Plasma miR-379 can predict treatment response to FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine--paclitaxel in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background: Novel biomarkers, such as plasma microRNAs (miRs), are needed to help guide clinical decision-making for the type of chemotherapy to use in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study assessed the ability of plasma miRs to predict optimal treatment response from FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine--paclitaxel in these patients.

Methods: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed for biomarker discovery in pre-treatment plasma samples from advanced PDAC patients subsequently treated with FOLFIRINOX (n = 12) or gemcitabine--paclitaxel (n = 12).

F-Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET/CT imaging for potentially resectable pancreatic cancer (PANSCAN-2): a phase I/II study.

Background: Current diagnostic imaging modalities have limited ability to differentiate between malignant and benign pancreaticobiliary disease, and lack accuracy in detecting lymph node metastases. F-Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) PET/CT is an imaging modality used for staging of prostate cancer, but has incidentally also identified PSMA-avid pancreatic lesions, histologically characterized as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This phase I/II study aimed to assess the feasibility of F-PSMA PET/CT to detect PDAC.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen as target for vasculature-directed therapeutic strategies in solid tumors.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is one of the few biomarkers which has been successfully translated to the clinic as theranostic biomarker for patients with prostate cancer. In the context of prostate cancer, PSMA is overexpressed on the cell membrane of tumor cells, making it a viable target for interventions with urea-based small molecule inhibitors or antibodies conjugated to radioactive isotopes. Interestingly, in several non-prostatic cancers, expression of PSMA appears to be associated with the tumor neovasculature.

MicroRNAs as Bile-based biomarkers in pancreaticobiliary cancers (MIRABILE): a cohort study.

Background: Biliary obstruction can be due to both malignant and benign pancreaticobiliary disease. Currently, there are no biomarkers that can accurately help make this distinction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are stable molecules in tissue and biofluids that are commonly deregulated in cancer.

Unlocking the diagnostic power of plasma extracellular vesicle miR-200 family in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Distinguishing benign from malignant pancreaticobiliary disease is challenging because of the absence of reliable biomarkers. Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as functional mediators between cells. Their cargos, including microRNAs (miRNAs), are increasingly acknowledged as an important source of potential biomarkers.

A bile-based microRNA signature for differentiating malignant from benign pancreaticobiliary disease.

Differentiating between pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is crucial for the appropriate course of treatment, especially with advancements in the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapies for PDAC, compared to CCA. Furthermore, benign pancreaticobiliary diseases can mimic malignant disease, and indeterminate lesions may require repeated investigations to achieve a diagnosis. As bile flows in close proximity to these lesions, we aimed to establish a bile-based microRNA (miRNA) signature to discriminate between malignant and benign pancreaticobiliary diseases.

Prognostic and predictive value of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a translational study.

Effective (neo) adjuvant chemotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma is lacking due to chemoresistance and the absence of predictive biomarkers. Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) has been described as a potential prognostic and predictive biomarker. In this study, the potential of rabbit-derived (SP120) and murine-derived (10D7G2) antibodies to detect hENT1 expression was compared in tissue samples of patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC), and the predictive value of hENT1 was investigated in three ECC cell lines.

Prediction Model for Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer Using Routinely Measured Blood Biomarkers.

Importance: Accurate risk prediction models using routinely measured biomarkers-eg, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and bilirubin serum levels-for pancreatic cancer could facilitate early detection of pancreatic cancer and prevent potentially unnecessary diagnostic tests for patients at low risk. An externally validated model using CA19-9 and bilirubin serum levels in a larger cohort of patients with pancreatic cancer or benign periampullary diseases is needed.

Objective: To assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of a prediction model using readily available blood biomarkers (carbohydrate antigen 19-9 [CA19-9] and bilirubin) to distinguish early-stage pancreatic cancer from benign periampullary diseases.

Factors that influence the pancreatic and duodenal microbiome in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery.

Background/objectives: This study examined the correlation between pancreatic microbiome and patients characteristics. Furthermore, we compared different duodenal materials to examine their reflection of the pancreatic microbiome.

Methods: Patients undergoing pancreatic surgery were included in the study.

Novel Strategies to Address Critical Challenges in Pancreatic Cancer.

Whereas mortality rates improved for breast and prostate cancer as a result of successful tumour biology-based therapies and biomarkers, mortality rates for pancreatic cancer patients remained stable [...

The Diagnostic Value of the CA19-9 and Bilirubin Ratio in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer, Distal Bile Duct Cancer and Benign Periampullary Diseases, a Novel Approach.

Distinction of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the head of the pancreas, distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA), and benign periampullary conditions, is complex as they often share similar clinical symptoms. However, these diseases require specific management strategies, urging improvement of non-invasive tools for accurate diagnosis. Recent evidence has shown that the ratio between CA19-9 and bilirubin levels supports diagnostic distinction of benign or malignant hepatopancreaticobiliary diseases.

Antibiotics and Adverse Events in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer Treated with Gemcitabine: Looking for Novel Clinical and Preclinical Insights.

This letter to the editor remarks on a recently published article reporting on gemcitabine‐related adverse events associated with antibacterial use, focusing on key points for further consideration.

Unravelling the Diagnostic Dilemma: A MicroRNA Panel of Circulating MiR-16 and MiR-877 as A Diagnostic Classifier for Distal Bile Duct Tumors.

Accurate diagnosis of pancreatic head lesions remains challenging as no minimally invasive biomarkers are available to discriminate distal cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of this study is to identify specific circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) to diagnose distal CCA. In the discovery phase, PCR profiling of 752 miRNAs was performed on fourteen patients with distal CCA and age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

miRNA profiling for diagnosis, prognosis and stratification of cancer treatment in cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a lethal malignancy originating from the biliary tract epithelium. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Even after resection with curative intent, prognosis remains poor.

hENT-1 Expression and Localization Predict Outcome After Adjuvant Gemcitabine in Resected Cholangiocarcinoma Patients.

In this letter to the editor, the authors discuss the use of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT-1) as a biomarker in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. They encourage standardization of techniques to evaluation expression of proteins such as hENT-1 and suggest additional studies investigating the active metabolites of gemcitabine, the use of liquid biopsies, and improved statistical methods.