Oligometastatic gastric cancer: An emerging clinical entity with distinct therapeutic implications

Survival in esophageal cancer with nonregional lymphadenopathy: a propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Survival among patients with esophageal cancer with stage IV nonregional lymphadenopathy treated with neoadjuvant therapy and surgical resection is not well described. This study aimed to compare the survival outcomes of patients with nonregional lymphadenopathy with a propensity-matched cohort of patients with locoregional disease.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort analysis of a prospectively maintained database from a regional upper gastrointestinal cancer network in Quebec, Canada. From January 2010 to December 2022, patients with radiologically suspicious nonregional retroperitoneal or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy were identified. Using 1:1 propensity score matching, a control group without nonregional disease was created.

RESULTS

Of the 1235 patients identified, 39 met the inclusion criteria and were allocated to the study group of whom 35 of 39 (89%) had adenocarcinoma. Retroperitoneal and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy occurred in 26 of 39 patients (67%) and 13 of 39 patients (33%). Of the 39 patients, 34 (87%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 5 (13%) received chemoradiotherapy. After resection, ypN0 of nonregional lymph node stations occurred in 21 of 39 patients (54%). When comparing the study group with a matched non-stage IV control group, the median overall survival was similar in patients with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy (21.0 months [95% CI, 8.0-21.0] vs 27.0 months [95% CI, 13.0-41.0]; P = .262) but not with supraclavicular disease (13.0 months; 95% CI, 8.0-18.0; P = .039). The median follow-up intervals were 40.1 months (95% CI, 1.0-83.0) for the study group and 70.0 (95% CI, 33.0-106.0) for the control groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared with a matched cohort of patients with similar disease burden but not stage IV disease, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy did not negatively affect survival outcomes. Multimodal curative intent therapy may be appropriate in select cases.

Radiation therapy of the primary tumour and/or metastases of digestive metastatic cancers

Metastatic gastrointestinal cancer is not an uncommon situation, especially for pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancers. In this setting, few data are available on the impact of the treatment of the primary tumour. Oligometastatic disease is associated with longer survival in comparison with more advanced disease. Metastasis-directed therapy, such as stereotactic body radiotherapy, seems related to better outcomes, but the level of evidence is low. In most tumour locations, prospective data are very scarce and inclusion in ongoing trials is strongly recommended.

Association Between Metastatic Pattern and Prognosis in Stage IV Gastric Cancer: Potential for Stage Classification Reform

PURPOSE

This study aims to clarify the association between metastatic pattern and prognosis in stage IV gastric cancer, with a focus on patients presenting with metastases limited to nonregional lymph nodes.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the National Cancer Database was used to identify patients ≥ 18 years of age diagnosed with stage IV gastric cancer between 2016 and 2019. Patients were stratified according to pattern of metastatic disease at diagnosis: nonregional lymph nodes only ("stage IV-nodal"), single systemic organ ("stage IV-single organ"), or multiple organs ("stage IV-multi-organ"). Survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox models in unadjusted and propensity score-matched samples.

RESULTS

Overall, 15,050 patients were identified, including 1,349 (8.7%) stage IV-nodal patients. Most patients in each group received chemotherapy [68.6% of stage IV-nodal patients, 65.2% of stage IV-single organ patients, and 63.5% of stage IV-multi-organ patients (p = 0.003)]. Stage IV-nodal patients exhibited better median survival (10.5 months, 95% CI 9.7-11.9, p < 0.001) than single organ (8.0, 95% CI 7.6-8.2) and multi-organ (5.7, 95% CI 5.4-6.0) patients. In the multivariable Cox model, stage IV-nodal patients also exhibited better survival (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.73-0.85, p < 0.001) than single organ (reference) and multi-organ (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.22-1.33, p < 0.001) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 9% of clinical stage IV gastric cancer patients have their distant disease confined to nonregional lymph nodes. These patients were managed similarly to other stage IV patients but experienced a better prognosis, suggesting opportunities to introduce M1 staging subclassifications.

Is there still a place for radiotherapy in gastric cancer?

Stomach cancer is an aggressive disease and represents a global health problem. The majority of patients with localised disease present with locally advanced cancer that requires multimodality treatment. Chemoradiotherapy delivered after D2 gastrectomy has been evaluated in a number of clinical studies and best evidence, thus far, does not support its use in the post-operative setting. Data from currently recruiting and ongoing trials with exploratory translational endpoints are eagerly awaited to direct the use of chemoradiotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting. Radiotherapy can be effective in the palliation of symptoms associated with advanced gastric cancer. Furthermore, Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy has the potential to provide long term disease control in a proportion of gastric cancer patients with oligometastatic liver disease.

Outcomes of pancreatic cancer with liver oligometastasis

BACKGROUND

Liver oligometastatic pancreatic cancer (PC) may have favorable outcomes. This study aims to evaluate outcomes and factors associated with overall survival (OS) of these patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated consecutive PC patients with liver metastasis treated at our institution between 2013 and 2020. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared and analyzed according to the extent of liver metastasis. Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify prognostic factors for OS.

RESULTS

A total of 417 patients were included (multi-organ metastasis/polymetastasis/oligometastasis 174/158/85). Oligometastasis showed a longer OS compared to other types of metastases (7.7 vs 8.2 vs 13.1 months). Age <70 years, performance status of 0, modified Glasgow prognostic score of 0, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 <1000 U/mL were identified as significant prognostic factors for OS. A prognostic index consisting of these four factors successfully stratified the prognosis of these patients (prognostic index; high vs low, 19.9 vs 8.3 months). Highly selected patients who underwent surgical resection showed a median OS of 54.6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Oligometastasis presented a relatively favorable outcome. Our new prognostic index was useful in stratifying the prognosis of these patients. Multimodal treatment including surgery may have additional survival benefits for highly selected patients.

Will Patients With Liver Metastasis From Aggressives Cancers Benefit From Surgical Resection?

Background

We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of resections for liver metastases (LMs) originating from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and esophagus/gastric cancers (EGCs), which we label as major killers (MKs; overall survival (OS) under 10%). We hypothesized that LM resection must provide the patient with almost a year of OS postoperatively that is considered beneficial.

Methods

From January 2005 to December 2020, 23 patients underwent resection for isolated LM from MKs. These patients underwent surgery after a multidisciplinary discussion about their performance status, disease evolution during prolonged medical treatment, and the existence or absence of extrahepatic metastases.

Results

LM originated from an PDAC, EGC, or NSCLC in 10 patients (43%), nine patients (39%), and four patients (18%), respectively. The median delay between primary cancer and LM diagnoses was 12 months, and the median delay between LM diagnosis and liver resection was 10 months. Most patients, who had objectively responded to medical treatment (57%), had a solitary (61%) and unilobar (70%) LM. Severe morbidity and 90-day mortality rates were 13% and 4.3%, respectively. Margin-free resection was achieved in 16 patients (70%). After liver resection, the median OS was 24 months without a statistical difference when considering the primary tumor site; 1, 3-, and 5-year OS were 70%, 23%, and 23%, respectively.

Conclusion

Selection based on criteria such as good clinical condition, response to treatment, and long observation period helped identify patients with LM of MKs who seemed to benefit from resection.

Efficacy of Surgery for the Treatment of Gastric Cancer Liver Metastases: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis of Prognostic Factors

BACKGROUND

In the last 10 years, the management of patients with gastric cancer liver metastases (GCLM) has changed from chemotherapy alone, towards a multidisciplinary treatment with liver surgery playing a leading role. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy of hepatectomy for GCLM and to analyze the impact of related prognostic factors on long-term outcomes.

METHODS

The databases PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles from January 2010 to September 2020. We included prospective and retrospective studies that reported the outcomes after hepatectomy for GCLM. A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of prognostic factors was performed.

RESULTS

We included 40 studies, including 1573 participants who underwent hepatic resection for GCLM. Post-operative morbidity and 30-day mortality rates were 24.7% and 1.6%, respectively. One-year, 3-years, and 5-years overall survival (OS) were 72%, 37%, and 26%, respectively. The 1-year, 3-years, and 5-years disease-free survival (DFS) were 44%, 24%, and 22%, respectively. Well-moderately differentiated tumors, pT1-2 and pN0-1 adenocarcinoma, R0 resection, the presence of solitary metastasis, unilobar metastases, metachronous metastasis, and chemotherapy were all strongly positively associated to better OS and DFS.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, we demonstrated that hepatectomy for GCLM is feasible and provides benefits in terms of long-term survival. Identification of patient subgroups that could benefit from surgical treatment is mandatory in a multidisciplinary setting.

Radiotherapy Combined with Chemotherapy for Regional Lymph Node Recurrence in Gastric Cancer

Purpose

Regional lymph node recurrence (RLNR) in gastric cancer is uncommon. We investigated the effects of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy against limited RLNR and analyzed the regularity of regional lymph node recurrence and metastasis.

Patients and Methods

This retrospective study included 34 gastric cancer patients with limited RLNR after D2 lymphadenectomy between January 2012 and May 2018. All patients received systemic chemotherapy and local radiotherapy with median dose of 52.5 Gy (30–66 Gy in fractions of 1.8–3.0 Gy daily, five times weekly). All sites of recurrent and metastatic lymph nodes were collected and analyzed.

Results

The median follow-up was 19 months (range 7–60 months). After treatment, complete response and partial response were observed in 32.4% and 55.9% of patients, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 18 months and 13 months. On multivariate analysis, age (≤60 vs >60) was associated with a significantly better OS (p = 0.025) and radiation dose (<54 Gy vs ≥54 Gy) was considered as an independent prognostic factor for PFS (p = 0.000). During radiotherapy, three patients developed grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity, and no deaths were related to the treatments. The most commonly metastatic lymph nodes were the No. 4, No. 3, No. 6, No. 5, No. 7, No. 9, and No. 8 nodes; the recurrent lymph nodes were mainly located in the No. 16b, No. 16a, No. 9, No. 14, No. 7, No. 13, and No. 8 nodes.

Conclusion

The selected gastric cancer patients with limited RLNR may benefit from radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. High-dose radiotherapy (≥54 Gy) lead to better PFS and tend to extend OS. The major lymph node recurrence sites were in the gastric vascular region (especially No. 16a/b nodes).