Risk factors for intraoperative and delayed perforation related with gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Perforation is one of the most important complications of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC). Several studies have examined risk factors for intraoperative and delayed perforations, but most were retrospective analyses with small numbers of patients.

METHODS

This study represents a secondary analysis of a Japanese multicenter prospective cohort study. We investigated the factors associated with each type of perforation using 9015 patients with 9975 EGCs undergoing ESD between July 2010 and June 2012.

RESULTS

Intraoperative perforation occurred in 198 patients (2.2%) with 203 lesions (2.0%), necessitating emergency surgery for four lesions (0.04% [2.0%, 4/203]). Delayed perforation occurred in another 37 patients (0.4%) with 42 lesions (0.4%), requiring emergency surgery for 12 lesions (0.12% [28.6%, 12/42]). Factors showing significant independent correlations with intraoperative perforation were upper or middle third of the stomach; remnant stomach or gastric tube; procedure time ≥100 min; tumor size >35 mm; body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2; and ≥72 years. Factors showing significant independent correlations with delayed perforation were procedure time ≥60 min; BMI < 18.5 kg/m2; ≥75 years; ulceration; and tumor size >20 mm. Intraoperative perforation occurred most frequently at the greater curvature in the upper third of the stomach (7.9%), whereas delayed perforation occurred most frequently at the greater curvature in the middle third (1.2%).

CONCLUSION

This multicenter prospective cohort study clarified the risk and risk factors of intraoperative and delayed perforation related to ESD for EGCs, providing information to help endoscopists reduce perforation.

Potential for expanding indications and curability criteria of endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer in elderly patients: results from a Japanese multicenter prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Evidence for endoscopic resection (ER) in elderly patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) is limited. We assessed its clinical outcomes, and explored new indications and curability criteria.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a Japanese multicenter prospective cohort study. Patients aged ≥75 years with EGC treated with ER were included. We classified "eCuraC-2 (corresponding to noncurative ER, defined in the Japanese gastric cancer treatment guidelines)" into "elderly-high (EL-H)" (>10% estimated metastatic risk) and "elderly-low (EL-L)" (≤10%).

RESULTS

In total, 3,371 patients with 3,821 EGCs were included; endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was the prominent treatment choice. Among them, 3,586 lesions met the guidelines' ER indications and 235 did not. The proportions of en bloc and R0 resections and perforations were 98.9%, 94.4%, and 0.8%, respectively, in EGCs within the indications. In EGCs beyond the indications, they were 99.5%, 85.4%, and 5.9%, respectively, for lesions diagnosed as ≤3 cm, and 96.0%, 64.0%, and 18.0% for those >3 cm. Curative ER ("eCuraA/B") and EL-L were observed in 83.6% and 6.2% of lesions within the indications, respectively, and in 44.2% and 16.8% of lesions <3 cm beyond the indications, respectively. The 5-year cumulative gastric cancer death rates following eCuraA/B and EL-H were 0.3% (95% CI, 0.2-0.6) and 3.5% (2.0-5.7), respectively. Following EL-L, the rate was 0.9% (0.2-3.5) even without subsequent treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Usefulness of ESD for elderly EGC patients was confirmed by their clinical outcomes. Lesions ≤3 cm and EL-L emerged as new ER indication and curability criterion, respectively.

Long-term Survival After Endoscopic Resection For Gastric Cancer: Real-world Evidence From a Multicenter Prospective Cohort

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We aimed to clarify the long-term outcomes of endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancers (EGCs) based on pathological curability in a multicenter prospective cohort study.

METHODS

We analyzed the long-term outcomes of 9054 patients with 10,021 EGCs undergoing ER between July 2010 and June 2012. Primary endpoint was the 5-year overall survival (OS). The hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. We also compared the 5-year OS with the expected one calculated for the surgically resected patients with EGC. If the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the 5-year OS exceeded the expected 5-year OS minus a margin of 5% (threshold 5-year OS), ER was considered to be effective. Pathological curability was categorized into en bloc resection, negative margins, and negative lymphovascular invasion: differentiated-type, pT1a, ulcer negative, ≤2 cm (Category A1); differentiated-type, pT1a, ulcer negative, >2 cm or ulcer positive, ≤3 cm (Category A2); undifferentiated-type, pT1a, ulcer negative, ≤2 cm (Category A3); differentiated-type, pT1b (SM1), ≤3 cm (Category B); or noncurative resections (Category C).

RESULTS

Overall, the 5-year OS was 89.0% (95% CI, 88.3%-89.6%). In a multivariate analysis, no significant differences were observed when the hazard ratio of Categories A2, A3, and B were compared with that of A1. In all the pathological curability categories, the lower limit of the 95% CI for the 5-year OS exceeded the threshold 5-year OS.

CONCLUSION

ER can be recommended as a standard treatment for patients with EGCs fulfilling Category A2, A3, and B, as well as A1 (UMIN Clinical Trial Registry, UMIN000005871).

Survival analysis of a prospective multicenter observational study on surgical palliation among patients receiving treatment for malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by incurable advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

We had previously reported that surgical palliation could maintain quality of life (QOL) while improving solid food intake among patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) caused by advanced gastric cancer. The present study aimed to perform a survival analysis according to the patients' QOL to elucidate its impact on survival.

METHODS

Patients with GOO who underwent either palliative gastrectomy or gastrojejunostomy were included in this study. A validated QOL instrument (EQ-5D) was used to assess QOL at baseline and 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months following surgical palliation. Postoperative improvement in oral intake was also evaluated using the GOO scoring system (GOOSS). Thereafter, univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to determine independent prognostic factors.

RESULTS

The median survival time of the 104 patients included herein was 11.30 months. Patients who received postoperative chemotherapy, PS 0/1, baseline EQ-5D ≥ 0.75, improved or stable EQ-5D, and improved oral intake expressed as GOOSS = 3 had significantly better survival. Multivariate analysis identified postoperative chemotherapy, a better baseline PS, a better baseline EQ5D, improved or stable EQ5D scores, and improved oral intake 3 months after surgical palliation as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

Apart from preoperative PS and postoperative chemotherapy, the present study identified better baseline QOL, improvement in postoperative QOL, and improvement in oral intake as prognostic factors among patients who underwent palliative surgery for advanced gastric cancer with GOO.

A case of multiple metastatic gastric cancer with primary lesion vanished after administrating nivolumab, and the effect remains even after discontinuance of therapy

Nivolumab is one of the immune checkpoint inhibitors available for chemotherapy-resistant gastric cancer. There have been few reports of confirmed prominent shrinkage of the primary tumor and some reports of prolonged antitumor effect after discontinuance of the drug, but it is not universal. A 67-year-old male was admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer that had spread to the bilateral lobe of the liver, distant lymph nodes, and peritoneum. He received five courses of S-1 plus oxaliplatin, followed by three courses of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel leading to disease progression. Then, the patient was administered nivolumab as third-line therapy. Tumor size was markedly reduced after three courses, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed scar formation on the lower gastric corpus after seven courses, and biopsy specimen showed no malignancy. When a slight lower limb muscle weakness manifested, possibly an immune-related adverse event (irAE) after 15 courses, we stopped administration of nivolumab. The patient has survived for 26 months since his first visit, and elimination of the primary tumor and ascites with noted shrinkage of liver and lymph node metastases have followed for more than 10 months since discontinuance of nivolumab.

A long-term survival case of unresectable gastric cancer with multidisciplinary therapy including immunotherapy and abscopal effect

The prognosis of unresectable gastric cancer remains poor. Multidisciplinary treatment of unresectable gastric cancer is, therefore, thought to be essential for improving patients' outcomes. Here, we report a successful case of multidisciplinary therapy for unresectable gastric cancer. The patient was a 69-year-old woman who was diagnosed with type 2 gastric cancer with remote lymph node metastases and peritoneal dissemination. Although shrinkage of the primary lesion and remote lymph nodes were observed following chemotherapy, we performed distal gastrectomy to deal with continuous bleeding from the primary lesion. Combination therapy with radiation and chemotherapy was effective for multiple metastases in both subclavian lymph nodes and metachronous multiple axillary lymph nodes. Nivolumab combined with radiation therapy also induced regression of remote lymph node metastases, peritoneal dissemination, and adrenal metastasis. Abscopal effects, i.e., shrinkage of the non-irradiated lesions, were also observed. Thus far, the patient has been able to maintain a good quality of life while receiving continued nivolumab therapy. Multidisciplinary therapy including immunotherapy and abscopal effect may improve the quality of life and contribute to long-term survival of patients with unresectable gastric cancer.

Short-term outcomes of multicenter prospective cohort study of gastric endoscopic resection: 'Real-world evidence' in Japan

OBJECTIVES

A Japanese multicenter prospective cohort study examining endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancer (EGC) has been conducted using a Web registry developed to determine the short-term and long-term outcomes based on absolute and expanded indications. We hereby present the short-term outcomes of this study.

METHODS

All consecutive patients with EGC or suspected EGC undergoing ER at 41 participating institutions between July 2010 and June 2012 were enrolled and prospectively registered into the Web registry. The baseline characteristics were entered before ER, and the short-term outcomes were collected at 6 months following ER.

RESULTS

Nine thousand six hundred and sixteen patients with 10 821 lesions underwent ER (endoscopic submucosal dissection [ESD]: 99.4%). The median procedure time was 76 min, and R0 resections were achieved for 91.6% of the lesions. Postoperative bleeding and intraoperative perforation occurred in 4.4% and 2.3% of the patients, respectively. Significant independent factors correlated with a longer procedure time (120 min or longer) were as follows: tumor size >20 mm, upper-third location, middle-third location, local recurrent lesion, ulcer findings, gastric tube, male gender, and submucosa. Histopathologically, 10 031 lesions were identified as common-type gastric cancers. The median tumor size was 15 mm. Noncurative resections were diagnosed for 18.3% of the lesions. Additional surgery was performed for 48.6% (824 lesions) of the 1695 noncurative ER lesions with a possible risk of lymph node (LN) metastasis. Among them, 64 (7.8%) exhibited LN metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

This multicenter prospective study showed favorable short-term outcomes for gastric ESD.

A survival analysis of a prospective multicenter observational study of surgical palliation in patients treated for malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by incurable advanced gastric cancer

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Background: We previously reported that surgical palliation maintained patients’ quality of life (QOL) while improving the solid food intake with an acceptable surgical safety in patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) caused by advanced gastric cancer. To elucidate the impact of the improvement in the QOL on the survival, we performed a survival analysis according to the changes in the QOL. Methods: Eligibility criteria included (1) no or liquids-only oral intake, (2) aged ≥20 , (3) surgically fit, (4) ECOG PS of 0-2, and (5) written informed consent. Patients underwent either palliative gastrectomy or gastrojejunostomy. Validated QOL instruments (EORTC QLQ-STO22 and EuroQol-5D) assessed the QOL at baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months following surgical palliation, and postoperative improvement in the oral intake was also evaluated. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed according to baseline characteristics and changes in QOL 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the operation. Results: The median survival time in the 104 patients was 11.30 months. In the univariate analysis, the survival was significantly better in the patients who received gastrectomy, received adjuvant chemotherapy, had a better PS, and had a worse baseline EQ5D score. Changes in the QOL scores had no marked impact on the survival at 2 weeks and 1 month after operation. However, in patients with an improved or stable EQ5D score at 3 months post-surgery, the survival was significantly better (p = 0.0043). An improved oral intake on the GOO score system (GOOSS) had a positive impact on the survival. A multivariate analysis in the patients survived more than 3 months after the operation revealed that adjuvant chemotherapy, a better baseline PS, a worse baseline EQ5D, an improved or stable EQ5D score, and an improved oral intake on the GOOSS at 3 months after surgical palliation were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: In patients who received surgical palliation for malignant GOO caused by advanced gastric cancer, an improved oral intake and QOL score at 3 months after operation predicted a good survival. Clinical trial information: 000023494.

Long-term outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with suprapancreatic nodal dissection for clinical stage I gastric cancer: a multicenter phase II trial (JCOG0703)

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic gastrectomy has become a common surgical treatment for gastric cancer in eastern Asian countries. However, a large-scale prospective study to investigate the benefit of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) regarding long-term outcomes has never been reported. We have already reported the short-term outcomes of this study. Here we report long-term outcomes as the secondary endpoints of this study after a 5-year follow-up period.

METHODS

This study comprised patients with clinical stage I gastric cancer who were able to undergo a distal gastrectomy. LADG with D1 plus suprapancreatic lymph node dissection was performed by credentialed gastric surgeons who had each conducted at least 30 LADG and 30 open gastrectomy procedures. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who developed either anastomotic leakage or pancreatic fistula. The secondary endpoints included overall survival and relapse-free survival.

RESULTS

From November 2007 to September 2008, 176 eligible patients were enrolled, comprising 140 patients with pathological stage IA disease, 23 patients with pathological stage IB disease, 9 patients with pathological stage II disease, and 4 patients with pathological stage IIIA disease. No patients had recurrent disease, and three of the patients died within the follow-up period. The 5-year overall survival was 98.2% (95% confidence interval 94.4-99.4%) and the 5-year relapse-free survival was 98.2% (95% confidence interval 94.4-99.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term outcomes of stage I gastric cancer patients undergoing LADG seem comparable to those of patients undergoing an open procedure, although this result should be confirmed by a randomized control trial. We have already completed accrual of 921 patients for a multicenter randomized phase III trial (JCOG0912) to confirm the noninferiority of LADG compared with open gastrectomy in terms of relapse-free survival.

A prospective multicenter observational study of surgical palliation examining postoperative quality of life in patients treated for malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by incurable advanced gastric cancer

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Background: Decision-making for surgical palliation remains one of the most challenging clinical scenarios since quality of life (QOL) is a key component of cancer care. We conducted this study to examine the impacts of surgical palliation on postoperative QOL in patients (pts) with malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) caused by incurable primary gastric cancer (GC). Methods: Eligibility included (1) no oral intake or liquids only requiring parenteral nutrition (2) aged ≥20 (3) surgically fit (4) ECOG PS of 0-2 and (5) written IC. Patients underwent either palliative distal/total gastrectomy (DG/TG) or gastrojejunostomy (GJS). Treatment choice was left to the discretion of the physician. Validated QOL instruments (EORTC QLQ-STO22 and EuroQol-5D) assessed QOL at baseline, 2 weeks (wks), 1 month (m), and 3 months following the surgical palliation, and two observational outcomes (postoperative improvement of oral intake, and safety of surgical intervention) were evaluated. Results: 104 pts, 71 males and 33 females with a median age of 68 years, were enrolled. The types of surgery were DG in 23 pts, TG in 9 pts, GJS in 70 in pts, and exploratory laparotomy in 2 pts. Baseline QOL questionnaires were completed by 103 (99.0%) pts. Among the 104 pts, 98 (94.2%), 100 (96.1%), and 81 (77.9%) completed the 2-wk, 1-m, and 3-m follow-up survey, respectively. The mean baseline EQ-5D score was 0.74 (SD, 0.21). During the follow-up period, the mean scores remained consistent with the baseline scores; the change from baseline score was within ± 0.05 for the index. Many pts came to eat solid food at 2 wks postsurgery and remained tolerable thereafter (from 0 at baseline to 82, 85, 75 pts at 2 wks, 1 m, and 3 ms, respectively). Overall morbidity rate of ≥grade 3 on Clavien-Dindo classification and 30-day postoperative mortality rate was 9.6% (10 pts) and 2.0% (2 pts) with a median hospital stay of 13 days and re-operation rate of 3.9% (4 pts). Conclusions: In pts with malignant GOO caused by advanced GC, surgical palliation maintained patient QOL while improving solid food intake with an acceptable surgical safety. Clinical trial information: UMIN000023494.

[A Case of Advanced Gastric Cancer with Para-Aortic Lymph Node Dissection after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy]

The patient was a 49-year-old woman with advanced gastric cancer.CT and PET-CT revealed para-aortic lymph node metastases.She was diagnosed with Stage IV T4aN3M1(LYM)and underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 plus CDDP.After 3 courses, both the tumor and para-aortic lymph node metastases decreased in size.Because radical resection was considered possible, she underwent distal gastrectomy with D3(D2+No.1 6a2-b1)dissection and Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Histopathological findings revealed the cancer was Stage I B(yp T1b N1)with the disappearance of cancer cells in the para-aortic lymph nodes.She was discharged on POD 32.She underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 and was followed up for 3 years with no recurrence.Para -aortic lymph node metastases are factors predicting a poor outcome; however, when neoadjuvant chemotherapy is effective, long-term survival can be expected from gastrectomy with curative PAND.

[A Case of Malignant Obstruction of the Colon Due to Peritoneal Dissemination of Gastric Carcinoma Treated with Colon Stenting and Colectomy after Chemotherapy]

A man in his 60s underwent gastrectomy to treat gastric carcinoma. Approximately 2.5 years after the surgery, he was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with obstruction of the transverse colon due to a colon tumor. A stent was placed to treat the obstruction and avoid oncologic emergency. Biopsy results and imaging showed that the patient did not have colon cancer, but his previous gastric cancer had disseminated peritoneally. Chemotherapy was selected as treatment for recurrent gastric cancer. After chemotherapy, the patient underwent colectomy with removal of the stent. His postoperative course was good, and he was discharged from hospital without complications. The patient received additional chemotherapy. We encountered a case of colon obstruction due to peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer that was successfully treated using a metallic colorectal stent. Colon stenting for malignant bowel obstruction is useful to avoid oncologic emergencies. However, there is no evidence at this time that long-term placement of a stent is safe. The decision to remove or retain the stent should be made upon carefully considering the condition of the patient and progression of the disease.

[Assessment of Endoscopic Resection and Partial Duodenectomy for Duodenal Mucosal Tumor]

INTRODUCTION

The risk of perforation following endoscopic resection is high. We analyzed the outcome of partial duodenectomy and discussed the therapeutic strategy for duodenal mucosal tumor(DMT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed 19 cases who have undergone endoscopic resection, and 11 cases who have undergone partial duodenectomy for DMT in our institute since 2007. We divided them into the first period(ESD actively indicated)and late period(ESD carefully indicated according to the alteration of indication of ESD for DMT in 2013)groups.

RESULTS

In the first period, all 17 cases initially underwent endoscopic resection and 4 cases were complicated by perforation. On the other hand, in the late period, 6 of 12 cases initially underwent endoscopic resection and 1 case was complicated by perforation. Emergent partial duodenectomy was performed with additional resection in the perforation cases. There were no complications associated with surgery, and all 29 cases achieved curative resection, based on the histology results.

CONCLUSION

We can safely indicate endoscopic resection for DMT with surgical back-up and cooperation with the endoscopic internal department.

[A Long-Surviving Case of Unresectable Gall Bladder Carcinoma Treated with Gemcitabine-Based Chemotherapy]

We report a 5-year surviving patient with unresectable gall bladder carcinoma treated with gemcitabine(GEM)-based chemotherapy. A 64-year-old man was diagnosed with unresectable gall bladder carcinoma with peritoneal dissemination based on laparotomy findings. Two months later, he started to receive GEM chemotherapy. Twelve months after surgery, the patient chose to suspend GEM treatment. One year and 10 months later, multiple lung metastases appeared and GEM was restarted in combination with UFT. Although the primary lesion and lung metastases gradually progressed, the patient maintained a good quality of life. After 3 years and 2 months, chemotherapy was changed to GEM plus S-1 because of progressive disease. Five years and 2 months after surgery, his condition was complicated by a secondary pneumothorax, and the patient received home oxygen therapy. Five years and 8 months after surgery he died of respiratory distress caused by the progression of lung metastases. Even in the case of unresectable advanced gall bladder carcinoma, effective chemotherapy could improve quality of life and prolong survival.

The expression of miR-125b-5p is increased in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and inhibits the detection of hepatitis B virus surface antigen

MicroRNAs were first discovered as small endogenous RNA molecules and some viruses have been reported to interact with host miRNAs. By investigating miRNA expression in serum derived from HBV-infected patients, we have clarified the relationship between miRNA expression and chronic HBV infection. Additionally, we demonstrate the use of miRNAs as both novel biomarkers and new therapies against HBV. We included the sera of 20 patients with chronic HBV infection, sera of 20 patients with HCV infection and sera of 10 healthy controls in this study. The miRNA libraries were sequenced using a 32-mer single end sequence. The validation study of circulating miRNA in serum was conducted by qRT-PCR. The HBV genomic regions of genotype B and genotype C that were speculated to be targeted by miRNA were constructed using complementary oligonucleotides in the vectors. Reporter assays were performed 48 h after transfection. The expression levels of 21 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in the three groups. 10 miRNAs (hsa-miR-100-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-193b-3p, miR-194-3p, miR-30a-3p, miR-30c-2-3p, miR-3591-5p, miR-4709-3p, miR-574-3p and miR-99a-5p) were found to be upregulated in CH-B by deep sequence analysis. The computer analysis showed that two regions of HBsAg are potential targets of miR-125b-5p and miR-30c-2-3p and that these miRNAs may downregulate the expression of HBV-S. The HBV genotype C segment speculated to be targeted by hsa-miR-125b-5p significantly decreased the expression of the reporter. This study indicated that expression of miR-125b-5p was related to the etiology of chronic hepatitis B infection and regulated the expression of HBsAg.

[A Case of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Showing R0 Resection after Resection of the Portal Vein Following Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy]

We report a case of pancreatic cancer showing R0 resection after resection of the portal vein(PV)following preoperative chemoradiotherapy. A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with back pain. We diagnosed the patient with pancreatic cancer using computed tomography scan and fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Because the tumor directly invaded the PV, we diagnosed it as a borderline resectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Radiation therapy(40 Gy/20 Fr)was administered with S-1 monotherapy(120 mg/body/day on days 1-5 and days 8-12). After the treatment, the main tumor was stable without distant metastasis. Therefore, we performed pancreaticoduodenectomy with resection of the PV. Pathological examination confirmed negative margin status. The patient was healthy and showed no sign of recurrence eight months after surgery.

[Outcome of Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma]

Pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered a poor prognostic feature of the disease, and the utility of pulmonary resection is unclear. We evaluated clinical outcomes following pulmonary resection in 7 patients. All patients underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The median disease-free interval (DFI) was 14 (6-23) months. During pulmonary resection in 1 of the patients, intrahepatic recurrence was discovered and, 18 months later, this patient died of the recurrence. Of the remaining 6 patients, 2 patients developed intrahepatic recurrence and brain metastasis and died at 66 months and 10 months after pulmonary resection. Three patients are still alive and disease-free to date with a median follow-up duration of 42 (18-55) months. Of these 3 surviving patients, 2 patients had solitary pulmonary metastases and 1 patient had multiple bilateral pulmonary metastases; these patients underwent VATS once. The 7th patient underwent VATS 3 times for pulmonary metastasis and had no evidence of intrahepatic or extrahepatic recurrence. This patient died of an unrelated cause 15 months after the last pulmonary resection (47 months after the primary pulmonary resection). This study indicates that surgical resection of metachronous pulmonary metastases is associated with a favorable outcome in selected patients.

[Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Involving the Superior Mesenteric Artery]

Multidisciplinary therapy is essential in the treatment of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer involving the superior mesenteric artery (BR-SMA). We analyzed the outcomes of multidisciplinary treatment for BR-SMA and evaluated the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). We reviewed the clinical courses of 10 patients with BR-SMA. Seven patients were treated with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy (NAT group), and 3 patients underwent radical pancreaticoduodenectomy first (SF group). In the NAT group, the rate of R0 was 7/7 (100%), the induction rate of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) was 6/7 (86%), and the first recurrence sites were the lung in 4 patients, and the liver and peritoneum in one patient each, respectively. In the SF group, the rate of R0 was 2/3 (67%) because of a positive pathological dissecting peripancreatic margin in 1 case. The induction rate of AC was 3/3 (100%), and the first recurrence sites were the liver in 2 patients, the peritoneum in 1, and a local site in 1. The disease free survival of the NAT group (median survival time [MST] 19.3 months) was significantly better than that of the SF group (MST 5.7 months) (log rank test, p=0.002). The median overall survival of the NAT and SF groups was 51.6 months and 19.5 months, respectively (p=0.128). An R0 resection could be performed in all cases in the NAT group. The NAT extended disease-free survival. We conclude that NAT is recommended in the treatment of BR-SMA.

Functional assessment of the liver with gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetate-enhanced MRI in living-donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

A precise estimation of the capacity of the remnant liver following partial liver resection is important. In this study, the regional function of the liver in patients undergoing living-donor liver transplantation was evaluated by gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (EOB)-enhanced MRI, with special reference to the congested region.

METHODS

EOB-MRI analysis was performed before hepatectomy in donors, and 7 days after surgery in the donor and recipient. In the hepatocyte phase, from images obtained 15 min after Primovist® injection, the signal intensity in each liver segment was measured and divided by the signal intensity of the erector spinae muscle (liver to muscle ratio, LMR) for standardization. Inter-regional differences in LMRs were analysed in donors and recipients.

RESULTS

Thirty-two living donors and 31 recipients undergoing living-donor liver transplantation were enrolled. In donors, the LMRs of the remnant left lobe were almost equivalent among the liver segments. In the remnant right lobe without the middle hepatic vein, the mean(s.d.) LMR for congested segments (S5 and S8) was significantly lower than that for non-congested segments (S6 and S7): 2·60(0·52) versus 3·64(0·56) respectively (P < 0·001). After surgery, values in the non-congested region were almost identical to those in the preoperative donor liver. LMR values in the left and right lobe graft were significantly lower than those in the corresponding segment before donor surgery (P < 0·001).

CONCLUSION

The function of the congested region secondary to outflow obstruction in the remnant donor liver was approximately 70 per cent of that in the non-congested region. EOB-MRI is a promising tool to assess regional liver function, with good spatial resolution.

Repeated resections for liver metastasis from primary adrenocortical carcinoma: A case report

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Adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) is rare, often recurring, and has a poor prognosis.

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Surgery remains the optimal treatment for ACC, due to chemotherapy’s ineffectiveness.

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Our patient developed 2 liver metastases after right adrenalectomy (1.5 and 4 years).

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Therefore, complete surgical resection should be considered in similar cases.

Introduction

Adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) is a very rare type of tumor that generally has a poor prognosis. Little has been reported on repeated liver resections with recurrent metastasis still confined to the liver. In this report, we describe a case of functioning ACC in a 65-year-old woman with 2 liver metastases of the ACC (at 1.5 and 4 years) after the right adrenalectomy.

Presentation of case

A 65-year-old woman was referred to our hospital based on a suspicion of hyperaldosteronism. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a lesion at the right adrenal gland; therefore, we performed right adrenalectomy and subsequently diagnosed the lesion as ACC. However, follow-up computed tomography at 1.5 and 4 years after the right adrenalectomy revealed liver metastasis of ACC; liver resection was performed for both metastases.

Discussion

Complete surgical resection is the established approach for the treatment of ACC. The prognosis of ACC is usually dismal, and recurrence rates of up to 85% have been reported. However, the appropriate treatment for recurrent ACC is not well established, and the effectiveness of other modalities, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is not proven. Therefore, surgical resection may currently be the most appropriate treatment modality, as the patient achieved a disease-free interval of 2.5 years after the first liver resection.

Conclusion

In selected patients with recurrent or metastatic ACC, resection is likely to be associated with prolonged survival. However, a full cure is generally not achievable, and a multidisciplinary approach is likely needed to achieve long-term disease-free status and survival.

Feasibility of oral administration of S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer: 4-week S-1 administration followed by 2-week rest vs. 2-week administration followed by 1-week rest

In 2006, the Adjuvant Chemotherapy Trial of S-1 for Gastric Cancer (ACTS-GC) demonstrated that S-1 is an effective adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer. Following that study, S-1 has been used as the standard adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer in Japan. However, the 1-year completion rate was only 65.8% in the ACTS-GC study and feasibility remains a critical issue. We conducted a study to evaluate the feasibility of 2 weekly administration regimens of S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer. The criteria for eligibility included histologically proven stage II (excluding T1), IIIA or IIIB gastric cancer with D2 lymph-node dissection. The patients were randomly assigned to either arm A (S-1 administration for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest) or arm B (S-1 administration for 2 weeks followed by 1 week of rest). In each arm, treatment was continued for 12 months unless recurrence or severe adverse events were observed. The primary endpoint was feasibility (protocol treatment completion rate). The secondary endpoints were safety, relapse-free survival and overall survival. A total of 47 patients were assigned to arms A or B between May, 2008 and February, 2010. During the first interim analysis, the protocol treatment completion rates in arms A and B were 83 and 100%, respectively at 6 months and 49 and 89%, respectively, at 12 months (P=0.0046). Therefore, S-1 administration for 2 weeks followed by 1 week rest was more feasible as adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer. Grade 3 adverse events in arm A included fatigue (8.0%), anorexia (8.0%), nausea (4.0%), vomiting (4.0%) and hand-foot syndrome (4.0%), whereas none were observed in arm B. There were no reported grade 4 adverse events in either arm. In conclusion, the 2-week S-1 administration followed by 1-week rest regimen appears to be a more feasible oral administration regimen for S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer.

Long-term survival results of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with suprapancreatic nodal dissection for clinical stage I gastric cancer: A multicenter phase II trial (JCOG 0703)

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Background: Laparoscopic gastrectomy has been a common tool for gastric cancer patients in eastern Asian countries. A large-scale prospective study with a sample size sufficient to investigate the benefit of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) has never been reported. We conducted a multi-center phase II trial (JCOG0703) to evaluate the safety of LADG with nodal dissection for clinical stage I gastric cancer patients. A short-term outcome including postoperative complications of LADG as a result of this study was already reported and a following multi-center phase III trials (JCOG0912) to confirm the non-inferiority of LADG compared with open gastrectomy in terms of overall survival (OS) was already started. Long-term outcomes as the secondary endpoints of this study are reported here after 5-year follow up period. Methods: The subjects of this study comprised patients with clinical stage I gastric cancer that were able to undergo a distal gastrectomy. LADG with D1 plus suprapancreatic lymph node dissection was performed by credentialed gastric surgeons who experienced >=30 LADG and >=30 open gasterctomy. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who developed either anastomotic leakage or a pancreatic fistula. The secondary endpoints included surgical morbidity, short-term clinical outcome, OS, and relapse free survival (RFS). Results: Between November 2007 and September 2008, 176 eligible patients were enrolled. 140/23/9/4 patients had pStage IA/IB/II/IIIA disease respectively. No patients had recurrence. 3 patients died without recurrence. 5-year OS was 98.2% (95%CI, 94.7% to 99.4%). 5-year RFS was 98.2% (95%CI, 94.4% to 99.4%). Conclusions: The long-term outcome of LADG for Stage I gastric cancer patients seem comparable to those of open procedures. However, this result should be confirmed by a randomized control trial. We have just finished an accrual of 921 patients for a multi-center phase III trial (JCOG0912) to confirm the non-inferiority of LADG compared with open gastrectomy in terms of OS. Clinical trial information: UMIN000000874.

[A case of AFP-producing esophagogastric junction cancer with liver metastases with a good response to chemotherapy]

A 62-year-old man was diagnosed with esophagogastric junction cancer following esophagogastroduodenoscopy in response to hematemesis. Although liver metastasis was detected during surgery, a total gastrectomy and lower esophagus resection for local control was performed. Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)-producing tumor with hepatoid adenocarcinoma was diagnosed on the basis of the pathological examination. Serum AFP levels remained high postoperatively and multiple liver metastases were detected on computed tomography imaging. After 6 courses of chemotherapy with S-1 and cisplatin (CDDP), a significant reduction in the size of the liver metastases and a decrease of serum AFP levels were achieved. Postoperative 2-year tumor control using S-1 single agent chemotherapy was obtained. AFP-producing esophagogastric junction cancer has a poor prognosis. This case raises the possibility that long-term survival can be obtained by combining surgery for local control with systemic chemotherapy.

[An examination of the utility of high-precise radiation therapies for the recurrence of postoperative esophageal cancer]

We analyzed 16 cases (23 therapeutic sites) of post-operative recurrence of esophageal cancers that were treated with high-precise radiation therapies.The recurrence sites were cervical lymph nodes (5 cases), superior mediastinal lymph nodes (5 cases), posterior mediastinal lymph nodes (3 cases), regional lymph nodes with anastomosis (2 cases), abdominal paraaortic lymph node (3 cases), and regions with hematogenous metastasis (5 cases: liver, lung, spleen, and dissemination to the diaphragm bottom).By recurrence number, 10 cases presented with a single lesion, and 6 cases had multiple lesions.The effect of the treatment was complete response (CR) in all cases, and 6 cases maintained CR.The median of the overall survival after radiotherapy was 562 (132-1,231) days.Analysis of the prognostic factors for the overall survival from a recurrence revealed that the metastatic number (single) (p=0.003), and the metastatic pattern(hematogenous metastasis) (p= 0.004), significantly improved prognosis.We conclude that radiotherapy is an option to extend prognosis in some recurrence cases.

[Gastric cancer with liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination treated with conversion surgery to achieve r0 resection after capecitabine, cisplatin, and trastuzumab chemotherapy-a case report]

Herein, we present a case report suggesting the importance of conversion surgery and the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab. A 77-year-old woman was diagnosed with gastric cancer complicated by multiple liver metastases and peritoneal dissemination. Owing to a HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) tumor score of 3+, we initiated capecitabine plus cisplatin (CDDP) plus trastuzumab chemotherapy. Subsequently, the liver metastases and peritoneal dissemination were absent on computed tomography images, and no new metastatic lesions developed during chemotherapy. After 10 chemotherapy courses, the patient underwent distal gastrectomy and 2 partial liver resection procedures. The liver metastasis remained, and it received a score of 2+ on the HER2 IHC test. We have continued to administer postoperative capecitabine plus trastuzumab chemotherapy because no metastatic lesions have appeared.

[A case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with peritoneal dissemination treated successfully with surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy]

A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed with liver dysfunction during a medical examination. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiple nodules in the left lobe, anterior segment, andposterior segment of the liver, leading to a diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Extended left lobectomy and partial hepatectomy in the anterior and posterior segment with lymph node dissection was performed. At the time of the operation, small nodules on the peritoneum near the stomach were resected; these nodules were diagnosed as peritoneal disseminations of ICC. The histopathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma (T4N0M1, Stage IVB). Adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 was administered for 18 months. Thirty months after the operation, multiple lung metastases were detected by using CT, and chemotherapy with gemcitabine was initiated. Thirty-six months after chemotherapy with gemcitabine, the patient is alive and at home despite her lung metastases, which grew slightly in size. Herein, we report a long-term survival case of ICC with peritoneal dissemination that was successfully treated with surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy.

[Three cases of surgical resection of peritoneal recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma following hepatectomy]

Surgical treatment of peritoneal recurrence (PR) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still controversial. We report herein 3 cases of PR treated by surgical resection. Firstly, a 55-year-old woman presented with recurrences in the peritoneum and mediastinal lymph nodes 12 months after hepatectomy for ruptured HCC. After the administration of sorafenib, the mediastinal lesions shrank and the PRs were resected. There has been no recurrence 20 months after PR resection. The second case was of a 56-year-old man with recurrences in the remnant liver and the peritoneum 41 months after hepatectomy for ruptured HCC. The remnant liver lesions were controlled by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and the PRs were resected twice. However, multiple bone and lung metastases developed and the patient died of HCC 73 months after peritoneal resection. In the third case, a 63-year-old man had recurrences in the remnant liver and the peritoneum 78 months after hepatectomy. Remnant liver lesions were controlled by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and TACE, and PRs were resected. However, the hepatic lesions had progressed and he died 102 months after initial hepatectomy. Based on our observations, patients with PRs who have no other distant metastases and whose intrahepatic lesions are controllable and PRs are completely resectable may have relatively long-term survival. Surgical treatment of PR may also improve the quality of life and prognosis.

[Experiences of laparoscopic repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatic cancer after open hepatectomy]

We report 3 cases of recurrent hepatic cancer in patients who underwent laparoscopic repeat hepatectomy (LRH). Case 1: A 70-year-old female with ascending colon cancer and liver metastases underwent open right colectomy followed by open S5 resection. Seven months later, the patient experienced a recurrence in the lateral segment and underwent laparoscopy-assisted ( L-A) partial resection. The adhesiolysis around the left liver was performed through a 7-cm upper median incision. Partial resection of the lateral segment was performed by hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) using a median incision. Case 2: A 63-year-old female with metachronous liver metastases from rectal cancer underwent open S4a and S5 resection. Nineteen months later, she experienced a recurrence in S4b and underwent an L-A S4b resection. Adhesiolysis around the previous hepatic transection was performed through a small upper median incision. Mobilization of the liver was performed by HALS. A hepatic transection of S4b was also performed in the upper median incision. Case 3: An 80-year-old female with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence in the lateral segment after open S4 resection underwent L-A lateral segmentectomy. An adhesiolysis, mobilization of the liver, and a hepatic transection were performed by HALS and hybrid technique as described in case 2. In a patient with a history of open hepatectomy, LRH may be extensively indicated by utilizing HALS or a hybrid procedure.

[A case of fixing an anastomotic site to the abdominal wall out of the abdominal cavity for a small intestinal perforation during chemotherapy]

A 53-year-old man presented with a continuous high fever and was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with metastasis to the lung, spleen, and mesenterium. He was treated with cyclophosphamide and prednisolone followed by administration of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) chemotherapy 20 days later. Two days after initiation of CHOP therapy, the patient complained of severe abdominal pain. Perforative peritonitis was diagnosed using abdominal computed tomography. A perforation of the small intestine approximately 160 cm distal to the Treitz ligament was uncovered during emergency laparotomy. The risk of leakage was considered too high for anastomosis of the small intestine to be performed. Further, construction of an intestinal stoma could result in a high-output syndrome that could lead to difficulty in resuming chemotherapy. Based on these considerations, we fixed the anastomotic region to the abdominal wall using a technique similar to construction of an intestinal stoma. Post-operative anastomotic leakage did not occur. Nine days later, a perineal hernia was noted near the anastomotic site and a second operation was performed. The anastomotic site was placed back into the abdominal cavity during this operation. CHOP therapy was resumed 16 days after the first operation.

Effect of laparoscopic splenectomy on portal haemodynamics in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension

BACKGROUND

The effect of splenomegaly in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension is not fully understood. This study was designed to determine the effect of laparoscopic splenectomy on portal haemodynamics in these patients.

METHODS

Patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy in Kyushu University Hospital from January 2006 to March 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. Correlations between splenic size and portal haemodynamics, and changes in portal haemodynamics and in levels of the vasoactive agents endothelin (ET) 1 and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) before and 7-10 days after laparoscopic splenectomy were analysed.

RESULTS

Portal venous (PV) blood flow, PV cross-sectional area and PV congestion index correlated significantly with splenic size (P < 0·050). All three were significantly reduced following splenectomy in 59 patients. The hepatic venous pressure gradient, measured in 18 patients, decreased by 25 per cent after splenectomy (P < 0·001). Portal vascular resistance was also reduced, by 21 per cent (P = 0·009). The peripheral blood concentration of ET-1 decreased from 2·95 to 2·11 pg/ml (P < 0·001), and that of NOx tended to decrease (from 29·2 to 25·0 pg/ml; P = 0·068). In hepatic venous blood, the level of ET-1 decreased from 2·37 to 1·83 pg/ml (P = 0·006), whereas NOx concentration tended to increase (from 24·5 to 30·9 pg/ml; P = 0·067).

CONCLUSION

In patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, splenectomy reduced portal venous pressure. A decrease in splanchnic blood flow, by eliminating splenic blood flow, and reduction in intrahepatic vascular resistance, by normalizing hepatic concentrations of ET-1 and NOx, may both have contributed.

Potential predictive markers of chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer: Biomarker study in GC0301/TOP-002, randomized phase III study of irinotecan plus S-1 versus S-1

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Background: Irinotecan plus S-1(IRI-S) achieved longer median survival than S-1 monotherapy and was well tolerated for patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) in GC0301/TOP-002, but it did not show significant superiority (Gastric Cancer 2011). According to subset analyses, IRI-S may have extra survival benefit in some group of patients, prompting to explore prognostic or predictive markers.We correlated expression of 5 genes related to DNA and anticancer drug metabolism (TS, DPD, Topo-I, ERCC1, TP) with outcome of patients in each arm. Methods: Paraffin-embedded primary tumor specimens before chemotherapy were available from 126 of 326 patients. mRNA expression in microdissected tumors was measured by real-time RT-PCR, and categorized into low and high using the median as a cut-off. Multivariate analysis for overall survival (OS) adjusting baseline factors, gene expression and treatment (S-1/IRI-S) was performed with a Cox regression model. Interaction tests were also carried out between gene expression and treatment. Results: Although baseline factors of the subjects were similar to the entire GC0301/TOP-002 trial, median survival seemed opposite; 13.1M for S-1 and 11.4M for IRI-S arm, p=0.192. 92 samples, 47 of S-1 and 50 of IRI-S arm, were assessable for 5 genes. Multivariate analyses showed that liver metastasis correlated with poor prognosis (HR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.50-5.01; P=0.011), but no gene was significantly correlated with OS. There were interactions between the treatment effect for DPD and TP. HRs between high and low DPD were 3.02 in S-1 and 0.96 in IRI-S arm, p=0.012 for interaction; while those for TP were 2.98 in S-1 and 0.38 for IRI-S arm, p=0.002. In patients with low TS and high Topo-I (n=18), OS was 11.2M for S-1 and 18.6M for IRI-S arm, p=0.531. Conclusions: The correlative analyses suggest DPD and TP are predictive factor for the first-line treatment of AGC including S-1 and irinotecan. Combined biomarker analyses with the previous randomized phase III study including S-1 or irinotecan is warranted to verify these findings.

[Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer after the adjuvant chemotherapy trial of S-1 for gastric cancer in Hiroshima prefecture: results from a questionnaire survey and future challenges]

A questionnaire survey on postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer was conducted for 76 hospitals affiliated with the Hiroshima Oncology Group of Gastric Cancer in Hiroshima prefecture in January 2011. Responses were obtained from 29 hospitals, including 12 core cancer treatment hospitals, and the following results were obtained. The percentage of patients completing 1 year of oral S-1 was >70%, affecting approximately 75% of the entire hospital cohort. Dose reduction was conducted in approximately 30% of patients because of age, poor PS, and renal insufficiency. The standard S-1 regimen (4 weeks of S-1 treatment followed by 2 weeks of rest)was adopted in almost half of the patients, whereas the rest of the patients received another treatment schedule such as 2 weeks of treatment followed by 1 week of rest. Dose reduction and withdrawal of S-1 due to adverse events were conducted more frequently in hospitals with low completion rates of 1-year S- 1 treatment than those with a high completion rate. S-1 was most commonly discontinued because of subjective adverse events and patient request, although the discontinuation rate according to objective adverse events such as bone marrow depression was not very high. The fact that some hospitals had high completion rates suggested the importance of supplementary tools for patient IC.

[A case of superficial primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus]

A 71-year-old man who was being followed-up for esophagus melanosis in the middle thoracic esophagus for 2 years was found to have a black semipedunculated tumor at the same site. Radical subtotal esophagectomy with 2-field lymph node dissection was performed. Histopathological examination indicated a malignant melanoma (pT1b [SM1], N0, Stage I). Adjuvant chemotherapy with DAC-tam (dacarbazine, nimustine, cisplatin, and tamoxifen) was administrated for a diagnosis of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, no recurrence was observed for 10 months. Combined radical surgery with lymph node dissection and systemic chemotherapy is recommended for primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus with submucosal tumor invasion. This treatment is necessary because of the risk of high local recurrence and distant metastasis based on the malignant potential predicted by histopathological examination.

[Two cases of long-term survival after treatment of recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and intrahepatic metastasis in the remnant liver with repeated hepatectomy]

We report 2 cases of recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) with intrahepatic metastasis in the remnant liver in patients who underwent repeated hepatectomy and are currently alive and free of the disease. Case 1 involves a 53-year- old woman who underwent extended right hepatectomy for mass-forming type ICC (7-cm in diameter) in the right lobe. After 7 months, she experienced tumor recurrence, and exhibited a 3.8-cm solitary intrahepatic metastasis in the remnant left lateral segment. The patient underwent partial resection of the lateral segment and is currently disease-free at 2 years and 9 months after the recurrence. Case 2 involves a 59-year-old woman who underwent extended left hepatectomy for combined mass-forming and periductal-infiltrating-type ICC( 5-cm in diameter) in the left lobe. After 2 years and 3 months, she experienced tumor recurrence, and exhibited a 3-cm solitary intrahepatic metastasis in the remnant right anterior segment 8. She underwent partial resection of segment 8 and is currently disease-free at 2 years and 11 months after the recurrence. Most of the recurrences of ICC in the remnant liver exhibit multiple lesions or concomitant extrahepatic metastases; therefore, the indication of repeated hepatectomy for intrahepatic recurrence in the remnant liver is restrictive. However, most of the reported cases on repeated hepatectomy for intrahepatic recurrence involved a solitary metastasis in the remnant liver, and revealed a relatively favorable prognosis. Thus, we believe that a solitary recurrence of ICC in the remnant liver could be an indication for repeated hepatectomy.

A phase III study of laparoscopy-assisted versus open distal gastrectomy with nodal dissection for clinical stage IA/IB gastric Cancer (JCOG0912)

A Phase III study was started in Japan to evaluate the non-inferiority of overall survival of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with open distal gastrectomy in patients with clinical IA (T1N0) or IB [T1N1 or T2(MP)N0] gastric cancer. This study followed the previous Phase II study to confirm the safety of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (JCOG0703) and began in March 2010. A total of 920 patients will be accrued from 33 institutions within 5 years. The primary endpoint is overall survival. The secondary endpoints are relapse-free survival, proportion of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy completion, proportion of conversion to open surgery, adverse events, short-term clinical outcomes, postoperative quality of life. Only a credentialed surgeon can be responsible for both open distal gastrectomy and laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy.

Design of Japanese multicenter prospective cohort study of endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer using Web registry (J-WEB/EGC)

A Japanese multicenter prospective cohort study is currently being conducted on endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancer (EGC) using a Web registry system developed to determine short-term and long-term outcomes based on the absolute and expanded indications. All consecutive patients with EGC or suspected EGC undergoing ER at the 41 participating institutions from July 2010 to June 2012 are being enrolled in the study cohort using the Web registry system, and each patient will be followed up for a minimum of 5 years. The study investigation includes baseline patient and lesion characteristics as well as short-term and long-term outcomes. A survey program to collect information on long-term outcomes is also being introduced for patients subsequently followed up in institutions other than their original participating institutions, as well as patients for whom the original participating institutions have been losing track of their follow-up. The primary endpoint is 5-year overall survival, with en bloc resection, curative resection, complication, local recurrence, distant metastasis, metachronous EGC, and recurrence-free survival being secondary endpoints in addition to the successful collection of long-term outcome data on enrolled patients utilizing the survey program.

Left lobe living donor liver transplantation in adults

Adult left lobe (LL) living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has not generally been recognized as a feasible procedure because of the problem of graft size. The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility and short- and long-term results of adult LL LDLT in comparison with right lobe (RL) LDLT. Data on 200 consecutive LL LDLTs, including five retransplants, were retrospectively compared with those of 112 RL LDLTs, in terms of survival, complications and donor morbidity. The mean graft weight to standard volume ratio of LL grafts was 38.7% whereas that of RL grafts was 47.6% (p < 0.0001). The 1-, 5- and 10-year patient survival rates of LL LDLT were 85.6%, 77.9% and 69.5%, respectively, which were comparable to those of RL LDLT (89.8%, 71.3% and 70.7%, respectively). The incidence of small-for-size syndrome was higher in LL LDLT (19.5%) than in RL LDLT (7.1%) (p < 0.01). The overall donor morbidity rates were comparable between LL (36.0%) and RL (34.8%), whereas postoperative liver function tests and hospital stay were significantly better (p < 0.0001) in LL donors. In conclusion, adult LL LDLT has comparable outcomes to that of RL LDLT. LL LDLT is viable and is the first choice in adult LDLT.

[A long-term survival case of recurrent pancreatic vipoma with liver metastases treated by a combination of surgical resection and loco-regional therapies]

We report a case of recurrent pancreatic VIPoma with liver and peritoneal metastases who has been surviving over 7 years by a successful treatment with a combination of surgical resection and loco-regional therapies. A 59-year-old female underwent distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic endocrine tumor. Five years after pancreatectomy, she had a recurrence of liver and peritoneal metastases with the symptoms by hypersecretion of VIP, and she underwent hepatectomy and peritoneal tumor resection. Seven months later, multiple liver metastases appeared and were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Additionally radiofrequency ablation( RFA) for remnant viable lesion was performed. Seven years and eight months after primary panceatectomy and two years and six months after resection of the liver and peritoneal recurrences, she is now disease-free with good quality of life. The progression of well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma is usually slow. It is potentially useful in controlling of liver metastases to combine the loco-regional therapy like TACE and RFA with surgical resection.

[A case report of multiple adenocarcinoma in small intestine after total gastrectomy by Roux-en-Y re-construction]

This is a very rare case report of multiple small intestine cancer in jejunal loop of Roux-en-Y re-construction, duodenum and jejunum. A 51-year-old man had undergone total gastrectomy by Roux-en-Y re-construction for Stage III B gastric cancer in 1997. In 2008, he underwent partial jejunectomy and partial ilectomy for ileus due to small intestine adenocarcinoma, located at the jejunum 50 cm distal from Roux-en-Y anastomotic region and at the ileum 20 cm proximal from the ileocecal region. PET/CT suspected a recurrence and peritoneal dissemination, so he had undergone S-1/docetaxel treatment since 2009. In 2010, he was diagnosed as obstructive jaundice due to duodenal tumor revealed by CT. Furthermore, enteroscopy revealed duodenal advanced cancer, type 2 advanced cancer and five polyps in jejunal loop, type 2 advanced cancer and type II a early cancer in jejunum. He could not undergo both pancreatoduodenectomy and choledochojejunostomy because of the invasion to hepatoduodenal ligament. He underwent partial jejunectomy for the advanced cancer in jejunal loop 10 cm proximal form Roux-en-Y anastomotic region and in jejunum 50 cm distal from Roux-en-Y anastomotic region for prevention of ileus.

[Investigation of gastric cancer chemotherapy in hiroshima prefecture]

AIM

The Hiroshima Oncology Group of Gastric Cancer(HOG-GC)distributed a multiple-answer questionnaire to investigate the realities of chemotherapy for gastric cancer.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

Seventy-six hospitals in Hiroshima were surveyed. The Japanese classification was used for the staging criteria.

RESULTS

Forty-one hospitals, including 10 centers for cancer treatment, completed and returned the questionnaires. For stage II & III cases requiring adjuvant chemotherapy, S-1 was the most commonly used(84%)regimen. A standard starting dose was used in 79% of these cases, and S-1 was administered for one year continuously in 84% of the cases. For stage I B & II (T1), S-1 and UFT were used in 45%and 20%of the cases, respectively. In cases with non-resectable gastric cancer, S-1 plus CDDP and S-1 alone were used as a first-line therapy in 62% and 26% of the patients under 75 years age, respectively, and in 33% and 46% of the patients older than 75 years of age, respectively. In patients with ascites and peritoneal dissemination, S-1 plus CDDP, S-1, S-1 plus DTX, S-1 plus PTX, and PTX were used in 26%, 15%, 21%, 17%, and 17% of cases, respectively. Some of the patients with peritoneal dissemination underwent gastrectomy.

CONCLUSION

S-1 was widely used for gastric cancer chemotherapy in Hiroshima Prefecture. Taxane-containing regimens or palliative gastrectomy were commonly used in cases with peritoneal dissemination.

Prognostic importance of the gross classification of hepatocellular carcinoma in living donor-related liver transplantation

Background

The gross classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reported to be a significant prognostic factor for patients with HCC undergoing partial hepatectomy. The present study investigated whether the gross classification of HCC is also a prognostic factor in living donor-related liver transplantation (LDLT).

Methods

Some 119 patients undergoing LDLT for HCC were identified retrospectively from a prospective institutional database containing information on all LDLTs carried out between 1996 and 2009. Patients were divided into three groups according to the gross classification of the largest tumour in the explanted liver: type 1 HCC, single nodular type (81 patients); type 2, single nodular type with extranodular growth (21); and type 3, contiguous multinodular type (17). Clinicopathological factors and recurrence-free survival rates were compared.

Results

Recurrence-free survival rates for the whole group were 87·7 per cent at 1 year, 83·5 per cent at 3 years and 81·0 per cent at 5 years after LDLT. Type 3 HCC was associated with large tumour size, poor histological grade, a high incidence of microvascular invasion and multiple tumours. Independent predictors of poor recurrence-free survival were preoperative serum level of des-γ-carboxy prothrombin exceeding 300 mAU/ml, microvascular invasion and type 3 HCC.

Conclusion

The gross classification of HCC was an independent predictor for recurrence of HCC in patients undergoing LDLT.

[A 6-year survival case of locally advanced unresectable pancreatic tail cancer treated with chemo-radiation therapy]

We report a case of locally advanced unresectable pancreatic tail cancer patient who survived over 6 years by chemo-radiation therapy (CRT). A 61-year-old male was pointed out by CT to have pancreatic tail cancer of 5.6 cm in diameter that invaded to the stomach, left kidney and adrenal gland, nerve plexus of celiac and superior mesenteric artery, was diagnosed as locally advanced unresectable pancreatic tail cancer. CRT of gemcitabine (GEM) with RT to a primary lesion was successful. After two years and 11 months, Schnitzler's metastasis appeared and RT was effective to recover from rectal stricture. At three years and 3 months, GEM was converted to S-1. After 4 years and 5 months, paraaortic lymph node metastasis was enlarged, so chemotherapy was changed to combination of GEM + S-1. After 4 years and 10 months, upper mediastinal lymph node metastasis appeared. At 6 years and 1 month, RT to upper mediastinum for pain control was performed. Finally, 6 years and 6 months after the first diagnosis, he died of pancreatic cancer. A long-term survival of locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer is very rare. In the case of pancreatic cancer that CRT is effective to the remission of primary lesion, CRT is potentially useful to perform for the control of metastatic lesion or palliative therapy.