ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a common cancer with increasing morbidity and mortality due to changes of social environment. AIM: To evaluate the significance of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and tumor size changes pre- and post-neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at the Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital. This study specifically assessed CA19-9 levels and tumor size before and after NAT. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients who completed NAT and subsequently underwent tumor resection were included in this study. The average age was 65.4 ± 10.6 years and 72 (46.2%) patients were female. Before survival analysis, we defined the post-NAT serum CA19-9 level/pre-NAT serum CA19-9 level as the CA19-9 ratio (CR). The patients were divided into three groups: CR < 0.5, CR > 0.5 and < 1 and CR > 1. With regard to tumor size measured by both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, we defined the post-NAT tumor size/pre-NAT tumor size as the tumor size ratio (TR). The patients were then divided into three groups: TR < 0.5, TR > 0.5 and < 1 and TR > 1. Based on these groups divided according to CR and TR, we performed both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) analyses. Log-rank tests showed that both OS and DFS were significantly different among the groups according to CR and TR (P < 0.05). CR and TR after NAT were associated with increased odds of achieving a complete or near-complete pathologic response. Moreover, CR (hazard ratio: 1.721, 95%CI: 1.373-3.762; P = 0.006), and TR (hazard ratio: 1.435, 95%CI: 1.275-4.363; P = 0.014) were identified as independent factors associated with OS. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that post-NAT serum CA19-9 level/pre-NAT serum CA19-9 level and post-NAT tumor size/pre-NAT tumor size were independent factors associated with OS in patients with PDAC who received NAT and subsequent surgical resection.
ABSTRACT
Based on the enrichment culture strategy, a novel N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO)-tolerant cellulase-producing strain Galactomyces sp. CCZU11-1 was isolated from soil samples. After the optimization of culture condition, the highest FPA (13.4 U/mL) and CMCase (24.5 U/mL) were obtained. In both culture and reaction media containing NMMO 25% (w/v), the cellulase from Galactomyces sp. CCZU11-1 still had good activity. Furthermore, high saccharification rate was obtained in aqueous-NMMO media. Moreover, the fermentability of the hydrolyzates, obtained after enzymatic in situ saccharification of the NMMO-pretreated sugarcane bagasse, was evaluated using Saccharomyce scerevisiae. In conclusion, Galactomyces sp. CCZU11-1 is a promising candidate as high NMMO-tolerant cellulase producer and has potential application in future.
