Comparison of gastric cancer survival following R0 resection in the United States and Korea using an internationally validated nomogram

A nomogram to predict overall survival and disease-free survival after curative resection of gastric adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The American Cancer Society projects there will be over 22,000 new cases, resulting in nearly 11,000 deaths, related to gastric adenocarcinoma in the US in 2014. The aim of the current study was to find clinicopathologic variables associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) following curative resection of gastric adenocarcinoma, and create a nomogram for individual risk prediction.

METHODS

A nomogram to predict DFS and OS following surgical resection of gastric adenocarcinoma was constructed using a multi-institutional cohort of patients who underwent surgery for primary gastric adenocarcinoma at seven major institutions in the US between January 2000 and August 2013. Discrimination and calibration of the nomogram were tested by C-statistic, Kaplan-Meier curves, and calibration plots.

RESULTS

A total of 719 patients who underwent surgery for primary gastric adenocarcinoma were included in the study. Using the backward selection of clinically relevant variables with Akaike information criteria, age, sex, tumor site, depth of invasion, and lymph node ratio (LNR) were selected as factors predictive of OS, while age, tumor site, depth of invasion, and LNR were incorporated in the prediction of DFS. A nomogram was constructed to predict OS and DFS using these variables. Discrimination and calibration of the nomogram revealed good predictive abilities (C-index, DFS 0.711; OS 0.702).

CONCLUSION

Independent predictors of recurrence and death following surgery for primary gastric adenocarcinoma were used to create a nomogram to predict DFS and OS. The nomogram was able to stratify patients into prognostic groups, and performed well on internal validation.

Personalized Surgery for Gastric Adenocarcinoma: A Meta-analysis of D1 versus D2 Lymphadenectomy

BACKGROUND

The recent publication of 5-year survival data for the Italian Gastric Cancer Study Group (IGCSG) D1 versus D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer trial adds important data for analysis of whether a D2 lymphadenectomy improves survival.

METHODS

Systematic searches were conducted using Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1, 1985 to February 1, 2014. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan version 5 software. Long-term outcomes were analyzed. Subgroup analyses of T and N stage were performed.

RESULTS

Outcomes of four randomized, controlled trials involving 1,599 patients (823 D1: 776 D2) enrolled from 1982 to 2005 were included for qualitative analysis and quantitative meta-analysis. Despite the addition of long-term survival data from the IGCSG, 5-year overall and nodal status survival was similar between D1 and D2 trials. However, subgroup analysis revealed a survival benefit for T3 patients (odds ratio 1.64, 95 % confidence interval 1.01-2.67) and a trend for survival benefit for advanced nodal stage (odds ratio 1.36, 95 % confidence interval 0.98-1.87) with D2 compared with D1 lymphadenectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

As recent studies have demonstrated comparable short-term surgical outcomes for both D1 and D2 lymphadenectomies, consideration should be made for more extensive lymph node dissection among patients with advanced stage.

Laparoscopic gastric surgery for cancer: Where do we stand?

Gastric cancer poses a significant public health problem, especially in the Far East, due to its high incidence in these areas. Surgical treatment and guidelines have been markedly different in the West, but nowadays this debate is apparently coming to an end. Laparoscopic surgery has been employed in the surgical treatment of gastric cancer for two decades now, but with controversies about the extent of resection and lymphadenectomy. Despite these difficulties, the apparent advantages of the laparoscopic approach helped its implementation in early stage and distal gastric cancer, with an increase on the uptake for distal gastrectomy for more advanced disease and total gastrectomy. Nevertheless, there is no conclusive evidence about the laparoscopic approach yet. In this review article we present and analyse the current status of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma: a multi-institutional US study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Potential differences in presentation and outcome of patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) and non-cardia adenocarcinoma may exist. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of GCA versus non-cardia adenocarcinoma.

METHOD

Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent gastric resection between 2000-2012 were identified. Clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes were analyzed based on tumor site using a 1:2 matched-control, as well as a multivariable Cox model.

RESULTS

Among 743 patients, 80 (10.7%) patients were diagnosed with GCA. Patients with GCA were more likely to have intestinal tumor type (GCA: 80.4% versus non-cardia: 64.2%, P = 0.04) or advanced AJCC T stage tumors (GCA 71.8% versus non-cardia 59.2%, P = 0.03). GCA patients more likely underwent a total gastrectomy (GCA: 85.7% vs. non-cardia: 39.8%) and had a longer length-of-stay (GCA: 10 days vs. non-cardia: 8 days) (both P < 0.05). Outcomes in early stage I patients were worse among GCA (disease-free survival, 44.2%; overall survival, 42.3%) versus non-GCA (disease-free survival, 60.8%; overall survival, 63.0%) patients(both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In general, disease-free survival and overall survival were similar between patients with GCA versus non-cardia adenocarcinoma. However, long-term outcome was worse among patients with GCA and early stage disease.

Race/Ethnicity is predictive of lymph node status in patients with early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Race/ethnicity has long been suspected to affect survival in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. However, the clinicohistopathological impact of race or ethnicity on early gastric cancer (EGC) is not known.

METHODS

From 2000 to 2013, 286 patients underwent gastrectomy and 104 patients had pathological confirmation of EGC. A retrospective analysis of pathological and clinical prognostic indicators was performed.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 38 (37%) Asian Americans and 66 (63%) non-Asian Americans. Of these, 2 (5.3%) Asian Americans and 19 (28.8%) non-Asian Americans had pathological confirmation of lymph node metastasis (LNM) (p = 0.004). Univariate analysis comparing the clinicohistopathological characteristics in each group did not reveal significant difference regarding histotype, tumor size, grade, location, morphology, or lymphovascular invasion, except for the LNM rate and mean body mass index (23.2 versus 26.6, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that non-Asian race/ethnicity (odds ratio (OR), 9.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-71.43; p = 0.038), younger age (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.12; p = 0.046), and lymphovascular invasion (OR, 13.9; 95% CI, 2.40-79.99; p = 0.003) were significant predictors for LNM.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that Asian American race in EGC is associated with a significantly decreased rate of LNM in comparison to non-Asian Americans, despite similar histopathological characteristics of each group.

Characteristics of gastric cancer according to Helicobacter pylori infection status

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The definition and incidence of gastric cancer (GC) without Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection varies between studies. The aim of our study was to compare the characteristics of GC according to Hp infection status.

METHODS

We evaluated the presence of Hp infection in 1833 GC patients with rapid urease tests, serology examinations, and histological evaluations. GC was classified as GC with current Hp infection (HpC-GC), GC with past Hp infection (HpP-GC), and GC not associated with Hp infection (HpN-GC). HpP-GC was defined as GC without current infection but with a positive serology test, glandular atrophy, and/or intestinal metaplasia. HpN-GC was defined as GC with negative Hp test results and no histological changes.

RESULTS

The numbers of HpC-GC, HpP-GC, and HpN-GC were 1378 (75.2%), 412 (22.5%), and 43 (2.3%), respectively. Among GCs without current infection, 90.5% (412/455) were associated with HpP-GC. HpP-GCs were more common in older and male patients, had an increased incidence of synchronous cancer, and less frequently had a diffuse-type histology than HpC-GCs. HpN-GCs were more common in younger, female patients; had a higher proportion of diffuse-type cancers; and more frequently showed distant metastasis than HpP-GCs. In the 40s, the proportion of HpP-GCs with diffuse-type histology (41.9%) was lower than that of HpC-GCs (60.3%) (P = 0.016). The difference was also significant in the 50s (29.1% vs 40.1%, respectively, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Most GCs in Korea without current Hp infection showed evidence of past Hp infection. The proportion of GCs with diffuse-type histology decreased in patients with past infection.

Outcomes of surgical treatment for gastric cancer patients: 11-year experience of a Chinese high-volume hospital

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. We report our experience with surgery-related parameters and survival outcomes at a single Chinese center. This study analyzed patients following gastric resection between 2000 and 2010, and overall survival was the primary end point. In this study, 1,936 patients who underwent gastrectomy were collected from 2000 to 2010. Curative gastrectomy (R0 resection) was performed in 86.6 % of patients. D1/D1+ lymphadenectomy was frequently performed from 2000 to 2005, and the proportion of D2/D2+ lymphadenectomy increased after 2006. The number of harvested lymph nodes was 10.1 ± 6.0 in 2000 and increased to 28.0 ± 10.5 in 2010. Serosa-invasive lesions (pT4) accounted for 67.9 % of all cases. The 1-year overall survival (OS), 2-year OS, and 3-year OS rates were 89, 74, and 63 %, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified R status, tumor location, macroscopic type, and tumor stage (pT stage and pN stage) as the independent risk factors for overall survival. The prognosis of gastric cancer patients in China remains dismal. To improve the survival outcomes, further efforts toward early detection and multi-disciplinary treatment are needed.

Targeted therapy for gastric cancer: molecular pathways and ongoing investigations

Gastric cancer is currently the second leading cause of worldwide cancer mortality. Ongoing collaborative sequencing efforts have highlighted recurrent somatic genomic aberrations in gastric cancer, however, despite advances in characterizing the genomic landscape, there have been few advances in patient outcomes. Prognosis remains poor with a median overall survival of 12 months for advanced disease. The improved survival with trastuzumab, and more recently ramucirumab, underscore the promise of targeted and biologic therapies and the importance of molecular tumor characterization in gastric cancer. Here we review the most frequent actionable alterations in gastric cancer and highlight ongoing clinical investigations attempting to translate biologic understanding into improved clinical outcomes.

Gastric cancer: Australian outcomes of multi-modality treatment with curative intent

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Large Western trials have shown overall 5-year survival rates of 36-47%. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of curative treatment. We report the outcomes at a single Australian centre.

METHODS

We analysed a prospectively kept database of patients after gastric resection for adenocarcinoma at a tertiary Australian hospital. Disease-specific survival (DSS) was considered the primary end-point.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventy-three patients underwent gastrectomy with curative intent. Average age at diagnosis was 68, with 72% being male patients. One hundred patients had a total gastrectomy and 73 had subtotal. The average number of lymph nodes examined was 23. All patients were discussed in a multidisciplinary setting. Perioperative morbidity rate was 31%, with 3.5% 30-day mortality. Five-year DSS was 67.4% with 91.2%, 76.7% and 39.3% for stage 1, 2 and 3 disease, respectively. Five-year overall survival considering death from any cause was 47.4%.

CONCLUSION

This large Australian single centre study shows outcomes equivalent to other Western series and approaches that of Japanese data. High survival figures can be achieved when gastrectomy is performed by an experienced institution through a multi-modality approach with adequate staging, aggressive and appropriate resection and selective use of perioperative therapy.

Current role of minimally invasive approaches in the treatment of early gastric cancer

Despite declining incidence, gastric cancer remains one of the most common cancers worldwide. Early detection in population-based screening programs has increased the number of cases of early gastric cancer, representing approximately 50% of newly detected gastric cancer cases in Asian countries. Endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection have become the preferred therapeutic techniques in Japan and Korea for the treatment of early gastric cancer patients with a very low risk of lymph node metastasis. Laparoscopic and robotic resections for early gastric cancer, including function-preserving resections, have propagated through advances in technology and surgeon experience. The aim of this paper is to discuss the recent advances in minimally invasive approaches in the treatment of early gastric cancer.

A nomogram for predicting individual survival of patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical surgery with extended lymph node dissection

BACKGROUND

We developed and validated a nomogram for use at a high-volume center where radical surgery with extended lymph node dissection is the standard treatment for gastric cancer.

METHODS

Overall, 1,614 patients were randomly divided into the test set (n = 805) and validation set (n = 809). The scoring system was calculated using a Cox proportional hazard regression model with the survival of gastric cancer as the predicted endpoint. The concordance index (c-index) was used as an accuracy measure, with bootstrapping to correct for optimistic bias. Calibration plots were constructed.

RESULTS

Based on a Cox model, we developed a nomogram that predicts the probability of 3- and 5-year survival from the time of surgery. The bootstrap-corrected c-indices were 0.87 and 0.84 in the test and validation sets, respectively. Survival was well predicted in both sets. The predictions of our nomogram discriminated better than the AJCC staging system (test set: c-index, 0.87 vs. 0.77; P < 0.0001; validation set: c-index, 0.84 vs. 0.79; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We developed and validated a nomogram that provided a significantly accurate prediction of postoperative survival in Korean patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy with extended lymph node dissection.

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for gastric cancer

OPINION STATEMENT

To improve outcome of resectable gastric cancer, several treatment strategies have been evaluated. These include adjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and perioperative chemotherapy. The US Intergroup 0116 trial reported the benefit of postoperative chemoradiotherapy using 5-FU/leucovorin in a U.S. population. In this study, only 10 % of patients received D2 resection. For Korean patients after D2 resection, the ARTIST trial failed to show any benefit from adding radiotherapy to adjuvant chemotherapy in terms of 3-year disease-free survival. The MAGIC trial compared perioperative chemotherapy with surgery alone and reported a prolonged 5-year overall survival in the perioperative chemotherapy arm. In resectable gastric cancer, the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy compared with surgery alone has been clearly demonstrated. After D2 dissection, S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy improved the overall survival (ACTS-GC trial) and capecitabine/oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy improved 3-year disease-free survival (CLASSIC trial). To date, for resectable gastric cancer, the use of chemotherapy in addition to surgery is beneficial for the reduction of recurrence and to improve overall survival. The optimal sequence of chemotherapy and surgery, as well as optimal chemotherapeutic agents, should be further studied. In D2-resected gastric cancer, the addition of radiotherapy to chemotherapy does not appear to provide any additional benefit.].

Is gastric cancer different in Korea and the United States? Impact of tumor location on prognosis

PURPOSE

To compare the characteristics and prognoses of gastric cancers by tumor location in Korean and U.S. subjects after curative-intent (R0) resection for gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

Data were collected for all patients who had undergone R0 resection at one U.S. institution (n = 567) and one South Korean institution (n = 1,620). Patients with gastroesophageal junction tumors or neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. Patient, surgical, and pathologic variables were compared by tumor location. Factors associated with disease-specific survival (DSS) were determined via multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

In the Korean cohort, significantly more upper third GC (UTG) patients had undifferentiated, diffuse type, and advanced stage cancers compared to lower third GC (LTG) and middle third GC (MTG) patients. In the U.S. cohort, however, T stage was relatively evenly distributed among UTG, MTG, and LTG patients. The independent predictors of DSS in the Korean cohort were T stage, tumor size, retrieved and positive lymph node counts, and age, but in the U.S. cohort, the only independent predictors were T stage and positive lymph node count. Tumor size significantly affected DSS of Korean UTG patients but not U.S. UTG patients.

CONCLUSIONS

There were significant differences in tumor characteristics by tumor location within and between both national cohorts. On the basis of these findings, further study to investigate the biological difference between the two countries is needed.

Effect of body mass index in patients undergoing resection for gastric cancer: a single center US experience

INTRODUCTION

With rising obesity in the USA, the impact of body mass index (BMI) on survival in gastric cancer remains unclear.

METHODS

An institutional database of patients undergoing surgical evaluation for gastric cancer was reviewed. Patients were stratified by the following BMI: <18.5, 18.5-25, 25.1-30, and >30. Clinicopathologic factors and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

From 1997 to 2012, 222 patients underwent exploration for gastric adenocarcinoma. 186 (84%) had BMI recorded: nine (5%) <18.5, 72 (39%) 18.5-25, 62 (33%) 25.1-30, and 43 (23%) >30. One hundred thirty-five (73%) ultimately underwent resection. Although American Society of Anesthesiology score and blood loss were not associated with increasing BMI, operative time was longer, p = 0.02. Proximal location, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, positive surgical margins, and positive lymph nodes (LN+) were all associated with worse OS but not with increased BMI. Although increased BMI was associated with a lower lymph node count, p = 0.004, the number of LN + and final pathologic stage were not associated with BMI. Additionally, use of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with BMI. Median OS was 22 months. Median OS was improved with increased BMI: 21 months for <18.5, 13 months 18.5-25, 28 months 25-30, and 34 months >30, p = 0.02. Disease-free survival (DFS) was similar: 2 months for <18.5, 7 months 18.5-25, 15 months 25.1-30, and 15 months >30, p = 0.02.

CONCLUSION

Although BMI may impact the technical difficulty of resection for gastric cancer, increasing BMI is not associated with more advanced disease. In this experience, increased BMI does not adversely impact OS or DFS.

Systematic review of laparoscopy-assisted versus open gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

The study compared laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) with open gastrectomy (OG) in the management of advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHODS

Literature search was performed in the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to identify control studies that compared LAG and OG for AGC. A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the surgical safety and oncologic adequacy, using the random-effect model.

RESULTS

Seven eligible studies including 815 patients were analyzed. LAG was associated with less blood loss, less use of analgesics, shorter time of flatus and periods of hospital stay, but longer time of operation. The incidence of most complications was similar between the two groups. However, LAG was associated with a lower rate of pulmonary infection (odds ratio (OR) 0.19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05 to 0.68; P<0.05). No significant differences were noted in terms of the number of harvested lymph nodes (weighted mean difference (WMD) 1.165; 95% CI -2.000 to 4.311; P>0.05), overall mortality (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.39 to 1.10; P>0.05), cancer-related mortality (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.32 to 1.25; P>0.05), or recurrence (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.33 to 1.16; P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

LAG could be performed safely for AGC with adequate lymphadenectomy and has several short-term advantages compared with conventional OG. No differences were found in long-term outcomes. However, these results should be validated in large randomized controlled studies (RCTs) with sufficient follow-up.

Treatment results of curative gastric resection from a specialist Australian unit: low volume with satisfactory outcomes

BACKGROUND

The incidence of gastric cancer is decreasing in Australia, yet it remains a common cause of cancer-related mortality. Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of curative treatment. High-volume specialized units have reported superior perioperative and oncological outcomes. The role of D2 lymphadenectomy has been controversial as a result of concerns over increased morbidity. Our aim is to report the perioperative and oncological outcomes of curative gastric resection from a specialist Australian upper GI unit.

METHODS

Data from a prospectively maintained database were reviewed for all patients undergoing curative resection for gastric adenocarcinoma from a single unit during a 12-year period. Perioperative and long-term outcomes were compiled.

RESULTS

There were 255 curative gastric resections during 12 years. An R0 resection was performed in 96 % with a perioperative mortality rate of 1.6 %. A D2 dissection was performed in 85 % of cases in the past 6 years, with no increase in perioperative morbidity or mortality detected. The 5-year overall survival was 53 %.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that both short- and long-term outcomes of surgical resection in gastric cancer patients, comparable to international high-volume centers, can be achieved in an Australian upper GI unit. A D2 lymph node dissection can be performed safely without any increase in perioperative risk in a specialist unit that has the necessary training but also the perioperative support structures to manage these complex patients.

Gastric cancer: decreasing incidence but stable survival in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Gastric cardia and non-cardia cancer exhibit differences in biological and epidemiological features across the world. The aims of this study were to analyze trends in incidence, stage distribution, and survival over a 20-year period in the Netherlands, separately for both types of gastric cancer.

METHODS

Data on all patients with a diagnosis of gastric cancer in the period 1989-2008 were obtained from the nationwide Netherlands Cancer Registry. Time trends in incidence [analyzed as European Standard Rate per 100 000 (ESR)] and relative survival were separately analyzed for cardia and non-cardia gastric cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 47 295 patients were included. Incidence rates per 100 000 for cardia cancer declined from 5.7 to 4.3 for males and remained stable for females (1.2). For non-cardia cancer, the incidence in males declined from 25 to 14 and in females from 10 to 7. Proportional incidence in stage IV cardia and non-cardia cancer increased in 2004-2008 (cardia 32-42%, non-cardia 33-45%). Five-year survival rates for stage I-III and X (unknown) remained stable (cardia cancer: 20%, non-cardia gastric cancer: 31%). Five-year survival for stage IV disease was 1.9% and 1.0% for cardia and non-cardia gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of gastric cancer in the Netherlands markedly decreased over the past decades, in particular of non-cardia cancer. Survival remained dismal. Improvement of survival remains a challenge for the multidisciplinary team involved in gastric cancer treatment.

Prognostic impact of lymph node retrieval and ratio in gastric cancer: a U.S. single center experience

INTRODUCTION

Increased lymph node (LN) retrieval for gastric cancer has been associated with improved overall survival (OS). This study examines the impact of number of examined LN (eLN) and lymph node ratio.

METHODS

Patients referred for surgical care of gastric cancer were stratified by number of eLN, positive LNs (LN+), and lymph node ratio (LN+/eLN). Clinicopathologic factors were compared; OS and disease-free survival (DFS) were the primary endpoints.

RESULTS

From 1997 to 2012, 222 patients, median age 67 (range, 17-92) years, were analyzed. Of 220 (99 %) explored, 164 (74 %) underwent resection. Median OS was 22 (range, 0.3-140) months. Perineural and lymphovascular invasion and poor differentiation adversely affected OS, p < 0.05. A median 14 eLN (range, 0-45), with median 1 LN+ (range, 0-31), was observed. There were no OS or DFS differences when comparing the eLN groups. Both OS and DFS were impacted by LN+. Lymph node ratio demonstrated worse median OS with increasing ratio: 49 months (0) to 37 months (0.01-0.2), 27 months (0.21-0.5), and 12 months (>0.5), p < 0.0001. DFS was similar: 35 months (0), decreasing to 22 months (0.01-0.2), 13 months (0.21-0.5), and 7 months (>0.5), p < 0.0001.

CONCLUSION

Number of eLN did not impact survival, while LN+ adversely affected survival. Lymph node ratio may predict prognosis better than number of eLN or LN+ in gastric cancer.

Evidence that gastric pit dysplasia-like atypia is a neoplastic precursor lesion

Most gastric cancers develop via an intestinal metaplasia (IM)-dysplasia-carcinogenic pathway. We have noted that some patients with chronic gastritis have dysplasia-like atypia (DLA) limited to the pit epithelium but without involvement of the surface epithelium. We performed this study to determine the clinical and biological characteristics and outcome of DLA, to gain insight into its role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. The study consisted of 102 consecutive patients with resected gastric cancer, a separate cohort of patients (n = 166) with chronic gastritis and IM in their index gastric biopsies, and 44 controls. All specimens were evaluated for clinical and pathologic features of the cancer (in the resection cohort) and background mucosa. Of 102 patients with gastric cancer, 50 (49%) had DLA in areas of mucosa adjacent to or near either conventional dysplasia or cancer. This value was significantly higher than controls (DLA 6.8%; P < .0001). Gastric cancer patients with DLA showed a significantly higher age at presentation; intestinal-type adenocarcinoma; low-grade differentiation; stage 1 tumors; and a higher rate of chronic gastritis, IM, atrophy, and conventional dysplasia in the background mucosa compared to patients without DLA. DLA showed intestinal-type differentiation, and a higher Ki-67 rate and MUC6 positivity compared with IM. Of the 166 patients with biopsies, DLA was identified in 24 (14%). Upon follow-up, 38% of positive cases showed persistent DLA, whereas 25% progressed to conventional low-grade dysplasia. Based on these results, we conclude that DLA represents an important precursor lesion in gastric carcinogenesis and supports its interpretation as a neoplastic lesion.

Validation of the memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center nomogram to predict disease-specific survival after R0 resection in a Chinese gastric cancer population

Background

Prediction of disease-specific survival (DSS) for individual patient with gastric cancer after R0 resection remains a clinical concern. Since the clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric cancer vary widely between China and western countries, this study is to evaluate a nomogram from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) for predicting the probability of DSS in patients with gastric cancer from a Chinese cohort.

Methods

From 1998 to 2007, clinical data of 979 patients with gastric cancer who underwent R0 resection were retrospectively collected from Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute and used for external validation. The performance of the MSKCC nomogram in our population was assessed using concordance index (C-index) and calibration plot.

Results

The C-index for the MSKCC predictive nomogram was 0.74 in the Chinese cohort, compared with 0.69 for American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system (P<0.0001). This suggests that the discriminating value of MSKCC nomogram is superior to AJCC staging system for prognostic prediction in the Chinese population. Calibration plots showed that the actual survival of Chinese patients corresponded closely to the MSKCC nonogram-predicted survival probabilities. Moreover, MSKCC nomogram predictions demonstrated the heterogeneity of survival in stage IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB disease of the Chinese patients.

Conclusion

In this study, we externally validated MSKCC nomogram for predicting the probability of 5- and 9-year DSS after R0 resection for gastric cancer in a Chinese population. The MSKCC nomogram performed well with good discrimination and calibration. The MSKCC nomogram improved individualized predictions of survival, and may assist Chinese clinicians and patients in individual follow-up scheduling, and decision making with regard to various treatment options.

Molecular diagnostics in esophageal and gastric neoplasms

Esophageal carcinoma is the most rapidly increasing tumor in incidence in the United States. It has an established association with a precursor lesion (Barrett esophagus). Gastric carcinoma (GC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the world. The prognosis for patients with advanced stage GC and esophageal carcinoma is poor. Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER-2) overexpression is seen in gastroesophageal junction carcinoma and a subset of GC. HER-2 overexpressing tumors are eligible for HER-2 targeted therapies, which lead to a better survival in these patients.

Risk factors of postoperative pancreatic fistula in curative gastric cancer surgery

PURPOSE

Postoperative pancreatic fistula is a dreadful complication after gastric cancer surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the actual incidence and risk factors of postoperative pancreatic fistula after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 900 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer (laparoscopic gastrectomy, 594 patients; open gastrectomy 306 patients) were enrolled between January 2009 and December 2010. Clinical outcomes, including postoperative pancreatic fistula grade based on the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula, were investigated.

RESULTS

Overall, the postoperative pancreatic fistula rate was 3.3% (30/900) (1.5% in laparoscopic gastrectomy versus 6.9% in open gastrectomy, P<0.001). Patients who underwent D2 lymphadenectomy, total gastrectomy, splenectomy or distal pancreatectomy showed higher postoperative pancreatic fistula rates (4.7%, 13.8%, 13.6%, or 57.1%, respectively, P<0.001). Patients with postoperative pancreatic fistula had higher morbidity (46.7% versus 13.1%, P<0.001), delayed gas out (4.9 days versus 3.8 days, P<0.001), belated diet start (5.8 days versus 3.5 days, P<0.001) and longer postoperative hospital stay (13.7 days versus 6.8 days, P<0.001). On the multivariate analysis, total gastrectomy (odds ratio 9.751, 95% confidence interval: 3.348 to 28.397, P<0.001), distal pancreatectomy (odds ratio 7.637, 95% confidence interval: 1.668 to 34.961, P=0.009) and open gastrectomy (odds ratio 2.934, 95% confidence interval: 1.100 to 7.826, P=0.032) were the independent risk factors of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic gastrectomy had an advantage over open gastrectomy in terms of the lower postoperative pancreatic fistula rate. Total gastrectomy and combined resection, such as distal pancreatectomy, should be performed carefully to minimize postoperative pancreatic fistula in gastric cancer surgery.

Survival of korean adult cancer patients by stage at diagnosis, 2006-2010: national cancer registry study

Purpose

Although the cancer stage at diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor for patients' survival, there are few population-based estimates of stage-specific survival outcome, especially in Asian countries. Our study aims to estimate stage-specific survival for Korean patients.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database data on 626,506 adult patients aged ≥ 20 years, who were diagnosed between 2006 and 2010 with stomach, colorectal, liver, lung, breast, cervix, prostate, and thyroid cancers. Patients were followed up to December 2011, and the 5-year relative survival rates (RSRs) were calculated for gender and age group by Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) stage at diagnosis.

Results

The 5-year RSRs for all localized-stage cancers, except for lung and liver, exceeded 90% with that for thyroid cancer being the highest at 100.4%. These values for distant stage liver, lung, and stomach cancers were very dismal at 2.5%, 4.8%, and 5.5%, respectively, while it was 69.1% for thyroid cancer, and was in the range of 18.3-36.4% for colorectal, cervix, breast and prostate cancers. Overall, the 5-year RSRs for all cancer types decreased with aging across all the disease stages with exception of prostate cancer, which suggests biologic difference in these cancer types in a young age group. When compared with US SEER data, Korean patients had better stage-specific survival rates for stomach, colorectal, liver, and cervical cancers.

Conclusion

Korean cancer patients showed relatively favorable stage distribution and 5-year RSRs, which suggests potential contribution of the national cancer screening program.

FOLFIRI as a second-line therapy in patients with docetaxel-pretreated gastric cancer: a historical cohort

BACKGROUND

The role of second-line therapy in gastric cancer patients mostly stemmed from clinical trials with monochemotherapy carried out in Asian countries. Nevertheless, these results cannot be broadly generalized as molecular studies suggested the existence of different sets of deregulated gene networks correlated with ethnicity. In the present study, we investigated the activity and safety of FOLFIRI given as a second-line therapy in metastatic gastric or gastro-esophageal junction cancer patients who experienced disease progression on or after first-line docetaxel-containing chemotherapy.

METHODS

Patients with histologically confirmed metastatic gastric cancer who failed docetaxel-containing first-line therapy and who received FOLFIRI in second line were eligible for the study. Seventy patients treated at three Italian cancer centers between 2005 and 2012 entered the study. Patients received every 2 weeks irinotecan 180 mg/m2 as 1 h infusion on day 1, folinic acid 100 mg/m2 intravenously days 1-2, and fluorouracil as a 400 mg/m2 bolus and then 600 mg/m2 continuous infusion over 22 hours days 1-2.

RESULTS

We observed 1(1.4%) complete response, 15 (21.4%) partial response, for an overall response rate of 22.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 13.4-32.3). Stable disease was recorded in 21 (30%) patients. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 3.8 months (95% CI: 3.3-4.4) and 6.2 months (95% CI: 5.3-7.1), respectively. The treatment was well tolerated, as the most common G3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (28.5%) and diarrhea (14.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

FOLFIRI appears an effective and safe treatment option for pretreated metastatic gastric cancer patients, and deserves further investigation in randomized clinical trials.

Post-surgical chemotherapy versus surgery alone for resectable gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

For gastric cancer surgery is the mainstay treatment. Chemotherapy seems to improve the survival results. But chemotherapy is not a complication-free therapy and its role has been questioned by some trials.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether post-surgical chemotherapy should be used routinely in resectable gastric cancer.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index Expanded (July 2013).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing post-surgical chemotherapy versus surgery alone for resectable gastric cancer.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and independently extracted the data. We analysed the data with both the fixed-effect and the random-effects models using the RevMan analysis software. We calculated the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) based on intention-to-treat or available case analysis.

MAIN RESULTS

The authors identified 34 studies (7824 patients) reporting overall survival (OS) and only 15 reporting disease free survival (DFS) as well. Post-surgical chemotherapy showed an improvement in OS (HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.80 to 0.90) and an improvement in DFS (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.72 to 0.87), although all the trials had a high risk of bias.The planned analysis of quality of life, return to work, and number of hospital admissions was impossible to complete as the outcome data for the analysis were not available from any trials.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Post-surgical chemotherapy should be used routinely for resectable gastric cancer where possible. Further RCTs are needed to determine the role at each stage of disease.

Adjuvant treatment for gastric cancer: chemotherapy versus radiation

Gastric cancer is among the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Surgery is the only curative modality, but mortality remains high because a significant number of patients have recurrence after complete surgical resection. Chemotherapy, radiation, and chemoradiotherapy have all been studied in an attempt to reduce the risk for relapse and improve survival. There is no globally accepted standard of care for resectable gastric cancer, and treatment strategies vary across the world. Postoperative chemoradiation with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin is most commonly practiced in the United States; however, recent clinical trials from Asia have shown benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy alone and have questioned the role of radiation. In this review, we examine the current literature on adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer and discuss the roles of radiation and chemotherapy, particularly in light of these new data and their applicability to the Western population. We highlight some of the ongoing and planned clinical trials in resectable gastric cancer and identify future directions as well as areas where further research is needed.

Can we resect EGC with Signet ring cells in Europe?

PURPOSE

The proposed guideline for performing endoscopic resection of early gastric carcinoma (EGC) in Paris classification is a well-differentiated carcinoma with maximum involvement Sm1. Signet ring cell carcinomas (SRC) are excluded from this recommendation. Authors from Eastern countries have proposed extending this resection to include selected undifferentiated EGC. Via an analysis of a series of cases of signet ring carcinoma, we will discuss whether it is possible to resect EGC with signet ring cells in Europe.

METHODS

We retrospectively included patients with histological classification pT1 of EGC showing SRC. Data was extracted from the hospital gastrectomy register. Lymphadenomectomy D1.5 was performed on all patients. Histology results were retrospectively obtained from the electronic patient file.

RESULTS

Twelve patients (mean age = 55.4, four women, eight men) underwent surgery, without previous chemotherapy, between 2000 and 2012, for EGC with SRC. Mean size of the lesions was 20.2 mm (5-35 mm). Seven lesions were located in the antrum, five in the fundus. In the case of nine patients, histology showed no lymphovascular involvement. None of these nine patients presented lymph node metastases (LNM). Five patients had intramucosal carcinoma, four were classified as Sm1, one patient was Sm2, and one patient was Sm3. On surgery, the three patients with lymphovascular invasion showed LNM.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic resection of EGC with SRC does not systematically imply complementary treatment by surgery, although criteria for endoscopic resection are difficult to determine because of the lack of data in Europe.

Bone recurrence after curative resection of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Standard follow up for bone recurrence has not yet been established for gastric cancer after surgical resection. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of and related risk factors for bone recurrence after surgical resection of gastric cancer.

METHODS

A cohort of 3035 gastric cancer patients after curative resection was reviewed. We analyzed the patients who had bone scintigraphy before the surgery as well as during the follow-up period. The incidence of and the risk factors for bone recurrence after surgical resection of gastric cancer were investigated.

RESULTS

In a total of 1683 patients analyzed, bone recurrence was detected in 30 patients (1.8%). The incidence of bone recurrence was significantly higher in advanced gastric cancers than in early lesions (3.5 vs. 0.4%, p < 0.01). The most common recurrence site was the spine, followed by pelvic bone and rib. Most patients had multiple bone metastases. The median time for recurrence was 28 months (range 4-111) from the surgery. In univariate analysis, the recurrence rate was higher in the tumors with large size, undifferentiated pathology, location in the body, and advanced stage. In multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis (N2/N3 vs. N0/N0I) was the most predictable risk factor for bone recurrence [hazard ratio [HR] 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.217-1.694)] and depth of invasion (T2-4 vs. T1) was also independently associated with bone recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of bone recurrence was low after curative surgery in patients with gastric cancer. Intensive follow up with bone scintigraphy seems to be unnecessary in these patients.

Chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer: review and update of current practices

No standard adjuvant or palliative chemotherapy regimen has been internationally approved for patients with advanced gastric cancer. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy is administered prior to surgery and is used in the Unitied States, and intensified chemotherapy is administered prior to and after surgery and is used in Europe. Limited D1 dissections are also frequently performed in the United States and Europe. In Korea, patients undergoing D2 resection appear to benefit from postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using S-1 or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin. Fluoropyrimidine, platinum, taxane, epirubicin, and irinotecan may be employed alone or in combination as a first-line therapy in a palliative chemotherapy regimen. In Asia, an orally administered fluoropyrimidine, such as capecitabine or S-1, is favored over the continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil because of its convenience. Trastuzumab has been integrated into the current standard chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressing gastric cancers. There is currently no standard regimen for secondary palliative chemotherapy. Clinical studies of several targeted therapies are ongoing.

Noncurative gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma should only be performed in highly selected patients

BACKGROUND

The benefit of surgical resection in patients with incurable gastric adenocarcinoma is controversial.

METHODS

A total of 289 patients who presented with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer from 1995 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Ten patients (3.5 %) required emergent surgery at presentation and were excluded from further analyses. Patients who underwent nonemergent surgery at presentation (n = 110, 38.1 %) received either gastric resection (group A, n = 46, 42 %) or surgery without resection (group B, n = 64, 58 %). Procedures in group A included distal gastrectomy (n = 25, 54 %), total gastrectomy (n = 17, 37 %), and proximal/esophagogastrectomy (n = 4, 9 %). Procedures in group B included laparoscopy (n = 17, 27 %), open exploration (n = 25, 39 %), gastrostomy and/or jejunostomy tube (n = 12, 19 %), and gastrojejunostomy (n = 10, 16 %). Group A required a stay in the intensive care unit or additional invasive procedure significantly more often than group B (15 vs. 2 %, p = 0.009). Four patients in group A (8.7 %) and three patients in group B (4.7 %) died within 30 days of surgery (p = 0.45). When the 110 patients who underwent nonemergent surgery (groups A and B) were compared to nonoperatively managed patients (group C, n = 169, 58 %), median overall survival did not significantly differ (8.6 vs. 9.2 vs. 7.7 months; p > 0.05). Three patients in group B (4.7 %) and three in group C (1.8 %) ultimately required an operation for their primary tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who present with advanced or metastatic disease not amenable to curative resection infrequently require emergent surgery. Noncurative resection is associated with significant perioperative morbidity and mortality as well as limited overall survival, and should therefore be performed judiciously.

Geographic differences in approach to advanced gastric cancer: Is there a standard approach?

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths worldwide. Regional differences in gastric cancer are evident between Asian and Western societies with respect to etiology, prevalence, clinicopathologic features as well as treatment pattern of the disease. For patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC), chemotherapy has been found to improve survival and quality of life compared to best supportive care alone. But contrast to other tumors such as colon or pancreatic cancer, there are regional differences in outcome in gastric cancer. Various geographic/ethnic, biology and treatment strategies may contribute to these differences. In the first line setting, cisplatin and fluoropyrimidine based therapies remain the backbone of treatment for advanced gastric cancer in Asian and Western patients, although there is preference for S1 in Asia and 5FU in the West. A third agent may be added in patients with good performance status. Recent trials from Asia and Europe demonstrate an advantage for second line chemotherapy. Irinotecan and taxanes are the most commonly used agents. The introduction of trastuzumab into the frontline therapy of AGC has ushered the age of targeted therapy and personalized medicine in this disease. In this article, we will review the various first and second line chemotherapy regimens in AGC, taking into account regional differences including potential biomarkers.

Esophagojejunal reconstruction after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer using a transorally inserted anvil delivery system

INTRODUCTION

Total gastrectomy (TG) is commonly performed for the treatment of patients with gastric cancer. However, reconstruction of the esophagojejunal (EJ) anastomosis can be technically demanding, with reported anastomotic leak rates in the Western world still approaching 10-15%. We report our experience using the transoral anvil delivery system (OrVil™) for creation of the EJ anastomosis after TG.

METHODS

From 2007 to 2011, 48 consecutive patients with gastric cancer underwent open (n=31) or laparoscopic (n=17) TG. EJ reconstruction was performed with the transoral anvil deliver system (OrVil™) in an end-to-side fashion. Demographic, clinic, and perioperative data were obtained from a prospectively maintained database.

RESULTS

Of the 48 patients, 83% were male. Median age at resection was 64 years. Median body mass index was 27.1 kg/m2. Seventy-nine percent (n=38) of patients had at least one comorbidity. Fifteen patients (31%) had at least one perioperative complication. There was one perioperative death (2%) following a duodenal stump leak. There were four EJ leaks (8%) and two EJ stenoses (independent of leak; 4%). There was one EJ leak (6%) and one EJ stenosis (6%) following a case that was first attempted laparoscopically. There were no deaths as a consequence of an EJ leak.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the transoral anvil delivery system during EJ reconstruction is a safe and effective option for reconstruction after open or laparoscopic TG with acceptable mortality and morbidity. The anastomotic leak rate appears to be comparable to that of other techniques.

Incidence trends and mortality rates of gastric cancer in Israel

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common malignancy worldwide. The incidence trends and mortality rates of gastric cancer in Israel have not been studied in depth. The aim of our study was to try and investigate the aforementioned issues in Israel in different ethnic groups.

METHODS

This retrospective study is based on the data of The Israel National Cancer Registry and The Central Bureau of Statistics. Published data from these two institutes were collected, summarized, and analyzed in this study.

RESULTS

Around 650 new cases of gastric cancer are diagnosed yearly in Israel. While we noticed a decline during the period 1990-2007 in the incidence in the Jewish population (13.6-8.9 and 6.75-5.42 cases per 100,000 in Jewish men and women, respectively), an increase in the Arab population was noticed (7.7-10.2 and 3.7-4.2 cases per 100,000 in men and women, respectively). Age-adjusted mortality rates per 10,000 cases of gastric cancer decreased significantly, from 7.21 in 1990 to 5.46 in 2007, in the total population. The 5-year relative survival showed a slight increase for both men and women.

CONCLUSION

There is a difference in the incidence and outcome of gastric cancer between the Jewish and Arab populations in Israel. The grim prognosis of gastric cancer patients in Israel is probably due to the advanced stage at which gastric cancer is diagnosed in Israel.

Surgical treatment results of intestinal and diffuse type gastric cancer. Implications for a differentiated therapeutic approach?

AIM

To study the outcome of patients who were surgically treated for primary gastric cancer with specific attention to differences in treatment results for intestinal and diffuse type tumours.

METHODS

All patients who underwent a potentially curative gastric resection between 1995 and 2011 in our institute were included. Patient, tumour and treatment characteristics were obtained retrospectively. Binary logistic and Cox regression models were used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

A consecutive series of 132 patients was included. Median follow-up was 53 months. There were no significant differences between patients with intestinal (N = 62) versus diffuse type (N = 70) gastric cancer with regard to the proportion of patients who underwent (neo)adjuvant treatment. Postoperative mortality was 2%. Pathological T- and N-stage were significantly more advanced for patients with diffuse type tumours. There was a significant difference in the percentage of microscopically irradical resections (2% versus 24%, p < 0.001) and median overall survival (129 versus 17 months, p < 0.001) between patients with intestinal type tumours and those with diffuse type tumours. On multivariate analysis, diffuse type histology was the only factor significantly associated with an R1 resection. In a multivariate Cox regression model, diffuse type histology was a significant adverse prognostic factor for overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Striking differences were found between patients with diffuse type tumours and those with intestinal type tumours. These differences call for a differentiated approach in the potentially curative treatment of these two tumour types.

D1 versus D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer

Significant variability exists throughout the world in the extent of lymphadenectomy that is performed for gastric adenocarcinoma. D2 lymphadenectomy is the standard lymphadenectomy performed in high incidence countries such as Japan and South Korea, and less extensive lymphadenectomies are often performed in lower incidence countries such as the Unites States. This article reviews the evidence on the extent of lymphadenectomy that should be performed for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Race and correlations between lymph node number and survival for patients with gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

There is ongoing debate whether extended lymphadenectomy improves survival in gastric cancer patients who undergo surgical resection. We previously observed that Korean-American patients had the highest overall survival in Los Angeles County. Our objective was to assess lymph node (LN) number and its impact on survival for Korean-American gastric cancer patients.

METHODS

We utilized the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry to identify Korean-Americans with gastric adenocarcinoma treated with curative-intent gastrectomy between 1988 and 2008. We grouped patients according to examined LN number (1-15 and 16+) and compared characteristics. We performed similar analysis for white patients.

RESULTS

Out of 982 Korean-American patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, most patients had 1-15 examined LNs (60 %). When we compared LN groups, we observed higher overall survival in the 1-15 group than the 16+ group (5-year survival, 59 % vs 52 %, respectively; p = 0.04). However, LN number was not prognostic of overall survival on stepwise Cox proportional hazards analysis. In contrast, LN number was prognostic for white patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although examined LN number may impact survival for white patients, outcomes of Korean-American gastric cancer patients were independent of LN number. Our data suggest that survival of Korean-American gastric cancer patients are comparable with outcomes from East Asian hospitals and may be independent of surgical technique.

Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy versus open gastrectomy for resectable gastric cancer: an update meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

We carry out a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) versus open gastrectomy for resectable gastric cancer.

METHODS

We searched EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Science Citation Index (SCI), Chinese biomedicine literature database to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from their inception to April 2012. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.0 software. It was in line with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement. The quality of evidence was assessed by GRADEpro 3.6.

RESULTS

Eight RCTs totaling 784 patients were analyzed. Compared with open gastrectomy group, no significant differences were found in postoperative mortality (OR = 1.49; 95 % CI 0.29-7.79), anastomotic leakage (OR = 1.02; 95 % CI 0.24-4.27) , overall mean number of harvested lymph nodes [weighed mean difference (MD) = -3.17; 95 % CI -6.39 to 0.05]; the overall postoperative complication morbidity (OR = 0.54; 95 % CI 0.36-0.82), estimated blood loss (MD = -107.23; 95 % CI -148.56 to -65.89,) frequency of analgesic administration (MD = -1.69; 95 % CI -2.18 to -1.21, P < 0.00001), incidence of pulmonary complications (OR = 0.43, 95 % CI 0.20-0.93, P = 0.03) were significantly less in LAG group; LAG had shorter time to start first flatus (MD = -0.23; 95 % CI -0.41 to -0.05) and decreased hospital stay (MD = -1.72; 95 % CI -3.40 to 0.04), but, LAG still had longer operation time (MD = 76.70; 95 % CI 51.54-101.87).

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of this meta-analysis we conclude that although LAG was still a time-consuming and technically dependent procedure, it has the advantage of better short-term outcome. Long term survival data from other studies are urgently needed to estimate the survival benefit of this technique.

Long-term survival after gastrectomy for cancer in randomized, controlled oncological trials: comparison between West and East

BACKGROUND

The presence of mixed evidence about the value of lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer surgery coupled with the difference in patients' demographics and tumor stage between the West and East have doubted the needs to standardize surgical techniques in Western clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to compare survival rates between the West and East following gastrectomy in randomized, controlled, oncological trials with appropriate adjustment for confounding variables.

METHODS

Systematic search revealed 25 trials that have randomization into surgery and chemotherapy versus surgery alone between 1995 and 2012 (n = 7 (East) and n = 18 (West)). End points were 5-year survival and cancer recurrence.

RESULTS

There was association between gastrectomy performed in the East and improved 5-year survival (pooled odds ratio (OR) 4.83; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 3.27-7.12) and reduced cancer recurrence (pooled OR 0.33; 95 % CI 0.2-0.54). Association of improved 5-year survival with surgery in the East remained when meta-regression adjusted for the effect of age, sex, chemotherapy, tumor depth and nodal status, and gastrectomy type. Association of reduced cancer recurrence also persisted with meta-regression adjusting for age, chemotherapy, nodal status, and gastrectomy type. However, when adjustment for the percentage of patients with tumor depth T1 or 2 was made statistical significance was lost.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis shows association between gastrectomy performed in Eastern countries and improved survival. The known difference in surgical techniques between the East and the West is one potential unexamined variable that may be responsible in part for such discrepancy in outcomes.

Unanswered questions in the management of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: an overview from the medical oncologist's perspective

Patients with gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma have multiple treatment options; however, are victims of lack of consensus and wide variation in treatment, sometimes within the same hospital. While there is a consensus that surgery alone is inadequate for locally advanced disease, locoregional treatment has become the point for debate. Only in 2010 was the reclassification of GEJ cancers as esophageal cancers. Treatment options remain as varied as the classification of GEJ cancers: preoperative chemoradiotherapy, definitive chemoradiation, perioperative chemotherapy, and resection followed by postoperative chemoradiation. Several studies have examined the varying treatment paradigms; however, many fall short due to methodology or sample size. The MAGIC study determined perioperative chemotherapy to be an acceptable standard treatment option for patients with gastric cancer, althouth a significant portion of enrolled patients had distal esophageal and GEJ adenocarcinoma. The CROSS study concluded combination chemotherapy and radiation before resection beneficial. Preoperative therapy in cases of GEJ is beneficial for survival, but not as much impact is seen as in esophageal SCC, which exhibits an increased sensitivity to CRT. There is concurrence with two phase III studies from Japan and Korea on the role of adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer. However, the applicability of these studies to GEJ adenocarcinoma remains a question, especially with the significantly different epidemiology of increased proximal and GEJ tumors in the West compared to Asia. To move forward with this increasingly prevalent disease, we will need to do more than understand the multiple treatment paradigms-we will need to select a strategy and examine it.

Totally laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

The role of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of gastric cancer is still controversial, particularly in terms of oncologic efficacy. The aim of this study was to compare short-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open resection for gastric cancer at a single Western institution.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study was designed as a matched cohort study from a prospective gastric cancer database. Forty-one patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer between June 2008 and January 2012 were matched with 41 patients undergoing open gastrectomy in the same time period. Patient pairing was done according to age, gender, type of gastrectomy (subtotal or total), and tumor stage via a randomized statistical method. The short-term outcomes and oncologic adequacy of the laparoscopic and open procedures were compared. A D2 lymph node dissection was performed in the majority of patients in both groups.

RESULTS

The two study groups were similar with respect to patient and tumor characteristics. Laparoscopic procedures were associated with a decreased blood loss (118.7 versus 312.4 mL, P<.005), incidence of surgery-unrelated complications (3 versus 9 patients, P<.05), and duration of hospital stay (8.1 versus 11.5 days, P<.05) but increased operative time for both subtotal (223.5 versus 158.2 minutes, P<.001) and total (298.1 versus 185.5 minutes, P<.001) gastrectomies. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes after D2 dissection was similar: 30.0 for laparoscopic and 29.7 for open patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the limitations of a nonrandomized analysis, this study shows that the laparoscopic approach is a safe and oncologically adequate option for the treatment of gastric cancer, which compares favorably with open gastrectomy in short-term outcomes.