Open Versus Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

The impact of minimally invasive esophagectomy on patient prognosis, particularly disease-free survival (DFS), has not been well addressed. We compared the clinical outcomes of open and thoracoscopic esophagectomy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

Sixty-three and 66 patients, nonrandomized, underwent open and thoracoscopic esophagectomies for ESCC between 2008 and 2011 were included. The clinicopathological data were reviewed retrospectively. Perioperative outcome, overall survival (OS), DFS, and the recurrence sites after open and thoracoscopic esophagectomy were compared.

Results

The open and thoracoscopic groups were comparable with regard to the total number of harvested lymph nodes and the percentage patients undergoing R0 resection. Fewer patients in the thoracoscopic group had pneumonia and wound complications. Intensive care unit (ICU) stay also was shorter in the thoracoscopic group. The recurrence pattern was similar in the two groups. In the open and thoracoscopic groups, the 3-year OS rates were 47.6 and 70.9 % (p = 0.031), respectively, and the 3-year DFS rates were 35 and 62.4 % (p = 0.007), respectively. However, the trends in better OS and DFS in the thoracoscopic group were not significant after stratification according to pathologic stage.

Conclusions

The perioperative benefit of thoracoscopic esophagectomy included fewer postoperative complications and shorter ICU stays. Mid-term OS and DFS associated with thoracoscopic techniques are at least equivalent to those associated with open procedures.     

Two-Stage Resection for Bilobar Colorectal Liver Metastases: R0 Resection Is the Key

Background

Two-stage liver resection (2-SLR) is used clinically in conjunction with portal vein embolization for bilobar disease to increase the number of patients suitable for liver resection. The long-term outcomes after 2-SLR for multiple bilobar colorectal liver metastases (CLM) was examined.

Methods

Patients who sought care between November 2003 and April 2006 with multiple CLM considered suitable for 2-SLR were prospectively followed. Clinicopathological data were collected. Surgical outcomes were defined as complete clearance of tumor (R0/R1/R2), postoperative morbidity (within 3 months), 30 day mortality, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 131 patients with CLM underwent liver resection during the study period, 38 of whom were planned for a 2-SLR for multiple bilobar disease. Only 33 (87%) completed the 2-SLR with a curative intent. Five patients did not undergo stage II resection because of disease progression. The postoperative morbidity was 11 and 33% after stage I and stage II liver resections, respectively. Five patients (13%) encountered postoperative complications specific to liver surgery. The median interval from stage II resection to disease recurrence in the R0 group was 18 months versus 3 months in the R1/R2 group (P < 0.001). R0 resection with curative intent versus R1/R2 noncurative resection has a significantly longer period of DFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.04).

Conclusions

The 2-SLR combined with portal vein embolization is an effective and safe method for resecting previously unresectable multiple bilobar CLM. However, a positive resection margin leads to poor DFS and OS.

     

Does complete resection of melanoma metastatic to solid intra-abdominal organs improve survival?

Background:Patients with distant melanoma metastases have median survivals of 4 to 8 months. Previous studies have demonstrated improved survival after complete resection of pulmonary and hollow viscus gastrointestinal metastases. We hypothesized that patients with metastatic disease to intra-abdominal solid organs might also benefit from complete surgical resection.Methods:A prospectively acquired database identified patients treated for melanoma metastatic to the liver, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, or a combination of these from 1971 to 2010434_2001_Article_658. The primary intervention was complete or incomplete surgical resection of intra-abdominal solid-organ metastases, and the main outcome measure was postoperative overall survival (OS). Disease-free survival (DFS) was a secondary outcome measure.Results:Sixty patients underwent adrenalectomy, hepatectomy, splenectomy, or pancreatectomy. Median OS was significantly improved after complete versus incomplete resections, but median OS after complete resection was not significantly different for single-site versus synchronous multisite metastases. The 5-year survival in the group after complete resection was 24%, whereas in the incomplete resection group, there were no 5-year survivors. Median DFS after complete resection was 15 months. Of note, the 2-year DFS after complete resection was 53% for synchronous multi-site metastases versus 26% for single-site metastases.Conclusions:In highly selected patients with melanoma metastatic to intra-abdominal solid organs, aggressive attempts at complete surgical resection may improve OS. It is important that the number of metastatic sites does not seem to affect the OS after complete resection.     

Endoscopic Tumor Length Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose

To investigate the impact of endoscopic esophageal tumor length on survival for patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathologic characteristics of 244 ESCC patients who underwent curative resection as the primary treatment at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between January 2000 and November 2010. The endoscopic tumor length was defined as a uniform measurement before completion of the esophagectomy. The impact of endoscopic tumor length on a patient??s overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed. A Cox regression model was used to identify prognostic factors.

Results

The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 81.2, 48.2, and 39.6%, respectively, with a median survival time of 18.0?months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS rates were 66.2, 34.7, and 32.4%, respectively, with a median DFS of 15.0?months. Endoscopic tumor length correlated with pathologic tumor length [Pearson correction (r)?=?0.621; P?4?cm to identify patients with decreased long-term survival. In multivariate survival analysis, endoscopic tumor length (more or less than 4?cm) remained an independent prognostic factor for both OS (P?=?0.006) and DFS (P?=?0.002).

Conclusions

Endoscopic tumor length could have a significant impact on both the OS and DFS of patients with resected ESCC and may provide additional prognostic value to the current tumor, node, and metastasis staging system before patients receive any cancer-specific treatment.     

Prognostic nutritional index and prognosis in renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeTo perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) as a prognostic factor for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).Materials and methodsEligible studies that evaluated the prognostic impact of pretreatment PNI in RCC patients were identified by comprehensive searching the electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane Central Search library, and EMBASE. The end points were overall/cancer-specific survival (OS/CSS) and recurrence-free/disease-free survival (RFS/DFS). Meta-analysis using random-effects models was performed to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsIn total, 9 retrospective, observational, case-control studies involving 5,976 patients were included for final analysis. Eight studies evaluated OS/CSS, and 5 evaluated RFS/DFS. Our results showed that lower PNI was significantly associated with unfavorable OS/CSS (HR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.44-1.96, P < 0.001, I² = 9.2%, P = 0.359) and RFS/DFS (HR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.57-2.50, P < 0.001, I² = 18.2%, P = 0.299) in patients with RCC. Subgroup and meta-regression analysis based on ethnicity, study sample size, presence of metastasis, PNI cut-off value, Newcastle–Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS) score, and gender ratio all showed that lower PNI was associated with poorer OS/CSS and RFS/DFS. Funnel plots and Egger's tests indicated significant publication bias in OS/CSS (P = 0.001), but not in RFS/DFS (P = 0.757).ConclusionThis meta-analysis indicated that lower PNI was a negative prognostic factor and associated with tumor progression and poorer survival of patients with RCC. Therefore, PNI could be a potential prognostic predictor of treatment outcomes for patients with RCC.     

Impact of Thoracic Recurrent Laryngeal Node Dissection: 508 Patients with Tri-Incisional Esophagectomy

Background

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) lymph node (LN) dissection, this study compared the postoperative complications and survival between modern two-field lymphadenectomy (MTL) and modified standard two-field lymphadenectomy (MSTL) by using the propensity score matching method.

Methods

After generating propensity scores given the covariates of age, sex, tumor length, tumor location, tumor grade, and clinical stage, 254 patients with MTL were matched to 254 MSTL patients using the nearest available score matching. The LNs resected during MSTL were paraesophageal and preparatracheal LNs in the upper mediastinum, in addition to those resected during standard two-field lymphadenectomy.

Results

RLN LNs were those most commonly affected by nodal metastasis in our series (26 %). Metastasis in RLN LNs was found in around 35, 25, and 20 % of patients with cancer in the upper, middle, and lower thoracic esophagus, respectively. LN metastasis was confined to the RLN region in 49 patients. Even 35 % of patients with pT1 tumors had positive RLN LNs. MTL increased the mean number of resected LNs when compared to MSTL (29 vs.15; p?<?0.001). Recurrence was more frequent in those assigned MSTL than those assigned MTL (p?<?0.001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rate for MTL were 50.7 and 42 % compared to 35.3 and 28.2 % for MSTL (both p?<?0.001), respectively. Postoperative complications were more frequent following MTL when compared to the MSTL. However, no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications was observed between the two groups.

Conclusions

Adding the removal of RLN LNs might improve OS and DFS with acceptable morbidity for patients with ESCC.     

Prognostic significance of serum lactate dehydrogenase in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

BackgroundTo investigate the prognostic significance of preoperative serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer (BCa).Patients and methodsA cohort of 263 patients undergoing open or laparoscopic radical cystectomy between 2011 and 2016 was studied. Baseline characteristics, hematological variables, follow-up data were collected. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard regression model were applied to assess the relationship between LDH and overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS).ResultsAfter a median 34.2 (22.9–45.8) months follow-up, all-cause death, cancer-specific death, and disease recurrence occurred in 66 patients, 50 patients, and 91 patients. The elevation of serum LDH was associated with several unfavorable parameters, including advanced age, continent cutaneous urinary diversion, increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, decreased lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. Patients with a higher serum LDH (> 220 U/L) had a worse OS (P < 0.001), CSS (P < 0.001) and DFS (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis suggested that elevated LDH was an independent predictor for OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.113, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.524–6.358; P = 0.002), CSS (HR: 4.564, 95% CI: 2.008–10.373; P < 0.001), DFS (HR: 2.051, 95% CI: 1.125–3.739; P = 0.019). Medical history of diabetes, high pT stage, and positive lymph node also were adverse predictors for oncological outcomes of BCa patients in multivariate analysis.ConclusionsPreoperative serum LDH is an independent prognostic biomarker for OS, CSS, and DFS in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for BCa, which can be incorporated into prognostic models.     

pT1b期食管鳞状细胞癌开放手术与微创食管切除术后预后分析

目的 比较微创食管切除术与传统开放食管切除术对pT1b期食管鳞状细胞癌(ESCC)患者近远期疗效之间的差异.方法 回顾性分析2015 ～ 2018年于苏北人民医院胸外科行手术治疗并且术后病理确诊为pT1b期ESCC 162例患者的临床病理资料.根据手术方式分为微创手术(MIE)组和开放手术(OE)组.其中OE组共76例...     

Trends in the Incidence,Treatment and Outcomes of Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma in the USA: Facility Type is Associated with Margin Status,Use of Lymphadenectomy and Overall Survival

Introduction

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains an uncommon disease with a rising incidence worldwide. We sought to identify trends in therapeutic approaches and differences in patient outcomes based on facility types.

Methods

Between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2015, a total of 27,120 patients with histologic diagnosis of ICC were identified in the National Cancer Database and were enrolled in this study.

Results

The incidence of ICC patients increased from 1194 in 2004 to 3821 in 2015 with an average annual increase of 4.16% (p < 0.001). Median survival of the cohort improved over the last 6 years of the study period (2004–2009: 8.05 months vs. 2010–2015: 9.49 months; p < 0.001). Among surgical patients (n = 5943, 21.9%), the incidence of R0 resection, lymphadenectomy and harvest of ≥6 lymph nodes increased over time (p < 0.001). Positive surgical margins (referent R0: R1, HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.24–1.79, p < 0.001) and treatment at community cancer centers (referent academic centers; HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.04–1.49, p = 0.023) were associated with a worse prognosis. Patients treated at academic centers had higher rates of R0 resection (72.4% vs. 67.7%; p = 0.006) and lymphadenectomy (55.6% vs. 49.5%, p = 0.009) versus community cancer centers. Overall survival was also better at academic versus community cancer programs (median OS: 11 months versus 6 months, respectively; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The incidence of ICC has increased over the last 12 years in the USA with a moderate improvement in survival over time. Treatment at academic cancer centers was associated with higher R0 resection and lymphadenectomy rates, as well as improved OS for patients with ICC.

     

How to define a positive circumferential resection margin in T3 adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

A positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) is associated with poor survival after esophagectomy for cancer. The Royal College of Pathologists (RCP) defines a CRM when tumor is found <1 mm of the lateral margin whereas the College of American Pathologists (CAP) defines CRM when tumor cells are located at the lateral margin. This study evaluates the clinical prognostic significance of CRM on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients who underwent esophagectomy for T3 esophageal adenocarcinoma. Analysis included 132 patients. CRM was found in 26 cases (19.7%) corresponding to CAP criteria versus 89 cases (67.4%) corresponding to RCP criteria. Median OS using RCP criteria was 16.4 (95%CI, 8.5-24.2) months for CRM patients versus 21.0 (95%CI 16.3-25.6) months in CRM patients (P=0.144). With CAP criteria, median OS in CRM and CRM patients was 9.4 (95%CI, 7.6-11.2) months versus 21.6 (95%CI, 18.9-24.3) months, respectively (P=0.000). Median DFS using RCP criteria was 18.0 (95%CI, 11.5-24.6) months for CRM patients versus 11.0 (95%CI, 8.1-14.0) months for CRM patients (P=0.257). Applying the CAP criteria, median DFS in CRM and CRM patients was 16.3 (95%CI, 10.6-22.0) months versus 7.0 (95%CI, 6.3-7.8) months, respectively (P=0.000). Effects of a CRM according to CAP criteria remained significant after multivariate testing [OS: hazard ratio (HR), 2.43; 95%CI, 1.52-3.90; DFS: HR, 2.09; 95%CI, 1.32-3.30]. Only with the CAP criteria, CRM is an independent prognostic factor for survival and recurrence in patients with T3 adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The circumferential margin should only be considered positive (ie, R1) if the tumor is found at the inked lateral margin of resection in accordance with the CAP criteria.     

Association between lymphovascular invasion and oncological outcome in node-negative upper tract urothelial carcinoma with different stage

ObjectivesTo evaluate the prognostic impact of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) on node-negative upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).Materials and methodsA retrospective study was performed in single tertiary referral center of middle Taiwan between 2001 and 2015. Seven hundred and twenty-eight patients were diagnosed of UTUC and underwent RNU with ipsilateral bladder cuff excision including 303 and 195 patients with N0 and Nx status respectively. LVI status was assessed as a prognostic factor for cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS) using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.ResultsLVI was observed in 82 patients (16.5%). LVI presentation associated with smoking status, advanced tumor stage, high tumor grade, positive surgical margin, and consequence lung/liver/bone metastasis. In the multivariate analysis, LVI was failed to predict CSS, OS, and disease-free survival (DFS) (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07 [0.55–2.09], 1.05 [0.62–1.79], 1.15 [0.69–1.92], in CSS, OS, DFS, respectively). In the subgroup analysis of pT1-2 disease, the CSS, OS, and DFS were associated with LVI status (HR [95% CI]: 2.29 [0.44–11.84], 3.17 [1.16–8.67], 2.66 [1.04–6.79], in CSS, OS, DFS, respectively). In contrast, there was no difference in pT3 disease.ConclusionIn conclusion, LVI status was not associated with survival outcomes of node-negative UTUC in our study. The subgroup analysis showed different prognostic impacts of LVI status in node-negative UTUC with T1-2 and T3 stage. Further evidence to clarify the prognostic effect is needed to make LVI became a practical factor in clinical decision-making.     

Hand-Sewn Cervical Anastomosis Versus Stapled Intrathoracic Anastomosis After Esophagectomy for Middle or Lower Thoracic Esophageal Cancer: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Purpose The type of anastomosis and its outcome can affect postoperative morbidity, mortality, and quality of life after esophagectomy. We compared the outcomes of cervical hand-sewn anastomosis (CHS) and intrathoracic stapled anastomosis (ITS) performed after esophagectomy and gastric reconstruction. Methods Thirty-two patients with middle or lower thoracic esophageal cancer were prospectively randomized to undergo CHS (n = 18) or ITS (n = 14) after esophagectomy. We compared clinical data, postoperative symptoms, and long-term survival in the two groups. Results The rates of anastomotic leak and stricture in the CHS and ITS groups were 16.7% versus 7.1% and 0% versus 14.2%, respectively, which do not represent significant differences. The respective rates of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy were 38.8% versus 7.1% (P < 0.05), and proximal esophageal resection was 15 mm longer (P < 0.05) in the CHS group. There were no significant differences in symptoms 6 months after surgery, or in the overall 5-year survival rates (72.2% and 85.7%, respectively). Conclusions The two methods of anastomosis yielded similar anastomotic outcomes. Although the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was higher after CHS, and proximal esophageal resection was longer, this had little impact on postoperative symptoms and long-term survival.     

Nomograms for predicting long-term overall survival and cancer-specific survival in patients with primary urethral carcinoma: a population-based study

Background

Our aim was to identify the independent prognostic factors in patients with primary urethral carcinoma (PUC) and to predict their overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) at 3, 5, and 8 years.

Methods

Patients with PUC identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were divided into training and validation cohorts. Nomograms were constructed based on the results of Cox regression analysis. The predictive performance of each nomogram was evaluated using the consistency index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), and calibration plots. Decision-curve analysis (DCA) was used to test the clinical value of the predictive models.

Results

Our study screened 822 patients with PUC. Multivariate analysis showed that the age at diagnosis, race, histology, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, and surgery status were independent prognostic factors for CSS and age at diagnosis, race, histology, AJCC stage, surgery status, and chemotherapy for OS (all P?<?0.05). We used these prognostic factors to construct nomograms. The C-indexes for OS and CSS were 0.713 and 0.741 in training cohorts and 0.714 and 0.738 in validation cohorts, respectively. The AUC and calibration plots demonstrated the good performance of both nomograms. The DCA indicated the presence of clinical net benefits in both the training and validation cohorts.

Conclusion

We developed and validated nomograms for predicting OS and CSS in patients with PUC, which can help clinicians make treatment decisions.

     

Extent of Lymphadenectomy Does Not Predict Survival in Patients Treated with Primary Esophagectomy

Background

The number of lymph nodes resected and its impact on survival for patients with esophageal cancer remains undefined. Current guidelines recommend extended lymphadenectomy in patients not receiving neoadjuvant therapy. We reviewed our single institutional experience with nodal harvest for esophageal cancer in a non-neoadjuvant therapy setting.

Methods

Patients who underwent esophagectomy as primary therapy were indentified from a prospectively maintained database consisting of 704 patients who underwent esophagectomy. Patients were stratified by number of lymph nodes (LN) resected: >5, 10, 12, 15, or 20. Survival, clinical, and pathologic parameters were analyzed with Kaplan–Meier curves, chi-square, or Fisher’s exact tests where appropriate.

Results

We identified 246 patients who underwent esophagectomy as initial treatment. The mean age was 65?±10 years. The majority of patients were male (87 %). Ivor–Lewis esophagectomy was performed for 71 %, minimally invasive esophagectomy for 15 %, transhiatal esophagectomy for 12 %, and three-field esophagectomy for 2 %. At 60 months follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) between patients with < vs. >5 LN resected (p?=?0.74 and p?=?0.67, respectively) or in the < vs. >10 (p?=?0.33, p?=?0.11), 12 (p?=?0.82, p?=?0.90), 15 (p?=?0.45, p?=?0.79), or 20 (p?=?0.72, p?=?0.86) resected LN groups. Patients were then subdivided into node-positive and node-negative cohorts and stratified by nodal harvest. In the subgroups of patients with node-negative and node-positive disease, OS and DFS also did not significantly differ between groups with respect to number of nodes resected (p?>?0.05). A total of 49 (20 %) patients developed recurrent disease; however, recurrence was not statistically associated with number of LN resected (p?>?0.05).

Conclusion

We found no impact of extent of lymphadenectomy on overall or disease-free survival in patients treated with esophagectomy without neoadjuvant therapy. In addition, the number of nodes resected at esophagectomy did not affect recurrence rates. Current recommendations for increased nodal resection during esophagectomy in patients not receiving neoadjuvant therapy may not improve patient outcomes, and this phenomenon warrants further investigation.     

Decreases in the Psoas Muscle Index Correlate More Strongly with Survival than Other Prognostic Markers in Esophageal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Plus Esophagectomy

Background

Despite wide acknowledgement of the importance of sarcopenia and prognostic markers such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, the impact on cancer patient survival of the timing of sarcopenia’s emergence and its severity is not well understood, nor is the association between sarcopenia and prognostic markers. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the effect of the severity and timing of changes in the psoas muscle index (PMI) on survival of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) plus esophagectomy and the association between PMI and known prognostic markers.

Methods

Included in this study were 113 ESCC patients who underwent NACRT followed by esophagectomy. PMI and prognostic markers were measured at their initial visit, just before surgery (after NACRT), and 3 months postoperatively.

Results

All patients were classified into four groups according to the percent decrease in PMI after NACRT and after NACRT plus esophagectomy. Patients exhibiting a larger PMI decrease (≥20%) after NACRT plus esophagectomy had significantly poorer overall survival than those showing a smaller PMI decrease. Furthermore, multivariable analysis showed that a larger decrease in PMI after NACRT plus esophagectomy was a significant risk factor for overall (P < 0.0001) and recurrence-free (P = 0.0097) survival. Neither pretherapeutic PMI nor a decrease in PMI after NACRT significantly affected survival. PMI also showed weak, but significant, correlations with several prognostic markers postoperatively.

Conclusions

Decreased PMI after NACRT plus esophagectomy is a strong prognostic indicator in ESCC patients.

     

Comparative Outcomes of Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy and Selective Postoperative Chemoradiotherapy in Clinical Stage T3N0 Low and Mid Rectal Cancer

Abstract

Purpose/aim: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (pre-CRT) and total mesorectal excision (TME) have become the standard of care for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Nevertheless, it is a controversial issue whether pre-CRT in cT3N0M0 patients would result in potential overtreatment. Materials and methods: In total, 183 clinical stage IIA rectal cancer patients treated with and without pre-CRT between 2011 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Capecitabine/FOLFOX/CAPOX chemotherapy was co-administered with preoperative radiotherapy. Surgical resection with laparoscopic or open TME was conducted 8–12?weeks after completion of the pre-CRT. Postoperative radiotherapy was routinely given to patients with pT4 lesion or circumferential margin (CRM) and/or distal resection margin (DRM) involvement. Results: In total, 108 (59%) patients received pre-CRT and 75 (41%) underwent surgery first. The pre-CRT patients presented with less-advanced pathological T stage tumors compared with the surgery-first patients (p?<?0.001). However, the pathological N stage was not significantly different between the two groups (p?=?0.065). The 3-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and 2-year local recurrence (LR) rate were similar in the pre-CRT and surgery-first patients (88.4 versus 88.7%, p?=?0.552; 79.6 versus 83.3%, p?=?0.797; 2.8 versus 2.7%, p?=?0.960, respectively). Cox regression analysis showed that pN stage and CRM/DRM involvement were independently correlated with an unfavorable DFS. Conclusions: In this study, the omission of pre-CRT in cT3N0M0 patients did not translate into a worse oncological outcome. Postoperative radiotherapy should remain a standard option for patients with CRM/DRM involvement and pathological T4 tumors. A generalized indication for pre-CRT in cT3N0 patients is likely to result in overtreatment.     

Impact of parenchymal preserving surgery on survival and recurrence after liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis

Background

This study aimed to investigate the impact of non‐anatomical liver resection (NAR) versus anatomical resection (AR) in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), with regard to perioperative and long‐term outcomes.

Methods

Analysis of prospectively collected data for patients with CRLM who underwent either AR or NAR between January 1993 and August 2011 was performed. The impact of AR and NAR on morbidity, mortality, margin positivity, redo liver resections, overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) was analysed.

Results

A total of 1574 resections for CRLM were performed. A total of 249 were redo resections and 334 patients underwent combined AR and NAR, hence, 583 were excluded. In total, 582 AR and 409 NAR were performed. The median age was 66 years (range 23.8–91.8). Median follow up was 32.2 months (interquartile range 17.5–56.9). The need for postoperative transfusion (11.6% versus 2.2%, P = <0.0001), overall complications (25% versus 10.7%, P < 0.0001) and 90‐day mortality (4.9% versus 1.2%, P < 0.0001) was higher in the AR group. R0 and R1 resection rates (AR 26.2% NAR 25%, P = 0.69) and number of patients with intrahepatic recurrence was similar between the two groups (AR 17.5% NAR 22%, P = 0.08). However, the need for redo liver surgery was higher in NAR group 15.4% versus 8.7% (P < 0.001). The OS (NAR 34.1 months versus AR 31.4 months, P = 0.002) and DFS were longer in the NAR group (NAR 18.8 months versus AR 16.9 months, P = 0.031).

Conclusions

A parenchymal preserving surgery (NAR) is associated with lower complication rates and better OS and DFS when compared with AR without compromising margin status. However, NAR increases the need for repeat liver resections.     

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation treatment followed by surgery for esophageal cancer: there is much more than the mandard tumor regression score

Objective: Tumor regression grading (TRG) systems categorize residual tumor volume on the primary tumor after neoadjuvant treatment. Aim was to evaluate the impact of Mandard TRG, residual tumor depth (ypT) and residual lymph node status (ypN) and extent (ELNI) i.e. intracapsular versus extracapsular involvement on overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in esophageal carcinoma.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2014, 344 patients receiving R0-esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) were selected. Mandard TRG, ypTN and ELNI were prospectively recorded.

Results: Mandard TRG1 was found in 110 (32%); TRG2 in 120 (35%); TRG3 in 53 (15%); TRG4 in 54 (16%) and TRG5 in 7 (2%) patients. Both OS and DFS showed no significant difference between TRG1 and 2 (p?=?0.059 and 0.105, respectively). Therefore, TRG1/2 was classified together as ‘major response’, TRG3/4 as ‘minor response’ and TRG5 as ‘no response’. Multivariate analysis showed two independent prognosticators for OS (tumor regression response (TRR) and number of positive lymph nodes) and three independent prognosticators for DFS (TRR, ypT and ELNI).

Conclusion: After nCRT followed by surgery for esophageal carcinoma, number of residual positive lymph nodes as well as TRR are prognosticators for OS. Minor TRR, ypT and extracapsular lymph node invasion are prognosticators for recurrence.     

Urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: preoperative pyuria is not correlated with bladder cancer recurrence and survival

Objective

To identify the impact of preoperative pyuria on the bladder cancer recurrence and survival of patients who were treated surgically for UTUC.

Patients and methods

Study included 319 consecutive patients who were treated with RNU for UTUC. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the association of preoperative pyuria with outcome.

Results

Eighty patients (25.1%) had pyuria. Preoperative pyuria was associated with sex (P?=?0.01), tumor focality (P?=?0.01), tumor size (P?=?0.05), tumor stage (P?=?0.01), lymph node metastasis (P?=?0.01), lymphovascular invasion (P?=?0.02), and chemotherapy (P?=?0.04). A total of 102 patients recurred, with a median time to bladder recurrence of 24.2 months. Bladder cancer recurrence-free survival rates for these 319 patients at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years were 84.6, 72.4, 69.0, 68.3, and 68.0%, respectively. Preoperative pyuria was not independently associated with bladder cancer recurrence (HR 1.15; p?=?0.5). Preoperative pyuria was associated with OS (HR 1.57; p?=?0.02) and CSS (HR 1.65; p?=?0.02). However, preoperative pyuria was not independently associated with OS and CSS (HR 1.07; p?=?0.79).

Conclusions

Preoperative pyuria is unable to predict outcomes in a single-centre series of consecutive patients who were treated with RNU.

     

Recurrence and Poor Prognosis Following Resection of Small Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Lesions Are Associated with Aberrant Tumor Expression Profiles of Glypican 3 and Osteopontin

Background

Early detection and following appropriate treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still the gold standard for favored outcome of HCC patients; nevertheless, a small portion of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related small HCC (<5 cm) patients got poor prognosis. Furthermore, the study for small HBV–HCC was limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the potential genetic signature for HBV-related small HCC as novel prognostic factors.

Methods

We examined expression profiles of HBV-related small HCC using an Affymetrix U133A GeneChip, evaluated differential gene expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and finally validated these expression patterns by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results:

A total of 57 genes were differentially expressed between tumor and normal parts (n = 20 pairs) using Affymetrix U133A chip, and 16 genes were further evaluated by qRT-PCR. The result was compatible with the finding of oligonucleotide microarray (Pearson’s correlation, r = 0.87). Furthermore, the expression pattern in HCC tissue by IHC in another group of small HBV–HCC (n = 100) showed overexpression of either osteopontin (OPN) or glypican 3 (GPC3) is an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival (DFS) in HBV-positive small HCC (P < 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). Long-term DFS and overall survival (OS) for small HBV–HCC patients with high risk (both elevated GPC3⁺/OPN⁺) were DFS 0%, OS 0%, respectively; on the other hand, DFS and OS in patients with moderate (only 1 gene elevated) or low (OPN⁻/GPC3⁻) risk were 35.0 and 46.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

Elevation of both OPN and GPC3 may act as an adverse indicator for HBV-related small HCC patients after curative resection.