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Simple Summary: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) present a challenging prognosis. However, advancements in chemotherapy, particularly the use of targeted therapies for specific gene mutations, have led to improved patient outcomes. This retrospective single-center study evaluated 44 patients who received gemcitabine and cisplatin, combined with durvalumab (GCD) chemotherapy, from January 2023 to March 2024, with a median follow-up of 10 months. This study assessed overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rates, and adverse events (AEs). Results indicate an overall response rate of 23% and a disease control rate of 82%. Median OS and PFS were 15.3 and 8.0 months, respectively. Patients receiving primary chemotherapy exhibited prolonged survival, while bile duct drainage was associated with improved outcomes. Notably, Grade 3 or higher AEs occurred in 54.5% of patients. Overall, GCD chemotherapy demonstrates significant potential for BTC treatment, underscoring the importance of bile duct management in enhancing patient outcomes. Background: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs), including gallbladder and bile duct cancers, have a poor prognosis. Recent advances in chemotherapy, such as using targeted drugs for specific gene mutations, have improved outcomes. Gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy has been the standard of care for the primary treatment of BTCs, but secondary treatment had not been established until recently. In recent years, durvalumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin (GCD) chemotherapy is emerging as a promising regimen, although more evidence is needed for its effectiveness. Methods: This retrospective single-center study involved 44 patients receiving GCD treatment between January 2023 and March 2024 with a median follow-up of 10 months. Outcomes focused on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rates, and adverse events (AEs). Results: The overall response rate (ORR) was 23%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 82%. The overall median OS and PFS were 15.3 and 8.0 months, respectively, with patients receiving primary chemotherapy experiencing longer survival compared to a control group. Patients who did not undergo bile duct drainage had statistically different better OS and PFS. Grade 3 or higher AEs occurred in 54.5% of patients, with neutropenia and biliary infections being common. Conclusions: GCD chemotherapy shows potential as an effective treatment for BTCs. The favorable treatment outcome was the response rate, particularly in primary therapy or those cases with no metastasis. Bile duct management is crucial for improving patient outcomes. GCD chemotherapy has a high response rate, PFS, and OS compared to other forms of chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose: Afferent loop syndrome (ALS) is a rare adverse event after gastrointestinal surgery requiring appropriate early decompression treatment. Several endoscopic interventions have been attempted for treatment, including endoscopic enteral metal stent placement (EMSP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)‐guided entero‐enterostomy (EUS‐EE), and EUS‐guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS‐HGS). However, there are limited data on outcomes, including duration of stent patency. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of each endoscopic intervention for malignant ALS. Methods: We retrospectively investigated nine patients with malignant ALS who underwent EMSP, EUS‐EE, or EUS‐HGS. Information on technical success, clinical efficacy, adverse events, stent dysfunction, and overall survival was collected and analyzed. Results: The most common symptoms were abdominal pain and cholangitis. ALS was treated by EMSP in three patients, EUS‐EE in three patients, and EUS‐HGS in three patients. Stent placement was successful and clinically effective in all patients with no adverse events. During follow‐up, stent dysfunction occurred in two patients treated by EUS‐HGS. Eight patients died of primary disease during a median follow‐up of 157 days. Conclusions: Each of the available endoscopic interventions for malignant ALS can be expected to produce similar outcomes, including duration of stent patency. The choice of endoscopic intervention should be made based on the characteristics of each treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the successful endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of an infected biloma in a difficult-to-puncture location using a sheath-assisted puncture technique. The procedure was performed on an 85-year-old man who developed a biloma after treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite initial challenges, the patient experienced biloma shrinkage and controlled infection post-procedure, leading to discharge without adverse events. The use of a 19G needle with a 2.6-mm sheath allowed for safe puncturing without damaging surrounding tissues. [Extracted from the article]

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This study aimed to determine the clinicopathological features of the subtypes of ampullary carcinoma (AC) to explore the indications for endoscopic papillectomy (EP) in early AC. Fifty-seven patients with AC who underwent curative resection were retrospectively reviewed. The 0/IA stages were significantly more common in the intestinal type (I-type) than in the mixed and pancreatobiliary type (M&PB-type) (90.7% vs 35.7%, P < 0.001). Tis/T1a tumors limited to the ampulla [Tis/T1a(ampulla)] were significantly more likely to be I-type than M&PB-type (74.4% vs 14.3%, P = 0.002). The tub1 rate was significantly higher in the I-type than in the M&PB-type (81.4% vs 35.7%, P = 0.001). In the I-type, the tub1 rate was significantly higher for Tis/T1a(ampulla) than for T1a tumors limited to the sphincter of Oddi (100% vs 42.9%, P = 0.004). These observations suggest that I-type AC with tub1 is an indication for EP. The concordance rate of pathological subtypes between endoscopic biopsy and resected specimens was high (κ = 0.8053, P < 0.001). Tis/T1a(ampulla) showed no lymphovascular or perineural invasion. An endoscopic imaging finding of early AC with I-type and tub1 on biopsy could be an indication for EP. Identifying the pathological subtype of AC by endoscopic biopsy could be a novel preoperative approach for evaluating the indications for EP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) has been attempted not only for benign lesions but also for early ampullary carcinoma (AC). However, there is still no sufficient evidence or consensus regarding the effectiveness of EP for early AC. Herein, we evaluated the expanding indication of EP for early AC. Methods: Between May 1999 and December 2016, 177 patients were diagnosed with ampullary tumor before undergoing EP, and their clinical and histopathological data were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There were 27 Tis‐T1a AC patients and four T1b AC patients who underwent EP. Mean tumor size was 14.1 mm for Tis‐T1a AC and 17.0 mm for T1b AC. For the histological grade, 50% (2/4) of T1b AC were moderately differentiated, whereas 96.3% (26/27) of Tis‐T1a AC were well differentiated and papillary. For lymphovascular invasion, one (25%) occurred in T1b AC but none occurred in Tis‐T1a AC. There was no AC recurrence from the date of EP until a maximum of 5 years (Tis‐T1a: mean period 48.5 months [5–60]; T1b: mean period 26.5 months [3–60]). Conclusions: Endoscopic papillectomy is useful and reliable for the curative treatment of T1a AC. Large‐scale prospective studies with long‐term follow up are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)‐guided transmural drainage using a covered biflanged metal stent (CBFMS) and a conventional tubular biliary covered self‐expandable metal stent (CSEMS) has recently been performed by EUS experts. However, appropriate traction force of the sheath to prevent the migration during stent deployment is well unknown. Herein, we assessed the anchoring force (AF) of the distal flange in CBFMSs and CSEMSs. Methods: The AFs of four CBFMSs (Stents AX, NG, PL, and SX) and six CSEMSs (Stents BF, BP, EG, HN, SP, and WF) were compared in an ex vivo setting. We assessed the AF produced by each stent using an EUS‐guided transmural drainage model and an EUS‐guided hepaticogastrostomy model consisting of sheet‐shaped specimens of the stomach, gelatin gel, and gelatin tubes. Results: For CBFMSs, the maximum AF of Stent AX was significantly higher than those of Stents PL and SX (P < 0.05) in the porcine model. In the gelatin series, all stents except Stent NG showed a nearly similar AF. For CSEMSs, Stents HN, EG, BF, and WF showed gradual AF elevation in the porcine stomach. Stents SP and BP showed a lower AF than the other four stents. For the gelatin setting, the maximum AF of Stents HN, EG, and WF was higher than those of the other stents regardless of the type of specimens. Conclusions: The significance of the AF and traction distance according to the property of various CBFMSs and CSEMSs could be elucidated using ex vivo models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background and Aim: Several experts of direct peroral videocholangioscopy (D‐PVCS) using a conventional ultraslim endoscope have reported its usefulness for the diagnosis and therapy of biliary tract diseases. We have additionally developed a dedicated double‐bending D‐PVCS technique for freehand scope insertion. In this study, we developed an ex vivo training model for the freehand double‐bending D‐PVCS technique and compared it with the technique using a conventional ultraslim endoscope. Methods: The ex vivo model was made for training using a U‐shape insertion pattern. A third prototype endoscope and an ultraslim upper gastrointestinal endoscope were used. Two experts and nine non‐experts performed D‐PVCS using the freehand technique. Results: The two experts could not advance the tip of the endoscope to the hilar portion using the freehand technique, but they could achieve technical successful insertion to the hilar portion with the third prototype cholangioscope using the freehand technique alone. The non‐experts could not advance the tip of the endoscope to the bile duct using the freehand technique. On the other hand, two (22.2%) non‐experts could advance the tip of the third prototype cholangioscope using the freehand technique before the training conducted by the experts. After the training, all the non‐experts could advance the tip of the third prototype cholangioscope to the hilar portion. Conclusions: The novel ex vivo model using a third prototype cholangioscope was useful for training in the use of the freehand D‐PVCS technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of pancreatic cancer (PC) at a resectable stage is still difficult because of the lack of accurate detection tests. The development of accurate biomarkers in low or non-invasive biofluids is essential to enable frequent tests, which would help increase the opportunity of PC detection in early stages. Polyamines have been reported as possible biomarkers in urine and saliva samples in various cancers. Here, we analyzed salivary metabolites, including polyamines, using capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry. Salivary samples were collected from patients with PC (n = 39), those with chronic pancreatitis (CP, n = 14), and controls (C, n = 26). Polyamines, such as spermine, N1-acetylspermidine, and N1-acetylspermine, showed a significant difference between patients with PC and those with C, and the combination of four metabolites including N1-acetylspermidine showed high accuracy in discriminating PC from the other two groups. These data show the potential of saliva as a source for tests screening for PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tokyo Guidelines 2013 (TG13) recommend that endoscopic drainage should be the first-choice treatment for biliary decompression in patients with acute cholangitis. Timing of biliary drainage for acute cholangitis should be based on the severity of the disease. For patients with severe acute cholangitis, appropriate organ support and urgent biliary drainage are needed. For patients with moderate acute cholangitis, early biliary drainage is needed. For patients with mild acute cholangitis, biliary drainage is needed when initial treatment such as antimicrobial therapy is ineffective. There are three methods of biliary drainage: endoscopic drainage, percutaneous transhepatic drainage, and surgical drainage. Endoscopic drainage is less invasive than the other two drainage methods. The drainage method (endoscopic nasobiliary drainage and stenting) depends on the endoscopist's preference but endoscopic sphincterotomy should be selected rather than endoscopic papillary balloon dilation from the aspect of procedure-related complications. In the TG13, balloon enteroscopy-assisted and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainages have been newly added as specific drainage methods. Recent studies have demonstrated their usefulness and safety. These drainage methods will become more widespread in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Although Spy DS (SpyGlass DS Direct Visualization System) is considered to be useful for the diagnosis of bile duct strictures and the treatment of bile duct stones, there is limited data to date validating its efficacy. We hence retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes of the use of Spy DS in a large number of patients. A total of 183 patients who underwent Spy DS-guided procedures for indeterminate bile duct strictures (n = 93) and bile duct stones (n = 90) were analyzed retrospectively. All patients (93/93) with bile duct strictures successfully underwent visual observation, and 95.7% (89/93) of these patients successfully underwent direct biopsy. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy were 94.7%, 83.3%, and 90.3%, respectively, for visual impression; 80.9%, 100%, and 89.2%, respectively, for histopathological analysis of a direct biopsy; and 96.5%, 91.7%, and 94.6%, respectively, for visual impression combined with biopsy. Successful visualization of the stones was achieved in 98.9% (89/90) of the patients, and complete stone removal was achieved in 92.2% (83/90) of the patients, with an average of 3.3 procedures. The adverse events rate was 17.5% (32/183; cholangitis in 15 patients, fever the following day in 25, pancreatitis in 1, hemorrhage in 1, and gastrointestinal perforation in 1). No administration of antibiotics before the procedure was found to be a statistically significant risk factor for the development of fever after the procedure (p < 0.01). Spy DS-guided procedures are effective for the diagnosis and treatment of bile duct lesions and can be performed with a low risk of serious adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]