD group, the average survival time, progression free survival time and median survival time was respectively (20.4±1.2)months, (21.5±1.4)months and 20 months.There were 3 cases(7.0%) with local recurrence and 8 cases(18.6%) with liver metastasis or distant metastasis.In the SPD group, the average survival time, progression free survival time and median survival time was (17.1±1.1)months, (16.4±1.3)months and 16 months, respectively.There were 13 cases(18.6%) with local recurrence and 25 cases(35.7%) with liver metastasis or distant metastasis.As a result, the AFA-PD group had longer survival time(P=0.001)and progression free survival time(P=0.002). However, the lower local recurrence and distant metastasis rate in AFA-PD group did not reach statistical standard (P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#The arterial first approach pancreaticoduodenectomy is safe and effective in the treatment of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, which can improve the resection rate of SMA margin R0, and prolong patient survival time.