Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas: a rare disease with different diagnostic and therapeutic implications than ductal adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) of the pancreas is a very rare cancer, constituting 1 % of all malignant non-endocrine pancreatic tumors. Only very limited data exist to guide treatment in patients with advanced ACC. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2015, 15 patients with ACC were diagnosed and/or treated at our high-volume comprehensive cancer center. Medical records and correlating serum levels of the potential serum tumor markers CA 19-9, CEA and lipase were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A substantial antitumor activity was observed for treatment regimens containing 5-FU and oxaliplatin with partial responses or prolonged disease stabilizations (>12 months) observed in 6 out of 7 patients (86 %). Activity was also observed for single-agent 5-FU and its oral prodrugs. Serum lipase levels were elevated in 7 of 12 patients with advanced disease (58 %), whereas CEA and CA 19-9 seemed to be of minor importance for ACC (elevated pre-treatment levels in 4/12 and 3/12 cases, respectively). In selected patients, repeated serum lipase measurements were available and accurately predicted response to chemotherapy and relapse after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: 5-FU- and oxaliplatin-containing regimens are active in advanced ACC. Lipase kinetics may be a useful novel tool to monitor the course of disease as well as treatment effects in ACC.

Isolated pulmonary metastases define a favorable subgroup in metastatic pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: Liver metastasis represents the first site of dissemination in >80% of metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC) patients. Pulmonary metastasis as first site of dissemination in PC is a rare event and might define a biologically distinct subgroup in metastatic PC. METHODS: Consecutive PC patients who were diagnosed or treated with isolated pulmonary metastases at our high-volume comprehensive cancer center were included in a prospectively maintained database between 2002 and 2015. Medical records and correlating computed tomography findings (CT) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 40 PC patients with isolated pulmonary metastases were identified. Pulmonary metastases represented disease recurrence after initial resection of PC in 22 patients and disease progression of locally advanced pancreatic cancer in 5 patients. 14 out of 27 PC patients (56%) had received chemoradiotherapy for localized disease prior to pulmonary metastasis. Data on 1st-line treatment for pulmonary metastases was available for 38 patients: most patients (71%) received a gemcitabine-based chemotherapy regimen, 5 patients (13%) received best supportive care. After a median follow-up of 37.3 months, median survival after diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis was estimated with 25.5 months (95% CI 19.1-31.8); a significantly improved survival after diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis was observed for patients with less than 10 lung metastases (31.3 vs 18.7 months, p = 0.003) and for an unilateral localization of lung involvement (31.3 vs 21.8 months, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a favorable outcome of PC patients with isolated pulmonary metastases. Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific molecular characteristics of this rare subgroup.