B5-100 Pancreatic Cancer Flashcards
exocrine cells of the pancreas
acinar cells
endocrine cells of the pancreas
islet of langerhans
endocrine secretions of the pancreas
4
- insulin
- glucagon
- somatostatin
- pancreatic polypeptide
exocrine secretion of the pancreas
3
- pancreatic amylase
- proteases
- lipase
risk factors for pancreatic cancer
3
- smoking
- high body mass, lack of physical activity
- diabetes mellitus
most pancreatic cancer begins in the […] of the pancreas
head
tumors in the head of pancreas more commonly present with
3
- jaundice
- steatorrhea
- weight loss
descibe pain characteristic of pancreatic cancer
- insidious onset
- gnawing, visceral epigastric pain
- radiates to both sides of back
- worse when lying down, after meal, at night
- improves with sitting forward
25% of pancreatic cancer is heralded by new onset
diabetes mellitus
pruritis
dark urine
and pale stool are signs of
jaundice
thromboembolic events occur more commonly with tumors in the […] of the pancreas
body/tail
typical sites of metastasis of pancreatic cancer
3
liver
peritoneum
lungs
jaundice from pancreatic cancer is caused by […] hyperbilirubinemia
conjugated
- most frequently mutated gene
- presenting in >90% of cases
activating KRAS
D>V>C
[…] inactivation occurs in 95% of pancreatic cancer
loss of checkpoint
p16/CDKN2A
tumor suppressors
- inactivation in 75-80% of pancreatic cancer
- inactivation through LOH
- loss of regulation of proliferation/apoptosis
p53
- inactivation in 50% of pancreatic cancer
- inactivation through LOH
- inhibition of TGFb and BMP signaling pathways
SMAD4
used diagnostically to suggest pancreas as possible primary with mets of unknown site
gene
SMAD4
most common cause of familial pancreatic cancer
BRCA2/1
PALB2 less frequent
BRCA and PALB2 mutations are sensitive to what therapies?
PRAP inhibitor
mitomycin
platinum chemo drugs
- germline mutation of tumor suppressor
- regulates cell polarity
- PJS
STK I
for a patient presenting with epigastric pain we should get […] to evaluate for pancreatitis
lab
serum lipase
- intital imaging for patients with jaundice
- high sensitivity for biliary obstruction and pancreatic mass > 3cm
transabdominal ultrasound
first test for patients with jaundice and a high suspicion of choledocholithiasis
ERCP or MRCP
- most widely used and most sensitive imaging modality for evaluation of pancreatic cancer
- can detect tumor <2cm
CT
preferred intital imaging in patients without jaundice
CT
used to guide biopsies when histological confirmation is needed
EUS
if the tumor involves the SMA, celiac axis, and/or common hepatic it is T[..] regardless of size
staging
T4
N category of staging assesses
regional lymph node involvement
- NX- cannot be assessed
- N0- none
- N1- 1 to 3 lymph nodes
- N2- 4+ lymph nodes
M category of staging assesses
distant metastasis
M0- none
M1- distant metastasis
if tumor is M1, it is stage […] regardless of T or N
4
treatment for metastatic disease
first and second line
first: folfirinox or gemcitabine
second: folfox
treatment for non-metastatic resectable disease
resect
gemcitabine
treatment for non-metastatic, non-resectable disease
folfirinox
what makes a patient a candidate for resection?
- limited to pancreas
- limited nodal involvement
- limited vascular involvement
only 15-20% are resectable
why do only 38% of patients with resectable disease receive surgery?
- low SES
- physician pessimism regarding prognosis
most commonly used procedure for resectable pancreatic cancer
Whipple
pancreaticoduodenectomy
postoperative complications of resecting pancretic cancer
3
- delayed gastric empyting
- pancreatic fistulas
- wound infections