Mouse Anti--Human CA 19-9 monoclonal antibody, clone N77217N

Background: Advances in genomics have greatly improved the survival rate in cancer patients. However, due to genetic heterogeneity, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still difficult to diagnose early, and its survival rate is extremely low. Therefore, we identified biomarkers that predict the prognosis of PDAC patients using independent cohort data. Materials and methods: To develop a novel prognostic biomarker, we used the gene expression and clinical data from The Cancer (ienome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Kaplan-Meier survival curve using median values of genes as cutoff showed that EIF4G1 was the only statistically significant gene in the 3 cohorts. We analyzed the prognostic significance of EIF4G1 using the time-dependent area under the curve (AUC) of Uno's C-index, the AUC value of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) at 3 years, and multivariate Cox analysis. We also compared EIF4G1 levels between tumors and matched non-tumor tissues. Results: EIF4G1 is the only prognostic gene in patients with PDAC, which was selected by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The survival curve showed that high expression of EIF4G1 was associated with poor prognosis of PDAC with a good discriminative ability in 3 independent cohorts. The risk stratifying ability of EIF4G1 was demonstrated by analyzing C-indices and AUC values. Multivariate Cox regression confirmed its prognostic significance. EIF4G1 expression was significantly higher in PDAC tissues than in the matched normal tissues. Conclusion: EIF4G1 could be used as a novel prognostic marker for PDAC and to determine suitable treatment options.

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the pancreas is an extremely rare entity mimicking pancreatic neoplasia. Elevation of tumor markers has seldom been reported in xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the pancreas, rendering the diagnosis difficult and highlighting the importance of a meticulous histopathological examination. A 58-year-old male presented with severe abdominal pain and anorexia for six months. A heterogeneously enhancing solid cystic mass was detected in the pancreatic head on contrast enhanced computed tomography. Endoscopic ultrasound guided aspiration yielded fluid showing elevated levels of CA19-9 (12000 IU/ml) and CEA (221ng/ml) with a concordant increase in the serum tumour marker levels (CA 19-9:407 IU/ml; CEA: 70 ng/ml). Clinical, radiological and biochemical evidence favouring malignancy prompted a Whipple's procedure. A thorough histopathological examination of the specimen failed to reveal malignancy. Sheets of macrophages (CD 68 +, HAM 56 +), chronic inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and proliferating capillaries replacing most of the pancreatic parenchyma were seen instead, nailing the diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the pancreas. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the pancreas without associated malignancy displaying an elevation of serum and fluid tumour markers. After seven months of follow up, the patient is asymptomatic and is doing well.