Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Quality of Life Score in Japanese Patients With Pancreatic Cancer on Second-Line Chemotherapy: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Introduction: Patients' QoL scores during chemotherapy are generally measured during hospital visits. However, patients frequently recover from AEs before hospital arrival. This study continuously assessed each chemotherapy's impact on patients' QoL scores during hospital visits and at home using an electronic device (ePRO).

Modified Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Irinotecan, and Oxaliplatin or S-1, Irinotecan, and Oxaliplatin Versus Nab-Paclitaxel + Gemcitabine in Metastatic or Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer (GENERATE, JCOG1611): A Randomized, Open-Label, Phase II/III Trial.

Purpose: Modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX) and nab-paclitaxel + gemcitabine are recommended as first-line treatments for metastatic pancreatic cancer. S-1, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (S-IROX) demonstrated activity in a phase Ib trial in this population. Therefore, these three regimens were directly compared.

Multimodal treatments for patients with locally advanced synchronous esophageal and head and neck cancer.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) sometimes synchronously exist. In this study, we aim to investigate survival outcome and late adverse events (AEs) in patients with locally advanced synchronous ESCC and HNSCC (LA-SEHNC).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with LA-SEHNC who underwent curative-intent surgery or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for HNSCC and ESCC between 2007 and 2024.

Depth of response in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer treated with first-line chemotherapy: A supplementary analysis of JCOG1407.

Background/objectives: Depth of response (DpR; maximum % reduction from baseline in sum of the target lesion diameters) has demonstrated potential in predicting prognosis in several malignancies. However, its role in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is still unclear. In JCOG1407, modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX) and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) exhibited comparable efficacy for LAPC.

Japan society of clinical oncology position paper on appropriate clinical use of molecular residual disease (MRD) testing.

Although the 5-year relative survival rates for resectable solid tumors have improved over the past few years, the risk of postoperative recurrence necessitates effective monitoring strategies. Recent advancements in molecular residual disease (MRD) testing based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis have shown considerable promise in the context of predicting recurrence; however, significant barriers to widespread clinical implementation remain-mainly, low awareness among healthcare professionals, high costs, and lack of standardized assays and comprehensive evidence. This position paper, led by the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology, aims to establish a common framework for the appropriate clinical use of MRD testing in a tumor type-agnostic manner.

Potential of 6-mm-diameter fully covered self-expandable metal stents for unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction: a propensity score-matched study.

Background/aims: To date, only thinner-diameter metal stents have been evaluated for unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction (UR-MDBO). This study investigated the outcomes and optimal cohorts for a 6-mm-diameter fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) compared with those for a 10-mm-diameter FCSEMS.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent initial transpapillary metal stenting for UR-MDBO.

Efficacy of liposomal irinotecan + 5-FU/LV vs. S-1 in gemcitabine-refractory metastatic pancreatic cancer: a real-world study using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Background: S-1 monotherapy had previously been widely used as a second-line treatment for pancreatic cancer (PC) after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy mainly in Japan. Based on the results of the NAPOLI-1 trial, the recommended second-line therapy is now liposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/folinic acid (nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV). However, there have been no studies comparing nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV therapy with S-1 monotherapy.

Efficacy of hemostasis by gastroduodenal covered metal stent placement for hemorrhagic duodenal stenosis due to pancreatobiliary cancer invasion: a retrospective study.

Background/aims: Advanced pancreatic and biliary tract cancers can invade the duodenum and cause duodenal hemorrhagic stenosis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of covered self-expandable metal stents in the treatment of cancer-related duodenal hemorrhage with stenosis.

Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2016, metal stents were placed in 51 patients with duodenal stenosis.

Incidence and factors associated with stent dysfunction and pancreatitis after gastroduodenal stenting for malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

Endoscopic gastroduodenal stent (GDS) deployment is currently a standard treatment for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (mGOO) in patients with limited life expectancy; however, stent dysfunction (SD) and complicated pancreatitis often occur after GDS deployment. We investigated incidence and contributing factors of SD and complicated pancreatitis. We retrospectively reviewed 203 patients who underwent initial GDS deployment for palliation of mGOO symptoms between October 2017 and July 2022, including 109 who underwent GDS deployment across the duodenal papilla (sub-cohort).

Immunogenicity after vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with cancer: a prospective, single center, observational study.

Background: Patients with cancer, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy, are at risk from the low immunogenicity of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) vaccines.

Methods: This prospective study assessed the seroconversion rate of COVID-19 vaccines among patients with cancer and hospital staff. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein-specific IgG (S-IgG) concentrations were evaluated before the first vaccination, and 1-3 and 4-6 months after the second vaccination.

Prospective clinical trial of EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy without fistula dilation for malignant distal biliary obstruction.

Background And Objectives: During EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS), fistula dilation before stent insertion is associated with adverse events (AEs), such as bile leakage and peritonitis. We hypothesized that EUS-CDS without fistula dilation using a novel self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) with a thin delivery system could overcome this problem, and we conducted this study to evaluate its feasibility and safety.

Methods: This was an open-label, single-arm, phase II study at a single institution.

Clinical features of germline BRCA1/2 or ATM pathogenic variant positive pancreatic cancer in Japan.

Background: There has been increasing interest into the role of germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (gBRCA PV) and gATM PV and likely PV (PV and LPV; PV + LPV) in the carcinogenesis and treatment of pancreatic cancer (PC), but the clinical features have not been well described.

Methods: Patients with confirmed gBRCA PV and gATM PV + LPV PC treated at our hospital between April 2016 and December 2021, were retrospectively evaluated for clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Results: Twenty-two patients harbored gBRCA PV and three patients harbored gATM PV + LPV.

Clinicopathological Findings and Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Primary Hepatobiliary Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Retrospective Single-institution Analysis.

Objective Primary hepatobiliary neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare tumors exhibiting several morphological and behavioral characteristics. Considering the lack of relevant data on this topic, we evaluated the clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes of patients with primary hepatobiliary NENs. Methods/Patients We examined 43 consecutive patients treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital with pathological diagnoses of primary hepatobiliary NEN between 1980 and 2016.

Standard versus delayed initiation of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery for pancreatic cancer: a secondary analysis of a nationwide cohort by the Japan Pancreas Society.

Background: Based on the Japan Adjuvant Study Group of Pancreatic Cancer-01 results, S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy has been the standard in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients in Japan and elsewhere, initiated within 10 weeks after surgery. To assess the clinical impact of this timing, we conducted a secondary analysis of a nationwide survey by the Japan Pancreas Society.

Methods: A total of 3361 patients were divided into two groups: 2681 (79.

Efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for solid pancreatic lesions 20 mm or less in diameter suspected as neuroendocrine tumors or requiring differentiation.

Background: For non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) ≤ 20 mm, most guidelines consider follow-up observations as an option; however, the various treatment strategies are defined by size alone, even though the Ki-67 index is important for malignancy grading. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) is the standard for the histopathological diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions; however, recent results for small lesions remain unclear. Therefore, we examined the efficacy of EUS-TA for solid pancreatic lesions ≤ 20 mm suspected as pNETs or requiring differentiation and the non-increase rate in tumor size in follow-up cases.