ecancermedicalscience

ecancermedicalscience is an open access cancer journal focused on under-resourced communities. In order to help reduce global inequalities in cancer care and treatment, we provide free access to all articles from the point of publication and we only charge authors who have specific funding to cover publication costs.

The journal considers articles on all aspects of research relating to cancer, including molecular biology, genetics, pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical reports, controlled trials (in particular if they are independent or publicly funded trials), health systems, cancer policy and regulatory aspects of cancer care.

Sana Al-Sukhun

Al Hyatt Oncology Practice, Amman, Jordan

Pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDC) is a challenging diagnosis with a particularly poor prognosis, even after curative surgery. The prognosis of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer is even worse.

Dr Al-Sukhun discusses a case report where a 75-year-old woman was presented with jaundice and epigastric pain. Imaging confirmed a mass in the pancreatic head encasing the superior mesenteric vein, with obstruction of the pancreatic and bile ducts. After stenting to relieve the obstruction, fine needle aspiration confirmed the diagnosis of PDC. The patient refused surgery and radiation therapy but agreed for chemotherapy.

Genomic profiling revealed KIT amplification. Therefore, she was started on imatinib with dramatic improvement both clinically and biochemically reflected in carbohydrate antigen 19-9 drop. However, that response was short-lived at 3 months. Therefore, capecitabine was added at a low dose of 1 g bid on an alternate weekly basis.

Read the full article here.