Plasma Metabolomics Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest cancers. Developing biomarkers for chemotherapeutic response prediction is crucial for improving the dismal prognosis of advanced-PC patients (pts). To evaluate the potential of plasma metabolites as predictors of the response to chemotherapy for PC patients, we analyzed plasma metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry from 31 cachectic, advanced-PC subjects enrolled into the PANCAX-1 (NCT02400398) prospective trial to receive a jejunal tube peptide-based diet for 12 weeks and who were planned for palliative chemotherapy.

Tumor hyaluronan as a novel biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer: A retrospective study.

Introduction: Hyaluronan (HA) accumulation is associated with tumorigenesis and aggressive tumor behavior.

Aims: We investigated the biomarker potential of HA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: HA levels were scored using affinity histochemistry in 137 NSCLC samples stratified by HA score ≤10, 11-20, 21-30, and >30 with HA-high defined as ≥25% expression in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the tumor surface area.

Exceptional Response to Erdafitinib in FGFR2-Mutated Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Despite advances in cancer therapeutics, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains among the deadliest malignancies, with a poor prognosis at time of diagnosis. Research in PDAC has suggested that adaptive signaling in the tumor microenvironment may promote tumor proliferation and survival. Several FGFR fusion genes-specifically FGFR2-are involved with the creation and progression of cancer.

Phase I trial of Bermekimab with nanoliposomal irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

In this phase I dose-escalation trial, we assess the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of Bermekimab in combination with Nanoliposomal Irinotecan (Nal-Iri) and 5-Fluorouracil/Folinic Acid (5-FU/FA). Secondarily, we investigate effects on weight, lean body mass, quality-of-life, the gut microbiome composition, inflammatory biomarkers, progression-free survival, and overall survival. This was a single-arm, open-label adaptive Bayesian dose-escalation study of Bermekimab combined with Nal-Iri and 5FU/FA in patients with advanced or locally advanced PDAC who failed gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.

Gut microbiome and pancreatic cancer cachexia: An evolving relationship.

Nearly 80% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develop cachexia along their disease course. Cachexia is characterized by progressive weight loss, muscle wasting, and systemic inflammation and has been linked to poorer outcomes and impairments in quality of life. Management of PDAC cachexia has historically involved a multidisciplinary effort comprised of nutritional support, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, and/or pharmacologic interventions.

A Comparison of Clinicopathologic Outcomes Across Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Treatment Modalities in Resectable Gastric Cancer.

Importance: Treatment of resectable gastric cancer (RGC) uses a multimodal approach, including surgical treatment and chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy, and the optimal treatment strategy and timing of each of these modalities is unknown.

Objective: To investigate the association of various neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment modalities with pathologic complete response (pCR), surgical margin status (SMS), and overall survival (OS) in RGC.

Design, Setting, And Participants: For this comparative effectiveness study, the National Cancer Database was interrogated to identify patients with RGC diagnosed from 2004 to 2015.

Hyaluronan heterogeneity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Primary tumors compared to sites of metastasis.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers with poor survival. The dense desmoplastic stroma in PDAC contributes to treatment resistance. Among the components comprising the tumor stroma, hyaluronan (HA) has been demonstrated to play a critical role in tumor progression and survival.