Concordance of ctDNA and tissue genomic profiling in advanced biliary tract cancer.

Background & Aims: Recent advances in molecular profiling have enabled the identification of potential therapeutic targets for biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, in patients with BTC, molecular profiling is hindered by challenges in obtaining adequate tissue samples. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may offer an alternative to tissue-based analysis.

Various retraction techniques for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

The laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD), introduced by Gagner and Pomp in 1994, is typically done in high-volume centers due to its technical demands. Our methods aim to provide effective traction, enabling efficient surgery despite limited staffing. A retrospective analysis of 29 patients undergoing LPD by a single surgeon between September 2021 and December 2022 showed promising outcomes: median intraoperative bleeding of 425 mL, operation time of 505 minutes, and postoperative hospital stay of 10 days.

Differentially expressed genes associated with high metabolic tumor volume served as diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer.

Background: The lack of distinct biomarkers for pancreatic cancer is a major cause of early-stage detection difficulty. The pancreatic cancer patient group with high metabolic tumor volume (MTV), one of the values measured from positron emission tomography-a confirmatory method and standard care for pancreatic cancer, showed a poorer prognosis than those with low MTV. Therefore, MTV-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) may be candidates for distinctive markers for pancreatic cancer.

Clinically conserved genomic subtypes of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is a lethal disease characterized by genomic and clinical heterogeneity. By integrating 8 previously established genomic signatures for GAC subtypes, we identified 6 clinically and molecularly distinct genomic consensus subtypes (CGSs). CGS1 have the poorest prognosis, very high stem cell characteristics, and high IGF1 expression, but low genomic alterations.

Development of a metabolite calculator for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Background: Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 is a known pancreatic cancer (PC) biomarker, but is not commonly used for general screening due to its low sensitivity and specificity. This study aimed to develop a serum metabolites-based diagnostic calculator for detecting PC with high accuracy.

Methods: A targeted quantitative approach of direct flow injection-tandem mass spectrometry combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was employed for metabolomic analysis of serum samples using an Absolute IDQ™ p180 kit.

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy and laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy with robotic reconstruction: single-surgeon experience and technical notes.

Purpose: Despite the increasing number of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomies, laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) and LPD with robotic reconstruction (LPD-RR) are still valuable surgical options for minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD). This study introduces the surgical techniques, tips, and outcomes of our experience with LPD and LPD-RR.

Methods: Between March 2014 and July 2021, 122 and 48 patients underwent LPD and LPD-RR respectively, at CHA Bundang Medical Center in Korea.

ARID1A Mutation from Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Predicts Primary Resistance to Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Chemotherapy in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer.

Purpose: There are clinical unmet needs in predicting therapeutic response and precise strategy for the patient with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). We aimed to identify genomic alterations predicting therapeutic response and resistance to gemcitabine and cisplatin (Gem/Cis)-based chemotherapy in advanced BTC.

Materials And Methods: Genomic analysis of advanced BTC multi-institutional cohorts was performed using targeted panel sequencing.

High serum IL-6 correlates with reduced clinical benefit of atezolizumab and bevacizumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: We elucidated the clinical and immunologic implications of serum IL-6 levels in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Ate/Bev).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 165 patients with unresectable HCC (discovery cohort: 84 patients from three centres; validation cohort: 81 patients from one centre). Baseline blood samples were analysed using a flow cytometric bead array.

Clinical Significance of Glycolytic Metabolic Activity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

High metabolic activity is a hallmark of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular features of HCC with high metabolic activity contributing to clinical outcomes and the therapeutic implications of these characteristics are poorly understood. We aimed to define the features of HCC with high metabolic activity and uncover its association with response to current therapies.

Clinical feasibility of curative surgery after nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine-cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical feasibility of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine-cisplatin triplet chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced cholangiocarcinoma in real-world practice.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with locally advanced cholangiocarcinoma who were treated with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine-cisplatin between October 2019 and August 2021 at a single institution. The initial diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma was histologically confirmed.

Consensus subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with clinical outcomes and genomic phenotypes.

Background And Aims: Although many studies revealed transcriptomic subtypes of HCC, concordance of the subtypes are not fully examined. We aim to examine a consensus of transcriptomic subtypes and correlate them with clinical outcomes.

Approach And Results: By integrating 16 previously established genomic signatures for HCC subtypes, we identified five clinically and molecularly distinct consensus subtypes.

Anticancer effect of locally applicable aptamer-conjugated gemcitabine-loaded atelocollagen patch in pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenograft models.

We investigated the anticancer effect of the aptamer-conjugated gemcitabine-loaded atelocollagen patch in a pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model to propose a future potential adjuvant surgical strategy during curative pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer. A pancreatic cancer PDX model was established. Animals were grouped randomly into a no-treatment control group; treatment group treated with intraperitoneal gemcitabine injection (IP-GEM) or aptamer-conjugated gemcitabine (APT:GEM); and transplant with three kinds of patches: atelocollagen-aptamer-gemcitabine (patch I), atelocollagen-inactive aptamer-gemcitabine (patch II), and atelocollagen-gemcitabine (patch III).

MCT4 as a potential therapeutic target to augment gemcitabine chemosensitivity in resected pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a high relapse rate, even in case of resectable pancreatic cancer. Here, we aimed to identify the prognostic significance and therapeutic options of metabolic subtypes of resectable pancreatic cancer.

Method: Transcriptomic data were obtained from the TCGA-PAAD cohort in the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data portal (n = 182).

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation alters biomarkers of anticancer immunotherapy responses in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) is a widely used preoperative treatment strategy for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, a few studies have evaluated the molecular changes caused by neoadjuvant CRT in these cancer tissues. Here, we aimed to investigate changes in immunotherapy-related immunogenic effects in response to preoperative CRT in LARC.

Genomic profiling of multifocal intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma reveals intraindividual concordance of genetic alterations.

In multifocal intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC), intrahepatic metastases (IM) represent a contraindication to surgical resection, whereas satellite nodules (SN) do not. However, no consensus criteria exist to distinguish IM from SN. The purpose of this study was to determine genetic alterations and clonal relationships in surgically resected multifocal IHC.

Robotic limited local resection of duodenal juxta-ampullary neoplasms.

Background: The unique and complex anatomical location of duodenal juxta-ampullary neoplasms complicates selection of the appropriate surgical strategy. For benign or borderline tumours, surgical local resection can be an appropriate treatment option, and robotic surgical systems can help perform minimally invasive local resection of these lesions.

Methods: Between December 2014 and December 2019, 10 patients who underwent robotic local resections for duodenal juxta-ampullary tumours were reviewed.

Anti-inflammatory Roles of Glucocorticoids Are Mediated by Foxp3 Regulatory T Cells via a miR-342-Dependent Mechanism.

Glucocorticoids (GC) are the mainstay treatment option for inflammatory conditions. Despite the broad usage of GC, the mechanisms by which GC exerts its effects remain elusive. Here, utilizing murine autoimmune and allergic inflammation models, we report that Foxp3 regulatory T (Treg) cells are irreplaceable GC target cells in vivo.

Yonsei Criteria, a Potential Linkage to Intratumoral Foxp3⁺/CD8⁺ Ratio for the Prediction of Oncologic Outcomes in Resected Left-Sided Pancreatic Cancer.

Purpose: This study sought to investigate associations among Yonsei criteria (tumor confined to the pancreas, intact fascia layer between the distal pancreas and the left adrenal gland and kidney, and tumor located more than 1-2 cm from the celiac axis) and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients who underwent curative distal pancreatectomy due to left-sided pancreatic cancer from January 2000 to December 2011 were enrolled. Follow-up was completed September 30, 2015.