Aggressive surgical approach for patients with T4 gastric carcinoma: promise or myth?

Analysis of Patient Outcomes following Curative R0 Multiorgan Resections for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: This systematic review examines the efficacy of multiorgan resection (MOR) in treating locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC), focusing on survival outcomes, postoperative morbidity, and mortality. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of studies in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase up to November 2023, based on the PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria focused on clinical trials, observational studies, case-control studies, and qualitative research, involving patients of any age and gender diagnosed with LAGC undergoing MOR aimed at R0 resection, with secondary outcomes focusing on survival rates, postoperative outcomes, and the effects of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies. Exclusion criteria ruled out non-human studies, research not specifically focused on LAGC patients undergoing MOR, and studies lacking clear, quantifiable outcomes. The quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The final analysis included twenty studies, involving a total of 2489 patients across a time span from 2001 to 2023. Results highlighted a significant variation in median survival times ranging from 10 to 27 months and R0 resection rates from 32.1% to 94.3%. Survival rates one-year post-R0 resection varied between 46.7% and 84.8%, with an adjusted weighted mean of 66.95%. Key predictors of reduced survival included esophageal invasion and peritoneal dissemination, the presence of more than six lymph nodes, and tumor sizes over 10 cm. Nevertheless, the meta-analysis revealed a significant heterogeneity (I2 = 87%), indicating substantial variability across studies, that might be caused by differences in surgical techniques, patient demographics, and treatment settings which influence survival outcomes. Results: The review underlines the important role of achieving R0 resection status in improving survival outcomes, despite the high risks associated with MOR. Variability across studies suggests that local practice patterns and patient demographics significantly influence results. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the need for aggressive surgical strategies to improve survival in LAGC treatment, highlighting the importance of achieving curative resection despite inherent challenges.

What determines complications and prognosis among patients subject to multivisceral resections for locally advanced gastric cancer?

BACKGROUND

Locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) extending to the surrounding tissues may require a multivisceral resection (MVR) to provide the best chance of cure. However, little is known about how the extent of organ resection affects the risks and benefits of surgery.

METHODS

An electronic database of patients treated between 1996 and 2020 in an academic surgical centre was reviewed. MVRs were defined as partial or total gastrectomy combined with splenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, or partial colectomy.

RESULTS

Suspected intraoperative tumour invasion of perigastric organs (cT4b) was found in 298 of 1476 patients with non-metastatic GC, and 218 were subject to MVRs, including the spleen (n = 126), pancreas (n = 51), and colon (n = 41). MVRs were associated with higher proportions of surgical and general complications, but not mortality. A nomogram was developed to predict the risk of major postoperative morbidity (Clavien-Dindo's grade ≥ 3a), and the highest odds ratio for major morbidity identified by logistic regression modelling was found for distal pancreatectomy (2.53, 95% CI 1.23-5.19, P = 0.012) and colectomy (2.29, 95% CI 1.04-5.09, P = 0.035). Margin-positive resections were identified by the Cox proportional hazards model as the most important risk factor for patients' survival (hazard ratio 1.47, 95% CI 1.10-1.97). The extent of organ resection did not affect prognosis, but a MVR was the only factor reducing the risk of margin positivity (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.21-0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of multivisceral resections is associated with the organ being removed, but only MVRs increase the odds of complete tumour clearance for locally advanced gastric cancer.

Аre Multivisceral Resections for Gastric Cancer Acceptable: Experience from a High Volume Center and Extended Literature Review?

Introduction  Multivisceral resections (MVRs) in gastric cancer are potentially curable in selected patients in whom clear resection margins are possible. However, there are still uncertain data on their feasibility and safety considering short- and long-term results. The study compares survival, morbidity, mortality, and other secondary outcomes between standard and MVRs for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods  A monocentric retrospective study in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, covering 2004 to 2020. Of the 336 operable cases, 101 patients underwent MVRs. The remaining 235 underwent standard gastric resections (SGRs), of which 173 patients were in stage T3/T4. To compare survival, a control group of 101 patients with palliative procedures was used-bypass anastomosis or exploration. Results  MVR had a lower survival rate than the SGR but significantly higher than the palliative procedures. The predominant gender in MVR was male (72.3%), with a mean age of 61 years. The perioperative mortality was 3.96% ( n  = 4), and the overall median survival was 28.1 months. The most frequently resected organs were the spleen (67.3%), followed by the pancreas (32.7%) and the liver (20.8%). In 56.4% of the cases two organs were resected, in 28.7% three organs, and in 13.9% four organs. The main complication was bleeding (9.9%). The major postoperative complications in the MVR were 14.85%, and in the SGR 6.4% ( p  < 0.05). Better long-term results were observed in patients who underwent R0 resections compared with R1. Conclusion  Multiorgan resections are characterized by poorer survival and a higher complication rate than gastrectomies. On the other hand, they have better long-term outcomes than palliative procedures. However, MVRs are admissible when performed by an experienced surgical team in high-volume centers.

Retrospective analysis of surgically treated pT4b gastric cancer with pancreatic head invasion

BACKGROUND

For advanced gastric cancer patients with pancreatic head invasion, some studies have suggested that extended multiorgan resections (EMR) improves survival. However, other reports have shown high rates of morbidity and mortality after EMR. EMR for T4b gastric cancer remains controversial.

AIM

To evaluate the surgical approach for pT4b gastric cancer with pancreatic head invasion.

METHODS

A total of 144 consecutive patients with gastric cancer with pancreatic head invasion were surgically treated between 2006 and 2016 at the China National Cancer Center. Gastric cancer was confirmed in 76 patients by postoperative pathology and retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the gastrectomy plus en bloc pancreaticoduodenectomy group (GP group) and gastrectomy alone group (GA group) by comparing the clinicopathological features, surgical outcomes, and prognostic factors of these patients.

RESULTS

There were 24 patients (16.8%) in the GP group who had significantly larger lesions (P < 0.001), a higher incidence of advanced N stage (P = 0.030), and less neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001) than the GA group had. Postoperative morbidity (33.3% vs 15.3%, P = 0.128) and mortality (4.2% vs 4.8%, P = 1.000) were not significantly different in the GP and GA groups. The overall 3-year survival rate of the patients in the GP group was significantly longer than that in the GA group (47.6%, median 30.3 mo vs 20.4%, median 22.8 mo, P = 0.010). Multivariate analysis identified neoadjuvant chemotherapy [hazard ratio (HR) 0.290, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.103–0.821, P = 0.020], linitis plastic (HR 2.614, 95% CI: 1.024–6.675, P = 0.033), surgical margin (HR 0.274, 95% CI: 0.102–0.738, P = 0.010), N stage (HR 3.489, 95% CI: 1.334–9.120, P = 0.011), and postoperative chemoradiotherapy (HR 0.369, 95% CI: 0.163–0.836, P = 0.017) as independent predictors of survival in patients with pT4b gastric cancer and pancreatic head invasion.

CONCLUSION

Curative resection of the invaded pancreas should be performed to improve survival in selected patients. Invasion of the pancreatic head is not a contraindication for surgery.

Prognostic value of preoperative body mass index for diabetic patients with non-metastasis gastric cancer: a single center experience

Aim

This study was designed to investigate the prognostic effect of preoperative body mass index (BMI) for Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with non-metastasis gastric cancer (GC) who underwent D₂ gastrectomy.

Methods

T2DM patients with pT_1–4bN_0–3bM₀ GC were retrospectively collected in Department of Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology, Fujian Cancer Hospital & Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital from January, 2000 to December, 2010. These patients underwent D₂ radical resection of the stomach combined with regional lymphadenectomy. Chi-square test was used to analyze unordered categorical variables and ranked data, followed by Kaplan–Meier analysis as well as Cox regression models to detect risk factors for survival outcomes. In addition, the cut-off point was determined by the X-tile program. All analyses were carried out using survival package of R and SPSS Software.

Results

A total of 302 T2DM patients with pT_1–4bN_0–3bM₀ GC were collected and analyzed. The cut-off points of BMI, identified by the X-tile program, was 19 kg/m². Patients with low BMI (< 19 kg/m²) had a higher percentage of advanced T stage (T_4a and T_4b), more advanced TNM stage (stage IIIA, IIIB and IIIC), and more elevated level of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), compared to those with high BMI (> 19 kg/m²) (all P < 0.05). In the low BMI subgroup, the 5-year overall survival rate was 39.02%, which was as high as 58.11% in the high BMI subgroup (P < 0.05). In the multivariate Cox regression model revealed that III_C stage (OR = 3.101), N_3b stage (OR = 3.113) were the most important prognostic indicators, followed by pretreatment BMI (OR = 2.136).

Conclusion

Low preoperative BMI (< 19 kg/m²) was a poor prognostic marker for T2DM patients with pT_1–4bN_0–3bM₀ GC.

Impact of Pancreatic Resection on Survival in Locally Advanced Resectable Gastric Cancer

Whether gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) patients with adjacent organ invasion (T4b) benefit from aggressive surgery involving pancreatic resection (PR) remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the impact of PR on survival in patients with locally advanced resectable GC. Between 1995 and 2017, patients with locally advanced GC undergoing radical-intent gastrectomy with and without PR were enrolled and stratified into four groups: group 1 (G1), pT4b without pancreatic resection (PR); group 2 (G2), pT4b with PR; group 3 (G3), positive duodenal margins without Whipple's operation; and group 4 (G4), cT4b with Whipple's operation. Demographics, clinicopathological features, and outcomes were compared between G1 and G2 and G3 and G4. G2 patients were more likely to have perineural invasion than G1 patients (80.6% vs. 50%, p < 0.001). G4 patients had higher lymph node yield (40.8 vs. 31.3, p = 0.002), lower nodal status (p = 0.029), lower lymph node ratios (0.20 vs. 0.48, p < 0.0001) and higher complication rates (45.2% vs. 26.3%, p = 0.047) than G3 patients. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were significantly longer in G1 than in G2 (28.1% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.003; 32% vs. 13%, p = 0.004, respectively). The 5-year survival rates did not differ between G4 and G3 (DFS: 14% vs. 14.4%, p = 0.384; OS: 12.6% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.321, respectively). In conclusion, patients with T4b lesion who underwent PR had poorer survival than those who underwent resection of other adjacent organs. Further Whipple's operation did not improve survival in pT3-pT4 GC with positive duodenal margins.

Multivisceral resection for locally advanced gastric cancer: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Multivisceral resection may be the exclusive radical procedure for cT4b gastric cancer patients. However, most surgeons refuse to select surgery because of the theoretical higher mortality, morbidity and poorer prognosis.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed cT4b gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery from January 1,1997 to December 31,2018. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Short-term results and prognostic values of clinical and pathologic factors were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Patients underwent multivisceral resection had an acceptable mortality and morbidity. The overall 5-year survival rate of multivisceral resection was higher than that of palliative surgery (P < 0.05). And independent prognostic factors of multivisceral resection were R+ resection, extensive lymph node involved (>15), vascular cancer emboli, and postoperative chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

cT4b gastric cancer patients underwent multivisceral resection experience acceptable mortality and morbidity. The independent prognostic factors for multivisceral resection were completeness of resection, extensive lymph node involvement (>15), vascular cancer emboli, and postoperative chemotherapy.

Surgical outcomes and survival for T4 gastric cancer extending to the transverse colon

Background

For the treatment of locally advanced (T4) gastric cancer, extended multi-organ resection remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes and survival of patients with T4 gastric cancer extending to the transverse colon.

Methods

A total of 2,652 gastric cancer patients underwent surgery between December 2011 and December 2015. Data from 40 of these patients who underwent curative resection for T4 gastric cancer extending to the transverse colon were obtained. Patient characteristics, related complications, long-term survival, and prognostic factors for T4 gastric cancer were analyzed.

Results

Postoperative morbidity occurred in 5 (12.5%) patients. All of the patients were cured with conservative treatment. No procedure-related mortality occurred. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 75.0%, 49.2%, and 36.9%, respectively, with a median survival time of 24 months. Univariate analysis revealed tumor size (P=0.049), advanced T stage (P=0.013), and lymph node metastasis (P=0.006) to be poor prognostic factors of OS. Advanced T stage and lymph node metastasis were identified by multivariate analysis as being independent prognostic factors. Further, it was observed that lymph node metastasis grade was associated with poorer OS.

Conclusions

Patients with T4 gastric cancer extending to the transverse colon might benefit from curative resection with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

Observational Study Comparing Efficacy and Safety between Neoadjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy and Chemotherapy for Patients with Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer

Objective

Dismal outcomes in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) highlight the need for effective systemic neoadjuvant treatment strategies to improve clinical results. Neoadjuvant multimodality strategies vary widely. This study compared the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of neoadjuvant CCRT and chemotherapy for such patients.

Materials and Methods

Sixty-five patients with histologically confirmed locally advanced or metastatic GC following neoadjuvant CCRT or computed tomography (CT) were retrospectively enrolled between January 2010 and April 2019. Clinical outcomes included response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), and toxicity was compared between the two groups.

Results

Of the 65 patients, 18 (27.7%) were in the response group (2 patients with a complete response and 16 with a partial response) and 47 (72.3%) in the nonresponse group (29 patients with a stable disease and 18 with a progressive disease). Multivariate analysis revealed no independent response predictor between CCRT and chemotherapy groups (all P > 0.05). Furthermore, results revealed no statistical differences in toxicity between the two groups (all P > 0.05). With a follow-up median of 12 months (ranging 6–48 months), 12-month OS and PFS were 39.7% and 20.4% in the CCRT group and 30.3% and 13.2% in the chemotherapy group, respectively. The median OS and PFS were 14.0 months (95% CI 9.661–18.339) and 9.0 months (95% CI 6.805–11.195) in the CCRT group and 10.0 months (95% CI 6.523–13.477) and 8.0 months (95% CI 6.927–9.073) in the chemotherapy group, respectively. Both OS (P=0.011) and PFS (P=0.008) in patients with CCRT were significantly better than those in patients with chemotherapy alone.

Conclusion

Neoadjuvant CCRT achieved more favorable OS and PFS than did neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone, without significant increases of toxicity in patients. However, prospective randomized trials comparing treatment modalities are necessary to confirm the potential advantages of neoadjuvant CCRT.

Impact of Metformin Use on Survival in Patients with Gastric Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus Following Gastrectomy

Studies have shown the anticancer effects of metformin in vitro. However, whether metformin can prevent cancer recurrence or prolong survival in patients with gastric cancer (GC) and diabetes mellitus (DM) post-gastrectomy remains unknown. We evaluated the beneficial effects of metformin in patients with GC and DM post-gastrectomy. We recruited 2400 patients with GC (1749 without DM, 651 with DM) who underwent surgery between 1997 and 2010. Patients with DM were stratified into metformin (group 1) and non-metformin (group 2) users. Their clinicopathological data were recorded prospectively, and demographics, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were compared. Tumour recurrence risk and cause of death were analysed between groups 1 and 2 among patients with DM stratified by tumour stage. We also compared RFS and overall survival among patients with and without DM. Tumour recurrence occurred in 201 patients with GC: 57 (25%) in group 1 and 144 (37%) in group 2. After adjusting for confounders, metformin significantly prolonged CSS (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.38-0.77) in patients with stage I-III GC and DM. In subgroup analysis, metformin users with stage III GC and DM had significantly prolonged CSS compared to non-metformin users (HR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.30-0.68), with an insignificant difference in patients with stage I-II GC. Adjusted HRs for RFS and CSS were significantly lower in patients with stage I-III GC and DM than those in patients without DM (0.67 (95% CI = 0.54-0.92) and 0.62 (95% CI = 0.50-0.77), respectively), with an insignificant difference in patients with stage I GC. Metformin significantly reduces tumour recurrence risk and improves CSS in patients with stage III GC and DM post-gastrectomy. Further prospective studies may confirm the efficacy of metformin as an adjunctive treatment for advanced GC postoperatively.

Multivisceral resection vs standard gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Multivisceral resection (MVR) is potentially curative for selected gastric cancer patients, supposedly at the cost of increased complications. However, current data comparing MVR to standard gastrectomy (SG) is lacking.

OBJECTIVES

Compare complications and survival after MVR and SG.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort of 1015 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, 58 underwent MVR and 466 SG. Groups were compared concerning their characteristics, complications, and survival.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-six patients had postoperative complications. Major complications were more frequent after MVR (P = .002). Surgical mortality was 8.6% and 4.9% for MVR and SG (P = .221). Older age, higher morbidities, and MVR were independent risk factors for major complications. The odds ratio for major complications was 5.89 for MVR with one or two organs and 38.01 for MVR with three or more organs. The pancreas was the most commonly removed organ and pT4b disease were confirmed in 34 (58.6%) of the MVR cases. Disease-free survival (DFS) was lower in MVR patients (51% vs 77.8%; P < .001), being worse according to the number of organs resected. In pN+ patients, DFS was worse after MVR. DFS was equivalent to pT4b and non-pT4b in the MVR group.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased morbidity and lower survival are expected for gastric cancer patients undergoing MVR.

Extended Gastrectomy for T4b Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Single-Surgeon Experience

PURPOSE

This study reports single-surgeon experience with extended gastrectomy including en-bloc resection of adjacent organs/structures for T4b stage gastric adenocarcinoma. Time-related changes in patient selection criteria and outcomes were also analyzed.

METHODS

All consecutive gastrectomies for adenocarcinoma performed between May 2004 and December 2017 were extracted from prospectively collected database to study surgical and oncologic results. Time-related changes in outcomes were examined according to three time periods.

RESULTS

Five hundred eighty-seven gastrectomies were performed throughout the study period including 87 (14.8%) extended resections. The latter most often included pancreatosplenectomy, colon, and liver resections (21, 16, and 11 patients, respectively) resulting in similar postoperative outcomes and survival. Extended gastrectomy was associated with larger tumor size (8.4 vs 5.6 cm), performing total gastrectomy (55.2 vs 35.2%, p < 0.01) and increased blood loss (375 vs 150 ml, p < 0.01) compared with standard gastrectomy. Larger experience in extended gastrectomy allowed for expanding patient selection criteria, considering complex resections and extensive lymphadenectomy. Median and 3-year survival following extended gastrectomy for T4b adenocarcinoma were 14 months and 18%, respectively, which was comparable to standard gastrectomy for T4a adenocarcinoma (p = 0.48). Obesity, nodal stage and type of gastrectomy were associated with survival in T4b adenocarcinoma in the univariable analysis. Obesity and N3a and N3b stages were independent predictors in the multivariable model.

CONCLUSIONS

Extended gastrectomy for T4b gastric adenocarcinoma provides satisfactory surgical outcomes even with expanded patient selection criteria and regardless of the organ involved. Given its poor prognosis, neoadjuvant therapy should be considered to improve the long-term oncologic results.

Nationwide Outcome of Gastrectomy with En-Bloc Partial Pancreatectomy for Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

Radical gastrectomy is the cornerstone of the treatment of gastric cancer. For tumors invading the pancreas, en-bloc partial pancreatectomy may be needed for a radical resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of gastrectomies with partial pancreatectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

Patients who underwent gastrectomy with or without partial pancreatectomy for gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction cancer between 2011 and 2015 were selected from the Dutch Upper GI Cancer Audit (DUCA). Outcomes were resection margin (pR0) and Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III postoperative complications and survival. The association between partial pancreatectomy and postoperative complications was analyzed with multivariable logistic regression. Overall survival of patients with partial pancreatectomy was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Of 1966 patients that underwent gastrectomy, 55 patients (2.8%) underwent en-bloc partial pancreatectomy. A pR0 resection was achieved in 45 of 55 patients (82% versus 85% in the group without additional resection, P = 0.82). Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III complications occurred in 21 of 55 patients (38% versus 17%, P < 0.001). Median overall survival [95% confidence interval] was 15 [6.8-23.2] months. For patients with and without perioperative systemic therapy, median survival was 20 [12.3-27.7] and 10 [5.7-14.3] months, and for patients with pR0 and pR1 resection, it was 20 [11.8-28.3] and 5 [2.4-7.6] months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastrectomy with partial pancreatectomy is not only associated with a pR0 resection rate of 82% but also with increased postoperative morbidity. It should only be performed if a pR0 resection is feasible.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) elastography and strain ratio, could it help in differentiating malignant from benign pancreatic lesions?

Evaluating the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) elastography and strain ratio in differentiation between malignant and benign pancreatic lesions.Three hundred twenty-five patients with solid pancreatic lesions were enrolled in this prospective study from 2014 to 2017. EUS real-time elastography scoring and strain ratio were done to all patients and compared to the final diagnosis to assess its sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) in differentiating malignant from benign lesions.A cut-off value of 4.2 we had sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 63%, PPV of 89%, NPV of 81%, and accuracy of 87%. Another cut-off value of 10.9 showed a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 88%, PPV of 95%, NPV of 54%, and accuracy of 79%. Adding the elastography to the better cut-off value gave a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 63%, PPV of 89%, NPV of 88%, and accuracy of 89%.Real-time elastography and strain ration are valuable in differentiating malignant from pancreatic lesions.

Optimal management of resected gastric cancer

Although advances in medical treatment for gastric cancer (GC) have been made, surgery remains the mainstay of cure for patients with localized disease. Improvement in surgical modalities leads to increased chance of cure for resected patients, but a non-negligible number of patients eventually relapse. On this basis, it has been hypothesized that the addition of complementary systemic or local treatments (such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy) could help in improving patients' survival by reducing the risk of recurrence. Several studies have tried to identify the best approach in localized GC: some of them have assessed the role of perioperative chemotherapy [CT] with different drug combinations, while others have focused on the benefit obtained by addition of radiotherapy, whose role is still under investigation. In particular, the role of chemoradiotherapy, both in adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings, is still uncertain. In the last few years, several clinicopathological and molecular factors have been investigated and identified as potential prognostic markers in GC. Many of these factors could have influenced the outcome of patients receiving combined treatments in the abovementioned studies. Patients have not been generally distinguished by the site of disease (esophageal, gastric and junctional cancers) and surgical approach, making data difficult to be interpreted. The purpose of this review was to shed light on these highly controversial topics.

Prognostic Factors Affecting Survival After Multivisceral Resection in Patients with Clinical T4b Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

The prognosis and survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer is poor. Although completeness of resection (R0) is one of the most important factors affecting survival, multivisceral resection (MVR) for locally advanced (clinical T4b, cT4b) gastric cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting prognosis and survival after MVR in patients with cT4b gastric cancer.

METHODS

Between 2005 and 2015, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 103 patients who underwent MVR for cT4b gastric cancer with suspected direct invasion to adjacent organs. Patient characteristics, related complications, long-term survival, and prognostic factors of cT4b gastric cancer were analyzed.

RESULTS

Postoperative mortality and morbidity rates of patients after MVR were 1.0 and 37.9%, respectively. R0 resection was achieved in 82.5% patients, all of whom had a significantly improved survival rate. Overall survival rates at 1 and 3 years were 78.3 and 47.7% for R0 resection and 46.6 and 14.3% for R1 resection, respectively (R0 vs. R1, P < 0.002). Multivariate analysis revealed that completeness of resection (R0) was an independent prognostic factor associated with longer survival.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with cT4b gastric cancer, gastrectomy with MVR to achieve an R0 resection can be performed with acceptable postoperative morbidity and mortality rates and can have a positive impact on long-term survival.

Palliative gastrectomy is beneficial in selected cases of metastatic gastric cancer

Background

Salvage chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for metastatic gastric cancer (mGC). This study aimed to clarify the effects of palliative gastrectomy (PG) and identify prognostic factors in mGC patients undergoing PG.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of 333 mGC patients receiving PG or a non-resection procedure (NR) between 2000 and 2010. Clinicopathological factors affecting the prognosis of these patients were collected prospectively and analyzed.

Results

One hundred and ninety-three patients underwent PG and 140 NR. The clinicopathological characteristics were comparable between the two groups except for metastatic pattern. There were no significant differences in postoperative morbidity and mortality between the two groups. The PG group had a significantly longer median overall survival compared with the NR group (7.7 months vs. 4.9 months). In the PG group, age ≤58 years, preoperative albumin level >3 g/dL, ratio of metastatic to examined lymph nodes ≤0.58, and administration of chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing PG had better outcomes than those undergoing NR. Among the patients undergoing resection, age ≤58 years, a better preoperative nutritional status, less nodal involvement and postoperative chemotherapy independently affected patient survival.

Impact of clinicopathological parameters on survival after multiorgan resection among patients with T4 gastric carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognostic factors which can improve the overall survival (OS) of patients with T4 gastric carcinoma (GC) are still controversial: a meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the impact of clinicopathological parameters on survival after MOR among patients with T4 GC.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed. Odd risks (ORs) of patients with T4 GC were used to calculate the relationship between clinicopathological parameters and OS.

RESULTS

Nine studies involving 941 patients with T4 GC were identified. Well-moderate differentiation led to increased 1-, 3-, 5-year OS with an OR of 2.63, 1.58 and 1.45. Borrmann type I-II led to increased 1-, 3-year OS with an OR of 1.67 and 2.08. No lymph node metastasis led to increased 1-, 3-, 5-year OS with an OR of 7.16, 3.18 and 3.71. Total gastrectomy led to increased 1-, 3-year OS with an OR of 2.01 and 1.79. ≥2 Organs resected led to increased 1-, 3-year OS with an OR of 2.19 and 2.19. TNM stage II-III led to increased 1-, 3-year OS with an OR of 3.68 and 5.75. Curative resection led to increased 1-, 3-, 5-year OS with an OR of 4.46, 5.80 and 5.98.

CONCLUSION

Well-moderate differentiation, Borrmann type I-II, no lymph node metastasis, total gastrectomy, ≥2 organs resected, TNM stage II-III and curative resection were positive prognostic factors for OS of patients with T4 GC.

Clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes in stage I-III mucinous gastric adenocarcinoma: a retrospective study at a single medical center

Background

The clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of mucinous gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) remain unclear. We report the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with mucinous histology who underwent radical-intent gastrectomy.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of 1470 patients with pathologically proven undifferentiated GC undergoing radical-intent gastrectomy between 1995 and 2007. The patients were stratified into three groups according to their histological type: mucinous carcinoma (MC), signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC), and poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC). Clinicopathological factors affecting prognosis were collected prospectively and analyzed.

Results

In stage III MC, the age and size were significantly greater and larger than in SRCC and PDC; a lower proportion of perineural invasion was identified in MC, and female predominance was noted in SRCC in comparison with MC and PDC. The cumulative overall survival rates of stage I–III GC patients with MC were significantly superior compared to those with PDC, but not SRCC. Stage III GC patients with MC had a better prognosis than those with SRCC or PDC; the difference in survival was not evident in stages I or II.

Conclusions

Thus, MC presents with different clinicopathological features and prognosis from SRCC and PDC. The patients with stage III gastric MC had favorable outcomes.

Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratios predict gastric cancer surgical outcomes

BACKGROUND

The prognostic role of the preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic potential of the preoperative LMR in patients with resectable GC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records of 926 consecutive patients with resectable GC between 2005 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Patients were stratified into two groups based on the preoperative LMR with a cutoff value of 4.8 (group 1: LMR ≤ 4.8; group 2: LMR > 4.8). Clinicopathologic factors potentially affecting patient outcomes were collected prospectively and analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared to group 2, in group 1, there was a higher percentage of men, patients aged >48 y, total gastrectomy, tumor size > 4.8 cm, T4 lesions, N3 disease, metastatic tumors, advanced stage, ratio of metastatic to examined lymph nodes > 0.18, R1 resection, and occurrence of vascular or lymphatic invasion. Group 1 also had a higher 30-d surgical mortality rate (groups 1 versus 2 at 2.9% versus 0.5%; P = 0.006) and lower 3-y and 5-y overall survival (53.6% versus 71.9% and 46.4% versus 63.3%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative low LMR was an unfavorable prognostic factor for resectable GC.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with lower LMR had more aggressive tumor behavior, higher surgical mortality rates, and worse long-term survival. The preoperative LMR may serve as an independent prognostic factor for prediction of surgical outcomes and for assisting clinicians in determining future treatment plans.

Combination of EUS-FNA and elastography (strain ratio) to exclude malignant solid pancreatic lesions: A prospective single-blinded study

BACKGROUND

Negative results of EUS-FNA for solid pancreatic lesions (SPL) can be false ones. Combination with strain ratio (SR) may ensure a correct benign diagnosis of SPL.

AIMS

We prospectively evaluated the sensitivity rate of EUS-FNA and EUS elastography using the strain ratio method for diagnosing SPL.

METHODS

Thirty-eight patients with SPL identified by CT or MRI between January 2013 and November 2013 were included in our prospective study. EUS diagnoses were made using SR by an endosonographer who was blinded to all clinical information. In SPL with adequate cellularity, the results of EUS-FNA were combined with strain ratio to diagnose SPL and the diagnostic value was calculated.

RESULTS

Benign SPL were diagnosed in nine patients with surgical or guided-biopsy pathology (n = 3) and benign cells from FNA with stable disease during the 12-month follow-up time (n = 6). Using the best cut-off strain ratio level at 3.17, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy rate of EUS elastography were 86.2%, 66.7%, 89.3%, 60%, and 81.6%, respectively. For the 28 patients who underwent EUS-FNA with results of adequate cellularity; EUS-FNA alone versus combination of results of cytology and SR provided sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy rate at 90% versus 95.2, 100% versus 71.4%, 100% versus 90.9%, 80% versus 83.3, and 92.9% versus 89.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective single-blinded study, the negative results of both EUS-FNA and SR were more reliable to exclude malignant SPL. The sensitivity of EUS elastography by SR was not superior to EUS-FNA. © 2015 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Prognostic Value of the Preoperative Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio in Resectable Gastric Cancer

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the preoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in resectable gastric cancer (GC). This was a retrospective review of 1030 patients with resectable GC managed between 2005 and 2011. Patients were stratified into 2 groups, those with a preoperative NLR >3.44 and those with a preoperative NLR ≤ 3.44. Clinicopathological data affecting patient prognosis were collected prospectively and analyzed. The high NLR (> 3.44) group had a higher proportion of a platelet to lymphocyte ratio > 132, tumor size > 4.8 cm, T4 lesions, metastatic tumors, a ratio of metastatic to examined lymph nodes >0.18, positive resection margins, and presence of vascular or lymphatic invasion than the low NLR (≤ 3.44) group. Patients with a high preoperative NLR had significantly lower 3- and 5-year overall survival rates than those with a low preoperative NLR (55.1% vs 71.0% and 47.2% vs 64.1%, respectively; P < 0.001). Preoperative NLR was a prognostic factor for resectable GC in multivariate analysis. More aggressive tumor behavior was observed in patients with resectable GC with a high preoperative NLR than in those with a low preoperative NLR. High preoperative NLR was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor. Measurement of this ratio may serve as a clinically accessible and useful biomarker for patient outcomes.

Multivisceral Resection for Gastric Cancer: Results from the US Gastric Cancer Collaborative

BACKGROUND

Resection of an adjacent organ during gastrectomy for gastric cancer is occasionally necessary to achieve margin clearance. The short- and long-term outcomes of this approach remain unclear.

METHODS

Patients who underwent gastric cancer resection in seven U.S. academic institutions from 2000 to 2012 were evaluated to compare perioperative morbidity, mortality, and survival outcomes, stratified by the need for and type of multivisceral resection (MVR).

RESULTS

Of 835 patients undergoing curative-intent gastrectomy, 159 (19 %) had MVR. The most common adjacent organs resected were the spleen (48 %), pancreas (27 %), liver segments 2/3 (14 %), and colon (13 %). As extent of resection increased (gastrectomy only, n = 676; MVR without pancreatectomy, n = 116; and MVR with pancreatectomy, n = 43), perioperative morbidity was higher: any complication (45, 60, 59 %, p = 0.012), major complication (17, 31, 33 %, p = 0.001), anastomotic leak (5, 11, 19 %, p < 0.001), and respiratory failure (9, 15, 22 %, p = 0.012). However, perioperative mortality did not significantly increase (30-day: 3, 4, 2 %, p = 0.74; 90-day: 6, 8, 9 %, p = 0.61). Overall survival after resection decreased as extent of resection increased (5-year: 42, 28, 6 %). After controlling for age, race, T stage, N stage, grade, margin status, perineural invasion, adjuvant therapy, and blood transfusion, MVR with pancreatectomy (HR 1.67, p = 0.044), but not MVR without pancreatectomy (HR 0.97, p = 0.759), remained an independent predictor of poor survival.

CONCLUSION

In this modern, multi-institutional cohort of gastric cancer patients, multivisceral resection was associated with higher perioperative morbidity but not significantly higher perioperative mortality. If concomitant pancreatectomy is anticipated, patients should be selected with extreme caution because long-term survival remains poor.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by D2 gastrectomy in locally advanced gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for resectability of locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC).

METHODS: Between November 2007 and January 2014, 29 patients with LAGC (clinically T3 with distal esophagus invasion/T4 or bulky regional node metastasis) that were treated with NACRT followed by D2 gastrectomy were included in this study. Resectability was evaluated with radiologic and endoscopic exams before and after NACRT. Using three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, patients received 45 Gy, with a daily dose of 1.8 Gy. The entire tumor extent and the regional metastatic lymph nodes were included in the gross tumor volume. Patients presenting with a resectable tumor after NACRT received a total or subtotal gastrectomy with D2 dissection. The pathologic tumor response was evaluated using Japanese Gastric Cancer Association histologic evaluation criteria. Postoperative morbidity was evaluated using the National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were estimated using a Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared using the log-rank test.

RESULTS: All patients were assessed as unresectable cases. Twenty-four patients (24/29; 82.8%) showed LAGC on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (CT) and contrast-enhanced CT, whereas four patients (4/29; 13.8%) with vague invasion or abutment to an adjacent organ underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. One patient (1/29; 3.4%), initially assessed as a resectable case, underwent an “open and closure” after the tumor was found to be unresectable. Abutment to an adjacent organ (34.5%) was the most common reason for NACRT. The clinical response rate one month after NACRT was 44.8%. After NACRT, 69% (20/29) of patients had a resectable tumor. Of the 20 patients with a resectable tumor, 18 patients (62.1%) underwent a D2 gastrectomy. The R0 resection rate was 94.4% and two patients (2/18; 11.1%) showed a complete response. The median follow-up duration was 13.5 mo. The one-year OS and PFS rates were 72.4 and 48.9%, respectively. The one-year OS, PFS, local failure-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival were higher in patients with a resectable tumor after NACRT (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.078, respectively). No grade 3-4 late treatment-related toxicities or postoperative mortalities were observed.

CONCLUSION: NACRT with D2 gastrectomy showed a high rate of R0 resection and promising local control, which may increase the R0 resection opportunity resulting in survival benefit.

Prognostic prediction in gastric cancer patients without serosal invasion: comparative study between UICC 7(th) edition and JCGS 13(th) edition N-classification systems

OBJECTIVE

T-stage and N-stage have been proven to be the most important factors influencing survival in gastric cancer patients, and have been accepted for use in the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma (JCGC) and the Union International Cancer Control (UICC-TNM) staging systems. The purpose of this study was to compare the prognostic values of the different N classification systems in gastric cancer patients without serosal invasion.

METHODS

We retrospectively compared the clinicopathological results of 1,115 patients with primary gastric cancer who underwent curative gastric resection.

RESULTS

Serosal invasion was identified in 212 of 1,115 patients (19.0%), and it was associated with lymph node metastasis according to the JCGC(13th) (P<0.001) and TNM(7th) (P<0.001) systems. The 5-year survival rate for the serosal invasion-negative patients (78.2%) was significantly higher than that for the serosal invasion-positive patients (31.1%) (P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression survival analysis showed that depth of invasion (P=0.013), 13(th) JCGC PN stage (P<0.001), and 7(th) TNM PN stage (P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors for serosal invasion-negative gastric cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of gastric cancer patients with serosal invasion is very poor. Both the 13(th) JCGC and 7(th) TNM N-staging systems were able to accurately estimate the prognosis of gastric cancer patients, but the 7(th) TNM system was simpler and easier to use.

Extended multi-organ resection for cT4 gastric carcinoma: A retrospective analysis

Objective: Combined resection for locally advanced (T4) gastric cancer may result in high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics to determine the prognostic factors for T4 gastric cancers.

Methodology: A total of 463 consecutive patients with gastric cancers were enrolled in this study. Among them, 63 patients received combined resections. Various clinicopathologic factors influencing survival rates were evaluated. Survival rates were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were evaluated by the univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: Thirty-one patients (49.2%) received one additional organ resection and 32 patients (50.8%) received two or more additional organ resections. Curative resection was performed in 49 patients (77.8%). Multivariate analysis identified curative resection (hazard ratio 0.330; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.139-0.784; P = 0.012) and tumor diameter (> 7 cm) (hazard ratio, 3.589; the 95 percent confidence interval, 1.425-9.037; P = 0.007) as independent prognostic factor for patients with T4 gastric cancer undergoing combined resection.

Conclusions: The use of aggressive multi-organ resection was recommended for patients with T4 gastric carcinoma, with tumor diameter as a useful indicator. Patients with relatively small tumor diameter (≤ 7cm) could benefit from multi-organ resections.

Adenocarcinoma gástrico T4b: experiência de 12 anos em Hospital Universitário

A neoplasia gástrica é doença heterogênea e multifatorial, com incidência e mortalidade variando geograficamente. Aproximadamente 60% dos diagnósticos em pacientes de países ocidentais ocorrem nos estádios III ou IV. Nestes doentes, o melhor tratamento consiste na realização de procedimento cirúrgico. OBJETIVO: Identificar os aspectos epidemiológicos de pacientes diagnosticados com adenocarcinoma gástrico T4b. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional, transversal, retrospectivo, de fonte secundária, dos pacientes diagnosticados com adenocarcinoma gástrico T4b através de estadiamento patológico. Foram analisados 815 prontuários, sendo 27 pacientes estudados. As variáveis investigadas foram: aspectos demográficos, principais queixas, fatores de risco, acesso ao serviço de saúde, aspectos cirúrgicos, morbidade, mortalidade e sobrevida. RESULTADOS: Vinte e dois eram homens (81,5%) e cinco mulheres (18,5%) com idade variando de 38 a 87 e média de 58,78 anos. O tempo de acesso ao serviço, em meses, variou de 1 a 120, com média de 12,5. Os sinais e sintomas mais prevalentes foram: perda de peso 23 (85,2%), epigastralgia 22 (81,5%), vômitos 16 (59,3%) e plenitude gástrica 12 (44,4%). A frequência de acometimento das estruturas adjacentes foi: pâncreas oito (29,6%), fígado sete (25,9%), cólon transverso seis (22,2%), intestino delgado seis (22,2%), mesocólon três (11,1%), baço um (3,7%) e vesícula biliar um (3,7%). Morbidades pós-operatórias ocorreram em 51,85% dos pacientes. Houve associação significativa entre mortalidade cirúrgica e ocorrência de fístula/deiscência, choque séptico e sangramento. A sobrevida ao final de seis meses foi de 63,27%. CONCLUSÃO: A média do tempo entre início dos sintomas e acesso ao serviço de saúde especializado foi elevada. Mais da metade dos pacientes apresentaram morbidades pós-operatórias. Os pacientes que apresentaram fístula/deiscência, sangramentos e choque séptico tiveram associação significativa com mortalidade cirúrgica. A sobrevida ao final de seis meses foi de 63,27%.

Prognostic significance of the number of examined lymph nodes in node-negative gastric adenocarcinoma

AIM

In this study, we investigated the prognostic significance of the number of examined lymph nodes in node-negative gastric adenocarcinoma (GC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 1194 node-positive and 1030 node-negative GC patients undergoing potentially curative gastrectomy was enrolled in this study. Patients were stratified into 3 groups according to the number of examined lymph nodes: group 1, ≤ 15; group 2, 16-25; group 3, >25.

RESULTS

Patients with node-negative GC had significantly favorable survival compared with those with node-positive. Among patients with node-negative T2-T4 disease, the percentage of locoregional relapse was higher in those with <25 examined lymph nodes than in those with ≥ 25 examined lymph nodes. The number of examined lymph nodes affected the overall survival rates for patients with node-negative T2-T4 GC but not for patients with T1 lesions. Tumor size, tumor location, the number of examined lymph nodes, T status, and the presence of perineural invasion were significant prognostic factors as determined by multivariate analysis in node-negative GC.

CONCLUSIONS

No survival benefit of examining ≥ 15 lymph nodes was noted for patients with node-negative T1 GC. Extensive lymphadenectomy in patients with node-negative T2-T4 lesions in whom the number of examined lymph nodes was >25 had favorable survival.

Current status on the diagnosis and evaluation of pancreatic tumor in Asia with particular emphasis on the role of endoscopic ultrasound

In Asia, the incidence of pancreatic cancer in some countries has been increasing. Owing to most cases being diagnosed late, prognosis for pancreatic cancer remains dismal. It is clear that the future for pancreatic cancer lies in early detection. While the possible presence of pancreatic masses is often first raised by non-invasive abdominal imaging, such as computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, smaller lesions and locoregional lymph node metastases are often not detectable by these means. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) offers a higher sensitivity (93-100%) for detection of small potentially curable pancreatic masses than other existing imaging modalities. It is also recommended for the evaluation of portal vein confluence, portal vein, celiac axis, and superior mesentric artery origin, and exclusion of resectability. Due to the closer proximity of EUS to the target structure, and lower rate of needle tract seeding, EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration of pancreatic mass is considered the most suitable tissue acquisition technique. Lastly, EUS also enables the performance of endoscopic interventions. Its performance can be further enhanced with newer techniques, including contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastrography. It is anticipated that in the near future, molecular technologies may make it possible to detect microscopic amounts of cancer in tissue or blood, predict relapse and survival after therapy, as well as determine optimal therapy.

Surgical treatment results of intestinal and diffuse type gastric cancer. Implications for a differentiated therapeutic approach?

AIM

To study the outcome of patients who were surgically treated for primary gastric cancer with specific attention to differences in treatment results for intestinal and diffuse type tumours.

METHODS

All patients who underwent a potentially curative gastric resection between 1995 and 2011 in our institute were included. Patient, tumour and treatment characteristics were obtained retrospectively. Binary logistic and Cox regression models were used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

A consecutive series of 132 patients was included. Median follow-up was 53 months. There were no significant differences between patients with intestinal (N = 62) versus diffuse type (N = 70) gastric cancer with regard to the proportion of patients who underwent (neo)adjuvant treatment. Postoperative mortality was 2%. Pathological T- and N-stage were significantly more advanced for patients with diffuse type tumours. There was a significant difference in the percentage of microscopically irradical resections (2% versus 24%, p < 0.001) and median overall survival (129 versus 17 months, p < 0.001) between patients with intestinal type tumours and those with diffuse type tumours. On multivariate analysis, diffuse type histology was the only factor significantly associated with an R1 resection. In a multivariate Cox regression model, diffuse type histology was a significant adverse prognostic factor for overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Striking differences were found between patients with diffuse type tumours and those with intestinal type tumours. These differences call for a differentiated approach in the potentially curative treatment of these two tumour types.

Clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of gastric cancer patients aged 40 years or younger

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) occurs frequently in the sixth decade of life and is uncommon in patients aged 40 years or younger. The aims of this study were to define the clinicopathological features and elucidate the prognostic factors of GC in the young.

METHODS

Between 1998 and 2006, 1,815 GC patients undergoing resection were enrolled in a prospective database. The findings for 115(6.0%) patients aged 40 years or younger were compared with those of 1,009 patients between 56 and 75 years old.

RESULTS

The group of young patients with GC included significantly more women than the group of old patients (60.0% vs. 37.0%, respectively); young patients also had more T4 lesions (73.9% vs. 61.6%), undifferentiated tumors (85.2% vs. 55.1%), severe desmoplasia (41.4%vs. 12.2%), Lauren’s diffuse-type cancers (55.6% vs. 27.7%), and perineural invasion (69.1% vs. 46.1%). Survival rates in younger patients at 3, 5, and 10 years after resection were 56.8%, 52.0%, and 42.1%, respectively, similar to those in older patients (P ¼ 0.411). Unfavorable independent prognostic factors of GC in the young were degree of nodal involvement (N3 vs. N0; P ¼ 0.001), advanced T status (T3–4 vs.T1–2; P ¼ 0.015), tumor size (>4 vs. ≤4 cm; P ¼ 0.019), and status of resection margins (positive vs. negative; P ¼ 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

GC tends to exhibit more aggressive tumor behavior in young patients than in old patients; however, the surgical survival of young and old patients was similar. Advanced nodal involvement (N3) is the most important independent prognostic factor in the young.

Standard radical gastrectomy in octogenarians and nonagenarians with gastric cancer: are short-term surgical results and long-term survival substantial?

BACKGROUND

The high incidence of gastric cancer among the octogenarians and nonagenarians (oldest old; age ≥ 80 years) is emerging as an important management issue. Herein, we report both the short-term outcomes and long-term survival results of standard radical gastrectomy in this group of patients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of 164 oldest old patients (older group) and 2,258 younger patients (age <80 years; younger group) with gastric cancer who underwent curative resection between January 1994 and December 2006. Clinicopathologic data, long-term survival, and prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

Clinical tumor stage did not differ between the two groups at the time of diagnosis. Higher Charlson comorbidity index scores (≥ 5) were observed in the older group than in the younger group; this was associated with higher postoperative morbidity (P = 0.035) and in-hospital mortality rates (P = 0.015) in the older group. At a median follow-up of 37.8 months, the overall survival rate for the older group was lower than that for the younger group (P < 0.001). However, the cumulative incidence of gastric cancer-related deaths was comparable between the two groups. Nodal involvement and metastatic to retrieved lymph node ratio were the only independent predictors of survival in the older group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients in the older group had a higher postoperative morbidity rate but comparable cancer-specific survival. Careful patient selection for gastrectomy is warranted in elderly patients, particularly those with high-grade nodal involvement.

Pilot feasibility study of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with S-1 in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer featuring adjacent tissue invasion or JGCA bulky N2 lymph node metastases

BACKGROUND

To improve the prognosis of locally advanced gastric cancer, clinical trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) are being performed. Although neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) generally achieves superior local tumor control to NAC, its efficacy for locally advanced gastric cancers remains unclear. Therefore, a prospective trial was conducted to explore the feasibility and safety of NACRT with oral S-1 in a series of cases.

METHODS

Patients who had Japanese Gastric Cancer Association (JGCA) cStage IIIB gastric cancer were enrolled onto this study and received oral S-1 (65 mg/m(2)/day) administration and 50-Gy radiotherapy followed by radical surgery. The primary end points were completion of therapy and safety.

RESULTS

Between October 2005 and September 2008, 12 eligible patients were enrolled. Two could not complete the chemotherapy because of grade 3 toxicity. R0 resections were performed in 11 patients (91.7 %) (95 % confidence interval 61.5-99.8). Although operative morbidity was observed in two cases, there were no postoperative deaths. A pathologic response was observed in 10 patients (83.3 %). In five (62.5 %) of eight gastric cancers with invasion to adjacent structures, microscopic tumor deposits were not found in the affected organs. The 3-year survival rate was 58.3 % during a median follow-up period of 36 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study is preliminary, the present regimen seems to be feasible and safe as a treatment for locally advanced gastric cancers featuring adjacent tissue invasion or JGCA bulky N2 disease. This treatment approach should now be tested using the new tumor, node, metastasis staging system in a large clinical trial.