Therapeutic value of lymph node dissection and the clinical outcome for patients with gastric cancer

The Influence of Group No.8p Lymph Node Dissection on the Prognosis of Advanced Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

Controversy over whether No.8p lymph nodes (LNs) involvement is distant or regional metastasis remains, and the possible inclusion of No.8p LNs in D2 lymphadenectomy is unclear.

AIM

This work aimed to investigate the effect of No.8p LN dissection on the prognosis of patients with different LN metastases in advanced gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

A retrospective case-control study was used to collect 1149 cases of radical gastrectomy from July 2003 to April 2013. The patients were divided into the No.8a group (303 cases) and the No.8a + 8p group (846 cases) according to whether No.8p LN dissection was performed. The effect of No.8p LN dissection on the prognosis of patients with different total number of LN metastasis was analyzed.

RESULTS

Both No.8p positive and No.8p dissection were independent prognostic factors in patients with advanced GC. The 5-year overall survival rate (OS) of the positive No.8p group was 13.0%, and that of the negative No.8p group was 66.6%; the difference was significant (P < 0.05). In the group where the total number of LN metastasis was 3-15, the OS of patients with positive No.8p was significantly lower than that of the negative group (P < 0.05). The 5-year OS of the No.8a + 8p dissection group was 65.4%, and that of the No.8a dissection group was 55.5%; the difference was significant (P < 0.05). In the group where the total number of LN metastasis was 0-2, the No.8a + 8p dissection group had significantly higher OS than the No.8a dissection group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

For patients with advanced GC, No.8p LN metastasis indicates a poor prognosis. LN dissection in the No.8a + 8p group may further improve the prognosis of some patients, especially when the total number of LN metastasis is 0-2.

Clinical Application of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Technology in Laparoscopic Radical Gastrectomy

Background

This study aimed to observe the application and evaluate the feasibility and safety of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence technology in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy (LRG).

Methods

Patients who underwent LRG & D2 lymphadenectomy at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University were included between January 2018 and August 2019. According to whether endoscopic injection of ICG was performed, patients were assigned to the ICG group (n=107) and the control group (n=88). The clinicopathologic features, retrieved lymph nodes, postoperative recovery, and follow-up data were compared between the two groups.

Results

Baseline characteristics are comparable. The ICG group had a significantly larger number of lymph nodes retrieved (49.55 ± 12.72 vs. 44.44 ± 10.20, P<0.05), shorter total operation time (min) (198.22 ± 13.14 vs. 202.50 ± 9.91, P<0.05), shorter dissection time (min) (90.90 ± 5.34 vs. 93.74 ± 5.35, P<0.05) and less blood loss (ml) (27.51 ± 12.83 vs. 32.02 ± 17.99, P<0.05). The median follow-up time was 29.0 months (range 1.5-43.8 months), and there was no significant difference between the ICG group and the control group in 2-year OS (87.8% vs. 82.9%, P>0.05) or DFS (86.0% vs. 80.7%, P>0.05).

Conclusions

ICG fluorescence technology in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy has advantages in LN dissection, operation time, and intraoperative blood loss. The 2-year OS and 2-year DFS rates between the two groups were comparable. In conclusion, ICG fluorescence technology is feasible and safe.

D2 vs D2 Plus Para-aortic Lymph Node Dissection for Advanced Gastric Cancer

Objectives

Gastric cancer is a common malignancy worldwide. Effective treatment by interdisciplinary cooperation is important, and surgery still plays an important role.

Material and Methods

In a ten-year period, 355 patients were diagnosed to have gastric cancer. One hundred and sixty-two patients with a median (range) age of 58 (23-83) years were eligible for the study. There were 107 patients in D2 and 55 patients in D2 lymphadenectomy plus para-aortic lymph node (PALN) dissection group. The two groups were compared in terms of complications, morbidity, mortality and long-term survival.

Results

Length of stay was 12 (8-34) days for D2 and 14 (8-42) days for D2 plus PALND. Total number of operative mortality was 8/162 (5%), and it was not different between the groups. Twenty patients (18%) had complications in D2 group and 9 (17%) patients in D2 plus PALND group. Overall survival was also similar between the groups, but patients with T3-T4 tumors, patients with stage IIIA and IIIB disease had better survival with D2 plus PALN dissection. We found that the depth of invasion, PLN, ratio (PLN/TLN), stage and LND were all prognostic variables.

Conclusion

This study showed that D2 plus PALN dissection for advanced gastric cancer can be performed as safely as a standard D2 dissection by experienced surgeons without increasing postoperative morbidity and mortality. D2 plus PALN dissection should be preferred in the advanced stage of the disease (IIIA-IIIB) as it increases the rate of survival.

Epidemiology of gastric cancer and risk factors

Gastric cancer is, still nowadays, an important healthcare problem worldwide. In Italy, it represents the fifth tumour by frequency in both men and women over 70 years old. A crucial point is represented by the percentage of early gastric cancers usually found, which is actually very low, and it carries to a worse morbidity and mortality. The most important focus in this oncological disease, is to perform an effective detection of the most common precancerous lesion linked with this neoplasia, chronic atrophic gastritis, in order to avoid the future outcome of gastric cancer itself. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Outcomes Following Surgery for Gastric Cancer at a Single Institution: A 16-Year Experience

Objective

We analyzed the cases of gastric cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment during the 16 years from 1997 to 2012 at our department to clarify these trends.

Methods

The subjects were 810 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer between 1997 and 2012. We divided the cases into the early-period group (1997–2006) treated before the introduction of laparoscopy, and the late-period group (2007–2012). We compared the clinicopathological factor and survival rates between the early- and late-period groups.

Results

The average patient age was higher in the late-period group than in the early-period group. Tumor localization showed an increased proportion in the U-region in the late period, and histological type in the late period showed a higher proportion of poorly differentiated cases. The cases receiving adjuvant chemotherapy increased in the late period. The five-year survival rate in the late-period group was shown to be equivalent to that in early-period group. Although the proportion of poorly differentiated cases was increased in late-period group, their survival rate was equivalent, probably because of the use of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Distinct characteristics were seen over the period of 16 years. It is important to continue the analysis of surgical outcomes to identify trends that need to be addressed.

How does epidemiological and clinicopathological features affect survival after gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients-single Egyptian center experience

AIM: To investigate the clinicopathological features and the significance of different prognostic factors which predict surgical overall survival in patients with gastric carcinoma.

METHODS: This retrospective study includes 80 patients diagnosed and treated at gastroenterology surgical center, Mansoura University, Egypt between February 2009 to February 2013. Prognostic factors were assessed by cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS: There were 57 male and 23 female. The median age was 57 years (24-83). One, 3 and 5 years survival rates were 71%, 69% and 46% respectively. The median survival was 69.96 mo. During the follow-up period, 13 patients died (16%). Hospital morbidity was reported in 10 patients (12.5%). The median number of lymph nodes removed was 22 (4-41). Lymph node (LN) involvement was found in 91% of cases. After R0 resection, depth of wall invasion, LN involvement and the number (> 15) of retrieved LN, LN ratio and tumor differentiation predict survival. In multivariable analysis, tumor differentiation, curability of resection and a number of resected LN superior to 15 were found to be independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION: Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment. Tumor differentiation, curability of resection and a number of resected LN superior to 15 were found to be independent prognostic factors. Extended LN dissection does not increase the morbidity or mortality rate but markedly improves long term survival.

Clinical Outcome after D1 vs D2–3 Gastrectomy for Treatment of Gastric Cancer

Background:

Clinical benefit from extended lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer remains controversial as a considerable variation exists between results of different studies.

Methods:

562 patients were treated at HUCH between 1987–2003, whereof 223 underwent gastrectomy with curative intent. Of these, 114 patients underwent subtotal/total gastrectomy with D1 (standard) lymphadenectomy and 109 patients had D2–3 (extended) lymph node dissection. The clinical outcome of these patients was analysed retrospectively.

Results:

The incidence of surgical complications was 33.0% in D2–3 and 16.8% in D1 lymphadenectomy groups (p = 0.008). Abscess was the most common complication (11.0%) among D2–3 operated patients and haemorrhage (4.4%) in D1 group. Hospital mortality was 3.7% in D2–3 and 1.8% in D1 group (p = 0.438). The only statistically significant factor influencing the rate of complications was D2–3 lymphadenectomy (OR 2.620, 95% C.I. 1.375 to 4.991). D2–3 was associated with a longer postoperative hospital stay and operation time, greater blood loss and increased need for blood transfusions compared to D1. The 5-year survival was not statistically different between lymphadenectomy groups.

Conclusion:

It is justified to perform a D2–3 gastrectomy in Europe with a acceptable postoperative mortality but with a significant morbidity. Further studies are needed to assess the value of extended lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer

Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor-C/D to promote lymphangiogenesis in human gastric cancer

Lymphangiogenesis is actively contributed to lymphatic metastasis in gastric cancer (GC), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D are key regulators for lymphangiogenesis. Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) was reported to be associated with lymph node metastasis in a few clinical studies, while little is known about the role of MACC1 in lymphangiogenesis. Hence, in the present study, we explored the potential role of MACC1 in lymphangiogenesis as well as the underlying mechanisms. By clinical observation, we found a positive relationship between MACC1 and lymphangiogenesis. Besides, similar results were also obtained from in vivo and in vitro studies. With an indirect co-culture system, we got that supernatant from MACC1 overexpressed GC cells accelerated human lymphatic endothelial cells' (HLECs') capacity of tube-like formation through enhancing cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, MACC1 overexpressed xenografts also presented more lymphatic vessels. Furthermore, MACC1 significantly increased the expression of VEGF-C/VEGF-D in GC cells and transplanted tumors, which was subsequently suppressed by c-Met inhibitor. All these data suggested a critical role for MACC1 in lymphatic dissemination of GC, providing evidence that MACC1 upregulated VEGF-C/VEGF-D secretion to promote lymphangiogenesis via c-Met signaling.

The distance of proximal resection margin dose not significantly influence on the prognosis of gastric cancer patients after curative resection

Purpose

It is well known that the curative resection with an adequate proximal margin length is the most effective treatment in gastric cancer. However, despite surgeon's effort to achieve a sufficient proximal margin length, it is often difficult to obtain a recommended proximal margin length in some cases. Therefore, this study was planned to investigate the impact of the length of proximal margin on prognosis of overall survival.

Methods

Between June 1992 and December 2010, 1,888 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent were reviewed. According to tumor's location (total vs. subtotal gastrectomy), pathologic T staging, and differentiation, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of the discrepancies of proximal margin length on overall survival. Also, the impact of the discrepancies of proximal margin length on local recurrence was assessed.

Results

The 5-year survival rate of positive proximal margin group was 5.9%. In negative proximal margin groups, multivariate analysis showed that the discrepancies of proximal margin length have no impact on overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that there is no association between discrepancy of proximal margin length and local recurrence.

Conclusion

It takes effort to secure a negative proximal margin in the surgical treatment of gastric cancer because of the poor prognosis of positive proximal margin. In negative proximal margin patients, there's no need to achieve an additional proximal margin length for long-term survival benefit because there was no impact of proximal margin length on overall survival and local recurrence.

Loss of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor contributes to gastric cancer progression

Loss of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) has previously been observed in gastric cancer. The role of CAR in gastric cancer pathobiology, however, is unclear. We therefore analysed CAR in 196 R₀-resected gastric adenocarcinomas and non-cancerous gastric mucosa samples using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor was found at the surface and foveolar epithelium of all non-neoplastic gastric mucosa samples (n=175), whereas only 56% of gastric cancer specimens showed CAR positivity (P<0.0001). Loss of CAR correlated significantly with decreased differentiation, increased infiltrative depths, presence of distant metastases, and was also associated with reduced carcinoma-specific survival. To clarify whether CAR impacts the tumorbiologic properties of gastric cancer, we subsequently determined the role of CAR in proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cell lines by application of specific CAR siRNA or ectopic expression of a human full-length CAR cDNA. These experiments showed that RNAi-mediated CAR knock down resulted in increased proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cell lines, whereas enforced ectopic CAR expression led to opposite effects. We conclude that the association of reduced presence of CAR in more severe disease states, together with our findings in gastric cancer cell lines, suggests that CAR functionally contributes to gastric cancer pathogenesis, showing features of a tumour suppressor.

Positive VEGF immunostaining independently predicts poor prognosis in curatively resected gastric cancer patients: results of a study assessing a panel of angiogenic markers

Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) contribute to gastric cancer aggressiveness by up-regulating the expression of proteases. We evaluated the expression and the prognostic significance of angiogenic factors and proteases in 148 patients with R0-resected gastric cancer. Expression of VEGF, Ang-2, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor PAI-1, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 and -9 were assayed by immunohistochemistry. After a mean of 63 +/- 4 months, 81 out of 148 patients had died due to disease. The probability of being free of recurrence was 62, 48, and 42% at 2, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Single bivariate analysis identified VEGF, Ang-2, COX-2, PAI-1, and MMP-9 expression, along with several clinicopathological parameters (grade of curability, lymph node ratio, pTNM, pT, pN), as variables associated with both decreased disease-specific survival and recurrence. On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for significant clinical covariables, positive VEGF immunostaining was the primary prognostic factor, and no other tumor marker variable could add any significant improvement for the prediction, for both disease-specific survival (p = 0.001; HR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.76 to 6.10) and tumor recurrence (p = 0.002; HR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.48 to 5.35). Our study suggests that VEGF alone may be clinically useful for establishing therapeutic decisions in gastric cancer patients.

[Early complications following radical surgical treatment of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma]

BACKGROUND/AIM

Surgical treatment of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma means the total excision of a tumor and the pathways of its spreading with the risk of operational complications as low as possible. The aim of this study was to evaluate the type and frequency of early postoperative complications and mortality after a radical surgical treatment of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Complication rates and postoperative mortality were studied in 70 consecutive patients in whom a radical surgical procedure, gastrectomy (total or subtotal) with D2 lymphadenectomy, was performed. In the early postoperative period, the frequencies of general and specific complications were detected. The frequencies of complications were compared between the groups of patients according to the defined clinical, operative and pathohistological paramethers.

RESULTS

The overall morbidity and mortality rates were 27.14% and 5.71%, respectively Pancreatic fistula in five, and pleural effusion in three patients were the most frequently registered complications. Three of four deaths occured in patients older than 70 years, with the stage III and IV of the disease, and in all of them total gastrectomy with splenectomy was performed. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in complication rates was found between the groups of patients with and without splenectomy and with the tumors > 5 cm and < or = 5 cm.

CONCLUSION

Radical surgical treatment of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma might be done with an acceptable morbidity and mortality if it is performed by the surgeons with the experience in D2 lymphadenectomy technique. A diameter of the tumor > 5 cm, and splenectomy, and/or splenopancreatectomy are the most important risk factors for the occurrence of complications and modifications of D2 lymphadenectomy technique with limited indications for splenic and/or pancreas resection can improve treatment results. An individual approach and the appropriate selection of the surgical procedure are necessary in patients older than 70 years.

Prognostic score in gastric cancer: the importance of a conjoint analysis of clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic factors

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to establish a prognostic score for gastric cancer that takes into account factors related to the tumor, the patient, and the treatment.

METHODS

Two hundred thirty patients with gastric adenocarcinoma admitted t o the Department of Abdominal Surgery at Hospital do Câncer A. C. Camargo (São Paulo) and treated by gastrectomy from January 1992 until December 1996 were included in this retrospective cohort. The prognostic score was created according to the variables identified in the multivariate analysis and by using the regression coefficients generated by the Cox regression.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall survival rate was 44.5%. The final multivariate model identified six variables with a significant and independent effect on survival: sex, weight loss, lymphocyte count, tumor-node-metastasis staging, lymphadenectomy, and lymph node ratio. Patients were divided into four groups according to their scores, as follows: group 1, 0 to 3.0; group 2, 3.5 to 5.5; group 3, 6.0 to 8.5; and group 4, 9.0 to 14.0. The 5-year survival rates were 91.5%, 49.3%, 20.3%, and .0% for the score groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively (P<.001). The score was superior in the assessment of prognosis when compared with tumor-node-metastasis staging alone.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to create a prognostic score that simultaneously includes factors related to the tumor, patient, and treatment, thus generating a more effective system in predicting the prognosis than the morphology-based staging systems.

Extended lymphadenectomy (D2) in patients with early gastric cancer

AIMS

To investigate the survival benefit of extended lymphadenectomy (D2) in EGC patients in one European Institution.

METHODS

A review was made of our prospective gastric database from January 1980 to December 2001. Of 527 patients with primary gastric adenocarcinoma, 119 with EGC underwent potentially curative resection (R0) with D2 lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS

There were two post-operative deaths. Of the 117 evaluable cases, 96 were classified as N0 and 21 as N+, with metastases in the perigastric lymph nodes (level 1) in 13, and beyond this site (level 2) in eight. Five-year survival was 85.9 and 83.0% in N0 and N+ patients, respectively. During a median follow-up of 90 months, five of the eight patients with level 2 metastases died of recurrent disease and three were alive. The estimated survival benefit for 119 patients with EGC was 2.5% (3/119 cases).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with EGC, metastases to level 2 are rare. Our results indicate that D2 lymphadenectomy has a limited survival benefit and that in these cases a less extensive lymphadenectomy (D1) could be performed.

Gastric adenocarcinoma: review and considerations for future directions

OBJECTIVE

This update reviews the epidemiology and surgical management, and the controversies of gastric adenocarcinoma. We provide the relevance of outcome data to surgical decision-making and discuss the application of gene-expression analysis to clinical practice.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Gastric cancer mortality rates have remained relatively unchanged over the past 30 years, and gastric cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Well-conducted studies have stimulated changes to surgical decision-making and technique. Microarray studies linked to predictive outcome models are poised to advance our understanding of the biologic behavior of gastric cancer and improve surgical management and outcome.

METHODS

We performed a review of the English gastric adenocarcinoma medical literature (1980-2003). This review included epidemiology, pathology and staging, surgical management, issues and controversies in management, prognostic variables, and the application of outcome models to gastric cancer. The results of DNA microarray analysis in various cancers and its predictive abilities in gastric cancer are considered.

RESULTS

Prognostic studies have provided valuable data to better the understanding of gastric cancer. These studies have contributed to improved surgical technique, more accurate pathologic characterization, and the identification of clinically useful prognostic markers. The application of microarray analysis linked to predictive models will provide a molecular understanding of the biology driving gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Predictive models generate important information allowing a logical evolution in the surgical and pathologic understanding and therapy for gastric cancer. However, a greater understanding of the molecular changes associated with gastric cancer is needed to guide surgical and medical therapy.

Clinical impact of strip biopsy for early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The impact of EMR (strip biopsy method) on the selection of subsequent treatment for early gastric cancer was analyzed retrospectively.

METHODS

A total of 163 consecutive patients with gastric epithelial tumors (186 lesions) underwent strip biopsy. On the basis of pretherapeutic findings, the indications for strip biopsy were classified into 4 groups: benign-malignant borderline group (93 lesions), curative indication group (65), diagnostic indication group (22), and palliative indication group (6). The clinical impact of the strip biopsy result on the subsequent treatment strategy was assessed.

RESULTS

Of the lesions in the benign-malignant borderline group, 36.6% were intramucosal cancer. In the curative indication group, the results of strip biopsy differed from the pretherapeutic findings for 7.7% of the lesions. Strip biopsy was effective treatment for all lesions in the benign-malignant borderline group and for 92.3% of those in the curative indication group. Strip biopsy avoided unnecessary surgery in 50% of patients in the diagnostic indication group and 16.7% of those in the palliative indication group. After the strip biopsy results were explained, 50% of the patients in the palliative indication group reversed their initial decision and opted for surgery. Strip biopsy results reversed the decision for surgery, which had been based on inaccurate pretherapeutic information, in 20% of cases of early gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Strip biopsy has a major clinical impact, because it provides an accurate diagnosis, aids in the selection of an appropriate treatment strategy, and reduces unnecessary surgery.

Gastric cancer: establishing predictors of biologic behavior with use of population-based data

BACKGROUND

Tumor thickness and nodal status are important predictors of survival following curative resection for gastric cancer. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is a potential predictor of biological behavior. The relationship between LVI and tumor thickness (T status) has not been established in population-based studies.

METHODS

Clinicopathological and survival data of 577 patients at nine centers, from between 1991 and 1997, was collected from patient records and a Provincial Cancer Registry. The primary endpoint of the study was death. A secondary analysis of a node-negative subgroup examined the significance of LVI with respect to T status.

RESULTS

The population disease-specific survival was 28%. In a multivariate analysis, T, N, M, esophageal margin, tumor morphology, and residual tumor category were independent predictors of survival. LVI was documented in 58% of resected tumors. LVI correlated with advancing T and N status but was not significant in a multivariate population model. Subgroup analysis of node-negative gastric cancer found T status and LVI to be independent predictors of survival. LVI was associated with a 5-year survival of 8%, versus 43% among patients in whom it was absent (P <.001).

CONCLUSIONS

T status and N status were the most important independent predictors of survival in a population-based study of gastric cancer. LVI correlated with advancing N and T status. Multivariate analysis of node-negative patients showed LVI and T status are independent predictors of survival.