Treatment of Clinical T2N0M0 Esophageal Cancer

Background

Management of clinical T2N0M0 (cT2N0M0) esophageal cancer remains controversial. We reviewed our institutional experience over 21 years (1990–2011) to determine clinical staging accuracy, optimal treatment approaches, and factors predictive of survival in this patient population.

Methods

Patients with cT2N0M0 esophageal cancer determined by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) were identified through a prospectively collected database. Demographics, perioperative data, and outcomes were examined. Cox regression model and Kaplan–Meier plots were used for statistical survival analysis.

Results

A total of 731 patients underwent esophagectomy, of whom 68 cT2N0M0 patients (9 %) were identified. Fifty-seven patients (84 %) had adenocarcinoma. Thirty-three patients (48.5 %) were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery, and 35 underwent surgical resection alone. All resections except one included a transthoracic approach with two-field lymph node dissection. Thirty-day operative mortality was 2.9 %. Only 3 patients (8.5 %) who underwent surgery alone had T2N0M0 disease identified by pathology: the disease of 15 (42.8 %) was found to be overstaged and 17 (48.5 %) understaged after surgery. Understaging was more common in poorly differentiated tumors (p = 0.03). Nine patients (27.2 %) had complete pathologic response after chemoradiotherapy. Absence of lymph node metastases (pN0) was significantly more frequent in the neoadjuvant group (29 of 33 vs. 21 of 35, p = 0.01). Median follow-up was 44.2 months. Overall 5-year survival was 50.8 %. On multivariate analysis, adenocarcinoma (p = 0.001) and pN0 after resection (p = 0.01) were significant predictors of survival.

Conclusions

EUS was inaccurate in staging cT2N0M0 esophageal cancer in this study. Poorly differentiated tumors were more frequently understaged. Adenocarcinoma and absence of lymph node metastases (pN0) were independently predictive of long-term survival. pN0 status was significantly more common in patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy, but long-term survival was not affected by neoadjuvant therapy. A strategy of neoadjuvant therapy followed by resection may be optimal in this group, especially in patients with disease likely to be understaged.     

Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery Using Indocyanine Green in Patients with Lung Cancer

Purpose To investigate the potential use of sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) using indocyanine green (ICG) in lung cancer.Methods The subjects were 38 patients with stage cN0 lung cancer. After thoracotomy, we injected 5ml ICG and 400U hyaluronidase around the tumor, and identified the stained lymph nodes (LNs) intraoperatively by inspection. Postoperatively, we measured ICG concentrations in the dissected LNs. Lymph nodes with an ICG concentration of more than 1.5 times the mean were defined as sentinel nodes (SNs).Results There were 30 pN0, 6 pN1, and 2 pN2 cancers. The tumor size ranged from 11 to 75 (mean 31 ± 15) mm. Sentinel nodes were identified by inspection in 7 (18.4%) of the 38 patients. Lymphatic mapping with ICG concentration was successful in 38 (100%) of 38. One SN was found in 18 patients and two SNs were found in 20. The SN predicted the status of metastasis of all LNs in 37 (97%) of 38. Metastases were identified in the SN alone in 5 (62.5%) of 8. There was one false negative, caused by a metastatic LN being occupied by tumor cells.Conclusion These findings support the efficiency of SNNS for clinically node-negative lung cancer.This paper was presented at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery, Tokyo, May 25–26, 2000     

Sentinel Node Concept in Clinically N0 Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer

Background  Sentinel nodes (SNs) are the lymph nodes that directly receive lymphatic flow from a primary cancer lesion. The SN concept implies that lymphatic metastasis initially occurs at SNs. SN navigation surgery can be introduced for cancers in which the SN concept is established. In SN navigation surgery, lymph node dissection beyond SNs can be omitted if SNs are metastasis free. Although the SN concept has been investigated frequently for oral and oropharyngeal cancer, it has so far been investigated less for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. In this study, we investigated whether the SN concept is applicable for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. Methods  Twenty patients with T2–T4 and clinically N0 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer were recruited. ^99mTc-phytate was injected into several sites surrounding the tumor on the day before surgery. Lymphoscintigrams were acquired from at least two different viewpoints. SNs were surveyed intraoperatively, and neck dissections including at least levels II, III, and IV were performed. Results  SNs had occult metastases in five cases. In the remaining 15 cases, neither SNs nor other lymph nodes contained metastases, consistent with the SN concept. There was one false-negative case showing delayed nodal metastasis 2 years after initial surgery. The overall accuracy of the SN concept was 95%. Conclusion  Our study shows that SN biopsy is a reliable strategy to determine correct lymph node status in N0 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. SN detection was valuable in evaluating the need for neck dissection, whether ipsilaterally or bilaterally. Presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, New York.     

Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery for Early Gastric Cancer: Analysis of Factors Which Affect Direction of Lymphatic Drainage

World Journal of Surgery - We started performing sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) using infrared ray electronic endoscopy (IREE) with indocyanine...     

Patterns of Use of Induction Therapy for T2N0 Esophageal Cancer

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Clinical Implementations of Preoperative Computed Tomography Lymphography in Gastric Cancer: A Comparison with Dual Tracer Methods in Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery

Background

Current sentinel node (SN) detection techniques require a learning period and tracers have many disadvantages for practical use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of preoperative computed tomography (CT) lymphography using lipiodol for detecting SNs in gastric cancer.

Methods

A total of 24 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for early gastric cancer were enrolled in this study. Noncontrast CT images were obtained 1–2 h after endoscopic submucosal peritumoral injection of 1 mL of lipiodol the day before surgery. The final sentinel basins (SBs) were decided by the dual tracer method (indocyanine green plus ^99mTc-antimony sulfur colloid) during laparoscopic gastrectomy. SN detection rate by preoperative CT lymphography using lipiodol and agreement between CT lymphography versus dual tracer method were evaluated. The agreement was confirmed with soft X-ray radiography of detected SBs.

Results

Technical failure of endoscopic lipiodol injection occurred in one patient. SNs were successfully detected in the remaining 23 patients (95.8 %), whereas the intraoperative SB detection rate using the dual method was 100 %. The agreement rate, defined as the concordance between two methods or inclusion of SNs detected by CT lymphography in SBs by the dual tracer method, was 87 %.

Conclusions

Our initial experience of CT lymphography using lipiodol shows good potential in predicting SBs of gastric cancer preoperatively. However, SN detection by CT lymphography and the dual method should be applied complementarily in gastric cancer because discrepancies between these methods occur.     

A Novel Approach for Sentinel Lymph Node Identification Using Fluorescence Imaging and Image Overlay Navigation Surgery in Patients with Breast Cancer

Background  

We reported a novel technique of sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification using fluorescence imaging of indocyanine green injection. Furthermore, to obtain safe and accurate identification of SLN during surgery, we introduce the image overlay navigation surgery and evaluate its efficacy.     

Outcomes Associated with Surgery for T4 Esophageal Cancer

Background

T4 esophageal cancer often portends a dismal prognosis even after surgical resection. Historical incomplete resections and poor survival rates often make surgery palliative rather than curative.

Methods

Using a comprehensive esophageal cancer database, we identified patients who underwent an esophagectomy for T4 tumors between 1994 and 2011. Neoadjuvant treatment (NT) and pathologic response variables were recorded, and response was denoted as complete response (pCR), partial response (pPR), and nonresponse (NR). Clinical and pathologic data were compared. Survival was calculated using Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank tests for significance.

Results

We identified 45 patients with T4 tumors all who underwent NT. The median age was 60 years (range, 31–79 years) with a median follow-up of 27 months (range, 0–122 months). There were 19 pCR (42 %), 22 pPR (49 %), and 4 NR (9 %). R0 resections were accomplished in 43 (96 %). There were 18 recurrences (40 %) with a median time to recurrence of 13.5 months (2.2–71 months). In this group pCR represented 7 (38.9 %), whereas pPR and NR represented 10 (55.5 %), and 1 (5.5 %) respectively. The overall and disease-free survival for all patients with T4 tumors were 35 and 36 %, respectively. Patients achieving a pCR had a 5 year overall and disease-free survival of 53 and 54 %, compared with pPR 23 and 28 %, while there were no 5 year survivors in the NR cohort.

Conclusion

We have demonstrated that neoadjuvant therapy and downstaging of T4 tumors leads to increased R0 resections and improvements in overall and disease-free survival.     

Comparison Between Radical Esophagectomy and Definitive Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with Clinical T1bN0M0 Esophageal Cancer

Background

Esophagectomy remains the mainstay treatment for clinical T1bN0M0 esophageal cancer because pathologic lymph node metastases in these patients are not negligible. Recently, chemoradiotherapy (CRT), which can preserve the esophagus, has been reported to be a promising therapeutic alternative to esophagectomy. However, to our knowledge, no comparative studies of esophagectomy and CRT have been reported in clinical T1bN0M0 esophageal cancer.

Methods

A total of 173 patients with clinical T1bN0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus were enrolled in this study, 102 of whom were treated with radical esophagectomy (S group) and 71 with definitive CRT (CRT group). Treatment results of both groups were retrospectively compared.

Results

No statistically significant difference was found in overall survival, but the S group displayed significantly better progression-free survival than the CRT group. Disease recurrence was observed in 12 S group patients and 20 CRT group patients. The incidence of distant recurrence was similar, while local recurrence and lymph node recurrence were significantly more frequent in the CRT group. In the S group, 20 patients had pathologic lymph node metastasis. The progression-free survival of patients with pathologic lymph node metastasis did not differ from those without nodal metastasis. In the CRT group, local recurrence could be controlled by salvage esophagectomy, but treatment results of lymph node recurrence were poor; only 4 of 12 patients with lymph node recurrences were cured.

Conclusions

Selection of patients at high risk of pathologic lymph node metastasis is essential when formulating treatment decisions for clinical T1bN0M0 esophageal cancers.     

临床腋淋巴结阴性乳腺癌前哨淋巴结研究

目的：探讨前哨淋巴结活检术（ｓｅｎｔｉｎｅｌ ｌｙｍｐｈ ｎｏｄｅ ｂｉｏｐｓｙ, ＳＬＮＢ）在乳腺癌治疗中的应用。方法：使用专利蓝和美蓝染色,对１９９９年９月～２００１年４月连续收治的１４５例临床查体腋窝淋巴结阴性乳腺癌病人行前哨淋巴结活检术。结果：ＳＬＮＢ成功率为９６．５％（１４０／１４５）,假阴性率为２３．５％,准确率为９１．４％。病人年龄、肿瘤最大径、肿瘤部位、注射染料类型及是否活检对成功率和假阴性率无影响。结论：ＳＬＮＢ能够准确预测腋窝淋巴结的转移状况,在缩小手术范围、减少术后并发症的同时,提高了腋窝淋巴结分期的准确性;美蓝与专利蓝均可成功确定ＳＬＮ。     

A Comparison of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging Plus Blue Dye and Blue Dye Alone for Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery in Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose

To evaluate two methods of sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) using blue dye with and without indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging (FI) to determine the usefulness of combined ICG and blue dye.

Methods

Between 2005 and 2010, a total of 501 patients underwent SNNS in our hospital. Detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) was performed with sulfan blue (SB) alone until 2008 and with a combination of SB and ICG-FI since 2009. ICG 5?mg and SB 15?mg were injected in the subareolar region, and FI was obtained by a fluorescence imaging device.

Results

We attempted to identify SLNs in 393 patients by SB alone and in 108 patients by a combination of SB and FI. The mean number of SLNs detected was 1.6 (0?C5) for SB alone and 2.2 (1?C6) for the combination method. The SLN identification rate was 95.7?% for SB alone and 100?% for the combination method so that the combination was significantly superior to SB in terms of the identification rate (p?=?0.0037). In patients who received the combination method, detection of SLN was made through only SB in 1 patient, only ICG in 8 patients, and both in 99 patients. Lymph node metastasis was found in 56 patients with SB alone and in 16 patients with the combination method. Recurrence of an axillary node was observed in 3 patients (0.8?%) with SB alone and in no patients with the combination method.

Conclusions

ICG-FI is a useful method and is especially recommended in cases where no radiotracers are available.     

pT1～3N0期胃癌淋巴结微转移检测的临床意义

目的 研究淋巴结微转移及临床病理因素对pT1～3N0期胃癌患者术后5年无瘤生存率的影响.方法 纳入我院2000年1月至2004年12月期间pT1～3N0期胃癌患者行根治术者120例2 106枚淋巴结,每例患者淋巴结9～28枚,平均18枚,所有淋巴结经HE染色均为阴性.应用免疫组化染色法检测淋巴结中CK20表达,并分析胃癌患者的临床病理特征及胃癌淋巴结中CK20表达对5年无瘤生存率的影响.结果 经免疫组化染色,有9.07%(191/2 106)的淋巴结出现CK20阳性表达;有26.67%(32/120)患者的淋巴结中出现CK20阳性表达,其中11例(9.17%)为微转移,21例(17.50%)为孤立肿瘤细胞巢(ITC).术后随访24～121个月(平均66.35个月).淋巴结中CK20阴性表达、ITC和微转移的患者,5年无瘤生存率分别为87.4%、78.3%和40.9%.5年无瘤生存率在淋巴结CK20出现微转移者中明显低于CK20阴性表达者(P＝0.000)和以ITC为特征者(P＝0.046),而仅以ITC为特征者与CK20阴性表达者间比较,差异无统计学意义(P＝0.253).淋巴结中CK20阳性表达与胃癌患者的肿瘤直径(P＝0.011)、浸润胃壁深度(P＝0.043)和是否有淋巴管浸润(P＝0.002)有关.所有临床病理因素对5年无瘤生存率均无明显影响(P>0.05).11例胃癌患者被检测出微转移,应划分为pN1(Mi)期,本组重新分期率9.17%.而88例胃癌患者淋巴结CK20(-)和21例表达为ITC,分别被记为pN0(I-)和pN0(I+),不建议重新分期,仍为pN0期.结论 对于pT1～3N0期胃癌,若淋巴结中检测出微转移,其预后较差,术后5年无瘤生存率较低,建议术后应予以积极的辅助治疗.     

Identifying Residual Nodal Disease in Sentinel Lymph Node Surgery After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Annals of Surgical Oncology -