Mesopancreas Study in Pancreatic Cancer

For patients with a ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head (PDAC) pathological evaluation of the pancreatoduodenectomy specimen has endured a redefined process. After the Introduction of the pathological circumferential resection margin, residual cancer (R1 resection) was most often found in the dorsal and medial resection margins. Yet only the medial resection margin is preoperatively evaluated by staging and utilized during assessment of resectability. The dorsal resection margin which resides residual cancer (R1 resection) at a similar rate compared to the medial resection margin, is not considered during preoperative assessment for resectability. After the inclusion of the pathological LEEPP protocol true R0 resection rates have dropped to ~30%.

Next to the poor systemic tumor control and thus early detected relapse in PDAC patients, local recurrence is evenly at risk and remains an ungoing dilemma. Revised pathological outcome by the implemented LEEPP protocol explains the poor local tumor control.

The aim of this study is to interdisciplinary approach the circumferential infiltration status of the PDAC concentrating foremost on the dorsal resection margin by including anatomic and embryologic derived perspectives.

These perspectives have already been implemented by complete mesocolic and total mesorectal excision. The mesocolon of the ascending colon is embedded dorsally by fascia sheets, resulted by the embryologic fusion process, and the anatomic landmark of this fascia sheet has gained significant clinical relevance for radical surgical resection (Toldt fascia for total mesocolic excision). While surgical perspectives for the colorectal system have included the anatomic and embryologic nature of the colon and rectum, these landmarks and the idea of ''compartment anatomy'' are not implemented during pancreatoduodenectomy.

It seems rational to suggest that redefined surgical standards for colorectal cancer patients with implemented fascial sheets as anatomic landmarks could be translated to the pancreas as well. Similar to the ascending colon; the pancreas remains secondary retroperitoneal. The Treitz fascia is a cranio-medial extension of the toldts fascia, which again is an anatomic landmark for total mesocolic excision. The superior mesenteric artery serves as an anchor point for the embryologic rotation process of the pancreas until it remains secondary retroperitoneal. From an anatomic and embryologic point of view, there should not be any doubt for the existence of a mesopancreas.

The medial resection margin after pancreatoduodenectomy is resembled mostly by the portal confluens and does not embed any peripancreatic fat from the mesopancreas, underlining the different embryologic anlage between the pancreas and the portal venous system. The mesopancreas is located underneath the portal confluens, between the duodenum/pancreatic tissue and the inferior caval vein/abdominal aorta and continually encompasses the SMA. The dorsal resection margin during pancreatoduodenectomy resembles the mesopancreas and the aim of this multicentric prospective study is to study the oncological relevance of the mesopancreas.

Neoadjuvant therapy is a rising option for PDAC patients, and resectability criteria have been implemented to adequately stage these patients prior to therapy initiation. Current guidelines recommend to preoperatively investigate the medial vascular axis which represents the medial vascular groove. Patients are therefore sub-grouped into primary resectable, borderline resectable and non resectable mainly on the presumed infiltration status of the portomesenteric system.

In summary, the infiltration status of the PDAC is mainly being concentrated on the vascular groove. However, the dorsal resection margin, which is evenly at risk for incomplete resection (CRM assessment), is not considered during resectability stratification. Steps to secure or preoperatively assess this mesopancreatic area are not considered yet.

To stratify patients adequately for individualized therapy (neoadjuvant treatment vs surgery) a circumferential assessment, is crucial. Yet a circumferential assessment of the PDAC is provided only pathologically. In our opinion to realize a complete frame of tumor extensions a circumferential assessment should be implemented radiographically and surgically as well.

This observational study in patients with a ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head (PDAC) is of a prospective multicentric nature. In this study the mode of multimodal treatment, pre-operative computed tomographic staging, biological status (CA-19-9 values) are analyzed in a prospective consecutive treated patient cohort with respect to the infiltration status of the mesopancreas. The infiltration status of the mesopancreas is histopathologically analyzed while evaluating the dorsal resection margin for resection margin status (status positive/negative, depth of invasion in mm, depth of mesopancreas in mm, status of intact fascia sheet). No control group or placebo group exists.

The aim of this study is to analyze the oncological relevance of mesopancreatic fat infiltration both in upfront resected and neoadjuvant treated PDAC patients and to evaluate the feasibility of computed tomographic staging and preoperative serologic CA 19-9 values to predict the mesopancreatic infiltration status.

The histopathological analysis in each study center is an obligatory tool in order to postoperatively stage the PDAC. For this instance, the mesopancreatic fat infiltration status is analyzed in each respective study center. The radiographic analysis of the mesopancreas has yet not been standardized. For this mater, preoperative and peri-chemotherapeutic CT slides are centrally evaluated by the leading study initiators.