Prognostic impact of tumor location and gene expression profile in sporadic desmoid tumor.

PURPOSE: Prognostic biomarkers remain necessary in sporadic desmoid tumor (DT) because the clinical course is unpredictable. DT location along with gene expression between thoracic and abdominal wall locations was analyzed. METHOD: Sporadic DT patients (GEIS Registry) diagnosed between 1982 and 2018 who underwent upfront surgery were enrolled retrospectively in this study. The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival (RFS). Additionally, the gene expression profile was analyzed in DT localized in the thoracic or abdominal wall, harboring the most frequent CTNNB1 T41A mutation. RESULTS: From a total of 454 DT patients, 197 patients with sporadic DT were selected. The median age was 38.2 years (1.8-89.1) with a male/female distribution of 33.5/66.5. Most of them harbored the CTNNB1 T41A mutation (71.6 %), followed by S45F (17.8 %) and S45P (4.1 %). A significant worse median RFS was associated with males (p = 0.019), tumor size ≥ 6 cm (p = 0.001), extra-abdominal DT location (p < 0.001) and the presence of CTNNB1 S45F mutation (p = 0.013). In the multivariate analysis, extra-abdominal DT location, CTNNB1 S45F mutation and tumor size were independent prognostic biomarkers for worse RFS. DTs harboring the CTNNB1 T41A mutation showed overexpression of DUSP1, SOCS1, EGR1, FOS, LIF, MYC, SGK1, SLC2A3, and IER3, and underexpression of BMP4, PMS2, HOXA9, and WISP1 in thoracic versus abdominal wall locations. CONCLUSION: Sporadic DT location exhibits a different prognosis in terms of RFS favoring the abdominal wall compared to extra-abdominal sites. A differential gene expression profile under the same CTNNB1 T41A mutation is observed in the abdominal wall versus the thoracic wall, mainly affecting the Wnt/ß-catenin, TGFß, IFN, and TNF pathways.

Establishment of a staging system for visceral sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Visceral sarcoma is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. However, there is no recommended prognostic staging system for the malignant disease. METHOD: We analyzed the data of patients diagnosed with primary soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the abdomen and thoracic visceral organs between 2006 and 2017 at our hospital. Prognostic factors (size, tumor grade, and lymph node metastasis) were analyzed in our cohort (n = 203) and the SEER validation cohort (n = 5826). RESULTS: Tumor size, grade, and lymph node metastasis were important prognostic factors for visceral sarcoma in both our and the SEER cohorts. Based on these prognostic factors, we established a new staging system for visceral sarcoma, by which patients could be stratified into clinically meaningful and non-overlapping stages in both our cohort and the SEER validation series. Moreover, the area under the curve (AUC) value of the staging system for 5-year survival was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.78-0.89) in our series and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.79-0.81) in SEER series, respectively. In addition, compared with the widely used FIGO staging system for female genital sarcoma, the visceral sarcoma staging system could more effectively and reliably stratify patients into four different prognostic groups. CONCLUSIONS: The visceral sarcoma staging system is applicable for STS of the abdomen and thoracic visceral organs and is better than the current FIGO staging system for female genital sarcoma and should be incorporated into the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual.

A single-centre ten-year retrospective cohort study of malignant small bowel obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Management of malignant small bowel obstruction (mSBO) is challenging. The decision to perform an operation evaluates the perceived chance of success against a patient's fitness for operation. The aim of this study was to characterise the mSBO patient population in a tertiary UK centre and assess the patient's treatment pathway including use and effects of palliative surgery, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), Gastrografin and dexamethasone as well as preoperative stratification. METHODS: Patients were included if they had mSBO confirmed on computed tomography imaging due to a primary or metastatic neoplasm. Data were collected on pathway and management, and Cox proportional hazard methods were utilised to observe effects on survival. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients were included, with 104 inpatient episodes. Mean age was 67.4 (SD 13.7), with 57 (60.6%) females. Most (89.4%) had only one admission for mSBO. Eighty-four (89.4%) patients died over the ten-year period, 18 (17.3%) within 30 days of admission. Fifty patients (53.1%) underwent operative management: 70% bypass, 24% stoma formation and 6% open-close laparotomies. Log rank testing of survival probability analysis was significant (p = 0.00018), with 50% survival probability at 107.32 days for operative management and 47.87 days for non-operative. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Operative management forms part of the treatment pathway for a significant proportion of patients with mSBO, offering a survival benefit, though quality of survival is not known. Case selection is good, with few open-close laparotomies. Trials of non-operative interventions such as Gastrografin and dexamethasone are not utilised fully.

Clinical impact of abdominal versus mediastinal metastases as a prognostic factor for poor outcomes following esophageal cancer surgery: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is still the mainstay of radical treatment for resectable esophageal cancer (EC). It is apparent that the presence or spread of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a powerful prognostic factor in patients with EC who are eligible for curative treatment. Although the importance and efficacy of lymph node dissection in radical esophagectomy have been reported, the clinical or prognostic relevance of specific metastatic patterns within the mediastinal cavity and abdomen remains unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the association of postoperative survival with clinical mediastinal LNM (cMLNM) and abdominal LNM (cALNM) in 157 patients who underwent radical EC surgery at our hospital between May 2012 and March 2018. RESULTS: A significant difference in cause-specific survival (CSS) was observed between patients with and without cALNM (log-rank p = 0.000). A multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that cALNM and thoracic surgery (mediastinal lymphadenectomy via conventional open right thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) independently predicted CSS (p = 0.0007 and 0.021, respectively). Moreover, a significant difference in systemic recurrence-free survival was observed between those with and without cALNM (log-rank p = 0.000). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that cALNM and sex independently predicted systemic recurrence-free survival (p = 0.000 and 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION: cALNM was an independent poor prognostic factor for CSS after EC surgery. It may also be an independent prognostic factor for postoperative systemic recurrence, which can shorten the CSS. For patients with cALNM-positive EC who have a high potential risk of systemic metastases, more extensive treatment besides the conventional perioperative systemic chemotherapy may be necessary.

Incidence and survival of epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, peritoneal, and undesignated abdominal/pelvic cancers in Sweden 1960-2014: A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Despite improved surgical and oncological treatment, ovarian cancer continues to be the most lethal of the gynecologic malignancies. We aimed to analyze survival trends in epithelial ovarian cancer with regard to age, tumor site, and morphology in Sweden 1960 to 2014. METHODS: A nationwide population-based study was conducted using data from the Swedish Cancer Registry on 46,350 women aged 18 or older with a diagnosis of epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, peritoneal, or undesignated abdominal/pelvic cancer 1960 to 2014. Analyses of age-standardized incidence and relative survival (RS) were performed and time trends modelled according to age, tumor site, and morphology. RESULTS: Overall incidence of ovarian, tubal, peritoneal, and undesignated abdominal/pelvic cancers declined since 1980. Median age at diagnosis increased. Serous carcinoma increased in incidence. RS at 1, 2 and 5 years from diagnosis improved since 1960, although not for the youngest and the oldest patients. Ten-year RS did not improve. The best RS was found for fallopian tube cancer and the worst RS for undesignated abdominal/pelvic cancer. Among the morphologic subgroups, endometrioid carcinoma had the best RS. CONCLUSIONS: Survival in epithelial ovarian, tubal, peritoneal, and undesignated abdominal/pelvic cancers in Sweden has improved over the last six decades. Advances in epithelial ovarian cancer treatment have extended life for the first 5 years from diagnosis but 10-year survival remains poor.

Patterns of recurrence in women with advanced and recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE(S): To identify recurrence patterns and outcomes in women with advanced or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). METHODS: This is an IRB-approved single-institution cohort study of women who underwent CRS+HIPEC for advanced or recurrent EOC followed in a prospective registry from 1/12/2014-3/1/2020. Recurrence locations were defined as pelvic, upper abdominal (UA) and/or extra-peritoneal (EP). Univariate analysis assessed associations between recurrence location, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: In total, 92 women with EOC underwent interval (56.5%; n=52) or recurrent CRS+HIPEC (43.5%; n=40). For interval CRS+HIPEC, recurrence locations were pelvic in 50.0% (n=15), UA in 23.3% (n=7) and EP in 56.7% (n=17); 40.0% (n=12) were EP alone. Similarly, for recurrent CRS+HIPEC, recurrence locations were pelvic (22.5%, n=9), UA (5.0%, n=2) and EP (60.0%, n=24); 66.7% (n=20) were EP alone. For both interval and recurrent CRS+HIPEC, median PFS was 10.5 vs. 13.0 months for pelvic and UA vs. EP only recurrences (p=0.02). Similarly, median OS was 29.2 months for pelvic and UA and not reached for EP only (p=0.05). For interval CRS+HIPEC, there was no difference in median PFS (10.6 vs. 11.7 months, p=0.68) and OS (27.1 vs. 24.8 months, p=0.96) for pelvic and UA vs EP alone. However, for recurrent CRS+HIPEC, pelvic and UA sites of recurrence were associated with reduced PFS (10.0 vs. 18.1 months, p=0.03) and OS (33.6 months vs. not reached, p=0.02) vs. EP only. CONCLUSIONS: In women with advanced or recurrent EOC undergoing CRS+HIPEC, one-half of patients experience their first recurrence outside of the peritoneal cavity. Providers must be aware of the risk of EP failure in patients treated with CRS+HIPEC.

The impact of postoperative radiological surveillance intensity on disease free and overall survival from primary retroperitoneal, abdominal and pelvic soft-tissue sarcoma.

AIM: This observational study aimed to evaluate the impact of intensity of radiological surveillance on survival following resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma. METHOD: Retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing primary resection of soft tissue sarcoma arising in the retroperitoneum, abdomen or pelvis at a single, high-volume sarcoma centre. Intensity of follow-up regimes up to 5 postoperative years were categorized as 'European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) compliant' (intense), or 'non-ESMO compliant' (less-intense). The primary outcome measure was overall survival (OS). The secondary outcome measures were disease-free survival (DFS) and reoperation rate. Analyses were stratified by high (grade 2 or 3) or low (grade 1) tumour grade. RESULTS: Of 168 patients, 67.1% had high-grade and 32.9% had low-grade disease. Overall, 40.0% of patients had ESMO-compliant radiological follow-up (high-grade:25.7%, low-grade:66.7%). 41.7% of patients died and 48.2% suffered local or distant recurrence by cessation of follow up. Upon univariable analysis for high-grade tumours, ESMO compliance reduced DFS (p = 0.066) but had no impact on OS. There was no significant difference in the reoperation rate in patients with ESMO-compliant and non-compliant follow-up (p = 0.097). In low-grade tumours, ESMO compliance significantly reduced DFS (p < 0.001), but without effecting OS. In risk-adjusted models for high-grade tumours, ESMO compliant follow-up was associated with reduced OS (HR:3.47, 1.40-8.61, p = 0.007) and no difference in DFS. In low-grade tumours, there was no association between overall ESMO compliance and OS or DFS. CONCLUSION: This study did not find a benefit for high-intensity radiological surveillance and overall survival in patients undergoing primary resection for high or low-grade retroperitoneal sarcoma.

A comparison of oncological outcomes after abdominoperineal excision before and after the implementation of a selective perineal flap closure program.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Abdominoperineal excision (APE) is the operation chosen when a patient has low rectal cancer unamenable to sphincter preserving surgery. Perineal flap reconstruction is associated with less wound morbidity but little is known about oncological outcomes. The objective was to compare outcomes in patients undergoing APE before and after the introduction of a program that utilized flap reconstruction of the perineum. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed. Patients who underwent APE followed by primary closure or flap reconstruction between 1998 and 2018 were selected. The cohorts were divided according to the implementation of the flap reconstruction program in July 2009. Clinicopathological data, recurrence and survival were compared between the cohorts. RESULTS: One hundred and forty nine patients underwent APE for rectal adenocarcinoma between 1998 and 2018. There were 57 patients in the pre-flap era and 92 in the post-flap era. Forty-six patients underwent flap reconstruction in the latter cohort (50%). More patients in the post-flap era underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (85.9% vs. 63.2%; p < .01). Margin positivity rates decreased from 21.1% in the pre-flap era to 10.9% in the post-flap era (p = .10) and there was an associated improvement in incidence and time to local recurrence (p = .03). CONCLUSION: The use of perineal flap reconstruction is associated with a longer median time to local recurrence. Perineal flap reconstruction may contribute to reduced margin positivity.

Does a selective surgical approach to malignant bowel obstruction help in palliative care patients?

BACKGROUND: Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a condition secondary to intra-abdominal metastatic spread of advanced-stage tumors. There is no consensus for the treatment approach of MBO. This study aims to present the results of medical treatment and palliative surgery in patients diagnosed with MBO. METHODS: The patients who were treated for advanced-stage tumors between 2010 and 2017 and for whom consultation was requested from the surgical clinic for MBO symptoms were identified. A selective approach together with palliative care for the indication of surgery was instituted. The patients with surgical treatment and medical treatment were compared concerning survival, oral food intake and symptom relief. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients (30 female, 46 male) aged 60.5±12.8 years (range: 27-88) were included in this study. Forty-eight of the patients (64.9%) underwent surgical treatment, while 28 (35.1%) had medical treatment. Although the patients with surgery had longer duration of stay in the hospital (median 16 days vs. 4 days) (p<0.001) and higher complication rates (27.1% vs. 3.5%) compared to medically treated patients; the restoring oral food intake was better (97.9% vs. 78.6%) (p=0.005) and the survival was longer (105 days vs. 43 days). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that surgical treatment resulted in better outcomes for life quality parameters in highly selected patients with malignant bowel obstruction evaluated by multidisciplinary team, including palliative care.

Overall and chemotherapy-free survival following stereotactic body radiation therapy for abdominopelvic oligometastases.

INTRODUCTION: Limited data establish the efficacy and safety of SBRT in the abdominopelvic (AP) space, where SBRT delivery is challenging due to the proximity of radiosensitive luminal gastrointestinal (GI) organs. The aim of this study was to assess clinical outcomes in patients with AP OM treated with SBRT. METHODS: Eligible patients were those with OM (defined as metastases in ≤3 total sites) in the AP space (excluding liver) treated with SBRT. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier estimates of (LC), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and chemotherapy-free survival (CFS) were performed. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients with 58 AP OM received SBRT between 2011 and 2015. Median follow-up was 21.9 months. All SBRT treatments were delivered in 5 fractions with a median dose of 35 Gy (25-40 Gy). Progression post-SBRT occurred in 38/51 patients (75%), with a median PFS of 4.9 months (95% CI: 2.5-7.5), and 2-year PFS of 29%. Rates of 2-and 4-year LC were 74% and 69%, respectively. Median OS was 42.6 months (95% CI: 31-55). Oligometastatic progression occurred in 21/38 patients, and of those, 48% (10/21) received further SBRT. Resulting 2- and 4-year CFS were 47% and 37%, respectively (median 15.1 months). Nineteen patients (37%) experienced a grade 1 or 2 acute toxicity. One grade 3 (acute) toxicity was observed. No grade 4 or 5 toxicities were detected. CONCLUSIONS: SBRT to AP OM was associated with sustained LC, excellent OS and minimal toxicity. The use of SBRT allowed for prolonged CFS and the salvage of limited-burden distant failures.

Contemporary outcomes of metastatic breast cancer among 22,000 women from the multicentre ESME cohort 2008-2016.

AIM: Real-world data inform the outcome comparisons and help the development of new therapeutic strategies. To this end, we aimed to describe the full characteristics and outcomes in the Epidemiological Strategy and Medical Economics (ESME) cohort, a large national contemporary observational database of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). METHODS: Women aged ≥18 years with newly diagnosed MBC and who initiated MBC treatment between January 2008 and December 2016 in one of the 18 French Comprehensive Cancer Centers (N = 22,109) were included. We assessed the full patients' characteristics, first-line treatments, overall survival (OS) and first-line progression-free survival, as well as updated prognostic factors in the whole cohort and among the 3 major subtypes: hormone receptor positive and HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-, n = 13,656), HER2-positive (HER2+, n = 4017) and triple-negative (n = 2963) tumours. RESULTS: The median OS of the whole cohort was 39.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 38.7-40.3). Five-year OS was 33.8%. OS differed significantly between the 3 subtypes (p < 0.0001) with a median OS of 43.3 (95% CI, 42.5-44.5) in HR+/HER2-; 50.1 (95% CI, 47.6-53.1) in HER2+; and 14.8 months (95% CI, 14.1-15.5) in triple-negative subgroups, respectively. Beyond performance status, the following variables had a constant significant negative prognostic impact on OS in the whole cohort and among subtypes: older age at diagnosis of metastases (except for the triple-negative subtype), metastasis-free interval between 6 and 24 months, presence of visceral metastases and number of metastatic sites ≥ 3. CONCLUSIONS: The ESME program represents a unique large-scale real-life cohort on MBC. This study highlights important situations of high medical need within MBC patients. DATABASE REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT032753.

Association between surgical approach and survival following resection of abdominopelvic malignancies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent studies demonstrating decreased survival following minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for cervical cancer have generated concern regarding oncologic efficacy of MIS. Our objective was to evaluate the association between surgical approach and 5-year survival following resection of abdominopelvic malignancies. METHODS: Patients with stage I or II adenocarcinoma of the prostate, colon, rectum, and stage IA2 or IB1 cervical cancer from 2010-2015 were identified from the National Cancer Data Base. The association between surgical approach and 5-year survival was assessed using propensity-score-matched cohorts. Distributions were compared using logistic regression. Hazard ratio for death was estimated using Cox proportional-hazard models. RESULTS: The rate of deaths at 5 years was 3.4% following radical prostatectomy, 22.9% following colectomy, 18.6% following proctectomy, and 6.8% following radical hysterectomy. Open surgery was associated with worse survival following radical prostatectomy (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.33; P = .005), colectomy (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.39-1.51; P < .001), and proctectomy (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10-1.50; P = .002); however, open surgery was associated with improved survival following radical hysterectomy (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.44-0.82; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that MIS is an acceptable approach in selected patients with prostate, colon, and rectal cancers, while concerns regarding MIS resection of cervical cancer appear warranted.

Outcomes of complex abdominal wall reconstruction at the time of CRS and HIPEC.

INTRODUCTION: Cytoreduction Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is a treatment option for patients with peritoneal metastatic cancer. This procedure has been shown to improve survival, however, patients are often left with abdominal wall and soft tissue defects requiring further surgical correction. We aim to assess the safety and clinical outcomes of abdominal reconstruction performed concurrent with CRS/HIPEC. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review on patients with peritoneal metastases who received CRS/HIPEC therapy and abdominal wall reconstruction at tertiary center from 2012 to 2018. Records were evaluated for the patient characteristics, oncologic history, operative details, and postoperative course. Complications were graded with the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: Five patients aged 29-54 years old met the inclusion criteria. The most common type of cancer within this cohort was colorectal cancer. To close the abdomen, four patients underwent component release, biologic mesh placement, and primary fascial closure. The last patient was closed with adjacent tissue transfer. Two patients experienced Grade I complications: deep vein thrombosis and leukocytosis (both self-resolved). Three patients experienced Grade II complications: atrial fibrillation, anemia, and a wound infection which required readmission. No patients experienced grades III, IV or V complications. The follow up period was a median of 5.3 months [r: 2.6-21.9 months]. CONCLUSION: The patients benefitted therapeutically from combined abdominal reconstruction and CRS/HIPEC with minimal complications and good long-term survival. We advocate for the coupling of these procedures as the benefits outweigh the risks, and allows wound closure at the time of surgery.

Cervical cancer recurrence: Proposal for a classification based on anatomical dissemination pathways and prognosis.

INTRODUCTION: Precise definitions of recurrences and optimal treatment strategy are yet to be clearly defined among patients with cervical cancer (CC). The purpose of this study was to develop a reproducible classification of CC recurrence. MATERIEL AND METHODS: Data of women with FIGO stages I-IV CC treated between January 2000 and January 2015 were retrospectively abstracted from nine French institutions. We proposed a rTNM classification for recurrence: locoregional (rT), nodal (rN), or distant organ (rM). According to rTNM prognosis, we then defined a rSTAGE classification (I, II, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, IVB). RESULTS: Among the 1028 women treated for FIGO stages I-IV CC during the study period, 216 recurrences were observed (21%). The 3-year survival after recurrence was 38.8%, with a median time to recurrence of 9 months (95% CI, 30.9-48.7). A trend for a lower 3-year survival after recurrence was observed in women with multiple-site vs single-site recurrence (p = 0.1). Among the women in the rT group, a difference in 3-year survival after recurrence was found between rT1 single site, rT2 single site and rT3 single site (p = 0.02). The 3-year survival after recurrence was 69.1%, 49.2%, 37.5%, 34.2%, 23.1% and 24.4% for rStage I, II, IIIA, IIIB, IVA and IVB, respectively (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: rTNM classifications and rSTAGE are discriminatory and allow all recurrence modalities to be classified.

Outcomes following small bowel obstruction due to malignancy in the national audit of small bowel obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with cancer who develop small bowel obstruction are at high risk of malnutrition and morbidity following compromise of gastrointestinal tract continuity. This study aimed to characterise current management and outcomes following malignant small bowel obstruction. METHODS: A prospective, multicentre cohort study of patients with small bowel obstruction who presented to UK hospitals between 16th January and 13th March 2017. Patients who presented with small bowel obstruction due to primary tumours of the intestine (excluding left-sided colonic tumours) or disseminated intra-abdominal malignancy were included. Outcomes included 30-day mortality and in-hospital complications. Cox-proportional hazards models were used to generate adjusted effects estimates, which are presented as hazard ratios (HR) alongside the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The threshold for statistical significance was set at the level of P ≤ 0.05 a-priori. RESULTS: 205 patients with malignant small bowel obstruction presented to emergency surgery services during the study period. Of these patients, 50 had obstruction due to right sided colon cancer, 143 due to disseminated intraabdominal malignancy, 10 had primary tumours of the small bowel and 2 patients had gastrointestinal stromal tumours. In total 100 out of 205 patients underwent a surgical intervention for obstruction. 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 11.3% for those with primary tumours and 19.6% for those with disseminated malignancy. Severe risk of malnutrition was an independent predictor for poor mortality in this cohort (adjusted HR 16.18, 95% CI 1.86 to 140.84, p = 0.012). Patients with right-sided colon cancer had high rates of morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality rates were high in patients with disseminated malignancy and in those with right sided colon cancer. Further research should identify optimal management strategy to reduce morbidity for these patient groups.

Patient-generated subjective global assessment predicts cachexia and death in patients with head, neck and abdominal cancer: A retrospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Cancer is a complex disease, with poor prognosis when associated with malnutrition. This condition can lead to Cancer Cachexia (CC), a syndrome characterized by loss of muscle mass with or without fat loss, often associated with higher risk of death. Although there are recommended screening tools to assess nutritional status in cancer patients, such as Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), little is known about CC prediction. The aim was to investigate the association between nutritional status of patients with head, neck and abdominal cancer, assessed by PG-SGA at the day of hospitalization, with CC, hospitalization time and death. METHODS: This is a retrospective longitudinal study, where we collected data of 97 patients about PG-SGA nutritional classification, anthropometry, gender, age, cachexia diagnosis and death. RESULTS: PG-SGA classification was strongly associated with all the anthropometric measures (p < 0.0001). According to PG-SGA classification, 30.61% (n = 15) of patients in group A developed pre-cachexia; 38.24% in group B developed CC (n = 13); and 60% (n = 9) in group C developed refractory cachexia (p < 0.0001). Death rate was 24.49% (n = 12), 54.55% (n = 18) and 80% (n = 12) in groups A, B and C, respectively (p < 0.0001). PG-SGA had good sensibility (89.5%) and accuracy (72%) for CC, and also good specificity (75.51%) and accuracy (69%) for death. CONCLUSIONS: PG-SGA demonstrated a significative association with the variables measured and was able to predict CC and death. This, in addition to its simple applicability, suggests that PG-SGA can be a useful tool to screen cancer patients for CC establishment and death risk.

Local tumor control of thoracoabdominal wall seeding tumor from hepatocellular carcinoma with ultrasound-guided interventional treatment: A summarized study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound (US)-guided interventional treatments in local tumor control (LTC) for thoracoabdominal wall seeding tumor (TAWST) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and explore the survival outcomes of the patients underwent surgical resection (SR) and microwave ablation (MWA) for intrahepatic tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients with 47 TAWST from HCC were recruited from April 2007 to May 2018. LTC was evaluated by contrast-enchanced image. Long-time survival outcomes were compared. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local seeding progress-free survival (LSPFS) were analyzed. RESULTS: One-year LTC rate was 65.2% in all patients; 72%, 0%, 50%, and 0% in the patients who underwent MWA, high-intensity focused US, iodine-125 (125I) brachytherapy and MWA combined with 125I brachytherapy, respectively. The 3-year OS, DFS rates and LSPFS rates were 51.8% and 28.6%, 12.0% and 23.8%, and 10.0% and 10.0% after MWA and SR, respectively. Univariate analysis results showed that age (P = 0.049), Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) (P = 0.002), and chemoradiation (P = 0.032); and multivariate analysis results showed that age (P = 0.045) and KPS (P = 0.010) might be predictors for LCT. While univariate analysis results showed that KPS (P = 0.032), intrahepatic tumor size (P = 0.006), chemoradiation (P = 0.003), preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level (P = 0.007), metastasis (P = 0.049), and albumin-bilirubin grade (P = 0.002), and multivariate analysis results showed that comorbidities (P = 0.004), KPS (P = 0.007), and metastasis (P = 0.009) might be predictors for OS. The pain degree of patients was improved obviously after treatments. CONCLUSIONS: US-guided interventional treatments were an effective option in LTC for TAWST from HCC, and MWA could achieve comparable long-time survival outcomes with SR for HCC patients with TAWST.

Clinical safety and efficacy of salvage reirradiation for upper abdominal malignancies.

PURPOSE: Reirradiation has the potential to provide effective local control of upper abdominal malignancies. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of reirradiation for upper abdominal malignancies. METHODS: A total of 42 patients with a history of prior radiotherapy (RT) received reirradiation for abdominal malignancies between 2005 and 2017. Each patient's medical records, contours, and dose distribution for both RT courses were reviewed. The median dose of the prior RT was 50.0 Gy (range, 30.0-60.0 Gy) and the median dose of reirradiation was 45.0 Gy (range, 15.0-75.0 Gy). RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 10.9 months, the median infield-failure-free survival (IFFS) rate was 9.2 months. Gross tumor volume (GTV) significantly related to IFFS in both the univariate (p = 0.009) and multivariate analyses (p = 0.024), and patients with a GTV of <60.0 mL had an improved IFFS (p = 0.001). Four patients experienced ≥grade 3 late toxicities. In the retrospective dose reconstruction analysis in these patients, the cumulative dose to the most exposed 2 cc (D2cc) of the duodenum was >60.0 Gy (range, 60.1-73.7 Gy). In the univariate analysis, the D2cc of the duodenum and a preexisting duodenal ulcer identified using endoscopy prior to reirradiation significantly correlated with late severe toxicity (p = 0.021 and 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Reirradiation for upper abdominal malignancies could be safely performed for patients without preexisting gastrointestinal morbidity unless the duodenum received excessive radiation doses. Reirradiation could also provide substantial IFFS, especially for patients with a GTV of <60.0 mL.

Long term outcomes after concurrent ipsilateral nephrectomy versus kidney-sparing surgery for high-risk, intraabdominal neuroblastoma.

PURPOSE: The impact of the extent of surgical resection including nephrectomy for high-risk neuroblastoma patients is controversial. In this study, we compared the renal late effects and long-term survival for patients who underwent kidney-sparing surgery (KSS) versus concurrent ipsilateral nephrectomy (CIN) for high-risk, intraabdominal neuroblastoma (HRIN). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with HRIN between Jan 1998 and Dec 2008 in a tertiary referral center was performed. Demographics, preoperative features, surgical resection extent and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 58 patients who underwent surgical management of HRIN, 6 underwent CIN and 52 underwent KSS. Renal image-defined risk factors (IDRFs) were more common in patients who underwent CIN. Operating time was longer and EBL higher in CIN patients. There was no difference in recurrence or overall survival between the groups. Estimated GFR (eGFR) was comparable between the groups preoperatively, but was reduced postoperatively and at long-term follow-up in patients who underwent CIN. CONCLUSION: Compared to KSS, CIN is not associated with an increase in local recurrence or inferior survival but does lead to reduced kidney function (eGFR of 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 for CIN versus 127 ml/min/1.73 m2 for KSS, p = 0.03) but without significant impact on clinical outcome. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: III (Retrospective comparative study).