Pathological complete response with FOLFIRINOX therapy for recurrence of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a very rare subtype of pancreatic cancer. Due to small number of patients, no standard chemotherapy protocol has been established. We experienced an extremely rare case of PACC with liver metastasis that showed a pathological complete response after modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX) therapy. A 42-year-old man who underwent distal pancreatectomy for an 80 mm tumor at the pancreatic tail 3 years ago was referred to our hospital in September 2017 for the treatment of a recurrent liver tumor. Percutaneous biopsy revealed an acinar-neuroendocrine carcinoma, similar to the surgical specimen. He received eight cycles of irinotecan plus cisplatin chemotherapy. However, the tumor increased in size, and treatment was switched to mFFX therapy. The tumor in the liver shrank remarkably after nine cycles of mFFX therapy. Conversion surgery was selected, and the patient underwent hepatic left and caudate lobectomy 8 months after administration of mFFX. The resected specimen showed no viable tumor cells, indicating a pathological complete response. The histological diagnosis was reconsidered, and PACC was finally diagnosed via an additional immunohistological review. The patient has remained well with no recurrence for 6 years after surgery. This study is the first to report a case of pathological complete response with mFFX therapy for the recurrence of PACC.

Patient-derived organoids of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma for subtype determination and clinical outcome prediction.

BACKGROUND: Recently, two molecular subtypes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have been proposed: the "Classical" and "Basal-like" subtypes, with the former showing better clinical outcomes than the latter. However, the "molecular" classification has not been applied in real-world clinical practice. This study aimed to establish patient-derived organoids (PDOs) for PDAC and evaluate their application in subtype classification and clinical outcome prediction. METHODS: We utilized tumor samples acquired through endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy and established a PDO library for subsequent use in morphological assessments, RNA-seq analyses, and in vitro drug response assays. We also conducted a prospective clinical study to evaluate whether analysis using PDOs can predict treatment response and prognosis. RESULTS: PDOs of PDAC were established at a high efficiency (> 70%) with at least 100,000 live cells. Morphologically, PDOs were classified as gland-like structures (GL type) and densely proliferating inside (DP type) less than 2 weeks after tissue sampling. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the "morphological" subtype (GL vs. DP) corresponded to the "molecular" subtype ("Classical" vs. "Basal-like"). The "morphological" classification predicted the clinical treatment response and prognosis; the median overall survival of patients with GL type was significantly longer than that with DP type (P < 0.005). The GL type showed a better response to gemcitabine than the DP type in vitro, whereas the drug response of the DP type was improved by the combination of ERK inhibitor and chloroquine. CONCLUSIONS: PDAC PDOs help in subtype determination and clinical outcome prediction, thereby facilitating the bench-to-bedside precision medicine for PDAC.

Efficacy and safety of streptozocin-based chemotherapy for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in Japanese clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Streptozocin has been used to treat neuroendocrine tumors in Europe and the USA; however, its actual status in Japan has not been fully clarified owing to the rarity of this disease and the relatively recent approval of streptozocin in Japan. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 53 patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors who were treated with streptozocin-based chemotherapy at two Japanese hospitals between January 2004 and June 2023. RESULTS: The overall response and disease control rates were 27.7 and 74.5%, respectively, and the median progression-free survival and overall survival were 7.1 and 20.3 months, respectively. Performance status ≥1 showed a significant negative correlation with progression-free survival, and performance status ≥1 and liver tumor burden ≥25% showed a significant negative correlation with overall survival. No significant differences were observed in the treatment response between pancreatic and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. No treatment-related serious adverse events were observed; however, 87.7% of patients expressed a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate, which negatively correlated with the duration of streptozocin treatment (r = 0.43, P = 0.0020). In the streptozocin re-administration group (n = 5), no differences were found in efficacy between the initial and second streptozocin treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Although streptozocin is a safe, streptozocin-induced renal dysfunction is a dilemma in streptozocin responders. Streptozocin may benefit patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, especially those with a good performance status; however, in some cases, planned streptozocin withdrawal or switching to other drugs should be considered.

Two cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with ectopic ACTH syndrome during their disease course.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are rare malignant tumors that occur in the pancreas. They are divided into functioning and non-functioning tumors based on the presence or absence of their specific hormonal hyper-expression symptoms. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing PanNETs are rare, functional tumors, and their clinical characteristics and outcomes have not been well reported.Here, we report the cases of two patients with PanNETs who presented with ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) during the course of their disease. Case 1 involved a non-functioning PanNET at the time of surgery. During treatment for recurrent liver metastases, the patient presented with EAS and tumor-associated hypercalcemia, probably due to ACTH and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) production from the liver tumor. Case 2 was a gastrinoma, and similar to Case 1, this patient presented with EAS during the treatment of recurrent liver metastases.It is not uncommon for patients with PanNETs to have multiple hormones and develop secondary hormone secretion during their disease course, although tumor phenotypes differ between primary and metastatic sites. In patients with functioning PanNETs, symptom control with anti-hormonal therapy is essential, in addition to anti-tumor therapy, especially for EAS, which is an endocrine emergency disease that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Machine learning-based model for prediction and feature analysis of recurrence in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors G1/G2.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors. Although the prognosis of resected PanNENs is generally considered to be good, a relatively high recurrence rate has been reported. Given the scarcity of large-scale reports about PanNEN recurrence due to their rarity, we aimed to identify the predictors for recurrence in patients with resected PanNENs to improve prognosis. METHODS: We established a multicenter database of 573 patients with PanNENs, who underwent resection between January 1987 and July 2020 at 22 Japanese centers, mainly in the Kyushu region. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of 371 patients with localized non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (G1/G2). We also constructed a machine learning-based prediction model to analyze the important features to determine recurrence. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients experienced recurrence (14.0%) during the follow-up period, with the median time of recurrence being 33.7 months. The random survival forest (RSF) model showed better predictive performance than the Cox proportional hazards regression model in terms of the Harrell's C-index (0.841 vs. 0.820). The Ki-67 index, residual tumor, WHO grade, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis were the top five predictors in the RSF model; tumor size above 20 mm was the watershed with increased recurrence probability, whereas the 5-year disease-free survival rate decreased linearly as the Ki-67 index increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed the characteristics of resected PanNENs in real-world clinical practice. Machine learning techniques can be powerful analytical tools that provide new insights into the relationship between the Ki-67 index or tumor size and recurrence.

Clinical Implications of FDG-PET in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Therapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical significance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: Among 285 consecutive patients who underwent pancreatic resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2015 and 2021, 86 who underwent preoperative 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography after completion of neoadjuvant treatment were reviewed. Among preoperative factors, including post-treatment maximum standardized uptake value, predictors of early recurrence and poor prognosis were identified using multivariate analysis for decision making in surgery. RESULTS: Nineteen (22%) patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma demonstrated high maximum standardized uptake (≥ 4.5). High post-treatment maximum standardized uptake (≥ 4.5) predicted early recurrence within 6 months after surgery and correlated with shorter recurrence-free survival. Elevated post-treatment CA19-9 level (> 37 U/ml) and maximum standardized uptake ≥ 4.5 were independent prognostic factors. Post-treatment, a high maximum standardized uptake value indicated a poorer prognosis than a low maximum standardized uptake value in both patients with elevated CA19-9 and normal CA19-9 levels. The median overall survival in patients with elevated post-treatment CA19-9 and high maximum standardized uptake was only 17 months; 67% experienced early recurrence. Dynamic changes in maximum standardized uptake during neoadjuvant therapy were correlated with pathological response to neoadjuvant therapy, but not with radiological response or change in CA19-9 level. CONCLUSIONS: Post-treatment assessment using maximum standardized uptake value is useful for stratifying patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who will benefit from surgery. Instead of subsequent curative resection, additional neoadjuvant therapy should be considered in patients with a persistently high maximum standardized uptake value.

Ampullary Neuroendocrine Neoplasm: Clinicopathological Characteristics and Novel Endoscopic Entity.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the ampulla of Vater (ampullary NEN) have features of both gastrointestinal and pancreato-biliary (PB) NEN. However, the limited number of studies examining ampullary NEN makes it difficult to clarify their unique characteristics. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of ampullary NEN. METHODS: We enrolled 162 patients with PB-NEN diagnosed at Kyushu University Hospital between 2011 and 2020. Clinical features, pathological diagnoses, treatments, and prognoses were retrospectively analyzed. We also compared ampullary NEN with pancreatic NEN (PanNEN). RESULTS: We analyzed 10 ampullary NEN cases and 149 PanNEN cases. The ampullary NEN cases consisted of 4 cases of neuroendocrine tumor Grade 1 (NET G1), 1 NET G2 (Grade 2), and 5 neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). The incidences of NEC and cholangitis were significantly higher in ampullary NEN than in PanNEN. All ampullary NETs had a submucosal tumor-like appearance, as identified by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration. We treated small NET G1 (<10 mm) with endoscopic papillectomy and large NET G1 with pancreaticoduodenectomy. There were no cases of recurrence after resection. All ampullary NECs presented with the characteristic endoscopic finding of a "crater sign" similar to deep-mining ulcers seen in gastric malignant lymphoma. Four cases underwent surgical resection, and 1 case was unresectable. Two patients who underwent multidisciplinary treatment were maintained without recurrence for over 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic findings showed identifiable distinctions between ampullary NETs and NECs.

Circulating CD8+CD122+ T cells as a prognostic indicator of pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: The distribution of tissue infiltrating lymphocytes has been shown to affect the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer in some previous studies. However, the role of peripheral lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer remains debated. The purpose of this study was to analyze the peripheral subtypes of T lymphocytes, and establish their association with the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Blood and tissue samples were collected from patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (n = 54), resectable pancreatic cancer (n = 12), and benign pancreatic cysts (n = 52) between April 2019 and January 2022 and analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer had a larger proportion of both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting cells than those with benign pancreatic cysts. In addition, the proportion of peripheral CD4+ T cells positively correlated with the survival of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, and the proportion of peripheral CD8+CD122+ T cells was associated with early mortality (< 90 days). After chemotherapy, CD8+CD122+ T cells decreased in patients who had a partial response or stable disease. Moreover, by analyzing resected specimens, we first proved that the existence of CD8+CD122+ T cells in a tumor microenvironment (TME) depends on their proportion in peripheral blood. CONCLUSION: Circulating CD8+CD122+ T cells can be a prognostic indicator in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Treatment Effect and Safety of Nanoliposomal Irinotecan with Fluorouracil and Folinic Acid after Gemcitabine-Based Therapy in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Multicenter, Prospective Observational Study.

Although the combination of nanoliposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/folinic acid (nal-IRI/FF) exhibited survival benefits in gemcitabine-refractory patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) in the phase III NAPOLI-1 trial, there is limited data on the efficacy and safety of this regimen in real-world settings in Japan. This multicenter, prospective observational study enrolled patients with APC who received nal-IRI/FF after a gemcitabine-based regimen from July 2020 to June 2021. We collected and analyzed clinical data and conducted survival and multivariate analyses. Thirty-one (78%) of the 40 patients had metastases. Nal-IRI/FF was the second-line therapy in 36 patients (90%). The median duration was 3.2 months. The disease control rate was 57%. The median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 4.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8−5.5) and 7.4 months (95% CI: 5.1−10.6), respectively. Common ≥grade 3 toxicities included neutropenia (28%) and fatigue (23%). Fatigue led to treatment discontinuation in 6 out of 10 patients. Multivariate analysis showed that a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio > 4 was a significant risk factor for a short OS (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.21−7.85, p = 0.02). In conclusion, nal-IRI/FF is an appropriate treatment option for APC following gemcitabine-containing regimens.

A clinical analysis on functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (focusing on VIPomas): a single-center experience.

VIPomas are generally rare functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) that cause watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and achlorhydria. Due to their extreme rarity, the clinicopathological features and outcomes of VIPomas have not been well reported. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics and prognosis of VIPomas and to compare them with other PanNETs at a Japanese reference hospital. Medical records of 293 patients with PanNETs were collected. Patient and tumor characteristics and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. This cohort had only 1.4% (four patients) of patients with VIPomas, and three of these patients changed from non-functioning (NF-) PanNETs during their disease course. Recurrences of hormonal symptoms were observed in all patients despite the initial controls, and all of them died from their disease, more specifically mainly from hormonal symptoms. Compared to the other PanNETs, VIPomas were all located at the pancreatic tail, were larger, and had a higher Ki-67 index and more metastasis. The median survival time was significantly shorter for patients with VIPoma than for those with NF-PanNET (5.9 vs. 26.7 years, p < 0.0001), insulinoma (21.8 years, p < 0.0001), and gastrinoma (12.3 years, p = 0.0325). This study presents the possibility of shifting from non-symptomatic to symptomatic VIPomas as they grow or of transforming from NF-PanNETs to VIPomas. VIPomas should be considered in patients with relatively large NF-PanNETs, especially those located in the pancreatic tail, when diarrhea is continuously observed. As hormonal symptoms are an important cause of death in VIPomas, long-term symptomatic control, which is relatively difficult, is of great significance.

The Glasgow Prognostic Score and stricture site can predict prognosis after endoscopic duodenal stent placement for malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

Endoscopic duodenal stent (DS) placement for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is rapidly increasing in clinical practice; however, the most suitable patient candidates for DS placement have not been determined. One hundred and thirty-five patients with GOO who underwent DS placement in three Japanese referral centers between January 2010 and October 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Overall survival (OS) after DS placement, technical/clinical success rates, adverse events, and predictive factors affecting OS after DS placement were also analyzed. The median OS after DS placement of all patients was 81 (7-901) days. Technical and clinical success rates were 99.3% and 83.7%, respectively. The GOO Scoring System score significantly increased before and after DS placement (0.9 vs. 2.7, P < 0.001). The procedure-related complication rate was 6.0%. All 19 patients (14.1%) with stent occlusion underwent endoscopic re-intervention successfully. Multivariate analyses revealed chemotherapy after DS placement (P = 0.01), stricture site in D3 (distal part of the papilla) (P = 0.01), and a Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) of 0-1 before duodenal stent placement (P < 0.001) were factors significantly associated with prolonged OS. In conclusion, patients with a GPS of 0-1 and D3 stricture who are tolerant of chemotherapy are suitable candidates for DS placement.

Predictive factors of operability after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for pancreatic cancer has been shown to be superior to upfront surgery, but it remains a matter of debate for resectable cases. In clinical practice, some resectable cases may become unresectable after NAC. This study aimed to reveal the outcomes after NAC and to clarify the characteristics of unresected cases. METHODS: The medical records of 142 patients who underwent NAC between 2016 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics, effectiveness of NAC, and outcomes were compared between the surgical group and non-surgical group (NSG). Furthermore, the risk of recurrence limited to in the patients who received NAC with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel, which were mostly administered in this cohort, following R0/R1 resection was assessed. RESULTS: The overall and R0 resection rates after NAC were 89.1% and 79.7%, respectively. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 2.78 (p = 0.0120) and anatomical borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (p = 0.0044) revealed a statistically significantly correlation with the NSG. On the other hand, NAC week < 8 (p = 0.0285), radiological response, stable disease or progression disease (p = 0.0212), and pathological stage > IIA (P = 0.0003) were significantly associated with recurrence. The tumor response rate was approximately 26.1%, and three patients with ≥ 30% reduction of primary tumor lost excision opportunities because of metastasis, interstitial pneumonia, and vascular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows incomplete tumor shrinkage benefits, but pre-NAC NLR is a predictive factor for predicting operability after NAC. The NLR can be easily calculated by normal blood test, and can be considered as a suitable marker of operability.

Efficacy of Early Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Transluminal Drainage for Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transluminal drainage (EUS-TD) is generally performed 4 weeks after disease onset for evacuating pancreatic fluid collections. However, the optimal timing for conducting the procedure in those diagnosed with postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) has not been established. We aimed to elucidate the efficacy and safety of early EUS-TD procedures for treating POPF. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with POPF who underwent EUS-TD in the Kyushu University Hospital between 2008 and 2019. Clinical features were comparatively analyzed between the two patient groups who underwent either early (≤15 days postoperatively) or late (>15 days postoperatively) EUS-TD. Factors prolonging hospital stay were also analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Thirty patients (median age, 64.5 years) were enrolled. The most common initial operation was distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (60.0%). Median size of POPF was 69.5 (range, 38-145) mm, and median time interval between surgery and EUS-TD was 17.5 (range, 3-232) days. Totally, 47% patients underwent early EUS-TD. Rates of technical success, clinical success, and complications were 100%, 97%, and 6.9%, respectively. No recurrence of POPF occurred during a median follow-up period of 14 months. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were comparable between the early and late drainage patient groups, except for the rates of infection and nonencapsulation of POPF, which were significantly higher in the early drainage group. Performing simultaneous internal and external drainage (hazard ratio (HR): 0.31; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11-0.93, p=0.04) and conducting ≥2 treatment sessions (HR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08-0.84, p=0.02) were significantly associated with prolonged hospitalization after EUS-TD. Conclusions: EUS-TD is a safe and effective method for managing POPF, regardless of when it is performed in the postoperative period. Once infected POPF occurs, clinicians should not hesitate to perform EUS-TD even within 15 days of the initial operation.

Colonic varices: a rare complication of pancreatic cancer.

A 55-year-old man was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer of the uncus and received chemotherapy (modified FOLFIRINOX). Ten months later, he was admitted to our hospital with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Contrast-enhanced CT showed ascending colon varices caused by the occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) due to pancreatic cancer invasion. Colonoscopy revealed tortuous varices with red spots in the ascending colon. The patient received blood transfusions and was discharged; however, he was hospitalized for recurrent massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding 3 months later. During this readmission, we performed the transileocolic vein obliteration method due to SMV stenosis and the absence of an obvious shunt. He experienced an uneventful post-operative recovery, and contrast-enhanced CT after 2 months revealed no recurrence of colonic varices. Ectopic varices are portosystemic venous collaterals resulting from portal hypertension occurring in any locations other than the esophagogastric region. Colonic varices have rarely been reported before. Patients with pancreatic cancer may present with gastrointestinal bleeding caused by tumor bleeding or esophagogastric varices; however, ectopic varices such as colon varices, a rare complication of pancreatic cancer, should be considered in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Natural history and clinical outcomes of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms based on the WHO 2017 classification; a single-center experience of 30 years.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This single-center study aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes and long-term prognosis of patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) 2017 classification. METHODS: We enrolled 245 patients with PanNENs treated at Kyushu University Hospital between January 1987 and March 2018. PanNENs were categorized according to the WHO 2017 classification or further subdivisions of Ki-67 index. Clinicopathological features, median survival time (MST), and prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The number of PanNENs, especially non-functioning PanNENs, has increased over the last decade. The mean MST of all patients was 202 months; which was longest in patients with NET G1 (n = 145, MST = 261 months) relative to NET G2 (n = 72, 132 months), NET G3 (n = 3, 34 months) and NEC G3 (n = 17, 9 months). Prognosis in patients with surgery as the first-line treatment was significantly better than in those with drug therapy. However, 26% of patients who underwent curative resection developed recurrence after a median time of 28.7 months. In unresectable PanNENs (n = 97), the MST and 5-year survival rate were 78 months and 55.8%, respectively. Poor differentiation, Ki-67 index of >10% and presence of liver metastasis were significant unfavorable predictors. Response to first-line therapy (stable disease/partial response) and three or more treatment regimens were significant favorable predictors for unresectable PanNENs according to multivariate analyses (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the utility of the WHO 2017 classification for PanNENs in the real clinical setting. For better prognosis in PanNENs, the use of three or more regimens should be considered.

[Massive biliary hemorrhage due to rupture of pseudoaneurysm after endoscopic biliary plastic stenting for pancreatic cancer].

A 51-year-old woman underwent endoscopic biliary drainage with a plastic stent for obstructive jaundice due to unresectable pancreatic head cancer. During chemotherapy following heavy ion therapy for the cancer, she presented with acute cholangitis and massive rectal bleeding. The massive hemorrhage was caused by rupture of the biliary duct due to a pseudoaneurysm in the right hepatic artery. The position of the aneurysm coincided with the liver-side end of the plastic stent. Sustained irritation of the arterial and bile duct walls by the stent was considered to have contributed to formation of the aneurysm.

Conversion surgery for initially unresectable carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater following pathological complete response to chemotherapy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater with distant metastases is regarded as unresectable. Systemic chemotherapy is basically the treatment of choice for such tumors. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old woman was referred to our hospital and diagnosed with carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater with lymph node and multiple liver metastases. She underwent systemic chemotherapy with a combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin. After 19 months of treatment, the primary tumor and liver metastases were difficult to detect on follow-up images. Shrinkage of the enlarged lymph nodes was also confirmed. Surgical resection was performed with curative intent after a multidisciplinary meeting. Pathological examination of the resected specimen showed no residual tumors. Systemic chemotherapy achieved a pathological complete response. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient remained free of recurrent disease at 10 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case shows the possibility of conversion surgery after systemic chemotherapy for carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

Promising biological therapies for ulcerative colitis: A review of the literature.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic lifelong condition characterized by alternating flare-ups and remission. There is no single known unifying cause, and the pathogenesis is multifactorial, with genetics, environmental factors, microbiota, and the immune system all playing roles. Current treatment modalities for UC include 5-aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants (including purine antimetabolites, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus), and surgery. Therapeutic goals for UC are evolving. Medical treatment aims to induce remission and prevent relapse of disease activity. Infliximab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α monoclonal antibody, is the first biological agent for the treatment of UC. Over the last decade, infliximab and adalimumab (anti-TNF-α agents) have been used for moderate to severe UC, and have been shown to be effective in inducing and maintaining remission. Recent studies have indicated that golimumab (another anti-TNF-α agent), tofacitinib (a Janus kinase inhibitor), and vedolizumab and etrolizumab (integrin antagonists), achieved good clinical remission and response rates in UC. Recently, golimumab and vedolizumab have been approved for UC by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Vedolizumab may be used as a first-line alternative to anti-TNF-α therapy in patients with an inadequate response to corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants. Here, we provide updated information on various biological agents in the treatment of UC.

Relationship between normal serum creatinine concentration and periodontal disease in Japanese middle-aged males.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis has been shown to be closely related to diabetes, which was recently found to be associated with lower serum creatinine. Conversely, several studies have suggested a positive relationship between periodontitis and abnormally high concentrations of serum creatinine associated with renal dysfunction, seemingly contradicting the above. This study evaluates periodontal status and serum levels of creatinine within the normal range to resolve this apparent contradiction. METHODS: A comprehensive health examination of 907 Japanese males, 49 to 59 years old, was performed from 2000 to 2002. A blood sample was collected from the antecubital vein after an overnight fast. The periodontal parameters were periodontal probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (AL). We examined the association between serum creatinine concentration within the normal range and periodontal parameters. RESULTS: Serum creatinine concentration within the normal range was inversely correlated with mean PD and mean AL. In multivariate linear regression analyses, every 0.1-mg/dL increment in serum creatinine concentration was associated with a 0.064-mm decrease in both mean PD and mean AL (P <0.05) after adjusting for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: This study finds a significant inverse association between normal serum creatinine concentration and periodontal disease.