Gastropexy can be as safe as conventional percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), and biomarkers do not predict short-term or long-term outcomes: a 7-year follow-up audit

Effect of irradiation on cytokine production in cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Irradiation, which affects cytokine secretion, is used to treat cancer patients. Cytokine levels have correlations to disease parameters, serving as biomarkers for patients. We aim to explore the effect of irradiation on cytokine production both in vitro (using lymphocytes from healthy donors) and in vivo (using serum levels of head and neck cancer patients following irradiation) and correlating them to mucositis severity/need for percutaneous endoscopic gastroscopy (PEG) tube installation.

METHODS

Cytokine production by cultured lymphocytes from healthy donors, in vitro, following irradiation of 5 or 10 Gy. In addition, blood from 23 patients with head and neck cancers, irradiated by 60-72G in vivo, were assessed for inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-18), the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and the general marker sIL-2R. Following radiation, selected patients who were developing mucositis were treated by PEG tube installation. Changes in cytokine levels were studied as predictive biomarkers of response to therapy/PEG tube installation. Cytokine production levels were measured using ELISAs kits.

RESULTS

Irradiation decreased the levels of all tested cytokines, most notably IL-6 and IL-8, proportional to irradiation dose. In patients, increases in cytokine levels, correlated with mucositis severity and potentially the need for PEG tube installation.

CONCLUSIONS

Irradiation decreased the levels of all cytokines of healthy lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner, especially those of IL-6 and IL-8. This study shows a correlation between high and increasing levels of inflammatory cytokines, sIL-2R, plus radiation toxicity and the need for PEG. The reduction of cytokine levels after radiotherapy predicts that PEG will not be required. Thus, our study shows that cytokine changes are predictive biomarkers in head and neck cancer patients.

Endoscopically placed venting gastrostomy can be a safe and effective palliative intervention in benign and malignant gastrointestinal obstruction

INTRODUCTION

Chronic gastrointestinal obstruction can precipitate a constellation of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and pain that negatively impact on health-related quality of life. Decompression via venting gastrostomy can offer symptomatic relief but safety and efficacy data are sparse. This study characterises the diverse venting percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (vPEG) cohort at our tertiary referral centre and defines the safety and efficacy of this procedure.

METHODS

Patients undergoing vPEG between May 2012 and June 2020 were identified from a prospectively maintained database and demographic, procedure-related and mortality data were extracted. Retrospective analysis of case notes provided data on patient symptoms. Last follow-up was May 2021.

RESULTS

27 patients (median age 63, range 18-90 years) underwent vPEG insertion. The majority of vPEGs were for patients with obstruction secondary to locally advanced or metastatic malignancy (n=21/27, 77.8%). Six procedures were performed for benign disease (n=6/27, 22.2%). No patients developed the recognised serious complications of bleeding, perforation or peritonitis from vPEG insertion. Symptoms of nausea (p=0.006), vomiting (p<0.001), abdominal distension (p<0.001) and abdominal pain (p=0.002) were improved following vPEG. Pain beyond the expected postprocedural discomfort was associated with a lower number of days survived postprocedure (p=0.026).

CONCLUSION

vPEG can be a safe and efficacious palliative intervention for benign and malignant chronic gastrointestinal obstruction. Severe postprocedural pain should be promptly investigated to exclude a potential complication. A defined clinical strategy for assessing and managing these patients would facilitate wider recognition of the benefits of vPEG and improve the safety profile in centres with more limited experience.