Multimodality Therapy Including Proton Beam Therapy for AFP Producing Esophageal Cancer with Multiple Liver Metastases

Complete response and long‑term survival after stereotactic body radiotherapy in a patient with liver metastasis from α‑fetoprotein‑producing gastric cancer: A case report

α-Fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric carcinoma (GC) (AFPGC) is a special subtype of GC that is clinically characterized by a high incidence of liver metastasis and poor prognosis. The present study reported the case of a patient with AFPGC who showed complete response (CR) after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for liver metastasis. A 76-year-old male patient underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for GC. The excised tumor was diagnosed as AFPGC due to the patient's high serum AFP level (3,763 ng/ml) and AFP expression on immunohistochemistry. The patient was diagnosed with liver metastasis two months after the surgery. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography indicated that the metastasis was a single recurrent focus. Although the patient underwent seven cycles of chemotherapy with S-1-based regimens, the metastatic tumor showed only a minor response despite the decrease in serum AFP levels. To realize high-quality disease control, SBRT was performed on the liver tumor (total dose of 48 Gy in four fractions). The metastasis showed a significant response two weeks after the completion of SBRT and CR two years later. CR was sustained and the patient survived with no evidence of recurrence 62 months after the diagnosis of liver metastasis. Literature data on the efficacy of radiotherapy for liver metastasis from AFPGC remain scarce. The present case report suggests that SBRT has high efficacy for oligometastatic diseases and may be included as an indication for the treatment of liver metastasis from AFPGC.

Alpha-Fetoprotein-Producing Esophageal Adenocarcinoma With Enteroblastic, Yolk Sac Tumor-Like, and Hepatoid Carcinoma Differentiation: A Rare Case and Literature Review

We report a case of a 65-year-old man with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing esophageal adenocarcinoma that microscopically consisted of a polymorphous blend of enteroblastic, yolk sac-like, and hepatoid carcinoma components of variable proportions. No histological evidence of Barrett's esophagus was identified. Two weeks post-endoscopic mucosal mass resection, the serum AFP level was 1434.6 ng/mL. The patient underwent radiation and chemotherapy but developed metastatic lung lesions. At 18 months post-resection, the patient is alive. AFP-producing esophageal adenocarcinoma is a rare entity. We reviewed reported cases for clinicopathological features, treatment strategies, and prognosis.

Models for Predicting Early Death in Patients With Stage IV Esophageal Cancer: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Based Cohort Study

Background

Despite enormous progress in the stage IV esophageal cancer (EC) treatment, some patients experience early death after diagnosis. This study aimed to identify the early death risk factors and construct models for predicting early death in stage IV EC patients.

Methods

Stage IV EC patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were selected. Early death was defined as death within 3 months of diagnosis, with or without therapy. Early death risk factors were identified using logistic regression analyses and further used to construct predictive models. The concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCA) were used to assess model performance.

Results

Out of 4411 patients enrolled, 1779 died within 3 months. Histologic grade, therapy, the status of the bone, liver, brain and lung metastasis, marriage, and insurance were independent factors for early death in stage IV EC patients. Histologic grade and the status of the bone and liver metastases were independent factors for early death in both chemoradiotherapy and untreated groups. Based on these variables, predictive models were constructed. The C-index was .613 (95% confidence interval (CI), [.573–.653]) and .635 (95% CI, [.596–.674]) in the chemoradiotherapy and untreated groups, respectively, while calibration curves and DCA showed moderate performance.

Conclusions

More than 40% of stage IV EC patients suffered from an early death. The models could help clinicians discriminate between low and high risks of early death and strategize individually-tailed therapeutic interventions in stage IV EC patients.

Oligometastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus: Current Understanding, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Strategies

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive cancer of increasing incidence and is associated with poor prognosis. The early recognition of synchronous and metachronous oligometastasis in esophageal adenocarcinoma may allow for prompt intervention and potentially improved survival. However, curative approaches to oligometastatic esophageal disease remain unproven and may represent an area of emerging divergence of opinion for surgical and medical oncologists. We sought to identify the current understanding and evidence for management of oligometastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma by performing a thorough review of the available literature.

Hepatic Metastasis in Newly Diagnosed Esophageal Cancer: A Population-Based Study

Background

The hepatic metastasis pattern of esophageal cancer (EC) has not been fully explored. The primary objective of this study was to explore the predictors of esophageal cancer with hepatic metastasis (ECHM) at the time of diagnosis. In addition, we also analyzed the factors affecting ECHM prognosis.

Methods

We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database to identify ECHM patients at the time of initial diagnosis. The ECHM predictors were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Multivariate Cox regression and competing survival risk analyses were performed to identify factors associated with all-cause mortality and EC-specific mortality of ECHM, respectively.

Results

A total of 10,965 eligible EC patients were identified in the SEER database between 2010 and 2016, of which 1,197 were ECHM patients, accounting for 10.9% of the entire cohort. In the whole cohort, eight ECHM predictors (age, primary site, grade, histology type, T staging, N staging, insurance status, and number of extrahepatic metastatic sites) were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Multivariate Cox regression and multivariate competing survival risks models confirmed that the male sex, advanced age, squamous cancer, and multiple extrahepatic metastasis increased the risk of both all-cause and EC-specific mortality, whereas chemotherapy and chemotherapy plus radiotherapy significantly reduced the risk of both.

Conclusions

This study explored population-level predictors of hepatic metastasis at the time of EC diagnosis and analyzed the clinical characteristics affecting the prognosis in ECHM patients. These findings may provide clinicians with a reference for the screening and treatment of hepatic metastasis in EC.

An Extremely Rare Presentation of an Alpha-Fetoprotein-Producing Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is an extremely rare occurrence with very few cases reported in the literature. We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with progressive weakness, fatigue, and a decrease in appetite for weeks and who was found to have an AFP-producing EAC with an extraordinarily high AFP level of 46,135 ng/mL. CT angiography revealed abnormal thickening of the esophagus and multiple metastatic masses throughout the liver. Upper endoscopy revealed a large mass in the distal esophagus with extension into the stomach. Biopsy confirmed the EAC. Most cases are unsuccessfully treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Serial measurement of serum AFP may be useful for monitoring clinical status and treatment response.

Oligometastatic Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma: Molecular Pathophysiology and Current Therapeutic Approach

Gastric and esophageal cancers are dreaded malignancies, with a majority of patients presenting in either a locally advanced or metastatic state. Global incidences are rising and the overall prognosis remains poor. The concept of oligometastasis has been established for other tumor entities and is also proposed for upper gastrointestinal tract cancers. This review article explores metastasis mechanisms on the molecular level, specific to esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma. Existing data and recent studies that deal with upper gastrointestinal tumors in the oligometastatic state are reviewed. Furthermore, current therapeutic targets in gastroesophageal cancers are presented and discussed. Finally, a perspective about future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies is given.