Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 30
Filter
1.
Cancer Chemother Pharmacol ; 92(6): 501-510, 2023 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37725113

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The clinical outcome and the efficacy of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients with BRCA1/2 Variants of Unknown Significance (VUS) is unknown. We explored the effects of chemotherapy with or without Platinum in non metastatic and metastatic pancreatic cancer patients with BRCA1/2 VUS. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of non-metastatic or metastatic pancreatic cancer patients with gBRCA1/2 VUS treated in 13 Italian centers between November 2015 and December 2020 was performed. All patients were assessed for toxicity and RECIST 1.1 response. Metastatic patients were evaluated for survival outcome. RESULTS: 30 pancreatic cancer patients with gBRCA1/2 VUS were considered: 20 were M+ and 10 were non-M+. Pl-CT was recommended to 16 patients: 10 M+ (6 FOLFIRINOX and 4 PAXG) and 6 non-M+ (3 FOLFIRINOX and 3 PAXG); 11 patients received Nabpaclitaxel-Gemcitabine (AG; 8 M+) and 3 patients (2 M+) were treated with Gemcitabine (G). The RECIST 1.1 response rate was 27% for AG and 44% for Pl-CT (22% for (m) FOLFIRINOX and 71% PAXG). 1 year Progression-Free Survival was 37.5% for patients treated with AG and 33% in the Pl-CT subgroup. Median Overall Survival (OS) was 23.5 months for patients treated with AG and 14 months for the Pl-CT subgroup. 1 Year and 2 Year OS were numerically better for AG (1 Year OS: 75% vs 60% and 2 Year OS: 50% and 20% in AG and Pl-CT subgroups, respectively) as well. CONCLUSIONS: Pl-CT does not seem to be associated with a better outcome compared to AG chemotherapy in PDAC patients with BRCA 1/2 VUS.


Subject(s)
Pancreatic Neoplasms , Humans , Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Genes, BRCA2 , BRCA1 Protein/genetics , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Retrospective Studies , BRCA2 Protein/genetics , Pancreatic Neoplasms
2.
Br J Cancer ; 128(5): 877-885, 2023 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36482190

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) harbouring germline BRCA1-2 pathogenic variants (gBRCA1-2pv) is a distinct nosological entity. Information on second-line therapy (2LT) outcome in this setting is lacking. METHODS: Data of gBRCA1-2pv metastatic PDAC patients treated with chemotherapy were collected. A primary analysis of 2LT RECIST response, median progression-free survival (mPFS2) and overall survival (mOS2), was performed. A secondary analysis addressed the impact of timing of platinum introduction on the outcome of patients receiving at least a first-line combination chemotherapy (1LT). RESULTS: Eighty-four gBRCA1-2pv metastatic PDAC patients were enrolled. The primary analysis, including 43 patients, highlighted a significant improvement of mPFS2 and a doubled response rate, in the platinum-based 2LT subgroup as compared to the platinum-free (8.8 versus 3.7 months, p = 0.013). Seventy-seven patients were included in the secondary analysis. Median PFS1 of 3- and 4-drug platinum-based 1LT significantly outperformed both platinum-free combinations and platinum-based doublets (11.4 versus 6.4 versus 7.9 months, p = 0.01). Albeit still immature, data on mOS paralleled those on mPFS. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the beneficial role of platinum agents in gBRCA1-2pv PDAC patients also in second-line treatment setting. However, our data suggest that early use of 3- and 4-drug platinum-based chemotherapy combinations provides a survival outcome advantage.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal , Pancreatic Neoplasms , Humans , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/drug therapy , Germ-Line Mutation , Progression-Free Survival , BRCA1 Protein , Pancreatic Neoplasms
3.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ; 15(2)2022 Feb 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35215365

ABSTRACT

Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (um-PEA), a compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, appears to be a potential adjuvant treatment for early stages of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In our study, we enrolled 90 patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 that were randomized into two groups, homogeneous for age, gender and BMI. The first group received oral supplementation based on um-PEA at a dose of 1800 mg/day for a total of 28 days; the second group was the control group (R.S. 73.20). At baseline (T0) and after 28 days of um-PEA treatment (T1), we monitored: routine laboratory parameters, inflammatory and oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers, lymphocytes subpopulation and COVID-19 serological response. At T1, the um-PEA-treated group presented a significant reduction in inflammation compared to the control group (CRP p = 0.007; IL-6 p = 0.0001; neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio p = 0.044). At T1, the controls showed a significant increase in OS compared to the treated group (FORT p = 0.05). At T1, the um-PEA group exhibited a significant decrease in D-dimer levels (p = 0.0001) and higher levels of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 (p = 0.0001) compared to the controls. Our data demonstrated, in a randomized clinical trial, the beneficial effects of um-PEA in both asymptomatic and mild-symptomatic patients related to reductions in inflammatory state, OS and coagulative cascade alterations.

4.
Crit Rev Oncol Hematol ; 169: 103571, 2022 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34923121

ABSTRACT

The prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is still the worst among solid tumors. In this review, a panel of experts addressed the main unanswered questions about the clinical management of this disease, with the aim of providing practical decision support for physicians. On the basis of the evidence available from the literature, the main topics concerning pancreatic cancer are discussed: the diagnosis, as the need for a pathological characterization and the role for germ-line and somatic molecular profiling; the therapeutic management of resectable disease, as the role of upfront surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the post-operative restaging and the optimal timing foradjuvant chemotherapy, the management of the borderline resectable and locally advanced disease; the metastatic disease and the role of surgery for the management of patients with isolated metastasis and the use of biomarkers of metastatic potential; the role of supportive care and the healthcare management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal , Pancreatic Neoplasms , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/therapy , Delivery of Health Care , Humans , Neoadjuvant Therapy , Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy , Prognosis
5.
Pancreatology ; 2021 Apr 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33896692

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pancreaticoduodenal cancer (PDC) is a group of malignant tumors arising in the ampullary region, which lack approved targeted therapies for their treatment. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study is based on Secondary Data Use (SDU) previously collected during a multicenter collaboration, which were subsequently entered into a predefined database and analyzed. FoundationOne CDx or Liquid, a next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) service, was used to identify genomic alterations of patients who failed standard treatments. Detected alterations were described according to ESMO Scale of Clinical Actionability for molecular Targets (ESCAT). RESULTS: NGS analysis was performed in 68 patients affected by PDC. At least one alteration ranking tier I, II, III, or IV according to ESCAT classification was detected in 8, 1, 9, and 12 patients respectively (44.1%). Ten of them (33.3%) received a matched therapy. Patients with ESCAT tier I to IV were generally younger than the overall population (median = 54, range = 26-71 years), had an EGOG performance status score = 0 (83.3%), and an uncommon histological or clinical presentation. The most common mutations with clinical evidence of actionability (ESCAT tier I-III) involved genes of the RAF (10.3%), BRCA (5.9%) or FGFR pathways (5.9%). We present the activity of the RAF kinases inhibitor sorafenib in patients with RAF-mutated advanced PDC. CONCLUSIONS: In advanced PDC, NGS is a feasible and valuable method for enabling precision oncology. This genomic profiling method might be considered after standard treatments failure, especially in young patients maintaining a good performance status, in order to detect potentially actionable mutations and offer molecularly targeted therapeutic approaches.

6.
Front Oncol ; 11: 638360, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33777798

ABSTRACT

Mutations of the proto-oncogene KRAS are the most frequent gain-of-function alterations found in cancer. KRAS is mutated in about 30% of all human tumors, but it could reach more than 90% in certain cancer types such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Although historically considered to be undruggable, a particular KRAS mutation, the G12C variant, has recently emerged as an actionable alteration especially in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). KRASG12C and pan-KRAS inhibitors are being tested in clinical trials and have recently shown promising activity. Due to the difficulties in direct targeting of KRAS, other approaches are being explored. The inhibition of target upstream activators or downstream effectors of KRAS pathway has shown to be moderately effective given the evidence of emerging mechanisms of resistance. Various synthetic lethal partners of KRAS have recently being identified and the inhibition of some of those might prove to be successful in the future. The study of escape mechanisms to KRAS inhibition could support the utility of combination strategies in overcoming intrinsic and adaptive resistance and enhancing clinical benefit of KRASG12C inhibitors. Considering the role of the microenvironment in influencing tumor initiation and promotion, the immune tumor niche of KRAS mutant tumors has been deeply explored and characterized for its unique immunosuppressive skewing. However, a number of aspects remains to be fully understood, and modulating this tumor niche might revert the immunoresistance of KRAS mutant tumors. Synergistic associations of KRASG12C and immune checkpoint inhibitors are being tested.

7.
J Exp Clin Cancer Res ; 39(1): 227, 2020 Oct 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33115526

ABSTRACT

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease, whose main molecular trait is the MAPK pathway activation due to KRAS mutation, which is present in 90% of cases.The genetic landscape of KRAS wild type PDAC can be divided into three categories. The first is represented by tumors with an activated MAPK pathway due to BRAF mutation that occur in up to 4% of cases. The second includes tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI) due to defective DNA mismatch repair (dMMR), which occurs in about 2% of cases, also featuring a high tumor mutational burden. The third category is represented by tumors with kinase fusion genes, which marks about 4% of cases. While therapeutic molecular targeting of KRAS is an unresolved challenge, KRAS-wild type PDACs have potential options for tailored treatments, including BRAF antagonists and MAPK inhibitors for the first group, immunotherapy with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents for the MSI/dMMR group, and kinase inhibitors for the third group.This calls for a complementation of the histological diagnosis of PDAC with a routine determination of KRAS followed by a comprehensive molecular profiling of KRAS-negative cases.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/drug therapy , Molecular Targeted Therapy , Mutation , Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Pathology, Molecular , Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/genetics , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology , Humans , Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Pancreatic Neoplasms
8.
Ther Adv Med Oncol ; 12: 1758835920937889, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32684989

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prognosis of patients affected by metastatic esophageal-gastric junction (EGJ) or gastric cancer (GC) remains dismal. Trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, is the only targeted agent approved for the first-line treatment of patients with HER2-overexpressing advanced EGJ or GC in combination with chemotherapy. However, patients invariably become resistant during this treatment. We recently identified the overexpression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 3 (FGFR3) as a molecular mechanism responsible for trastuzumab resistance in GC models, providing the rationale for the inhibition of this receptor as a potential second-line strategy in this disease. Pemigatinib is a selective, potent, oral inhibitor of FGFR1, 2, and 3. METHODS: The FiGhTeR trial is a phase II, single-arm, open-label study to assess safety and activity of the FGFR inhibitor pemigatinib as second-line treatment strategy in metastatic EGJ/GC patients progressing under trastuzumab-containing therapies. The primary endpoint is the 12-week progression-free survival rate. Plasma and tumor tissue samples will be collected for translational research analyses at baseline, during treatment, and at progression on pemigatinib. DISCUSSION: Co-alterations in genes coding for different tyrosine-kinase receptors are emerging as relevant mechanisms of acquired resistance to anti-HER2 therapeutic strategies in GC. In particular, our group has recently identified that in GC models the overexpression of FGFR3 sustains the acquired resistance to trastuzumab. This trial aims to assess the safety, tolerability and activity of the FGFR inhibitor pemigatinib as a second-line treatment in metastatic EGJ/GC patients refractory to first-line trastuzumab-containing therapies. Furthermore, this study offers the opportunity to prospectively study mechanisms and pathways involved in trastuzumab resistance. PROTOCOL NUMBER: CRC2017_02. EUDRACT NUMBER: 2017-004522-14.

9.
Clin Cancer Res ; 26(17): 4661-4669, 2020 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32532788

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal solid tumors, mainly because of its intrinsic chemoresistance. We identified TAK1 as a central hub sustaining this resistance. Nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) is a novel treatment for metastatic gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer. We endeavored to identify circulating markers for TAK1 activation predicting chemoresistance in this setting. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In vivo activity of nal-IRI was validated in an orthotopic nude murine model expressing TAK1-specific shRNA. Plasma concentration of 20 different cytokines were measured by a multiplex xMAP/Luminex technology in patients prospectively enrolled to receive nal-IRI plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV). The optimal cutoff thresholds able to significantly predict patients' outcome were obtained on the basis of the maximization of the Youden's statistics. RESULTS: Differential expression profiling revealed the gene coding for IL8 as the most significantly downregulated in shTAK1 pancreatic cancer cell lines. Mice bearing shTAK1 tumors had significantly lower plasma levels of IL8 and experienced a significant reduction in tumor growth if treated with nal-IRI, whereas those bearing TAK1-proficient tumors were resistant to this agent. In a discovery cohort of 77 patients, IL8 was the circulating factor most significantly correlated with survival (plasma levels lower vs higher than cutoff: mPFS 3.4 months vs 2.8 months; hazard ratio [HR], 2.55; 95% CI, 1.39-4.67; P = 0.0017; median overall survival 8.9 months vs 5.3 months; HR, 3.51; 95% CI, 0.84-6.68; P = 4.9e-05). These results were confirmed in a validation cohort of 50 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified IL8 as the most significant circulating factor for TAK1 pathway activation and candidates IL8 as a potential predictive biomarker of resistance to nal-IRI in gemcitabine-refractory patients with pancreatic cancer.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , Interleukin-8/blood , MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases/genetics , Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Biomarkers, Tumor/blood , Cell Line, Tumor , Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives , Deoxycytidine/pharmacology , Deoxycytidine/therapeutic use , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Gene Knockdown Techniques , Humans , Irinotecan/pharmacology , Irinotecan/therapeutic use , MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases/metabolism , Male , Mice , Middle Aged , Pancreatic Neoplasms/blood , Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics , Prospective Studies , Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors , Transcriptional Activation , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , Gemcitabine
10.
Eur J Cancer ; 135: 159-169, 2020 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32580131

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: On February 23rd, the 1st case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was diagnosed at the University Hospital Trust of Verona, Italy. On March 13th, the Oncology Section was converted into a 22-inpatient bed coronavirus disease (COVID) Unit, and we reshaped our organisation to face the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, while maintaining oncological activities. METHODS: We tracked down (i) volumes of oncological activities (January 1st - March 31st, 2020 versus the same period of 2019), (ii) patients' and caregivers' perception and (iii) SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in oncology health professionals and SARS-CoV-2 infection-related hospital admissions of "active"' oncological patients. RESULTS: As compared with the same trimester in 2019, the overall reduction in total numbers of inpatient admissions, chemotherapy administrations and specialist visits in January-March 2020 was 8%, 6% and 3%, respectively; based on the weekly average of daily accesses, reduction in some of the oncological activities became statistically significant from week 11. The overall acceptance of adopted measures, as measured by targeted questionnaires administered to a sample of 241 outpatients, was high (>70%). Overall, 8 of 85 oncology health professionals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection (all but one employed in the COVID Unit, no hospital admissions and no treatment required); among 471 patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infection, 7 had an "active"' oncological disease (2 died of infection-related complications). CONCLUSIONS: A slight, but statistically significant reduction in oncology activity was registered during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic peak in Verona, Italy. Organisational and protective measures adopted appear to have contributed to keep infections in both oncological patients and health professionals to a minimum.


Subject(s)
Betacoronavirus/pathogenicity , Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Infection Control/organization & administration , Medical Oncology/organization & administration , Neoplasms/therapy , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , COVID-19 , COVID-19 Testing , Clinical Laboratory Techniques/standards , Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/transmission , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Personnel/psychology , Humans , Infection Control/standards , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control , Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient/prevention & control , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Mass Screening/standards , Medical Oncology/methods , Neoplasms/psychology , Patient Admission/standards , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/transmission , Pneumonia, Viral/virology , Psychosocial Support Systems , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , SARS-CoV-2
11.
Cancers (Basel) ; 12(5)2020 Apr 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32366019

ABSTRACT

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal solid tumors. In many European countries gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel is the preferred first-line treatment. An increasing number of patients are eligible for second-line therapy, but the best regimen is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oxaliplatin-based compared to irinotecan-based therapies in this setting. 181 advanced pancreatic cancer patients consecutively treated in three centers with a second-line therapy progressed on gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel were retrospectively enrolled. OS and PFS were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival of the two groups was compared using the log-rank test. The median PFS and OS were respectively 3.5 (95%CI 3.2-3.8) and 8.8 months (95%CI 7.9-9.8) from second-line therapy in the overall population. The median PFS and OS were respectively 3.3 (95%CI 3.1-3.5) and 8.2 months (95%CI 7.24-9.34) with an irinotecan-based combination compared to 4.0 (95%CI 2.4-5.7) and 10.3 months (95%CI 8.62-12.02) in patients receiving an oxaliplatin-based combination. We observed a clear trend for longer survival outcomes with platinum-based doublet compared to regimens including irinotecan or nal-IRI. Head-to-head trials are still lacking. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the presence of liver metastases could drive physicians in tailoring the treatment strategy.

12.
Ther Adv Med Oncol ; 12: 1758835920947969, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33403007

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Up-front surgery followed by postoperative chemotherapy remains the standard paradigm for the treatment of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. However, the risk for positive surgical margins, the poor recovery after surgery that often impairs postoperative treatment, and the common metastatic relapse limit the overall clinical outcomes achieved with this strategy. Polychemotherapeutic combinations are valid options for postoperative treatment in patients with good performance status. liposomal irinotecan (Nal-IRI) is a novel nanoliposome formulation of irinotecan that accumulates in tumor-associated macrophages improving the therapeutic index of irinotecan and has been approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer after progression under gemcitabine-based therapy. Thus, it remains of the outmost urgency to investigate introduction of the most novel agents, such as nal-IRI, in perioperative approaches aimed at increasing the long-term effectiveness of surgery. METHODS: The nITRO trial is a phase II, single-arm, open-label study to assess the safety and the activity of nal-IRI with fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) and oxaliplatin in the perioperative treatment of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. The primary tumor must be resectable with no involvement of the major arteries and no involvement or <180° interface between tumor and vessel wall of the major veins. A total of 72 patients will be enrolled to receive a perioperative treatment of three cycles before and three cycles after surgical resection with nal-IRI 50 mg/m2, oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2, leucovorin 200 mg/m2, and 5-fluorouracil 2400 mg/m2, days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. The primary objective is to improve from 40% to 55% the proportion of patients achieving R0 resection after preoperative treatment. DISCUSSION: The nITRO trial will contribute to strengthen the clinical evidence supporting perioperative strategies in resectable pancreatic cancer patients. Moreover, this study represents a unique opportunity for translational analyses aimed to identify novel immune-related prognostic and predictive factors in this setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT03528785. Trial registration data: 1 January 2018Protocol number: CRC 2017_01EudraCT Number: 2017-000345-46.

13.
J Gastric Cancer ; 19(4): 375-392, 2019 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31897341

ABSTRACT

Preoperative chemo- and radiotherapeutic strategies followed by surgery are currently a standard approach for treating locally advanced gastric and esophagogastric junction cancer in Western countries. However, in a large number of cases, the tumor is extremely resistant to these treatments and the patients are exposed to unnecessary toxicity and delayed surgical therapy. The current clinical trials evaluating the combination of preoperative systemic therapies with modern targeted and immunotherapeutic agents represent a unique opportunity for identifying predictive biomarkers of response to select patients that would benefit the most from these treatments. However, it is of utmost importance that these potential biomarkers are corroborated by extensive preclinical and translational research. The aim of this review article is to present the most promising biomarkers of response to classic chemotherapeutic, anti-HER2, antiangiogenic, and immunotherapeutic agents that can be potentially useful for personalized preoperative systemic therapies in gastric cancer patients.

14.
Int J Mol Sci ; 19(11)2018 Oct 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30366466

ABSTRACT

Cancer and obesity are the two major epidemics of the 21st century. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the leading causes of death, with a five-year overall survival rate of only 8%. Its incidence and mortality have increased in recent years, and this cancer type is expected to be among the top five leading causes of cancer-related death by 2030 in the United States (US). In the last three decades, the prevalence of overweight people has boosted with a consequent increase in obesity-related diseases. Considerable epidemiologic evidence correlates overweight and obese conditions to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including PDAC. Besides being a risk factor for multiple metabolic disorders, the tumor-promoting effects of obesity occur at the local level via inflammatory mediators that are associated with adipose inflammation and metabolic or hormones mediators and microbiota dysbiosis. Although an excess of body mass index (BMI) represents the second most modifiable risk factor for PDAC with an increased cancer related-death of more than 20⁻40%, still little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie this strong association. In this review, we focused on the role of obesity as a preventable risk factor of PDAC, discussing the molecular mechanisms linking obesity to cancer initiation and progression. Moreover, we highlighted the role of obesity in defining chemoresistance, showing how a high BMI can actually reduce response to chemotherapy.


Subject(s)
Obesity/metabolism , Obesity/pathology , Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Animals , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Humans , Inflammation/metabolism
15.
J Prenat Med ; 3(1): 1-5, 2009 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22439030

ABSTRACT

Hypertension is the most common medical problem encountered during pregnancy, complicating 2-3% of pregnancies. Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are classified into 4 categories, as recommended by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy: 1) chronic hypertension, 2) preeclampsia-eclampsia, 3) preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension, and 4) gestational hypertension (transient hypertension of pregnancy or chronic hypertension identified in the latter half of pregnancy) (1). This terminology is preferred over the older but widely used term pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) because it is more precise.

16.
J Prenat Med ; 3(1): 10-1, 2009 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22439032

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To report a rare case of successful pregnancy and delivery of two pair of monozygotic twins (quadruplets). METHODS: We reported a Case Report of a 32-year-old nulligravida, who had had a previous twin pregnancy and was herself a twin assisted hatching. Prophylactic cervical cerclage sec. McDonald in the 23st week of pregnancy, hospitalization, and intensive care of pregnancy were performed. RESULTS: Successful pregnancy and delivery of two male and two female twins in the 34th week of pregnancy.

17.
J Prenat Med ; 3(1): 6-9, 2009 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22439031

ABSTRACT

The intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) takes second position after the premature births as a cause for neonate with smaller weight for it's gestational age. Perinatal morbidity of retard children is important, but perinatal mortality is about eight times higher then normal weighted neonates. It is very important to make the right diagnosis of IUGR, the cause of their illness, the therapy they need and when it's necessary to find the right time, place and way of birth.

18.
J Prenat Med ; 3(1): 12-4, 2009 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22439033

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: A case of fetal neck lymphangioma is reported METHODS: A 34-year-old primigravida presented with a fetus at 21+5 weeks' gestation with a neckl cystic mass. RESULTS: Diagnosis of neck lymphangioma was made; the couple opted for termination of pregnancy a 22 weeks; they refused fetal autopsy. CONCLUSION: Counseling in case of neck lynphangioma is still difficult. Prognosis in guarded as many patients decide for interruption of pregnancy.

19.
J Prenat Med ; 3(1): 15-7, 2009 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22439034

ABSTRACT

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) originates from placental tissue and is among the rare human tumors that can be cured even in the presence of widespread metastases. GTD include a spectrum of interrelated tumors including complete and partial hydatidiform mole, invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, and placental site trophoblastic tumor, that have different propensities for local invasion and spread. Although most GTD develop after a mole, they can follow any antecedent pregnancy.Transvaginal ultrasound, routinary dosage of beta-hCG and current approaches to chemotherapy, let most women with malignant gestational trophoblastic disease to be cured and their reproductive function preserved.

20.
J Prenat Med ; 3(2): 25-7, 2009 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22439037

ABSTRACT

Rh alloimmunization occurs when maternal immune system is sensitized to D(Rh) erythrocyte surface antigens.The most common causes of maternal Rh alloimmunisation are blood transfusion and antepartum or intrapartum fetomaternal hemorrhage (abdominal trauma, abortion, ectopic pregnancy, invasive obstetric procedures, placental abruption, external cephalic version).The risk of alloimmunization is affected by several factors, including the degree of fetomaternal hemorrhage and maternal immune respons.Although the introduction of anti D prophylaxis reduced dramatically the rate of alloimmunization in susceptible women, his prevention is not universal and about 0.3% of susceptible women still become Rh D alloimmunized.The aim of this article is to review the management of the Rh alloimmunizated pregnant.

SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...