The classification of phases of pancreatic epithelioma and evaluation of preoperative and postoperative infiltration into the portal vein, liver artery plays an important role in decision of surgeons in the digestive profession. In order to classify precisely the phases of pancreatic epithelioma, the surgeons should closely collaborate with the imaging diagnostic department such as ultrasound, selective angiography, CT scanner etc.
Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; Pancreas

MicroRNA (miRNA), small non-coding RNA consisted of 19-24 nucleotides, are able to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The aberrant expressions of miRNA have been found in various cancers and contribute to carcinogenesis by promoting the expression of proto-oncogenes or by inhibiting the expression of tumor suppressor genes. miRNA are related closely with the oncogenesis, progression, and prognosis of tumors. The discovery of the aberrant expression of miRNA in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and its target genes are helpful for the understanding of the pathogenesis of PDA and for the early diagnosis and prediction of this disease. In this paper, we summarize the recent research advances in miRNA expression in PDA and its target genes and discuss the potential role of miRNA in the diagnosis, and treatment of PDA.
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; genetics ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics

Most reported cases of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) originate from Wirsung's duct or their branches. IPMNs arising from Santorini's duct and its branches have rarely been reported. Eight cases of IPMN arising from Santorini's duct have been published worldwide. However, these cases are associated with incomplete type of pancreas divisum. Recently, one report of IPMN with complete absence of Wirsung's duct has been reported. This patient was a 57-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital due to progressive jaundice. On endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, there was a severely bulging ampulla of Vater and patulous minor papilla draining mucinous material and a cystic lesion communicating with the dilated Santorini's duct without any communication with Wirsung's duct. A pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed and the pathologic examination of resected specimen showed no evidence of Wirsung's duct, but an IPMN arising from Santorini's duct with peripancreatic lymph node metastasis. Herein, we report a case of invasive IPMN arising from pancreatic head without ventral pancreatic duct with a review of the relevant literatures.
*Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas/*abnormalities ; Pancreatic Ducts/*abnormalities ; *Pancreatic Neoplasms

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; pathology ; Humans ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological significance of the expression of calreticulin (CRT) protein and mRNA in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODSThe expression of CRT protein in 33 paired paraffin embedded PDAC specimens and adjacent non-cancerous pancreatic tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to examine the expression of CRT protein and mRNA in 12 paired fresh PDAC specimens and adjuvant non-cancerous pancreatic tissues. The relationship between the protein expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed.

RESULTSCRT expression was much higher in 33 PDAC tissues than that in paired adjacent non-cancerous pancreatic samples (t = 2.323, P = 0.027). CRT was over expressed in 16 PDAC tissues, but only in 8 adjuvant non-cancerous pancreatic tissues (48.5% vs. 24.2%). The expression of CRT protein had no correlation with tumor position (χ(2) = 1.588, P = 0.208), differentiation (χ(2) = 1.517, P = 0.218), TNM stage (χ(2) = 2.528, P = 0.112) and lymph node metastasis (χ(2) = 1.963, P = 0.161), but had statistic significancy with the prognosis of the patients (χ(2) = 4.080, P = 0.043). The median survival time in the patients with high expression of CRT protein was longer than that in the patients with low expression. The expression of CRT mRNA was higher in PDAC than that in non-cancerous tissues detected by RT-PCR (t = 2.539, P = 0.025), but no significant difference was found in protein level (t = 1.292, P = 0.223).

CONCLUSIONSCRT is up-regulated in PDAC and may be a prognosis factor for patients with PDAC.

To conduct genetic analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues and analyze the correlation between targeted microRNA (miRNA) and pathways in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
 Methods: We collected 19 samples of peripheral venous blood serum from patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in Hainan Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, and also collected 21 blood serum samples as a control group of non-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We used the bioinformatics analysis of literature GCBI data platform for screening and analyzing the genetics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma samples. Through GCBI data platform of hierarchy clustering analysis and the enrichment of gene function analysis, the relevant miRNA was screened as a research object in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The miRNA was screened by literature analysis and pancreatic cancer gene analysis. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were carried out to study the relationship between the selected miRNA and TGF-β1 by overexpression and suppression of the gene in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.
 Results: MiRNA-21 was screened as a gene associated with pancreatic ductal carcinoma via hierarchy clustering analysis and gene function analysis. MiRNA-21 was highly expressed in the pancreatic ductal carcinoma patients. Expressions of TGF-β1 were inhibired in miRNA-21 overexpressed PANC-1. While the expression of miRNA-21 was inhibited, TGF-β1 expression increased obviously.
 Conclusion: MiRNA-21 is highly expressed in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, can regulate the expression of TGF-β1, which may be a mechanism of miRNA-21 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; genetics ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of echo intensity and contrast enhancement in the differential diagnosis between intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with an associated invasive carcinoma (IPMN-IC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) on ultrasonography. METHODS: This study included eight and 37 patients who had pathologically confirmed IPMN-IC and PDAC, respectively, and were enrolled for a comparative analysis of the sonographic features of the tumors. In the quantitative echo intensity evaluation, the two groups were compared with respect to the difference between the tumor intensity and the pancreatic intensity (TI-PI) and between the tumor intensity and the vascular intensity (TI-VI). In the quantitative contrast enhancement evaluation, the increase in echo intensity (ΔTI) and increase in echo intensity per unit of time (slope) were compared between the groups. The echo intensity and contrast enhancement were also compared between the two groups in patients with T3-T4 disease. In addition, the correlations of the histological type, tumor size, stromal type, and T factor with echogenicity and contrast enhancement were analyzed. RESULTS: IPMN-IC had significantly greater echo intensity and contrast enhancement than PDAC (TI-PI, P=0.004; TI-VI, P=0.001; ΔTI, P=0.012; slope, P=0.002). In T3-T4 disease, IPMN-IC also showed greater echo intensity and faster enhancement than PDAC. Echo intensity and contrast enhancement were correlated with histological type (TI-PI, P=0.003; TI-VI, P<0.001; ΔTI, P=0.007; slope, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: IPMN-IC and PDAC can be differentiated by the quantitative evaluation of echo intensity and contrast enhancement.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Mucins* ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Ultrasonography*

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive lethal malignancy, characterized by late diagnosis, aggressive growth, and therapy resistance, leading to a poor overall prognosis. Emerging evidence shows that the peripheral nerve is an important non-tumor component in the tumor microenvironment that regulates tumor growth and immune escape. The crosstalk between the neuronal system and PDAC has become a hot research topic that may provide novel mechanisms underlying tumor progression and further uncover promising therapeutic targets. In this review, we highlight the mechanisms of perineural invasion and the role of various types of tumor innervation in the progression of PDAC, summarize the potential signaling pathways modulating the neuronal-cancer interaction, and discuss the current and future therapeutic possibilities for this condition.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy* ; Signal Transduction ; Peripheral Nerves/metabolism* ; Tumor Microenvironment

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/*diagnosis ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*diagnosis ; Carcinoma, Papillary/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Prevalence

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/*pathology ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary/*pathology ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*pathology ; Prognosis