Long-term follow-up of surgically treated gallbladder cancer patients

AIMS: Palliative attempts have traditionally led treatment of gallbladder cancer but resection offers the only chance for long-term survival. This study investigates the impact of surgery with curative intent in gallbladder cancer treatment and evaluates prognostic factors for survival. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-seven patients were admitted for surgical therapy. Sixty received resection with curative intent and form the basis of this analysis. RESULTS: R0 resection (n=45) was a highly significant independent survival predictor (P<0.001). All 5-year survivors (n=10) had tumour-free resection margins. Early T stage (P=0.017) and highly differentiated cancer (P=0.008) had a significant better outcome. Nodal spreading increased by local tumour extension and lymphatic involvement decreased patient survival (P=0.018). Patients' age (>75 years) was without influence on long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival is possible both in elderly patients and in advanced cancer.     

Small but significant survival benefit in patients who undergo routine follow-up after colorectal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND: The benefit of follow-up for patients after resection of primary colorectal cancer is unproven. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of a standardised follow-up program considering detection of recurrent disease, eligibility for surgical treatment and survival. METHODS: Five hundred and sixty-four patients' records were evaluated. Detection of recurrent disease was distinguished in routine follow up (RF), interval visit (IV) or accidental finding (AF). RESULTS: One hundred and forty-nine patients (26%) had recurrent disease of which 68 were detected by routine follow-up. In 42 patients a resection was performed with curative intent (RF 18, IV 14, AF 10). In 26 patients radical resection (R(0)) was possible (RF 13, IV 5, AF 8), seven of them were long-term survivors. Routine follow-up itself had no significant influence on overall survival (P=0.08), although increased survival was observed if recurrent disease was detected by routine follow-up and resection was performed with curative intent (P=0.006). Median survival after resection was 4.2 years if recurrent disease was detected during routine follow-up and 0.5 years if detected during interval visits. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing resection with curative intent for recurrent disease survive significantly longer if the disease is detected by routine follow-up. Routine follow-up itself did not improve overall survival.     

外科多专业合作胸壁切除与重建术在乳腺癌侵犯胸壁患者治疗中的地位

目的探讨由切除外科及重建外科医师合作完成的胸壁切除与重建术（CWRR）在乳腺癌侵犯胸壁患者治疗中的地位。方法由切除外科和重建外科合作完成CWRR44例,切除后胸壁软组织缺损35～800cm^2;同时切除骨性胸壁15例,骨性胸壁缺损5～320cm^2。切除后立即重建43例,因伤口原因延迟重建1例。根治切除36例,姑息切除8例。进行以电话及门诊复查为主的随访,随访时间为5．0～285．0个月。结果全组无手术后30d死亡者。CWRR术后,根治性切除患者术后中位生存时间〉36．0个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为71．5％、65．7％和65．7％;姑息性切除患者术后中位生存时间为15．1个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为35．1％、23．4％和7．8％。根治性切除患者的生存率高于姑息性切除患者（P=0．018）。原发乳腺癌患者术后中位生存时间为44．7个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为78．4％、78．4％和39．2％。复发乳腺癌患者术后中位生存时间为36．0个月,1、3、5年生存率均为70．9％。有转移者术后中位生存时间为16．0个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为30．0％、15．0％和0。原发性乳腺癌患者与复发性乳腺癌患者术后生存率差异无统计学意义（P=0．752）,而有转移者术后生存率明显低于原发乳腺癌患者（P=0．003）或复发乳腺癌患者（P=0．018）。结论只有切除外科和重建外科同时参与才能完成符合肿瘤治疗原则的复杂CWRR。在完成乳腺癌全盘治疗计划、全身和局部疾病得到良好控制的前提下,根治性CWRR能改善侵及胸壁乳腺癌患者的生存,适当的姑息性CWRR可改善患者的生活质量。     

Contribution of surgery in patients with bulky residual disease after chemoradiation for advanced cervical carcinoma.

AIM: To report the outcome of 30 patients who underwent surgery after concomitant chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer with residual disease > or = 2 cm. METHODS: From 1988 to 2004, 143 patients with FIGO stage IB2-IVA cervical cancer underwent surgery after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Among them, 30 had a residual cervical tumour > or = 2 cm prior to surgery. Surgery consisted in a simple or radical hysterectomy (n=15) or in a pelvic exenteration (n=15). Endpoints were recurrence and distant metastasis rates, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 and 5 years. Analysis included FIGO stage, response to chemoradiation, para-aortic lymphatic status or type of surgery: palliative (remaining disease after surgery) or curative (no evidence of remaining disease after surgery). RESULTS: Surgery has been only palliative in 11 cases. Pelvic recurrences occurred in 8 patients after a median interval of 8.8 months. Distant metastases occurred in 8 patients after a median interval of 13 months. So far, 16 patients have died (53.3%). The 3-year and 5-year OS rates are 64.9% and 55.6%, respectively, for the 19 patients who had a curative surgery. The DFS rate is 50.8% at 3 and 5 years in this latter group. Overall 12 patients (40%) are alive and free of disease after a median follow-up of 32.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant surgery may improve the outcome of patients with bulky residual tumour after chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer, allowing a 5-year OS of 55.6% after curative intervention.     

Feasibility and first results of multimodality treatment, combining EBRT, extensive surgery, and IOERT in locally advanced primary rectal cancer

PURPOSE: To assess the outcome of aggressive multimodality treatment with preoperative external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), extended circumferential margin excision (ECME) and intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy (IOERT) in patients with locally advanced primary rectal cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-eight patients with primary locally advanced rectal cancer, but without distant metastases, received multimodality treatment. CT-scan showed extension to other structures in 15 patients (39%) and definite infiltration into the surrounding structures in 23 patients (61%). All patients received preoperative EBRT (dose range 25-61 Gy) and 82% received 50.4 Gy. The resection types were: 12 low anterior resections (31%), 14 abdomino-perineal resections (37%), 6 abdomino-transsacral resections (16%), and 6 pelvic exenterations (16%). The IOERT dose ranged from 10 to 17.5 Gy depending on the completeness of the resection. RESULTS: There was no perioperative mortality. The resection margins were microscopically negative in 31 patients (82%), microscopically positive in 4 (10%), and positive with gross residual disease in 3 patients (8%). Pelvic recurrences were observed in 5 patients (13%) including 3 IOERT infield failures. The overall 3-year local control, disease-free survival (DFS), and survival rates were 82%, 65%, and 72%, respectively. Negative resection margins were the most significant prognostic factor with regard to DFS (p = 0.0003) and distant control (p = 0.002) compared with cancer involved surgical margins. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of curative resections can be achieved in this group of patients with locally advanced rectal cancers. Adding IOERT to preoperative EBRT and ECME achieves high local control rates and possibly improves survival.     

Pelvic exenteration for recurrent cervical cancer: ten-year experience at National Cancer Center in Korea

Objective

To evaluate survival and morbidity after pelvic exenteration (PE) for the curative management of recurrent cervical cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated patients with recurrent cervical cancer who underwent PE from January 2001 to April 2011. Patients were identified from the registry of our institution. The clinical status and demographic information was obtained by reviewing the medical records.

Results

Sixty-one recurrent cervical cancer patients underwent PE. Patients who received radiotherapy, operation, chemotherapy before PE were 98%, 41%, and 23%, respectively. The total morbidity rate was 44%; 10 (16%) patients had early complications (30 days or less after PE), whereas 22 (36%) patients had late complications. Wound problems were common early complications (7/18), and bowel fistulas were common late complications (9/30). The five-year overall survival and five-year disease-free survival were 56% and 49%, respectively. Median follow-up was 22 months (range, 1.8 to 60 months). Affecting factors for overall survival were resection margin status, pelvic wall and rectal involvement.

Conclusion

Our overall 5-year survival is encouraging. Although the morbidity rate is still high, PE is a potentially curative opportunity in gynecological malignancies with no other treatment options. The most important factors for overall survival after PE are the resection margin status, pelvic wall involvement and rectal involvement.     

Bicalutamide ('Casodex') 150 mg as adjuvant to radiotherapy in patients with localised or locally advanced prostate cancer: results from the randomised Early Prostate Cancer Programme.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The ongoing Early Prostate Cancer (EPC) programme is assessing bicalutamide ('Casodex') 150 mg, either alone or as adjuvant to treatment of curative intent, in patients with localised or locally advanced prostate cancer (n=8113). This paper presents an exploratory analysis of the subgroup of the EPC programme who received radiotherapy with curative intent (n=1370) in order to determine the efficacy (in terms of progression-free survival [PFS]) and tolerability of bicalutamide 150 mg in this setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 1370 patients with T1-4, MO, any N prostate cancer received bicalutamide 150 mg or placebo adjuvant to radiotherapy of curative intent. This analysis was undertaken at median 5.3 years' follow-up. RESULTS: In patients with locally advanced disease (n=305), bicalutamide adjuvant to radiotherapy significantly increased PFS by 53% (event-time ratio 1.53; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.16, 2.02) compared with placebo and reduced the risk of disease progression by 42% (hazard ration [HR] 0.58; 95% CI 0.41, 0.84; P=0.00348). In these patients, objective progression was experienced by 33.5% of those randomised to bicalutamide versus 48.6% for those randomised to placebo. The between-group difference in patients with localised disease (n=1065) failed to reach statistical significance (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.62, 1.03; P=0.088). The most common adverse events were breast pain (74.8%) and gynaecomastia (66.6%), which were mild to moderate in >90% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Bicalutamide 150 mg/day given as adjuvant to radiotherapy significantly improved PFS in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. For patients with localised disease, the results at this stage from the radiotherapy subgroup and the overall EPC programme suggest that adjuvant hormonal therapy is currently not appropriate. There were no unexpected tolerability findings.     

Ten-Year Outcome of Different Treatment Modalities for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavity

Objective: This study reports outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity (SCCOC) patients with different treatment modalities. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the treatment outcomes of 775 newly diagnosed SCCOC patients treated in our hospital between 2001 and 2010. Outcome data were obtained from the medical records. Survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meyer method. Cox-proportional-hazard regression models were used to compare the risk of death among all risk factors. Results: The patients were divided into group 1) surgery ± adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) (n = 323) or group 2) RT ± chemotherapy (CT) for curative intent (n = 315) or group 3) RT/CT for palliative intent (n = 137). The overall 10-year survival rate was 17%. Statistically significant difference was noted in 10-year overall survival when SCCOC was managed surgically as compared to curative RT and palliative RT/CT with 25.3 %, 12.9%, 4.7%, respectively. The hazard ratio of cancer death in group 1 was 2.0 (95% CI 1.7-2.4) as compared to group 2. Conclusion: This study suggested that surgery must be the mainstay of treatment in locally advanced stage SCCOC. Palliative RT/CT still offered long term survival in some SCCOC patients.     

Preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization reduces long-term survival rate after hepatic resection for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS: To study the effect of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on long-term survival after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we conducted a comparative analysis in 235 HCC patients who underwent hepatic resection with a curative intent. METHODS: We compared clinicopathologic background, mortality, and survival rates after hepatic resection between those who underwent preoperative TACE (n=109) and those who did not (n=126). RESULTS: One hundred and two patients in the TACE group (93.6%) received TACE only once. The mean interval between TACE and hepatic resection was 33.1days. Patients in the TACE group were younger than those in the non-TACE group, and liver cirrhosis and non-anatomical hepatic resection were more prevalent in this group. The 5-year overall survival rate after hepatic resection was significantly lower in the TACE group (28.6%) than in the non-TACE group (50.6%), especially in patients without cirrhosis or with stage I or II tumor. There was no difference between the two groups in mortality or disease-free survival after hepatic resection. Multivariate analysis showed preoperative TACE, preoperative aspartate aminotransferase elevation, and microscopic portal invasion to be independent risk factors for a poor outcome after hepatic resection. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative TACE should be avoided for patients with resectable HCC, especially for those without cirrhosis or with an early stage tumor.     

Pelvic exenteration for advanced pelvic malignancy.

Pelvic exenteration is a demanding, yet potentially curative operation, for patients with advanced pelvic cancer. The majority will present with recurrence after prior surgery and radiotherapy. After exenteration, 5-year survival is 40% to 60% in patients with gynecologic cancer as compared to 25% to 40% for patients with colorectal cancer. Physiologic age and absence of co-morbidities appear to be more important when selecting patients for exenteration than chronological age. Careful pre-operative staging, including either computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), usually will identify patients with distant metastases, extrapelvic nodal disease, or disease involving the pelvic sidewall (which generally precludes surgery). The recent application of intra-operative radiotherapy or postoperative high-dose brachytherapy for patients with more advanced pelvic disease, which may include sidewall involvement, may expand the standard indications for exenteration. However, the intent of this procedure, with or without radiotherapy, should be resection of all tumor with the aim of cure since the place of palliative exenteration is controversial at best. The operative details of exenteration are presented, as are two surgical approaches to composite resection of pelvic structures in continuity with sacrectomy. Filling the pelvis with large tissue flaps, usually a rectus abdominus flap, has decreased morbidity rates, particularly with small bowel complications. Peri-operative mortality is usually 5% to 10%, and significant morbidity occurs in over 50% of patients. Restorative techniques for both urinary and gastrointestinal tracts can diminish the need for stomas and, along with vaginal reconstruction, can significantly improve quality of life for many patients after exenteration. These advances in surgery and radiotherapy help make the procedure a viable option for patients with otherwise incurable pelvic malignancy.     

Chemoradiation for adenocarcinoma of the anus

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and limitations of definitive chemoradiation for adenocarcinoma of the anal canal and to propose a treatment strategy that addresses the limitations of treatment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1976 and 1998, 16 patients with localized adenocarcinoma of the anal canal were treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy with curative intent. Available histologic slides were reviewed for evidence of primary adenocarcinoma of anal duct origin. The treatment results for these patients were compared with those of a group of patients with epidermoid histologic features who were all treated with definitive chemoradiation (55 Gy with concurrent 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, n = 92) between 1989 and 1998. The hospital records were reviewed for all patients. Patients with epidermoid carcinoma presented with more advanced primary tumors (42% vs. 19% Stage T3 or greater). All adenocarcinoma patients were treated with radiotherapy (median dose 55 Gy): 11 received concurrent 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and 5 received radiotherapy alone. The initial surgical procedures included abdominoperineal resection, excisional biopsies (n = 5), and local excision (n = 1). Abdominoperineal resection was performed as salvage therapy after local recurrence in 5 patients. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate 5-year actuarial pelvic control, distant disease control, disease-free survival, and overall survival. The median follow-up was 45 months (range 5-196) for patients with adenocarcinoma and 44 months (range 9-115) for patients with epidermoid histologic features. RESULTS: Both local and distant recurrence rates were significantly greater in the adenocarcinoma patients. Of 16 patients with adenocarcinoma, 7 (5-year actuarial rate 54%) had recurrence at the primary site compared with 16 (5-year actuarial rate 18%) of 92 patients with epidermoid histologic features (p = 0.004). Distant disease developed in more patients with adenocarcinoma (5-year actuarial rate 66%) than in patients with epidermoid carcinoma (5-year actuarial rate 10%, p <0.001). The 5-year actuarial disease-free survival and overall survival rate for adenocarcinoma patients was 19% and 64%, respectively, compared with 77% (p <0.0001) and 85% (p = 0.017) for those with epidermoid carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Patients with localized adenocarcinoma of the anus treated with definitive chemoradiation had high rates of pelvic failure and distant metastasis compared with comparably staged patients with epidermoid histologic features treated similarly. On the basis of these limitations, we recommend preoperative chemoradiation followed by abdominoperineal resection to maximize pelvic disease control and consideration of adjuvant chemotherapy to address the problem of micrometastatic disease.     

Extended multiorgan resection for T4 gastric carcinoma: 25-year experience

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In locally advanced gastric carcinoma infiltrating adjacent organs, an extended resection including invaded organs is required to improve the prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed our experience with extended multiorgan resection (EMR) in patients with advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: Between December 1979 and April 2004, 65 patients were resected for extended gastric carcinoma macroscopically invading other organs. Various clinicopathologic factors influencing early and late results were evaluated. Survival rates were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The majority of patients (61.5%) did receive a R0 curative resection. In 52 (80%) of the 65 presumed T4 cancers, histologic final analysis confirmed invasion. Postoperative morbidity and mortality was 27.7% and 12.3%, respectively. Actuarial 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 21.8%. It was significantly better in R0 versus R+ (30.6% vs. 0%, P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified curative resection as the strongest predictor of survival (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with locally advanced gastric carcinoma invading adjacent organs can benefit from aggressive surgical treatment with acceptable morbidity and mortality. However, curative resection is mandatory to improve prognosis.     

胰腺癌根治术与术后辅助外放疗的疗效比较

目的 探讨术后放疗对胰腺癌患者生存率的影响.方法 44例胰腺癌患者分为手术组(根治性外科切除)和手术+放疗组(根治性外科切除后接受外放疗),比较两组患者的治疗效果.结果 手术组平均生存期为453 d,中位生存期为379 d.手术+放疗组平均生存期789 d,中位生存期为665 d.手术组和手术+放疗组的1、3、5年生存率分别为46.3%、8.3%、4.2%和65.2%、20.2%、14.1%,手术+放疗组优于手术组(P=0.017).手术+放疗组局部复发率及区域淋巴结转移率低于手术组(P<0.05),且并发症发生率并不高于手术组(P>0.05).结论 胰腺癌根治术后结合放疗有助于改善患者生存期.     

Transverse myocutaneous gracilis flap reconstruction is feasible after pelvic exenteration: 12-year surgical and oncological results

IntroductionPelvic exenteration (PE) is the only curative treatment for certain locally advanced intrapelvic malignancies. PE has high morbidity, and optimal reconstruction of the pelvic floor remains undetermined.Materials and methodsA retrospective chart review was performed at a tertiary university center to assess the surgical and oncological outcomes of 39 PE procedures over a 12-year period. The majority of patients (n = 25) underwent transverse musculocutaneous gracilis (TMG) flap reconstruction for pelvic floor reconstruction.ResultsThe 1- and 5-year overall survival (OS) was 72% (95%CI 58%–86%) and 48% (95%CI 31%–65%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis (HR 3.070, p = 0.024) and positive surgical margins (HR 3.928, p = 0.009) were risk factors for OS. In this population, 71.8% of the patients had at least one complication. The complication rate was 65.4% and 84.6% for patients with versus without flap reconstruction, respectively (p = 0.191). The length of stay was longer for patients with a major complication 16,0 ± 5,9 days vs. 29,4 ± 14,8 days, p = 0,001, but complications did not affect OS.ConclusionFor selected patients, PE is a curative option for locally advanced, residual, or recurrent intrapelvic tumors. Pelvic floor and vulvovaginal defects can reliably be reconstructed using TMG flaps. TMG flaps are favored in our institution over abdominal-based flaps because the donor site morbidity is reasonable and TMG does not interfere with enterostomy.     

Morbidity and mortality rates following gastric cancer surgery and contiguous organ removal, a population based study

BACKGROUND: Complete surgical (R0) resection remains the only potentially curative intervention for patients with localised gastric cancer. To achieve a curative resection, patients may require complex operations with resection of contiguous organs. The aim of this study was to assess how the extent of surgical resection influenced morbidity, mortality and survival in an aged non-selected population with significant comorbid disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the Scottish Audit of Gastric and Oesophageal Cancer (SAGOC), a prospective population-based audit of all oesophageal and gastric cancers in Scotland between 1997 and 1999 with a minimum of 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 646 patients underwent surgical exploration for gastric cancer. A significantly higher incidence of chest infections (18.5 vs 11%, p< 0.05) and anastomotic leaks (14.3 vs 2.2%, p< 0.05) were associated with total gastrectomy (n=168) when compared to distal gastrectomy (n=272) resections. A 9.2% mortality rate and a 60% 1-year survival were associated with gastric resection alone. Removal of the spleen (n=131), pancreas (n=30) or liver resection (n=5) was associated with a significantly higher mortality rates, 18.3, 23.3 and 40%, respectively (p< 0.05), and significantly lower 1-year survival rates, 50.9, 39.1 and 20%, respectively (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of more extensive resection is not balanced by improved survival in this population based series. Extending gastric resection to involve contiguous organs should be confined to highly selected cases.     

Concurrent cisplatin, 5-FU, paclitaxel, and radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer

PURPOSE: Phase I-II data regarding neoadjuvant cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), paclitaxel, and radiation (PFT-R) from our institution demonstrated encouraging pathologic complete response (pCR) rates. This article updates our experience with PFT-R, and compares these results to our experience with cisplatin, 5-FU, and radiation therapy (PF-R) in locally advanced esophageal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We searched the Massachusetts General Hospital cancer registry for esophageal cancer patients treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy between 1994-2002. Records of patients treated with curative, neoadjuvant therapy were examined for chemotherapeutic regimen. Outcomes of patients treated with PF-R or PFT-R were assessed for response to therapy, toxicity, and survival. RESULTS: A total of 177 patients were treated with neoadjuvant therapy with curative intent; 164 (93%) received PF-R (n=81) or PFT-R (n=83). Median overall survival was 24 months. After a median follow-up of 54 months for surviving patients, 3-year overall survival was 40% with no significant difference between PF-R (39%) and PFT-R (42%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings failed to demonstrate an improvement in pCR or survival with PFT-R vs. PF-R. These results do not support this regimen of concurrent neoadjuvant PFT-R in esophageal cancer, and suggest that further investigations into alternative regimens and novel agents are warranted.     

内镜黏膜下剥离术治疗不同浸润深度早期胃癌的安全性及相关因素分析

目的:探讨内镜黏膜下剥离术(endoscopic submucosal dissection, ESD)治疗不同浸润深度早期胃癌的临床安全性及其相关影响因素。方法:收集2012年01月01日至2018年12月31日在我院行ESD术的早期胃癌患者的临床相关资料,根据ESD术后病理,比较黏膜内癌组(M)与浅层黏膜下癌组(浸润深度≤500μm, SM1)患者的临床特征及临床预后,运用Logistic回归模型分析影响ESD术治愈性切除的相关因素。结果:276例患者中,M组247例,SM1组29例。M组与SM1组在病变大小、病变部位、术后病理类型方面差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);M组治愈性切除率远高于SM1组(94.74%vs 65.52%,χ²=29.007,P<0.05);M组与SM1组3年生存率(96.21%vs 86.67%),差异无统计学意义(χ²=0.540,P=0.463),术后并发症的发生差异也无统计学意义(P=0.572);有溃疡和浸润深度SM1是影响ESD术治愈性切除的相关因素。结论:ESD治疗不同浸润深度早期胃癌,...     

Pelvic exenteration and composite sacral resection in the surgical treatment of locally recurrent rectal cancer

BackgroundThe incidence of rectal cancer recurrence after surgery is 5–45%. Extended pelvic resection which entails En-bloc resection of the tumor and adjacent involved organs provides the only true possible curative option for patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer.AimTo evaluate the surgical and oncological outcome of such treatment.Patients and methodsBetween 2006 and 2012 a consecutive series of 40 patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer underwent abdominosacral resection (ASR) in 18 patients, total pelvic exenteration with sacral resection in 10 patients and extended pelvic exenteration in 12 patients. Patients with sacral resection were 28, with the level of sacral division at S2–3 interface in 10 patients, at S3–4 in 15 patients and S4–5 in 3 patients.ResultsForty patients, male to female ratio 1.7:1, median age 45 years (range 25–65 years) underwent extended pelvic resection in the form of pelvic exenteration and abdominosacral resection. Morbidity, re-admission and mortality rates were 55%, 37.5%, and 5%, respectively. Mortality occurred in 2 patients due to perineal flap sepsis and massive myocardial infarction. A R0 and R1 sacral resection were achieved in 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate was 22.6% and the 4-year recurrence free survival was 31.8%.ConclusionExtended pelvic resection as pelvic exenteration and sacral resection for locally recurrent rectal cancer are effective procedures with tolerable mortality rate and acceptable outcome. The associated morbidity remains high and deserves vigilant follow up.     

Expression of thymidylate synthase in gastric cancer patients treated with 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection

We evaluated the expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) in locally advanced gastric cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection and investigated the association between TS expression and clinicopathologic characteristics including prognosis of the patients. TS expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining using TS106 monoclonal antibody in 103 locally advanced gastric cancer patients (stage IB-IV) who underwent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and doxorubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection. 65 patients (63%) had primary tumours with high TS expression (> or = 25% of tumour cells positive), and 38 patients (37%) demonstrated low TS expression (< 25% of tumour cells positive or no staining). High TS expression was associated with male gender (P = 0.002), poorly differentiated histology (P = 0.015), and mixed type in Lauren's classification (P = 0.027). There were no statistically significant differences in 4-year disease-free survival (60.0% vs. 57.2%, P = 0.548) and overall survival (59.6% vs. 59.3%, P = 0.792) between high-TS group and low-TS group. In conclusion, although high TS expression was associated with poorly differentiated histology and mixed type in Lauren's classification, it did not predict poor disease-free and overall survival in gastric cancer patients treated with 5-FU and doxorubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection. Further prospective studies including the evaluation of other biological markers associated with the resistance to 5-FU and doxorubicin are necessary.     

Preoperative chemoradiation and IOERT for unresectable or borderline resectable pancreas cancer

Background and objectives

Pre-operative chemoradiation (preop CRT) plus intraoperative electron irradiation (IOERT) has been used in the multidisciplinary treatment for patients with locally advanced unresectable or borderline resectable pancreas cancer. This review was performed to evaluate survival, relapse patterns and prognostic factors in patients treated with curative intent.

Methods

Between January 2002 and December 2010, 48 patients with locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma received preop CRT prior to an attempt at resection and IOERT. 31/48 (65%) patients proceeded to curative-intent surgical resection. Resection status prior to preop CRT was locally unresectable (20 patients) and borderline resectable (11 patients). Preop CRT (45-50.4 Gy/25-28 Fx in 27/31) was delivered with concurrent 5FU or gemcitabine-based regimens. Subsequent gross total resection was achieved in 16 patients (R0, 11; R1, 5). IOERT was delivered in 28 patients (dose, 10-20 Gy). 16 patients also received adjuvant post-operative systemic chemotherapy. Outcomes evaluated include survival, local failure in the EBRT field (LF), central failure in the IOERT field (CF), and distant metastases.

Results

Resection status was predictive for survival and for patterns of relapse. For patients with at least a gross total resection after preop CRT (R0/R1; n=16) vs. no resection (n=15), both median and overall survival were improved (median 23 vs. 10 months; 2-year, 40% vs. 17%; 3-year, 40% vs. 0%; P=0.002). Liver or peritoneal relapse was documented in 22/31 patients (71%); LF/CF in 5/26 (16%).

Conclusions

Long term survival and disease control are achievable in select patients with borderline resectable or locally unresectable pancreas cancer when gross total surgical resection is achieved after preop CRT. Continued evaluation of curative-intent combined modality therapy is warranted in this high risk population, but additional strategies are needed to improve resectability and disease control.Key Words: Pancreatic neoplasms, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, intraoperative procedures