Laparoscopic Curative Resection for Rectal Cancer: A Cohort Study on Long-term Outcome

Prognostic effect of sarcopenia in patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer resection

BACKGROUND

The importance of body composition, in particular skeletal muscle mass, as risk factor affecting survival of cancer patients has recently gained increasing attention. The relationship between sarcopenia and oncological outcomes has become a topic of research in particular in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. However, there are few studies addressing this issue in colorectal cancer, and even less specifically focused on rectal cancer, in particular in Western countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic relevance of preoperative skeletal mass index (SMI) on long-term outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic curative resection for rectal cancer.

METHODS

SMI data and clinicopathological characteristics of rectal cancer patients in a 15-year period (June 2005-December 2020) were evaluated; patients with metastatic disease at surgery were excluded; overall and disease-free survival as well as recurrence were evaluated.

RESULTS

Hundred and sixty-five patients were included in the study. Sarcopenia was identified in 30 (18%) patients. Multivariate analysis identified sarcopenia (HR = 3.28, CI = 1.33-8.11, P = 0.015), along with age (HR = 1.06, CI = 1.02-1.10, P = 0.002) and stage III (HR = 2.63, CI = 1.13-6.08, P < 0.03) as independent risk factors for overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Long-term results of rectal cancer patients undergoing curative resection are affected by their preoperative skeletal muscle status. Larger studies including comprehensive data on muscle strength along with SMI are awaited to confirm these results on both Eastern and Western rectal cancer patient populations before strategies to reverse muscle depletion can be extensively applied.

Predictive Value of the Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index for Outcomes After Hepatic Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) on outcomes after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

We assessed 763 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC. The ACCI scores were categorized as follows: ACCI ≤ 5, ACCI = 6, and ACCI ≥ 7.

RESULTS

A multivariate analysis showed that the odds ratios for postoperative complications in ACCI = 6 and ACCI ≥ 7 groups, with reference to ACCI ≤ 5 group, were 0.71 (p = 0.41) and 4.15 (p < 0.001), respectively. The hazard ratios for overall survival of ACCI = 6 and ACCI ≥ 7 groups, with reference to ACCI ≤ 5 group, were 1.52 (p = 0.023) and 2.45 (p < 0.001), respectively. The distribution of deaths due to HCC-related, liver-related, and other causes was 68.2%, 11.8%, and 20% in ACCI ≤ 5 group, 47.2%, 13.9%, and 38.9% in ACCI = 6 group, and 27.3%, 9.1%, and 63.6% in ACCI ≥ 7 group (p = 0.053; ACCI ≤ 5 vs. = 6, p = 0.19; ACCI = 6 vs. ≥ 7, p < 0.001; ACCI ≤ 5 vs. ≥ 7). In terms of the treatment for HCC recurrence in ACCI ≤ 5, ACCI = 6, and ACCI ≥ 7 groups, adaptation rate of surgical resection was 20.1%, 7.3%, and 11.1% and the rate of palliative therapy was 4.3%, 12.2%, and 22.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The ACCI predicted the short-term and long-term outcomes after hepatic resection of HCC. These findings will help physicians establish a treatment strategy for HCC patients with comorbidities.