Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Mucins ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pancreas ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A2(EIF5A2) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.

METHODSA total of 73 patients who were treated in our hospital from March 2007 to December 2008 were enrolled in this study. The expression of EIF5A2 in the surgical samples was detected using immunohistochemical staining. Complete clinicopathological data were obtained from all the patients. The potential correlation between EIF5A2 expression and the clinicopathological features, particularly its role in prognosis, were analyzed.

RESULTSOf these 73 patients, 43 had a high EIF5A2 expression. EIF5A2 expression was significantly correlated with the pathological T stage(P<0.001), N stage(P=0.004), M stage(P=0.039), and TNM stage(P=0.005). Kaplan-Meier method demonstrated that the survival was significantly longer in the low EIF5A2 expression group than in the high EIF5A2 expression group(P=0.003). Cox's hazard model showed EIF5A2 was a significant predictor of overall survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONEIF5A2 may be a potential predictor of the poor prognosis in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Peptide Initiation Factors ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered non-coding small RNAs that play a role as regulators of genetic expressions in eukaryotic cells. It comprises about 20 nucleotides, which contains seed sequence to bind 3'-untranslated lesion of specific target mRNA. It regulates self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation via post-transcriptional gene slicing in normal situation. Aberrant expressions of miRNAs are observed in many cancers as well. miRNAs in cancer cells have been investigated extensively to have a role in tumorigenesis, invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance. In cancer cells, miRNAs act both as tumor suppressors or oncogenes by doing down-regulation of oncogenes or up-regulation of tumor suppressors, respectively. This suggests miRNAs can be potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets in cancers. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal tumors. In spite of many efforts, overall 5-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer is still very low (<5%). Recently, several miRNAs as an oncomir (acting like oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes) are discovered in pancreatic cancer. Here, the role of miRNAs in pancreatic cancer will be discussed and its possibility of diagnostic/therapeutic target will be also mentioned.
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis/*metabolism ; Prognosis

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract with poor patient prognosis. The PC incidence is still increasing with a 5-year survival rate of only 10%. At present, surgical resection is the most effective method to treat PC, however, 80% of the patients missed the best time for surgery after they have been diagnosed as PC. Chemotherapy is one of the main treating methods but PC is insensitive to chemotherapy, prone to drug resistance, and is accompanied by many side effects which are related to a lack of specific target. Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles secreted by almost all cell types and can carry various bioactive substances which mediate cell communication and material transport. They are characterized by a low immunogenicity, low cytotoxicity, high penetration potential and homing capacity, and possess the potential of being used as advanced drug carriers. Therefore, it is a hot research topic to use drug-loaded exosomes for tumor therapy. They may alleviate chemotherapy resistance, reduce side effects, and enhance the curative effect. In recent years, exosome drug carriers have achieved considerable results in PC chemotherapy studies.
Humans ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Drug Carriers/metabolism* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features, and the prognosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) of the pancreas.

METHODSThe clinical findings, morphologic features, immunophenotype and prognosis were investigated in 61 cases of IPMN.

RESULTSOf these 61 cases, 33 were in the pancreatic head and 14 were in the body and tail, and 14 in the entire pancreas. The average patients' age was 61.8 years. The initial symptom was abdominal pain in 37 cases, and the tumors were detected at routine checkup in 14 cases. The imaging examination showed dilated ducts and/or cystic and solid masses. Grossly, 32 cases were multi-loculated cystic masses containing mucin and papillary areas; 13 cases were solid. Microscopically, the IPMN showed four patterns, including gastric-type (16 cases), intestinal-type (21 cases), pancreatobiliary-type (21 cases) and eosinophilic-type (3 cases). The IPMN cohort included 13, 13 and 6 IPMN with low, intermediate and high-grade dysplasia respectively, and 29 IPMN associated with invasive carcinoma. The IPMN associated carcinomas were mainly ductal adenocarcinoma (23/29, 79.3%), followed by colloid carcinoma (4/29, 13.8%) and undifferentiated carcinoma (2/29, 6.9%). Immunohistochemically, IPMN expressed MUC5AC (51/57, 89.4%), MUC2 (21/57, 36.8%), and MUC1 (13/46, 28.3%). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 32 months (range 12-112 months). Six of 61 patients were lost to follow-up. Overall 5-year survival rate was 76%. The 5-year survival rate of IPMN with low, intermediate or high-grade dysplasia was 100%, and recurrence was local in 3 patients. The 3-year survival rate of IPMN associated with invasive carcinoma was 55%. 12 of 13 patients died within 2 years after operation.

CONCLUSIONSIPMN is a common cystic neoplasm of the pancreas located in the ducts. The pathologic types and classifications are clearly defined. MUC stains are helpful for the diagnosis and papillary typing. IPMN with invasive carcinoma was associated with significantly worse survival than IPMN with dysplasia.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pancreas ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

Adult ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Somatostatin ; metabolism ; Somatostatinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Pancreatic cancer patients often have a poor prognosis and suffer from nutritional problems. Malnutrition is characterized by weight loss and decreased dietary intake, and is common among pancreatic cancer patients. The objective of this report was to describe the changes in dietary intake, body weight, nutritional status, and metabolic rate on a continuum from the time of diagnosis until the end of life in a patient with pancreatic cancer. In summary, the patient's nutritional status gradually declined, accompanied by extreme weight loss and decreased dietary intake. Conversely, resting energy expenditure, measured by indirect calorimetry, increased from 24 kcal/kg/day to 35 kcal/kg/day. Nutritional management during cancer treatment is important but may be challenging in pancreatic cancer patients.
Basal Metabolism ; Body Weight* ; Calorimetry, Indirect ; Diagnosis ; Diet Records ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Nutritional Status* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Prognosis ; Weight Loss

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the pancreas is a rare entity. Although this condition is uncommon, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of solid mass in the pancreas, especially in patients with underlying multiple myeloma. We report a case of pancreatic plasmacytoma in a 56-year-old woman with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. We highlight this rare manifestation of multiple myeloma among other better recognised presentations.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Pancreas ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Plasmacytoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Syndecan-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and its distinction from mucinous cystic neoplasm of pancreas.

METHODSThe clinical, radiologic and histologic features of 17 cases of IPMN and 13 cases of mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) were reviewed. Mucin profiles (MUC1, MUC2 and MUC5AC) were studied by histology (HE) and immunohistochemistry (EnVision).

RESULTS10 of the 17 cases of IPMN were males. 13 cases of the IPMN were located in head of pancreas. Communication with the main pancreatic duct was demonstrated in 15 cases. Histologically, there were mild to severe papillary ingrowths of dysplastic epithelial cells, associated with intervening normal or atrophic pancreatic parenchyma. Ovarian-like stroma was not seen. Ancillary investigations showed that MUC2 and MUC5AC were detected in tumor cells of 9 and 4 cases respectively. The 4 cases with invasive component showed MUC1 positivity. On the other hand, 11 of the 13 cases of MCN occurred in middle-aged to elderly females and were located in the body and tail of pancreas. Ovarian-like stroma was commonly seen and there was no connection with the main pancreatic duct. All non-invasive MCN, regardless of the degree of cytologic atypia, were positive for MUC5AC (but not MUC2). In the 2 cases with invasive component, MUC1 expression was observed, as in IPMN.

CONCLUSIONSThe age and sex of patients, tumor location, absence of ovarian-like stroma, communication with main pancreatic duct and characteristic mucin profiles represent useful parameters in distinguishing IPMN from MCN of pancreas. The tumor cells of IPMN express mainly MUC2, while those of MCN express MUC5AC. MUC1 may also be a useful marker in demonstration of stromal invasion in these tumors.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin 5AC ; Mucin-1 ; Mucin-2 ; Mucins ; metabolism ; Pancreas ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Precancerous Conditions ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the expression of Survivin and Ki67 with prognosis of pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs).

METHODSImmunohistochemistry for Survivin and Ki67 was performed in 25 cases of normal pancreatic tissues and 81 cases of PETs by tissue microarrays and to observe the expression and evaluate the relationship with prognosis.

RESULTS(1)The expression of Survivin and Ki67 in PETs was significantly higher than that in normal pancreatic tissues (P <0.01); (2)The expression of Survivin and Ki67 in PETs was correlated with tissue grading and the TNM-staging (P < 0.05), but not related with tumor size, location and functional status. In addition, the expression of nuclear Survivin was association with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). (3)The high expression of Ki67 was related with the expression of nuclear Survivin, but not related with the expression of cytoplasmic Survivin.

CONCLUSIONSurvivin and Ki67 were both expressed in PETs, which were closely related to the clinical pathological characteristics. They could be used as new indicators in the evaluation of prognosis of PETs. The expression of Survivin in nucleus had more diagnostic significance than that in cytoplasm, and that could be highly correlated with lymph node metastasis, which would be used as a new marker of poor prognosis.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Prognosis