Circulating interleukin-6 is associated with disease progression, but not cachexia in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Cachexia is a wasting syndrome characterized by involuntary loss of >5% body weight due to depletion of adipose and skeletal muscle mass. In cancer, the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is considered a mediator of cachexia and a potential biomarker, but the relationship between IL-6, weight loss, and cancer stage is unknown. In this study we sought to evaluate IL-6 as a biomarker of cancer cachexia while accounting for disease progression.

Pretransplant Locoregional Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Evaluation of Explant Pathology and Overall Survival.

Background And Objectives: Liver transplant is an important treatment option for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within Milan criteria. We sought to determine the rate of complete tumor necrosis after bridging therapy.

Methods: The medical records of all 178 patients undergoing liver transplantation between January 1, 2008 and July 31, 2015 were reviewed.

Hepatic Stellate Cells and microRNAs in Pathogenesis of Liver Fibrosis.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by either blocking translation or inducing degradation of target mRNA. miRNAs play essential roles in diverse biological and pathological processes, including development of hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a central role in development of hepatic fibrosis and there are intricate regulatory effects of miRNAs on their activation, proliferation, collagen production, migration, and apoptosis.

Hepatobiliary cancers, version 2.2014.

Hepatobiliary cancers include a spectrum of invasive carcinomas arising in the liver (hepatocellular carcinoma), gall bladder, and bile ducts (cholangiocarcinomas). Gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinomas are collectively known as biliary tract cancers. Gallbladder cancer is the most common and aggressive type of all the biliary tract cancers.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with splenic conservation: an operation without increased morbidity.

Objectives: The advent of minimally invasive techniques was marked by a paradigm shift towards the use of laparoscopy for benign distal pancreatic masses. Herein we describe one center's experience with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all distal pancreatectomies completed laparoscopically from 1999 to 2009.