• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.111-114
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• 2006

Pancreatic cancer often elicits intractable abdominal pain which has significant negative impact on the quality of life in patients. Various therapeutic modalities including celiac plexus block are being used to alleviate the pain. The anatomic location of the pancreas often hinders the spread of anesthetic or neurolytic solutions by obliterating the retrocrural space, thus making the classic retrocrural approach unsuccessful. The following case describes a patient with intractable abdominal pain originating from advanced pancreatic cancer, which could be managed successfully with thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy after retrocrural celiac plexus block had failed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2971-2977
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• 2014

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recently observed in various human cancers. However, the role of lncRNAs in pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclarified. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of lncRNA MALAT1 in PDAC formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues and to investigate the clinical significance of the MALAT1 level. Methods: The expression of MALAT1 was examined in 45 PDAC and 25 adjacent non-cancerous FFPE tissues, as well as in five PDAC cell lines and a normal pancreatic epithelium cell line HPDE6c-7, using qRT-PCR. The relationship between MALAT1 level and clinicopathological parameters of PDAC was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The relative level of MALAT1 was significantly higher in PDAC compared to the adjacent normal pancreatic tissues (p=0.009). When comparing the MALAT1 level in the cultured cell lines, remarkably higher expression of MALAT1 was found in aspc-1 PDAC cells compared with the immortal pancreatic duct epithelial cell line HPDE6c-7 (q=7.573, p<0.05). Furthermore, MALAT1 expression level showed significant correlation with tumor size (r=0.35, p=0.018), tumor stage (r=0.439, p=0.003) and depth of invasion (r=0.334, p=0.025). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with higher MALAT1 expression had a poorer disease free survival (p=0.043). Additionally, multivariate analysis indicated that overexpression of MALAT1, as well as the tumor location and nerve invasion, was an independent predictor of disease-specific survival of PDAC. Conclusion: MALAT1 might be considered as a potential prognostic indicator and may be a target for diagnosis and gene therapy for PDAC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.647-657
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• 2021

As a pancreatic inflammatory marker, regenerating islet-derived protein 3A (Reg3A) plays a key role in inflammation-associated pancreatic carcinogenesis by promoting cell proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, and regulating cancer cell migration and invasion. This study aimed to reveal a novel immuno-regulatory mechanism by which Reg3A modulates tumour-promoting responses during pancreatic cancer (PC) progression. In an in vitro Transwell system that allowed the direct co-culture of human peripheral blood-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and Reg3A-overexpressing/ silenced human PC cells, PC cell-derived Reg3A was found to downregulate CD80, CD83 and CD86 expression on educated DCs, increase DC endocytic function, inhibit DC-induced T lymphocyte proliferation, reduce IL-12p70 production, and enhance IL-23 production by DCs. The positive effect of tumour-derived Reg3A-educated human DCs on PC progression was demonstrated in vivo by intraperitoneally transferring them into PC-implanted severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice reconstituted with human T cells. A Reg3A-JAK2/STAT3 positive feedback loop was identified in DCs educated with Reg3A. In conclusion, as a tumour-derived factor, Reg3A acted to block the differentiation and maturation of the most important antigen-presenting cells, DCs, causing them to limit their potential anti-tumour responses, thus facilitating PC escape and progression.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.72-74
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• 2014

Pancreatic cancer is well known to have a poor prognosis and poor responses to both of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. We report a metastatic pancreatic cancer treated successfully with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A 71-year-old female with epigastric pain and weight loss was diagnosed as advanced pancreatic cancer with main vessels invasion and multiple mesenteric lymph node's metastasis. She was taken chemotherapy of gemcitabine single regimen and radiation therapy. Although she experienced one recurrence and concomitant primary lung cancer, she has survived for over 7 years with no symptoms. The authors report this case of long term survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer after chemoradiation therapy.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.58-63
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• 2016

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6573-6578
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• 2013

Background: The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate patient characteristics, treatment modalities and prognostic factors in Turkish patients with pancreatic cancer. Materials and Methods: Between January 1997 and December 2012, 64 patients who presented to the Department of Radiation Oncology, Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer were evaluated. The E/K ratio of the cases was 2.4/1 and the median age was 59.6 (32-80) years, respectively. Some 11 cases (18%) were stage 1, 21 (34.4%) were stage 2, 10 (16.4%) were stage 3, and 19 (31.1%) were metastatic. Results: The mean follow-up time was 15.7 months (0.7-117.5) and loco-regional recurrence was noted in 11 (40.7%) who underwent surgery while metastases were observed in 41 patients (66.1%). The median overall survival (OS) was 11.2 months and the 1, 3 and 5-year OS rates were 41.7%, 9.9% and 7.9% respectively. The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 5.2 month and the1, 2 and 5 year DFS were 22.6%, 7.6% and 3.8% respectively. On univariate analysis, prognostic factors affecting OS included status of the operation (p<0.001), tumor stage (p=0.008), ECOG performance status (p=0.005) and CEA level (p=0.017).On multivariate analysis, prognostic factors affecting survival included status of the operation (p=0.033) and age (p= 0.023). Conclusions: In the current study, age and operation status were independent prognostic factors for overall survival with pancreatic patients. Thus, the patients early diagnosis and treatment ars essential. However, prospective studies with more patients are needed for confirmation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5905-5910
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• 2013

Background: To investigate the preventive and therapeutic potential of garlic oil on human pancreatic carcinoma cells. Methods: The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to study the effects of garlic oil on three human pancreatic cancer cell lines, AsPC-1, Mia PaCa-2 and PANC-1. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry (FCM), staining with PI and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI), respectively. Morphologic changes of pancreatic cancer cells were observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after treatment with garlic oil at low inhibitory concentrations ($2.5{\mu}M$ and $10{\mu}M$) for 24 hours. Results: Proliferation of the AsPC-1, PANC-1, and Mia PaCa-2 cells was obviously inhibited in the first 24 hours with the MTT assay. The inhibition effect was more significant after 48 hours. When cells were exposed to garlic oil at higher concentrations, an early change of the apoptotic tendency was detected by FCM and TEM. Conclusion: Garlic oil could inhibit the proliferation of AsPC-1, PANC-1, and Mia PaCa-2 cells in this study. Moreover, due to programmed cell death, cell cycle arrest, or both, pro-apoptosis effects on AsPC-1 cells were induced by garlic oil in a dose and time dependent manner in vitro.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.785-788
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• 2009

Many patients with upper abdominal organ cancers, including pancreatic cancer, suffer from severe pain, and various methods and techniques have been used for relieving this pain. We present here two cases of patients with pancreatic cancer and they were both successfully relieved of their abdominal pain by performing video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy and splanchnicectomy. This minimally invasive procedure offers promise in carefully selected patients with severe pain from pancreatic cancer and other conditions.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2018

A 70-year-old female diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was treated by pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) and adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma pT3N0 (stage IIA) was pathologically confirmed. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings 14 months after PPPD showed 10 mm sized solitary liver metastasis in segment 3. After 12 cycles of gemcitabine and 9 cycles of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin, the metastatic nodule increased in size to 27 mm. Tumorectomy at segment 3 of liver was done. 25 months after tumorectomy, chest CT showed 23 mm sized cavitary nodule in right upper lobe of lung. The result of percutaneous biopsy favored metastatic adenocarcinoma. Two sets of stereotactic body radiation therapy were done and the patient has survived without further disease progression for 6 years after initial diagnosis. This case suggests that selected population of recurrent pancreatic cancer patients with solitary liver or pulmonary metastasis can be treated by resection of metastatic site and ablative therapies.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.112-121
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Since the usefulness of neoadjuvant chemo(radiation) therapy (NAT) for pancreatic cancer has been demonstrated, recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO) in patients with pancreatic cancer with a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) during NAT is expected to increase. This study investigated the impact of sarcopenia on RBO in this setting. Methods: Patients were divided into normal and low skeletal muscle index (SMI) groups and retrospectively analyzed. Patient characteristics, overall survival, time to RBO (TRBO), stent-related adverse events, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify the risk factors for short TRBO. Results: A few significant differences were observed in patient characteristics, overall survival, stent-related adverse events, and postoperative complications between 38 patients in the normal SMI group and 17 in the low SMI group. The median TRBO was not reached in the normal SMI group and was 112 days in the low SMI group (p=0.004). In multivariate analysis, low SMI was the only risk factor for short TRBO, with a hazard ratio of 5.707 (95% confidence interval, 1.148-28.381; p=0.033). Conclusions: Sarcopenia was identified as an independent risk factor for RBO in patients with pancreatic cancer with FCSEMS during NAT.