Consensus guidelines for pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy: Technical aspects and treatment protocols

BackgroundPressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) is increasingly used to treat patients with peritoneal cancer. A recent survey demonstrated considerable diversification of current practice of PIPAC raising issues of concern also regarding safety and efficacy. The study aim was to reach consensus on best practice of PIPAC treatment.MethodsCurrent practice was critically discussed during an expert meeting and the available evidence was scrutinized to elaborate a 33-item closed-ended questionnaire. All active PIPAC centers were then invited to participate in an online two-round Delphi process with 3 reminders at least. Consensus was defined a priori as >70% agreement for a minimal response rate of 70%.ResultsForty-nine out of 57 invited PIPAC centers participated in Delphi 1 and 2 (86%). Overall, there was agreement for 21/33 items. Consensus was reached for important aspects like advanced OR ventilation system (91.8%), remote monitoring (95.9%), use of the PRGS (85.7%) and use of a safety checklist (98%). The drug regimens oxaliplatin (87.8%) and cisplatin/doxorubicin (81.6%) were both confirmed by the expert panel. Important controversies included number and location of Biopsies during repeated PIPAC and the combination of PIPAC with additional surgical procedures.ConclusionThis consensus statement aims to allow for safe and efficacious PIPAC treatment and to facilitate multi-center analyses of the results. Additional preclinical and clinical studies are needed to resolve the remaining controversies.     

Prognostic factor analysis of irreversible electroporation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer – A multi-institutional clinical study in Asia

IntroductionIrreversible electroporation (IRE) is a modality that utilizes high electric voltage to cause cell apoptosis. IRE has been used to treat locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). However, studies of IRE via surgical approaches for LAPC are limited. This study aims to analyse the outcomes and related prognostic factors of IRE for Asian patients with LAPC.Materials and methodsFrom 2012 to 2017, this prospective trial for using IRE through surgical approaches for LAPC was conducted in 11 medical centres in Asia. All related and treatment outcomes were analysed from a prospective database.ResultsSeventy-four patients were enrolled. Thirty complications occurred in thirteen (17.6%) patients without mortality. The electrode placement direction (anteroposterior vs. craniocaudal, HR = 14.2, p < 0.01) and gastrointestinal invasion (HR = 15.7, p < 0.01) were significant factors for complications. The progression-free survival (PFS) rate in one year, three years, and five years were 69.1%, 48.7%, and 28.8%, and the overall survival (OS) rate in one year, three years, and five years were 97.2%, 53%, and 31.2%. In univariate analysis, the chemotherapy regimen, local tumour recurrence, axial tumour length, tumour volume, and serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels were all significantly associated with PFS and OS. In multivariate analysis, the chemotherapy regimen was the only significant factor associated with PFS and OS. TS-1 (Tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil) group has superior survival outcome than gemcitabine group.ConclusionThis study showed that combined induction chemotherapy and surgical IRE for LAPC is safe. For well-selected patients, IRE can achieve encouraging survival outcomes.     

Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) with or without hyperthermic IntraPEritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS®) Society Recommendations — Part I: Preoperative and intraoperative management

BackgroundEnhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been shown to considerably reduce complications, length of stay and costs after most of surgical procedures by standardised application of best evidence-based perioperative care. The aim was to elaborate dedicated recommendations for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) ± hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in a two-part series of guidelines based on expert consensus. The present part I of the guidelines highlights preoperative and intraoperative management.MethodsThe core group assembled a multidisciplinary panel of 24 experts involved in peritoneal surface malignancy surgery representing the fields of general surgery (n = 12), gynaecological surgery (n = 6), and anaesthesia (n = 6). Experts systematically reviewed and summarized the available evidence on 72 identified perioperative care items, following the GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development, evaluation) system. Final consensus (defined as ≥50%, or ≥70% of weak/strong recommendations combined) was reached by a standardised 2-round Delphi process, regarding the strength of recommendations.ResultsResponse rates were 100% for both Delphi rounds. Quality of evidence was evaluated high, moderate low and very low, for 15 (21%), 26 (36%), 29 (40%) and 2 items, respectively. Consensus was reached for 71/72(98.6%) items. Strong recommendations were defined for 37 items, No consensus could be reached regarding the preemptive use of fresh frozen plasma.ConclusionThe present ERAS recommendations for CRS±HIPEC are based on a standardised expert consensus process providing clinicians with valuable guidance. There is an urgent need to produce high quality studies for CRS±HIPEC and to prospectively evaluate recommendations in clinical practice.     

Multidisciplinary treatment strategy for locally advanced gastric cancer: A systematic review

BackgroundMultidisciplinary management of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) remains unstandardized worldwide. We performed a systemic review to summarize the advancements, regional differences, and current recommended multidisciplinary treatment strategies for LAGC.MethodsEligible studies were identified through a comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library databases and Embase. Phase 3 randomized controlled trials which investigated survival of patients with LAGC who underwent gastrectomy with pre-/perioperative, postoperative chemotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy were included.ResultsIn total, we identified 11 studies of pre-/perioperative chemotherapy, 38 of postoperative chemotherapy, and 14 of chemoradiotherapy. In Europe and the USA, the current standard of care is perioperative chemotherapy for patients with LAGC using the regimen of 5-FU, folinic acid, oxaliplatin and docetaxel (FLOT). In Eastern Asia, upfront gastrectomy and postoperative chemotherapy is commonly used. The S-1 monotherapy or a regimen of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CapOx) are used for patients with stage II disease, and the CapOx regimen or the S-1 plus docetaxel regimen are recommended for those with stage III Gastric cancer (GC). The addition of postoperative radiotherapy to peri- or postoperative chemotherapy is currently not recommended. Additionally, clinical trials testing targeted therapy and immunotherapy are increasingly performed worldwide.ConclusionsRecent clinical trials showed a survival benefit of peri-over postoperative chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. As such, this strategy may have a potential as a global standard for patients with LAGC. Outcome of the ongoing clinical trials is expected to establish the global standard of multidisciplinary treatment strategy in patients with LAGC.     

Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) with or without hyperthermic IntraPEritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society Recommendations — Part II: Postoperative management and special considerations

BackgroundEnhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been shown to considerably reduce complications, length of stay and costs after most of surgical procedures by standardised application of best evidence-based perioperative care. The aim was to elaborate dedicated recommendations for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) ± hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in a two-part series of guidelines based on expert consensus. The present part II of the guidelines highlights postoperative management and special considerations.MethodsThe core group assembled a multidisciplinary panel of 24 experts involved in peritoneal surface malignancy surgery representing the fields of general surgery (n = 12), gynaecological surgery (n = 6), and anaesthesia (n = 6). Experts systematically reviewed and summarized the available evidence on 72 identified perioperative care items, following the GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development, evaluation) system. Final consensus (defined as ≥50%, or ≥70% of weak/strong recommendations combined) was reached by a standardised 2-round Delphi process, regarding the strength of recommendations.ResultsResponse rates were 100% for both Delphi rounds. Quality of evidence was evaluated high, moderate low and very low, for 15 (21%), 26 (36%), 29 (40%) and 2 items, respectively. Consensus was reached for 71/72(98.6%) items. Strong recommendations were defined for 37 items. No consensus could be reached regarding the preemptive use of fresh frozen plasma.ConclusionThe present ERAS recommendations for CRS ± HIPEC are based on a standardised expert consensus process providing clinicians with valuable guidance. There is an urgent need to produce high quality studies for CRS ± HIPEC and to prospectively evaluate recommendations in clinical practice.     

BCG Administration after Prior Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

IntroductionProstate radiotherapy is associated with worse oncologic outcomes in patients with bladder cancer. The underlying mechanism is incompletely understood but is thought to be related to an altered microenvironment promoting tumorigenesis. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding how the effect of BCG varies according to prior radiotherapy in patients with non–muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). In this context, we sought to evaluate oncologic outcomes in NMIBC patients who have previously undergone prostate radiotherapy compared to patients with no prior history of pelvic radiotherapy.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study that includes all patients who received intravesical for NMIBC at our institution from 2001 to 2019. Patients were stratified into 3 cohorts: prior radiotherapy (RT), radical prostatectomy (RP), and no prostate cancer (No PCa). The outcomes of interest were recurrence at 1-year, progression to muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), and progression to metastatic disease. Comparisons were also made between cohorts with respect to elapsed time from radiation therapy. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparing continuous variables, while χ² and Fischer's exact tests were used to examine categorical variables.ResultsIn 199 total patients who underwent BCG for NMIBC, 23 had a prior history of prostate radiotherapy treatment, while 17 underwent prior radical prostatectomy. Overall, 41.2% of patients had recurrence at 1 year. There was no difference in the number of induction or maintenance BCG administrations received between the cohorts within the first year. There was no significant difference in recurrence at 1 year between the 3 cohorts (P = .56). There was also no difference in progression to MIBC or progression to metastatic disease with P = .50 and 0.89, respectively.ConclusionThe risk of recurrence after induction BCG treatment for high-grade NMIBC does not vary according to prior radiation treatment for prostate cancer.     

Do older patients with stage IB non-small-cell lung cancer obtain survival benefits from surgery? A propensity score matching study using SEER data

BackgroundSurgical resection is the preferred treatment for Stage IB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but one-third of patients still do not receive surgery, which might be due to the lack of robust and dedicated studies on the outcomes of surgical treatment in older patients with stage IB NSCLC. This study aims to investigate whether older patients with stage IB NSCLC benefit from surgery.MethodsData of patients with NSCLC were downloaded from the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database classifications were converted from the 7th edition staging system to the 8th edition staging system, and older patients (aged ≥65 years at diagnosis) with stage IB NSCLC were included. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to balance the distribution proportions of clinical characteristics between the surgery and no surgery groups.ResultsAfter 1:1 propensity score matching, the distribution proportions of clinical characteristics were balanced between the surgery and no surgery groups (all P > 0.05). The overall and disease-specific survival rates of patients in the surgery group were significantly higher than those of patients in the no-surgery group (both P < 0.001). Furthermore, subgroup analysis showed that receiving surgery was a protective factor for overall survival and disease-specific survival of patients in all clinical character-related subgroups. Ultimately, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that sex, tumor size, tumor grade, and tumor classification were independent prognostic factors for overall and disease-specific survival in patients undergoing surgery.ConclusionsOlder patients with Stage IB NSCLC can benefit significantly from surgical treatment after eliminating confounding factors, which is expected to provide strong medical evidence for surgical treatment.     

Comorbidities,timing of treatments,and chemotherapy use influence outcomes in stage III colon cancer: A population-based European study

IntroductionFor stage III colon cancer (CC), surgery followed by chemotherapy is the main curative approach, although optimum times between diagnosis and surgery, and surgery and chemotherapy, have not been established.Materials and methodsWe analysed a population-based sample of 1912 stage III CC cases diagnosed in eight European countries in 2009–2013 aiming to estimate: (i) odds of receiving postoperative chemotherapy, overall and within eight weeks of surgery; (ii) risks of death/relapse, according to treatment, Charlson Comorbidity Index, time from diagnosis to surgery for emergency and elective cases, and time from surgery to chemotherapy; and (iii) time-trends in chemotherapy use.ResultsOverall, 97% of cases received surgery and 65% postoperative chemotherapy, with 71% of these receiving chemotherapy within eight weeks of surgery. Risks of death and relapse were higher for cases starting chemotherapy with delay, but better than for cases not given chemotherapy. Fewer patients with high comorbidities received chemotherapy than those with low (P < 0.001). Chemotherapy timing did not vary (P = 0.250) between high and low comorbidity cases. Electively-operated cases with low comorbidities received surgery more promptly than high comorbidity cases. Risks of death and relapse were lower for elective cases given surgery after four weeks than cases given surgery within a week. High comorbidities were always independently associated with poorer outcomes. Chemotherapy use increased over time.ConclusionsOur data indicate that promptly-administered postoperative chemotherapy maximizes its benefit, and that careful assessment of comorbidities is important before treatment. The survival benefit associated with slightly delayed elective surgery deserves further investigation.     

A scoring system for 3D surface images of breast reconstruction developed using the Delphi consensus process

IntroductionEvaluation of aesthetics after breast reconstruction is challenging. In the absence of an objective measurement, panel assessment is widely adopted. Heterogeneity of scales and poor internal consistency make comparison difficult. Development and validation of an expert panel scale using a Delphi consensus process is described. It was designed specifically for use as the gold standard for development of an objective evaluation tool using 3-Dimensional Surface Imaging (3D-SI).Materials and methods20 items relating to aesthetic assessment were identified for consideration in the Delphi consensus process. Items were selected for inclusion in the definitive panel scale by iterative rounds of voting according to importance, consensus discussion, and a final vote. The Delphi-derived scale was tested on a clinical research series for intra- and inter-panellist, and intra-panel reliability, and correlation with Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs).Results61 surgeons participated in the Delphi process. Oncoplastic and plastic surgeons were represented. The Delphi-derived scale included symmetry, volume, shape, position of breast mound, nipple position, and a global score. Intra-panellist reliability ranged from poor to almost perfect (wκ<0to0.86), inter-rater reliability was fair (ICC range 0.4–0.5) for individual items and good (ICC0.6) for the global score, intra-panel reliability was moderate to substantial (wκ0.4–0.7), and correlation with PROMs was moderate (r = 0.5p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe Delphi-derived panel evaluation is at least as good as other scales in the literature and has been developed specifically to provide expert evaluation of aesthetics after breast reconstruction. The logistical constraints of panel assessment remain, reinforcing the need to develop an objective evaluation method.     

The effects of uterine manipulators in minimally invasive hysterectomy for endometrial cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMinimally invasive surgery has achieved great success in the surgical treatment of many kinds of cancer. This study aimed to systematically review the available evidence evaluating the effects of the use of uterine manipulators in minimally hysterectomies for endometrial cancer patients.MethodsWe searched the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE and ClinicalTrials.gov databases to Sep. 12, 2019 to identify relevant prospective or retrospective studies, using the intersection of “endometrial neoplasms”, “endometrial carcinoma”, “endometrial cancer”; “uterine manipulator”, and “intrauterine manipulator”. The initial search identified 251 items in total. The main outcomes of interest were the presence of LVSI (lymphovascular space invasion), the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology, and the presence of recurrence during follow-up.ResultsAfter screening for eligibility, 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis finally. The timing of uterine manipulators insertion during MIS for endometrial cancer was not associated with an increased risk of positive peritoneal cytology (RR: 1.21, 95% CI, 0.68 to 2.16). Moreover, there was no significant difference for the rate of positive peritoneal cytology (RR: 1.53, 95% CI, 0.85 to 2.77), LVSI (RR: 1.18, 95% CI, 0.66 to 2.11) or the rate of recurrence (RR: 1.25, 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.74) regarding the use of uterine manipulators for laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of endometrial cancer patients.ConclusionWe found that the use of uterine manipulators is not associated with an increased incidence of positive peritoneal cytology, LVSI, or recurrence among patients with endometrial cancer.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO, CRD42020147111.     

Incidence and risk factors for Chyle leak after pancreatic surgery for cancer: A comprehensive systematic review

BackgroundChyle leak (CL) is a clinically relevant complication after pancreatectomy. Its incidence and the associated risk factors are ill defined, and various treatments options have been described. There is no consensus, however, regarding optimal management. The present study aims to systematically review the literature on CL after pancreatectomy.MethodsA systematic review from PubMed, Scopus and Embase database was performed. Studies using a clear definition for CL and published from January 2000 to January 2021 were included. The PRISMA guidelines were followed during all stages of this systematic review. The MINORS score was used to assess methodological quality.ResultsLiterature search found 361 reports, 99 of which were duplicates. The titles and abstracts of 262 articles were finally screened. The references from the remaining 181 articles were manually assessed. After the exclusions, 43 articles were thoroughly assessed. A total of 23 articles were ultimately included for this review. The number of patients varied from 54 to 3532. Incidence of post pancreatectomy CL varied from 1.3% to 22.1%. Main risk factors were the extent of the surgery and early oral or enteral feeding. CL dried up spontaneously or after conservative management within 14 days in 53% to 100% of the cases.ConclusionsThe extent of surgery is the most common predictor of risk of CL. Conservative treatment has been shown to be effective in most cases and can be considered the treatment of choice. We propose a management algorithm based on the current available evidence.     

Influence of uterine manipulator on oncological outcome in minimally invasive surgery of endometrial cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AimThe endoscopic approach for early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) treatment is considered gold standard. Some authors expressed their concern regarding uterine manipulator (UM) as a risk factor for tumor spillage and dissemination allowing peritoneal or lympho-vascular spaces invasion (LVSI). This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of UM on the presence of LVSI, recurrence rate and presence of atypical or malignant peritoneal cytology in patients with endometrial cancer.MethodsWe searched electronic databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The pooled results were used to evaluate the association between the use of UM and oncological outcomes. This systematic review was reported according to PRISMA statement 2020. Statistical meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software.ResultsThis systematic review included 18 studies (3 prospective studies, 13 retrospective studies, and 2 RCT). The pooled results showed no significant difference (RR: 0.86, 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.08) in the incidence of LVSI between manipulated hysterectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and between UM group and non-UM group in minimally invasive surgery (RR: 1.18, 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.85), no significant difference in the rate of recurrence (RR: 1.11, 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.74), in the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology between manipulated and non-manipulated hysterectomies in minimally invasive surgery (RR: 1.89, 95% CI, 0.74 to 4.83) and before and after the use of uterine manipulator (RR: 1.21, 95% CI, 0.68 to 2.16). We found a positive association between malignant cytology and hysterectomies in which a uterine manipulator had been used in a sub-group analysis where LH/LAVH were compared to TAH. (RR = 2.26, 95% CI, 1.08–4.71. P = 0.03).ConclusionsThis meta-analysis supports that the use of uterine manipulator for minimally invasive treatment of endometrial cancer does not increase the rate of recurrence and LVSI. Therefore, the opportunity of any other studies on its use in endometrial cancer women should be questioned.     

Perioperative nutritional assessment and interventions in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): A systematic review

BackgroundPeritoneal carcinomatosis is a catabolic state and cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is a high morbidity operation. Optimising perioperative nutrition is crucial to improve outcomes. This systematic review sought to examine literature describing clinical outcomes related to preoperative nutrition status and nutrition interventions in patients undergoing CRS with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).MethodsA systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (300326). A search of eight electronic databases was undertaken on 8th May 2022 and reported according to the PRISMA statement. Studies reporting nutrition status through use of screening and assessment tools, nutrition interventions or nutrition-related clinical outcomes for patients undergoing CRS with HIPEC were included.ResultsOf 276 screened studies, 25 studies were included for review. Commonly used nutrition assessment tools for CRS-HIPEC patients included Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), sarcopenia assessment with computed tomography, preoperative albumin, and body mass index (BMI). Three retrospective studies compared SGA with postoperative outcomes. Malnourished patients were more likely to have postoperative infectious complications (p = 0.042 SGA-B, p = 0.025 SGA-C). Malnutrition was significantly associated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS) in two studies (p = 0.006, p = 0.02), and with overall survival in another study (p = 0.006). Eight studies analysing preoperative albumin levels reported conflicting associations with postoperative outcomes. BMI in five studies was not associated with morbidity. One study did not support routine nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding.ConclusionsPreoperative nutritional assessment tools, including SGA and objective sarcopaenia measures, have a role in predicting nutritional status for CRS-HIPEC patients. Optimisation of nutrition is important for preventing complications.     

Standardizing training for Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy

BackgroundPIPAC is a novel mode of intraperitoneal drug delivery for patients with peritoneal cancer (PC). PIPAC is a safe treatment with promising oncological results. Therefore, a structured training program is needed to maintain high standards and to guarantee safe implementation.MethodsAn international panel of PIPAC experts created by means of a consensus meeting a structured 2-day training course including essential theoretical content and practical exercises. For every module, learning objectives were defined and structured presentations were elaborated. This structured PIPAC training program was then tested in five courses.ResultsThe panel consisted of 12 experts from 11 different centres totalling a cumulative experience of 23 PIPAC courses and 1880 PIPAC procedures. The final program was approved by all members of the panel and includes 12 theoretical units (45 min each) and 6 practical units including dry-lab and live surgeries. The panel finalized and approved 21 structured presentations including the latest evidence on PIPAC and covering all mandatory topics. These were organized in 8 modules with clear learning objectives to be tested by 12 multiple-choice questions. Lastly, a structured quantifiable (Likert scale 1–5) course evaluation was created.The new course was successfully tested in five courses with 85 participants. Mean overall satisfaction with the content was rated at 4.79 (±0.5) with at 4.71 (±0.5) and at 4.61 (±0.7), respectively for course length and the balance between theory and practice.ConclusionsThe proposed PIPAC training program contains essential theoretical background and practical training enabling the participants to safely implement PIPAC.     

Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Stage II Endometrial Cancer: Selective De-intensification of Adjuvant Treatment

AimsRisk stratification, including nodal assessment, allows for selective de-intensification of adjuvant radiotherapy in stage II endometrial cancer. Patterns of treatment and clinical outcomes, including the use of reduced volume ‘mini-pelvis’ radiotherapy fields, were evaluated in a population-based study.Materials and methodsAll patients diagnosed with pathological stage II endometrial cancer between 2000 and 2014, and received adjuvant radiotherapy in a regional healthcare jurisdiction were reviewed. Registry data were supplemented by a comprehensive review of patient demographics, disease characteristics and treatment details. The Charlson Comorbidity Score was calculated. Survival and recurrence data were analysed.ResultsIn total, 264 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most patients had endometrioid histology (83%); 41% of patients had International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians grade 1 disease. Half (49%) had surgical nodal evaluation; 11% received chemotherapy. Most patients (59%) were treated with full pelvic radiotherapy fields ± brachytherapy. Seventeen per cent of patients received mini-pelvis radiotherapy ± brachytherapy, whereas 24% received brachytherapy alone. Five-year recurrence-free survival was 87% for the entire cohort, with no significant difference by adjuvant radiotherapy approach. Only one patient receiving mini-pelvis radiotherapy ± brachytherapy recurred in the pelvis but outside of the mini-pelvis field. Recorded late toxicity rates were highest for full pelvis radiotherapy + brachytherapy.ConclusionRisk stratification in a real-world setting allowed for selective de-intensification of adjuvant radiation with equivalent outcomes for stage II endometrial cancer. Mini-pelvis radiotherapy combined with brachytherapy is effective in highly selected patients, with the potential to decrease toxicity without compromising local control. Brachytherapy should be considered in low-risk stage II patients.     

Survival of surgical and non-surgical older patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer: A population-based study in the Netherlands

BackgroundSurgery is the primary treatment for non-metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) but is omitted in a proportion of older patients. Characteristics and prognosis of non-surgical patients are largely unknown.ObjectiveTo examine the characteristics and survival of surgical and non-surgical older patients with non-metastatic CRC in the Netherlands.MethodsAll patients aged ≥70 years and diagnosed with non-metastatic CRC between 2014 and 2018 were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patients were divided based on whether they underwent surgery or not. Three-year overall survival (OS) and relative survival (RS) were calculated for both groups separately. Relative survival and relative excess risks (RER) of death were used as measures for cancer-related survival.ResultsIn total, 987/20.423 (5%) colon cancer patients and 1.459/7.335 (20%) rectal cancer patients did not undergo surgery. Non-surgical treatment increased over time from 3.7% in 2014 to 4.8% in 2018 in colon cancer patients (P = 0.01) and from 17.1% to 20.2% in rectal cancer patients (P = 0.03). 3 year RS was 91% and 9% for surgical and non-surgical patients with colon cancer, respectively. For rectal cancer patients this was 93% and 37%, respectively. In surgical patients, advanced age (≥80 years) did not decrease RS (colon; RER 0.9 (0.7–1.0), rectum; RER 0.9 (0.7–1.1)). In non-surgical rectal cancer patients, higher survival rates were observed in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (OS 56%, RS 65%), or radiotherapy (OS 19%, RS 27%), compared to no treatment (OS 9%, RS 10%).ConclusionNon-surgical treatment in older Dutch CRC patients has increased over time. Because survival of patients with colon cancer is very poor in the absence of surgery, this treatment decision must be carefully weighed. (Chemo-)radiotherapy may be a good alternative for rectal cancer surgery in older frail patients.     

Survival outcomes of single-port access laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer

BackgroundEmerging data from the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer trial (NCT00614211) suggested that minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for cervical cancer is correlated with worse survival outcomes than open surgery. This finding could be attributed to the different learning curves for laparoscopic surgery among surgeons. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and survival outcomes of single-port access (SPA) laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) for treating early cervical cancer.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with early-stage cervical cancer who underwent SPA LRH between 2009 and 2018 performed by a single surgeon with expertise in SPA laparoscopy using conventional instrumentation and a homemade glove port system.ResultsType C (93.2%) and B (6.8%) radical hysterectomy were performed in 59 women with cervical cancer classified as IA (3.4%), IB (94.9%), and IIA (1.7%). Forty-one patients (69.5%) had squamous cell carcinoma and 32 patients (52.5%) had tumors < 2 cm. The median operative time was 235 (125–382) minutes. There were no perioperative complications or cases of conversion to open surgery. Postoperative complications, including chylous ascites, low hemoglobin, lymphedema, and vault dehiscence, were observed in 5 patients (8.5%). Median follow-up time was 3.1 (0.6–8.6) years and 3 patients experienced recurrence (1 local and 2 distant failures). Five-year disease-free survival was 94.9% (56/59) and the 5-year overall survival rate was 98.3% (58/59).ConclusionsSPA LRH is feasible and safe for patients with early-stage cervical cancer when performed by experienced surgeons without compromising the radicality and oncologic outcomes.     

Does laparoscopy increase the risk of peritoneal recurrence after resection for pT4 colon cancer? Results of a propensity score-matched analysis from an international cohort

BackgroundPeritoneal metastases (PM) occur in 15–20% of surgically resected pT4 colon cancer (CC) and strongly affect prognosis. Since no standard treatment has been established, efforts should be addressed toward its prevention. Some literature suggests a detrimental effect of laparoscopy in pT4 CC, hence we aimed to determine its impact on the development of PM after potentially curative resection.MethodsInternational multicenter retrospective cohort study including consecutive patients undergoing surgery for pT4a and pT4b CC (2014–2018) at 5 referral centers. The inclusion criteria were absence of distant metastasis, elective surgery, curative-intent resection (R0-1), and a minimum follow-up of 24 months (median, IQR: 35, 25.8–50.5 months).Results276 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), 63 patients in the laparoscopic group (LapGroup) were compared with 63 patients in the open surgery group (OpenGroup). The two groups were comparable in terms of demographic and clinical parameters, operative data, and specimen characteristics. The OpenGroup presented a higher estimated intraoperative blood loss (P < .001) and postoperative length of stay (P < .001). Overall survival, cancer-specific survival, and disease-free survival resulted comparable. The 5-year probability of developing PM was 16.2% after laparoscopy and 19.5% after open surgery (P = .686). Multivariate analysis confirmed laparoscopy not to be an independent risk factor for PM.ConclusionsElective laparoscopic surgery for pT4 CC does not seem to increase the risk of metachronous PM after potentially curative surgery. Long-term outcomes after laparoscopy are not inferior to conventional open resections.