Day 3 :
- Extended Networking Session
Session Introduction
Low Wei Xiang Alvin
Singapore General Hospital,Singapore
Title: Oncological outcomes following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy in a multiracial Asian population
Biography:
Low Wei Xiang Alvin is currently a resident trainee in the Department of Urology, Singapore General Hospital. Her research experience includes various programs, contributions and participation in different countries for diverse fields of study. Her research interests as a professor reflect in his wide range of publications in various national and international journals.
Abstract:
This study evaluates the oncological outcomes of RARP in a multiracial Asian population from a single institution. All suitable patients from 1st January 2003–30th June 2013 were identified from a prospectively maintained cancer registry. Peri-operative and oncological outcomes were analysed. Significance was defined as p < 0.05. There were n = 725 patients identified with a mean follow-up duration 28 months. The mean operative time, EBL and LOS were 186 min, 215 ml and 3 days, respectively. The pathological stage was pT2 in 68.6 % (n = 497/725), pT3 in 31.3 % (n = 227/725) and n = 1 patient with pT4 disease. The pathological Gleason scores (GS) were 6 in 27.9 % (n = 202/725), GS 7 in 63.6 % (n = 461/725) and GS ≥ 8 in 8.0 % (n = 58/725). The node positivity rate was 5.8 % (n = 21/360). The positive margin rates were 31.0 % (n = 154/497) and 70.9 % (n = 161/227) for pT2 and pT3, respectively, and decreasing PSM rates are observed with surgical maturity. The biochemical recurrence rates were 9.7 % (n = 48/497) and 34.2 % (n = 78/228) for pT2 and pT3/T4, respectively. On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of BCR were pathological T stage and pathological Gleason score. Post-operatively, 78.5 % (n = 569/725) of patients had no complications and 17.7 % (n = 128/725) had minor (Clavien grade I–II) complications. This series, representing the largest from Southeast Asia, suggests that RARP can be a safe and oncologically feasible treatment for localised prostate cancer in an institution with moderate workload.
Yan-Shen Shan
National Cheng Kung University Hospital,Taiwan
Title: Blockade of autophagy reduces pancreatic cancer stem cell activity and potentiates the tumoricidal effect of gemcitabine
Biography:
Yan-Shen Shan has completed his MD and PhD from National Cheng Kung University. He is the Director division of Trauma and UGI cancer team in National Cheng Kung University Hospital. He has published more than 100 papers in reputed journals and he has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.
Abstract:
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered responsible for the recurrence and chemoresistance of cancer. Dysregulated autophagy is highly prevalent in many types of cancer including pancreatic cancer and has been implicated in cytoprotection and tumor promotion. We plan to investigate the role of autophagy in regulating cancer stemness and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer. In pancreatic cancer tissue microarrays, LC3 expression positively correlated with the expression of CSC markers aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), CD44 and CD133 in pancreatic cancer tissues. High co-expression of LC3/ALDH1 was associated with both poor overall survival and progression-free survival. In pancreatic cancer cell lines, higher LC3-II expression was observed in the sphere-forming cells than in the bulk cells. Blockade of autophagy by silencing ATG5, ATG7 and BECN1 or the administration of autophagy inhibitor chloroquine markedly reduced the CSC populations, ALDH1 activity, sphere formation and resistance to gemcitabine in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, osteopontin (OPN) was found to stimulate LC3-II, ALDH1, CD44 and CD133 expression in PANC-1 cells, whereas this effect could be prevented by OPN knockdown and autophagy blockade. After treatment with various inhibitors against the major signaling pathways downstream of OPN, only the inhibitor of NF-κB activation, BAY 1170-82, could effectively counteract OPN-induced autophagy and CSC activity. Pancreatic cancer patients manifesting high levels of OPN/LC3/ALDH1 and OPN/CD44/CD133 had poor survival. Induction of autophagy mediated by OPN/NF-κB signaling is required for maintenance of pancreatic CSC activity. In conclusion, combination of gemcitabine with pharmacological autophagy inhibitors is a promising therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer.