Utility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of regional lymph nodes that are proximal to and far from the primary distal esophageal carcinoma.

Implications of assessing the proximal and far para-tracheal or sub-carinal nodes (para-tracheal [PTN] or sub-carinal [SCN]) associated with lower primary esophageal carcinomas (ECs) are unclear. To evaluate the value of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for PTN and SCN, we analyzed results by positron emission tomography (PET) avidity, 4 EUS node malignancy features, and EUS-FNA results in all patients with Siewert's I or II EC. Of 133 patients (PTN, n=102; SCN, n=31) with EUS-FNA, 47 (35%) patients had malignant node, leading to treatment modifications. EUS-FNA diagnosed significantly more patients with malignant nodes (p=0.02) even when PET and EUS features were combined. Among 94 PET-negative and EUS-negative patients, 9 (10%) had malignant EUS-FNA. At a minimum follow-up of 1 year, only 3 (5%) of 62 patients with benign EUS-FNA had evidence of malignancy in the nodal area of prior EUS-FNA. Patients with malignant EUS-FNA independently had a much shorter overall survival (OS) than those with benign EUS-FNA (p<0.001). Our data suggest that a benign EUS-FNA is highly accurate and need not be pursued further. However, malignant EUS-FNA of PTN/SCN was independently prognostic, conferred a shorter OS, and altered the management of 35% of patients.

Continuation of trastuzumab beyond disease progression in HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer: the MD Anderson experience.

BACKGROUND: Despite the wide spread use of trastuzumab in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer patients, its optimal duration of administration beyond first-line disease progression is unknown. In HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer, trastuzumab continuation beyond first-line disease progression has shown improvement in time to progression (TTP) without an increased risk of treatment related toxicity. METHODS: HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer patients were identified from our database between January 2010 and December 2014. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 43 patients who received trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy as first-line and continued trastuzumab beyond disease progression. RESULTS: Forty-three cases were identified, 27 males (62.8%), median age of the patients was 58 years. Thirty-five (81.4%) presented with stage 4 as their initial presentation. Eighty one percent had 3+ HER2 overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and 18% had 2+ HER2 overexpression confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Thirteen (52%) were moderately differentiated, 16 (37.1%) were poorly differentiated. The most common sites of metastasis were liver 35 (81.4%) and lung 14 (32.5%). The most commonly used first-line regimen was oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and trastuzumab in 22 (51.1%) patients. Twenty-five (58.1%) patients received irinotecan, 5-FU and trastuzumab in the second-line. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 5 months (95% CI: 4.01-5.99 months). Five patients are still alive and excluded from calculating the median overall survival (OS) which was 11 months (range, 5-53 months) for the remaining 20 subjects of this second-line group. Trastuzumab was not discontinued due to side effects in any of the study population. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this retrospective analysis suggests that continuation of trastuzumab beyond disease progression in patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer is feasible and safe. Randomized studies are warranted.