Increased 30-Day Mortality Risk in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus After Colon Cancer Surgery: A Mediation Analysis

Perioperative Immunosuppressive Factors during Cancer Surgery: An Updated Review

Surgical excision of the primary tumor represents the most frequent and curative procedure for solid malignancies. Compelling evidence suggests that, despite its beneficial effects, surgery may impair immunosurveillance by triggering an immunosuppressive inflammatory stress response and favor recurrence by stimulating minimal residual disease. In addition, many factors interfere with the immune effectors before and after cancer procedures, such as malnutrition, anemia, or subsequent transfusion. Thus, the perioperative period plays a key role in determining oncological outcomes and represents a short phase to circumvent anesthetic and surgical deleterious factors by supporting the immune system through the use of synergistic pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. In line with this, accumulating studies indicate that anesthetic agents could drive both protumor or antitumor signaling pathways during or after cancer surgery. While preclinical investigations focusing on anesthetics' impact on the behavior of cancer cells are quite convincing, limited clinical trials studying the consequences on survival and recurrences remain inconclusive. Herein, we highlight the main factors occurring during the perioperative period of cancer surgery and their potential impact on immunomodulation and cancer progression. We also discuss patient management prior to and during surgery, taking into consideration the latest advances in the literature.

Presurgical mild anemia is a risk factor for severe postoperative complications of rectal cancer surgery: A Japanese nationwide retrospective cohort study

Background

Anemia has negative effects on long-term outcomes of rectal cancer patients; however, its status as a risk factor for severe complications is disputed. Perioperative risks may differ based on the severity of pre-surgical anemia; nonetheless, no previous study has investigated these differences. This study identified risks of severe postoperative complications in rectal cancer patients based on severity of their pre-surgical anemia.

Materials and Methods

This study enrolled patients who underwent low anterior resection for rectal cancer and were registered in the Japanese National Clinical Database (NCD) between 2017 and 2019. Anemia severity was categorized into three levels: mild, moderate, and severe. A logistic regression model was applied to calculate the risk-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of severe complications after surgery.

Results

This study analyzed a cohort of 51 765 rectal cancer patients who underwent low anterior resection. Results showed that severe complications occurred in 10.9% of patients and were significantly more frequent in patients with anemia (13.6%) than those with normal hemoglobin levels (9.2%). Risk-adjusted ORs of severe complications in the severe, moderate, and mild anemia groups versus the normal group for males were 1.19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89-1.58), 1.47 (1.34-1.62), and 1.21 (1.12-1.31), respectively. Those for females were 1.39 (0.90-2.15), 1.64 (1.37-1.97), and 1.36 (1.16-1.58), respectively.

Conclusions

According to this large cohort study, pre-surgical anemia significantly increases the risk of severe postoperative complications in rectal cancer patients. Even mild anemia presents a significant risk.

New Horizons: Epidemiology of Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, and Cancer Prognosis

The global prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus has increased in parallel with increasing cancer incidence, due to environmental and lifestyle factors and population aging. Metabolic diseases are associated with increased cancer risk, so a growing number of patients with cancer have coexistent obesity and/or diabetes mellitus. In this narrative review, we highlight recent evidence on the clinical impact of obesity and diabetes mellitus on the prognosis of prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer, and provide an overview of the underlying mechanisms. There is evidence that obesity is associated with increased risk of recurrence, and all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among adults with prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer. Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased all-cause and cancer-specific mortality for these 3 cancers, beyond any impact of obesity. Evidence also suggests increased risk of colorectal cancer recurrence in patients with diabetes mellitus. The underlying mechanisms are multifactorial and likely include hormonal imbalances and chronic inflammation that promote cancer cell growth. Obesity and diabetes mellitus are associated with increased risk of complications and side effects of cancer treatment. Associated comorbidities such as impaired kidney function, cardiovascular disease, and neuropathies may preclude the use of guideline cancer treatment and are competing causes of death. Cancer patients with metabolic diseases require a designated clinical program and a multidisciplinary approach involving oncologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, nutritionists, and physiotherapists, to ensure coordinated and optimized patient care.

Management of obstructed colorectal carcinoma in an emergency setting: An update

Colorectal carcinoma is common, particularly on the left side. In 20% of patients, obstruction and ileus may be the first clinical manifestations of a carcinoma that has advanced (stage II, III or even IV). Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation, plain abdominal radiogram, computed tomography (CT), CT colonography and positron emission tomography/CT. The best management strategy in terms of short-term operative or interventional and long-term oncological outcomes remains unknown. For the most common left-sided obstruction, the first choice should be either emergency surgery or endoscopic decompression by self-expendable metal stents or tubes. The operative plan should be either one-stage or two-stage resection. One-stage resection with on-table bowel decompression and irrigation can be accompanied or not accompanied by proximal defunctioning stoma (colostomy or ileostomy). Primary anastomosis is more convenient but has increased risks of anastomotic leakage and morbidity. Two-stage resection (Hartmann's procedure) is safer and the most widely used despite temporally affecting quality of life. Damage control surgery in high-risk frail patients is less frequently performed since it can be successfully substituted with endoscopic stenting or tubing. For the less common right-sided obstruction, one-stage surgical resection is more beneficial than endoscopic decompression. The role of minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic or robotic) is a subject of debate. Emergency laparoscopic-assisted management is advantageous to some extent but requires much expertise due to inherent difficulties in dissecting the distended colon and the risk of rupture and subsequent septic complications. The decompressing stent as a bridge to elective surgery more substantially decreases the risks of morbidity and mortality than emergency surgery for decompression and has equivalent medium-term overall survival and disease-free survival rates. Its combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation may have a positive effect on long-term oncological outcomes. Management plans are crucial and must be individualized to better fit each case.

Ruiz J, Nestares T, Carneiro-Barrera A. Multidisciplinary Prehabilitation and Postoperative Rehabilitation for Avoiding Complications in Patients Undergoing Resection of Colon Cancer: Rationale, Design, and Methodology of the ONCOFIT Study

ONCOFIT is a randomized clinical trial with a two-arm parallel design aimed at determining the influence of a multidisciplinary Prehabilitation and Postoperative Program (PPP) on post-surgery complications in patients undergoing resection of colon cancer. This intervention will include supervised physical exercise, dietary behavior change, and psychological support comparing its influence to the standard care. Primary and secondary endpoints will be assessed at baseline, at preoperative conditions, at the end of the PPP intervention (after 12 weeks) and 1-year post-surgery, and will include: post-surgery complications (primary endpoint); prolonged hospital length of stay; readmissions and emergency department call within 1-year after surgery; functional capacity; patient reported outcome measures targeted; anthropometry and body composition; clinical/tumor parameters; physical activity levels and sedentariness; dietary habits; other unhealthy habits; sleep quality; and fecal microbiota diversity and composition. Considering the feasibility of the present intervention in a real-life scenario, ONCOFIT will contribute to the standardization of a cost-effective strategy for preventing and improving health-related consequences in patients undergoing resection of colon cancer with an important clinical and economic impact, not only in the scientific community, but also in clinical practice.

The Impact of Surgical Delays on Short- and Long-Term Survival Among Colon Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of surgical delays on short- and long-term survival among colon cancer patients.

METHODS

Adult patients undergoing surgery for stage I, II, or III colon cancer were identified from the National Cancer Database (2010-2016). After categorization by wait times from diagnosis to surgery (<1 week, 1-3 weeks, 3-6 weeks, 6-9 weeks, 9-12 weeks, and >12 weeks), 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality, and 5-year overall survival were compared between patients both overall and after stratification by pathological disease stage.

RESULTS

Among 187 394 colon cancer patients, 24.2% waited <1 week, 30.5% waited 1-3 weeks, 29.0% waited 3-6 weeks, 9.7% waited 6-9 weeks, 3.3% waited 9-12 weeks, and 3.3% waited >12 weeks for surgery. Patients undergoing surgery 3-6 weeks after colon cancer diagnosis exhibited the best 30-day mortality (1.3%), 90-day mortality (2.3%), and 5-year overall survival (71.8%) (P < .001 for all). After risk-adjusting for confounders, all wait times beyond 6 weeks were associated with worse 5-year overall survival (6-9 weeks: HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.15; 9-12 weeks: HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.18-1.33; >12 weeks: HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.35-1.52; P < .001 for all). Subgroup analysis after stratification by disease stage demonstrated that patients with stage III colon cancer were able to wait up to 9 weeks before exhibiting worse 5-year overall survival, compared to 6 weeks for patients with stage I or II disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Colon cancer patients should undergo surgery 3-6 weeks after diagnosis, as all surgical delays beyond 6 weeks were associated with worse 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality, and 5-year overall survival.

Outcomes in high and low volume hospitals in patients with acute hematochezia in a cohort study

Outcomes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding have not been compared according to hospital capacity. We aimed to perform a propensity score-matched cohort study with path and mediation analyses for acute hematochezia patients. Hospitals were divided into high- versus low-volume hospitals for emergency medical services. Rebleeding and death within 30 days were compared. Computed tomography, early colonoscopy (colonoscopy performed within 24 h), and endoscopic therapies were included as mediators. A total of 2644 matched pairs were yielded. The rebleeding rate within 30 days was not significant between high- and low-volume hospitals (16% vs. 17%, P = 0.44). The mortality rate within 30 days was significantly higher in the high-volume cohort than in the low-volume cohort (1.7% vs. 0.8%, P = 0.003). Treatment at high-volume hospitals was not a significant factor for rebleeding (odds ratio [OR] = 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-1.06; P = 0.23), but was significant for death within 30 days (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.17-3.52; P = 0.012) on multivariate logistic regression after adjusting for patients' characteristics. Mediation effects were not observed, except for rebleeding within 30 days in high-volume hospitals through early colonoscopy. However, the direct effect of high-volume hospitals on rebleeding was not significant. High-volume hospitals did not improve the outcomes of acute hematochezia patients.

Treatment of infections in cancer patients: an update from the neutropenia, infection and myelosuppression study group of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)

INTRODUCTION

Patients with hematological and advanced solid malignancies have acquired immune dysfunction, often exacerbated by treatment, posing a significant risk for the development of infections. This review evaluates the utility of current clinical and treatment guidelines, in the setting of management of infections in cancer patients.

AREAS COVERED

These include causes of infection in cancer patients, management of patients with high-risk and low-risk febrile neutropenia, management of low-risk patients in an outpatient setting, the role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the prevention and treatment of neutropenia-related infections, management of lung infections in various clinical settings, and emerging challenges surrounding the risk of infection in cancer patients treated with novel treatments. The literature search was performed by accessing PubMed and other databases, focusing on published clinical trials of relevant anti-cancer agents and diseases, primarily covering the recent past, but also including several key studies published during the last decade and, somewhat earlier in a few cases.

EXPERT REVIEW

Notwithstanding the promise of gene therapy/gene editing in hematological malignancies and some types of solid cancers, innovations introduced in clinical practice include more discerning clinical management such as the generalized use of biosimilar formulations of G-CSF and the implementation of novel, innovative immunotherapies.

New tricks of old drugs: Repurposing non-chemo drugs and dietary phytochemicals as adjuvants in anti-tumor therapies

Combination therapy has long been applied to enhance therapeutic effect and deal with the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in cancer treatment. However, the overlapping toxicity of multiple anticancer drugs to healthy tissues and increasing financial burden on patients emerged as major concerns. As promising alternatives to chemo agents, repurposed non-chemo drugs and dietary phytochemicals have been investigated as adjuvants to conventional anti-tumor therapeutics, offering a safe and economic strategy for combination therapy. In this review, we aim to highlight the advances in research about combination therapy using conventional therapeutics and repurposed drugs or phytochemicals for an enhanced anti-tumor efficacy, along with the mechanisms involved in the synergism. Beyond these, we outlined the potential challenges and solutions for clinical translation of the proposed combination therapy, providing a safe and affordable strategy to improve the reach of cancer therapy to low income regions with such new tricks of old drugs.