Subscribe

Advertisement

Pancreatic Cancer

Relevant Articles About Pancreatic Cancer Research and Clinical Trials

RELATED :Colorectal Cancer:Esophageal Cancer:Gastric Cancer:Liver Cancer

Stories to Watch

VIEW ALL

VIEW ALL

Advertisement

Advertisement

LATEST

View More

Advertisement

Popular With Peers

More Oncology Studies

Latest Conferences

VIEW MORE

Latest Conferences

VIEW ALL

VIEW ALL

RELATED CONTENT

VIEW ALL

Impact of PORT on Outcomes in Advanced TESCC

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The study aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of locally advanced TESCC with and without postoperative radiotherapy.
  • Researchers noticed that postoperative radiotherapy improves survival and reduces recurrence in patients with advanced T3-4 TESCC without neoadjuvant treatment.

Ya Zeng and the team aimed to define the long-term outcomes and recurrence patterns of patients with locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC) treated with or without postoperative radiotherapy (PORT).

They performed an inclusive analysis of a retrospective cohort from 2 academic centers, encompassing patients who initially underwent esophagectomy and were pathologically staged T3-4. Survival outcomes were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival significance was evaluated using the log-rank test. Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to balance potential selection bias among patients.

About 506 patients were analyzed, with 251 undergoing surgery alone and 255 receiving radiotherapy following radical surgery. With a median follow-up of 49.1 months, PORT significantly improved 5-year overall survival (53.8% vs. 25.3%; P < 0.001) and 5-year disease-free survival rates (45.3% vs. 8.5%; P < 0.001) compared to surgery alone.

These differences in survival outcomes persisted even after PSM (P < 0.001 for both). Treatment failure was significantly less frequent in the PORT group (46.7%) compared to the surgery-only group (90.0%; P < 0.001), with corresponding reductions in locoregional recurrence (9.4% vs. 54.1%; P < 0.001). This underscores the significant association between PORT and disease control.

The study concluded that the absence of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy emphasizes the critical role of postoperative radiotherapy in enhancing survival and minimizing recurrence in advanced T3-4 patients with TESCC, underscoring its significance as a salvage treatment for those without prior neoadjuvant therapy.

This study was funded by the Emerging advanced technology joint research project of Shanghai Shenkang Hospital Development Center (SHDC12017103) and Shanghai Science and Technology Fund (21Y11913000).

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39334405/

Zeng Y, Su X, Zhou T, et al. (2024). “Propensity-matched study on locally advanced esophageal cancer: surgery versus post-operative radiotherapy.” Radiat Oncol. 2024;19(1):130. Published 2024 Sep 27. doi:10.1186/s13014-024-02528-0

Inhibition of NF-κB/HIF-1α Pathway by Tyrosol in CRC

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The study aimed to investigate the role of IVIM and DCE perfusion imaging in predicting treatment response in patients with CRC.
  • Researchers noted that IVIM and DCE imaging are promising for predicting treatment response in patients with CRC after Neo-CRT.

A complex malignancy that necessitates multimodal treatment strategies is Colorectal cancer (CRC), including neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (Neo-CRT), to enhance patient outcomes. However, individual responses to Neo-CRT can vary significantly, highlighting the need for reliable predictors of treatment response.

Hayder Jasim Taher and the team aimed to investigate the role of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) perfusion in predicting treatment response in patients with CRC following Neo-CRT.

They performed an inclusive analysis on patients diagnosed with locally advanced CRC who received Neo-CRT. IVIM and DCE perfusion imaging were conducted before and after CRT.

Quantitative parameters, including perfusion fraction (f), diffusion coefficient (D), and transfer constant (Ktrans), were calculated from the imaging data. Treatment response was evaluated based on the pathological response following surgery. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS v. 26, employing the t-test and chi-square method.

About 51 patients (female: male = 22:29, mean age = 58.14±3.49) participated in the study. Among all the patients, 15 (29.4%) had good responses, while 36 (70.58%) did not respond to treatment. All DCE parameters demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity than IVIM D*. Ve, Kep, and DCE Ktrans showed significant predictive power for treatment response, with Ktrans being the most accurate parameter for predicting response to treatment.

The overall sensitivity and specificity of DCE were 88.8% [95% CI: 80-95.6] and 80% [95% CI: 65-90], respectively, while those of IVIM were 65.5% and 81%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for the combination of DCE + IVIM were 79.5% and 93.5%, and for DCE + IVIM + standard magnetic resonance imaging, they were 80.2% and 86%, respectively.

The study concluded that IVIM and DCE perfusion imaging are promising tools for predicting treatment response in colorectal cancer patients following Neo-CRT.

The study was funded by the Interdisciplinary Integration and Innovation Project of JLU (JLUXKJC2021ZY08) and Jilin Provincial Healthcare Talent Special Program (JLSWSRCZX2023).

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39342580/

Taher HJ, Arian A, Aghili M, et al .(2024). “Role of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion and Dynamic-Contrast-Enhanced Perfusion in Response Prediction of Patients with Colorectal Cancer after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.” Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2024;25(9):3029-3037. Published 2024 Sep 1. doi:10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.9.3029

Optimizing HCC Prognostic Precision with PWR ALBI and PALBI

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The study aimed to investigate integrating PWR with ALBI and PALBI scores to enhance prognostic precision in patients with HCC.
  • Researchers noticed that integrating PWR with PALBI significantly improves prognostic accuracy for early-stage HCC.

Enhancing prognostic evaluation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains an unmet need, particularly in patients with preserved live r function.

Maha Elsabaawy and the team aimed to integrate the Platelet-to-White Blood Cell Ratio (PWR) with albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and platelets-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) scores to improve the assessment of mortality and treatment responses in patients with HCC.

They performed an inclusive analysis involving 262 patients with HCC, collecting basic data and following up for 1 year or until death. All prognostic scores were calculated by integrating the Platelet-to-White Blood Cell Ratio (PWR) with the ALBI and PALBI scores, examining their relationship with treatment responses and mortality rates in the patients.

About 69.5% of the patients were males, with a mean age of 59.6 ± 8.09 years. The predictive power of the integrated PALBI+PWR score at different time points—1 month (P 0.004), 3 months, and 6 months (P 0.004)—outperformed all other scores.

However, at the 12-month follow-up, the ALBI score demonstrated superiority over PALBI+PWR (AUC 0.631, 0.617). Regression analyses confirmed the strong performance of PALBI+PWR factors in influencing treatment response (P 0.009; OR 0.562 (0.365 – 0.867)). In terms of mortality prediction, PALBI+PWR exhibited the highest efficacy in regression analysis (P < 0.001; OR 2.451 (1.555 – 3.862)).

The study concluded that integrating PWR with the PALBI score significantly enhances prognostic precision in patients with HCC, providing improved predictive power for treatment responses and mortality in the early stages of HCC with preserved liver function.

No funding information was given for this source.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39342584/

Elsabaawy M, Badran H, Ragab A, et al. (2024). “Optimizing Prognostic Precision in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Integrating PWR with ALBI and PALPI Scores.” Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2024;25(9):3067-3072. Published 2024 Sep 1. doi:10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.9.3067

Optimizing HCC Prognostic Precision with PWR ALBI and PALBI

Optimizing HCC Prognostic Precision with PWR ALBI and PALBI

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The study aimed to investigate integrating PWR with ALBI and PALBI scores to enhance prognostic precision in patients with HCC.
  • Researchers noticed that integrating PWR with PALBI significantly improves prognostic accuracy for early-stage HCC.

Enhancing prognostic evaluation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains an unmet need, particularly in patients with preserved live r function.

Maha Elsabaawy and the team aimed to integrate the Platelet-to-White Blood Cell Ratio (PWR) with albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and platelets-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) scores to improve the assessment of mortality and treatment responses in patients with HCC.

They performed an inclusive analysis involving 262 patients with HCC, collecting basic data and following up for 1 year or until death. All prognostic scores were calculated by integrating the Platelet-to-White Blood Cell Ratio (PWR) with the ALBI and PALBI scores, examining their relationship with treatment responses and mortality rates in the patients.

About 69.5% of the patients were males, with a mean age of 59.6 ± 8.09 years. The predictive power of the integrated PALBI+PWR score at different time points—1 month (P 0.004), 3 months, and 6 months (P 0.004)—outperformed all other scores.

However, at the 12-month follow-up, the ALBI score demonstrated superiority over PALBI+PWR (AUC 0.631, 0.617). Regression analyses confirmed the strong performance of PALBI+PWR factors in influencing treatment response (P 0.009; OR 0.562 (0.365 – 0.867)). In terms of mortality prediction, PALBI+PWR exhibited the highest efficacy in regression analysis (P < 0.001; OR 2.451 (1.555 – 3.862)).

The study concluded that integrating PWR with the PALBI score significantly enhances prognostic precision in patients with HCC, providing improved predictive power for treatment responses and mortality in the early stages of HCC with preserved liver function.

No funding information was given for this source.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39342584/

Elsabaawy M, Badran H, Ragab A, et al. (2024). “Optimizing Prognostic Precision in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Integrating PWR with ALBI and PALPI Scores.” Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2024;25(9):3067-3072. Published 2024 Sep 1. doi:10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.9.3067

PCGF2 Drives Colon Cancer via CENPE Upregulation

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The study aimed to explore PCGF2’s role in colon cancer and its connection to CENPE.
  • The results showed that PCGF2 promotes colon cancer progression by upregulating CENPE.

Colon cancer is a common malignancy that significantly contributes to global health burdens. Researchers have linked polycomb group ring finger 2 (PCGF2) to poor outcomes in people with colon cancer. Centromere-associated protein E (CENPE) is also known to promote tumor growth and worsen survival rates in patients.

Qingwei Luo and their team aimed to clarify the role of PCGF2 in colon cancer and its relationship with CENPE.

The study involved normal human colon epithelial cells and colon cancer cells to assess the differences in PCGF2 and CENPE expression. The researchers used LOVO cells to manipulate PCGF2 levels and conducted cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis assays. They also used transwell assays to measure cell migration and invasion. Gene expression linked to the cell cycle was evaluated to understand its activation, and in vivo experiments were performed using mice with altered PCGF2 levels. Additionally, GSK-923295 was applied to inhibit CENPE, followed by analysis of cell behavior.

The results demonstrated that both PCGF2 and CENPE were significantly upregulated in colon cancer cells (P< 0.001). Manipulation of PCGF2 levels directly affected CENPE expression, leading to changes in cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis in LOVO cells (P< 0.001). PCGF2 knockdown slowed tumor progression in mice (P< 0.001). Furthermore, inhibiting CENPE reversed PCGF2-driven effects on cell behavior, reducing viability, proliferation, and cell cycle activity while increasing apoptosis (P< 0.001).

The study concluded that PCGF2 drives colon cancer progression by upregulating CENPE, suggesting both as potential therapeutic targets.

No funding information was given.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39327243/

Luo Q, Chen X, Tang J, et al. (2024). “PCGF2 Acts as an Oncogenic Driver in Colon Cancer through the Upregulation of CENPE.” Discov Med. 2024;36(188):1800-1810. doi:10.24976/Discov.Med.202436188.166

Prognostic Impact of Bone vs LM in mEAC

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The study aimed to investigate the prognostic differences between single BM and single LM in patients with mEAC.
  • Researchers noted that BM in mEAC leads to worse prognosis than LM, underscoring the value of surgical and chemotherapy interventions.

Half of the patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer present with metastasis at the time of initial diagnosis. However, there is limited research focused on the prognostic factors associated with metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma (mEAC).

Xinglian Zhu and the team aimed to examine the impact of single bone metastasis (BM) and single liver metastasis (LM) on the prognosis of patients with mEAC.

They performed an inclusive analysis using data obtained from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program database. Patients with mEAC were evaluated to compare the effects of LM and BM on overall survival (OS), EAC-specific survival (CSS), and esophageal adenocarcinoma-specific death (EASD). This was accomplished through multivariate Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and competing risk regression models.

About 1,278 patients with EAC were included in this study. Of these, 78.95% (1009/1278) experienced EASD, while 12.68% (162/1278) had non-EAC-specific death (non-EASD). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, surgery, chemotherapy, and AJCC stage T2 (vs. T1) were identified as protective factors for OS and EAC-specific survival (CSS).

Conversely, being divorced or separated, single or unmarried (vs. married), having grade III-IV tumors (vs. grade I-II), and BM (vs. LM) were recognized as risk factors. Competing risk regression analysis further confirmed that surgery and chemotherapy provided benefits for patients with metastatic EAC, while BM (vs.LM) remained a significant risk factor when accounting for competitive risk events.

The study concluded that patients with mEAC who have BM experience a worse prognosis compared to those with LM. Additionally, it was found that surgical intervention and chemotherapy serve as protective factors for patients with mEAC. These findings provide crucial evidence-based insights for clinical management and contribute significantly to the field.

The study was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39321194/

Zhu X, Mo M, Zheng S, et al. (2024). “Comparing the prognosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma with bone and liver metastases: A competing risk analysis.” PLoS One. 2024;19(9):e0303842. Published 2024 Sep 25. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0303842

Enhancing CRC Screening With Digital Tools for FQHC

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The study aimed to assess the usability and acceptability of a digital tool to boost colorectal cancer screening at FQHCs.
  • Researchers noticed that adapting the eNav tool based on user feedback improved its accessibility and usability for diverse FQHC patients.

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serve as critical healthcare access points for historically underserved populations, including providing screening for colorectal cancer (CRC), which remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

Given the importance of increasing CRC screening rates among FQHC patients, Leah C. Savage and the team focused on developing and testing a digital patient navigation tool, eNav, designed to help patients better prepare for, request, and complete CRC screening tests.

They performed an inclusive analysis by recruiting 20 English- and Spanish-speaking patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in New York City to user-test the eNav website. The study was conducted in 2 rounds, with 10 participants per user test. In each session, patients participated in a “think aloud” exercise and a qualitative interview to gather their feedback on the website. Baseline questionnaires were administered to collect demographic information, technology and internet use, medical history, and health literacy.

Additionally, patients completed surveys to assess the website’s acceptability and usability. Based on feedback from the first user test, researchers modified the eNav website before conducting a second round of testing. The final modifications were made after reviewing participant feedback from the second test, leading to the finalized version of the eNav website.

The survey results indicated strong overall usability and acceptability of the eNav website. The average System Usability Scale (SUS) score from the first user test was 75.25, and for the second test, it was 75.28. The average Acceptability E-scale score was 28.3 for the first test and 29.2 for the second, both meeting suggested benchmarks for usability and acceptability.

During the qualitative “think aloud” exercises in both user tests, many participants found the website to be motivating, interesting, informative, and user-friendly. Participants also provided valuable suggestions to improve the content, usability, accessibility, and overall appeal of the website. However, some participants faced challenges due to a lack of digital devices or internet access at home, limiting their ability to engage fully with the eNav website.

The study concluded that based on participant feedback and identified limitations in digital access, modifications were made to enhance the content and design of the eNav website. Alternative methods of engagement were developed to increase the tool’s usability, accessibility, and effectiveness for patients with diverse needs, particularly those with limited access to digital devices or the internet at home. Future plans include testing the eNav intervention in a randomized controlled trial to assess its efficacy in improving colorectal cancer screening rates among FQHC patients.

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award (R01CA248981).

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39321451/

Savage LC, Soto-Cossio LE, Minardi F, et al. (2024). “The Development of a Digital Patient Navigation Tool to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Federally Qualified Health Center Patients: Acceptability and Usability Testing.” JMIR Form Res. 2024;8:e53224. Published 2024 Sep 25. doi:10.2196/53224

VIEW ALL

SELECT ONCOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLES

Lower frequencies of circulating suppressive regulatory T cells and higher frequencies of CD4+ naïve T cells at baseline are associated with severe immune-related adverse events in immune checkpoint inhibitor-treated melanoma

Lower frequencies of circulating suppressive regulatory T cells and higher frequencies of CD4+ naïve T cells at baseline are associated with severe immune-related adverse events in immune checkpoint inhibitor-treated melanoma

Background Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are major barriers of clinical management and further development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer therapy. Therefore, biomarkers associated with the onset of severe irAEs are needed. In this study, …

BMJ Journals

1222 Antigen-specific delivery of TCR and costimulatory signals by a protein scaffold selectively activates and markedly expands naïve MART-1-specific CD8+ T cells

1222 Antigen-specific delivery of TCR and costimulatory signals by a protein scaffold selectively activates and markedly expands naïve MART-1-specific CD8+ T cells

Background Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) shows promise as an immunotherapy for melanoma and other cancers. However, there are several challenges associated with ACT such as the logistical complexity and inconsistency when using patient-derived antigen-presenting cells for …

BMJ Journals

890 Nivolumab plus ipilimumab in anti-PD(L)-1 naïve and experienced HCC patients -- single institute experience in Taiwan

890 Nivolumab plus ipilimumab in anti-PD(L)-1 naïve and experienced HCC patients -- single institute experience in Taiwan

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are standard therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the efficacy of combining nivolumab and ipilimumab in Anti-PD(L)-1 Naïve and Experienced HCC patients remains unclear. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 23 patients with advanced …

BMJ Journals

778 TILVANCE-301, a phase 3 study of lifileucel tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy combined with pembrolizumab (pembro) vs pembro alone in treatment-naïve unresectable or metastatic melanoma

778 TILVANCE-301, a phase 3 study of lifileucel tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy combined with pembrolizumab (pembro) vs pembro alone in treatment-naïve unresectable or metastatic melanoma

Background Novel early-line therapies for advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma are needed to improve the rate of deep and durable responses and increase the proportion of patients with long-term benefit. TILVANCE-301 will evaluate the efficacy and …

BMJ Journals