Preoperative neutrophil-to-C-reactive protein ratio as a predictor of post-operative complications of pancreas cancer.

OBJECTIVE: We would like to investigate the prognostic utility of the previously described factors and offer a new parameter called neutrophil-to-C-reactive protein ratio (NCR) as a predictor of post-operative complications of pancreas cancer. METHODS: 92 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for the pancreatic head tumor were enrolled in this study. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed to detect the cutoff values, and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors of complications. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, complications were observed in lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio levels below 0.06 (Odds Ratio [OR]: 3.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-14.21, p = 0.037). In multivariate analysis, albumin < 3.6 (OR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.16-9.06, p = 0.024) and NCR < 0.28 (OR: 2.81, 95 % CI: 1.07-7.63, p = 0.042) were the independent and significant predictors of the overall survival. DISCUSSION: Quantification of preoperative NCR and albumin may help surgeons to settle an effective perioperative management, take extra caution, and be aware of post-operative complications of pancreatic cancer patients.

OBJETIVO: Se investigó la proporción de neutrófilos a proteína C reactiva (NCR) como predictor de complicaciones posoperatorias del cáncer de páncreas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: 92 pacientes fueron sometidos a pancreaticoduodenectomía (PD) por el tumor de la cabeza del páncreas incluidos en este estudio. Se realizaron análisis de curva operativa del receptor (ROC) y análisis de regresión logística para detectar los valores de corte y los factores de riesgo independientes de complicaciones. RESULTADOS: En análisis univariado; se observaron complicaciones en niveles de LCR por debajo de 0,06 (OR: 3.92, IC 95%: 1.08-14.21, p = 0.037). En análisis multivariado; albúmina < 3.6 (OR: 3.25, IC 95 %: 1.16-9.06, p = 0.024), NCR < 0.28 (OR: 2.81, IC 95 %: 1.07-7.63, p = 0.042) fueron los predictores independientes y significativos de la supervivencia. CONCLUSIÓN: La cuantificación de la NCR y la albúmina preoperatorias puede ayudar a los cirujanos a establecer un manejo perioperatorio efectivo, tomar precauciones adicionales y estar atentos a las complicaciones posoperatorias.

Pancreatic cancer, autoimmune or chronic pancreatitis, beyond tissue diagnosis: Collateral imaging and clinical characteristics may differentiate them.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies and is developing into the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death. Often, the clinical and radiological presentation of PDAC may be mirrored by other inflammatory pancreatic masses, such as autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and mass-forming chronic pancreatitis (MFCP), making its diagnosis challenging. Differentiating AIP and MFCP from PDAC is vital due to significant therapeutic and prognostic implications. Current diagnostic criteria and tools allow the precise differentiation of benign from malignant masses; however, the diagnostic accuracy is imperfect. Major pancreatic resections have been performed in AIP cases under initial suspicion of PDAC after a diagnostic approach failed to provide an accurate diagnosis. It is not unusual that after a thorough diagnostic evaluation, the clinician is confronted with a pancreatic mass with uncertain diagnosis. In those cases, a re-evaluation must be entertained, preferably by an experienced multispecialty team including radiologists, pathologists, gastroenterologists, and surgeons, looking for disease-specific clinical, imaging, and histological hallmarks or collateral evidence that could favor a specific diagnosis. Our aim is to describe current diagnostic limitations that hinder our ability to reach an accurate diagnosis among AIP, PDAC, and MFCP and to highlight those disease-specific clinical, radiological, serological, and histological characteristics that could support the presence of any of these three disorders when facing a pancreatic mass with uncertain diagnosis after an initial diagnostic approach has been unsuccessful.

Pancreatic Cancer Cells Induce MicroRNA Deregulation in Platelets.

Pancreatic cancer is a pathology with a high mortality rate since it is detected at advanced stages, so the search for early-stage diagnostic biomarkers is essential. Liquid biopsies are currently being explored for this purpose and educated platelets are a good candidate, since they are known to present a bidirectional interaction with tumor cells. In this work, we analyzed the effects of platelets on cancer cells' viability, as determined by MTT, migration using transwell assays, clonogenicity in soft agar and stemness by dilution assays and stem markers' expression. We found that the co-culture of platelets and pancreatic cancer cells increased the proliferation and migration capacity of BXCP3 cells, augmented clonogenicity and induced higher levels of Nanog, Sox2 and Oct4 expression. As platelets can provide horizontal transfer of microRNAs, we also determined the differential expression of miRNAs in platelets obtained from a small cohort of pancreatic cancer patients and healthy subjects. We found clear differences in the expression of several miRNAs between platelets of patients with cancer healthy subjects. Moreover, when we analyzed microRNAs from the platelets of the pancreatic juice and blood derived from each of the cancer patients, interestingly we find differences between the blood- and pancreatic juice-derived platelets suggesting the presence of different subpopulations of platelets in cancer patients, which warrant further analysis.

Counter-Clockwise Approach for Robotic Pylorus-Preserving Pancreatoduodenectomy.

PURPOSE: This multi-media article aims to describe a counter-clockwise approach for pancreatoduodenectomy (CCA-PD) in robotic surgery. METHODS: A CCA-PD was used as a strategy for robotic surgery to treat a 69-year-old woman without comorbidities who presented a ductal adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas (2.7 cm) in contact with the portal vein (less than 180°), preoperatively treated with FOLFIRINOX. The procedure was entirely done in the abdominal right upper quadrant (RUQ) following the main steps of CCA-PD resection: section of the first portion of the duodenum; biliary duct transection; Kocherization of the duodenum and retropancreatic lymphadenectomy; section of the jejunum; portal vein dissection; transection of the pancreas and uncinate detachment. The reconstruction also followed the counter-clockwise direction with a single jejunal loop with end-to-side anastomoses: pancreato-jejunal; choledoco-jejunal; duodenojejunal. RESULTS: The total operation time was 435 min, and the estimated blood loss was 200 mL. The postoperative course was uneventful without complications, with hospital discharge on the fifth postoperative day. The final pathology was ductal adenocarcinoma (G2), ypT2ypN2 (07/31), with negative surgical margins. DISCUSSION: The entire surgery happens in a unique surgical field, the RUQ, which saves time by avoiding unnecessary mobilization of the bowel and favors a layer-by-layer dissection with enough space for both dissections and sutures on each step of the procedure and improving bleeding control if necessary.

Caracterización clinicoepidemiológica de pacientes con cáncer de páncreas en un servicio de cirugía general / Clinical epidemiological characterization of patients with pancreas cancer in a general surgery service

Introducción: El cáncer de páncreas constituye una de las neoplasias de peor pronóstico debido a su diagnóstico tardío. Objetivo: Caracterizar a los pacientes con cáncer de páncreas según variables clinicoepidemiológicas y exámenes complementarios. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal de 70 pacientes con cáncer de páncreas, egresados del Servicio de Cirugía General del Hospital Provincial Docente Saturnino Lora de Santiago de Cuba durante el periodo 2016-2020. Se estudiaron las variables: edad, sexo, factores de riesgo, enfermedades asociadas, manifestaciones clínicas y exámenes complementarios. Resultados: Predominaron el sexo masculino ( 54,2 %), las edades comprendidas de entre 51- 70 años, la ingestión de comidas grasas y los hábitos tabáquico y alcohólico como factores de riesgo; el alcoholismo crónico, la diabetes mellitus y la hipertensión arterial como enfermedades asociadas más comunes, así como el síndrome general, la ictericia y la coluria entre las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes. Por su parte, según los estudios imagenológicos, la mayoría de los afectados se diagnosticaron mediante tomografía computarizada y ecografía abdominal (94,3 y 70,0 %, respectivamente). Conclusiones: La tomografía computarizada multicorte es la técnica de imagen de elección recomendada por las guías de consenso internacional. Si bien el informe radiográfico es clave para la toma de decisiones posteriores, existen circunstancias del paciente que pueden afectarlas, tales como edad, factores de riesgo, manifestaciones clínicas y comorbilidad, entre otras.

Introduction: The pancreas cancer constitutes one of the neoplasms with worse prognosis due to its late diagnosis. Objective: To characterize patients with pancreas cancer according to clinical epidemiological variables and complementary exams. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of 70 patients with pancreas cancer was carried out, who were discharged from the General Surgery Service of Saturnino Lora Teaching Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba during 2016-2020. The variables studied were: age, sex, risk factors, associated diseases, signs and symptoms and complementary exams. Results: There was a prevalence of the male sex (54.2 %), the 51-70 age group, the ingestion of fatty foods and nicotine addiction and alcoholism as risk factors, the chronic alcoholism, diabetes mellitus and hypertension as more common associated diseases, as well as the general syndrome, jaundice and coluria among the most frequent signs and symptoms. On the other hand, according to the imaging studies, most of those affected were diagnosed by means of computerized axial tomography and abdominal echography (94.3 and 70.0 %, respectively). Conclusions: The multiscan computerized axial tomography is the image technique of election recommended by the guides of international consent. The radiographic report is the key for later decisions making but there are circumstances of the patient that can affect them, such as age, risk factors, signs and symptoms and comorbidity, among others.

Can the surgeon prolong the remaining life of the patient in pancreaticoduodenectomy surgery? or Is the surgeon helpless?

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the effects of R0 and R1 resections after pancreatic surgery. METHODS: Data of 130 patients were evaluated. Re-resection was performed in patients who were found to have R1 resection after frozen section (FS). Overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS) among patients with R1 resection in paraffin section (PS) (n:28, Group1) and patients who underwent re-resection after FS and achieved the R0 resection goal in PS (n:16, Group 2) (DFS), local recurrence and systemic metastasis results were compared. RESULTS: Tumor diameter, differentiation, age and complications were found to negatively affect OS. It was observed that DFS increased (p:0.02) and local recurrence rates decreased (p:0.037) in group 2 compared but there was no difference between the two groups in terms of OS (p:0.420) and systemic metastasis (p:0.467). CONCLUSIONS: R0 resection obtained by surgical margin resection of the neck in pancreatic head adenocarcinomas decreases local recurrence and increases the duration of DFS. However, it has no effect on preventing OS and systemic metastasis.

[Long-term survival after pancreatic cancer surgery]. / Supervivencia a largo plazo luego de pancreatectomía por cáncer de páncreas.

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease associated with poor results regarding long term survival. Surgical treatment along with new oncologic treatments have improved the survival of these patients in international experience reports. The aim of this study was to describe overall survival and disease-free survival after pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. A retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic resection due to PDAC or undifferentiated carcinoma from January 2010 to January 2020 in a single tertiary center was performed. Overall, 242 patients underwent complete pancreatic resections for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma. Median overall survival was 22.8 months (95% CI: 19.5-29) and survival at 1, 3 and 5 years were 72%, 32.5% and 20.8% respectively. The median disease-free survival was 13.8 months (95% CI: 12-17.6) and 1, 3- and 5-years disease-free survival were 56.1%, 21.8% and 19.4% respectively. The groups of patients that completed adjuvant treatment showed a better overall survival (p < 0.0001).

El adenocarcinoma ductal de páncreas es una enfermedad agresiva asociada con pobres resultados de supervivencia a largo plazo. La resección quirúrgica y los nuevos tratamientos oncológicos perioperatorios han logrado mejorar la supervivencia de estos pacientes en la experiencia internacional. En este estudio retrospectivo se analiza la supervivencia global y la libre de enfermedad de todos los pacientes operados por cáncer de páncreas en el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires de enero 2010 a enero 2020. Se identificaron 242 pacientes con resecciones pancreáticas por adenocarcinoma de páncreas o carcinoma indiferenciado. La supervivencia global mediana fue de 22.8 meses (IC 95%: 19.5-29) y la tasa de supervivencia global a 1, 3 y 5 años fue de 72%, 32.5% y 20.8% respectivamente. La supervivencia libre de enfermedad mediana fue de 13.8 meses (IC 95%: 12-17.6) y la tasa de supervivencia libre de enfermedad a 1, 3 y 5 años fueron de 56.1%, 21.8% y 19.4% respectivamente. El grupo de pacientes que logró completar el tratamiento adyuvante mostró una mayor supervivencia global (p < 0.0001).

Supervivencia a largo plazo luego de pancreatectomía por cáncer de páncreas / Long-term survival after pancreatic cancer surgery

Resumen El adenocarcinoma ductal de páncreas es una enfermedad agresiva asociada con pobres resultados de supervivencia a largo plazo. La resección quirúrgica y los nuevos tratamientos oncológicos pe rioperatorios han logrado mejorar la supervivencia de estos pacientes en la experiencia internacional. En este estudio retrospectivo se analiza la supervivencia global y la libre de enfermedad de todos los pacientes operados por cáncer de páncreas en el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires de enero 2010 a enero 2020. Se identificaron 242 pacientes con resecciones pancreáticas por adenocarcinoma de páncreas o carcinoma indiferenciado. La supervivencia global mediana fue de 22.8 meses (IC 95%: 19.5-29) y la tasa de supervivencia global a 1, 3 y 5 años fue de 72%, 32.5% y 20.8% respectivamente. La supervivencia libre de enfermedad mediana fue de 13.8 meses (IC 95%: 12-17.6) y la tasa de supervivencia libre de enfermedad a 1, 3 y 5 años fueron de 56.1%, 21.8% y 19.4% respectivamente. El grupo de pacientes que logró completar el tratamiento adyuvante mostró una mayor supervivencia global (p<0.0001).

Abstract Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease associated with poor results regarding long term survival. Surgical treatment along with new onco logic treatments have improved the survival of these patients in international experience reports. The aim of this study was to describe overall survival and disease-free survival after pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. A retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic resection due to PDAC or undifferentiated carcinoma from January 2010 to January 2020 in a single tertiary center was performed. Overall, 242 patients underwent complete pancreatic resections for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma. Median overall survival was 22.8 months (95% CI: 19.5-29) and survival at 1, 3 and 5 years were 72%, 32.5% and 20.8% respectively. The median disease-free survival was 13.8 months (95% CI: 12-17.6) and 1, 3- and 5-years disease-free survival were 56.1%, 21.8% and 19.4% respectively. The groups of patients that completed adjuvant treatment showed a better overall survival (p < 0.0001).

Autocrine and paracrine purinergic signaling in the most lethal types of cancer.

Cancer comprises a collection of diseases that occur in almost any tissue and it is characterized by an abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth that results in tumor formation and propagation to other tissues, causing tissue and organ malfunction and death. Despite the undeniable improvement in cancer diagnostics and therapy, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic and preventive strategies with improved efficacy and fewer side effects. In this context, purinergic signaling emerges as an interesting candidate as a cancer biomarker or therapeutic target. There is abundant evidence that tumor cells have significant changes in the expression of purinergic receptors, which comprise the G-protein coupled P2Y and AdoR families of receptors and the ligand-gated ion channel P2X receptors. Tumor cells also exhibit changes in the expression of nucleotidases and other enzymes involved in nucleotide metabolism, and the concentrations of extracellular nucleotides are significantly higher than those observed in normal cells. In this review, we will focus on the potential role of purinergic signaling in the ten most lethal cancers (lung, breast, colorectal, liver, stomach, prostate, cervical, esophagus, pancreas, and ovary), which together are responsible for more than 5 million annual deaths.

Comparison of 3 Ways of Dissecting the Pancreatoduodenectomy Specimen and Their Impact in the Lymph Node Count and the Lymph Node Metastatic Ratio.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a strong prognostic factor in the cancer of the pancreatobiliary tree, but it is influenced by the number of lymph nodes (LNs). The lymph node ratio (LNR) is considered a more reliable factor than the number of LNM. The aim was to examine the LN retrieval and the LNR of 3 pathologic work-up strategies. METHODS: Pancreaticoduodenectomies (n = 165) were analyzed comparing 3 pathological dissection techniques, classified as "control," "Verbeke method," and "Adsay method" groups. RESULTS: The mean of the dissected LNs and the number of cases with >20 LNs were superior in the Adsay method group, compared with the other groups ( P < .001). The LNR was different between the Adsay and Verbeke groups (0.144 vs 0.069, P = .032). The median of the 3 positive LNs was associated with decreased survival compared with an absence of LNM (3-year specific survival of 48% vs 22%, P = .011). In the multivariate analysis, LNM (hazard ratio = 6.148, 95% confidence interval = 2.02-8.1, P = .042) and the evaluation of >15 LNs (hazard ratio = 12.52, 95% confidence interval = 5.51-21.01, P = .001) were independent predictors of survival. CONCLUSION: The Adsay technique for LN retrieval was associated with a better LN count, more cases with LNM, and an LNR >0.1.

Tumor sólido pseudopapilar del páncreas en la IV región / Solid-pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas

Introduction: The solid-pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas (STP) is a low-grade malignant neoplasm. In Chile, 21 cases have been reported since 2008, most of them treated in Santiago. The present series contributes to the national case-load and has the purpose to describe the experience with this uncommon neoplasm in the IV Region. Patients and Methods: From January 2004 to March 2014, a total of 38 benign and malignant pancreatic neoplasms have been informed in the data-base of our Regional Pathology Service. We selected the biopsies informed as STP and 5 cases (13 percent) were found. The clinical records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. The results were reported using descriptive statistics with central tendency measures and dispersion. Results: Most patients were women with a mean age of 44.8 years. All patients were studied with either abdominal ultrasound; computed tomography or magnetic resonance. In 2 patients the STP was located in the pancreatic tail, and they were submitted to distal pancreatectomy. The other 3 patients had the STP in the pancreatic head and were resolved by pancreatoduodenectomy. All tumors were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Late follow-up showed malignant behavior in 1 patient while the other 4 patients are currently free of disease. Conclusions: The general characteristics of STP in the IV Region are similar to what is currently known. They present a high incidence compared with the habitually published incidence.

Introducción: El tumor sólido pseudopapilar del páncreas (TSP) es una neoplasia con bajo potencial maligno. En Chile se han reportado 21 casos desde el año 2008, 18 de ellos tratados en instituciones de Santiago. La presente serie además de contribuir a la casuística nacional, tiene como objetivo la descripción de la experiencia de la IV Región con el manejo de estos tumores. Pacientes y Métodos: Entre enero de 2004 y marzo de 2014 se informaron 38 biopsias de tumores pancreáticos benignos y malignos en la base de datos del Servicio de Patología Regional. Se seleccionaron las biopsias informadas como TSP, las que constituyen 5 casos (13 por ciento) y se revisaron las fichas clínicas en forma retrospectiva. Para el informe de los resultados se utilizó estadística descriptiva con medidas de tendencia central y dispersión. Resultados: El promedio de edad fue 44,8 años, siendo la mayoría mujeres. Los pacientes fueron estudiados con ecografía, tomografía computarizada y resonancia magnética. En 2 pacientes el TSP se localizaba en la cola del páncreas, estos pacientes fueron sometidos a pancreatectomía distal. En los otros 3 casos el TSP se encontraba en la cabeza del páncreas y fueron resueltos mediante pancreatoduodenectomía. Los TSP fueron confirmados por inmunohistoquímica. El comportamiento posterior fue benigno en 4 casos y maligno en 1 caso. Conclusiones: Las características de los TSP en la IV Región son similares a las conocidas y presentan una alta incidencia comparada con la habitualmente reportada.

Cáncer en la región de Antofagasta, con especial referencia al cáncer vesical y al cáncer pulmonar / Cancer in the Antofagasta region of Chile, with special reference

Se presenta el perfil oncológico de la Región de Antofagasta. Mediante la comparación de la mortalidad regional por las distintas localizaciones de cáncer con la mortalidad nacional y de otras áreas se deduce que persiste un exceso de mortalidad por cáncer vesical (2002-2004) y broncopulmonar (2001-2004), en hombres y en mujeres; y que hay un exceso de cáncer renal y hepático en varones y un exceso de cáncer pancreático en mujeres. Se descarta el papel del envejecimiento poblacional en lo que respecta a los cánceres de vejiga y de pulmón. Se discuten las características de estos cánceres en Chile y en otros países: mortalidad, incidencia, tendencias, relación con el sexo y con otros factores posibles. Se citan las investigaciones nacionales relativas a la presencia y papel del arsénico en el aire, agua, alimentos y procesos laborales en la región. Las diferencias por sexo sugieren que: el cáncer vesical se relaciona con el ambiente general más que con el ambiente laboral (los excesos son similares en ambos sexos); el cáncer pulmonar, con el ambiente general y con el ambiente laboral (proceso metalúrgico); el cáncer renal y el del hígado, con circunstancias atingentes al género masculino pero probablemente no con el arsénico en el caso del cáncer hepático; y el cáncer de páncreas, posiblemente con el ambiente general. En Antofagasta y regiones vecinas hay menos mortalidad por cánceres digestivos y de próstata y ovario. Esta extensión en el espacio contrasta con la especificidad regional de los excesos. Se recomienda continuar e intensificar la investigación, monitoreo y control multisectorial de aquellos cánceres cuyo exceso persiste desde hace varias décadas en la Región de Antofagasta.

We present the oncological profile of Antofagasta Region, within a general regional approach to the state of health of the population. Through the comparison of regional mortality for the different cancer localizations with mortality in the country and in other regions, we show a persistent excess of bladder and lung cancer in men and women; an excess in kidney and liver cancer in men, and an excess of pancreatic cancer in women. The role of age structure is discarded, at least as far as bladder and lung cancer are concerned. The characteristics of these cancers in Chile and other countries are discussed: mortality, incidence, trends, relationships with gender, and to other possible factors. The previous national investigations related to the presence and the role of arsenic in the air, in drinking water, in food and in occupational processes in the region are cited. Gender associations suggest that: bladder cancer is related to the general environment more than to occupation (the excess is similar for both sexes); lung cancer is related both with the general and the occupational (copper smelting) environment; kidney and liver cancer, with men-related circumstances but probably not with arsenic, in the case of hepatic cancer; and pancreatic cancer, possibly with the general environment. In both Antofagasta and neigh boring regions there is less mortality than in the country as a whole from cancers of the digestive tract and of prostate and ovary. This spatial extension does not apply to the cancers found to be in excess in Antofagasta. We conclude that research, monitoring and multisector control must continue and be intensified regarding the types of cancer for which a regional excess has persisted over several decades.