Cancer of the pancreas

The modification of dietary patterns has led to a change in fatty acid consumption, with an increase in the consumption of ω-6 fatty acids and a marked reduction in the consumption of ω-3 fatty acids. This in turn has given rise to an imbalance in the ω-6/ω-3 ratio, which is now very different from the original 1:1 ratio of humans in the past. Given the involvement of ω-6 and ω-3 essential fatty acids in disease processes, the present article examines changes in dietary patterns that have led to the present reduction in the consumption of ω-3 essential fatty acids, and to study the importance of the ω-6/ω-3 balance in maintaining good health. In addition, an assessment is made of the established recommendations for preventing a poor intake of ω-3 essential fatty acids, and the possible options for compensating the lack of these fatty acids in the diet.

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Importance of a balanced omega 6/omega 3 ratio for the maintenance of health: Nutritional recommendations

Health benefits of marine foods and ingredients

This invention identifies a previously uncharacterized factor in pancreatic malignancy, ZIP4, and thereby identifies a target for cancer therapy. Agents that inhibit ZIP4 provide methods and compositions to treat cancer, specifically, pancreatic cancer.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/104/47/18636.full.pdf

Aberrant expression of zinc transporter zip4 (slc39a4) significantly contributes to human pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and progression

Radical radiotherapy and surgery achieve similar cure rates in muscle-invasive bladder cancer, but the choice of which treatment would be most beneficial cannot currently be predicted for individual patients. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether expression of any of a panel of DNA damage signaling proteins in tumor samples taken before irradiation could be used as a predictive marker of radiotherapy response, or rather was prognostic. Protein expression of MRE11, RAD50, NBS1, ATM, and H2AX was studied by immunohistochemistry in pretreatment tumor specimens from two cohorts of bladder cancer patients (validation cohort prospectively acquired) treated with radical radiotherapy and one cohort of cystectomy patients. In the radiotherapy test cohort (n = 86), low tumor MRE11 expression was associated with worse cancer-specific survival compared with high expression [43.1% versus 68.7% 3-year cause-specific survival (CSS), P = 0.012] by Kaplan-Meier analysis. This was confirmed in the radiotherapy validation cohort (n = 93; 43.0% versus 71.2%, P = 0.020). However, in the cystectomy cohort (n = 88), MRE11 expression was not associated with cancer-specific survival, commensurate with MRE11 being a predictive marker. High MRE11 expression in the combined radiotherapy cohort had a significantly better cancer-specific survival compared with the high-expression cystectomy cohort (69.9% versus 53.8% 3-year CSS, P = 0.021). In this validated immunohistochemistry study, MRE11 protein expression was shown and confirmed as a predictive factor associated with survival following bladder cancer radiotherapy, justifying its inclusion in subsequent trial designs. MRE11 expression may ultimately allow patient selection for radiotherapy or cystectomy, thus improving overall cure rates.

https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/70/18/7017.full.pdf

MRE11 expression is predictive of cause-specific survival following radical radiotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

http://www.reboundhealth.com/cms/images/pdf/Goodoilbadoil/pmid%2019493674%20id%2015365.pdf

The effect of omega-3 FAs on tumour angiogenesis and their therapeutic potential.

Background: Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal of all solid tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. It is characterized by late diagnosis, aggressive local invasion, early metastasis and resistance to chemoradiotherapy. Increasing knowledge regarding the molecular events behind the growth and invasion of pancreatic cancer may lead to new targets for intervention. Methods: A search of Pubmed and Medline databases was undertaken using the keywords pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, hypoxia, angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis therapy. Results: Hypoxia is the driving force behind angiogenesis in pancreatic cancers. Research into angiogenesis has shown many different sites that can be targeted by agents such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Conclusion: Anti-angiogenic therapy could be an important adjunct to conventional chemotherapy treatment of gastrointestinal neoplasia. Abbreviations: CA, carbonic anhydrase; 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil; HO, haem oxygenase; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; HIF-1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1; IGF, insulin-like growth factor; IL-6, interleukin-6; MVD, microvessel density; mRNA, messenger RNA; NRP-1, neuropilin-1; PD-ECGF, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor; PGF, placenta growth factor; TSP, thrombospondin; VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor.

Hypoxia and angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer

Background The majority of patients with pancreatic cancer are non-resectable and jaundiced at presentation. Methods of palliation in such patients with locally advanced disease comprise endoscopic placement of a biliary endoprosthesis or surgical bypass. Methods This retrospective study compared morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, readmission rate and survival in consecutive patients with incurable locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Results We identified a total of 56 patients, of whom 33 underwent endoscopic stenting and 23 underwent a surgical bypass consisting of a hepaticojejunostomy-en-Y and a gastrojejunostomy. There were no significant differences in complication or mortality rates between patients undergoing palliative stenting and those undergoing palliative surgery. However, after excluding admissions for chemotherapy-related problems, the number of readmissions expressed as a percentage of the group population size was greater in stented patients compared with biliary bypass patients (39.4% vs. 13.0%, respectively; P P Conclusions On analysis of these data and the published literature, we conclude that surgical bypass represents an effective method of palliation for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Patients need to be carefully selected with regard to both operative risk and perceived overall survival.

Will P. Steward

Papers

The effect of omega-3 FAs on tumour angiogenesis and their therapeutic potential.

Hypoxia and angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer

Surgical bypass vs. endoscopic stenting for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Improving and predicting radiosensitivity in muscle invasive bladder cancer.