ATDC is required for the initiation of KRAS-induced pancreatic tumorigenesis.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDA) is an aggressive disease driven by oncogenic KRAS and characterized by late diagnosis and therapeutic resistance. Here we show that deletion of the ataxia-telangiectasia group D-complementing (Atdc) gene, whose human homolog is up-regulated in the majority of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, completely prevents PDA development in the context of oncogenic KRAS. ATDC is required for KRAS-driven acinar-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and its progression to pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). As a result, mice lacking ATDC are protected from developing PDA. Mechanistically, we show ATDC promotes ADM progression to PanIN through activation of ß-catenin signaling and subsequent SOX9 up-regulation. These results provide new insight into PDA initiation and reveal ATDC as a potential target for preventing early tumor-initiating events.

Multifaceted role for p53 in pancreatic cancer suppression.

The vast majority of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) harbor TP53 mutations, underscoring p53's critical role in PDAC suppression. PDAC can arise when pancreatic acinar cells undergo acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM), giving rise to premalignant pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs), which finally progress to PDAC. The occurrence of TP53 mutations in late-stage PanINs has led to the idea that p53 acts to suppress malignant transformation of PanINs to PDAC. However, the cellular basis for p53 action during PDAC development has not been explored in detail. Here, we leverage a hyperactive p53 variant-p5353,54-which we previously showed is a more robust PDAC suppressor than wild-type p53, to elucidate how p53 acts at the cellular level to dampen PDAC development. Using both inflammation-induced and KRASG12D-driven PDAC models, we find that p5353,54 both limits ADM accumulation and suppresses PanIN cell proliferation and does so more effectively than wild-type p53. Moreover, p5353,54 suppresses KRAS signaling in PanINs and limits effects on the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. While p5353,54 has highlighted these functions, we find that pancreata in wild-type p53 mice similarly show less ADM, as well as reduced PanIN cell proliferation, KRAS signaling, and ECM remodeling relative to Trp53-null mice. We find further that p53 enhances chromatin accessibility at sites controlled by acinar cell identity transcription factors. These findings reveal that p53 acts at multiple stages to suppress PDAC, both by limiting metaplastic transformation of acini and by dampening KRAS signaling in PanINs, thus providing key new understanding of p53 function in PDAC.

Context-Dependent Roles of Hes1 in the Adult Pancreas and Pancreatic Tumor Formation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The Notch signaling pathway is an important pathway in the adult pancreas and in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with hairy and enhancer of split-1 (HES1) as the core molecule in this pathway. However, the roles of HES1 in the adult pancreas and PDAC formation remain controversial. METHODS: We used genetically engineered dual-recombinase mouse models for inducing Hes1 deletion under various conditions. RESULTS: The loss of Hes1 expression in the adult pancreas did not induce phenotypic alterations. However, regeneration was impaired after caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. In a pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) mouse model, PanINs rarely formed when Hes1 deletion preceded PanIN formation, whereas more PanINs were formed when Hes1 deletion succeeded PanIN formation. In a PDAC mouse model, PDAC formation was also enhanced by Hes1 deletion after PanIN/PDAC development; therefore, Hes1 promotes PanIN initiation but inhibits PanIN/PDAC progression. RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that Hes1 deletion enhanced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via Muc5ac up-regulation in PDAC progression. The results indicated that HES1 is not required for maintaining the adult pancreas under normal conditions, but is important for regeneration during recovery from pancreatitis; moreover, Hes1 plays different roles, depending on the tumor condition. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the context-dependent roles of HES1 in the adult pancreas and pancreatic cancer.

Dilatation of the main pancreatic duct of unknown origin: causes and risk factors of pre-malignancy or malignancy.

INTRODUCTION: A dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) is mainly due to obstructive causes (pancreatic tumor, chronic pancreatitis) or intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). This study aims to assess the risk of pre-malignancy or malignancy in case of MPD dilatation with no visible mass nor obstructive calcification on computed tomography scan (CT-scan) in a population operated for it. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients operated on from November 2015 to December 2019 in our center for a significant dilatation of the MPD without visible obstructive cause on CT-scan were included. Preoperative work-up included at least CT-scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Primary endpoint was the final pathological diagnosis. Secondary endpoints were predictive factors of malignancy. RESULTS: 101 patients were included, mean age 68 years-old. Final pathological data were pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 2), IPMN with high-grade dysplasia (n = 37), high-grade Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PanIN) (n = 2) (total of pre-malignant or malignant lesions: n = 41), neuroendocrine tumor (n = 6), IPMN with low-grade dysplasia (n = 45), low-grade PanIN (n = 5), chronic pancreatitis (n = 3), and benign stenosis (n = 1). On preoperative explorations, the median diameter of MPD was 7 mm [3-35]. MRI and/or EUS showed intraductal material, nodule, or cyst in 22, 32, and 52 patients, respectively; 22 patients without nodule visible on MRI or EUS had still a pre-malignant or malignant lesion. In multivariate analysis, predictive factors for pre-malignancy or malignancy were symptoms before surgery (p = 0.01), MPD dilatation without downstream stenosis (p = 0.046), and the presence of nodule (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: A dilatation of the MPD without detectable mass or obstructive calcification on CT-scan was associated with a pre-malignant or malignant lesion in 41 patients. Symptoms before surgery, MPD dilatation without duct narrowing, and the presence of nodules on MRI/EUS were associated with the risk of  pre-malignancy or malignancy.

Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia (ADM): On the Road to Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PanIN) and Pancreatic Cancer.

Adult pancreatic acinar cells show high plasticity allowing them to change in their differentiation commitment. Pancreatic acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) is a cellular process in which the differentiated pancreatic acinar cells transform into duct-like cells. This process can occur as a result of cellular injury or inflammation in the pancreas. While ADM is a reversible process allowing pancreatic acinar regeneration, persistent inflammation or injury can lead to the development of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), which is a common precancerous lesion that precedes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Several factors can contribute to the development of ADM and PanIN, including environmental factors such as obesity, chronic inflammation and genetic mutations. ADM is driven by extrinsic and intrinsic signaling. Here, we review the current knowledge on the cellular and molecular biology of ADM. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying ADM is critical for the development of new therapeutic strategies for pancreatitis and PDAC. Identifying the intermediate states and key molecules that regulate ADM initiation, maintenance and progression may help the development of novel preventive strategies for PDAC.

Systematic review and meta-analysis: Diagnostic performance of DNA alterations in pancreatic juice for the detection of pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis. So far, imaging has been proven incapable of establishing an early enough diagnosis. Thus, biomarkers are urgently needed for early detection and improved survival. Our aim was to evaluate the pooled diagnostic performance of DNA alterations in pancreatic juice. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in EMBASE, MEDLINE Ovid, Cochrane CENTRAL and Web of Science for studies concerning the diagnostic performance of DNA alterations in pancreatic juice to differentiate patients with high-grade dysplasia or pancreatic cancer from controls. Study quality was assessed using QUADAS-2. The pooled prevalence, sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated. RESULTS: Studies mostly concerned cell-free DNA mutations (32 studies: 939 cases, 1678 controls) and methylation patterns (14 studies: 579 cases, 467 controls). KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, GNAS and SMAD4 mutations were evaluated most. Of these, TP53 had the highest diagnostic performance with a pooled sensitivity of 42% (95% CI: 31-54%), specificity of 98% (95%-CI: 92%-100%) and diagnostic odds ratio of 36 (95% CI: 9-133). Of DNA methylation patterns, hypermethylation of CDKN2A, NPTX2 and ppENK were studied most. Hypermethylation of NPTX2 performed best with a sensitivity of 39-70% and specificity of 94-100% for distinguishing pancreatic cancer from controls. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows that, in pancreatic juice, the presence of distinct DNA mutations (TP53, SMAD4 or CDKN2A) and NPTX2 hypermethylation have a high specificity (close to 100%) for the presence of high-grade dysplasia or pancreatic cancer. However, the sensitivity of these DNA alterations is poor to moderate, yet may increase if they are combined in a panel.

Downregulation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine is an early event in pancreatic tumorigenesis.

Epigenetic alterations are increasingly recognized as important contributors to the development and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is an epigenetic DNA mark generated through the ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzyme-mediated pathway and is closely linked to gene activation. However, the timing of alterations in epigenetic regulation in the progression of pancreatic neoplasia is not well understood. In this study, we hypothesized that aberrant expression of ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase 1 (TET1) and subsequent global 5hmC alteration are linked to early tumorigenesis in the pancreas. Therefore, we evaluated alterations of 5hmC and TET1 levels using immunohistochemistry in pancreatic neoplasms (n = 380) and normal ducts (n = 118). The study cohort included representation of the full spectrum of precancerous lesions from low- and high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 95), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (all subtypes, n = 129), intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms (n = 12), and mucinous cystic neoplasms (n = 144). 5hmC and TET1 were significantly downregulated in all types of precancerous lesion and associated invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas compared with normal ductal epithelium (all p < 0.001), and expression of 5hmC positively correlated with expression of TET1. Importantly, downregulation of both 5hmC and TET1 was observed in most low-grade precancerous lesions. There were no clear associations between 5hmC levels and clinicopathological factors, thereby suggesting a common epigenetic abnormality across precancerous lesions. We conclude that downregulation of 5hmC and TET1 is an early event in pancreatic tumorigenesis. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

More than acinar identity? A novel cystic phenotype suggests broader roles for NR5A2 in pancreatic cancer†.

The prognosis for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains dismal. Multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have implicated the nuclear receptor NR5A2 in modulating PDAC risk, but mechanisms for this association are not understood. NR5A2 is a transcription factor that maintains acinar cell identity, and heterozygous loss of Nr5a2 in mice accelerates oncogenic Kras-driven formation of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), a PDAC precursor derived from acinar cells. In a recent issue of The Journal of Pathology, Cobo et al characterize a novel mouse model that uses Ptf1a:Cre to drive oncogenic Kras as well as heterozygous Nr5a2 inactivation. In addition to the expected PanIN lesions, these mice exhibited a surprising phenotype: large pancreatic cystic lesions which have not been previously reported. Comparing expression of oncogenic Kras and heterozygous Nr5a2 in various mouse models reveals several possible explanations for these cystic lesions. Importantly, these differences across mouse models suggest that NR5A2 may contribute to PDAC precursors in ways beyond its previously characterized acinar cell-autonomous role. These observations highlight that pathways implicated by GWAS may have roles in unexpected cell types, and an understanding of these roles will be critical to guide new preventive and treatment strategies for PDAC. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Can we predict the progression of premalignant pancreatic cystic tumors to ductal adenocarcinoma?

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most prevalent malignant pancreatic tumor. Few studies have shown how often PDACs arise from cystic precursor lesions. This special report aims to summarize the evidence on the progression of precancerous lesions to PDAC. A review of the literature found four studies that discussed pancreatic intraepithelial lesions (PanINs), three that discussed mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) and five that discussed intraductal papillary neoplasms (IPMNs). PanINs were the most common precursors lesion, with approximately 80% of PDACs originating from this lesion. The lack of evidence characterizing the features of PDAC precursor cystic lesions potentially leads to a subset of patients undergoing surgery unnecessarily. Advancements in molecular techniques could allow the study of cystic lesions at a genetic level, leading to more personalized management.

Cancer arising from the ducts within the pancreas is the most common type of pancreatic cancer. Some cancers develop from precancerous changes, but these are not currently well described. Therefore, we have summarized the existing knowledge on the precancerous changes causing pancreatic cancer. We found three main precancerous changes: pancreatic intraepithelial lesions; mucinous cystic neoplasms; and intraductal papillary neoplasms. Pancreatic intraepithelial lesions were the most common pancreatic precancerous lesion, leading to 80% of cancers of the pancreatic ducts. A few studies indicate that patients would benefit from surgery to remove precancerous lesions. We believe that, due to advances in genetic studies, personalized strategies for treating pancreatic cancers will emerge in the future.

Proteomic analyses of ECM during pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression reveal different contributions by tumor and stromal cells.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has prominent extracellular matrix (ECM) that compromises treatments yet cannot be nonselectively disrupted without adverse consequences. ECM of PDAC, despite the recognition of its importance, has not been comprehensively studied in patients. In this study, we used quantitative mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics to characterize ECM proteins in normal pancreas and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN)- and PDAC-bearing pancreas from both human patients and mouse genetic models, as well as chronic pancreatitis patient samples. We describe detailed changes in both abundance and complexity of matrisome proteins in the course of PDAC progression. We reveal an early up-regulated group of matrisome proteins in PanIN, which are further up-regulated in PDAC, and we uncover notable similarities in matrix changes between pancreatitis and PDAC. We further assigned cellular origins to matrisome proteins by performing MS on multiple lines of human-to-mouse xenograft tumors. We found that, although stromal cells produce over 90% of the ECM mass, elevated levels of ECM proteins derived from the tumor cells, but not those produced exclusively by stromal cells, tend to correlate with poor patient survival. Furthermore, distinct pathways were implicated in regulating expression of matrisome proteins in cancer cells and stromal cells. We suggest that, rather than global suppression of ECM production, more precise ECM manipulations, such as targeting tumor-promoting ECM proteins and their regulators in cancer cells, could be more effective therapeutically.

Guidelines on management of pancreatic cysts detected in high-risk individuals: An evaluation of the 2017 Fukuoka guidelines and the 2020 International Cancer of the Pancreas Screening (CAPS) consortium statements.

BACKGROUND: Objectives: Pancreatic cysts are frequently detected in high-risk individuals (HRI) undergoing surveillance for pancreatic cancer. The International Cancer of the Pancreas Screening (CAPS) Consortium developed consensus recommendations for surgical resection of pancreatic cysts in HRI that are similar to the Fukuoka guidelines used for the management of sporadic cysts. We compared the performance characteristics of CAPS criteria for pancreatic cyst management in HRI with the Fukuoka guidelines originally designed for the management of cysts in non-HRI. METHODS: Using prospectively collected data from CAPS studies, we determined for each patient with resected screen-detected cyst(s) whether Fukuoka guidelines or CAPS consensus statements would have recommended surgery. We compared sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) curves of these guidelines at predicting the presence of high-grade dysplasia or invasive cancer in pancreatic cysts. RESULTS: 356/732 HRI had ≥ one pancreatic cyst detected; 24 had surgery for concerning cystic lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the Fukuoka criteria were 40%, 85%, 40%, and 85%, while those of the CAPS criteria were 60%, 85%, 50%, 89%, respectively. ROC curve analyses showed no significant difference between the Fukuoka and CAPS criteria. CONCLUSIONS: In HRI, the CAPS and Fukuoka criteria are moderately specific, but not sufficiently sensitive for detecting advanced neoplasia in cystic lesions. New approaches are needed to guide the surgical management of cystic lesions in HRI.

[Intraductal neoplasms of the pancreas]. / Intraduktale Pankreasneoplasien.

The latest WHO classification of tumors of the digestive system (2019) has introduced new concepts for the stratification of intraductal neoplasms of the pancreas, mostly based on molecular genetics and malignant potential. Among them, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are both precursors of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, whereas intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms (IOPN) and intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasms (ITPN) are usually associated with less aggressive subtypes of pancreatic cancer and therefore have a much better prognosis. Hence, it is of utmost importance to correctly classify these lesions and to distinguish them from each other as well as from other nonductal types of neoplasms, which can rarely display an intraductal growth, such as neuroendocrine tumors and acinar cell carcinomas. PanIN are microscopic lesions with limited clinical significance. In contrast, all other intraductal neoplasms can be identified as cystic processes and/or solid tumors by means of imaging, thereby setting an indication for a potential surgical resection. This review presents diagnostically relevant aspects of intraductal neoplasms of the pancreas, which are instrumental for the discussion within interdisciplinary tumor boards (resection vs. watch-and-wait strategies) as well as to determine the extent of resection intraoperatively.

Assessment of human pancreas cancer tissue and precursor lesions via a fluorophore with inherent PDAC selectivity.

The current five-year survival rate of <5% for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is compounded by late diagnosis, a lack of PDAC-specific intraoperative guidance to ensure complete resection, and the ineffectiveness of current therapies. Previously, utilizing compound 1, a fluorophore with inherent PDAC selectivity, PDAC was visualized both in vivo and ex vivo in a murine model. In the current study, human PDAC tissue is targeted. Compound 1 selectively stains ducts of the adenocarcinoma versus the surrounding stroma, enabling the imaging of PDAC in frozen tissue sections with high contrast. To enhance the potential of 1 for intraoperative applications, the ex vivo staining protocol was optimized for rapid margin assessment, with a final staining time of ~15 min. To measure diagnostic performance, the area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was measured for the identification of ductal adenocarcinoma vs. stroma. The bright fluorescence contrast enabled quantitative determination of PDAC (or precancerous PanIN lesions) versus healthy pancreas tissue in human tissue array samples.

Clinical impacts of resection margin status and clinicopathologic parameters on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The clinical relevance of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) at the resection margin of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains unknown. We aimed to investigate its clinical impact at the pancreatic transection margin (PTM) and, based on the result, determine the prognostic values of the resection margin status and other clinicopathologic parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 122 consecutive patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy between 2006 and 2018. Pathologic slides were reviewed and survival data were retrieved from institutional databases. Associations between two variables were investigated by Fisher's exact test. Survival curves were generated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were assessed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Tumors were resected without leaving macroscopic remnants. The median follow-up period after surgery was 524.5 days. Cancer-related death (n = 72) was marginally and significantly associated with local recurrence (n = 22) and distant metastasis (n = 79), respectively. Local recurrence and distant metastasis occurred independently. After excluding cases with invasive cancer at any other margin, PanIN-2 or PanIN-3 (n = 21) at the PTM did not adversely affect prognoses compared with normal mucosa or PanIN-1 (n = 57) with statistical significance. R0 resection (n = 78), which is invasive cancer-free at all resection margins, showed somewhat better local recurrence-free and overall survivals as compared with R1 resection (n = 44), which involves invasive cancer at any resection margin, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. In contrast, differentiation grade and nodal metastasis were significant predictors of distant metastasis, and tumor location and differentiation grade were significant predictors of cancer-related death. Although there was no significant difference in differentiation grade between the head cancer and the body or tail cancer, nodal metastasis was significantly more frequent in the former than in the latter. CONCLUSIONS: PanINs at the PTM did not adversely affect prognosis and R0 resection was not found to be a significant prognostic factor. Differentiation grade might be an indicator of occult metastasis and affect patients' overall survival through distant metastasis. In addition to successful surgical procedures, tumor biology may be even more important as a predictor of postoperative prognosis.

Loss of Pten and Activation of Kras Synergistically Induce Formation of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasia From Pancreatic Ductal Cells in Mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasias (IPMNs) are precancerous cystic lesions that can develop into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). These large macroscopic lesions are frequently detected during medical imaging, but it is unclear how they form or progress to PDAC. We aimed to identify cells that form IPMNs and mutations that promote IPMN development and progression. METHODS: We generated mice with disruption of Pten specifically in ductal cells (Sox9CreERT2;Ptenflox/flox;R26RYFP or PtenΔDuct/ΔDuct mice) and used PtenΔDuct/+ and Pten+/+ mice as controls. We also generated KrasG12D;PtenΔDuct/ΔDuct and KrasG12D;PtenΔDuct/+ mice. Pancreata were collected when mice were 28 weeks to 14.5 months old and analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. We performed multiplexed droplet digital polymerase chain reaction to detect spontaneous Kras mutations in PtenΔDuct/ΔDuct mice and study the effects of Ras pathway activation on initiation and progression of IPMNs. We obtained 2 pancreatic sections from a patient with an invasive pancreatobiliary IPMN and analyzed the regions with and without the invasive IPMN (control tissue) by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Mice with ductal cell-specific disruption of Pten but not control mice developed sporadic, macroscopic, intraductal papillary lesions with histologic and molecular features of human IPMNs. PtenΔDuct/ΔDuct mice developed IPMNs of several subtypes. In PtenΔDuct/ΔDuct mice, 31.5% of IPMNs became invasive; invasion was associated with spontaneous mutations in Kras. KrasG12D;PtenΔDuct/ΔDuct mice all developed invasive IPMNs within 1 month. In KrasG12D;PtenΔDuct/+ mice, 70% developed IPMN, predominately of the pancreatobiliary subtype, and 63.3% developed PDAC. In all models, IPMNs and PDAC expressed the duct-specific lineage tracing marker yellow fluorescent protein. In immunohistochemical analyses, we found that the invasive human pancreatobiliary IPMN tissue had lower levels of PTEN and increased levels of phosphorylated (activated) ERK compared with healthy pancreatic tissue. CONCLUSIONS: In analyses of mice with ductal cell-specific disruption of Pten, with or without activated Kras, we found evidence for a ductal cell origin of IPMNs. We also showed that PTEN loss and activated Kras have synergistic effects in promoting development of IPMN and progression to PDAC.

Risk of Neoplastic Progression in Individuals at High Risk for Pancreatic Cancer Undergoing Long-term Surveillance.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Screening of individuals who have a high risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), because of genetic factors, frequently leads to identification of pancreatic lesions. We investigated the incidence of PDAC and risk factors for neoplastic progression in individuals at high risk for PDAC enrolled in a long-term screening study. METHODS: We analyzed data from 354 individuals at high risk for PDAC (based on genetic factors of family history), enrolled in Cancer of the Pancreas Screening cohort studies at tertiary care academic centers from 1998 through 2014 (median follow-up time, 5.6 years). All subjects were evaluated at study entry (baseline) by endoscopic ultrasonography and underwent surveillance with endoscopic ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or computed tomography. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of PDAC, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3, or intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) after baseline. We performed multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, pancreatic lesions with worrisome features (solid mass, multiple cysts, cyst size > 3 cm, thickened/enhancing walls, mural nodule, dilated main pancreatic duct > 5 mm, or abrupt change in duct caliber) or rapid cyst growth (>4 mm/year) were detected in 68 patients (19%). Overall, 24 of 354 patients (7%) had neoplastic progression (14 PDACs and 10 HGDs) over a 16-year period; the rate of progression was 1.6%/year, and 93% had detectable lesions with worrisome features before diagnosis of the PDAC or HGD. Nine of the 10 PDACs detected during routine surveillance were resectable; a significantly higher proportion of patients with resectable PDACs survived 3 years (85%) compared with the 4 subjects with symptomatic, unresectable PDACs (25%), which developed outside surveillance (log rank P < .0001). Neoplastic progression occurred at a median age of 67 years; the median time from baseline screening until PDAC diagnosis was 4.8 years (interquartile range, 1.6-6.9 years). CONCLUSIONS: In a long-term (16-year) follow-up study of individuals at high-risk for PDAC, we found most PDACs detected during surveillance (9/10) to be resectable, and 85% of these patients survived for 3 years. We identified radiologic features associated with neoplastic progression.

Diagnostic Yield From Screening Asymptomatic Individuals at High Risk for Pancreatic Cancer: A Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: There have been few studies of abdominal imaging screening of individuals at high risk for pancreatic cancer (based on family history or genetic variants). We performed a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to determine the diagnostic yield and outcomes of abdominal imaging screening for asymptomatic individuals at high risk. METHODS: Through a systematic review of multiple electronic databases and conference proceedings through July 2017, we identified prospective cohort studies (>20 patients) of asymptomatic adults determined to be at high-risk of pancreatic cancer (lifetime risk >5%, including specific genetic-associated conditions) who were screened by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect pancreatic lesions. Our primary outcome was identification of high-risk pancreatic lesions (high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, high-grade dysplasia, or adenocarcinoma) at initial screening, and overall incidence during follow up. Summary estimates were reported as incidence rates per 100 patient-years. RESULTS: We identified 19 studies comprising 7085 individuals at high risk for pancreatic cancer; of these, 1660 patients were evaluated by EUS and/or MRI. Fifty-nine high-risk lesions were identified (43 adenocarcinomas: 28 during the initial exam and 15 during follow-up surveillance) and 257 patients underwent pancreatic surgery. Based on our meta-analysis, the overall diagnostic yield screening for high-risk pancreatic lesions was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.33-1.14), with moderate heterogeneity among studies. The number needed to screen to identify 1 patient with a high-risk lesion was 135 (95% CI, 88-303). The diagnostic yield was similar for patients with different genetic features that increased risk, and whether patients were screened by EUS or MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Based on meta-analysis, 135 patients at high-risk for pancreatic cancer must be screened to identify 1 patient with a high-risk pancreatic lesion. Further studies are needed to determine whether screening reduces mortality and is cost effectiveness for individuals at high-risk of pancreatic cancer.

A case of high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia concomitant with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis: The process underlying both conditions.

We report a case of high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) concomitant with lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis. The patient was an 82-year-old man in whom narrowing of the main pancreatic duct was detected incidentally by abdominal ultrasonography. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography further revealed abrupt narrowing plus distal dilatation of the duct, from the pancreatic body to the tail. Distal pancreatectomy was performed under a preoperative diagnosis of intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasm. Macroscopic examination of the surgical specimen showed an ill-demarcated, white-gray area and prominent pancreatic atrophy, while histological analysis detected small (<5 mm in diameter) cystic dilatations of the main pancreatic duct and some branch ducts plus pancreatic atrophy with fibrosis and fatty replacement of acinar cells. We also detected variously sized papillary projections, fused glands, and scattered focal papillary proliferation of columnar ductal epithelium comprising cells with elongated, mildly hyperchromatic nuclei, consistent with high-grade PanIN. In addition, we observed marked lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, periductal storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis. Immunohistochemical staining revealed abundant immunogloblin G4-positive plasma cells, indicative of type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). The coexistence of high-grade PanIN and marked lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, typical of AIP, point to a close association between the former, as a carcinogenic process, and the latter, as an immune response.

Expression of Chosen Carcinoembryonic-Related Cell Adhesion Molecules in Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PanIN) Associated with Chronic Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Aims: Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) are members of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily and take part in regulation of cell adhesion, tumor suppression and angiogenesis. Overexpression of CEACAM 1, 5 and 6 is widely described in several gastrointestinal epithelial tumors. The aim of study was to evaluate the expression of CEACAM 1, CEACAM 5 and CEACAM 6 in the most common precursor lesions of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma -pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Methods and results: The study group consisted of 32 patients treated for chronic pancreatitis and 38 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who also had pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia. The expression of CEACAM was performed by immunohistochemical method and evaluated using 3-point scale: 0 - lack of positive reaction in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, 1 (weak and moderate) - reaction present in 1-30% epithelial cells in PanIN and 2 (strong) - reaction present in >30% epithelial cells in PanIN. Expression of CEACAM 1, 5 and 6 increased with increasing degree of advancement of PanIN. Differences in expression of CEACAM 1, 5 and 6 between normal pancreatic ducts and different degrees of PanIN were statistically significant (p<0.001). We observed relationship between CEACAM1 expression and localization of PanIN in different parts of the pancreas. Conclusions: CEACAM 1, CEACAM 5 and CEACAM 6 expression appears to be an early event in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Moreover, expression of CEACAM 1, 5 and 6 may represent a useful biomarker that may aid in the identification of precancerous lesions in the pancreas.

Ablation of sensory neurons in a genetic model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma slows initiation and progression of cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by an exuberant inflammatory desmoplastic response. The PDAC microenvironment is complex, containing both pro- and antitumorigenic elements, and remains to be fully characterized. Here, we show that sensory neurons, an under-studied cohort of the pancreas tumor stroma, play a significant role in the initiation and progression of the early stages of PDAC. Using a well-established autochthonous model of PDAC (PKC), we show that inflammation and neuronal damage in the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) occurs as early as the pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) 2 stage. Also at the PanIN2 stage, pancreas acinar-derived cells frequently invade along sensory neurons into the spinal cord and migrate caudally to the lower thoracic and upper lumbar regions. Sensory neuron ablation by neonatal capsaicin injection prevented perineural invasion (PNI), astrocyte activation, and neuronal damage, suggesting that sensory neurons convey inflammatory signals from Kras-induced pancreatic neoplasia to the CNS. Neuron ablation in PKC mice also significantly delayed PanIN formation and ultimately prolonged survival compared with vehicle-treated controls (median survival, 7.8 vs. 4.5 mo; P = 0.001). These data establish a reciprocal signaling loop between the pancreas and nervous system, including the CNS, that supports inflammation associated with oncogenic Kras-induced neoplasia. Thus, pancreatic sensory neurons comprise an important stromal cell population that supports the initiation and progression of PDAC and may represent a potential target for prevention in high-risk populations.