Clinical significance of para-aortic lymph node metastasis for prognosis in patients with pancreaticobiliary cancer who underwent radical surgical resections.

Objective: To elucidate surgical strategies for patients undergoing radical resection, in cases where solitary distant lymph node metastasis is identified intraoperatively, we investigated the prognostic significance of para-aortic lymph node (PALN) metastases and other regional lymph node (RLN) metastases in pancreatic carcinomas (PC) and biliary duct cancers (BDC).

Material And Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed data from 181 PC patients and 116 BDC patients who underwent radical resections at two institutions between 1994 and 2021.

Results: Among PC patients, metastases were observed in RLN and PALN in 54% and 9% of cases, respectively.

Anti-tumor Effects of Erlotinib Thymidylate Synthase Down-regulation in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: In pancreatic cancer, gemcitabine and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are common chemotherapy options. Reports have shown that EGFR-TKIs suppress the expression of thymidine synthase (TS), an important enzyme for DNA biosynthesis, and increase sensitivity to gemcitabine in lung cancer. However, no such reports have been made in pancreatic cancer.

Transanastomotic Forward-Viewing EUS-Guided Pancreatic Duct Drainage via Afferent Loop for Pancreaticojejunostomy Anastomotic Stricture After Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: Although balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERCP and transgastric EUS-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PD) are treatment option for pancreaticojejunostomy anastomotic stricture (PJAS), they are often challenging with several limitations. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of transanastomotic forward-viewing EUS-PD (FVEUS-PD) via the afferent loop for PJAS after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methods: Ten consecutive patients with symptomatic PJAS who underwent FVEUS-PD between 2015 and 2021 were retrospectively evaluated.