Survival Outcomes of Durvalumab in Combination with Cisplatin and Gemcitabine in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: Real-World Results from a Single Italian Institution.

Introduction: The TOPAZ-1 phase III trial showed a survival benefit with durvalumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). To understand this combination's real-world efficacy and tolerability, we conducted a retrospective analysis of its first-line treatment outcomes.

Methods: We included patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic BTC treated with cisplatin, gemcitabine, plus durvalumab.

A genome-wide association study identifies eight loci associated with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm progression toward malignancy.

Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are precursors to pancreatic cancer, but not all IPMNs progress to cancer. The objective of this study was to identify the germline genetic variants associated with IPMN clinical progression by conducting the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) and computing a polygenic hazard score (PHS) in 338 patients with IPMN.

Methods: The study population was divided into two subsets, and a Cox analysis adjusted for sex, age, cyst size at diagnosis, and the top 10 principal components was performed.

Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Classification and Novel Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Treatment Personalization.

The incidence and prevalence of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms are steadily increasing. These tumors are highly heterogeneous, with treatment options ranging from observation to surgery, and various medical therapies. The choice of treatment is influenced by factors such as tumor stage, grade (proliferative activity), and the presence of hormone-related syndromes.

Polymorphisms within autophagy-related genes as susceptibility biomarkers for pancreatic cancer: A meta-analysis of three large European cohorts and functional characterization.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers with patients having unresectable or metastatic disease at diagnosis, with poor prognosis and very short survival. Given that genetic variation within autophagy-related genes influences autophagic flux and susceptibility to solid cancers, we decided to investigate whether 55,583 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 234 autophagy-related genes could influence the risk of developing PDAC in three large independent cohorts of European ancestry including 12,754 PDAC cases and 324,926 controls. The meta-analysis of these populations identified, for the first time, the association of the BID variant with an increased risk of developing the disease (OR = 1.

Biliary drainage in patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction: results of an Italian consensus conference.

Background: Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction (MBDO) is a common event occurring along the natural history of both pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. Epidemiological and biological features make MBDO one of the key elements of the clinical management of patients suffering for of pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma. The development of dedicated biliary lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) is changing the clinical work up of patients with MBDO.

Primary drainage of distal malignant biliary obstruction: A comparative network meta-analysis.

Background: The effectiveness of various primary upfront drainage techniques for distal malignant biliary obstructions (dMBO) is not well-established.

Objective: To compare the technical and clinical success rates and adverse event (AE) rates of various primary drainage techniques.

Methods: We systematically reviewed RCTs comparing the technical and clinical success and AE rates of EUS-choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) with lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS), EUS-CDS with self-expandable metal stents (SEMS), EUS-hepaticogastrostomy (HGS), ERCP, and PTBD performed upfront.

Evaluating no fixation, endoscopic suture fixation, and an over-the-scope clip for anchoring fully covered self-expanding metal stents in benign upper gastrointestinal conditions: a comparative multicenter international study (With Video).

Background And Aims: Fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) are widely used in benign upper gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, but stent migration remains a limitation. An over-the-scope clip (OTSC) device (Stentfix {SF], Ovesco Endoscopy) for stent anchoring has recently been developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of OTSC fixation on FCSEMS migration rate.

Correlation between endoscopic ultrasound features and exocrine pancreatic function in chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the most sensitive method for diagnosing chronic pancreatitis (CP) in its early stages, and Rosemont Classification (RC) is used for its evaluation. Data on the correlation between EUS features and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) are limited. We investigated the correlation between the EUS findings and PEI.

Association of Smoking with progression from low-risk to high-risk intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and pancreatic cancer.

Background: Factors associated with the risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) may play a role in the development and progression of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMNs). However, data are limited.

Aim: To compare exposome factors in three groups of patients with "high or low-risk" IPMNs, as assessed at diagnosis and during a 24-months follow-up, and with PDAC.

Controversies in Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage.

In this 14th document in a series of papers entitled "" we discuss various aspects of EUS-guided biliary drainage that are debated in the literature and in practice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is still the reference technique for therapeutic biliary access, but EUS-guided techniques for biliary access and drainage have developed into safe and highly effective alternative options. However, EUS-guided biliary drainage techniques are technically demanding procedures for which few training models are currently available.

Impact of age, comorbidities and relevant changes on surveillance strategy of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: a competing risk analysis.

Objective: Cost-effectiveness of surveillance for branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs) is debated. We combined different categories of risks of IPMN progression and of IPMN-unrelated mortality to improve surveillance strategies.

Design: Retrospective analysis of 926 presumed BD-IPMNs lacking worrisome features (WFs)/high-risk stigmata (HRS) under surveillance.

Germline testing and genetic counseling in biliary tract cancer: an operative proposal to improve the state of art.

Introduction: A genetic predisposition seems to be involved in biliary tract cancer, but the prevalence of germline mutations in BTC remains unclear, and the therapeutic role of the germline pathologic variants is still unknown.

Area Covered: The aim of the present work is to systematically review the data available on the hereditary predisposition of biliary tract cancer by a specific research on PubMed, in order to highlight the most important critical points and to define the current possible role of germinal testing and genetic counseling in this setting of patients.

Expert Opinion: Basing on data already available, we decided to start in our institution a specific genetic protocol focused on biliary tract cancer patients, which includes genetic counseling and, if indicated, germline test.

EUS-directed transenteric ERCP with giant intrahepatic stone lithotripsy after a LAMS-in-LAMS rescue in response to a misdeployment.

Video 1LAMS-in-LAMS rescue of a misdeployment during EUS-directed transenteric ERCP. LAMS, Lumen-apposing metal stent.

Association of autoimmune pancreatitis and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. A retrospective analysis from a tertiary care referral center.

Background: Autoimmune Pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease affecting the pancreas. Chronic pancreatic inflammation represents a risk factor for pre-neoplastic conditions such as Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasia (IPMN). Due to the rarity of AIP, the incidence, and clinical features of IPMN occurring in AIP patients remains unknown.

Same-session endoscopic diagnosis and symptom palliation in pancreato-biliary malignancies: Clinical impact of rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE).

Besides increasing adequacy, rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may impact choices and timing of subsequent therapeutic procedures, yet has been unexplored. This was a retrospective evaluation of a prospectively maintained database of a tertiary, academic centre with availability of ROSE and hybrid EUS-ERCP suites. All consecutive patients referred for pathological confirmation of suspected malignancy and jaundice or gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) between Jan-2020 and Sep-2022 were included.