Histomorphology and grading of regression in gastric carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Versus Direct Surgery for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer With Serosal Invasion (cT4NxM0): A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Background

For locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) with serosal invasion (cT4NxM0), adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) after D2 gastrectomy is the standard therapy in Asia. However, perioperative chemotherapy (PCT) combined with D2 gastrectomy is mostly suggested in Europe and America. As a part of PCT, the value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is unclear. We investigated whether NAC could further improve survival and other outcomes for these patients.

Methods

Patients with cT4NxM0 gastric cancer who underwent D2 gastrectomy were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether they received NAC: the neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and direct surgery (S) groups. After propensity score matching (1:1 ratio), survival and perioperative outcomes were analyzed between the two groups.

Results

A total of 902 patients met all the eligibility criteria and were enrolled. After propensity score matching, 221 matched pairs of patients were identified. The median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of all patients were 75.10 and 43.67 months, respectively. The median OS of patients in the NAC and S groups were undefined and 29.80 months, respectively (P<0.0001). The median DFS of patients in the NAC and S groups were undefined and 22.60 months (P<0.0001). There were no significant differences in the radical degrees of operation between the two groups (P=0.07). However, there were significant differences in postoperative hospital stay (P<0.001) and complications (P=0.037) between the two groups.

Conclusion

This study suggested NAC can further improve prognosis and prevent recurrence in LAGC (cT4NxM0) patients. NAC is feasible and safe for LAGC (cT4NxM0) patients, and does not increase the risk of perioperative surgery.

ctDNA on liquid biopsy for predicting response and prognosis in locally advanced rectal cancer: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The management of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) requires a multidisciplinary approach, with an increasing interest for non-operative strategies. Liquid biopsy for obtaining circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can provide information on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) pathological response and cancer-specific prognosis, and therefore might be a promising guide for these treatments.

METHODS

A systematic review of the studies available in literature has been performed to assess the role of ctDNA as a predictive and prognostic biomarker in LARC patients.

RESULTS

We retrieved 21 publications, of which 17 full-text articles and 4 abstracts. Results have been labelled into two groups: predictive and prognostic. Data about the usefulness of liquid biopsy in this setting is still inconclusive. However, baseline higher levels of longer fragments of cell-free DNA and integrity index, tumor-specific mutations and certain methylated genes could predict non-responders. Also, undetectable baseline ctDNA and decrease of common rectal cancer mutations throughout treatment (dynamic monitoring) were predictive factors of pathological complete response. The continuous detection of ctDNA in different timepoints of treatment (minimal residual disease) was consistently associated with worse prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

ctDNA is a promising biomarker that could assist predicting treatment response to nCRT and prognosis in patients with LARC. The ideal methods and timings for the liquid biopsy still have to be defined.

Union is strength: Textbook outcome with perioperative chemotherapy compliance decreases the risk of death in advanced gastric cancer patients

PURPOSE

Perioperative chemotherapy (POC) in advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients significantly increases the curative resection rate and overall survival (OS). Textbook outcome (TO) represents a composite of surgical quality metrics strongly associated with improved OS. However, the current definition of TO after resection for GC does not include POC. Herein we propose to supplement the current description of TO with an additional feature, POC compliance. The present study aimed to evaluate prognostic impact of thus defined textbook oncological outcome (TOO) among patients undergoing gastrectomy for advanced GC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We collected data from a prospectively maintained database of all patients operated for GC between 2010 and 2020 in our institution. Patients with histologically confirmed and resectable advanced GC but without distant metastases, in whom multimodal treatment was planned by institutional MDT were included.

RESULTS

A total of 194 patients were analyzed. In the multivariate analysis, patients with TOO had a 50 % lower risk of death than patients without TOO (medians: NR vs 42 months; HR = 0.50, p = 0.0109). Patients treated with POC had a 43 % lower risk of death than patients treated with only preoperative chemotherapy (medians: 78 vs 33 months; HR = 0.57, p = 0.0450). Patients with a pathological response (PR) in the primary tumor had a 59 % lower risk of death than patients without PR (medians: NR vs 36 months; HR = 0.41, p = 0.0229). POC combined with TO surgery significantly decreased the risk of death in advanced GC patients (medians: NR vs 42 months; HR = 0.35, p = 0.0258).

CONCLUSION

Since TOO is associated with improved survival, it may serve as a multimodal treatment quality parameter in patients with advanced GC.

Comprehensive Immunohistochemical Study of the SWI/SNF Complex Expression Status in Gastric Cancer Reveals an Adverse Prognosis of SWI/SNF Deficiency in Genomically Stable Gastric Carcinomas

The SWI/SNF complex has important functions in the mobilization of nucleosomes and consequently influences gene expression. Numerous studies have demonstrated that mutations or deficiency of one or more subunits can have an oncogenic effect and influence the development, progression, and eventual therapy resistance of tumor diseases. Genes encoding subunits of the SWI/SNF complex are mutated in approximately 20% of all human tumors. This study aimed to investigate the frequency, association with clinicopathological characteristics, and prognosis of immunohistochemical expression of proteins of the SWI/SNF complexes, SMARCA2, SMARCA4 SMARCB1, ARID1A, ARID1B, and PBRM1 in 477 adenocarcinomas of the stomach and gastroesophageal junction. Additionally, the tumors were classified immunohistochemically in analogy to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) classification. Overall, 32% of cases demonstrated aberrant expression of the SWI/SNF complex. Complete loss of SMARCA4 was detected in three cases (0.6%) and was associated with adverse clinical characteristics. SWI/SNF aberration emerged as an independent negative prognostic factor for overall survival in genomically stable patients in analogy to TCGA. In conclusion, determination of SWI/SNF status could be suggested in routine diagnostics in genomically stable tumors to identify patients who might benefit from new therapeutic options.

Prognostic Value of Tumor Regression Grading in Patients Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Plus Surgery for Gastric Cancer

Objective

To validate the prognostic value of tumor regression grading (TRG) and to explore the associated factors of TRG for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) plus surgery.

Methods

Two hundred forty-nine AGC patients treated with NACT followed by gastrectomy at the Mayo Clinic, USA and the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, China between January 2000 and December 2016 were enrolled in this study. Cox regression was used to identify covariates associated with overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Logistic regression was used to reveal factors predicting tumor regression grading.

Results

For patients with TRG 0-1, the 3- and 5-year OS rates were 85.2% and 74.5%, respectively, when compared to 56.1% and 44.1% in patients with TRG 2 and 28.2% and 23.0% in patients with TRG 3, respectively (p<0.001). TRGs were independent risk factors for OS. Similar findings were observed in RFS. Multivariable analysis revealed that an oxaliplatin-based regimen (p=0.017) was an independent predictor of TRG. The oxaliplatin-based regimen was superior to the nonoxaliplatin-based regimen for OS (38.4 months vs 19.5 months, respectively; p=0.01). Subgroup analyses by histological subtype indicated that the oxaliplatin-based regimen improved the OS in nonsignet ring cell carcinoma compared to the nonoxaliplatin-based regimen (53.7 months vs 19.5 months, respectively; p=0.011). However, similar findings were not observed in RFS.

Conclusion

TRG was an independent factor of AGC treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus surgery. Oxaliplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens improve tumor response and may have an overall survival benefit for patients with nonsignet ring cell carcinoma.

Interobserver agreement of a gastric adenocarcinoma tumor regression grading system that incorporates assessment of lymph nodes

Perioperative chemotherapy is increasingly used in combination with surgery for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, resectable gastric cancer. Histologic tumor regression grade (TRG) has emerged as an important prognostic factor; however, a common standard for its evaluation is lacking. Moreover, the clinical significance of regressive changes in metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) remains unclear. We conducted an international study to examine the interobserver agreement of a TRG system that is based on the Becker system for the primary tumors and additionally incorporates regression grading in LNs. Twenty observers at different levels of experience evaluated the TRG in 60 histologic slides (30 primary tumors and 30 LNs) based on the following criteria: for primary tumors, grade 1 represented complete response (no residual tumor), grade 2 represented <10%, grade 3 represented 10-50%, and grade 4 represented >50% residual tumor, as described by Becker et al. For LNs, grade "a" represented complete, grade "b" represented partial, and grade "c" represented no regression. The interobserver agreement was estimated using the Kendall's coefficient of concordance (W). Regarding primary tumors, agreement was good irrespective of the level of experience, reaching a W-value of 0.70 overall, 0.71 among subspecialized, and 0.71 among nonsubspecialized observers. Regarding LNs, interobserver agreement was moderate to good, with W-values of 0.52 overall, 0.64 among subspecialized, and 0.45 among nonsubspecialized observers. These findings indicate that the combination of the Becker TRG system with a three-tiered grading of regression in LNs generates a system that is reproducible. Future studies should investigate whether the additional information of TRG in LNs adds to the prognostic value of histologic regression grading in gastric cancer specimens.

Pathological complete response at the para-aortic nodes as a possible surrogate endpoint in gastric cancer surgery with para-aortic node dissection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

PURPOSE

Gastric cancer with para-aortic node (PAN) metastasis has a chance to be cured with multidisciplinary treatment of D2 and PAN dissection (PAND) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), but its prognosis remains unsatisfactory. To establish a better multidisciplinary treatment, a better surrogate endpoint is needed. The present study focused on a pathological complete response at the PANs alone as a new surrogate endpoint and evaluated its prognostic value.

METHODS

The study examined patients who received radical gastrectomy with D2 and PAND after NAC for gastric cancer with PAN metastasis from 2004 to 2015. The study compared five methods of evaluating the response to NAC: RECIST, clinical disappearance of PANs (cPAN), histological response of the primary tumor defined by Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma (JCGC histological criteria) and Becker's criteria, and pathological disappearance of PANs (pPAN). The efficacy of these methods was compared using the hazard ratio (HR) for death between responders and non-responders.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients were analyzed. The respective HR and 5-year overall survival rates of responders and non-responders were 1.316 and 49.1% vs. 60.0% by RECIST, 1.106 and 52.9% vs. 52.5% by cPAN, 0.246 and 71.3% vs. 28.6% by JCGC histological criteria, 0.239 and 76.2% vs. 36.8% by Becker's criteria, and 0.074 and 81.0% vs. 0.0% by pPAN.

CONCLUSIONS

A pathological complete response at the PANs had the lowest HR and clearly differentiated the survival, suggesting it might be a good surrogate endpoint for identifying future candidates for NAC in multidisciplinary treatment for gastric cancer with PAN metastasis.

The value of restaging CT following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable gastric cancer. A population-based study

Background

Response evaluation following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in gastric cancer is debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of UICC-downstaging as mode of response evaluation following a MAGIC-style regimen of NAC.

Methods

Retrospective, population-based study on consecutive patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma receiving NAC from 2007 to 2016. CT-scan was obtained at diagnosis (rTNM) and repeated following NAC (yrTNM) to evaluate response in terms of downstaging. Further, yrTNM stage was crosstabulated to pathologic stage (ypTNM) to depict correlation between radiologic and pathologic assessment.

Results

Of 171 patients receiving NAC, 169 were available for response evaluation. For TNM-stages, 43% responded, 50% had stable disease and 7% progressed at CT. Crosstabulating yrTNM stage to ypTNM stage, 24% had concordant stages, with CT overstaging 38% and understaging 38% of the tumours, Cohen kappa ƙ = 0,06 (95%CI 0.004–0.12). Similar patterns of discordance were found for T-stages and N-stages separately. For M-category, restaging CT detected 12 patients with carcinomatosis, with an additional 14 diagnosed with carcinomatosis only at operation. No patient developed parenchymal or extra abdominal metastases, and none developed locally non-resectable tumour during delivery of NAC. Restaging CT with response evaluation was not able to stratify patients into groups of different long-term survival rates based on response mode.

Conclusions

Routine CT-scan following NAC is of limited value. Accuracy of CT staging compared to final pathologic stage is poor, and radiologic downstaging as measure of response evaluation is unreliable and unable to discriminate long-term survival rates based on response mode.

Effectiveness and Safety of Apatinib Plus Chemotherapy as Neoadjuvant Treatment for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial

Importance

Apatinib is a novel treatment option for chemotherapy-refractory advanced gastric cancer (GC), but it has not been evaluated in patients with locally advanced GC.

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness and safety of apatinib combined with S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) as a neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced GC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter, prospective, single-group, open-label, phase 2 nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted in 10 centers in southern China. Patients with M0 and either clinical T2 to T4 or N+ disease were enrolled between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2019. Statistical analysis was performed from December 1, 2019, to January 31, 2020.

Interventions

Eligible patients received apatinib (500 mg orally once daily on days 1 to 21 and discontinued in the last cycle) plus SOX (S-1: 40-60 mg orally twice daily on days 1 to 14; oxaliplatin: 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1) every 3 weeks for 2 to 5 cycles. A D2 gastrectomy was performed 2 to 4 weeks after the last cycle.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was R0 resection rate. Secondary end points were the response rate, toxic effects, and surgical outcome.

Results

A total of 48 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.2 [8.2] years; 37 men [77.1%]) were enrolled in this study. Forty patients underwent surgery (38 had gastrectomy, and 2 had exploratory laparotomy), with an R0 resection rate of 75.0% (95% CI, 60.4%-86.4%). The radiologic response rate was 75.0%, and T downstaging was observed in 16 of 44 patients (36.4%). The pathological response rate was 54.2% (95% CI, 39.2%-68.6%); moreover, this rate was significantly higher in patients who achieved a radiologic response compared with those who did not (12 [80.0%] vs 1 [20.0%]; P = .03) and in those who had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of 0 (20 [76.9%] vs 10 [45.5%]; P = .03) or had tumors located in the upper one-third of the stomach (16 [61.5%] vs 7 [31.8%]; P = .04). Patients who achieved a pathological response (vs those who did not) had significantly less blood loss (median [range]: 60 [10-200] mL vs 80 [20-300] mL; P = .04) and significantly more lymph nodes harvested (median [range]: 40 [24-67] vs 32 [19-51]; P = .04) during surgery. Postoperative complications were observed in 7 of 38 patients (18.4%). Grade 3 toxic effects occurred in 16 of 48 patients (33.3%), and no grade 4 toxic effects or preoperative deaths were observed.

Conclusions and Relevance

This nonrandomized controlled trial found that apatinib combined with SOX was effective and had an acceptable safety profile as a neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced GC. A large-scale randomized clinical trial may be needed to confirm the findings.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03192735.

Clinical assessment of tumor regression grade systems in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma following neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

The standard treatment for gastroesophageal cancer is neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by surgery, which has been shown to increase survival compared with surgery alone. Evidence is mounting that characterization of the oncologically induced tumor regression is of prognostic importance. However, no consensus regarding the optimal system for describing tumor regression exists. Thus, this study aims to explore three validated/promising tumor regression systems with a focus on their interobserver reliability and usability.

METHODS

We included 100 consecutive patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma who had undergone neoadjuvant oncological treatment followed by surgery. The tumors underwent tumor regression grade (TRG) assessment according to the Standard Mandard-, Modified Mandard-, and Becker systems to assess the interobserver reliability between two consultant pathologists. The interobserver reliability was determined by both Fleiss kappa and weighted kappa metrics. Besides, a semi-quantitative usability questionary was completed and it was expanded with usability comments.

RESULTS

The Fleiss kappa interobserver agreement was 0.67 [95% CI, 0.55-0.79], 0.88 [95% CI, 0.73-1.00], and 0.88 [95% CI, 0.73-1.00] for Standard Mandard-, Modified Mandard-, and the Becker systems, respectively. The weighted kappa (linear) was 0.80 [95% CI, 0.72-0.89], 0.91 [95% CI, 0.84-0.98], and 0.91 [95% CI, 0.84-0.98] for the Standard Mandard-, Modified Mandard-, and the Becker systems, respectively. The usability was scored on a scale of 8-24 by both raters. The systems were scored accordingly: 47 (Modified Mandard system), 43 (Becker system), and 37 (Standard Mandard system).

CONCLUSION

The Modified Mandard- and Becker systems had excellent interobserver reliability and usability. However, the systems could be improved by a better characterization of the different tiers and tumor morphology.

A DNA-damage immune response assay combined with PET biomarkers predicts response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and survival in oesophageal adenocarcinoma

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT may guide treatment decisions in patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). This study evaluated the added value of maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) to a novel DNA-damage immune response (DDIR) assay to improve pathological response prediction. The diagnostic accuracy of PET response and the prognostic significance of PET metrics for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. This was a retrospective, single-centre study of OAC patients treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy from 2003 to 2014. SUVmax was recorded from baseline and repeat PET-CT after completion of pre-operative chemotherapy. Logistic regression models tested the additional predictive value of PET metrics combined with the DDIR assay for pathological response. Cox regression models tested the prognostic significance of PET metrics for RFS and OS. In total, 113 patients were included; 25 (22.1%) were DDIR positive and 88 (77.9%) were DDIR negative. 69 (61.1%) were PET responders (SUVmax reduction of 35%) and 44 (38.9%) were PET non-responders. After adding PET metrics to DDIR status, post-chemotherapy SUVmax (hazard ratio (HR) 0.75, p = 0.02), SUVmax change (HR 1.04, p = 0.003) and an optimum SUVmax reduction of 46.5% (HR 4.36, p = 0.021) showed additional value for predicting pathological response. The optimised SUVmax threshold was independently significant for RFS (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.26–0.85, p = 0.012) and OS (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.26–0.99, p = 0.047). This study demonstrated the additional value of PET metrics, when combined with a novel DDIR assay, to predict pathological response in OAC patients treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Furthermore, an optimised SUVmax reduction threshold for pathological response was calculated and was independently significant for RFS and OS.

Association Between Pathological Complete Response and Tumor Location in Patients with Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy, a Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Colorectal cancers are the third common malignancies after lung and breast neoplasms. Some contributing factors for pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant therapy of rectal cancer have been defined. Despite various studies in this era, there are few studies on the location of tumors. Objectives: Regarding the high prevalence of colorectal cancer in Iran and the importance of neoadjuvant chemoradiation for survival and morbidity, this study was carried out to determine the association between pathologic complete response and tumor location in patients with rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Methods: In this prospective cohort, 100 cases with rectal adenocarcinoma from 2017 to 2019 were enrolled. Distance between anal verge and tumor was measured by clinical examination, colonoscopy, endo-sonography, and MRI. Tumors were defined as distal (less than 5 cm from the anal verge) and none distal (more than 5 cm from the anal verge). Another subdivision was inferior (0 - 4.99 cm), middle (5 - 9.99 cm), and superior (10 - 15 cm). The pathological response was compared across the groups. Results: In this study, the pCR was seen in 30%. In univariate analysis body mass index (BMI), grade, N-stage, and distance from anal verge were related to pCR. In cases with BMI over 25 kg/m2 and in tumors with low to medium grade N0/N1, and distance less than 5 cm from the anal verge (low lying tumors) the pCR to neoadjuvant treatment was higher. In multivariate analysis tumor grade, N stage, and distance from anal verge were still related to pCR. Conclusions: According to the obtained results in this study, there may be some association between rectal tumor location and pathologic complete response.

Response rate and diagnostic accuracy of early PET-CT during neo-adjuvant therapies in oesophageal adenocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Only 25% of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) patients have a pathological response to neo-adjuvant therapy (NAT) before oesophagectomy. Early response assessment using PET imaging may help guide management of these patients. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesise the evidence detailing response rate and diagnostic accuracy of early PET-CT assessment.

METHODS

We systematically searched several databases including MEDLINE and Embase. Studies with mixed cohorts of histology, tumour location and a repeat PET-CT assessment after more than one cycle of NAT were excluded. Reference standard was pathological response defined by Becker or Mandard classifications. Primary outcome was metabolic response rate after one cycle of NAT defined by a reduction in maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of 35%. Secondary outcome was diagnostic accuracy of treatment response prediction, defined as the sensitivity and specificity of early PET-CT using this threshold. Quality of evidence was also assessed. Random-effects meta-analysis pooled response rates and diagnostic accuracy. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019147034).

RESULTS

Overall, 1341 articles were screened, and 6 studies were eligible for analysis. These studies reported data for 518 patients (aged 27-78 years; 452 [87.3%] were men) between 2005 and 2020. Pooled sensitivity of early metabolic response to predict pathological response was 77.2% (95% CI 53.2%-100%). Significant heterogeneity existed between studies (I²  = 80.6% (95% CI 38.9%-93.8%), P = .006). Pooled specificity was 75.0% (95% CI 68.2%-82.5%), however, no significant heterogeneity between studies existed (I²  = 0.0% (95% CI 0.0%-67.4%), P = .73).

CONCLUSION

High-quality evidence is lacking, and few studies met the inclusion criteria of this systematic review. The sensitivity of PET using a SUVmax reduction threshold of 35% was suboptimal and varied widely. However, specificity was consistent across studies with a pooled value of 75.0%, suggesting early PET assessment is a better predictor of treatment resistance than of pathological response. Further research is required to define optimal PET-guided treatment decisions in OAC.

Delta-radiomics and response to neoadjuvant treatment in locally advanced gastric cancer-a multicenter study of GIRCG (Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer)

Background

To predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) of gastric cancer (GC), prior to surgery, would be pivotal to customize patient treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the reliability of computed tomography (CT) texture analysis (TA) in predicting the histo-pathological response to NAC in patients with resectable locally advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

Methods

Seventy (40 male, mean age 63.3 years) patients with resectable locally AGC, treated with NAC and radical surgery, were included in this retrospective study from 5 centers of the Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer (GIRCG). Population was divided into two groups: 29 patients from one center (internal cohort for model development and internal validation) and 41 from other four centers (external cohort for independent external validation). Gross tumor volume (GTV) was segmented on each pre- and post-NAC multidetector CT (MDCT) image by using a dedicated software (RayStation), and 14 TA parameters were then extrapolated. Correlation between TA parameters and complete pathological response (tumor regression grade, TRG1), was initially investigated for the internal cohort. The univariate significant variables were tested on the external cohort and multivariate logistic analysis was performed.

Results

In multivariate logistic regression the only significant TA variable was delta gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) contrast (P=0.001, Nagelkerke R²: 0.546 for the internal cohort and P=0.014, Nagelkerke R²: 0.435 for the external cohort). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, generated from the logistic regression of all the patients, showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.763.

Conclusions

Post-NAC GLCM contrast and dissimilarity and delta GLCM contrast TA parameters seem to be reliable for identifying patients with locally AGC responder to NAC.

Trastuzumab in combination with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel as perioperative treatment for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive locally advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinoma: A phase II trial of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie Gastric Cancer Study Group

Perioperative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel (FLOT) is a mainstay in the treatment of esophagogastric adenocarcinomas (EGA). Trastuzumab improved survival when added to chemotherapy in patients with HER-2-positive metastatic EGA. We investigated the combination of trastuzumab and FLOT as perioperative treatment in patients with locally advanced EGA. A multicenter phase II study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of perioperative FLOT (24-hours 5-FU 2600 mg/m² , leucovorin 200 mg/m² , oxaliplatin 85 mg/mg² , docetaxel 50 mg/m² , trastuzumab 6 mg/kg then 4 mg/kg d1, repeated d15 for four cycles preoperatively and postoperatively followed by 9 cycles of trastuzumab monotherapy) in patients with HER-2 positive EGA. Patients had ≥cT2, any N, M0 EGA. The primary endpoint was the rate of centrally assessed pathological complete response (pCR). Secondary endpoints comprised disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS), R0 resection rate, toxicity and surgical morbidity. Fifty-six evaluable patients (median age 62 years) were included; n = 40 had tumors originating from the esophagogastric junction; T stage was (cT2/3/4/unknown): 4/42/8/2; n = 50 patients had cN+ disease. Main adverse events grades 3-4: leukopenia (17.9%), neutropenia (46.6%) and diarrhea (17.0%). All patients underwent tumor resections. R0 resection rate was 92.9%. Eight patients had anastomotic leakage. One postoperative death occurred. pCR was found in 12 patients (21.4%) and a further n = 14 patients (25.0%) had near complete response. Median DFS was 42.5 months and the 3-year OS rate was 82.1%. The primary endpoint of achieving a pCR >20% was reached. No unexpected safety issues were observed. Survival data are promising.

Decrease in tumor content assessed in biopsies is associated with improved treatment outcome response to pembrolizumab in patients with rare tumors

BACKGROUND

Decreased tumor content (TC) in resection specimens after neoadjuvant therapy is used to predict prognosis. We investigated whether TC assessed in biopsy specimens or the shift in TC from baseline to on-treatment can be used accordingly to predict response in patients with rare tumors who were treated with pembrolizumab.

METHODS

A total of 57 tumors (represented by 173 baseline and 179 on-treatment biopsies) from 57 patients with rare tumors participating in an ongoing phase II clinical trial of pembrolizumab were evaluated. TC was estimated on H&E-stained slides and tumors were dichotomized into low and high TC according to a cut-off of 10%. Necrosis, proliferative fibrosis (PF) and normal tissue were assessed in on-treatment biopsies. TC at baseline and on-treatment, as well as the shift in TC from baseline to on-treatment, was correlated with clinical response defined according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.

RESULTS

A decrease in TC was seen in 14% (n=8); no change in TC was seen in 75% (n=43); and an increase in TC from baseline to on-treatment was seen in 11% (n=6). Objective response was significantly associated with decrease in TC from baseline to on-treatment (38%, 3/8) compared with no change/increase in TC (6%, 3/49) (p=0.031). Patients with a decrease in TC had a significantly increased time to progression (TTP) (75% probability) compared with patients with an increase (20% probability) or no change in TC (19% probability) (p=0.0042). Low TC was seen in 23% (13/57) of the tumors at baseline and in 26% (15/57) on-treatment. High TC was seen in 77% (44/57) of tumors at baseline and in 74% (42/57) on-treatment. No significant associations with response were seen for necrosis, PF or normal tissue in on-treatment biopsies.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a decrease in TC from baseline to on-treatment had a significant improvement in objective response and a longer TTP. Our data suggest that the shift in TC might be used to predict response to pembrolizumab in rare tumors. However, further investigations in larger cohorts are needed to determine the clinical value of TC, the shift in TC and the cut-off of 10% assessed in biopsies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02721732.

Dataset for the reporting of carcinoma of the esophagus in resection specimens: recommendations from the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A standardized data set for esophageal carcinoma pathology reporting was developed based on the approach of the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR) for the purpose of improving cancer patient outcomes and international benchmarking in cancer management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ICCR convened a multidisciplinary international expert panel to identify the best evidence-based clinical and pathological parameters for inclusion in the data set for esophageal carcinoma. The data set incorporated the current edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours of the Digestive System, and Tumour-Node-Metastasis staging systems.

RESULTS

The scope of the data set encompassed resection specimens of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction with tumor epicenter ≤20 mm into the proximal stomach. Core reporting elements included information on neoadjuvant therapy, operative procedure used, tumor focality, tumor site, tumor dimensions, distance of tumor to resection margins, histological tumor type, presence and type of dysplasia, tumor grade, extent of invasion in the esophagus, lymphovascular invasion, response to neoadjuvant therapy, status of resection margin, ancillary studies, lymph node status, distant metastases, and pathological staging. Additional non-core elements considered useful to report included clinical information, specimen dimensions, macroscopic appearance of tumor, and coexistent pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first international peer-reviewed structured reporting data set for surgically resected specimens of the esophagus. The ICCR carcinoma of the esophagus data set is recommended for routine use globally and is a valuable tool to support standardized reporting, to benefit patient care by providing diagnostic and prognostic best-practice parameters.

Current status and future perspectives on neoadjuvant therapy in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer, with high morbidity and mortality rates, is one of the most heterogeneous tumors. Radical gastrectomy and postoperative chemotherapy are the standard treatments. However, the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) need to be confirmed by many trials before implementation, creating a bottleneck in development. Although clinical benefits of NAT have been observed, a series of problems remain to be solved. Before therapy, more contributing factors should be offered for choice in the intended population and ideal regimens. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning is usually applied to evaluate effectiveness according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), yet CT scanning results sometimes differ from pathological responses. After NAT, the appropriate time for surgery is still empirically defined. Our review aims to discuss the abovementioned issues regarding NAT for GC, including indications, selection of regimens, lesion assessment and NAT-surgery interval time.

Prediction Model of Tumor Regression Grade for Advanced Gastric Cancer After Preoperative Chemotherapy

Background

Preoperative chemotherapy (PCT) has been considered an important treatment for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). The tumor regression grade (TRG) system is an effective tool for the assessment of patient responses to PCT. Pathological complete response (TRG = 0) of the primary tumor is an excellent predictor of better prognosis. However, which patients could achieve pathological complete response (TRG = 0) after chemotherapy is still unknown. The study aimed to find predictors of TRG = 0 in AGC.

Methods

A total of 304 patients with advanced gastric cancer from July 2009 to November 2018 were enrolled retrospectively. All patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to training and internal validation groups. In addition, 124 AGC patients receiving PCT from December 2018 to June 2020 were included prospectively in the external validation cohort. A prediction model for TRG = 0 was established based on four predictors in the training group and was validated in the internal and external validation groups.

Results

Through univariate and multivariate analyses, we found that CA199, CA724, tumor differentiation and short axis of the largest regional lymph node (LNmax) were independent predictors of TRG = 0. Based on the four predictors, we established a prediction model for TRG = 0. The AUC values of the prediction model in the training, internal and external validation groups were 0.84, 0.73 and 0.82, respectively.

Conclusions

We found that CA199, CA724, tumor differentiation and LNmax were associated with pathological response in advanced gastric cancer. The prediction model could provide guidance for clinical work.

Chemotherapy response score as a prognostic tool in patients with advanced stage endometrial carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy response score (CRS) applied to interval debulking specimens quantifies histopathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma and correlates with progression-free and overall survival.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the chemotherapy response score could be applied to interval debulking specimens in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma and be a prognostic indicator.

METHODS

The study included patients with clinical stage III-IV endometrial carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery. Chemotherapy response scores were assigned to omental and adnexal metastases, and categorized as no/minimal (CRS1), partial (CRS2), and complete/near-complete (CRS3) response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate baseline characteristics and feasibility of chemotherapy response score assessment. Univariate analyses were used to evaluate associations between the chemotherapy response score, complete cytoreduction, and survival.

RESULTS

This study included 40 patients. The median age was 63.5 years, and 31 patients (78%) had stage IV disease. Thirty patients had an omentectomy, 22 patients (73%) had an omental chemotherapy response score assigned. Thirty-nine patients had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 28 patients (72%) had an adnexal chemotherapy response score assigned. Omental CRS2 and CRS3 were associated with improved progression-free survival (CRS2: HR=0.18, p<0.01; CRS3: HR=0.11, p<0.01) and overall survival (CRS2: HR=0.10, p<0.01; CRS3: HR=0.16, p=0.04). Adnexal CRS2 and CRS3 were associated with improved progression-free survival (CRS2: HR=0.23, p<0.01; CRS3: HR=0.20, p=0.03). Chemotherapy response scores were also associated with an increased likelihood of having a complete cytoreduction.

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy response score can be applied to omental and adnexal metastases in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma and was associated with survival and complete cytoreduction. The score may be a prognostic indicator and help to guide first-line treatment of patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Staged laparoscopic management of locally advanced gastric cancer with outlet obstruction

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer with outlet obstruction is poor. Gastrectomy with curative intent is often initially impossible or difficult.

OBJECTIVE

We report our experience of curative distal gastrectomy after laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy and fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) chemotherapy to examine the feasibility and safety of this modified strategy for locally advanced gastric cancer with outlet obstruction, initially deemed unresectable.

METHODS

Between October 2017 and June 2019, 15 patients diagnosed with locally advanced gastric cancer with outlet obstruction sequentially underwent gastrojejunostomy, received four cycles of FLOT chemotherapy, and underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with curative intent (R0 resection + D2 lymphadenectomy). Clinical data were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

R0 resection was possible in 12/15 patients, laparoscopically in 11, and one conversion to laparotomy was necessary. There was no perioperative mortality in the 12 patients. Pathologic evaluation of the resected specimens revealed that complete tumor grade regression 1a (TRG1a), TRG1b, TRG2, and TRG3 occurred in 3, 2, 4, and 3 patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This case series showed that curative surgical resection was feasible as a staged approach for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer with outlet obstruction, after initial staged gastrojejunostomy and chemotherapy.

Predictors and significance of histologic response to neoadjuvant therapy for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Perioperative therapy is the standard-of-care for locally-advanced gastric cancer but many patients do not respond. There are currently no known factors that predict response to therapy.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study aimed to evaluate treatment effect grade (TEG) in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy and surgery at a single center. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of TEG, scaled from 0 to 3.

RESULTS

Fifty patients were identified. The majority were male (n = 33) and 50% were Hispanic. The most common regimens given were: 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (n = 23, 46%), epirubicin, cis- or oxaliplatin, and 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin or Xeloda (n = 8, 16%), and 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin and oxaliplatin (n = 9, 18%). Twenty-seven patients (55%) had complete or partial response to therapy (TEG 0-2), and 23 patients (46%) had no response (TEG 3). Of numerous variables analyzed, only race and SRC histology were associated with TEG. TEG was associated with disease free, but not disease specific survival.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort, 46% of patients had no histologic response to therapy. SRC histology, and possibly race, should be considered in determination of optimal multidisciplinary regimens and in amount of therapy to be given upfront, as patients with SRC histology and those of non-Asian race are less likely to respond to standard regimens.

Comparison of totally laparoscopic and laparoscopic assisted gastrectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and laparoscopic surgery have been increasingly used in the treatment of gastric cancer, however, the feasibility and safety of totally laparoscopic gastrectomy after NACT still remain unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

At the Gastrointestinal cancer center of Peking university cancer hospital and institute in Beijing, clinical and pathological data of patients who has received NACT, followed by radical laparoscopic gastrectomy was retrospectively reviewed between March 2011 and November 2019. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether intracorporeal anastomosis or extracorporeal anastomosis had been performed, short-term outcomes (post-operative recovery index and complications) and economic cost were compared between 2 groups.

RESULT

All of 139 patients underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy. 87 [62.6%] patients had totally laparoscopic gastrectomy (TLG) and 52 [37.4%] patients had laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy (LAG). Overall complication rate was 28.8% in all patients. TLG group was significantly associated with lower overall complication rate (21.8% VS 40.4%; p = 0.019) and major complication rate (3.4% VS 13.5%; p = 0.001) compared with LAG group. Overall cost was similar (p = 0.077). In subgroup analysis, totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) group showed lower overall postoperative complication rate (19.0% VS 56.5%; p = 0.011), as well as marginal significant differences in major complication (0% VS 21.7%; p = 0.05) than laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) group. Earlier first liquid diet (4 [3.5-5] day VS 6 [4-6.5] day; p = 0.047), earlier first aerofluxus (3 [3-4] day VS 4 [3-4.5] day; p = 0.02) and a shorter hospital stay (9 [8-12] day VS 12 [10-15] day; p = 0.004) were observed in TLTG group. Overall and major complication rate were similar in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) and laparoscopic assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) group (22.7% VS 27.6%; p = 0.611; 4.5% VS 6.9%; p = 0.639; respectively). Significant differences were found between TLDG and LADG groups regarding time to first liquid diet (4 [3-5] day VS 6 [3.75-6] day; p = 0.006), time to first aerofluxus (3 [3-3] day VS 4 [3-6] day; p< 0.001), time to first defecation (4 [4-5] day VS 5 [4-6] day; p = 0.045), time to remove all drainage (7 [6-8] day VS 8 [6-9] day; p = 0.021), white blood cell count on postoperative Day 1 (9.54 ± 2.49 10⁹/L VS 10.91 ± 2.89 10⁹/L; p = 0.021)and postoperative hospital stay (9 [8-10] day VS 10 [9,13] day; p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

For patients with Locally advanced gastric cancer who received NACT, totally laparoscopic gastrectomy, including TLTG and TLDG, doesn't increase complications and overall cost compared with LAG, and has advantages in gastrointestinal function recovery, incision length and postoperative hospital stay.

Prognostic value of visual residual tumour cells (VRTC) for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas after neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery

Background

We assessed visual residual tumour cells (VRTC) with both Becker’s tumour regression grading (TRG) system and Japanese TRG system in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery.

Methods

We compared Becker system and Japanese system in 175 ESCC patients treated between 2009 and 2015.

Results

According to Becker system, the 5-year DFS/DSS rates were 70.0%/89.3, 53.8%/56.7, 43.0%/49.0, and 42.4%/39.1% for TRG 1a (VRTC 0), TRG 1b (1–10%), TRG 2 (11–50%), and TRG 3 (> 50%). According to Japanese system, the rates were 38.8%/34.1, 49.5%/58.7, 50.2%/49.0 and 70.0%/89.3% for Grade 0-1a (VRTC> 66.6%), Grade 1b (33.3–66.6%), Grade 2 (1–33.3%) and Grade 3 (0). TRG according to two systems significantly discriminate the patients’ prognosis. TRG according to Becker system (HR 2.662, 95% CI 1.151–6.157), and lymph node metastasis (HR 2.567, 95% CI 1.442–4.570) were independent parameters of DSS.

Conclusions

Both Becker and Japanese system had their advantage in risk stratification of these ESCC patients. It was speculated that dividing 1–10% VRTC into a group might contribute to independently prognostic significance of Becker’s TRG system. Therefore, in addition to TRG of different systems, the percentage of VRTC might be recommended in the pathologic report, which could make the results more comparable among different researches, and more understandable for oncologists in the clinical practice.

Interobserver Variability in Assessing Pathologic Response to Preoperative Treatment in Rectal Cancer: Standardization of an Evaluation Method and Comparisons Between Published Scales

BACKGROUND

Evaluating tumor response of rectal cancer to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) has a prognostic value on overall survival; however, grading tumor response is a controversial issue due to lack of reproducibility and the lack of information about the standardization of the evaluation.

METHODS

We performed this study to examine the variability between observers' assessment of the pathological responses to NCRT using a systematic quantitative grading system based on a percentage of tumor response against the proportion of residual tumor burden. As a secondary aim, we classified the tumor response according to six published systems to determine the correlation between the observers into each grading system.

RESULTS

From 70 cases, the mean age was 60.6 ± 11.78 years, 36 (51.47%) patients were female, the pathological T stage was pT3 in 48.6% of cases, pT2 in 32.9%, pT1 in 11.4% and 7.1% in pT4, whereas 40% had lymph node metastasis. The median lymph node count was ten lymph nodes (range 6-43). Our method of tumor regression evaluation has a good intraclass correlation (ICC) value. From the scales compared regarding interobserver agreement, the Ryan's and Royal College of Pathologists showed fair agreement (but good ICC); the scales from Dworak, Becker, and Rizk showed substantial agreement (and good to excellent ICC values); and the scale from Rödel showed almost-perfect agreement.

RESULTS

All the evaluated systems showed good interobserver agreement, but the best interobserver agreement was reached with the Rödel's scale.

Prognostic value of pathological tumor regression grade in locally advanced gastric cancer: New perspectives from a single-center experience

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Perioperative chemotherapy (PC) with radical surgery represents the gold standard of treatment for resectable advanced gastric cancer (GC). The prognostic value of pathological tumor regression grade (TRG) induced by neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is not clearly established. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between TRG and survival in GC.

METHODS

Patients affected by advanced GC undergoing PC and radical surgery were considered. TRG was assessed for each patient according to Becker's grading system. The correlation between TRG and survival was investigated.

RESULTS

One-hundred patients were selected; 25 showed a good response (GR) (TRG 1a/1b), while 75 had a poor response (PR) (TRG 2/3) to NACT. GR patients showed better disease-free survival (DFS) (52 vs. 19 months, p < .001) and disease-specific survival (DSS) (57 vs. 25 months, p < .0001) when compared to PR patients. On univariate analysis, TRG, lymph node ratio (LNR), tumor size, grading, and post-neoadjuvant therapy TNM stage were significantly correlated with survival. On multivariate analysis, TRG, LNR and tumor size were independent prognostic factors for DFS and DSS.

CONCLUSIONS

TRG, LNR, and tumor size are independent prognostic factors for DFS and DSS in patients with advanced GC undergoing NACT.

Feasibility and Safety of Perioperative Chemotherapy With Fluorouracil Plus Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin, and Docetaxel for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients in China

Background

Neoadjuvant fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) has shown significant benefits for gastric cancer patients. However, it has not been well accepted in Asian countries. We conducted a prospective study on the safety and feasibility of the FLOT regimen in Chinese patients.

Methods

Patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach or esophagogastric junction received four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) with the FLOT regimen. The completion status of chemotherapy, adverse events, postoperative morbidities, and pathological tumor regression were analyzed. The 2-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival are presented.

Results

Altogether, 10 patients were enrolled, and all patients completed four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. There were no severe hematological adverse events (grade 3 or above), except for a case of grade 3 anemia. All 10 patients underwent radical gastrectomy. Nine patients had R0 resection, and three patients had complete or subtotal pathological tumor regression. Nine patients completed four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy, but only one patient completed the full dose of adjuvant chemotherapy. The dose of adjuvant chemotherapy was reduced by 25% or less in the other patients. The median follow-up time was 23.13 months, eight patients achieved the overall survival endpoint, and seven patients had relapse-free survival for this period. Two patients died of disease progression.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that the neoadjuvant FLOT regimen is safe and effective for Chinese patients. Dose adjustment is necessary for adjuvant chemotherapy. The pathological regression and survival rates need reevaluation in a larger cohort. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT03646591).

Histologic Lymph Nodes Regression after Preoperative Chemotherapy as Prognostic Factor in Non-metastatic Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Background: The study aims to evaluate the lymph node (LN) response to preoperative chemotherapy and its impact on long-term outcomes in advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

Methods: Histological specimens retrieved at gastrectomy from patients who received preoperative chemotherapy were evaluated. LN regression was graded by the adapted tumor regression grading system proposed by Becker. Patients were classified as node-negative (lnNEG) in the case of all negative LN without evidence of previous tumor involvement. Patients with LN metastasis were classified as nodal responders (lnR) in case of a regression score 1a-2 was detected in the LN. Nodal non-responders (lnNR) had a regression score of 3 in all of the metastatic nodes. Survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis.

Results:Among 87 patients included in the final analysis 29.9 % were lnNEG, 21.8 % were lnR and 48.3 % were lnNR. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a survival benefit for lnR over lnNR (p=0.03), while the survival of lnR and lnNEG patients was similar. Cox regression confirmed nodal response to be associated with decreased odds for death in univariate (HR: 0.33; 95 % CI 0.11-0.96, p=0.04) and multivariable (HR 0.37; 95 CI% 0.14-0.99, p=0.04) analysis.

Conclusions: Histologic regression of LN metastasis after preoperative chemotherapy predicts the increased survival of patients with non-metastatic resectable AGC.

Significance of Lauren Classification in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant/Perioperative Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancers-Analysis from a Large Single Center Cohort in Germany

Simple Summary

Chemotherapy ahead of surgery is standard of care for locally advanced stomach cancer or cancer at the junction between esophagus and stomach in Europe. However, response to chemotherapy may depend on microscopic features of the tumor. Three types were defined before: intestinal, diffuse and mixed types. The authors aimed to investigate if these characteristics influence survival after end of treatment (chemotherapy+surgery) in a large cohort treated in a University hospital. It was found that intestinal type patients demonstrate longer survival after chemotherapy+surgery than those with diffuse types. In the mixed type group no clear conclusion regarding the effect of chemotherapy ahead of surgery may be taken. Conclusively, patients with diffuse type tumors do not benefit from chemotherapy ahead of surgery.

Abstract

Background: the purpose of this analysis was to analyze the outcomes of multimodal treatment that are related to Lauren histotypes in gastro-esophageal cancer (GEC). Methods: patients with GEC between 1986 and 2013 were analyzed. Uni- and multivariate regression analysis were performed to identify predictors for overall survival. Lauren histotype stratified overall survival (OS)-rates were analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method. Further, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance for confounders. Results: 1290 patients were analyzed. After PSM, the median survival was 32 months for patients undergoing primary surgery (PS) and 43 months for patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCTx) ahead of surgery. For intestinal types, median survival time was 34 months (PS) vs. 52 months (nCTx+surgery) p = 0.07, 36 months (PS) vs. (31) months (nCTx+surgery) in diffuse types (p = 0.44) and 31 months (PS) vs. 62 months (nCTx+surgery) for mixed types (p = 0.28). Five-/Ten-year survival rates for intestinal, diffuse, and mixed types were 44/29%, 36/17%, and 43/33%, respectively. After PSM, Kaplan–Meier showed a survival benefit for patients undergoing nCTx+surgery in intestinal and mixed types. Conclusion: the Lauren histotype might be predictive for survival outcome in GEC-patients after neoadjuvant/perioperative chemotherapy.

Perioperative FLOT chemotherapy plus surgery for oligometastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma: surgical outcome and overall survival

BACKGROUND

Guidelines do not recommend surgery for patients with oligometastatic disease from esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (EGAC), although some studies suggest a more favorable survival. We analyzed the outcome of oligometastatic EGAC receiving FLOT chemotherapy followed by surgery.

METHODS

The data of patients with either pre-therapeutic, post-neoadjuvant or intraoperative clinical diagnosis of oligometastatic EGAC were extracted from a prospective database of the 2009-2018 treatment period. 48 consecutive patients were identified with oligometastatic disease, who underwent perioperative chemotherapy plus surgery. We retrospectively analyzed surgical outcome and overall survival.

RESULTS

The overall 5-year survival was 18%. 12 patients (25%) with pre-therapeutic oligometastatic EGAC, who had no histologic vital tumor evidence of metastases after surgery had a survival rate of 48% compared to an 11% 5-year survival rate of 36 patients (75%), who had histologic vital tumor metastatic evidence after FLOT chemotherapy and surgical resection (p = 0.012). The survival rates after R0, R1 and R2 (non-resected metastases) resection were 21% (n = 33), 0% (n = 4) and 17% (n = 11), respectively (p = 0.273).

CONCLUSION

Oligometastatic EGAC is associated with poor overall survival even after complete resection of all tumor manifestations. The subgroup of patients with a complete histologic response of metastatic lesions to neoadjuvant FLOT shows 5-year survival rates similar to non-metastatic EGAC. Trial registration Not applicable.

Impact of the Interval Between Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Gastrectomy on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes for Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

The optimal time between neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between the time-to-surgery (TTS) interval and the major pathologic response (mPR).

METHODS

In this study, 280 consecutive GC patients who underwent NAC followed by gastrectomy between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed by the use of prospectively collected databases from three major GC treatment centers in Lithuania and Estonia. Based on TTS, they were grouped into three interval categories: the early-surgery group (ESG: ≤ 30 days; n = 70), the standard-surgery group (SSG: 31-43 days; n = 138), and the delayed-surgery group (DSG: ≥ 44 days, n = 72). The primary outcome of the study was the mPR rate. The secondary end points were postoperative morbidity, mortality, oncologic safety (measured as the number of resected lymph nodes and radicality), and long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

The mPR rate for the ESG group (32.9%) was significantly higher than for the SSG group (20.3%) or the DSG group (16.7%) (p = 0.047). Furthermore, after adjustment for patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics, the odds for achievement of mPR were twofold higher for the patients undergoing early surgery (odds ratio [OR] 2.09; 95% conflidence interval [CI] 1.01-4.34; p = 0.047). Overall morbidity, severe complications, 30-day mortality, R0 resection, and retrieval of at least 15 lymph nodes rates were similar across the study groups. In addition, the long-term outcomes did not differ between the study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that an interval of more than 30 days between the end of NAC and gastrectomy is associated with a higher mPR rate, the same oncologic safety of surgery, and similar morbidity and mortality.

Nomogram for Predicting Survival in Advanced Gastric Cancer after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radical Surgery

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with subsequent radical surgery has become a popular treatment modality for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) worldwide. However, the survival benefit is still controversial, and prognostic factors remain undetermined.

AIM

To identify clinical parameters that are associated with the survival of AGC patients after NAC and radical surgery and to establish a nomogram integrating multiple factors to predict survival.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical profiles of 215 AGC patients who received NAC and radical resection, and clinical parameters concerning NAC, surgery, pathological findings, and adjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed using a Cox regression model to determine their impact on survival. Based on these factors, a nomogram was developed and validated.

RESULTS

The overall 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 85.8% and 55.6%, respectively. Younger age (<60 years old), increased examined lymph nodes (exLNs), successful R0 resection, the achievement of pathological complete response (pCR), and acceptance of adjuvant chemotherapy were positive predictors of survival. The C-index of the established nomogram was 0.785. The area under receiver operating curve (ROC) at 1/3 years of prediction was 0.694/0.736, respectively. The model showed an ideal calibration following internal bootstrap validation.

CONCLUSION

A nomogram predicting survival after NAC and surgery was established. Since this nomogram exhibited satisfactory and stable predictive power, it can be inferred that this is a practical tool for predicting AGC patient survival after NAC and radical surgery.

Posttherapy topographical nodal status, ypN-site, predicts survival of patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by curative surgical resection for non-type 4 locally advanced gastric cancer: supplementary analysis of JCOG1004-A

BACKGROUND

Perioperative treatment is an accepted standard approach for treating locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). Histopathological tumor regression with < 10% residual tumor is a globally accepted prognosticator in LAGC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and curative surgery. However, despite a response of the primary tumor, a significant percentage of patients dies from recurrence and identification of those at risk for relapse remains challenging. We re-estimated the value of histopathological tumor regression as a prognosticator alongside other factors, especially posttherapy topographical nodal status, ypN-site.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Individual patient data including clinicopathological variables were used from the four JCOG trials investigating NAC (JCOG0001, JCOG0002, JCOG0210, JCOG0405) for analyzing prognosticators in patients with curative surgery excluding those with type 4 AGC by univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

Among 85 patients, 5-year overall survival (OS) was 46.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 35.0-56.4] with a median follow-up of 3.2 years. On univariable analysis, histopathological tumor regression with ≥ 10% residual tumor and ypN-site 2-3 were negatively associated with OS [≥ 10% residual tumor: hazard ratio (HR) 2.60; 95% CI 1.22-5.54; P = 0.014; ypN2-3: HR 3.59; 95% CI 1.60-8.06; P = 0.002). On multivariable analysis, only ypN-site 2-3 was predictive of OS (HR 3.67; 95% CI 1.55-8.69; P = 0.003), whereas histopathological tumor regression with ≥ 10% residual tumor was not (HR 2.24; 95% CI 0.98-5.10; P = 0.055).

CONCLUSIONS

ypN-site may have greater impact on OS than histopathological tumor regression in patients who received NAC plus surgery for non-type 4 LAGC.

Phase II Study of Preoperative Intra-Arterial Epirubicin, Etoposide, and Oxaliplatin Combined with Oral S-1 Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Borrmann Type 4 Gastric Cancer

Purpose

A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative, intra-arterial perfusion of epirubicin, etoposide, and oxaliplatin combined with oral chemotherapy S-1 (SEEOX) for the treatment of type 4 gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods

A single-center, single-arm phase II trial was conducted on 36 patients with histologically proven type 4 gastric cancer without distant peritoneal or organ metastasis. Patients received 3, 21-day courses of SEEOX preoperative chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and the secondary outcomes assessed were chemotherapeutic response, radical resection rate, pathological regression, toxicities, postoperative morbidity, and mortality.

Results

All patients were at an advanced stage of cancer (stage III or IV) and completed the entire course of treatment. Based on changes in tumor volume and peritoneal metastasis, the objective response rate was 55.6% (20/36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 38.5%–72.6%) and the disease control rate was 69.4% (25/36; 95% CI, 53.6%–85.3%). The radical resection rate was 75% (27/36; 95% CI, 60.1%–89.9%) and the proportion of R0 resections was 66.7% (21/36; 95% CI, 50.5%–82.8%). The pathological response rate was 33.3%, of which 13.9% showed complete pathological regression. The median survival was 27.1 months (95% CI, 22.24–31.97 months), and the 2-year OS was 48.5% (95% CI, 30.86%–66.1%).

Conclusions

Preoperative SEEOX is a safe and effective treatment for type 4 gastric cancer. Based on these preliminary data, a phase III study will be conducted to confirm the superiority of this regimen over standard treatment.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02949258

Microsatellite Status Affects Tumor Response and Survival in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Clinical Stage III Gastric Cancer

Background

We assessed the association between microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) and tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) as well as its prognostic relevance in patients with clinical stage III gastric cancer (cStage III GC).

Materials and Methods

The NAC + surgery and the control cohorts consisted of 177 and 513 cStage III GC patients, respectively. The clinical and pathological features were compared between patients with MSI-H [n=57 (8.3%)] and microsatellite stability or microsatellite instability-low (MSS/MSI-L) [n=633 (91.7%)]. Radiological and histological response to NAC were evaluated based on response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) and tumor regression grade (TRG) systems, respectively. The log-rank test and Cox analysis were used to determine the survival associated with MSI status as well as tumor regression between the two groups in both NAC + surgery and the control cohorts.

Results

A statistically significant association was found between MSI-H and poor histological response to NAC (p=0.038). Significant survival priority of responders over poor-responders could only be observed in MSS/MSI-L but not in MSI-H tumors. However, patients with MSI-H had statistically significantly better survival compared to patients with MSS/MSI-L in both the NAC + surgery (hazard ratio=0.125, 95% CI, 0.017–0.897, p=0.037 ) and the control cohort (hazard ratio=0.479, 95% CI, 0.268–0.856, p=0.013).

Conclusion

MSI-H was associated with poorer regression and better survival after NAC for cStage III GC. TRG evaluation had prognostic significance in MSS/MSI-L but not in MSI-H. Further studies are needed to assess the value of NAC for cStage III GC patients with MSI-H phenotype.

Transcriptomic biomarkers for predicting response to neoadjuvant treatment in oesophageal cancer

Oesophageal cancer is a devastating disease with poor outcomes and is the sixth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In the setting of resectable disease, there is clear evidence that neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy result in improved survival. Disappointingly, only 15%-30% of patients obtain a histopathological response to neoadjuvant therapy, often at the expense of significant toxicity. There are no predictive biomarkers in routine clinical use in this setting and the ability to stratify patients for treatment could dramatically improve outcomes. In this review, we aim to outline current progress in evaluating predictive transcriptomic biomarkers for neoadjuvant therapy in oesophageal cancer and discuss the challenges facing biomarker development in this setting. We place these issues in the wider context of recommendations for biomarker development and reporting. The majority of studies focus on messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers. These studies report a range of different genes involved in a wide variety of pathways and biological processes, and this is explained to a large extent by the different platforms and analysis methods used. Many studies are also vastly underpowered so are not suitable for identifying a candidate biomarker. Multiple molecular subtypes of oesophageal cancer have been proposed, although little is known about how these relate to clinical outcomes. We anticipate that the accumulating wealth of genomic and transcriptomic data and clinical trial collaborations in the coming years will provide unique opportunities to stratify patients in this poor-prognosis disease and recommend that future biomarker development incorporates well-designed retrospective and prospective analyses.

Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of perioperative S-1 plus oxaliplatin combined with apatinib and camrelizumab in patients with resectable, locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma

Background

Perioperative therapy can improve the low survival benefit of surgery alone for locally advanced gastric cancer. The introduction of immunotherapy and its combination with chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy has created more opportunities for optimal treatment. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and safety of S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) combined with apatinib (SOXA) or SOX combined with apatinib and camrelizumab (SOXAP) versus SOX as the perioperative therapy for resectable, locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma.

Methods

The study was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled trial conducted in China. Eligible participants were randomized to the SOX, SOXA, and SOXAP groups. Patients received three pre-operative and three postoperative 3-week cycles of SOX or SOXA or SOXAP, followed by apatinib (SOXA group) or apatinib combined with camrelizumab (SOXAP group) for 3 cycles, which could be continued at the investigator's choice. Overall treatment is up to 1 year of apatinib and up to 17 cycles of camrelizumab. SOX is 130 mg/m² oxaliplatin on day 1 plus S-1 orally twice daily on days 1 to 14. Apatinib is orally administered at a dose of 500 mg (SOXA group) or 250 mg (SOXAP group) on days 1 to 21, and camrelizumab 200 mg is given intravenously once every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was major pathological response assessed by blinded independent review committee. The secondary endpoints included pathological complete response, lymph node status after neoadjuvant therapy, margin-free resection rate, progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and safety.

Discussion

The trial provides important data regarding the use of perioperative SOXAP and SOXA for patients with resectable, locally advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma. The results will contribute to optimal perioperative disease treatment.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (no. NCT04208347). First posted on December 23, 2019.

Neoadjuvant FLOT versus SOX phase II randomized clinical trial for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FLOT regimen) has shown promising results in terms of pathological response and survival rate in patients with locally advanced resectable gastric cancer (LAGC). However, tegafur gimeracil oteracil potassium capsule (S-1) plus oxaliplatin (SOX regimen) is the preferred chemotherapy regimen in Eastern countries. Here, we conduct an open label, two-arm, phase II randomized interventional clinical trial (Dragon III; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03636893) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of both regimens. Patients with LAGC are randomly assigned to receive either 4 cycles of the neoadjuvant FLOT regimen (40 patients) or 3 cycles of the SOX regimen (34 patients) before gastrectomy. The primary endpoint is the comparison of complete (TRG1a) or subtotal (TRG1b) tumor regression grading in the primary tumor. There are no significant differences in adverse effects or postoperative morbidity and mortality between the two groups. No significant differences in the proportion of tumor regression grading between the FLOT group and the SOX group are found. Complete or subtotal TRG is 20.0% in the FLOT group versus 32.4% in the SOX group. Therefore, our study does not find statistically significant differences between neoadjuvant FLOT and SOX regimens for the primary outcomes reported here in locally advanced gastric cancer.

Tumor regression grading after neoadjuvant treatment of esophageal and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: results of an international Delphi consensus survey

Complete histopathologic tumor regression after neoadjuvant treatment is a well-known prognostic factor for survival among patients with adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction. The aim of this international Delphi survey was to reach a consensus regarding the most useful tumor regression grading (TRG) system that could represent an international standard for histopathologic TRG grading of gastroesophageal carcinomas. Fifteen pathologists with special interest in esophageal and gastric pathology participated in the online survey. The initial questionnaire contained of 43 statements that addressed the following topics: (1) specimen processing, (2) gross examination, (3) cross sectioning, (4) staining, (5) Barrett's esophagus, (6) TRG systems, and (7) TRG in lymph node (LN). Participants rated the items using a 5-point Likert style scale and were encouraged to write comments for each statement. The expert panel recommended a 4-tiered TRG system for assessing the primary tumor: grade 1: No residual tumor (complete histopathologic tumor regression), grade 2: less than 10% residual tumor (near-complete regression), grade 3: 10%-50% residual tumor (partial regression), grade 4: greater than 50% residual tumor (minimal/no regression), combined with a 3-tiered system for grading therapeutic response in metastatic LNs: grade a: no residual tumor (complete histopathologic TRG), grade b: partial regression (tumor cells and regression), grade c: no regression (no sign of tumor response). This TRG grading system can be recommended as an international standard for histopathologic TRG grading in esophageal and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Neoadjuvant systemic and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with cytoreductive surgery for gastric cancer patients with limited peritoneal metastasis: a prospective cohort study

Background

There is no currently available treatment for peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. This phase II study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) combined with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for the treatment of these patients.

Methods

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy comprised two cycles of HIPEC and four cycles of S-1 plus paclitaxel. HIPEC was administered intraperitoneally with paclitaxel (75 mg/m²). For systemic chemotherapy, paclitaxel was administered intravenously(150 mg/m²) on day 1, and S-1 was administered orally(80 mg/m²/day)on days 1–14 of a 3-week cycle. Another two cycles of HIPEC and four cycles of S-1 plus paclitaxel were administered after second diagnostic staging laparoscopy or CRS. The primary endpoints were treatment efficiency and safety; the secondary endpoint was 3-year overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 40 patients were enrolled and 38 patients have been analyzed. Of these, 18 (47.4%) patients received neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy, HIPEC and CRS (conversion therapy group), while 20 patients received only chemotherapy and HIPEC (palliative chemotherapy group). Median OS was markedly improved in the conversion therapy group (21.1 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] 16.7–25.6 months) in comparison with the palliative chemotherapy group(10.8 months, 95%CI 7.3–14.2 months, p = 0.002). After neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy and HIPEC, a second laparoscopic exploration was performed, and the prognosis of patients with low peritoneal cancer index (PCI) (PCI < 6) was significantly better than that of patients with high PCI (PCI ≥ 6)(20.1 vs.11.3 months, p = 0.006).

Conclusion

Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy and HIPEC combined with CRS is safe and feasible, and could potentially improve the prognosis of gastric cancer patients with limited peritoneal metastasis. However, further clinical trials are still warranted.

Trial registration

This study has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02549911. Trial registration date: 15/09/2015.

LPS Enhances the Chemosensitivity of Oxaliplatin in HT29 Cells via GSDMD-Mediated Pyroptosis

Introduction

Pyroptosis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a dissolved form of cell death. The molecular marker gasdermin D, specifically GSDMD-N, is critically required for the induction of pyroptosis. Recently, there have been studies showing that LPS is closely related to tumor biology.

Methods

Specimens from 40 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) were collected. Eight- to twelve-week-old C57BL6 male mice (n=30) were raised. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to test the expression of GSDMD. Moreover, cytotoxicity assay, IL-18 and IL-1β ELISA, Annexin V and PI stain, and wound healing assay were also made. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) was used to verify the expression of GSDMD and overall survival of CRC patients with a high/low expression of GSDMD.

Results

In the research, we showed that the poor prognosis in CRC patients was significantly related to the GSDMD expression and significantly down-regulated in human colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues. Treatment with LPS, but not TNF-α, induced pyroptosis via promoting the expression of GSDMD and GSDMD-N membrane translocation and enhanced chemosensitivity in response to L-OHP in HT29 cells. Furthermore, the enforced expression of GSDMD in HT29 cells reduced cell survival and induced cell death.

Discussion

These results of studies suggest that the low expression of GSDMD correlates with a poor CRC prognosis, and that pyroptosis induced by LPS may improve the anti-cancer effect of L-OHP, inhibiting the tumorigenesis of CRC by activating GSDMD. Our findings lay the foundation for further development of GSDMD serving as an important prognostic biomarker and a valid CRC therapeutic target.

Tumor Regression in Lymph Node Metastases of Esophageal Adenocarcinomas after Neoadjuvant Therapy

Tumor regression following neoadjuvant treatment can be observed in lymph node (LN) metastases similar to the primary tumor in esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC). We evaluated the prognostic significance of tumor regression in LN metastases of locally advanced EAC of 239 patients treated with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCTX) or chemotherapy (CTX) followed by esophagectomy. We examined retrospectively the LN for histopathologic signs of regression, i.e., nodular fibrosis and acellular mucin. LN classification was performed according to two parameters: presence (−) or absence (+) of residual tumor and regression characteristics in the LN, resulting in four categories: LN−/REG−, LN−/REG+, LN+/REG+, LN+/REG−. In total, LN metastases with residual tumor were detectable in 117/239 (49%) cases. Regression in LN were observed in 85/239 cases (35.5%). The distribution of the LN/REG categories were as follows: 97 patients (40.6%) were LN−/REG−. A total of 25 patients (10.5%) were LN−/REG+. A total of 60 (25.1%) were LN+/REG+ and 57 (23.8%) LN+/REG−. The LN/Reg categorization had a significant prognostic value in univariate analysis (p < 0.001) and multivariate analysis (HR = 1.326; p = 0.002) with similar results for the subgroups of patients treated with RCTX or CTX. The prognosis of LN−/REG+ was worse than LN−/REG− but better than both LN+ categories, which was demonstrated in the Kaplan–Meier curves but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.104 and p = 0.090, respectively). In contrast, there was no difference between LN+/REG+ and LN+/REG− (p = 0.802). In summary, regression in LN metastases of EAC can be observed in a significant number of patients after neoadjuvant therapy. Complete regression of former LN metastases in comparison to “true” negative LN seems to be of prognostic relevance but additional studies are needed to confirm this trend seen in our study.

Preoperative or Perioperative Docetaxel, Oxaliplatin, and Capecitabine (GASTRODOC Regimen) in Patients with Locally-Advanced Resectable Gastric Cancer: A Randomized Phase-II Trial

Docetaxel associated with oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (FLOT) has been reported as the best perioperative treatment for gastric cancer. However, there is still some debate about the most appropriate number and timing of chemotherapy cycles. In this randomized multicenter phase II study, patients with resectable gastric cancer were staged through laparoscopy and peritoneal lavage cytology, and randomly assigned (1:1) to either four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (arm A) or two preoperative + two postoperative cycles of docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine (DOC) chemotherapy (arm B). The primary endpoint was to assess the percentage of patients receiving all the planned preoperative or perioperative chemotherapeutic cycles. Ninety-one patients were enrolled between September 2010 and August 2016. The treatment was well tolerated in both arms. Thirty-three (71.7%) and 24 (53.3%) patients completed the planned cycles in arms A and B, respectively (p = 0.066), reporting an odds ratio for early interruption of treatment of 0.45 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18–1.07). Resection was curative in 39 (88.6%) arm A patients and 35 (83.3%) arm B patients. Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 51.2% (95% CI: 34.2–65.8) in arm A and 40.3% (95% CI: 28.9–55.2) in arm B (p = 0.300). Five-year survival was 58.5% (95% CI: 41.3–72.2) and 53.9% (95% CI: 35.5–69.3) (p = 0.883) in arms A and B, respectively. The planned treatment was more frequently completed and was more active, albeit not significantly, in the neoadjuvant arm than in the perioperative group.

RACE-trial: neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy versus chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced, potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction - a randomized phase III joint study of the AIO, ARO and DGAV

Background

Despite obvious advances over the last decades, locally advanced adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) still carry a dismal prognosis with overall 5-year survival rates of less than 50% even when using modern optimized treatment protocols such as perioperative chemotherapy based on the FLOT regimen or radiochemotherapy. Therefore the question remains whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy is eliciting the best results in patients with GEJ cancer. Hence, an adequately powered multicentre trial comparing both therapeutic strategies is clearly warranted.

Methods

The RACE trial is a an investigator initiated multicenter, prospective, randomized, stratified phase III clinical trial and seeks to investigate the role of preoperative induction chemotherapy (2 cycles of FLOT: 5-FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, docetaxel) with subsequent preoperative radiochemotherapy (oxaliplatin weekly, 5-FU plus concurrent fractioned radiotherapy to a dose of 45 Gy) compared to preoperative chemotherapy alone (4 cycles of FLOT), both followed by resection and postoperative completion of chemotherapy (4 cycles of FLOT), in the treatment of locally advanced, potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. Patients with cT3–4, any N, M0 or cT2 N+, M0 adenocarcinoma of the GEJ are eligible for inclusion. The RACE trial aims to enrol 340 patients to be allocated to both treatment arms in a 1:1 ratio stratified by tumour site. The primary endpoint of the trial is progression-free survival assessed with follow-up of maximum 60 months. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, R0 resection rate, number of harvested lymph nodes, site of tumour relapse, perioperative morbidity and mortality, safety and toxicity and quality of life.

Discussion

The RACE trial compares induction chemotherapy with FLOT followed by preoperative oxaliplatin and 5-Fluorouracil-based chemoradiation versus preoperative chemotherapy with FLOT alone, both followed by surgery and postoperative completion of FLOT chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced, non-metastatic adenocarcinoma of the GEJ. The trial aims to show superiority of the combined chemotherapy/radiochemotherapy treatment, assessed by progression-free survival, over perioperative chemotherapy alone.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT04375605; Registered 4th May 2020;

Precancerous lesions of the stomach, gastric cancer and hereditary gastric cancer syndromes

Gastric cancer accounts for about 6% of cancers worldwide, being the fifth most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer related death. Gastric carcinogenesis is a multistep and multifactorial process and is the result of the complex interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. The identification of predisposing conditions and of precancerous lesions is the basis for screening programs and early stage treatment. Furthermore, although most gastric cancers are sporadic, familial clustering is observed in up to 10% of patients. Among them, hereditary cases, related to known cancer susceptibility syndromes and/or genetic causes are thought to account for 1-3% of all gastric cancers. The pathology report of gastric resections specimens therefore requires a standardized approach as well as in depth knowledge of prognostic and treatment associated factors.

Pattern of Recurrence and Patient Survival after Perioperative Chemotherapy with 5-FU, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin and Docetaxel (FLOT) for Locally Advanced Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma in Patients Treated Outside Clinical Trials

Background: The 5-FU, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin and Docetaxel (FLOT) protocol provides superior oncologic results compared to other perioperative chemotherapeutic protocols for the treatment of non-metastatic esophagogastric cancer (EGAC). Survival and the pattern of recurrence of EGAC after FLOT and curative tumor resection are analyzed in a collective of patients treated outside clinical trials. Methods: Two-hundred-seventy-seven patients with EGAC (cT3-4 and/or cN+) were treated with perioperative FLOT-chemotherapy plus curative surgery between 2009 and 2018. Data were analyzed retrospectively from a prospective database. Results: Two-hundred-twenty-eight patients were included in the analysis. Postoperative in-hospital mortality was 2%. The median survival was 61–months, and median recurrence-free survival was 42 months. Multivariate analysis identified postoperative nodal status and T-stage as independent predictors of improved overall and recurrence-free survival. Administration of adjuvant chemotherapy failed to be significant for overall survival but was an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival. Recurrence occurred after a median of 9 months (range 1–46 months). Eighty-nine percent of recurrence occurred during the first 24 months. The rate of local recurrence was low. After surgery for gastric cancer, the major recurrence site was peritoneal carcinomatosis (56%), while esophageal cancer recurred mostly as metastasis to distant organs (78%). The specific site of recurrence had no impact on overall survival time. Conclusion: Real-life application of FLOT shows oncologic results comparable to clinical trials. Recurrence after FLOT and surgery for EGAC occurs predominantly early within the first two years after surgery and in the form of distant organ metastasis for esophageal tumors or peritoneal carcinomatosis for gastric tumors.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Metabolic Parameters Before and After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Can Predict the Postoperative Prognosis of Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer

Objective: To explore the value of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) metabolic parameters before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in predicting histopathological response and prognosis of locally advanced gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 56 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max), mean standardized uptake value (SUV_mean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of the lesions were measured before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The percentage changes in the maximum standardized uptake value (ΔSUV_max%), mean standardized uptake value (ΔSUV_mean%), metabolic tumor volume (ΔMTV%), and total lesion glycolysis (ΔTLG%), which were derived from ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, were calculated, and the cutoff values were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Differences in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between groups dichotomized by these cutoffs were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: The patients were divided into histopathological responders and nonresponders according to the following cutoff values: 58.8% SUV_max reduction, 45.8% SUV_mean reduction, 36.9% MTV reduction, and 57.8% TLG reduction. The differences in PFS and OS between groups dichotomized by these cutoffs were significant (all p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis suggested that a ΔTLG% > 57.8% was an independent postoperative risk factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.348, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.131-0.926, p = 0.035) and OS (HR 0.107, 95% CI 0.023-0.498, p = 0.004). Conclusions: The metabolic parameters before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT accurately reflected the chemotherapy effect, and ΔTLG% was the only independent postoperative predictive factor of PFS and OS for locally advanced gastric cancer.

Histopathologic Response Is a Positive Predictor of Overall Survival in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant/Perioperative Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancers-Analysis from a Large Single Center Cohort in Germany

There is conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of neoadjuvant/perioperative chemotherapy (NCT) for gastro-esophageal cancer (GEC) on overall survival. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of multimodal treatments in a large single center cohort. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients treated with NCT, followed by intended curative oncological surgery for locally advanced gastric cancer. Uni- and multivariate regression analysis were performed to identify the predictors of overall survival. From over 3000 patients, 702 eligible patients were analyzed. In the univariate analysis clinical stage, application of preoperative PLF, requirement of surgical extension, UICC-stage, grading, R-status, Lauren histotype, and HPR were the prognostic survival factors. In multivariate analysis PLF regimen, UICC-stages, R-status, Lauren histotype, and histopathologic regression (HPR) were significant predictors of overall survival. Overall HPR-rate was 26.9%. HPR was highest in the cT2cN0 stage (55.9%), and lowest in the cT3/4 cN+ stage (21.6%). FLOT demonstrated the highest HPR (37.5%). Independent predictors for HPR were the clinical stage and grading. Kaplan Meier analyses demonstrated significant survival benefits for the responding patients (p < 0.0001). HPR after NCT was an important prognostic factor to predict overall survival for locally advanced GEC. FLOT should be the preferred regimen in patients undergoing NCT ahead of surgery.

Evaluation and Comparison of Predictive Value of Tumor Regression Grades according to Mandard and Becker in Locally Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Purpose

Tumor regression grade (TRG) has been widely used in gastrointestinal carcinoma to assess pathological responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). There are various standards without a consensus, and it is still unclear which kind of system has better predictive value. This study aims to investigate and compare the predictive ability of the Mandard and Becker TRGs in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods

A total of 290 patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent NCT and curative surgery were studied. Survival analysis for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were based on the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards method. Predictive values of TRGs and models were assessed by time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the area under the ROC curve (AUC), nomogram, and calibration curve.

Results

In multivariable analysis, the Mandard TRG was associated with OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.806; p=0.026) and DFS (HR, 1.792; p=0.017). The Becker TRG was also related to OS (HR, 1.880; p=0.014) and DFS (HR, 1.919; p=0.006). The Mandard and Becker TRG AUCs for 5-year survival were 0.72 and 0.71, respectively. The whole models showed an increased predictive value, with AUCs of 0.85 and 0.86, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two TRGs and two models.

Conclusion

TRG was an independent predictor for survival, and there was no significant difference between these two systems.