Endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle biopsies of pancreatic lesions: Prospective study of histology quality using Franseen needle.

Background: The introduction of fine needle biopsies (FNB) to clinical practice presents a changing trend towards histology in the endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA).

Aim: To evaluate the clinical performance of a new FNB needle, the 22-gauge (22G) Franseen needle, when sampling pancreatic solid lesions.

Methods: Consecutive patients with an indication for EUS-TA for the assessment of pancreatic solid lesions were included in this prospective, single-center, single-arm trial.

The Combination of MiRNA-196b, LCN2, and TIMP1 is a Potential Set of Circulating Biomarkers for Screening Individuals at Risk for Familial Pancreatic Cancer.

Individuals at risk (IAR) of familial pancreatic cancer (FPC) are good candidates for screening. Unfortunately, neither reliable imaging modalities nor biomarkers are available to detect high-grade precursor lesions or early cancer. Circulating levels of candidate biomarkers LCN2, TIMP1, Glypican-1, RNU2-1f, and miRNA-196b were analyzed in 218 individuals with sporadic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC, = 50), FPC ( = 20), chronic pancreatitis ( = 10), IAR with relevant precursor lesions ( = 11) or non-relevant lesions ( = 5), 20 controls, and IAR with ( = 51) or without ( = 51) lesions on pancreatic imaging.

Detection of pancreatic cancer tumours and precursor lesions by cathepsin E activity in mouse models.

Background And Aims: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the USA. Surgical resection is the only effective treatment; however, only 20% of patients are candidates for surgery. The ability to detect early PDAC would increase the availability of surgery and improve patient survival.

Ras activity levels control the development of pancreatic diseases.

Background & Aims: Differentiated pancreatic acinar cells expressing endogenous levels of mutant K-Ras do not spontaneously develop pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, we hypothesized that acinar cells would develop PDAC in the presence of Ras activity levels mimicking those of human tumor cells.

Methods: We measured Ras activity in PDAC cells from mice and humans using a Raf pull-down assay.

Validation of reverse phase protein array for practical screening of potential biomarkers in serum and plasma: accurate detection of CA19-9 levels in pancreatic cancer.

The current study analyzed reverse phase protein arrays (RPPA) as a means to experimentally validate biomarkers in blood samples. One microliter samples of sera (n = 71), and plasma (n = 78) were serially diluted and printed on NC-coated slides. CA19-9 levels from RPPA results were compared with identical patient samples as measured by ELISA.

Progress on molecular markers of pancreatic cancer.

Purpose Of Review: To describe advances in the development of biomarkers for pancreatic cancer over the past year.

Recent Findings: Several new approaches were taken in the search for biomarkers for pancreatic cancer. Studies of CA19-9 revealed new prognostic abilities of the already well known biomarker.

Characterization of organic anion transporter regulation, glutathione metabolism and bile formation in the obese Zucker rat.

Background/aims: Alterations in hepatobiliary transporters may render fatty livers more vulnerable against various toxic insults.

Methods: We therefore studied expression and function of key organic anion transporters and their transactivators in 8-week-old obese Zucker rats, an established model for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Results: Compared to their heterozygous littermates, obese animals showed a significant reduction in canalicular bile salt secretion, which was paralleled by significantly diminished Oatp2 mRNA and protein levels together with reduced nuclear HNF3beta, while expression of bile salt export pump, organic anion transporter (Oatp) 1 and multidrug resistance-associated protein (Mrp) 4 were unchanged.

P2Y-receptors stimulating the proliferation of human mesangial cells through the MAPK42/44 pathway.

1. Mesangial cell proliferation is observed in a number of kidney diseases. The sympathetic cotransmitter ATP is suspected to play a major role in proliferative processes.