A comparison of postoperative quality of life and dysfunction after Billroth I and Roux-en-Y reconstruction following distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: results from a multi-institutional RCT

Background

Both Billroth I (B-I) and Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstructions are commonly performed as standard procedures, but it has yet to be determined which reconstruction is better for patients. A randomized prospective phase II trial with body weight loss at 1?year after surgery as a primary endpoint was performed to address this issue. The current report delivers data on the quality of life and degree of postoperative dysfunction, which were the secondary endpoints of this study.

Methods

Gastric cancer patients who underwent distal gastrectomy were intraoperatively randomized to B-I or R-Y. Postsurgical QOL was evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and DAUGS 20.

Results

Between August 2005 and December 2008, 332 patients were enrolled in a randomized trial comparing B-I versus R-Y. A mail survey questionnaire sent to 327 patients was completed by 268 (86.2%) of them. EORTC QLQ-C30 scores were as follows: global health status was similar in each group (B-I 73.5?±?18.8, R-Y 73.2?±?20.2, p?=?0.87). Scores of five functional scales were also similar. Only the dyspnea symptom scale showed superior results for R-Y than for B-I (B-I 13.6?±?17.9, R-Y 8.6?±?16.3, p?=?0.02). With respect to DAUGS 20, the total score did not differ significantly between the R-Y and B-I groups (24.8 vs. 23.6, p?=?0.41). Only reflux symptoms were significantly worse for B-I than for R-Y (0.7?±?0.6 vs. 0.5?±?0.6, p?=?0.01).

Conclusions

The B-I and R-Y techniques were generally equivalent in terms of postoperative QOL and dysfunction. Both procedures seem acceptable as standard reconstructions after distal gastrectomy with regard to postoperative QOL and dysfunction.     

Petersen’s hernia after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer

Background

To decrease the incidence of internal hernia after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, recent recommendations indicated closure of mesenteric defects and Petersen’s defect. Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer is used increasingly, so the incidence of Petersen’s hernia can also increase, but the trend has not been studied.

Methods

This study retrospectively reviewed 358 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer at one institution, with antecolic Roux-en-Y (RY) reconstruction.

Results

Petersen’s hernia occurred in 6 (2.2 %) of 268 patients whose Petersen’s defect was not closed by a mean of 351 days after surgery. All the patients underwent reoperation with reduction and repair of the hernia except the first case. In 90 subsequent cases, with closure of the Petersen’s defect, internal hernias did not occur (0/90 cases; p = 0.06). Focusing on the totally laparoscopic procedure, Petersen’s hernia occurred in 2 (5.1 %) of 39 patients, whereas in 81 subsequent cases, with closure of Petersen’s defect, internal hernias did not occur (0/81 cases; p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Based on the recent recommendations for bariatric surgery, closure of this potential hernia defect is necessary after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with R-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer.     

Increased apoptosis and elevated Fas expression in circulating natural killer cells in gastric cancer patients

Background

Immune cells undergo extensive apoptosis in patients with cancer, which may be related to immune evasion by cancerous cells. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between natural killer (NK) cell apoptosis and Fas expression in gastric cancer patients.

Methods

NK cell apoptosis and Fas expression were evaluated by multicolor flow cytometry. Soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) was quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The frequency of apoptotic NK cells in gastric cancer patients was significantly higher than in normal controls (p = 0.0016). Moreover, their frequency was related to the progression of gastric cancer. Fas-positive NK cells were significantly more common in gastric cancer patients compared with normal controls (p = 0.034). Furthermore, Fas expression was closely related to the frequency of NK cell apoptosis (r = 0.6, p < 0.0001). The frequency of tumor-infiltrating NK cell apoptosis was significantly higher than that of circulating NK cell apoptosis (p = 0.035). Furthermore, Fas-positive NK cells in gastric cancer tissues occurred significantly more often than in peripheral blood (p = 0.029). FasL concentration in gastric cancer patients was lower than that in normal controls, and the difference tended to be significant (p = 0.057). Apoptotic circulating NK cells significantly decreased after surgery compared to before surgery (p = 0.023). Furthermore, Fas expression on circulating NK cells also significantly decreased after surgery compared with before surgery (p = 0.021).

Conclusions

Upregulation of Fas expression on NK cells is related to increased apoptosis of circulating NK cells in gastric cancer patients.     

Effect of rikkunshito, a Japanese herbal medicine, on gastrointestinal symptoms and ghrelin levels in gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy

Background

Gastric cancer patients who undergo gastrectomy suffer from a post-gastrectomy syndrome that includes weight loss, dumping syndrome, reflux esophagitis, alkaline gastritis, and finally malnutrition. It is important to ameliorate the post-gastrectomy symptoms to restore postoperative quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rikkunshito, a Japanese herbal medicine, on postoperative symptoms and ghrelin levels in gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy.

Methods

Twenty-five patients who had undergone gastrectomy received 2.5 g of rikkunshito before every meal for 4 weeks, and a drug withdrawal period was established for the next 4 weeks. Changes in gastrointestinal hormones, including ghrelin, and appetite visual analog scale scores were measured, and QoL was estimated by using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core questionnaire QLQ-C30. The Dysfunction After Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery for Cancer (DAUGS) scoring system was used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms after gastrectomy.

Results

Sixteen men and nine women (mean age 61.9 years) were enrolled in the study. All patients had either stage I (n = 24) or II (n = 1) disease and had undergone either distal gastrectomy (n = 17) or total gastrectomy (n = 8) by a laparoscopy-assisted approach. The mean ratio of the acyl-/total ghrelin concentration increased significantly after rikkunshito administration (Pre: 7.8 ± 2.1, 4 weeks: 10.5 ± 1.7 %, p = 0.0026). The total DAUGS score, as well as the scores reflecting limited activity due to decreased food consumption, reflux symptoms, dumping symptoms, and nausea and vomiting significantly improved after rikkunshito administration.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated a significant attenuation of gastrointestinal symptoms after gastrectomy by treatment with rikkunshito. Rikkunshito is potentially useful to minimize gastrointestinal symptoms after gastrectomy.     

Gastric cancers with microsatellite instability exhibit high fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography

Background

Gastric cancers exhibit various degrees of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptakes on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether FDG uptake in gastric cancer varies according to the microsatellite instability (MSI) status.

Methods

Consecutive gastric cancer patients who underwent PET/CT imaging and MSI analysis were included in the study. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max) of gastric cancer was assessed using PET/CT imaging.

Results

Of 131 gastric cancers, 16 exhibited a high incidence of MSI (MSI-H) and 3 exhibited a low incidence of MSI (MSI-L). In 29 subjects who showed no uptake on PET/CT imaging the gastric cancers were all microsatellite stable (MSS). Gastric cancers with MSI were related to age older than 60 years (p = 0.002), cancer volume larger than 10 cm³ (p = 0.015), and the presence of FDG uptake on PET/CT imaging (p = 0.001). A higher SUV_max of gastric cancer was linked to the presence of MSI (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The presence of MSI is related to FDG uptake in gastric cancer. Care should be taken with MSS gastric cancers, because they show lower SUV_max on PET/CT imaging than MSI gastric cancers.     

LINE-1 hypomethylation in gastric cancer, detected by bisulfite pyrosequencing, is associated with poor prognosis

Background

Genome-wide DNA hypomethylation plays an important role in genomic instability and carcinogenesis. DNA methylation in the long interspersed nucleotide element-1, L1 (LINE-1) repetitive element is a good indicator of the global DNA methylation level. In some types of human neoplasms, LINE-1 methylation level is attracting interest as a predictive marker for patient prognosis. However, the prognostic significance of LINE-1 hypomethylation in gastric cancer remains unclear.

Methods

Using 203 resected gastric cancer specimens, we quantified LINE-1 methylation using bisulfite-pyrosequencing technology. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR), adjusted for the clinical and pathological variables.

Results

Gastric cancers showed significantly lower LINE-1 methylation levels compared to matched normal gastric mucosa (p < 0.0001; n = 74). Tumoral LINE-1 methylation range was 11.6–97.5 on a 0–100 scale (n = 203; mean 71.4, median 74.4, standard deviation 12.9). LINE-1 hypomethylation was significantly associated with shorter overall survival [log-rank p = 0.029; univariate HR 2.01, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.09–3.99, p = 0.023; stage-matched HR 1.88, 95 % CI 1.02–3.74, p = 0.041; multivariate HR 1.98, 95 % CI 1.04–4.04, p = 0.036]. No significant effect modification was observed by any of the covariates in survival analysis (all p interaction >0.25).

Conclusions

LINE-1 hypomethylation in gastric cancer is associated with shorter survival, suggesting that it has potential for use as a prognostic biomarker.     

Short-term outcomes and nutritional status after laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy with a very small remnant stomach for cStage I proximal gastric carcinoma

Background

Total or proximal gastrectomy is usually performed for early proximal gastric carcinoma, but the optimal type of gastrectomy is still unknown. We evaluated short-term outcomes and nutritional status after laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy (LsTG) in comparison with laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) and laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG).

Methods

We analyzed 113 patients who underwent LsTG (n = 38), LTG (n = 48), or LPG (n = 27) for cStage I gastric cancer located in the upper third of the stomach. Postoperative morbidities, nutritional status including body weight, serum albumin, hemoglobin, the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and endoscopic findings at 1 year after surgery were compared between LsTG and both LTG and LPG.

Results

Operation time and intraoperative blood loss were similar among the three groups. The incidence of postoperative morbidities was lower in LsTG than in LTG. The degree of body weight loss was significantly smaller in LsTG than in LTG at 6 and 12 months. At 12 months, LsTG resulted in better serum albumin and PNI than LPG, and better hemoglobin than LTG. Endoscopic examination demonstrated that one LsTG patient and two LPG patients had reflux esophagitis. Remnant gastritis was observed more frequently in LPG than in LsTG. No LsTG patient had bile reflux, although it was observed in four LPG patients.

Conclusions

LsTG with a very small remnant stomach had favorable short-term outcomes and nutritional status compared with LTG and LPG, so it may be a better treatment option for cStage I proximal gastric carcinoma.

     

Time trend of medical economic outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric cancer in Japan: a national database analysis

Background

Little information is available on the analysis of chronological changes in medical economic outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate the recent time trend of medical economic outcomes of ESD for gastric cancer based on the Japanese administrative database.

Methods

A total of 32,943 patients treated with ESD for gastric cancer were referred to 907 hospitals from 2009 to 2011 in Japan. We collected patients’ data from the administrative database to compare ESD-related complications, risk-adjusted length of stay (LOS), and medical costs during hospitalization. The study periods were categorized into three groups: 2009 (n = 9,727), 2010 (n = 11,052), and 2011 (n = 12,164).

Results

No significant difference was observed in ESD-related complications between three study periods (p = 0.496). However, mean LOS and medical costs during hospitalization of patients with ESD were significantly lower in 2011 than in 2009 and 2010 (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that patients who received ESD in 2011 had a significantly shorter LOS and lower medical costs during hospitalization compared with those in 2009. The unstandardized coefficient of patients with ESD in 2011 for LOS was ?0.78 days [95 % confidence interval (CI), ?0.89 to ?0.65; p ≤ 0.001], while that of those for medical costs during hospitalization was ?290.5 US dollars (95 % CI, ?392.3 to ?188.8; p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions

This study showed that the complication rate of ESD was stable, whereas the LOS and medical costs of patients were significantly reduced from 2009 to 2011.     

Differing effects of adjuvant chemotherapy according to BRCA1 nuclear expression in gastric cancer

Background

We aimed to investigate the role of BRCA1 nuclear expression in sporadic gastric cancer; currently, the role remains unknown.

Methods

Patients with gastric cancer who received curative operation with D2 dissection were enrolled in this study. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered at the discretion of the physician. According to BRCA1 nuclear expression analysis by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tissue microarrays using anti-BRCA1 antibody MS110, BRCA1 expression was classified as negative, low expression, and high expression.

Results

Among 318 cases, 155 cases (48.7 %) were identified as BRCA1-negative by IHC and 96 cases (30.2 %) revealed BRCA1 low expression, 67 cases (21.0 %) showed BRCA1 high expression. The negative or reduced expression of BRCA1 was more frequent in more advanced-stage disease (p < 0.001) and was associated with perineural invasion (p = 0.032). Disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly decreased with reduced BRCA1 expression (p = 0.027). This tendency was also observed in overall survival (OS), although the difference was not significant. The poorer prognosis of BRCA1-negative tumors was overcome through adjuvant chemotherapy. The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for DFS and OS in stage III was enhanced only in BRCA1-negative tumors (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), but not in BRCA1-positive tumors (p = 0.236, p = 0.148, respectively).

Conclusion

The reduction of BRCA1 nuclear expression is associated with advanced stage and perineural invasion. Moreover, negative BRCA1 nuclear expression is a predictive marker regarding the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in sporadic gastric cancer; these novel findings are of great importance, and further, larger studies are warranted.     

Comparison of advanced adenocarcinomas of esophagogastric junction and distal stomach in Japanese patients

Background

There have been no reports on the incidence, characteristics, treatment outcomes, and prognosis of inoperably advanced or recurrent adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEGJ) in Japan.

Methods

We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment outcomes, and prognosis for 816 patients with esophagogastric junctional and gastric adenocarcinoma who received first-line chemotherapy between 2004 and 2009.

Results

Of 816 patients, 82 (10 %) had AEGJ. The patients with AEGJ had significantly more lung and lymph node metastasis, but less peritoneal metastasis, than those with gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). The objective response rate to first-line chemotherapy was 23.3 % for patients with AEGJ and 22.6 % in patients with GAC (p = 0.90). The median survival was 13.0 months in AEGJ and 11.8 months in GAC (p = 0.445). In no patient was tumor site a significant prognostic factor (p = 0.472). In patients with AEGJ, ECOG PS ≥ 2, presence of liver metastasis, and absence of lung metastasis were significantly associated with poor prognosis.

Conclusions

No significant differences were observed in treatment outcomes between advanced AEGJ and GAC. Therefore, the same chemotherapy regimen can be given as a treatment arm in future Japanese clinical trials to both patients with inoperably advanced or recurrent AEGJ and those with GAC.     

Increased levels of SLP-2 correlate with poor prognosis in gastric cancer

Background

Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2) is a member of the highly conserved stomatin protein family whose homologues span from Archaea to humans and include stomatin, SLP-1, and SLP-3. Several studies have indicated that overexpression of SLP-2 is strongly associated with adhesion and migration in several human cancers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate SLP-2 expression at the mRNA and protein level in patients with gastric cancer (GC) and to examine the relationships between SLP-2 expression, clinicopathological features, and prognosis.

Methods

We investigated SLP-2 expression in primary GC and paired normal gastric tissue by real-time PCR (RT-PCR; n = 16) and Western blot analysis (n = 32). Additionally, we performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) on 113 paraffin-embedded GC specimens, 30 matched normal specimens, and 30 paired metastatic lymph node samples.

Results

SLP-2 is overexpressed in GC compared with the adjacent normal gastric epithelium (p < 0.001), and high-level SLP-2 expression is significantly correlated with the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage. Furthermore, elevated SLP-2 expression is an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model (p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Overexpression of SLP-2 may contribute to the progression and poor prognosis of GC.     

Prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptors in gastric cancer: a survival analysis by Weibull model incorporating long-term survivors

Background

There is no consensus about the prognostic role of HER2 expression and that of other members of the EGFR family in gastric cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the EGFR family in gastric cancer.

Methods

This retrospective study included 201 patients with gastric and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma stages 0–IV (AJCC 6th edition) who underwent primary tumor resection. Tissues from primary tumors were analyzed by tissue microarray technology and immunohistochemistry. Correlations between receptor expression and clinicopathological characteristics were performed according to the chi-square test. Survival analysis was calculated according to the Weibull model with a mixture model incorporating long-term survivors. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors was performed by a regression model incorporating long-term survivors with the Weibull distribution.

Results

Membrane expression of HER1, HER2, and HER4 were 9, 17, and 15 %, respectively. No membrane expression of HER3 was observed. Cytoplasmic expression of HER1, HER3, and HER4 were 45, 62, and 24 %, respectively. HER2 and HER3 expression were correlated (p < 0.001) and associated with intestinal-type histology (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and advanced age (p = 0.011 and p = 0.008, respectively). According to a regression model adjusted for age, surgical radicality, surgical modality, Laurén histology, adjuvant therapy, TNM stage, and receptor expressions, only TNM stage showed prognostic influence.

Conclusions

According to analysis by a parametric model, the EGFR family did not have prognostic influence in the gastric cancer population studied. The data presented showed a correlation between HER2 and HER3 expression, which might suggest a potential role for HER2–HER3 heterodimerization inhibitors.     

Prognostic significance of c-erbB2 overexpression in patients with metastatic gastric cancer

Background

Overexpression of the gene c-erbB2, which encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase, has been associated with prognosis and response to therapy in several solid tumors. This study was designed to test whether c-erb-B2 overexpression can be related to prognosis of patients with metastatic gastric cancer.

Methods

Between 2005 and 2010, 46 cases of metastatic gastric cancer were evaluated immunohistochemically for c-erb-B2 overexpression. Overall survival (OS) and time-to-progression (TTP) served as the main outcome measures.

Results

c-erbB2 was overexpressed in 19 (41.3 %) cases and 8 patients (17.4 %) had a c-erbB2 score of 3+ (a strong complete membrane staining observed in >10 % of the tumor cells). c-erbB2 expression was not associated with the clinicohistological characteristics of the study participants. The mean OS was 11.48 ± 1.03 months, whereas the mean TTP was 8.28 ± 0.8 months. Compared with patients with a score of 2+ or less (n = 38), those with a c-erbB2 score of 3+ (n = 8) had both a significantly lower OS (15.55 ± 1.63 vs. 8.22 ± 0.88 months, respectively, p < 0.05) and TTP (10.72 ± 1.81 vs. 6.11 ± 0.61 months, respectively, p < 0.05). After allowance for potential confounders, Cox regression analysis identified a c-erbB2 score of 3+ as an independent predictor of both OS (hazard ratio = 1.9; 95 % confidence interval = 1.1?3.7, p < 0.05) and TTP (hazard ratio = 1.8; 95 % confidence interval = 1.1?4.1, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that c-erbB-2 overexpression may have a prognostic significance in patients with metastatic gastric cancer.     

Ultrasonically activated shears versus electrocautery in open gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Use of ultrasonically activated shears (UAS) is gaining popularity in open surgery but without concrete evidence. We conducted a prospectively randomized study to assess the efficacy of ultrasonic dissection in open gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods

Patients with gastric cancer who were to undergo gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection were enrolled and assigned to either the conventional surgery group (n = 125) or the UAS group (n = 128).

Results

The mean operating time was significantly reduced in the UAS group (89.3 ± 15.6 min) when compared to the conventional group (97.8 ± 17.2 min; p < 0.001). However, we did not find any significant difference in operative blood loss, the amount of postoperative abdominal drainage, or the rate of postoperative complications between the groups. A multivariate analysis for operating time revealed that the use of UAS, female gender and BMI less than 25 were significantly associated with reduced operating time. The operating time was significantly longer in the conventional group than in the UAS group (B 7.786; 95 % CI 4.103–11.468; p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the use of UAS significantly reduced the operating time, especially in male patients, regardless of the BMI status.

Conclusions

The use of UAS in gastrectomy for gastric cancer was a safe and efficient method, especially in terms of reducing operating time for male patients.     

Duodenal stump fistula after gastric surgery for malignancies: a retrospective analysis of risk factors in a single centre experience

Background

Duodenal stump fistula (DSF) is the most severe surgical complication after gastrectomy. This study was designed to assess the incidence, to observe the consequences, and to identify the risk factors associated with DSF after gastrectomy.

Methods

All procedures involving total or sub-total gastrectomy for cancer, performed between January 1987 and June 2012 in a single institution, were prospectively entered into a computerized database. Risk factors analysis was performed between DSF patients, patients with complete uneventful postoperative course and patients with other major surgical complications.

Results

Over this 25 years period, 1287 gastrectomies were performed. DSF was present in 32 cases (2.5 %). Mean post-operative onset was 6.6 days. 19 patients were treated conservatively and 13 surgically. Mean DSF healing time was 31.2 and 45.2 days in the two groups, respectively. Mortality was registered in 3 cases (9.37 %), due to septic shock (2 cases) and bleeding (1 case). In monovariate analysis, heart disease (p < 0.001), pre-operative lymphocytes number (p = 0.003) and absence of manual reinforcement over duodenal stump (p < 0.001) were found to be DSF-specific risk factors, whereas liver cirrhosis (p = 0.002), pre-operative albumin levels (p < 0.001) and blood losses (p = 0.002) were found to be non-DSF-specific risk factors. In multivariate analysis heart disease (OR 5.18; p < 0.001), liver cirrhosis (OR 13.2; p < 0.001), bio-humoral nutritional status impairment (OR 2.29; p = 0.05), blood losses >300 mL (OR 4.47; p = 0.001) and absence of manual reinforcement over duodenal stump (OR 30.47; p < 0.001) were found to be independent risk factors for DSF development.

Conclusions

Duodenal stump fistula still remains a life-threatening complication after gastric surgery. Co-morbidity factors, nutritional status impairment and surgical technical difficulties should be considered as important risk factors in developing this awful complication.     

Higher incidence of pancreatic fistula in laparoscopic gastrectomy. Real-world evidence from a nationwide prospective cohort study

Background

Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) is becoming the standard procedure for gastric cancer. However, supporting evidence thus far has been derived primarily from randomized control trials conducted by centers of excellence. In the present study we used the National Clinical Database (NCD) in Japan to prospectively accumulate data from diverse types of hospitals and examine whether LDG is a safe and valid standard procedure.

Methods

From the NCD, 169 institutions were selected to form a cohort that was considered to be representative of Japan. From August 2014 to July 2015, 5288 patients who underwent LDG were registered prospectively, and clinical data were acquired through the NCD. To compare surgical outcomes between open distal gastrectomy (ODG) and LDG, we adjusted for confounding factors using propensity score matching, ultimately retrieving data from 1067 patients in each group.

Results

There were no significant differences in the number of in-hospital deaths in the ODG and LDG groups (3/1067 vs. 6/1067; P = 0.51) or in the number of reoperations (20/1067 vs. 29/1067; P = 0.19). However, the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LDG. Although wound infection and dehiscence were more common in the ODG group, LDG was more often associated with grade B or higher pancreatic fistulas.

Conclusion

The safety and minimal invasiveness of LDG were confirmed in the present Japanese nationwide survey. However, care must be taken to prevent the formation of pancreatic fistulas with LDG, and further improvements in surgical quality are warranted in this regard.

     

Laparoscopic double-tract proximal gastrectomy for proximal early gastric cancer

Background

Proximal gastrectomy is not routinely performed because it is associated with increased reflux symptoms and anastomotic strictures. The purpose of this study is to describe a novel method of laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG) with double-tract reconstruction (DTR) for proximal early gastric cancer (EGC), and to evaluate the technical feasibility, safety, and short-term surgical outcomes, especially reflux symptoms, after LPG.

Methods

Retrospective review of the prospective cohort data of 43 patients who presented to a single tertiary hospital from June 2009 through April 2012 and underwent LPG with DTR for proximal EGC. The data of this prospective cohort were analyzed, and the reflux symptoms, clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical outcomes, postoperative morbidities and mortalities, and follow-up findings were analyzed.

Results

The mean surgical time was 180.7 min; mean estimated blood loss, 120.4 mL; mean length of the proximal resection margin, 4.13 cm; mean number of retrieved lymph nodes, 41.2; and mean postoperative hospital stay, 7.1 days. Early complication rate was 11.6 % (n = 5); major complication (grade higher than Clavien-Dindo IIIa) occurred in 1 patient (2.3 %). Late complication rate was 11.6 % (n = 5): 2 patients had esophagojejunostomy stenosis, which was successfully treated with fluoroscopic balloon dilatations; 1, chylous ascites; and 2 had Visick grade II reflux symptoms (4.6 %), managed by medication during the mean follow-up period of 21.6 months.

Conclusion

DTR after LPG is a feasible, simple, and novel reconstruction method with excellent postoperative outcomes in terms of preventing reflux symptoms. Its clinical applicability must be validated by prospective randomized trials.     

The association between neighborhood socioeconomic status and ovarian cancer tumor characteristics

Purpose

Higher pathologic grade, suboptimal debulking surgery, and late-stage are markers of more aggressive and advanced ovarian cancer. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with more aggressive and advanced tumors for other cancer sites, and this may also be true for ovarian cancer.

Methods

We examined the association between neighborhood SES and ovarian cancer tumor characteristics using data on 581 women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer in Cook County, Illinois. Two complementary measures (concentrated disadvantage and concentrated affluence) were used to estimate neighborhood SES. Prevalence differences and 95 % confidence intervals were estimated in logistic regression models adjusted for age and race.

Results

Greater disadvantage was associated with higher grade tumors (p = 0.03) and suboptimal debulking (p = 0.05) and marginally associated with later tumor stage (p = 0.20). Greater affluence was inversely associated with stage at diagnosis (p = 0.004) and suboptimal debulking (p = 0.03) and (marginally) with tumor grade (p = 0.21).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that lower SES, estimated by neighborhood SES, is associated with ovarian cancer tumor characteristics indicative of more advanced and aggressive disease.     

Genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP2E1 genes modulate susceptibility to gastric cancer in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection

Background

Activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP), a polymorphic carcinogen-activating enzyme, is exaggerated following Helicobacter pylori infection. We studied the role of CYP2E1, CYP1A2 (rs762551), and CYP1A1 (rs4646903) polymorphisms in association with H. pylori infection in gastric carcinogenesis.

Methods

Genotyping of CYP2E1 (96-bp insertion), CYP1A2 (164A to C), and CYP1A1 (3801C to T) was carried out in 88, 76, 53, and 170 patients with gastric cancer (GC), functional dyspepsia (FD), peptic ulcer (PU), and healthy controls (HC), respectively. Serum IgG antibody (all subjects), rapid urease test, and histology (GC, FD, and PU patients) were used to test for H. pylori.

Results

CYP2E1 gene polymorphism was more common among patients with GC than HC and PU [48/88 (54.5 %) vs. 67/170 (39.4 %); OR 1.9, 95 % CI 1.1–3.2, p = 0.016) and [PU 18/53 (34 %); OR 2.3 (1–4.7), p = 0.02]. CYP1A2 CC or CT genotypes was lower among patients with GC than HC [50/88 (56.8 %) vs. 120/170 (70.6 %); OR 0.54 (0.31–0.92), p = 0.023]. CYP1A1 polymorphism and CYP1A1–CYP1A2 haplotypes were comparable among different groups. CYP2E1 was also more common in patients with GC than HC and PU in the absence of H. pylori [33/60 (55 %) vs. 19/52 (36.5 %); OR 4 (1.5–11.4), p = 0.007 and PU 7/22 (31.8 %); OR 3.4 (1–11.6), p = 0.05]. CYP1A1 (CT + TT) was more common in patients with GC than PU in presence of H. pylori [17/26 (65.4 %) vs. 11/29 (38 %); OR 3.0 (1.03–9.3), p = 0.045].

Conclusions

The presence of CYP2E1 (96-bp insertion) is associated with increased risk of GC even in absence of H. pylori. CYP1A2 CC or CT is associated with reduced risk of GC.