An International Expert Delphi Consensus on Defining Textbook Outcome in Liver Surgery (TOLS).

OBJECTIVE: To reach global expert consensus on the definition of TOLS in minimally invasive and open liver resection among renowned international expert liver surgeons using a modified Delphi method. BACKGROUND: Textbook outcome is a novel composite measure combining the most desirable postoperative outcomes into one single measure and representing the ideal postoperative course. Despite a recently developed international definition of Textbook Outcome in Liver Surgery (TOLS), a standardized and expert consensus-based definition is lacking. METHODS: This international, consensus-based, qualitative study used a Delphi process to achieve consensus on the definition of TOLS. The survey comprised 6 surgical domains with a total of 26 questions on individual surgical outcome variables. The process included 4 rounds of online questionnaires. Consensus was achieved when a threshold of at least 80% agreement was reached. The results from the Delphi rounds were used to establish an international definition of TOLS. RESULTS: In total, 44 expert liver surgeons from 22 countries and all 3 major international hepato-pancreato-biliary associations completed round 1. Forty-two (96%), 41 (98%), and 41 (98%) of the experts participated in round 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The TOLS definition derived from the consensus process included the absence of intraoperative grade ≥2 incidents, postoperative bile leakage grade B/C, postoperative liver failure grade B/C, 90-day major postoperative complications, 90-day readmission due to surgery-related major complications, 90-day/in-hospital mortality, and the presence of R0 resection margin. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study providing an international expert consensus-based definition of TOLS for minimally invasive and open liver resections by the use of a formal Delphi consensus approach. TOLS may be useful in assessing patient-level hospital performance and carrying out international comparisons between centers with different clinical practices to further improve patient outcomes.

Proteomic analysis identifies dysregulated proteins and associated molecular pathways in a cohort of gallbladder cancer patients of African ancestry.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a lethal cancer with a poor prognosis. The lack of specific and sensitive biomarkers results in delayed diagnosis with most patients presenting at late stages of the disease. Furthermore, there is little known about the molecular mechanisms associated with GBC, especially in patients of African ancestry. This study aimed to determine dysregulated proteins in South African GBC patients to identify potential mechanisms of the disease progression and plausible biomarkers. METHODS: Tissues (27 GBC, 13 Gallstone disease, and 5 normal tissues) and blood plasma (54 GBC and 73 Benign biliary pathology) were obtained from consenting patients. Protein extraction was performed on all tissues and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for proteomic profiling. A project-specific spectral library was built using the Pulsar search algorithm. Principal component and Spearman's rank correlation analyses were performed using PAST (V4.07b). Pathway and Network analyses were conducted using REACTOME (v3.7) and stringAPP (v1.7.0), respectively. RESULTS: In the tissue sample group, there were 62 and 194 dysregulated proteins in GBC compared to normal and gallstone groups, respectively. In the plasma group, there were 33 altered proteins in GBC compared to the benign biliary pathology group. We found 9 proteins (APOA1, APOA2, RET4, TTR, HEMO, HBB, HBA, PIGR, and APOE) to be commonly dysregulated in both tissue and plasma. Furthermore, a subset analysis demonstrated that 2 proteins, S100A8 and S100A9, were downregulated in GBC patients with GD history compared to those without. Pathway analysis showed that the dysregulated proteins in GBC patients were enriched in pathways involved in smooth muscle contraction, metabolism, ECM organization, and integrin cell surface interactions. CONCLUSION: The identified dysregulated proteins help in understanding GBC molecular mechanisms in our patient group. Furthermore, the alteration of specific proteins in both tissue and plasma samples suggests their potential utility as biomarkers of GBC in this sample cohort.

Multisocietal European consensus on the terminology, diagnosis, and management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases: an E-AHPBA consensus in partnership with ESSO, ESCP, ESGAR, and CIRSE.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases is complex. The aim of this project was to provide a practical framework for care of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases, with a focus on terminology, diagnosis, and management. METHODS: This project was a multiorganizational, multidisciplinary consensus. The consensus group produced statements which focused on terminology, diagnosis, and management. Statements were refined during an online Delphi process, and those with 70 per cent agreement or above were reviewed at a final meeting. Iterations of the report were shared by electronic mail to arrive at a final agreed document comprising 12 key statements. RESULTS: Synchronous liver metastases are those detected at the time of presentation of the primary tumour. The term 'early metachronous metastases' applies to those absent at presentation but detected within 12 months of diagnosis of the primary tumour, the term 'late metachronous metastases' applies to those detected after 12 months. 'Disappearing metastases' applies to lesions that are no longer detectable on MRI after systemic chemotherapy. Guidance was provided on the recommended composition of tumour boards, and clinical assessment in emergency and elective settings. The consensus focused on treatment pathways, including systemic chemotherapy, synchronous surgery, and the staged approach with either colorectal or liver-directed surgery as first step. Management of pulmonary metastases and the role of minimally invasive surgery was discussed. CONCLUSION: The recommendations of this contemporary consensus provide information of practical value to clinicians managing patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases.

The multi-societal European consensus on the terminology, diagnosis and management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases: an E-AHPBA consensus in partnership with ESSO, ESCP, ESGAR, and CIRSE.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases is complex. The aim of this project was to provide a practical framework for care of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases with a focus on terminology, diagnosis and management. METHODS: This project was a multi-organisational, multidisciplinary consensus. The consensus group produced statements which focused on terminology, diagnosis and management. Statements were refined during an online Delphi process and those with 70% agreement or above were reviewed at a final meeting. Iterations of the report were shared by electronic mail to arrive at a final agreed document comprising twelve key statements. RESULTS: Synchronous liver metastases are those detected at the time of presentation of the primary tumour. The term "early metachronous metastases" applies to those absent at presentation but detected within 12 months of diagnosis of the primary tumour with "late metachronous metastases" applied to those detected after 12 months. Disappearing metastases applies to lesions which are no longer detectable on MR scan after systemic chemotherapy. Guidance was provided on the recommended composition of tumour boards and clinical assessment in emergency and elective settings. The consensus focused on treatment pathways including systemic chemotherapy, synchronous surgery and the staged approach with either colorectal or liver-directed surgery as first step. Management of pulmonary metastases and the role of minimally invasive surgery was discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations of this contemporary consensus provide information of practical value to clinicians managing patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases.

Immunotherapeutic strategies in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): current perspectives and future prospects.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the deadliest human malignancies with a dismal prognosis. During PDAC progression, the immune response is affected as cancer cells evade detection and elimination. Recently, there have been advances in the treatment of PDAC using immunotherapy, although a lot more work is yet to be done. In this review, we discuss these advances, challenges and potentials. We focus on existing and potential immune targets for PDAC, drugs used to target them, and some clinical trials conducted so far with them. Finally, novel targets in the tumour microenvironment such as stromal cells and other potential future areas to explore including bacterial therapy and the use of neoantigens in immunotherapy are highlighted.

The need for research targeting the link between occupational carcinogens and hepatopancreatobiliary cancers in Africa: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers encompassing malignancies of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder, and bile ducts pose a significant health burden in Africa. While the association of certain occupational carcinogens in cancer is well established globally, their potential role in HPB cancers remains understudied, especially in an African context. AIM: This systematic review delves into the association between occupational carcinogens and HPB cancer in Africa. It examines the current state of research on occupational carcinogens and HPB cancers in Africa, identifying key challenges and knowledge gaps. METHODS: This systematic review examined publications (published between 01 January 2012 and 31 May 2023) that highlight occupational carcinogens and HBP cancers in Africa. The search was conducted on electronic databases namely PubMed, Web of Science, and Africa Wide Information. RESULT: Due to the lack of information on the association between occupational carcinogens and HPB cancers in Africa, as a result of the paucity of published studies, only four articles were included in this study. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was the predominant cancer associated with the occupational carcinogen, aflatoxin. Agricultural workers, especially those involved in the production and processing of maize and peanuts, appear to be the most exposed to aflatoxin. CONCLUSION: Despite the sample size limitations due to the paucity of research studies on occupational carcinogens and HPB cancers in Africa, this study provides a reasonable tool for subsequent epidemiological studies. There is a need for more research on the association of occupational carcinogens and HPB cancers in Africa, especially with the growing industrialization.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Prognostic indicators of advanced disease.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy associated with high metastatic risk. Prognosis remains poor even after resection. Previously our group identified biomarkers that improved diagnostic accuracy in PDAC beyond the established diagnostic tumour marker, CA19-9. Risk factors, symptoms and circulating biomarkers associated with a PDAC diagnosis may differ from those that alter disease progression and metastasis. This study aimed at assessing the risk factors, presenting symptoms and potential prognostic biomarkers in PDAC and determine their relationship with PDAC stage and/or metastatic status. METHODS: Seventy-two PDAC patients with imaging available for TNM staging at presentation were enrolled following informed consent. Demographic and clinical data were captured. Blood was collected and 38 cytokines/angiogenic factors measured. Nonparametric association tests, univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed using STATA version 14.2. A p-value≤0.05 was considered significant and odds ratios reported for effect size. RESULTS: Most risk factors and symptoms did not differ across the stages of cancer. Although male gender and smoking are risk factors for PDAC, the majority of study patients with metastatic PDAC were non-smoking females. In addition to CA19-9, the platelet count (p<0.01), IL-15 (p = 0.02) and GM-CSF (p<0.01) were significant, independent negative predictors of metastatic PDAC. Moreover, using specific cut-off values in a combined panel, the odds in a patient with all three biomarker levels below the cut-offs is 21 times more likely to have metastatic PDAC (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Platelet count, IL-15 and GM-CSF are potential prognostic indicators of metastatic disease in PDAC patients from our local South African population.

Targeting Growth Factor Signaling Pathways in Pancreatic Cancer: Towards Inhibiting Chemoresistance.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, ranking amongst the top leading cause of cancer related deaths in developed countries. Features such as dense stroma microenvironment, abnormal signaling pathways, and genetic heterogeneity of the tumors contribute to its chemoresistant characteristics. Amongst these features, growth factors have been observed to play crucial roles in cancer cell survival, progression, and chemoresistance. Here we review the role of the individual growth factors in pancreatic cancer chemoresistance. Importantly, the interplay between the tumor microenvironment and chemoresistance is explored in the context of pivotal role played by growth factors. We further describe current and future potential therapeutic targeting of these factors.

Chemokine receptor 8 expression may be linked to disease severity and elevated interleukin 6 secretion in acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease, which presents with epigastric pain and is clinically diagnosed by amylase and lipase three times the upper limit of normal. The 2012 Atlanta classification stratifies the severity of AP as one of three risk categories namely, mild AP (MAP), moderately severe AP (MSAP), and severe AP (SAP). Challenges in stratifying AP upon diagnosis suggest that a better understanding of the underlying complex pathophysiology may be beneficial. AIM: To identify the role of the chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8), expressed by T-helper type-2 Lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages, and its possible association to Interleukin (IL)-6 and AP stratification. METHODS: This study was a prospective case-control study. A total of 40 patients were recruited from the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Bioassays were performed on 29 patients (14 MAP, 11 MSAP, and 4 SAP) and 6 healthy controls as part of a preliminary study. A total of 12 mL of blood samples were collected at Day (D) 1, 3, 5, and 7 post epigastric pain. Using multiplex immunoassay panels, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) arrays, and multicolour flow cytometry analysis, immune response-related proteins, genes, and cells were profiled respectively. GraphPad Prism™ software and fold change (FC) analysis was used to determine differences between the groups. P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The concentration of IL-6 was significantly different at D3 post epigastric pain in both the MAP group and MSAP group with P = 0.001 and P = 0.013 respectively, in a multiplex assay. When a FC of 2 was applied to identify differentially expressed genes using RT2 Profiler, CCR8 was shown to increase steadily with disease severity from MAP (1.33), MSAP (38.28) to SAP (1172.45) median FC. Further verification studies using RT-PCR showed fold change increases of CCR8 in MSAP and SAP ranging from 1000 to 1000000 times when represented as Log10, compared to healthy control respectively at D3. The findings also showed differing lymphocyte and monocyte cell frequency between the groups. With monocyte population frequency as high as 70% in MSAP at D3. CONCLUSION: The higher levels of CCR8 and IL-6 in the severe patients and immune cell differences compared to MAP and controls provide an avenue for exploring AP stratification to improve management.

Serum Metabolomic and Lipoprotein Profiling of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients of African Ancestry.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer with a characteristic dysregulated metabolism. Abnormal clinicopathological features linked to defective metabolic and inflammatory response pathways can induce PDAC development and progression. In this study, we investigated the metabolites and lipoproteins profiles of PDAC patients of African ancestry. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was conducted on serum obtained from consenting individuals (34 PDAC, 6 Chronic Pancreatitis, and 6 healthy participants). Seventy-five signals were quantified from each NMR spectrum. The Liposcale test was used for lipoprotein characterization. Spearman's correlation and Kapan Meier tests were conducted for correlation and survival analyses, respectively. In our patient cohort, the results demonstrated that levels of metabolites involved in the glycolytic pathway increased with the tumour stage. Raised ethanol and 3-hydroxybutyrate were independently correlated with a shorter patient survival time, irrespective of tumour stage. Furthermore, increased levels of bilirubin resulted in an abnormal lipoprotein profile in PDAC patients. Additionally, we observed that the levels of a panel of metabolites (such as glucose and lactate) and lipoproteins correlated with those of inflammatory markers. Taken together, the metabolic phenotype can help distinguish PDAC severity and be used to predict patient survival and inform treatment intervention.

Increased expression of plakoglobin is associated with upregulated MAPK and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways in early resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancer types, and it is associated with a 5-year survival rate of <10% due to limited early detection methods and ineffective therapeutic options. Thus, an improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in the early stages of PDAC tumorigenesis is crucial in order to identify potential novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets. The most common signalling aberrations in PDAC occur in the Wnt/Notch signalling pathway, as well as within the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and its associated ligands, EGF and transforming growth factor-ß. In addition, the RAS family of oncogenes, which act downstream of EGFR, are found mutated in most pancreatic cancer samples. Plakoglobin, a component of the EGFR signalling pathway, serves an important role in normal cell adhesion; however, its role in PDAC is largely unknown. The present study used transcriptome sequencing and focussed proteome microarrays to identify dysregulated genes and proteins in PDAC. The presence of upregulated plakoglobin expression levels was identified as a distinguishing feature between the PDAC microenvironment and normal pancreatic tissue. Furthermore, plakoglobin was demonstrated to be associated with the differential upregulation of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signalling pathways in the tumour microenvironment, which suggested that it may serve an important role in PDAC tumourigenesis.

SWATH-MS based proteomic profiling of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumours reveals the interplay between the extracellular matrix and related intracellular pathways.

Pancreatic cancer accounts for 2.8% of new cancer cases worldwide and is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030. Patients of African ancestry appear to be at an increased risk for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with more severe disease and outcomes. The purpose of this study was to map the proteomic and genomic landscape of a cohort of PDAC patients of African ancestry. Thirty tissues (15 tumours and 15 normal adjacent tissues) were obtained from consenting South African PDAC patients. Optimisation of the sample preparation method allowed for the simultaneous extraction of high-purity protein and DNA for SWATH-MS and OncoArray SNV analyses. We quantified 3402 proteins with 49 upregulated and 35 downregulated proteins at a minimum 2.1 fold change and FDR adjusted p-value (q-value) ≤ 0.01 when comparing tumour to normal adjacent tissue. Many of the upregulated proteins in the tumour samples are involved in extracellular matrix formation (ECM) and related intracellular pathways. In addition, proteins such as EMIL1, KBTB2, and ZCCHV involved in the regulation of ECM proteins were observed to be dysregulated in pancreatic tumours. Downregulation of pathways involved in oxygen and carbon dioxide transport were observed. Genotype data showed missense mutations in some upregulated proteins, such as MYPN, ESTY2 and SERPINB8. Approximately 11% of the dysregulated proteins, including ISLR, BP1, PTK7 and OLFL3, were predicted to be secretory proteins. These findings help in further elucidating the biology of PDAC and may aid in identifying future plausible markers for the disease.

Standards for reporting on surgery for chronic pancreatitis: a report from the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS).

BACKGROUND: The International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery provides globally accepted definitions for reporting of complications after pancreatic surgery. This International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery project aims to provide a standardized framework for reporting of the results of operative treatment for chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: An International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery project circulation list was created with pre-existing and new members and including gastroenterologists in addition to surgeons. A computerized search of the literature was undertaken for articles reporting the operative treatment of chronic pancreatitis. The results of the literature search were presented at the first face-to-face meeting of this International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery project group. A document outlining proposed reporting standards was produced by discussion during an initial meeting of the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery. An electronic questionnaire was then sent to all current members of the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery. Responses were collated and further discussed at international meetings in North America, Europe, and at the International Association of Pancreatology World Congress in 2019. A final consensus document was produced by integration of multiple iterations. RESULTS: The International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery consensus standards for reporting of surgery in chronic pancreatitis recommends 4 core domains and the necessary variables needed for reporting of results: clinical baseline before operation; the morphology of the diseased gland; a new, standardized, operative terminology; and a minimum outcome dataset. The 4 domains combine to give a comprehensive framework for reports. CONCLUSION: Adoption of the 4 domains of the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery reporting standards for surgery for chronic pancreatitis will facilitate comparison of results between centers and help to improve the care for patients with this debilitating disease.

Inflammatory cytokines and combined biomarker panels in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Enhancing diagnostic accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is challenged by the absence of accurate early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. CA19-9 is the established, diagnostic tumour marker in PDAC, despite its limitations. Effective primary screening using circulating biomarker panels have only been considered in a handful of studies and we investigated whether combinations of inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors in multivariate logistic models could facilitate earlier diagnosis in our South African setting. METHODS: Plasma levels of 38 cytokines and angiogenic factors were measured in 131 Black South African patients, 85 with PDAC, 25 with benign biliary pathology (BBP) and 21 benign non-HPB controls (BC), by use of human magnetic multiplex screening assays. Multivariate biomarker panels were developed by identifying the top performing biomolecules from univariate logistic regression. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC curve (AUC) are reported. RESULTS: Classification modelling to distinguish PDAC patients from BC showed that a panel of CA19-9 and CXCL10 (IP-10) demonstrated improved diagnostic power over CA19-9 alone (AUC = 0.977 vs. AUC = 0.807, p-value = 0.001). A combined panel including age, BMI and IL-15 showed significant diagnostic power in discriminating PDAC from BBP (AUC = 0.952, p < 0.0001). Finally, a combined panel of IL-8, IL-15 and gender demonstrated diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.830, p < 0.0001) in distinguishing PDAC in the presence of jaundice from benign controls with either jaundice, choledocholithiasis or common bile duct injury. CONCLUSIONS: Combined biomarker panels improve diagnostic accuracy in PDAC. In addition to CA19-9, cytokines CXCL10, IL-8 and IL-15 are strong additions to diagnostic biomarker panels in PDAC in Black South Africans.