Recurrences and related characteristics of gastric cancer.

We analysed data on 1117 patients with gastric cancer who were treated by curative resection. Attention was focused on invasion and a recurrence of the cancer. Based on a univariate analysis, death following a recurrence and prognosis were related to age of the patients, size of the tumour, tumour location, tumour tissue differentiation, growth pattern, depth of invasion, lymphatic and vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis. In proportion to the growth potential, determined by the level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labelling, the death related to a recurrence was increased and the prognosis was poorer. Multivariate analysis showed that the three factors of serosal invasion, PCNA labelling index and lymph node dissection were independent prognostic factors. When sites of recurrence were analysed regarding each depth of invasion, haematogenous recurrence, in particular in the liver, occurred even in cases of an early invasion and many types of recurrences, including peritoneal recurrence, were noted in patients with an advanced state of invasion.     

Risk factors which predict pattern of recurrence after curative surgery for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

The objective of the study was to define risk factors for peritoneal dissemination and haematogenous metastasis after curative resection of patients with an advanced gastric cancer. In retrospective analyses of 405 patients, 168 died of a tumour recurrence. Patients who died of gastric cancer were more likely to have large, invasive tumours which had spread throughout the stomach, metastasized to lymph nodes, and vessel invasion by gastric cancerous cells (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Of the 168 deaths, 60 (35.7%) were secondary to haematogenous recurrence, 53 (31.5%) were related to peritoneal dissemination, and 19 (11.3%) were related to a local recurrence. To determine the independent risk factors related to peritoneal dissemination and haematogenous metastasis, multivariate analyses using a stepwise logistic model suggested that serosal invasion (P < 0.01, relative risk = 2.57) and Borrmann type 4 (P < 0.01, relative risk = 1.95) were the greatest risk factors for peritoneal dissemination. The presence of lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01, relative risk = 2.62) and presence of vessel invasion by cancerous cells (P < 0.05, relative risk = 1.59) were the greatest risk factors for a haematogenous metastasis.     

Clinicopathological characteristics of superficial spreading type early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Superficial spreading type early gastric cancer is characterized by its atypical growth pattern and occasionally indistinct tumor margin. Because it is a rare form of early gastric cancer, the clinicopathological details are not apparent. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinicopathological features of the superficial spreading type of early gastric cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 1,062 surgically resected patients with early gastric cancer. Hospital records were compared between patients with superficial spreading type early gastric cancer and those with more common types of early gastric cancer. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (6.9%) had superficial spreading lesions. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. The most frequent histological type was signet-ring cell carcinoma (32%). The distinguishing histopathological features were submucosal invasion (67%), lymphatic invasion (32%), and lymph node metastasis (30%). There were discrepancies in tumor area between surgical findings and pathological diagnosis in 24 patients (35%) with superficial spreading type. More extensive lymph node dissection was performed and all patients survived in the group with superficial spreading lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The most appropriate treatment for the superficial spreading type of early gastric cancer is wide surgical resection with extensive lymph node dissection.     

A case of lymph node metastasis following a curative endoscopic submucosal dissection of an early gastric cancer

Currently in Japan, differentiated gastric submucosal invasive cancers <500 μm (SM1) with negative lymphovascular involvement are included in expanded pathological criteria for curative endoscopic treatment. This is based on a retrospective examination of surgical resection cases in which patients suitable for such expanded criteria were determined to have a negligible risk of lymph node metastasis. We performed endoscopic submucosal dissection on a 65-year-old male with early gastric cancer in April 2005, and pathology revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, 21 × 10 mm in size, SM1 invasion depth and negative lymphovascular invasion as well as tumor-free margins, so the case was diagnosed as a curative resection. This case, however, resulted in lymph node metastasis that was diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonography with fine-needle aspiration biopsy in May 2009. Distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection was then performed, confirming lymph node metastasis from the original gastric cancer.     

Surgical treatment of early gastric cancer

In Japan, R2-gastric resection which consists of gastrectomy, omentectomy and complete removal of Group 1 and 2 regional lymph nodes has been generally accepted as the procedure of choice in the treatment of early gastric cancer during the past 20 years. As a result, surgical treatment for early gastric cancer patients has achieved a very good survival rate, 97.7% and 96.2% 5 and 10 years, respectively, after surgery. To determine a new rationale for surgical treatment for early gastric cancer, the relationship between various prognostic factors and postoperative prognosis in 1,200 patients with early gastric cancer was studied. The survival rate for patients with a single focus of cancer in the stomach was significantly higher than that for patients with multiple foci. The incidence of recurrence was very low (2.8%) as a whole and most recurrence was found in patients who have had invasion into the submucosa with regional lymph node metastasis. The characteristic mode of recurrence was hematogenous metastasis to the liver and lung. The majority of causes of death were non-malignant disease and multiple primary malignant neoplasms. As to the survival rate in relation to the extent of lymph node dissection, no significant difference in survival rate was observed among the three procedures R0-, R1- and R2-resection in single cancer regardless of cancer invasion through the gastric wall. The survival rate for intramucosal carcinoma without lymph node metastases and with Group 1 lymph node metastases in both single and multiple cancer was 100%. In addition, 125 patients with intramucosal polypoid cancer (types I and IIa according to the macroscopic classification of early gastric cancer) showed no lymph node metastasis and had 100% survival. Therefore, from the present study a new rationale for surgical treatment for early gastric cancer is recommended as follows: 1) In general, R1-resection is indicated for intramucosal carcinoma and R2-resection for submucosal carcinoma. 2) Local resection of the tumor or R0-resection with preservation of the regional lymph nodes is thought to be sufficient for an intramucosal polypoid carcinoma less than 2.0 cm in diameter.     

Noncurative resection for advanced gastric cancer.

Between 1965 and 1985, 489 patients with advanced gastric cancer who were treated with gastric resection and in whom tumor cells remained after the operation were defined as cases of a "noncurative resection." The clinicopathological features and prognosis of these patients were examined and two groups were prepared: locally advanced cancer and cancer with a distant metastasis. In locally advanced cancer cases, tumor cells remained in the neighboring organs, lymph nodes, and/or resected margins; in those with distant metastasis, peritoneal dissemination and/or liver metastasis were present regardless of whether or not the metastasis was removed, with or without locally noncurative factors. Serosal invasion was prominent and high rates of lymph node metastasis and lymphatic involvement were evident in both groups. The survival rate for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer was better than that of patients with distant metastasis (P < 0.01). Survival time in patients with locally advanced cancer can be lengthened by resecting all of the primary tumor and as much of the metastatic lesions as possible, even if the surgical management is "noncurative." Aggressive postoperative chemotherapy for patients with distant metastasis from a gastric cancer is to be recommended.     

Prediction of recurrence after curative resection of gastric carcinoma invading the muscularis propria: a multivariate analysis

Background. In Japan, the incidence of gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria is about 10% of all patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgical resection. Although many prognostic factors for early gastric cancer and advanced gastric cancer have been identified, there are few reports concerning prognostic factors for gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria, and the characteristics of recurrence are not well understood. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed data on 167 patients with gastric cancer that had invaded the muscularis propria. All patients had undergone curative resection. Results. Recurrences were evident in 37 patients (22.2%). Based on our univariate analysis, the recurrence was associated with lymph node metastases. Multivariate analysis showed that independent risk factors for recurrence were lymph node metastases and location of tumor in the upper or lower one-third of the stomach. With respect to the pattern of recurrence, 17 (46.0%) were secondary to hematogenous recurrence, 8 (21.6%) to peritoneal dissemination, and 6 (16.2%) to a local recurrence in the remnant stomach and in regional lymph nodes. Most deaths occurred during the second year after surgery, and approximately two-thirds of all patients (64.8%) died within 3 years after surgery. Conclusion. In patients with the risk factors of lymph node metastases and tumor in the upper or lower one-third of the stomach, lymph node dissection and postoperative adjuvant therapy are vital to try to prevent recurrences, especially during the first 2 years after surgery. Received: November 1, 1999 / Accepted: March 23, 2000     

Two rare cases of node-positive differentiated gastric cancer despite their infiltration to sm1, their small size, and lack of lymphatic invasion into the submucosal layer

Early gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis has been reported after the analysis of many cases, and a consensus has been reached about this condition. We report two cases of node-positive differentiated sm1 gastric cancer without lymphatic invasion into the submucosal layer. Case 1 was a 73-year-old man who underwent EMR for 0-IIc early gastric cancer (EGC) on the gastric angle, with a histological diagnosis of tub1. Pathological examination revealed a 0-IIc lesion that was 12 mm in size and sm1 in invasion depth without lymphatic-vascular invasion. However, the infiltration in the submucosal layer was relatively wide. The patient subsequently underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. Pathological examination revealed level 2 lymph node metastasis. Case 2 was a 62-year-old woman who underwent ER for a 0-I+IIc-type EGC on the greater curvature of the antrum, with a histological diagnosis of tub1. Pathological examination revealed a 0-I+IIc-type lesion that was 15 mm in size and sm1 in depth. Lymphatic invasions in the muscularis mucosa were found, but none were seen in the submucosal layer. Two years later, follow-up computed tomography (CT) showed a lymph node swelling in the infrapyloric region. Distal gastrectomy with D2 dissection was then performed, and pathological examination revealed level 1 lymph node metastasis. Although the lesions in both patients satisfied the criteria of Gotoda et al. for minimal risk of nodal involvement, lymph node metastasis was observed in these patients. Curative surgery with lymph node dissection is thus required in patients with wide infiltration of the submucosal layer or lymphatic invasion in the muscularis mucosa.     

Prognostic factors of gastric cancer tumours of less than 2 cm in diameter: rationale for limited surgery.

BACKGROUND: A recent trend in the surgical treatment of patients with early gastric cancer in Japan has been to limit surgery to an extent that ensures complete cure and improvement in the patient's quality of life. If a gastric cancer tumour can be completely eradicated by laparoscopic surgery, the patient can be cured of cancer without major operative stress. A small gastric cancer tumour of less than 2 cm in diameter is an indication for laparoscopic surgery, but little is known about what protocol of surgical treatment is appropriate for this type of tumour. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinicopathological features of 150 patients with gastric cancer tumour of less than 2 cm in diameter were reviewed retrospectively from hospital records between 1985 and 1995. The results of retrospective analysis of clinicopathological data of 24 patients with advanced cancer were compared with those of 126 patients with early cancer. Univariate and multivariate analyses of patients with small gastric cancer tumours were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of clinicopathological features. RESULTS: A significant difference was seen between the gross tumour appearances in the two groups; Borrmann type-4 tumours were more common in the advanced group. Lymph-node metastasis, lymphatic vessel invasion and vascular invasion were found more frequently in the advanced cancer group than in the early cancer group. Scirrhous type was more common in the advanced cancer group. In univariate analysis, unfavourable prognostic factors included deep cancer invasion, presence of lymph-node metastasis, lymphatic invasion and vascular invasion. Using Cox's proportional hazard regression model, only nodal involvement emerged as an independent statistically significant prognostic parameter associated with long-term survival. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery should not be performed on tumours that are Borrmann type in macroscopic appearance and scirrhous-type histologically. Lymph-node metastasis is an independent prognostic factor. We recommend laparoscopic surgery involving local resection of the stomach without lymphadenectomy for small, early gastric cancer tumours that satisfy the criteria mentioned above. However, the validity of this recommendation should be tested by a prospective randomized control trial in the future.     

胃癌淋巴结转移规律的临床研究

目的：探讨胃癌淋巴结转移规律和胃癌根治术的淋巴结清扫范围。方法：将采集不同部位的淋巴结,依据国际TNM分期标准和组站分类法,全部数据进行统计学处理。结果：本组胃癌淋巴结转移率67．3％,早期和进展期胃癌转移率分别为14．3％和79．8％。肿瘤浸润深度T1者,淋巴结转移主要局限于N1,T2者淋巴结转移N3者5．4％,T3者淋巴结转移N3的9．5％。结论：胃癌淋巴结转移通常从原发病灶开始,通过淋巴网沿着淋巴管由近及远地向外扩散,肿瘤的大小或浸润深度不同,淋巴结转移的差异性有显著意义（P＜0．01）。     

Risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with pedunculated type early invasive colorectal cancer: a retrospective multicenter study

Depth of invasion in early invasive colorectal cancer is considered an important predictive factor for lymph node metastasis. However, no large-scale reports have established the relationship between invasion depth of pedunculated type early invasive colorectal cancers and risk of lymph node metastasis. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to clarify the risk of lymph node metastasis in pedunculated type early invasive colorectal cancers in a large series. Patients with pedunculated type early invasive colorectal cancer who underwent endoscopic or surgical resection at seven referral hospitals in Japan were enrolled. Haggitt's line was used as baseline and the invasion depth was classified into two groups, head invasion and stalk invasion. The incidence of lymph node metastasis was investigated between patients with head and stalk invasion. We analyzed 384 pedunculated type early invasive colorectal cancers in 384 patients. There were 154, 156, and 74 endoscopic resection cases, endoscopic resection followed by surgical operation, and surgical resection cases, respectively. There were 240 head invasion and 144 stalk invasion lesions. Among the lesions treated surgically, the overall incidence of lymph node metastasis was 3.5% (8/230). The incidence of lymph node metastasis was 0.0% (0/101) in patients with head invasion, as compared with 6.2% (8/129) in patients with stalk invasion. Pedunculated type early invasive colorectal cancers pathologically diagnosed as head invasion can be managed by endoscopic treatment alone.     

Endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, and beyond: full-layer resection for gastric cancer with nonexposure technique (CLEAN-NET)

Mucosal cancer in the gastrointestinal tract generally has low risk of lymph node metastasis. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are techniques of local excision of neoplasia confined to the mucosal layer. Specimens from EMR/ESD contribute to several diagnoses, and histologic results affect treatment decisions. A combined laparoscopic and endoscopic approach to neoplasia with a nonexposure technique allows full-thickness resection of the stomach wall without exposing the gastric lumen to the peritoneal cavity, preventing cancer cell dissemination to the peritoneal cavity. This article reviews EMR/ESD and describes a new full-thickness resection method using the nonexposure technique (CLEAN-NET).     

Superficial spreading type of early gastric cancer.

To determine the clinicopathological features of the superficial spreading type of early gastric cancer, which is defined as early gastric cancer in which the product of the longest diameter of the tumour and the diameter perpendicular to it is greater than 25 cm2, they were compared retrospectively with those of small-sized early gastric cancers, which are defined as tumours smaller than 2 x 2 cm2. The superficial spreading type accounted for 5.46% of all early gastric cancers. The distinguishing histopathological features of superficial spreading lesions were: a diffuse type of cancer, submucosal invasion and advanced lymph node involvement. Of the 32 patients with superficial spreading lesions, eight underwent an additional resection as a continuance of the first gastrectomy, because of an indistinct tumour margin. More extensive lymph node dissection was also performed on the group with superficial spreading lesions. There was no difference in 5 year survival rate between the two groups (superficial spreading type, 96.0% vs small-sized type, 95.1%). The most appropriate treatment for superficial spreading lesions is a wide surgical resection with extensive lymph node dissection.     

胃癌腹膜转移的临床病理特性及预后分析

目的 探讨胃癌腹膜转移(P2)的临床病理特性及不同术式对预后的影响。方法 对91例P2患者的临床病理资料及不同术式术后生存情况进行回顾性分析。结果 单因素分析发现,肿瘤大小、肿瘤部位、分化程度、Borrmann分型、脏器侵犯、淋巴结转移、浸润深度、肝转移与P2相关(P＜0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示,浸润深度和脏器侵犯是P2独立的影响因素(P＜0.05)。非根治切除术组和姑息手术组在年龄、腹水及脏器侵犯上差别有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。姑息手术组中造瘘术、胃肠吻合术与剖腹探查术间的生存时间差别无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。非根治切除术组的中位生存时间为13.4月,姑息手术组的中位生存时间为4.2月,差别有统计学意义(P＜0.01),Cox分析显示手术方式和肿瘤大小是影响P2患者预后的独立危险因素。结论 胃癌患者的临床病理特征与腹膜转移的发生密切相关,非根治切除术可改善胃癌腹膜转移(P2)患者的预后。     

Y a-t-il un intérêt au curage lomboaortique dans les cancers de l'endomètre opérables ?

The indication and extent of lymph node dissection in the surgical management of endometrial cancer remains controversial especially concerning the para-aortic lymph nodes. The therapeutic benefit of the lymph node dissection is criticized mainly for low-risk patients for extra-uterine spread. Surgically staging patients is the best method to predict node involvement and it allows an optimal decision for adjuvant therapy to be taken. The different prognostic factors for para-aortic lymph nodes metastasis are histological grade and size of the tumour, myometrial wall invasion and lymphovascular dissemination, as well as positive pelvic lymph nodes. However, these elements are not correctly evaluated before and during the surgery. Positive para-aortic lymph nodes can be found without a lymphatic spread to the pelvic area. Even though the prevalence of para-aortic node involvement is weak, it seems legitimate to propose in selected cases of important lymph node involvement, it's complete dissection if a pelvic lymphadenectomy is indicated and if it is surgically possible.     

A case of small undifferentiated intramucosal gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis

Early gastric cancer (EGC) has a favorable prognosis after surgical gastrectomy. For intramucosal EGC with little risk of lymph node metastasis, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is an accepted treatment method. Herein we document a noteworthy case of small undifferentiated gastric cancer with nodal metastasis. A 60-year-old Japanese woman underwent gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for the treatment of EGC in the lower gastric body. Histological examination revealed that signet-ring cell carcinoma was located in approximately one-third of the superficial portion of the mucosal layer, with a tumor size of 13 mm. No lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, or fibrosis was observed in the submucosal layer. This case had nodal metastasis and was finally diagnosed as stage IB (T1N1M0) according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma (JCGC). The patient is alive without recurrence 6 years after treatment.     

Determining of metastatic lymph node ratio in patients who underwent D2 dissection for gastric cancer

The purpose of this study was to determine outcome of the ratio of metastatic lymph nodes to the total number of dissected lymph nodes (MLR) in patients with gastric cancer. We retrospectively analyzed 111 patients who underwent D₂ lymph node dissection. The prognostic factors including UICC/AJCC TNM classification and MLR were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. The MLR was significantly higher in patients with a larger tumor, lymphatic vessel invasion, blood vessel invasion and perineural invasion, and advanced stage. Moreover, the MLR was significantly associated with the depth of invasion and the number of lymph node metastasis. The univariate analysis revealed for overall survival (OS) that stage of disease, lymphatic vessel invasion, blood vessel invasion, perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis (UICC/AJCC pN stage) and MLR were relevant prognostic indicators. Furthermore, both UICC/AJCC pN stage and MLR were detected as prognostic factor by multivariate analysis, as was perineural invasion. Our results indicated that MLR and UICC/AJCC pN staging system were important prognostic factors for OS of patients with D₂ lymph node dissection in gastric cancer in a multivariate analysis. MLR may be useful for evaluating the status of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.     

早期胃癌的淋巴结转移规律及预后分析

目的 分析早期胃癌的临床病理特征与预后之间的关系及早期胃癌的淋巴结转移规律.方法 对1994年1月～2005年10月手术治疗并有完整资料的255例早期胃癌的临床病理学资料进行回顾性分析.结果 255例患者的总5年生存率为91.4%.单因素分析显示,肿瘤浸润深度、脉管瘤栓和区域淋巴结转移与患者术后生存率有关;而性别、年龄...     

Application of minimally invasive treatment for early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although various types of minimally invasive treatment have emerged as the best front-line therapies for early gastric cancer (EGC), there have been no established indications that these attempts are applicable. The purpose of this study was to propose indications for the application of minimally invasive therapy for EGC. METHODS: A total of 566 patients with EGC who had undergone gastrectomy with D2 or more extended lymphadenectomy, from July 1993 to December 1997 were retrospectively analyzed. The risk factors that determine lymph node metastasis were investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The rate of lymph node metastasis was 11.8% for all EGC, 3.4% for mucosal cancer, and 21.0% for submucosal cancer. Lymph node metastasis was associated with submucosal invasion, larger tumor size, undifferentiated histology, and the presence of lymphatic or blood vessel invasion (LBVI) by univariate and multivariate analyses. When LBVI was absent, there was no lymph node metastasis if the tumor was smaller than 2.5 cm with differentiated histology, and smaller than 1.5 cm with undifferentiated histology, regardless of depth of invasion. Extra-perigastric lymph node metastases were noted in patients with submucosal tumors that have LBVI while none of mucosal cancer showed extra-perigastric lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive treatment can be possibly applied for patients with EGC using these four independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in EGC. For mucosal cancers, EMR is indicated for EGCs without lymph node involvement based on tumor size and histology. When we found LBVI by pathologic examination after EMR, gastrectomy with D1 lymph node dissection is mandatory. For submucosal cancers, patients with small tumors could be treated with laparoscopic wedge resection without lymph node dissection. However, patients with larger sized tumors or tumors with LBVI should be treated with extended (D2) lymph node dissection.     

A clinicopathologic study of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the stomach

Background. Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the stomach is a rare histologic type of gastric adenocarcinoma and its features are still controversial. We attempted to clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics of this histologic type. Methods. We reviewed the records of 112 patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the stomach (MUC) and 4160 patients with nonmucinous gastric adenocarcinoma (NMUC) for factors including age; sex; tumor location, size, and depth; lymph node metastasis; lymphatic or venous permeation; peritoneal dissemination; liver metastasis; and survival rate. We also investigated the relationship between cancer depth and lymph node metastasis. Statistical analysis included χ ² and Student's t -tests. Survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and analyzed by the log rank test. Results. MUC was found mostly in younger patients, in the lower part of the stomach and was of larger size, invading to or beyond the muscularis propria, positive for lymph node involvement, and associated with peritoneal dissemination. The overall 5-year survival rate in patients with MUC was lower than that in NMUC patients, because the MUC patients more frequently had advanced stage disease; however, the survival rates in the two groups did not differ significantly. As for the relationship between cancer depth and lymph node involvement, the frequency of lymph node metastasis increased when invasion reached the submucosa in patients with MUC compared with those with NMUC while the frequency of lymph node metastasis increased in the muscularis propria in patients with NMUC compared with those with NMUC. Conclusion. MUC was characteristically found in younger patients, at lower sites, at an advanced stage, and with peritoneal dissemination; MUC had a poor prognosis. Lymph node metastasis should be suspected when MUC invades to the submucosa or deeper. Received: March 14, 2001 / Accepted: June 18, 2001