Long-Term Total Neoadjuvant Therapy Leads to Impressive Response Rates in Rectal Cancer: Results of a German Single-Center Cohort

Intensified preoperative chemotherapy after (chemo)radiotherapy, (Total Neoadjuvant Therapy-TNT), increases pathological complete response (pCR) rates and local control. In cases of clinically complete response (cCR) and close follow-up, non-operative management (NOM) is feasible. We report early outcomes and toxicities of a long-term TNT regime in a single-center cohort. Fifteen consecutive patients with distal or middle-third locally advanced rectal cancer (UICC stage II-III) were investigated, who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (total adsorbed dose: 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions and two concomitant courses 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/m²/d)/oxaliplatin (50 mg/m²), followed by consolidating chemotherapy (nine courses of FOLFOX4). NOM was offered if staging revealed cCR 2 months after TNT, with resection performed otherwise. The primary endpoint was complete response (pCR + cCR). Treatment-related side effects were quantified for up two years after TNT. Ten patients achieved cCR, of whom five opted for NOM. Ten patients (five cCR and five non-cCR) underwent surgery, with pCR confirmed in the five patients with cCR. The main toxicities comprised leukocytopenia (13/15), fatigue (12/15) and polyneuropathy (11/15). The most relevant CTC °III + IV events were leukocytopenia (4/15), neutropenia (2/15) and diarrhea (1/15). The long-term TNT regime resulted in promising response rates that are higher than the response rates of short TNT regimes. Overall tolerability and toxicity were comparable with the results of prospective trials.

Planning adaptive treatment by longitudinal response assessment implementing MR imaging, liquid biopsy and analysis of microenvironment during neoadjuvant treatment of rectal cancer (PRIMO)

INTRODUCTION

Conducting neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and additional preoperative consolidating chemotherapy (CTx), that is, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), improves local control and complete response (CR) rates in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), putting the focus on organ preservation concepts. Therefore, assessing response before surgery is crucial. Some LARC patients would either not benefit from intensification by TNT or may reach CR, making resection not mandatory. Treatment of LARC should therefore be based on patient individual risk and response to avoid overtreatment.The "PRIMO" pilot study aims to determine early response assessment to form a basis for development and validation of a noninvasive response prediction model by a subsequent prospective multicenter trial, which is highly needed for individual, response-driven therapy adaptions.

METHODS

PRIMO is a prospective observational cohort study including adult patients with LARC receiving neoadjuvant CRT. At least 4 multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI] and hypoxia-sensitive sequences) as well as repeated blood samples in order to analyze circulating tumor cells (CTC) and cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) are scheduled. Pelvic radiotherapy (RT, 50.4 Gy) will be performed in combination with a 5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin regimen in all patients (planned: N = 50), succeeded by consolidation CTx (FOLFOX4) if feasible. Additional (immuno)histochemical markers, such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) status will be analyzed before and after CRT. Routine resection is scheduled subsequently, nonoperative management is offered alternatively in case of clinical CR (cCR).The primary endpoint is pathological response; secondary endpoints comprise longitudinal changes in MRI as well as in CTCs and TIL. These are evaluated for early response prediction during neoadjuvant therapy, in order to develop a noninvasive response prediction model for subsequent analyses.

DISCUSSION

Early response assessment is the key in differentiating "good" and "bad" responders during neoadjuvant CRT, allowing adaption of subsequent therapies (additional consolidating CTx, organ preservation). This study will contribute in this regard, by advancing MR imaging and substantiating new surrogate markers. Adaptive treatment strategies might build on these results in further studies.

Surgical treatment of liver metastases from non-colorectal non-neuroendocrine carcinomas

Introduction

In the literature, results after surgical treatment of non-colorectal non-neuroendocrine liver metastases (NCNNLM) are reported that are often inferior to those from colorectal liver metastases. The selection of patients with favorable tumor biology is currently still a matter of discussion.

Materials/methods

The retrospective data analysis was based on data that were collected for the multicenter study “Role of surgical treatment for non-colorectal liver metastases” in county Thuringia.

Results

For the study, 637 patients were included from 1995 to 2018. 5 and 10-year survival of R0 resected patients were 33% and 19%, respectively. In the multi-variate analysis of the entire group, sex, timing, disease-free interval, number of metastases, R-classification as well as lymph node status of the primary lesion showed an independent statistical influence on the 5-year survival. In the group of R0 resected patients, disease-free interval, number of metastases and lymph node status of the primary lesion influenced the 5-year survival in the multi-variate analysis. In kidney malignancies, R-classification, timing and number of liver metastases were statistically significant in the multi-variate analysis of the 5-year survival, in mamma carcinomas only the R-classification.

Conclusion

The Adam score identifies some risk factors which influence prognosis in most but not in all tumor entities. For kidney cancer and breast cancer it can be simplified.

Unmasking of a large pheochromocytoma by pyelonephritis

Pheochromocytoma is a rare reason for hypertension. At least in younger people, an endocrinological workup of the etiology of hypertension is mandatory, as this case describes. If the pheochromocytomas are large enough, they can not only lead to hypertension but also cause direct damage to surrounding organs.

Genetic characterization of lung metastases in renal cell carcinoma

Prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is mainly determined by metastases. The understanding of the metastatic process will give the basis for a differential diagnosis leading to an individual prognosis and to new therapeutical strategies. In order to define specific genetic alterations which are common in renal cancer metastases of the lung, we performed comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on metastases and in some cases on their related primary renal tumors. For CGH, DNA was isolated from 2 or 5 paraffin sections (5 micro m). Tumor and normal (control) DNAs were amplified by DOP-PCR and labeled with biotin-dUTP and digoxigenin-dUTP, respectively. Hybridization and detection were carried out according to standard protocols. In 33 out of 40 metastases, genetic alterations were detected, most frequently these were losses of chromosomes 3p (74%), 8p (31%), 9 or 9q (34%), 14 [26%, 18q (40%) and gains of chromosome 5/5q 34%], 7 (31%) and 12 (26%). Combination of loss of 8p and gain of 8q occurred frequently. The mean number of aberrations per tumor was 8.1 (1-11). The comparison of alterations in related primary and metastatic tumors showed identical alterations in 5 out of 8 cases. This study demonstrates, that lung metastases from renal cell carcinoma are characterized by an accumulation of specific genetic alterations which show a clonal relationship to the related primary tumors.

Differentiation of positive autofluorescence bronchoscopy findings by comparative genomic hybridization

Up to 50% of the results of autofluorescence bronchoscopy (AF) of histologically benign lesions are false-positive. For better differentiation of such lesions we have used comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). We studied biopsy material from 47 patients by CGH. For a comparison of findings, the patients were grouped as follows: Group 1, patients with manifest malignant lesions (n=10); group 2, patients with positive autofluorescence and negative (benign) histology (n=16); group 3, patients with negative autofluorescence and negative histology, who belong to a typical high-risk group for lung cancer (n=21). The biopsy specimens of 21/47 patients (45%) showed chromosome aberrations. In 8/10 cases (80%) in group 1, one or several chromosome lesions were detected. Chromosome aberrations were found in 13/16 specimens (81%) taken in group 2. None of the 21 biopsy specimens from the patients of group 3 showed any chromosome lesions. The chromosome aberrations detected in groups 1 and 2 show nearly identical distribution patterns. Lesions of chromosome 3 are the most frequent ones in both groups. The results of the CGH investigation show that regions of the bronchial mucosa with positive AF finding and benign histology frequently are seriously damaged and may develop into potentially malignant lesions.

[Results of the surgical therapy in advanced colorectal cancer]

INTRODUCTION

In every 7th patient with colorectal cancer tumor has already spread beyond intestinal wall into surrounding organs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 01. 01. 1990 and 31. 12. 1998 763 patients with colorectal cancer were treated at our surgical department. 166 patients (23 %) presented with tumor contiguous or adherent to adjacent organs (cT4).

RESULTS

In most cases tumor was localized in colon (109 patients, 66 %), in 57 patients (34 %) tumor was found in rectum. Potenzial curative resection (R0) was possible in 67 patients (40 %). 66 patients (40 %) had microscopic (R1) or gro beta residual disease (R2) and in 33 patients only palliative surgery was possible. Extended resection of adjacent organs was performed in 97 % in the group with curative resection. 11 patients (8 %) died after multivisceral resection. The 5-year survival for curative resection was 57 %, for patients with microscopic or gro beta residual disease 9 months and for palliative surgery only 4 months.

CONCLUSION

Optimistic longterm results in advanced colorectal cancer can only be achieved after curative resection. After incomplete resection or palliative surgery median life expectancy is extremely poor.

[Brain abscess in retroperitoneal perforated colonic diverticulitis]

The most frequent complications in diverticular disease are local abscess, perforation with peritoneal sepsis, fistula and ileus. Extraabdominal manifestation is an actual rarity. A haematogenous bacterial spread via portal vein with formation of liver abscess has seldom been described. But a complicated diverticular disease as a cause for a brain abscess is an absolute rarity. Our case presents a patient with brain abscess caused by asymptomatic, retroperitoneal perforated colonic diverticulosis. We discuss diagnostic steps both in diverticular disease and brain abscess and different surgical options in the treatment of colonic complicated diverticular disease.

[Therapy results of locoregional recurrences in rectal cancer]

Despite of advanced surgical technique and multimodality therapy results following secondary resection of local recurrence after rectal cancer are discussed controversially.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1990 and 1999 81 patients with local recurrence of rectal cancer were treated at our surgical department. Median age was 63 years, 62 % of patients were male. 98 % of recurrences were in local advanced stage (74 % = rT4, 25 % = rT3), 44 % of patients had synchronous distant metastases.

RESULTS

32 patients underwent resection of recurrent rectal cancer. Potential curative surgery was possible in 56 % of resections. Extended resections of adjacent organs were necessary in 21 patients. The 4-year survival in the curative group was 44 % compared to 19 % in patients with microscopic or gross residual disease.

CONCLUSION

Optimistic long-term results in recurrent rectal cancer can only be achieved after curative resection. Preoperative radiochemotherapy in advanced cancers increases curative resection and probably survival rate.

[Stage-adapted therapy of pleural empyema. Results during 1992-1998]

Despite the decreasing number of patients suffering tuberculosis and the use of modern broad spectrum antibiotics the pleural empyema did not lose its relevance. The main reasons are increasing numbers of patients with drug and alcohol abuse or immunodeficiency of different causes. We retrospectively analysed the data of 73 patients treated of pleural empyema between 1992 and 1998. Considering the known stages of pleural empyema we present the corresponding therapeutic results. All patients classified as stage I were treated with a chest drain and cure was achieved in all of them (100%). The treatment for patients classified as stage II was different: 5 out of 32 were treated with a continuous irrigation and suction chest drain system. 18 patients first underwent thoracoscopy and were afterwards treated with a continuous irrigation and suction system. Another 9 patients primarily underwent an early open decortication. In 40% the treatment with the suction and irrigation system was successful. Using video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) cure was achieved in 94.4%, with open decortication in 100%. The preferred treatment of patients classified as stage III is the open decortication. After the first operation 80% (30 patients) were cured. 6 patients needed thoracoplastic procedures after the first intervention. No patient was discharged neither with a permanent chest drain nor a permanent thoracic window. With the results a cause dependent analysis of morbidity and mortality was done. The overall morbidity rate was 27.9% and the overall mortality 5.4%. The treatment of pleural empyema still remains to be problematic. Corresponding to our results pleural empyema classified as stage I is best treated with a simple chest tube. The video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) lacks of complications and is a very efficient method in treating stage II. The method of choice in stage III is the open decortication which in the case of a chronic and recurrent or persistent infection should be followed by a thoracoplastic procedure.