Benchmarks and Geographic Differences in Gallbladder Cancer Surgery: An International Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

High-quality surgery plays a central role in the delivery of excellent oncologic care. Benchmark values indicate the best achievable results. We aimed to define benchmark values for gallbladder cancer (GBC) surgery across an international population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study included consecutive patients with GBC who underwent curative-intent surgery during 2000-2021 at 13 centers, across seven countries and four continents. Patients operated on at high-volume centers without the need for vascular and/or bile duct reconstruction and without significant comorbidities were chosen as the benchmark group.

RESULTS

Of 906 patients who underwent curative-intent GBC surgery during the study period, 245 (27%) were included in the benchmark group. These were predominantly women (n = 174, 71%) and had a median age of 64 years (interquartile range 57-70 years). In the benchmark group, 50 patients (20%) experienced complications within 90 days after surgery, with 20 patients (8%) developing major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ IIIa). Median length of postoperative hospital stay was 6 days (interquartile range 4-8 days). Benchmark values included ≥ 4 lymph nodes retrieved, estimated intraoperative blood loss ≤ 350 mL, perioperative blood transfusion rate ≤ 13%, operative time ≤ 332 min, length of hospital stay ≤ 8 days, R1 margin rate ≤ 7%, complication rate ≤ 22%, and rate of grade ≥ IIIa complications ≤ 11%.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery for GBC remains associated with significant morbidity. The availability of benchmark values may facilitate comparisons in future analyses among GBC patients, GBC surgical approaches, and centers performing GBC surgery.

De novo transcriptomic subtyping of colorectal cancer liver metastases in the context of tumor heterogeneity

Background

Gene expression-based subtyping has the potential to form a new paradigm for stratified treatment of colorectal cancer. However, current frameworks are based on the transcriptomic profiles of primary tumors, and metastatic heterogeneity is a challenge. Here we aimed to develop a de novo metastasis-oriented framework.

Methods

In total, 829 transcriptomic profiles from patients with colorectal cancer were analyzed, including primary tumors, liver metastases, and non-malignant liver samples. High-resolution microarray gene expression profiling was performed of 283 liver metastases from 171 patients treated by hepatic resection, including multiregional and/or multi-metastatic samples from each of 47 patients. A single randomly selected liver metastasis sample from each patient was used for unsupervised subtype discovery by nonnegative matrix factorization, and a random forest prediction model was trained to classify multi-metastatic samples, as well as liver metastases from two independent series of 308 additional patients.

Results

Initial comparisons with non-malignant liver samples and primary colorectal tumors showed a highly variable degree of influence from the liver microenvironment in metastases, which contributed to inter-metastatic transcriptomic heterogeneity, but did not define subtype distinctions. The de novo liver metastasis subtype (LMS) framework recapitulated the main distinction between epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like tumors, with a strong immune and stromal component only in the latter. We also identified biologically distinct epithelial-like subtypes originating from different progenitor cell types. LMS1 metastases had several transcriptomic features of cancer aggressiveness, including secretory progenitor cell origin, oncogenic addictions, and microsatellite instability in a microsatellite stable background, as well as frequent RAS/TP53 co-mutations. The poor-prognostic association of LMS1 metastases was independent of mutation status, clinicopathological variables, and current subtyping frameworks (consensus molecular subtypes and colorectal cancer intrinsic subtypes). LMS1 was also the least heterogeneous subtype in comparisons of multiple metastases per patient, and tumor heterogeneity did not confound the prognostic value of LMS1.

Conclusions

We report the first large study of multi-metastatic gene expression profiling of colorectal cancer. The new metastasis-oriented subtyping framework showed potential for clinically relevant transcriptomic classification in the context of metastatic heterogeneity, and an LMS1 mini-classifier was constructed to facilitate prognostic stratification and further clinical testing.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13073-021-00956-1.

Survival Outcomes After Portal Vein Embolization and Liver Resection Compared With Liver Transplant for Patients With Extensive Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

Importance

Portal vein embolization (PVE) has been implemented in patients with extensive colorectal liver metastases to increase the number of patients able to undergo liver resection. Liver transplant could be an alternative in selected patients with extensive liver-only disease, and we have recently shown promising survival outcomes.

Objective

To compare overall survival (OS) among patients with colorectal cancer and high liver metastasis tumor load who were treated with liver transplant or with PVE and liver resection.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This comparative effectiveness research study assessed 50 patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases who were previously enrolled in liver transplant studies between November 2006 and August 2019 at Oslo University Hospital in Norway. Those patients were compared with a retrospective cohort of 53 patients in the Oslo University Hospital PVE database from March 2006 through November 2015 with similar selection criteria who underwent PVE and liver resection.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The OS among patients with high tumor load after liver transplant was compared with that among patients with high tumor load who underwent PVE and liver resection. High tumor load was defined as 9 or more metastatic tumors or a diameter of 5.5 cm or longer for the largest liver lesion.

Results

In the PVE cohort of 53 patients, the median age was 61.8 years (range, 34.3-71.3 years), and 36 patients (68%) were men. The 5-year OS rate among 38 patients who underwent liver resection after PVE was 44.6%. The 5-year OS rate for patients with high tumor load was 33.4% for those who underwent liver transplant and 6.7% for those who underwent PVE. Among patients with high tumor load and left-sided primary tumors, the 5-year OS rate was 45.3% for those receiving a liver allograft and 12.5% for those treated with PVE and liver resection.

Conclusions and Relevance

Patients with nonresectable disease, an extensive liver tumor load, and left-sided primary tumors had long OS after liver transplant, exceeding the survival outcome for those patients treated with PVE and liver resection.

Genomic and prognostic heterogeneity among RAS/BRAFV600E /TP53 co-mutated resectable colorectal liver metastases

Hepatic resection is potentially curative for patients with colorectal liver metastases, but the treatment benefit varies. KRAS/NRAS (RAS)/TP53 co‐mutations are associated with a poor prognosis after resection, but there is large variation in patient outcome within the mutation groups, and genetic testing is currently not used to evaluate benefit from surgery. We have investigated the potential for improved prognostic stratification by combined biomarker analysis with DNA copy number aberrations (CNAs), and taking tumor heterogeneity into account. We determined the mutation status of RAS, BRAF^V600, and TP53 in 441 liver lesions from 171 patients treated by partial hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer. CNAs were profiled in 232 tumors from 67 of the patients. Mutations and high‐level amplifications of cancer‐critical genes, the latter including ERBB2 and EGFR, were predominantly homogeneous within patients. RAS/BRAF^V600E and TP53 co‐mutations were associated with a poor patient outcome (hazard ratio, HR, 3.9, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.3–11.1, P = 0.012) in multivariable analyses with clinicopathological variables. The genome‐wide CNA burden and intrapatient intermetastatic CNA heterogeneity varied within the mutation groups, and the CNA burden had prognostic associations in univariable analysis. Combined prognostic analyses of RAS/BRAF^V600E/TP53 mutations and CNAs, either as a high CNA burden or high intermetastatic CNA heterogeneity, identified patients with a particularly poor outcome (co‐mutation/high CNA burden: HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–5.9, P = 0.013; co‐mutation/high CNA heterogeneity: HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.6, P = 0.022). In conclusion, DNA copy number profiling identified genomic and prognostic heterogeneity among patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases with co‐mutated RAS/BRAF^V600E/TP53.

Patient-Derived Organoids from Multiple Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases Reveal Moderate Intra-patient Pharmacotranscriptomic Heterogeneity

PURPOSE

Molecular tumor heterogeneity may have important implications for the efficacy of targeted therapies in metastatic cancers. Inter-metastatic heterogeneity of sensitivity to anticancer agents has not been well explored in colorectal cancer.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We established a platform for ex vivo pharmacogenomic profiling of patient-derived organoids (PDO) from resected colorectal cancer liver metastases. Drug sensitivity testing (n = 40 clinically relevant agents) and gene expression profiling were performed on 39 metastases from 22 patients.

RESULTS

Three drug-response clusters were identified among the colorectal cancer metastases, based primarily on sensitivities to EGFR and/or MDM2 inhibition, and corresponding with RAS mutations and TP53 activity. Potentially effective therapies, including off-label use of drugs approved for other cancer types, could be nominated for eighteen patients (82%). Antimetabolites and targeted agents lacking a decisive genomic marker had stronger differential activity than most approved chemotherapies. We found limited intra-patient drug sensitivity heterogeneity between PDOs from multiple (2-5) liver metastases from each of ten patients. This was recapitulated at the gene expression level, with a highly proportional degree of transcriptomic and pharmacological variation. One PDO with a multi-drug resistance profile, including resistance to EGFR inhibition in a RAS-mutant background, showed sensitivity to MEK plus mTOR/AKT inhibition, corresponding with low-level PTEN expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-patient inter-metastatic pharmacological heterogeneity was not pronounced and ex vivo drug screening may identify novel treatment options for metastatic colorectal cancer. Variation in drug sensitivities was reflected at the transcriptomic level, suggesting potential to develop gene expression-based predictive signatures to guide experimental therapies.

Survey of the attitudes of hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons in northern Europe to resection of choledochal cysts in asymptomatic Western adults

Background

Todani type 1 and 4 choledochal cysts are associated with a risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma. Resection is usually recommended, but data for asymptomatic Western adults are sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate diagnostic interpretation and attitudes towards resection of bile ducts for choledochal cysts in this subgroup of patients across northern European centres.

Methods

Thirty hepatopancreatobiliary centres were provided with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatograms and asked to discuss the management of six cases: asymptomatic non‐Asian women, aged 30 or 60 years, with variable common bile duct (CBD) dilatations and different risk factors in the setting of a multidisciplinary team (MDT). The Fleiss κ value was calculated to estimate overall inter‐rater agreement.

Results

For all case scenarios combined, 83·3 and 86·7 per cent recommended resection for a CBD of 20 and 26 mm respectively, compared with 19·4 per cent for a CBD of 13 mm (P < 0·001). For patients aged 30 and 60 years, resection was recommended in 68·5 and 57·8 per cent respectively (P = 0·010). There was a trend towards recommending resection in the presence of a common channel, most pronounced in the 60‐year‐old patient. High amylase levels in the CBD aspirate led to recommendations to resect, but only for the 13‐mm CBD dilatation. There were no differences related to centre size or region. MDT discussion was associated with recommendations to resect. Inter‐rater agreement was 73·3 per cent (κ = 0·43, 95 per cent c.i. 0·38 to 0·48).

Conclusion

The inter‐rater agreement to resect was intermediate, and the recommendation was dependent mainly on the diameter of the CBD dilatation.

Limitations of molecular biomarkers in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases

Surgeons are exploring the use of molecular biomarkers in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) to improve preoperative prognostication and selection. This is important because surrogate markers of tumor biology remain insufficient to predict clinical outcomes. In the current literature, there is agreement for the association between RAS and BRAF mutations and poor long-term outcome after hepatectomy. While this knowledge is gradually being implemented in the clinical work-up of patients, their limitations and implications have yet to be fully understood. Recent data indicate that combinations of coexisting mutations may refine the molecular scoring into footprints of good and bad. This already complex information must be interpreted in light of recent understanding of clonal heterogeneity and genetic diversity of colorectal cancer and CLM. In the clinical settings, it is important to approach new insight into molecular biomarkers with caution. However, it is likely that in the future, genomic analysis will determine which patient is amenable to surgery or not, the timing of surgery versus other modalities, as well as how to approach the metastases technically. Here we review current knowledge about molecular biomarkers in the treatment of CLM and the limitations to consider at the translation to clinical practice.

Characterization of early recurrences following liver resection by ALPPS and two stage hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver-metastases and small future liver remnants; a translational substudy of the LIGRO-RCT

BACKGROUND

Associated liver partition and portal vein ligation in staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is an alternative resection method to portal vein embolization (PVE) in patients with small future liver remnants (FLR) but has been associated with early tumor recurrences.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) patients from the randomized multicenter LIGRO trial comparing outcome of ALPPS (n = 13) vs PVE (n = 11) were included in the study. Mutational analyses of the KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIC3CA and TP53 genes of the metastases were performed in 21 patients and correlated to early tumor recurrence.

RESULTS

Within 12 months, 13 patients experienced recurrences (6 in TSH group and 7 in ALPPS group). Nine of 13 patients with recurrences had mutations in the TP53 gene, while 3 of 8 patients without recurrence carried the same mutation. Only sporadic cases of the other mutations studied were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

ALPPS did not appear to be associated with higher rate of rapid recurrences than PVE following radical resection of colorectal liver metastases. Mutations in genes associated with negative oncologic outcome after surgical resection most likely play a role for tumor recurrences in these patients.

Treatment Options for Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors to the Liver: A Review

Up to half of patients with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) will present with metastatic disease, most commonly involving the liver. Prior to the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, treatment options were limited for patients with metastatic GIST to the liver resulting in dismal survival rates. However, with the advent of effective systemic chemotherapy and continued advancements in both surgical and local adjunctive therapy options, significant improvements in survival have been achieved. In this review, the authors characterize the evolution of the treatment approach for metastatic GIST to the liver, including the roles of both surgical resection and adjunctive therapies in today's practice.

Resection of synchronous liver metastases between radiotherapy and definitive surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer: short-term surgical outcomes, overall survival and recurrence-free survival

AIM

There is debate as to the correct treatment algorithm sequence for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer with liver metastases. The aim of the study was to assess safety, resectability and survival after a modified 'liver-first' approach.

METHOD

This was a retrospective study of patients undergoing preoperative radiotherapy for the primary rectal tumour, followed by liver resection and, finally, resection of the primary tumour. Short-term surgical outcome, overall survival and recurrence-free survival are reported.

RESULTS

Between 2009 and 2013, 45 patients underwent liver resection after preoperative radiotherapy. Thirty-four patients (76%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 24 (53%) concomitant chemotherapy during radiotherapy and 17 (43%) adjuvant chemotherapy. The median time interval from the last fraction of radiotherapy to liver resection and rectal surgery was 21 (range 7-116) and 60 (range 31-156) days, respectively. Rectal resection was performed in 42 patients but was not performed in one patient with complete response and two with progressive metastatic disease. After rectal surgery three patients did not proceed to a planned second stage liver (n = 2) or lung (n = 1) resection due to progressive disease. Clavien-Dindo ≥Grade III complications developed in 6.7% after liver resection and 19% after rectal resection. The median overall survival and recurrence-free survival in the patients who completed the treatment sequence (n = 40) were 49.7 and 13.0 months, respectively. Twenty of the 30 patients who developed recurrence underwent further treatment with curative intent.

CONCLUSION

The modified liver-first approach is safe and efficient in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and allows initial control of both the primary tumour and the liver metastases.

Factors associated with hernia recurrence after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair for inguinal hernia: a 2-year prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair (TEP) of inguinal hernia has been associated with higher rates of recurrence compared to open methods. The aim of the present study was to determine independent risk factors for recurrence within 2 years after TEP.

METHODS

This was a single-centre prospective cohort study with consecutive inclusion of patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair from 2010 to 2014. Systematic follow-up was conducted 6 months and 2 years postoperatively. Risk factors for recurrence after 2 years were analysed in univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 1194 patients underwent TEP for inguinal or femoral hernia in the study period, of which 1047 were eligible for analyses. After 2 years, 56 (5.3%) patients had presented with recurrence. The following factors were associated with recurrence in univariate analyses: body mass index (BMI) >30 (HR 3.64; p = 0.011), medial vs. lateral hernia (HR 2.37; p = 0.004), repair of recurrent hernia vs. primary repair (HR 2.12; p = 0.049), and length of stay >1 day (HR 1.77; p = 0.043). In multivariate analyses, factors independently associated with recurrence after 2 years were BMI >30 (HR 3.74; p = 0.026) and medial vs. lateral hernia (HR 2.39; p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

The recurrence rate after TEP is higher than reported after open hernia repair. Attempts to decrease the rate should be persuaded. Good surgical technique with precise dissection and correct placement of the mesh, especially in medial hernias and obese patients, may be key points to improve outcomes after TEP.

Precision surgery for colorectal liver metastases: Opportunities and challenges of omics-based decision making

Precision surgery involves improving patient selection to ensure that surgical intervention that is proven to benefit on a population level is the optimal treatment for each individual patient. For patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), existing prognostic scoring systems rely on well-recognised histopathological features such as size and number of lesions. Advances in preoperative imaging algorithms mean that increasingly low volume disease can be detected, improving assessment of these factors. In addition, novel imaging modalities mean that underlying tumour biology and metabolic behaviour during therapy can be assessed. Molecular analysis of tumours can provide crucial prognostic information, with the critical role of RAS/RAF mutations in prognosis well recognised. The optimal source of tissue for this level of analysis is debated, with good concordance between primary and metastatic lesions for some recognised prognostic factors but marked discrepancies for a variety of other relevant mutations. As well as mutational heterogeneity between primary and metastatic lesions, heterogeneity within tumours and dynamic changes in tumour biology over time present a significant challenge in assessing tumour for prognostic biomarkers. Circulating tumour cells offer one potential method of longitudinal tumour analysis, but are limited by current technologies. This review article summarises some of the key advances in prognostication for patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases, as well as highlighting the potential limitations of such an approach.

Survival Impact of Primary Tumor Lymph Node Status and Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Colorectal Liver Metastases

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyse the survival impact of primary tumor nodal status (N0/N+) in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases (CLM), and to determine the value of circulating and disseminated tumor cells (CTCs/DTCs) in this setting.

METHODS

In this prospective study of patients undergoing resection of CLM from 2008 to 2011, peripheral blood was analyzed for CTCs using the CellSearch System^®, and bone marrow was sampled for DTC analyses just prior to hepatic resection. The presence of one or more tumor cells was scored as CTC/DTC-positive. Following resection of the primary tumor, the lymph nodes (LNs) were examined by routine histopathological examination.

RESULTS

A total of 140 patients were included in this study; 38 patients (27.1%) were negative at the primary colorectal LN examination (N0). CTCs were detected in 12.1% of all patients; 5.3% of patients in the N0 group and 14.7% of patients in the LN-positive (N+) group (p = 0.156), with the LN-positive group (N+) consisting of both N1 and N2 patients. There was a significant difference in recurrence-free survival (RFS) when analysing the N0 group versus the N+ group (p = 0.007) and CTC-positive versus CTC-negative patients (p = 0.029). In multivariate analysis, CTC positivity was also significantly associated with impaired overall survival (OS) [p = 0.05], whereas DTC positivity was not associated with survival.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort of resectable CLM patients, 27% had primary N0 colorectal cancer. Assessment of CTC in addition to nodal status may contribute to improved classification of patients into high- and low-risk groups, which has the potential to guide and improve treatment strategies.

Validation of clinical risk scores for laparoscopic liver resections of colorectal liver metastases: A 10-year observed follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to validate clinical risk scores in patients underwent laparoscopic resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) with 5 years follow-up or more, and assess 5- and 10-year actual survival in this group.

METHODS

A total of 516 laparoscopic liver resections were performed in 406 patients with CLM between February 1998 and September 2015. A follow-up of 5 and 10 years could be assessed in 144 and 29 patients, respectively. The Fong score, pre- and postoperative Basingstoke Predictive Index (BPI), Nordlinger score, and Iwatsuki score were validated.

RESULTS

Five- and ten-year cancer-related actual survival was 54% and 32%, respectively. The Fong score, pre- and postoperative BPI and the Nordlinger score divided patients into risk groups with significant difference in survival between the groups. However, predicted 5-year survival rates were lower than the actual 5-year survival (mean difference in 17%,13%, 20%, and 30%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The Fong score, pre- and postoperative BPI and the Nordlinger score systems can be used to predict survival for laparoscopically operated patients in the era of multimodal-treatment after adjusting of survival rates. The actual five- and 10-year survival after laparoscopic resection of CLM is similar to results previously published for open liver resection. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:757-763. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Nomogram to Predict Hypertrophy of Liver Segments 2 and 3 After Right Portal Vein Embolization

BACKGROUND

Portal vein embolization (PVE) reduces the risks of hepatic insufficiency after major hepatectomy for small predicted liver remnant. The extent of liver hypertrophy after PVE depends on various clinical factors. We sought to develop a nomogram for predicting the increase in the volume of segments 2 and 3 after right PVE (RPVE).

METHOD

In 360 patients who underwent RPVE from 1998 through 2013, clinicopathologic data were analyzed, including body mass index (BMI), diabetes, aspirin use, viral hepatitis status, preoperative albumin level, total bilirubin level, prothrombin time, platelet count, type of liver neoplasm, preoperative chemotherapy, previous laparotomy or hepatectomy, segment 4 embolization, two-stage hepatectomy, and liver volumes before and after PVE. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to identify variables predicting the degree of hypertrophy of segments 2 and 3.

RESULTS

Multivariate regression analysis revealed that BMI (p = 0.002), previous hepatectomy (p = 0.03), RPVE in the setting of two-stage hepatectomy (p < 0.001), and segment 4 embolization (p = 0.003) independently predicted the degree of hypertrophy of segments 2 and 3. Based on the fitted model, a nomogram was constructed.

CONCLUSION

The constructed nomogram predicts the degree of hypertrophy of segments 2 and 3 after RPVE and can be used in clinical decision making for patients undergoing right hepatectomy.

Is Extended Lymphadenectomy Needed for Elderly Patients With Gastric Adenocarcinoma?

BACKGROUND

Extensive surgery is associated with greater mortality for elderly patients. For gastric adenocarcinoma (GA), it is unclear whether the benefit of an extended lymphadenectomy in this population outweighs the associated risks. This study aimed to determine the impact of lymphadenectomy on postoperative outcomes and survival for the elderly.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of lymphadenectomy on postoperative outcomes and survival for elderly.

METHODS

From a cohort of 19 centers, patients who underwent resection of GA with curative intent between 1997 and 2010 were included in this study. Lymphadenectomy was defined according to the total number of lymph nodes in the surgical specimen (limited, <15; intermediate, 15-25; extended, >25). Postoperative outcomes and survival were compared between elderly (≥75 years) and younger patients and regarding the extent of lymphadenectomy for the elderly.

RESULTS

Of 1348 patients, 386 were elderly. The elderly presented with a higher American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score (ASA 3-4: 45 vs. 16.5 %; p < 0.001) as well as greater postoperative morbidity (45 vs. 37 %; p = 0.009) and mortality (8 vs. 2.5 %; p < 0.001) despite less aggressive treatment including less neoadjuvant chemotherapy (5 vs. 20 %; p < 0.001) and adjuvant chemotherapy (7 vs. 44 %; p < 0.001), fewer total gastrectomies (41.5 vs. 60 %; p < 0.001), and less extended lymphadenectomy (38 vs. 48.5 %; p < 0.001). Among the elderly patients, limited lymphadenectomy (n = 116), intermediate lymphadenectomy (n = 125), and extended lymphadenectomy (n = 145) were comparable with respect to tumor stage, perioperative treatment, morbidity, and mortality. For the elderly patients, overall survival (OS) was 30.8 months, and disease-specific survival (DSS) was 63.9 months. The extent of the lymphadenectomy did not have an impact on OS or DSS for the elderly patients.

CONCLUSION

The expected benefit in terms of long-term survival did not justify an extended lymphadenectomy for elderly patients.

Advances in hepatectomy technique: Toward zero transfusions in the modern era of liver surgery

BACKGROUND

Perioperative blood transfusions suppress immunity and increase hospital costs. Despite multiple improvements in perioperative care, rates of transfusion during/after hepatectomy are reported to range from 25 to 50%. The purpose of this study was to determine the current risk factors for perihepatectomy transfusion by assessing the impact of recent technical advances in liver surgery on transfusion rates.

METHODS

Using our prospectively maintained hepatobiliary tumor database from a high-volume center, a modern cohort of 2,249 hepatectomies (2004-2013) were identified. Patient and operative characteristics were compared between 2 time periods, 2004-2008 (n = 1,139) and 2009-2013 (n = 1,110). Throughout the study interval, transfusions were given based on clinical assessment and not triggered by laboratory thresholds.

RESULTS

Compared with the early cohort, the recent cohort had more patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of ≥ 3 (79 vs 74%), preoperative chemotherapy (73 vs 68%), and a lesser median preoperative hemoglobin (12.9 vs 13.1 mg/dL) and platelet (215,000 vs 243,000) values (all P < .001). Despite these adverse risk factors, with an increasing use of the 2-surgeon resection technique (63 vs 50%), estimated blood loss (309 vs 394 mL), transfusion rates (6 vs 15%), and duration of stay (7.0 vs 8.4 days) were decreased (all P < .001) with no change in overall morbidity or mortality. Multivariate analysis of the recent cohort determined that the independent risk factors associated with transfusion were preoperative anemia and >350 mL of blood loss. The only independent factor associated with less transfusion was use of the 2-surgeon technique for hepatic parenchymal transection.

CONCLUSION

With the exception of patients with moderate to severe preoperative anemia requiring major hepatectomy, recent technical advances have decreased significantly the need for transfusion in liver surgery.

Survival After Resection of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor and Sarcoma Liver Metastases in 146 Patients

BACKGROUND

We investigated outcomes by primary tumor type in patients who underwent resection of liver metastases from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), leiomyosarcomas, and other sarcomas.

METHOD

Our institutional liver database was used to identify patients who underwent resection from 1998 through 2013. Histopathological, clinical, and survival data were analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-six patients underwent resection of liver metastases from GIST (n = 49), leiomyosarcomas (n = 47), or other sarcomas (n = 50). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates in patients with GIST, leiomyosarcomas, and other sarcomas were 55.3, 48.4, and 44.9%, respectively, and the 10-year OS rates were 52.5, 9.2, and 23.0%, respectively. The 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was better for GIST (35.7%; p = 0.003) than for leiomyosarcomas (3.4%) and other sarcomas (21.4%). Lung recurrence was more common for leiomyosarcomas (36% of patients; p < 0.0001) than for other sarcomas (12%) and GIST (2%). For GIST, the findings support a benefit of imatinib regarding the 5-year RFS rate compared to resection alone (47.1 vs. 9.5%; p = 0.013). For leiomyosarcoma, primary tumor location did not affect the 5-year RFS rate (intraabdominal 14.5%; other location 0%; p = 0.182).

CONCLUSION

Liver metastases from GIST, leiomyosarcomas, and other sarcomas should be assessed separately as their survival and recurrence patterns are different. This is especially important for GIST, for which imatinib is now available.

Meta-analysis of KRAS mutations and survival after resection of colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND

In patients with advanced colorectal cancer, KRAS mutation status predicts response to treatment with monoclonal antibody targeting the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR). Recent reports have provided evidence that KRAS mutation status has prognostic value in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases (CLM) irrespective of treatment with chemotherapy or anti-EGFR therapy. A meta-analysis was undertaken to clarify the impact of KRAS mutation on outcomes in patients with resectable CLM.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically to identify full-text articles reporting KRAS-stratified overall (OS) or recurrence-free (RFS) survival after resection of CLM. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 per cent c.i. from multivariable analyses were pooled in meta-analyses, and a random-effects model was used to calculate weight and overall results.

RESULTS

The search returned 355 articles, of which 14, including 1809 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Eight studies reported OS after resection of CLM in 1181 patients. The mutation rate was 27.6 per cent, and KRAS mutation was negatively associated with OS (HR 2.24, 95 per cent c.i. 1.76 to 2.85). Seven studies reported RFS after resection of CLM in 906 patients. The mutation rate was 28.0 per cent, and KRAS mutation was negatively associated with RFS (HR 1.89, 1.54 to 2.32).

CONCLUSION

KRAS mutation status is a prognostic factor in patients undergoing resection of colorectal liver metastases and should be considered in the evaluation of patients having liver resection.

Definition of Readmission in 3,041 Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy

BACKGROUND

Readmission rates of 9.7% to 15.5% after hepatectomy have been reported. These rates are difficult to interpret due to variability in the time interval used to monitor readmission. The aim of this study was to refine the definition of readmission after hepatectomy.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospectively maintained database of 3,041 patients who underwent hepatectomy from 1998 through 2013 was merged with the hospital registry to identify readmissions. Area under the curve (AUC) analysis was used to determine the time interval that best captured unplanned readmission.

RESULTS

Readmission rates at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year after discharge were 10.7% (n = 326), 17.3% (n = 526), and 31.9% (n = 971) respectively. The time interval that best accounted for unplanned readmissions was 45 days after discharge (AUC, 0.956; p < 0.001), during which 389 patients (12.8%) were readmitted (unplanned: n = 312 [10.3%]; planned: n = 77 [2.5%]). In comparison, the 30 days after surgery interval (used in the ACS-NSQIP database) omitted 65 (26.3%) unplanned readmissions. Multivariate analysis revealed the following risk factors for unplanned readmission: diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.6; p = 0.024), right hepatectomy (OR 2.1; p = 0.034), bile duct resection (OR 1.9; p = 0.034), abdominal complication (OR 1.8; p = 0.010), and a major postoperative complication (OR 2.4; p < 0.001). Neither index hospitalization > 7 days nor postoperative hepatobiliary complications were independently associated with readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

To accurately assess readmission after hepatectomy, patients should be monitored 45 days after discharge.

Is complete liver resection without resection of synchronous lung metastases justified?

BACKGROUND

Advances in multidisciplinary care are changing the prognostic impact of colorectal lung metastases. Resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) may benefit patients with synchronous lung metastases even when lung metastases are not resected. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival of patients undergoing complete resection of CLM in the setting of unresected lung metastases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We compared survival among 98 patients who underwent resection of CLM with unresected lung metastases, 64 who received only chemotherapy for limited colorectal liver and lung metastases, and 41 who underwent resection of both liver and lung metastases. Prognostic factors were investigated in the patients who underwent resection of CLM only.

RESULTS

The 3-year/5-year overall survival (OS) rates of patients with CLM resection only (42.9 %/13.1 %) were better than those of patients treated with chemotherapy only (14.1 %/1.6 %; p < 0.01) but worse than those of patients with resection of liver and lung metastases (68.9 %/56.9 %; p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis of patients with CLM resection only revealed that KRAS mutation [hazard ratio (HR) 2.10; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.21-3.64; p < 0.01] and rectal primary tumor (HR 1.72; 95 % CI 1.02-2.88; p = 0.04) were independent predictors of worse OS. Survival of patients without these risk factors was similar to that of patients with curative metastasectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete resection of metastases remains the primary goal of treatment for stage IV colorectal cancer. Resection of CLM without resection of lung metastases is associated with an intermediate survival between that of patients treated with palliative and curative intent and should be considered in selected patients.

Protein kinase A antagonist inhibits β-catenin nuclear translocation, c-Myc and COX-2 expression and tumor promotion in Apc(Min/+) mice

Background

The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein is part of the destruction complex controlling proteosomal degradation of β-catenin and limiting its nuclear translocation, which is thought to play a gate-keeping role in colorectal cancer. The destruction complex is inhibited by Wnt-Frz and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) - PI-3 kinase pathways. Recent reports show that PGE₂-induced phosphorylation of β-catenin by protein kinase A (PKA) increases nuclear translocation indicating two mechanisms of action of PGE₂ on β-catenin homeostasis.

Findings

Treatment of Apc^Min/+ mice that spontaneously develop intestinal adenomas with a PKA antagonist (Rp-8-Br-cAMPS) selectively targeting only the latter pathway reduced tumor load, but not the number of adenomas. Immunohistochemical characterization of intestines from treated and control animals revealed that expression of β-catenin, β-catenin nuclear translocation and expression of the β-catenin target genes c-Myc and COX-2 were significantly down-regulated upon Rp-8-Br-cAMPS treatment. Parallel experiments in a human colon cancer cell line (HCT116) revealed that Rp-8-Br-cAMPS blocked PGE₂-induced β-catenin phosphorylation and c-Myc upregulation.

Conclusion

Based on our findings we suggest that PGE₂ act through PKA to promote β-catenin nuclear translocation and tumor development in Apc^Min/+ mice in vivo, indicating that the direct regulatory effect of PKA on β-catenin nuclear translocation is operative in intestinal cancer.