ObjectiveTo explore the significance of mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) as a clinical prognostic evaluation index for patients with pancreatic cancer based on bioinformatics analysis.MethodsThe GSE28735 and GSE62452 gene chips from GEO database were downloaded and the difference of MET gene expression between cancer and adjacent cancerous tissues were analyzed by bioinformatics. We downloaded pancreatic cancer gene chip from TCGA database to analyze the correlation between MET gene expression and clinicopathological features of pancreatic cancer patients and prognosis risk. Finally, the possible molecular mechanism of MET involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis was analyzed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis.ResultsThe expression level of MET gene in pancreatic cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent cancerous tissues (P<0.001). The overall survival and disease-free survival of pancreatic cancer patients in the high MET gene expression group were lower than those in the low expression group (P<0.001). The expression level of MET gene was related to the age of pancreatic cancer patients, T stage, and histological grading of tumors (P<0.05), and high MET gene expression, age >65 years, and N1 stage were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that MET was mainly related to PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, FAK signaling pathway, and cancer transcription dysregulation and so on.ConclusionMET may be a valuable tumor marker for pancreatic cancer and can predict the poor prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of KRAS mutation in pancreatic tumorigenesis and therapy.MethodThe research progress of KRAS mutation in pancreatic tumorigenesis and therapy were summarized by reading the domestic and international literatures published in recent years.ResultsPancreatic cancer had the title of " king of cancer”. More than 90% of pancreatic cancer patients had KRAS mutation. KRAS had a complex relationship with pancreatic cancer through downstream signaling pathways, including Raf (rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma)-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT), and RalGDS-Ral. Although basic research on pancreatic cancer was deepening, there was still a lack of effective molecular targeted drugs.ConclusionsKRASgene plays an important role in the occurrence of pancreatic cancer. The treatment associated with KRAS mutation provides a more effective prognostic possibility for pancreatic cancer patients.
Objective To study effects of Helicobacter pylori on oncogenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer. Method The current literatures on the relationship between the Helicobacter pylori and the pancreatic cancer were collected and reviewed. Results The Helicobacter pylori infection might play a role in the development of the pancreatic cancer. The infection rate of the Helicobacter pylori in the patients with pancreatic cancer is higher than that of the healthy controls; furthermore, in the patients with Helicobacter pylori antibody positive, the infection rate of the Helicobacter pylori in the cytotoxin-associated gene A-negative strains of Helicobacter pylori is significantly higher than that of the healthy controls. Conclusions Helicobacter pylori infection is related to occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer. Specific mechanism is still not clarified and further research is need to study.
ObjectiveTo summarize the influence of dietary factors on the risk of pancreatic cancer and its possible mechanism. MethodThe literatures relevant to studies of the influence of dietary factors on the risk of pancreatic cancer were collected and reviewed. ResultsThe total intakes of carbohydrate, fatty acid, protein, and vitamin affected the risk of pancreatic cancer, and the different substances belonging to the same nutrients had different effects on the risk of pancreatic cancer. In addition to nutrients, the popular beverages and different dietary patterns in recent years also affected the risk of pancreatic cancer through certain mechanisms. ConclusionDietary factors can affect risk of pancreatic cancer through a variety of mechanisms, and it might decrease risk of pancreatic cancer by intervening in dietary factors in daily life for healthy people.
ObjectiveTo further evaluate the relation between usage of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and the risk of pancreatic cancer. MethodThe observational studies were systematically searched in the databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP. The combined odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of pancreatic cancer risk were estimated by the corresponding effect model according to the heterogeneous results, and the subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis were performed. In addition, the relation between the defined daily dose (DDD) and usage time of PPI and the pancreatic cancer risk were studied by using restricted cubic spline. ResultsA total of 14 studies were included, including 1 601 430 subjects. The meta-analysis result showed that usage of PPI was positively correlated with the risk of pancreatic cancer [I2=98.9%, OR (95%CI)=1.60 (1.21, 2.11), P<0.001]. The subgroup analysis results showed that usage of PPI would increase the risk of pancreatic cancer in the subgroups of literature published before 2018 [OR (95%CI)=1.88 (1.05, 3.38), P=0.034], non-Asian regions [OR (95%CI)=1.37 (1.04, 1.82), P=0.028], case-control studies [OR (95%CI)=1.59 (1.16, 2.18), P=0.004], cohort studies [OR (95%CI)=1.65 (1.13, 2.39), P=0.009], and high-quality studies [OR (95%CI)=1.62 (1.19, 2.20), P=0.002]. The dose-response curve showed that there was a nonlinear relation between the usage of PPI and the risk of pancreatic cancer (χ2linear=2.27, P=0.132; Pnonlinear=0.039). When the usage of PPI was 800 DDD or less, usage of PPI would increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, but there was no statistical significance when the usage of PPI was more than 800 DDD. The time-effect curve showed that there was a linear relation between the usage time of PPI and the risk of pancreatic cancer (χ2linear=6.92, P=0.009), and the risk of pancreatic cancer would increase by 2.3% if the usage of PPI increased by one month [OR=1.02, 95%CI (1.01, 1.04), P=0.009]. The sensitivity analysis confirmed that the results were stable by gradually eliminating each study, the OR (95%CI) of the risk of pancreatic cancer was 1.37 (1.08, 1.74) to 1.66 (1.22, 2.27), and the publication bias was not found by Egger test (P=0.594).ConclusionsFrom the results of this meta-analysis, usage of PPI will increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, and the dosage of PPI and usage time of PPI may be related to the risk of pancreatic cancer. The clinical usage of PPI should be strictly controlled, and the dosage and usage time should also be carefully considered.
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly malignant tumor of the digestive system and has a concealed onset with rapid progression. The majority of PC patients are diagnosed in the middle to late stages, and the effectiveness of traditional treatment methods for advanced pancreatic cancer is limited, which results in a poor prognosis. Immunotherapy, as a novel treatment strategy, aims to suppress tumor growth and metastasis by modulating and enhancing the human immune system. It has become a hot point in current cancer prevention and treatment. This article will elaborate on the newest advancements in immunotherapy for PC. Furthermore, we point out the major challenges of PC immunotherapy.
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted surgery in pancreatic cancer.MethodRecent literatures related to robot-assisted surgery in treatment of pancreatic cancer compared with traditional open surgery or traditional laparoscopic surgery were collected to make an review.ResultsCompared with the traditional laparoscopic surgery, the robot-assisted surgery was expensive, with the obvious advantages in terms of anastomosis and reconstruction. Compared with the open operation, both robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy and robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy had longer operation time, but the length of hospital stay and intraoperative blood loss were obviously shortened, robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy also had higher spleen preservation rate. Compared with the traditional laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy, the number of lymph node retrieved, R0 resection rate, and splenic preservation rate were also higher in the robot-assisted group. Simultaneously, robot-assisted total pancreatectomy and midsection pancreatectomy were deemed as safe in some high-volume centers.ConclusionsRobot-assisted pancreatic cancer surgery is safe and feasible, but many surgeries are restricted to a small number of high-volume medical centers, and most cases selected to undergo robot-assisted surgery are often early stage patients with small tumor size. A lot of efforts should be made and problems should be solved.
Objective To explore the application of nutritional and inflammatory markers in the prognosis assessment of resectable pancreatic cancer, and to provide new ideas for the prognosis assessment of patients with pancreatic cancer. Method The recent studies on nutritional and inflammatory markers for prognosis of resectable pancreatic cancer at home and abroad were reviewed. Results Radical pancreaticoduodenectomy was the preferred treatment for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. Poor nutritional status and severe systemic inflammatory response were closely related to postoperative tumor recurrence and other poor prognosis. Nutritional and inflammatory markers played an important role in evaluating the prognosis of resectable pancreatic cancer. Conclusion Nutritional and inflammatory markers, as simple and economical prognostic indicators, have broad clinical application prospects in the prognostic assessment of resectable pancreatic cancer.
ObjectiveTo investigate the current status and research progress of radioactive 125I seed implantation in the treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer.MethodsReviewed the relevant literatures to summarize and analyze the mechanism of action, indications and contraindications, implantation methods, clinical efficacy, complications, and treatment measures of radioactive 125I seed implantation in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.ResultsThe mechanism of radioactive 125I seed implantation in the treatment of pancreatic cancer had been deeply studied in terms of gene expression and molecular signal level. The procedure was applicable to a wide range of patients; the implantation methods were abundant, CT and ultrasound guidance had their advantages; it could effectively inhibit tumor growth and improve overall survival rate. It was dramatically for pain relief, as well as low overall complication rate, and the complications could be alleviated by symptomatic treatment.ConclusionRadioactive 125I seed implantation in the treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer has been widely promoted due to its simple operation and small trauma, and it is effective in controlling tumor growth, prolonging survival, and relieving pain.
ObjectiveTo explore feasibility of mRNA vaccines as a novel strategy for individualized precision treatment of pancreatic cancer (PC). MethodThe recent domestic and international literature on vaccine research in PC was reviewed. ResultsThe heterogeneity between and within the pancreatic tumors had limited the efficacy of traditional vaccines based on cells, exosomes, proteins, peptides, or DNA for PC. The mRNA vaccine was considered as a promising alternative therapy due to its precise targeting, low toxicity, and ability to induce long-lasting immune memory. Breakthroughs in the tumor antigen recognition, immune subtype differentiation, and mRNA vaccine construction, the development strategy of PC mRNA vaccine would further facilitate the development of personalized precision medicine. The existing mRNA vaccines usually need to be combined with other immunotherapy methods to improve efficacy, while the development of preventive vaccines is still exploraing. ConclusionsmRNA vaccines, as an innovative and promising platform, offer a new hope for the development of PC vaccines. However, the heterogeneity of PC has resulted in poor efficacy with traditional vaccines. Although the limitations of traditional vaccines and the heterogeneity of PC itself, the more challenges of vaccine research of PC is facing, the advantages of mRNA vaccine still make it possible to treat PC. In the face of the challenge of complex characteristics of PC, more research is needed to support the transformation and application of mRNA vaccine in clinical therapy.