Acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland: Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes? A multicenter retrospective analysis focusing on survival outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the demographic data, surgical and adjuvant treatment data and the survival outcomes in adult patients affected by acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland (AciCC). METHODS: A retrospective multicenter analysis of patients treated for AciCC of the parotid gland from 2000 to 2021 was performed. Exclusion criteria were pediatric (0-18 years) patients, the absence of follow-up and patients with secondary metastatic disease to the parotid gland. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with survival. RESULTS: The study included 81 adult patients with AciCC of the parotid gland. The median age was 46.3 years (SD 15.81, range 19-84 years), with a gender female prevalence (F = 48, M = 33). The mean follow-up was 77.7 months (min 4-max 361, SD 72.46). The 5 years overall survival (OS) was 97.5%. The 5 years disease-free survival (DFS) was 60%. No statistical differences have been found in prognosis for age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years), sex, surgery type (superficial vs profound parotid surgery), radicality (R0 vs R1 + Rclose), neck dissection, early pathologic T and N stages and adjuvant therapy (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study did not find prognostic factor for poorest outcome. In contrast with the existing literature, our results showed how also high-grade tumours cannot be considered predictive of recurrence or aggressive behaviour.

First Course of treatment and Prognosis of Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer in Korea from 2006 to 2017.

PURPOSE: Hospital-based clinical studies have limitations in holistic assessment of cancer treatment and prognosis, as they omit out-of-hospital patients including elderly individuals. This study aimed to investigate trends in initial treatment and corresponding prognosis of patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer (EPC) in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Korea Central Cancer Registry data of patients with EPC from 2006 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. We defined the first course of treatment (FT) as the cancer-directed treatment administered within four months after cancer diagnosis according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. RESULTS: Among 62,209 patients with EPC, localized and regional (LR) SEER stage; patients over 70 years old; and ductal adenocarcinoma excluding cystic or mucinous (DAC) accounted for 40.6%, 50.1%, and 95.9%, respectively. "No active treatment" (NT, 46.5%) was the most frequent, followed by non-surgical FT (28.7%) and surgical FT (22.0%). Among 25,198 patients with LR EPC, surgical FT increased (35.9% to 46.3%) and NT decreased (45.0% to 29.5%) from 2006 to 2017. The rate of surgical FT was inversely related to age (55.1% [< 70 years], 37.3% [70-79 years], 10.9% [≥ 80 years]). Five-year relative survival rates of LR DAC were higher after surgical FT than after NT in localized (46.1% vs. 12.9%) and regional stage (23.6% vs. 4.9%) from 2012 to 2017. CONCLUSION: Less than half of overall patients with LR EPC underwent surgical FT, and this proportion decreased significantly in elderly individuals. Clinicians should focus attention on elderly patients with EPC to provide appropriate medical advice.

Efficacy of surgery combined with postoperative 125 I interstitial brachytherapy for treatment of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC) is rare in children; therefore, reaching a consensus on its management is challenging and radiotherapy is limited by concerns about long-term toxicity. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness and safety of surgery plus postoperative 125 I interstitial brachytherapy (IBT) for children and adolescents with AciCC of the parotid gland (PG) treated at a single institution. PROCEDURE: Sixteen patients ≤ 18 years old with AciCC of the PG treated with surgery plus 125 I IBT from 2007 to 2018 were included. Surgery was the primary treatment; ten patients underwent total gross excision and six subtotal gross excision. The matched peripheral dose was 60-120 Gy. Overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS), local control rate, distant metastasis, and radiation-associated toxicities were analyzed, and factors influencing outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: During follow-up (1.8-12.6 years; mean, 6.3 years), lymph node metastasis was observed in one case, 2.6 years after 125 I IBT treatment. The five-year overall and DFS rates were 100% and 91.7%, respectively. On univariate analysis, tumor size ≥ 3 cm (100% vs 50%; P = 0.025) and extraglandular extension (100% vs 50%; P = 0.025) were significant prognostic indicators for DFS. No severe radiation-associated complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with AciCC of the PG with high-risk features can be managed using surgery plus postoperative 125 I IBT with excellent local control. Radiation-related complications were minor. Patients with facial nerve involvement can have their facial nerves preserved. Residual tumors can be safely managed using adjuvant 125 I IBT.

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.