Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Gastrectomy and Optimal Preoperative Nutritional Support for Preventing Surgical Site Infections

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is an independent risk factor for postoperative mortality and morbidity in major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition and identify the optimal preoperative nutritional support for preventing postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) in malnourished gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy.

METHODS

We analyzed 800 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy. Nutritional risk factors included weight loss >10 % within 6 months, body mass index <18.5 kg/m(2), Subjective Global Assessment Grade C, and serum albumin <3.0 g/dl. Adequate energy intake was defined as receiving ≥25 kcal/kg ideal body weight per day. Optimal nutritional support was examined in terms of both duration and calorie intake.

RESULTS

Overall, 152 patients (19.0 %) were classified as malnourished. The incidence of SSIs was significantly higher in malnourished patients than in well-nourished patients (35.5 vs. 14.0 %; p < 0.0001). The incidence of SSIs in malnourished patients was significantly lower in the well-supported group receiving adequate energy support for at least 10 days than in the poorly-supported group, which received inadequate or no energy support or adequate energy support for <10 days (17.0 vs. 45.4 %; p = 0.0006). In multivariate analysis, well-managed nutritional support was identified as an independent factor associated with fewer SSIs (odds ratio 0.14; 95 % confidence interval 0.05-0.37; p = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

Malnutrition, a risk factor for SSI, was prevalent in gastric cancer patients preoperatively. Well-managed preoperative nutritional support decreased the incidence of postoperative SSIs in malnourished patients.

A randomized phase II study of the clinical effects of ultrasonically activated coagulating shears (Harmonic scalpel) in open gastrectomy for gastric cancer

PURPOSE

The Harmonic Ace ultrasonic scalpel has been popular in abdominal surgery; however, only a few clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy of this device in radical open gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

The present study was designed as a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Patients with resectable gastric cancer were randomly assigned to gastrectomy using the Harmonic scalpel or conventional monopolar electrosurgery.

RESULTS

A total of 248 patients were enrolled, and 123 patients were included in the Harmonic group and 114 patients were included in the conventional group. The demographics of the patients were well balanced between the groups. There was no significant difference in the length of the operation from skin incision to resection of the gastric specimen (141 ± 36 min in the Harmonic group vs. 147 ± 13 min in the conventional group; p = 0.276) nor in the amount of blood lost (365 ± 293 vs. 336 ± 272 mL; p = 0.434). There was also no significant difference in the incidence of surgical complications or the post-surgical hospital stay between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The Harmonic scalpel procedure was not superior to the conventional monopolar electrosurgery with regard to reducing the length of the operation, blood loss, postoperative complications, or postoperative hospital stay in radical open gastrectomy.

Randomised phase III trial of second-line irinotecan plus cisplatin versus irinotecan alone in patients with advanced gastric cancer refractory to S-1 monotherapy: TRICS trial

AIM

The optimal second-line regimen for treating advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains unclear. While irinotecan (CPT-11) plus cisplatin (CDDP) combination therapy and CPT-11 monotherapy have been explored in the second-line setting, the superiority of second-line platinum-based therapies for AGC patients initially treated with S-1 monotherapy has not yet been evaluated; therefore, we aimed to examine the survival benefit of CPT-11/CDDP combination over CPT-11 monotherapy.

METHODS

AGC patients showing progression after S-1 monotherapy for advanced cancer or recurrence within 6 months after completion of S-1 adjuvant therapy were randomly allocated to CPT-11/CDDP (CPT-11, 60 mg/m(2); CDDP, 30 mg/m(2), q2w) or CPT-11 (150 mg/m(2), q2w).

RESULTS

Sixty-eight advanced and 95 recurrent cases were evaluated. The median overall survivals were 13.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.8-17.6) and 12.7 (95% CI: 10.3-17.2) months for CPT-11/CDDP and CPT-11, respectively (hazard ratio: 0.834; 95% CI: 0.596-1.167, P = 0.288). No significant differences were observed in the secondary end-points, including progression-free survival (4.6 [95% CI: 3.4-5.9] versus 4.1 [95% CI: 3.3-4.9]months) and response rate (16.9% [95% CI: 8.8-28.3] versus 15.4% [95% CI: 7.6-26.5]). The incidences of grade 3-4 anaemia (16% versus 4%) and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase levels (5% versus 0%) were higher for CPT-11/CDDP than for CPT-11. Exploratory subgroup analysis revealed that CPT-11/CDDP was significantly more effective for intestinal-type AGC, compared with CPT-11 (overall survival: 15.8 versus 14.0 months; P = 0.019).

CONCLUSION

No survival benefit was observed upon adding CDDP to CPT-11 after S-1 monotherapy failure.

C-reactive protein on postoperative day 3 as a predictor of infectious complications following gastric cancer resection

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Background: Postoperative infectious complications (PICs) after gastric cancer resection remain a clinically relevant problem. Early detection of PICs, before critical illness develops, may be of considerable clinical benefit. The aims of this study were to investigate the predictive factors for PICs and to define the clinical parameters for their early detection in patients with gastric cancer resection. Methods: Clinical data of 417 consecutive patients undergoing elective gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer between 2009 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified clinical factors predicting PICs of grade III or more according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Results: Forty-four patients developed PICs of grade ≥ III (10.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.6–13.5%). As a systemic inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP) on postoperative day (POD) 3 had superior diagnostic accuracy for PICs (AUC 0.802, 95% CI 0.735–0.870) with a calculated cut-off value of 17.7 mg/dl, yielding a sensitivity of 0.66 (95% CI 0.524–0.774) and a specificity of 0.84 (95% CI 0.821–0.850). Multivariate analysis identified CRP on POD 3 of 17.7 mg/dl or greater (odds ratio [OR] 8.094, 95% CI 3.568–19.342) as well as clinical stage ≥ II (OR 4.445, 95% CI 1.478–15.881) and operation time ≥ 250 min (OR 3.638, 95% CI 1.449–10.137) as significant predictive factors for PICs after gastrectomy. Conclusions: Elevated CRP levels on POD 3 will help physicians predict postoperative course and facilitate decision-making regarding the prompt, comprehensive clinical search and therapeutic approach for PICs.

A phase II trial of capecitabine plus cisplatin (XP) for patients with advanced gastric cancer who relapsed after S-1 adjuvant therapy, XP after TS-1 adjuvant failure (XParTS)

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Background: For gastric cancer, standard regimens including S-1 for adjuvant and first-line chemotherapy have been established in Japan, while for early relapse after adjuvant therapy there is no standard treatment. In our retrospective analysis, relapse-free interval of less than 6 months was associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). To evaluate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus cisplatin (XP) treatment, for patients with advanced gastric cancer who relapsed within 6 months after S-1 adjuvant therapy, we conducted a multicenter phase II trial in Japan (NCT Identifier: NCT01412294). Methods: Patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer including S-1 for more than 12 weeks, thereafter relapsed within 6 months, 20–74 years of age and HER2- negative, were assigned to receive capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 bid for 14 days plus cisplatin 80 mg/m2 (day 1) every 3-week. The primary endpoint was PFS and the secondary endpoints were OS, time to treatment failure, overall response rate (ORR) and safety. Planned sample size was 40 according to median PFS threshold of 2 months. Results: From June 2011 to April 2014, 40 patients were assigned. Median age was 64, 32 males (80%); adjuvant chemotherapy: regimen, S-1 monotherapy (n=34, 85%), and median number of course was 7.0 (3-18). In 40 patients median PFS was 20 weeks (95%CI, 17-24), which was longer than protocol-specified threshold of 2 months. Median OS was 77 weeks (95%CI, 34-NE), ORR was 8/40 (22% including 12 NE cases; 95%CI, 44-74). Most common grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (23%), anemia (18%), hypercreatinine (18%), fatigue (13%), diarrhea (7.5%), and anorexia (7.5%). Conclusions: XP was safe and effective for those patients with relatively poor prognosis after S-1 adjuvant failure. Since profile of S-1 and capecitabine was different, XP can be recommended rather than S-1 plus cisplatin, Japanese standard first- line regimen. Clinical trial information: NCT01412294.

Randomized controlled trial to evaluate splenectomy in total gastrectomy for proximal gastric carcinoma (JCOG0110): Final survival analysis

103

Background: We conducted a RCT to compare splenectomy and spleen preservation in total gastrectomy and reported higher morbidity and larger blood loss in splenectomy at 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting. Survival analysis after 5-year follow-up is now complete. Methods: Proximal gastric adenocarcinoma of T2-4/N0-2/M0 not invading the greater curvature was eligible. During operation surgeons confirmed that R0 resection was possible with negative lavage cytology, and the patient was randomized into splenectomy or spleen-preserving arm. The primary endpoint was OS. The trial was designed to confirm non-inferiority of spleen preservation to splenectomy in OS with a non-inferiority margin of the hazard ratio (HR) as 1.21. The planned sample size was 500 pts with a power of 70% and a one-sided alpha of 5%. Results: Between June 2002 and March 2009, 505 patients (splenectomy 254, spleen-preservation 251) were enrolled from 36 institutions. The first 319 patients were treated without adjuvant therapy by protocol, but after the S-1 adjuvant effect was established in 2006, patients with pathological stage II and III tumors received adjuvant S-1 by amended protocol. The 5-year survivals were 75.1% and 76.4% in the splenectomy and spleen-preserving arms, respectively. The HR was 0.88 [90.7% CI 0.67-1.16] (<1.21); thus the non-inferiority of spleen preservation was confirmed (p=0.025). The 5-year RFS was 68.4% in splenectomy arm and 70.5% in spleen-preserving arm. The HR was 0.87 [95% CI 0.65-1.17]. Subset analyses showed slightly better survival of spleen preservation in patients having deeper tumors (T3/T4), lymph node metastases, tumors located mainly in the middle stomach, and in those enrolled in the first study period of no-adjuvant protocol. Conclusions: This is the largest RCT of splenectomy in gastric cancer, and demonstrated significant non-inferiority of spleen preservation for the first time. In total gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer which does not invade the greater curvature, prophylactic splenectomy should be avoided not only for operative safety but also for survival benefit. Clinical trial information: NCT00112099.

Effect of renal function on continuation of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients

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Background: The results of ACTS-GC study showed that postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 is the standard treatment for patients with stage II and stage III gastric cancer (GC) in Japan. In addition, completion of 12 months of S-1 treatment and a high relative performance (RP) value were reported to be related to improved survival. The plasma 5-fluorouracil concentration in patients receiving S-1 treatment is known to be significantly higher in patients with 50 ≤ Ccr < 80 mL/ min than in those with Ccr ≥ 80 mL/ min. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the dose of S-1 based on renal function and compliance with S-1 treatment. Methods: This study is retrospective cohort study, included GC patients who were administered S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy at the Osaka National Hospital in Japan between August 2006 and August 2013. Cohort A comprised patients with Ccr ≥ 80 mL/min, those with 50 ≤ Ccr < 80 mL/min and dose reduction by one level, and those with Ccr < 50 mL/min and dose reduction by two levels. Cohort B included patients with Ccr < 50mL and dose reduction by one level. We compared the completion rate of 12 months of S-1 treatment and the RP value between cohorts A and B. Results: In total, 103 patients were included in this study: cohort A included 53 patients, and cohort B included 50 patients. The completion rate of 12 months of S-1 treatment was significantly higher in cohort A at 83% than in cohort B at 56% (OR: 3.8 [95% CI: 1.6–9.9], p = 0.003). The median RP value was significantly higher in cohort A at 93.8% than in cohort B at 74% (p = 0.007). In the subgroup analysis, no difference was found in the completion rate among patients with S-1 dose < 65 mg/m². Conclusions: Renal function was found to be an important factor for compliance with S-1 treatment as adjuvant chemotherapy for GC. The results of the present study suggest the need for dose reduction by one level in patients with Ccr < 80 mL/min.

A randomized 2X2 phase II trial comparing two and four courses of S-1/cisplatin (SC) and paclitaxel/cisplatin (PC) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally resectable advanced gastric cancer: Survival results of COMPASS

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Background: The prognosis for stage III gastric cancer is not satisfactory even by S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a promising approach but its optimal duration and regimen have not been established yet. Methods: We conducted a randomized phase II trial to compare two or four courses and regimen of SC or PC using a two-by-two factorial design.Key eligibility criteria was (i) T2-3/N+ or T4aN0 in case of schirrhous or junctional tumors, T2-3 with N+ to the major branched artery, T4aN+, T4b, para-aortic nodal metastases, or resectable minimal peritoneal metastases confirmed by laparoscopy and (ii) no other distant metastasis. Patients received S-1 (80 mg/m2 for 21 days with 1 week rest) / cisplatin (60 mg/m2 at day 8) or paclitaxel / cisplatin (80 mg/m2 and 25 mg/m2, respectively, on days 1, 8, and 15 with 1 week rest) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Then, patients received D2 gastrectomy with curative intent. The primary endpoint was 3-year overall survival. The planned sample size was 80 eligible patients in total so that the treatment group with the superior observed 3-year OS rate by 10% increase was to be selected with a probability of 88% or higher. Results: Eighty-three patients were assigned to SC (n=41, two courses in 21 and four courses in 20) and PC (n=42, two courses in 21 and four courses in 21). Pathological response rate was 42% (17/41) in SC and 33% (14/42) in PC, and 36% (15/42) in the two courses and 39% (16/41) in the four courses. Pathological CR was 0% (0/42) in the two courses and 10% (4/41) in the four courses. Grade 3/4 adverse events by chemotherapy and grade 3/4 surgical morbidities defined by Clavien-Dindo classification were both less than 10% in each arm without treatment-related death. The 3-year OS was 60.9% (95% CI, 44.3-73.9%) in SC and 64.3% (95% CI, 47.9-76.7%) in PC, and 64.3% (95% CI, 47.9-76.7%) in the two courses and 61.0% (95% CI, 44.4-74.0%) in the four courses. Conclusions: Two courses of SC as neoadjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for a test arm of future phase III study for patients with locally resectable advanced gastric cancer. Clinical trial information: UMIN000002595.

Optimal indications for palliative chemotherapy in elderly patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer

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Background: Gastric cancer is the second causes of cancer-related deaths in the world and its incidence of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) in the elderly is increasing as a result of increased life expectancy. However, elderly patients have been underrepresented in many kinds of chemotherapy clinical trials. Therefore it is difficult to evaluate the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy for elderly patients and select the appropriate patients aged 70 years or older who are likely to benefit from the chemotherapy. Methods: There were 265 patients with primary unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer treated at our institution between April 2007 and March 2014. Of all, 90 patients aged 70 years or older were retrospectively identified. We evaluated the efficacy of the chemotherapy and prognostic significance of clinico-pathologic factors to identify the optimal indications for chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were perfomed on the base-line characteristics such as patient’s performance status (PS), gender, chemotherapy regimens, history of gastrectomy, presense of co-morbidity, serum LDH level, serum C reactive protein, and nutritional status, at the initiation of the first-line chemotherapy. Results: The median overall survival time (OS) was 343 days and the median TTF on first-line chemotherapy was 111 days. The toxicity was mild and tolerable. There were no significant difference in overall survival between patients receiving monotherapy and combination therapy. On multivariate analyses, PS 1 or 2 (hazard ratio (HR), 1.883; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.047–3.390), presence of primary tumor (HR, 1.916; 95% CI, 1.063–3.448) at the initiation of the first- line chemotherapy were identified as significant independent poor prognostic factors for overall survival. Especially in patients aged 75 years or older, only PS was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR, 3.703; 95% CI, 1.314–9.900). Conclusions: Analysis of our results shows that patients aged 70 years or older with good performance status and absence of primary tumor might achieve clinical benefit from chemotherapy.

Phase I/II trial of 2-weekly docetaxel combined with cisplatin plus fluorouracil in metastatic esophageal cancer (JCOG0807)

We carried out a phase I/II trial of adding 2-weekly docetaxel to cisplatin plus fluorouracil (CF) therapy (2-weekly DCF regimen) in esophageal cancer patients to investigate its safety and antimetastatic activity. Patients received 2-weekly docetaxel (30 mg/m² [dose level (DL)1] or 40 mg/m² [DL2] with a 3 + 3 design in phase I, on days 1 and 15) in combination with fixed-dose CF (80 mg/m² cisplatin, day 1; 800 mg/m² fluorouracil, days 1–5) repeated every 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in phase I and central peer review-based response rate in phase II. At least 22 responders among 50 patients were required to satisfy the primary endpoint with a threshold of 35%. Sixty-two patients were enrolled in phase I and II. In phase I, 10 patients were enrolled with DLT of 0/3 at DL1 and 2/7 in DL2. Considering DLT and treatment compliance, the recommended phase II dose was determined as DL1. In phase II, the response rate was 62% (P < 0.0001; 95% confidence interval, 48–75%); median overall survival and progression-free survival were 11.1 and 5.8 months, respectively. Common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (25%), anemia (36%), hyponatremia (29%), anorexia (24%), and nausea (11%). No febrile neutropenia was observed. Pneumonitis caused treatment-related death in one patient. The 2-weekly DCF regimen showed promising antimetastatic activity and tolerability. A phase III study comparing this regimen with CF therapy is planned by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group. This study was registered at the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN 000001737.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer successfully treated with second-line chemotherapy followed by curative conversion gastrectomy]

We report a case of advanced gastric cancer that was successfully treated with second-line chemotherapy followed by curative conversion gastrectomy. The patient was a 71-year-old man. Endoscopic examination revealed a type 3 gastric cancer in the lower third of the stomach. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple lymph node metastases and metastasis to the peritoneal cavity. The clinical diagnosis was cT4N3aP1H0M1(LYM), cStage IV. The patient was treated with S-1 (80 mg/m² on days 1-28, every 6 weeks [q6w]) in November 2009. Temporarily, both the size of the primary lesion and the swelling of the lymph nodes were markedly reduced. However, after 10 courses of chemotherapy, the primary lesion was found to be enlarged again. The patient was then treated with S-1(80 mg/m², on days 1-14, every 6 weeks [q3w]) plus CPT- 11 (150 mg/m² on day 1, q3w) as the second-line chemotherapy. After 8 courses, an abdominal CT showed no peritoneal or lymph node metastases, but gastric endoscopy revealed the presence of a residual primary lesion. After staging laparoscopy, distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy was performed. The histological diagnosis was ypT3 (SS) N1M0, Stage IIB. Analysis of the histological features of the primary tumor and peritoneal metastases resulted in their classifications as Grade 1a and Grade 3, respectively. After surgery, there were no serious adverse events. The patient has been in good health without recurrence for over 3 years after surgery.

[A case of metachronous triple cancer treated with a multimodal approach including surgical resection]

We report a patient with metachronous triple cancer of the hypopharynx, esophagus, and tongue. A 37-year-old man with hypopharyngeal cancer underwent hypopharyngolaryngectomy and cervical lymphadenectomy in 1999. Submental lymphadenectomy following adjuvant radiotherapy was performed for lymph node recurrence in 2000. The patient then underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in 2004. Subsequently, the patient underwent 2 partial resections and 1 subtotal resection of the tongue for tongue cancer in 2005, 2007, and 2008, respectively. The pathological findings for each cancer were squamous cell carcinoma. Two rounds of radiotherapy were performed for bone metastasis of the esophageal cancer and for the local recurrence of the tongue cancer. A total of 7 lines of chemotherapy, including superselective arterial infusion chemotherapy, were administered to treat the recurrences. The patient died in 2013, but he showed long-term survival of 13 years from the first operation owing to the multimodality treatment.

[A case of HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer with extensive lymph node metastasis treated via chemotherapy with a trastuzumab-containing regimen followed by conversion surgery]

A 62-year-old man presented with type 3 gastric cancer (tub1, HER2 positive) in the cardia, with 10-cm direct invasion into the lower esophagus, and extensive lymph node metastasis (Virchow and paraaortic nodes). Trastuzumab (Her), in the XP regimen (capecitabine and cisplatin [CDDP] plus Her; Xeloda®: 2,000 mg/m² on day 1-14, CDDP: 80 mg/m² on day 1, Her: 8(6) mg/kg on day 1), was administered every 3 weeks and repeated for 6 courses. After administering 6 courses of the XP plus Her regimen, without severe adverse events in the patient, computed tomography (CT) revealed shrinkage of both the main tumor and the metastatic sites, by 51%. Esophagectomy and proximal gastrectomy with 3-field lymphadenectomy and gastric tube reconstruction was performed via right thoracotomy and laparotomy (R0). However, Grade 3 pneumonia occurred postoperatively, and the patient was discharged on day 67 after surgery. After treatment, the tumor was histologically evaluated as Grade 1b gastric cancer, and remnant cancer cells also expressed HER2. The patient was too frail to receive adjuvant chemotherapy, and he died of pneumonia 11 months after surgery, without obvious relapse. Perioperative chemotherapy with a regimen containing Her has a possible role in treating advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer. Multiple invasive conversion surgeries might decrease the feasibility of adjuvant chemotherapy and worsen the prognosis.

[Chemotherapy for gastric cancer patients over 75 years of age]

PURPOSE

The efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent gastric cancer in patients who were aged over 75 years was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of advanced gastric cancer patients who received first-line chemotherapy with TS-1 plus cisplatin or TS-1 in our hospital from 2009 to 2013 were determined. The patients were divided into two groups: H and L. H group patients were aged over 75 years, and L group patients were aged less than 75 years.

RESULTS

Median PFS and median OS of patients in the H and L groups who received TS-1 plus cisplatin chemotherapy were not significantly different. PFS was 77[range, 13-211] days and 139[range, 53-211]days for the H and L groups, respectively(p=0.141), while OS was 523[range, 22-1,030] days and 402 [range, 322-623] days, respectively (p=0.620). Similarly, median PFS and median OS of patients who received TS-1 chemotherapy were not significantly different between the H and L groups. PFS was 103[range, 51-156]days and 152.5[range, 85-278]days for the H and L groups, respectively (p=0.230), while OS was 414 [range, 224-714]days and 605[range, 452-1,077] days, respectively ( p=0.1337).

CONCLUSION

PFS and OS were not significantly different in younger patients with advanced gastric cancer who received TS-1 plus cisplatin or TS-1 chemotherapy compared to that in similarly treated elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Optimal treatment change criteria for advanced gastric cancer with non-measurable peritoneal metastasis: symptom/tumor marker-based versus CT-based

BACKGROUND

For advanced gastric cancer (AGC) with peritoneal metastasis, decision-making regarding treatment change is often challenging because of the absence of measurable lesions. We attempted to clarify which criterion for treatment change contributes more to longer survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients with non-measurable peritoneal metastasis in whom first-line chemotherapy for AGC was changed based on aggravated clinical symptoms or tumor markers (TMs), or radiologically-confirmed disease progression. Prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) were investigated.

RESULTS

Patients whose treatment was changed based on symptoms/TMs had significantly longer OS than patients with computed tomographic-based treatment change (p=0.04). On multivariate analysis, treatment change based on symptoms/TMs was identified as an independent prognostic factor for favorable OS (hazard ratio=0.321, 95% confidence interval=0.154-0.668, p=0.002).

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that aggravated clinical symptoms/elevated TMs could be a sensitive predictor for disease progression in patients with AGC with non-measurable peritoneal metastasis.

[Tolerability of XELOX in postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer]

A regimen of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin(XELOX)has become one of the standard postoperative adjuvant chemotherapies for colon cancer. However, few tolerability studies have been conducted in Japan. In this study, we retrospectively examined treatment continuation and the adverse events that occurred during 8 courses of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with XELOX in 21 patients with colorectal cancer who had undergone curative resection. The completion rate for 8 courses of treatment with XELOX was 71.4%, while the median relative dose intensities of capecitabine and oxaliplatin were 85.0% and 75.0%, respectively. Although the incidence of subsequent Grade 3 or higher hand-foot syndrome was 14.3%, the rate of peripheral neuropathy was 0%. Our hospital had a high rate of XELOX treatment continuation, suggesting that XELOX adjuvant chemotherapy would be well tolerated in clinical practice as well.

Randomized controlled trial of the LigaSure vessel sealing system versus conventional open gastrectomy for gastric cancer

PURPOSE

LigaSure, a bipolar electronic vessel sealing system, has become popular in abdominal surgery but few clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness in radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

In this multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial, patients with curative gastric cancer were randomly assigned to undergo gastrectomy either with LigaSure or a conventional technique.

RESULTS

Of the 160 patients enrolled, 80 were randomized to the LigaSure group and 78 to the conventional group. Patient characteristics were well balanced in the two groups. There were no significant differences between the LigaSure and conventional groups in blood loss (288 vs. 260 ml, respectively; P = 0.748) or operative time (223 and 225 min, respectively; P = 0.368); nor in the incidence of surgical complications or duration of postoperative hospital stay. In a subgroup analysis of patients who underwent gastrectomy that preserved the distal part of the greater omentum, the use of LigaSure significantly reduced blood loss (179 vs. 245 ml; P = 0.033), and the duration of the operation (195 vs. 221 min; P = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

LigaSure did not contribute to reducing intraoperative blood loss, operative time, or other adverse surgical outcomes. The usefulness of the device may be limited to a specific part of the surgical procedure in open gastrectomy.

Randomized phase II trial of S-1 plus irinotecan versus S-1 plus paclitaxel as first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer (OGSG0402)

BACKGROUND

S-1-based regimens are commonly used for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) in Japan. We performed this trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of S-1 plus irinotecan (SIri) and S-1 plus paclitaxel (SPac) as first-line treatments for AGC in order to select the optimal regimen for a subsequent phase III trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with previously untreated, locally advanced or metastatic measurable gastric adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to receive SIri (irinotecan 80 mg/m(2) was administered intravenously (i.v.) on day 1 and 15, while 40 mg/m(2) S-1 was orally administered twice daily for three weeks from days 1-21 followed by a two-week pause) or SPac (paclitaxel 50 mg/m(2) was administered i.v. on day 1 and 8, while 40 mg/m(2) S-1 was orally administered twice daily for two weeks from day 1-14 followed by a one-week pause) regimen. The primary end-point was the overall response rate (ORR), and the secondary end-points were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients were enrolled. The ORR was 33.3% for SIri and 31.4% for SPac, which did not achieved the predicted ORR in either group. PFS and OS were 5.7 and 12.4 months for SIri, 4.6 and 11.9 months for SPac respectively. No treatment-related deaths occurred during the study. Although grade 3/4 neutropenia and anemia were more frequent in the Siri group, both regimens were well-tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Both regimens were well-tolerated in patients with AGC, but we conclude that neither regimen was optimal for a phase III trial.

Pretreatment skeletal muscle depletion as an adverse prognostic factor in metastatic gastric cancer

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Background: Body composition has emerged as an important prognostic factor in cancer patients. Especially, skeletal mass depletion has been associated with poor performance status, toxicity of chemotherapy and shortened survival in cancer patients. However, the impact of pre-treatment skeletal muscle index on survival or toxicity in metastatic gastric cancer patients remains uncertain. Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed 98 metastatic gastric cancer (mGC) patients who received S-1 based combination chemotherapy as first-line treatment from April 2006 to March 2013. Pre-treatment skeletal muscle mass was quantified by CT cross sectional area at the third lumbar vertebrae and evaluated as lumbar skeletal muscle index (SMI) (cm2/m2) after normalization for stature (m2). Patients were categorized into 2 groups depending on initial SMI: 35 patients with SMI ≤ 40 and 63 patients with SMI > 40. Results: Median overall survival was significantly shorter in the SMI ≤ 40 group than in the SMI >40 group (439 days versus 565 days; p= 0.03). Progression free survival was also better in the SMI> 40 group without statistical significance (175 days versus 151 days; p= 0.17). Toxicity (grade 3 or 4) was more common in the SMI ≤ 40 group than in the SMI >40 group. (41.1% versus 11.1%; p=0.001). In multivariate analysis, performance status of 2 (HR 4.711, 95%CI 1.065 to 20.832, p=0.04), presence of primary tumor (HR 2.322, 95%CI 1.007 to 5.357, p=0.04) and pre-treatment SMI (HR 2.525, 95%CI 1.145 to 5.568, p=0.02) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions: The present study suggests that skeletal muscle depletion at the initiation of first-line chemotherapy might be an independent prognostic factor for mGC patients.