• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

We report the case of a 16-year-old boy with a solid pancreatic mass which proved to be a nonfunctioning, malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET). In pediatric patients, malignant pancreatic tumors are rare, especially malignant PNET. When dynamic contrast enhanced MRI showed a well enhancing solid pancreatic tumor on arterial and delayed phases and combined with malignant features, such as vascular invasion, invasion of adjascent organs, and lymphadenopathy, we should include malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in the differential diagnosis of childhood pancreatic tumors.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of Damina 909 in human cancer cell lines and tumor-xenografted nude mice to elucidate its potential in treating many cancers. Damina 909 treatment resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells. Our in vivo study showed that the weight of pancreatic tumors in Damina 909-treated group were the lighter than control group. Consequently, the intake of food and water in Damina 909-treated group did not change, while those in control group were steadily decreased over a period of treatment. Moreover, Damina 909 treatment elevated the protein expression of p53 and p21 in pancreatic tumor of xenografted nude mice. In summary, compare to other human cancer cells such as prostate and hepatocyte, Damina 909 is most effectively inhibited proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by increasing the expression of tumor suppressor genes. This led us to speculate that a candidate substance for effective cancer therapy of pancreatic cancer might be contained in Damina 909.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.847-850
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• 2012

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8 or TIPE) is a recently identified protein considered to be associated with carcinogenesis. To investigate its expression pattern in pancreatic cancer patients and to analyse its correlation with clinicopathological significance and the expression levels of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the TNFAIP8 and EGFR proteins in pancreatic cancers, pancreatitis tissues, and healthy controls. The results showed stronger staining of TNFAIP8 protein in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with normal pancreas tissue. Furthermore, in 56 patients with pancreatic cancer, the expression levels of TNFAIP8 in patients with low tumor stage was higher than that with high tumor stage, and correlated with tumor staging and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Furthermore, TNFAIP8 expression positively correlated with EGFR levels (r=0.671135, P<0.05). These results indicate that TNFAIP8 may play important roles in the progression of pancreatic cancer.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.221-231
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• 2006

Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas occurs most frequently in the second or third decades of life, and is prevalent in females. Unlike other pancreatic malignancy, SPT usually has a low malignancy potential. This study reviews our clinical experience and surgical treatment of pancreatic SPT. Admission records and follow-up data were analyzed retrospectively for the period between January 1996 and January 2003. Five patients with a pancreatic mass were operated upon and SPT was confirmed by pathology in each case. The male to female ratio was 1: 4. The median age was 13.8 years. Findings were vague upper abdominal pain (n=5, 100 %) and an abdominal palpable mass (n=3, 60 %). The median tumor diameter was 6.8cm and the locations were 2 in the pancreatic head (40 %) and 3 in the pancreatic tail (60 %). Extra-pancreatic invasion or distant metastasis was not found at the initial operation in all five cases. A pyloruspreserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (n=1) and a mass enucleation (n=1) were performed in two patients of pancreatic head tumors. For three cases of tumors in pancreatic tail, distal pancreatectomy (n=2) and combined distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy (n=1) were performed. The median follow-up period was 60 months(12-117month). During the follow-up period, there was no local recurrence, nor distant metastasis. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was not carried out. All five children were alive during the follow up period without any evidence of disease relapse. SPT of the pancreas in childhood has good prognosis and surgical resection of the tumor is usually curative.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1297-1303
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• 2021

Pancreatic collision tumors are rare neoplasm, and cases consisting of ductal adenocarcinoma with a neuroendocrine tumor, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with a neuroendocrine tumor, and solid pseudopapillary neoplasm with a neuroendocrine tumor have been reported. We report a case of a rapidly growing pancreatic collision tumor consisting of desmoid-type fibromatosis and mucinous cystic neoplasm in a 30-year-old pregnant female. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a pancreatic collision tumor consisting of desmoid-type fibromatosis and mucinous cystic neoplasm.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.281-285
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to confirm the anti-tumor activity of an ethanol extract of Saussurea laniceps against pancreatic tumor and to isolate the active compound from S. laniceps extract. Treatment with S. laniceps extract and hispidulin inhibited proliferation of pancreatic cell lines, such as Capan-1, Capan-2, Panc-1 and S2-013 in a dose-dependent manner using the hollow fiber assay. Hispidulin showed typical hallmarks of apoptotic cell death a significant anti-tumor activity on Capan-2 cells at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg. S. laniceps has potential cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on human pancreatic carcinoma cells. Its mechanism of action might be associated with the apoptotic cell death through DNA fragmentation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9667-9672
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• 2014

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a malignant gastrointestinal cancer with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite severe side effects of chemotherapy, the use of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has emerged as a common clinical treatment. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the combined doxorubicin and interferon-${\alpha}$ (IFN-${\alpha}$) therapy on murine pancreatic cancer Panc02 cells in vitro and in vivo and underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A Panc02-bearing mouse model was established to determine whether doxorubicin and interferon-${\alpha}$ (IFN-${\alpha}$) could effectively inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) was evaluated using a standard LDH release assay. To evaluate the relevance of NK cells and CD8 T cells to the combination therapy-mediated anti-tumor effects, they were depleted in tumor-bearing mice by injecting anti-asialo-GM-1 antibodies or anti-CD8 antibodies, respectively. Finally, the influence of doxorubicin+interferon-${\alpha}$ (IFN-${\alpha}$) on the ligands of NK and T cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Results: The combination therapy group demonstrated a significant inhibition of growth of Panc02 in vivo, resulting from activated cytotoxicity of NK cells and CTLs. Depleting CD8 T cells or NK cells reduced the anticancer effects mediated by immunochemotherapy. Furthermore, the doxorubicin+IFN-a treatment increased the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) and NKG2D ligands on Panc02 cells, suggesting that the combined therapy may be a potential strategy for enhancing immunogenicity of tumors. All these data indicate that the combination therapy using doxorubicin and interferon-${\alpha}$ (IFN-${\alpha}$) may be a potential strategy for treating pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5243-5248
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• 2013

Background: Triptolide, extracted from the herb Tripteryglum wilfordii Hook.f that has long been used as a natural medicine in China, has attracted much interest for its anti-cancer effects against some kinds of tumours in recent years. Artesunate, extracted from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua, has proven to be effective and safe as an anti-malarial drug that possesses anticancer potential. The present study attempted to clarify if triptolide enhances artesunate-induced cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Methods: In vitro, to test synergic actions, cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed after treatment of pancreatic cancer cell lines with the two agents singly or in combination. The molecular mechanisms of apoptotic effects were also explored using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was established in nude mice, for assessment of inhibitory effects of triptolide and artesunate. Results: We could show that the combination of triptolide and artesunate could inhibit pancreatic cancer cell line growth, and induce apoptosis, accompanied by expression of HSP 20 and HSP 27, indicating important roles in the synergic effects. Moreover, tumor growth was decreased with triptolide and artesunate synergy. Conclusion: Our result indicated that triptolide and artesunate in combination at low concentrations can exert synergistic anti-tumor effects in pancreatic cancer cells with potential clinical applications.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2023

Despite recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, clinical results remain dismal. Furthermore, there are no reliable biomarkers or alternatives beyond carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may be a potential biomarker, but their therapeutic application is constrained by their rarity in peripheral venous blood. Theoretically, the portal vein can be a more appropriate location for the detection of CTCs, because the first venous drainage of pancreatic cancer is portal circulation. According to several studies, the number and detection rate of CTCs may be higher in the portal blood than in the peripheral blood. CTC counts in the portal blood are strongly correlated with several prognostic parameters such as hepatic metastasis, recurrence after surgery, and survival. The phenotypic and genotypic properties analyzed in the captured portal CTCs can assist us to comprehend tumor heterogeneity and predicting the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. The investigations to date are limited by small sample sizes and varied CTC detection techniques. Therefore, a large number of prospective studies are required to confirm portal CTCs as a valid biomarker in pancreatic cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1134-1150
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• 2020

Various types of tumors and tumor-like lesions may affect the pancreas. Among them, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common and is generally referred to as "pancreatic cancer." Recently, the detection rates of rare pancreatic tumors and tumor-like lesions have increased owing to technological advancements and increased frequency of imaging tests. Considering that rare pancreatic tumors and tumor-like lesions differ from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in terms of the treatment plan and prognosis, the differential diagnosis of these diseases is clinically relevant. Various imaging tests play an important role in the differential diagnoses of rare tumors, such as acinar cell carcinoma and schwannoma, tumor-like lesions, such as autoimmune pancreatitis and inflammatory pseudotumor, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, but accurately distinguishing these diseases solely based on imaging findings is difficult. The aim of this pictorial review was to present the imaging findings of rare pancreatic tumors and tumor-like lesions and discuss important points for the differential diagnosis.