Primary Tumor Resection for Rectal Cancer With Unresectable Liver Metastases: A Chance to Cut Is a Chance for Improved Survival

Short-term and long-term survival outcomes for transrectal specimen extraction after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: a propensity-score matching study

Background

Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) has been widely applied to the treatment of colorectal cancer. This study aim to investigate the short-term and survival outcomes of transrectal specimen extraction after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Methods

From January 2016 to December 2021, a total of 166 consecutive patients with right colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Beijing Hospital were identified. Baseline data, perioperative parameters, anal function, inflammatory indicators and survival outcomes were collected and compared.

Results

Totally, 24 patients who underwent transrectal NOSE were matched with 24 patients who received conventional laparoscopic surgery (LAP). Patients in NOSES group had a significantly lower incidence of incision infection (0 vs 20.8%, P=0.048), faster recovery of gastrointestinal function (2.1 vs 3,1 days, P=0.032) compared with those in LAP group. In addition, patients in the NOSE group experienced significantly less postoperative pain on POD1 (2.3 vs 4.4, P<0.001), POD3 (2.1 vs 3.9, P<0.001), and POD5 (1.7 vs 2.8, P=0.011). Regarding to anal function 6 months after surgery, no significant difference was observed in Wexner incontinence scale (9.8 vs 9.5, P=0.559) between the two groups. In terms of indicators of the inflammatory response, there were no significant differences in body temperature, neutrophils, and PCT levels between the two groups. However, CRP levels in the NOSES group on POD 3 (6.9 vs 5.1 mg/L, P=0.016) and POD 5 (3.8 vs 2.6 mg/L, P=0.027) were significantly higher than in the LAP group. With regarded to survival outcomes, patients in the NOSES group were similar to those in the LAP group for 3-year OS (100% vs 91.2%, P=0.949), 3-year DFS (86.2% vs 84.8%, P=0.949), and 3-year LRFS (94.2% vs 88.7%, P=0.549).

Conclusion

For total laparoscopic right hemicolectomy, transrectal NOSE is effective and safe, and associated with lower incidence of wound infection, less pain, faster recovery, and similar survival outcomes compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Intraoperative assessment of anastomotic blood supply using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging following esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy for gastric cancer

Objective

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of intraoperative assessment of anastomotic blood supply in patients undergoing esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy for gastric cancer using Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging (IGFI).

Materials and methods

From January 2019 to October 2021, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone laparoscopic gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer. The patients were consecutively enrolled and categorized into two study groups: the Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging (IGFI) group consisting of 86 patients, and the control group comprising 92 patients. In the IGFI group, intravenous administration of Indocyanine Green (ICG) was performed, and we utilized a fluorescence camera system to assess anastomotic blood supply both before and after the anastomosis.

Results

The demographic characteristics of patients in both groups were found to be comparable. In the IGFI group, the mean time to observe perfusion fluorescence was 26.3 ± 12.0 seconds post-ICG injection, and six patients needed to select a more proximal resection point due to insufficient fluorescence at their initial site of choice. Notably, the IGFI group exhibited a lower incidence of postoperative anastomotic leakage, with no significant disparities observed in terms of pathological outcomes, postoperative recovery, or other postoperative complication rates when compared to the control group (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

This study underscores the potential of IGFI as a dependable and pragmatic tool for the assessment of anastomotic blood supply following esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy for gastric cancer. The use of IGFI may potentially reduce the occurrence of postoperative anastomotic leakage.

Resection of the primary tumor improves the prognosis of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms with liver metastases: mutual validation based on SEER database and institutional data

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (GI-NENs) often result in liver metastases, and the role of Primary Tumor Resection (PTR) in managing GI-NENs with liver metastases (GI-NENLM) is still debated. This study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of PTR in treating GI-NENLM by analyzing data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH).

METHODS

The SEER Registry 17 database and the FAH clinical pathology database were used to collect clinicopathology data for GI-NENLM diagnosed between 2010 and 2019 and between 2011 and 2022, respectively. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match the clinicopathological characteristics of patients from both cohorts. Inverse probability weighting (IPTW) was used to weigh the PTR and non-PTR groups. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

After matching, 155 patients from the SEER database were matched to the FAH cohort. PTR was significantly associated with better prognosis in PSM-matched/unmatched SEER cohorts (P < 0.01) and in the FAH cohort even after eliminating selection bias using IPTW (p < 0.01). Subgroup analysis suggests that the cohort consisting of patients aged 55 years or older, individuals with colorectal primary tumors, those at the T1 disease stage, and those without extrahepatic metastasis may potentially benefit from PTR. Interaction analysis showed no significant interaction between PTR and other clinical and pathological factors except for age.

CONCLUSION

The employment of PTR in patients with GI-NENLM is significantly correlated with individual survival benefits. We support performing PTR on carefully evaluated patients.

Primary Tumor Resection Plus Chemotherapy versus Chemotherapy Alone for Colorectal Cancer Patients with Synchronous Bone Metastasis

Background and Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) bone metastasis (BM), particularly synchronous metastasis, is infrequent and has a poor prognosis. Radical surgery for CRC with BM is challenging, and chemotherapy is the standard treatment. However, it is unclear whether combining chemotherapy with primary tumor resection (PTR) yields greater survival benefits than chemotherapy alone, as no relevant reports exist. Material and Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database provided data on 1662 CRC patients with bone metastasis between 2010 and 2018, who were divided into two groups: chemotherapy combined with PTR and chemotherapy alone. Survival distributions were compared using the log-rank test, and survival estimates were obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox proportional multivariate regression analysis was conducted to estimate the survival benefit of chemotherapy combined with PTR while controlling for additional prognostic factors. Results: The chemotherapy only group consisted of 1277 patients (76.8%), while the chemotherapy combined with PTR group contained 385 patients (23.2%). Patients who received chemotherapy combined with PTR had a significantly higher 1-year survival rate (60.7%) and 2-year survival rate (32.7%) compared to those who only received chemotherapy (43.8% and 18.4%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Independent prognostic factors identified by Cox proportional analysis were age, location of the primary tumor, type of tumor, M stage, metastasectomy and PTR. Patients who received chemotherapy combined with PTR had a significantly improved prognosis (HR 0.586, 95% CI 0.497-0.691, p < 0.0001). All subgroups demonstrated a survival advantage for patients who received chemotherapy in combination with PTR. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that patients with BM from CRC may benefit from chemotherapy combined with PTR. Our analysis also identified age, location of the primary tumor, type of tumor, M stage, metastasectomy, and PTR as independent prognostic risk factors for CRC patients with synchronous BM.

Primary tumor resection in colorectal cancer patients with unresectable distant metastases: a minireview

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among both men and women worldwide and the third most common cancer overall. About 20% of patients diagnosed with CRC were discovered to have distant metastatic lesions, the majority of which were located in the liver. For the optimum treatment of CRC patients with hepatic metastases, interventional radiologists, medical oncologists, and surgeons must all collaborate. The surgical excision of the primary tumor is an important part of CRC treatment since it has been found to be curative in cases of CRC with minimal metastases. However, given the evidence to date was gathered from retrospective data, there is still controversy over the effectiveness of primary tumor resection (PTR) in improving the median overall survival (OS) and quality of life. Patients who have hepatic metastases make up a very tiny fraction of those who are candidates for resection. With a focus on the PTR, this minireview attempted to review the current advancements in the treatment options for hepatic colorectal metastatic illness. This evaluation also included information on PTR's risks when performed on individuals with stage IV CRC.

Survival benefit of primary tumor resection for gastric cancer with liver metastasis: A propensity score-matched, population-based study

OBJECTIVES

Gastric cancer with liver metastasis (GCLM) is highly aggressive and has a poor prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the survival benefit of primary tumor resection (PTR) for gastric cancer with liver metastasis.

METHODS

Data on patients with GCLM was extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2015. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to minimize the heterogeneity between the PTR and no-PTR groups. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to assess the impact of primary tumor resection (PTR) on overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS).

RESULTS

A total of 3,001 patients with GCLM were included, with 328 patients treated with primary tumor resection (PTR), whereas the other 2,673 patients were not. Patients with PTR had a significantly higher OS and CSS rate than those without PTR in unmatched and PSM cohorts. In an unmatched cohort, the median OS was 12.0 months (95% CI, 10 months to 14 months) for those who underwent PTR and 4 months (95% CI, 4 months to 5 months) for those without PTR; the median CSS for those who underwent PTR was 12.0 months (95% CI, 10 months to14 months) and 4 months (95% CI, 4 months to 5 months) for those without PTR, respectively. After PMS, the median OS was 12.0 months (95% CI, 10 months to 17 months) for those who underwent PTR and 7 months (95% CI, 5 months to 10 months) for those without PTR, respectively; the median CSS for those who underwent PTR was 12.0 months (95% CI, 11 months to 17 months) and 7 months (95% CI, 5 months to 8 months) for those without PTR, respectively. In addition, multivariate Cox analysis in the PSM cohort showed that PTR, age, degree of tumor differentiation, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS in GCLM. Specifically, PTR was a significant protective factor for OS (HR: 0.427; 95% CI, 0.325 to 0.561, P <0.001) and CSS (HR: 0.419; 95% CI, 0.313 to 0.561, P <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Primary tumor resection improves the survival of gastric cancer patients with liver metastasis.

The effect of primary tumour resection on patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab-containing regimens

BACKGROUND

This study aims to assess the effect of primary tumour resection (PTR) on patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with cetuximab.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary cancer center in Turkey. Patients with mCRC between January 2009 and December 2020 were extracted from the electronic hospital management system. Patients with RAS wild-type synchronous metastatic left-sided colon or rectum cancer who had cetuximab-containing treatment protocol were included in the study. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary outcome was response rates.

RESULTS

A total of 111 patients with mCRC were included in this study. PTR was performed in 57.7% of all patients. Fifty-nine (53.2%) and 52 (46.8%) patients had rectal and left colon tumours, respectively. The combination treatment with cetuximab was FOLFIRI in 62.2% and FOLFOX in 29.7% of all patients. In subgroup analysis, the median PFS was 7.9 and 9 months in PTR (+) and PTR (-) patients, respectively. The difference between the groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.3). The median OS was 33 months in all patients. In subgroup analysis, the median OS was 39 and 27.9 months in PTR (+) and PTR (-) patients, respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (P = 0.002). After adjusting for confounding factors, PTR and ECOG performance score were the independent prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSION

PTR improved the OS in patients with RAS wild-type synchronous left-sided colon or rectum cancer treated with cetuximab-containing chemotherapy regimens.