Comparison of distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection and sub-adventitial divestment technique for locally advanced or borderline resectable pancreatic body cancer / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To compare the outcomes of modified Appleby procedure and sub-adventitial divestment technique for locally advanced or borderline resectable pancreatic body cancer. Methods: A total of consecutive 58 patients(33 males and 25 females) who were diagnosed as locally advanced or borderline resectable pancreatic body cancer and underwent distal pancreatectomy at Pancreas Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between September 2013 and May 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The age(M(IQR)) was 62(9)years(range: 43 to 79 years). Thirty-one patients underwent distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) and 27 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy with sub-adventitial divestment technique(SDT). Perioperative parameters and follow-up data of these patients were analyzed. Quantitative data were compared with Wilcoxon test while categorical variables were compared with χ2 test or Fisher's exact test. Survival results were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier survival method with a Log-rank test. Results: There were no differences in age,gender,body mass index,abdominal symptoms,comorbidity or preoperative serum CA19-9 between two groups(all P>0.05). Obvious preoperative weight loss was more common in the group of SDT(48.1%(13/27) vs. 19.4%(6/31),χ²=5.431,P=0.020). Longer operative time(310(123) minutes vs. 254(137)minutes, Z=2.277,P=0.023),higher rate of combined organ resection(41.9%(13/31) vs. 14.8%(4/27),χ²=5.123,P=0.041) and longer postoperative hospital stay(15(10) days vs. 11(5)days,Z=2.292,P=0.022) were observed in the group of DP-CAR. Moreover,rate of overall morbidities was also higher (71.0%(22/31) vs. 29.6%(8/27),χ2=9.876,P=0.003),implicated by clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula(61.3%(19/31) vs. 29.6%(8/27),χ2=5.814,P=0.020) in the DP-CAR group. Tumor size of the DP-CAR group was bigger(4.9(1.5)cm vs. 4.0(1.2)cm,Z=2.343,P=0.019) but no difference was seen between the DP-CAR group and SDT group in R0+R1(<1 mm) resection rate (84.0%(21/25) vs. 90.0%(18/20),P=0.678) and LNR(12.0(23.0)% vs. 9.0(18.0)%,Z=1.238,P=0.216),as well as median disease free survival(11.7 months vs. 11.4 months,Z=0.019,P=0.892) and median overall survival(16.3 months vs. 13.7 months,Z=0.172,P=0.679). Conclusions: Both DP-CAR and distal pancreatectomy with SDT are relatively safe and feasible for locally advanced or borderline resectable pancreatic body cancer. Compared with arterial resection,SDT may contribute to lower rates of postoperative complications and shorter duration of hospitalization,but no significant benefit is seen in long-term survival.

Role of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis in pancreatic cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This review focuses on the state-of-the-art of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis in pancreatic cancer and its role in tumor progression.</p><p><b>DATA SOURCES</b>Relevant articles published in English were identified by searching in Pubmed from 1997 to 2013, with keywords "CXCL12", "CXCR4" and "pancreatic cancer". Important references from selected articles were also retrieved.</p><p><b>STUDY SELECTION</b>Articles about CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis in pancreatic cancer and relevant mechanisms were selected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pancreatic cancer has been one of the most lethal human malignancies, with median survival less than one year and overall 5-year survival only 6%. Tumor cells from pancreatic cancer express high level of CXCR4. CXCL12, the ligand for CXCR4, is extensively secreted by neighboring stromal cells and other distant organs. CXCL12 primarily binds to CXCR4, induces intracellular signaling through several divergent pathways, which are involved in progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis may play an important role in the communication between pancreatic cancer cells and their microenvironment, which may have effect on tumor proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis and chemoresistance. CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis may serves as a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.</p>