Survival Benefit of Surgical Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Inferior Vena Cava/Right Atrium Tumor Thrombus: Results of a Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

The significance of surgery in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC)/right atrium (RA) is currently unclear. We sought to clarify whether surgical treatment can improve survival in such patients.

Methods

A retrospective review was undertaken of patients with HCC and IVC/RA tumor thrombus who were potential candidates for surgery but who were finally treated surgically and nonsurgically between September 2000 and October 2010. The patients were subdivided according to therapeutic modalities, and the results for each group were compared.

Results

A total of 56 patients were included in this study. They were divided into three groups. Twenty-five patients underwent hepatectomy plus thrombectomy (surgical group), with minor morbidity and no mortality; the patients in this group had 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 68.0, 22.5, and 13.5 %, respectively, with a median survival of 19 months. Twenty patients were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, with 1- and 3-year survival rates of 15.0 and 5.0 %, respectively (median survival 4.5 months). Eleven patients received symptomatic treatment only, and no one in this group survived longer than 1 year (median survival 5 months). The patients in surgical group survived significantly longer than the patients in the other two groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Although technically challenging, surgery for HCC with IVC/RA tumor thrombus can be safely performed and should be considered in patients with resectable primary tumor and sufficient hepatic reservoir because compared with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization or symptomatic treatment, it significantly improved patient survival.     

Prospective Study of Adjuvant Radiotherapy on Preventing Lymph Node Metastasis After Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy in Esophageal Cancer

Purpose

To investigate whether Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy combined with adjuvant radiotherapy prevents lymphatic metastatic recurrence in esophageal cancer patients.

Methods

A total of 113 stage IIA esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients after Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy were accepted mRNA expression of Mucoid 1 (MUC1) gene detection. Positive patients were enrolled onto the adjuvant radiotherapy group (with postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy). Negative patients were enrolled onto the control group (without postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy). The radiotherapy area consisted of the neck, supraclavicular region, and superior mediastinum (including paraesophageal and paratracheal region). Survival difference was compared by the χ² test, and the Kaplan–Meier method was performed to calculate the survival rate and recurrence rate. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determined independent risk factors.

Results

The radiotherapy area lymphatic metastatic recurrence rate in adjuvant radiotherapy group (16.7 %, 5 of 30) was lower than patients without postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (45.8 %, 38 of 83) (P < 0.05). Only compared to positive patients without postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (60.0 %, 6 of 10) was the rate (16.7 %, 5 of 30) significantly lower (P < 0.01). Cancer recurrence was recognized in 48.6 % (55 of 113) patients within 3 years after surgery, including 38.1 % (43 of 113) patients with radiotherapy area recurrence. Logistic analysis revealed that T status (P < 0.01) and adjuvant radiotherapy (P < 0.05) were independent risk factors of lymph node metastasis in the first 3 years after surgery.

Conclusions

In MUC1 mRNA-positive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients, adjuvant radiotherapy could significantly reduce the lymph node metastasis rate in the radiotherapy area after Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy. Compared with traditional therapeutic methods, Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy combined with adjuvant radiotherapy can achieve similar curative effects in MUC1 mRNA-positive patients.     

Balearic archipelago: three islands,three beta‐thalassemia population patterns

López‐Escribano H, Parera MM, Guix P, Serra JM, Gutierrez A, Balsells D, Oliva‐Berini E, Castro JA, Ramon MM, Picornell A. Balearic archipelago: three islands, three beta‐thalassemia population patterns. The mutation spectrum of 175 β‐thalassemia (β‐thal) carriers, identified in pilot carrier screening on 22,713 individuals from Balearic Islands (Spain), is reported. The β⁰ CD39 (C>T) mutation is the most frequent (61.1%), followed by β⁺ IVS‐I‐110 (G>A) (12.0%), β⁺ IVS‐I‐6 (T>C) and β⁰ IVS‐1‐1 (G>A) (3.4% both) and eight other rare mutations (2.9–0.6%); with a distinct prevalence and distribution between islands. Minorca shows the highest prevalence in Iberian populations, with a single mutation, CD39 (C>T), present in most β‐thal carriers. Ibiza is the only Western Mediterranean population where the most frequent β‐thal mutation is IVS‐I‐110 (G>A). These results can be explained by a combination of historical–demographic characteristics together with evolutionary forces such as founder effect, genetic drift and probably selection by malaria. Knowledge of the mutational spectrum in the Balearic Islands will enable to optimize mutation detection strategy for genetic diagnosis of β‐thal in these islands.     

CHEK2*1100delC homozygosity in the Netherlands—prevalence and risk of breast and lung cancer

The 1100delC mutation in the CHEK2 gene has a carrier frequency of up to 1.5% in individuals from North-West Europe. Women heterozygous for 1100delC have an increased breast cancer risk (odds ratio 2.7). To explore the prevalence and clinical consequences of 1100delC homozygosity in the Netherlands, we genotyped a sporadic breast cancer hospital-based cohort, a group of non-BRCA1/2 breast cancer families, and breast tumors from a tumor tissue bank. Three 1100delC homozygous patients were found in the cohort of 1434 sporadic breast cancer patients, suggesting an increased breast cancer risk for 1100delC homozygotes (odds ratio 3.4, 95% confidence interval 0.4–32.6, P=0.3). Another 1100delC homozygote was found in 592 individuals from 108 non-BRCA1/2 breast cancer families, and two more were found after testing 1706 breast tumors and confirming homozygosity on their wild-type DNA. Follow-up data was available for five homozygous patients, and remarkably, three of them had developed contralateral breast cancer. A possible relationship between 1100delC and lung cancer risk was investigated in 457 unrelated lung cancer patients but could not be confirmed. Due to the small number of 1100delC homozygotes identified, the breast cancer risk estimate associated with this genotype had limited accuracy but is probably higher than the risk in heterozygous females. Screening for CHEK2 1100delC could be beneficial in countries with a relatively high allele frequency.     

Prediction of delirium in critically ill patients with elevated C-reactive protein

Background and Purpose

Delirium is thought to be associated with systemic inflammatory response. However, its association with the most widely used inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP) has not been well established. We aimed to examine whether CRP on intensive care unit (ICU) entry was associated with subsequent development of delirium.

Design and Setting

This prospective observational study was conducted in a mixed 24-bed ICU in a tertiary teaching hospital.

Methods

All patients admitted to the ICU from February 2011 to June 2012 were screened for eligibility. Demographic data and clinical characteristics of included patients were recorded. Patients were screened for the presence of delirium by using the tool Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU). C-reactive protein was obtained on ICU entry and 24 hours thereafter. Eligible patients were followed up for 28 days or until death. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate independent risk factors for delirium. Clinical outcome included the length of stay (LOS) in the ICU, 28-day mortality, and duration of mechanical ventilation. Two-tailed P < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 223 patients were included during study period. In univariate analysis, patients with delirium showed significantly higher CRP values than those without (120.5 vs 57.5 mg/L; P = .0001). By adjusting for confounding variables (including age, sex, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, intubation, living alone, physical restraint, alcohol drinking, smoking, type of medical condition, and hospital LOS before ICU admission) in logistic regression model, CRP remained an independent predictor of delirium (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.15). As compared with nondelirious patients, those with delirium showed longer LOS in ICU (13 vs 5 days; P < .001) and duration of mechanical ventilation (6 vs 1 days; P < .001). An increase in CRP greater than 8.1 mg/L within 24 hours was associated with 4-fold increase in the risk of delirium (odds ratio: 4.47, 95% confidence interval, 1.28-15.60).

Conclusion

C-reactive protein measured on ICU entry and its changes within 24 hours are risk indicators of delirium. Further studies exploring the treatment of delirium according to CRP levels are warranted.