Dynamic Changes of Sera Immunoglobulin G4 and Interleukin-10 in the Patients of Pancreatic Cancer After Chemotherapy

Dynamic Changes of the Serum Level of Immunoglobulin G4(IgG4) and Interleukin-10(IL-10) in the Patients of Pancreatic Cancer After Gemcitabine-based Chemotherapy

Investigators have previously found that the infiltration of immunoglobulin G4(IgG4) positive plasma cells in tumor tissue predicts a poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer after curative resection. Investigators further attempt to explore the possible roles of IgG4 and the inducer of IgG4, interleukin-10(IL-10), in the chemotherapy of pancreatic cancer. In this primary study, investigators plan to observe the dynamic changes of sera IgG4 and IL-10 in peripheral blood after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy and analyze the correlations of IgG4 and IL-10 with the response of gemcitabine and overall survival of pancreatic cancer.

Human immunoglobulin G(IgG) is a family consisting of four members, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4.IgG4 is regarded as an inhibitory IgG which can inhibit the activation of immune responses[1]. Recently it was reported that IgG4 could weaken the activation of macrophages to promote cancer progression[2]. Autoimmune pancreatitis(AIP) is the most common clinical manifestation of IgG4-related sclerosing diseases(IRSD) which is characterized by abundant infiltration of IgG4 positive plasma cells[3].Although there are abundant infiltrations of IgG4 positive plasma cells in pancreatic lesion of AIP, the correlation of IgG4 positive plasma cells with pancreatic cancer has never been reported.Investigators have previously found that higher level of infiltration of IgG4 positive plasma cells in tumor tissue predicts a poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer after curative resection(not published).Investigators further attempt to explore the possible roles of IgG4 and the inducer of IgG4, IL-10, in the chemotherapy of pancreatic cancer.Since gemcitabine is the first line chemotherapeutic drug for pancreatic cancer, in this primary study,investigators plan to observe the dynamic changes of sera IgG4 and IL-10 in peripheral blood after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy and analyze the correlations of IgG4 and IL-10 with the response of gemcitabine and overall survival of pancreatic cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ranging from 18 to 75-year old;
2. Pathological verified pancreatic cancer including adenocarcinoma and cancerogenesis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN);
3. Pancreatic cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection; pancreatic cancer patients with recurrent lesions receiving chemotherapy after curative resection; pancreatic cancer patients with unresectable tumor receiving chemotherapy;
4. Patients have good physical status to receive chemotherapy;
5. No history of chemotherapy and the current regimen contains gemcitabine;
6. No medical history of IgG4 related diseases and other connective tissue diseases;
7. Written consent is available.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient younger than 18-year old;
2. Patient has chemotherapy before;
3. The physical status is too poor to receive chemotherapy;
4. The patient has history of IgG4 related diseases and some other connective diseases;
5. Written consent is not available.