Anastomotic leakage and functional outcomes following total mesorectal excision with delayed and immediate colo-anal anastomosis for rectal cancer: Two single-arm phase II trials.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leakage (AL) remains a major cause of morbidity following total mesorectal excision (TME). A diverting ileostomy reduces the risk of AL but impairs quality of life (QoL). Delayed colo-anal anastomosis (DCAA) may be an alternative to immediate colo-anal anastomosis (ICAA) without creation of a diverting ileostomy. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with T3 or N+ rectal tumours were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and TME. To evaluate DCAA or ICAA with diverting ileostomy, a two multicenter single-arm phase II trials was designed. The primary endpoint was the rate of AL requiring a diverting ileostomy up to 30 days postoperatively. Secondary endpoints were 30-day postoperative complications, 1- and 2-year disease-free survival; QoL at baseline, 6 months and anorectal function measured by the low anterior resection syndrome questionnaire and Wexner score at baseline, 6 months and a late assessment at median 8 years following surgery. RESULTS: AL requiring diverting ileostomy occurred in one patient (2.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI) [0; 11.1]) in the DCAA group and in five patients (8.6%; 95%CI [3.2; 21.0]) in the ICAA group. Thirty-day postoperative complications occurred in 13 patients (27.1%) in the DCAA group and in 10 patients (19.2%) in the ICAA group. Short and long-term functional outcomes showed similar patterns. CONCLUSION: These two single-arm phase II trials showed that DCAA has low rates of AL requiring a diverting ileostomy and acceptable long-term functional results. DCAA seems a good choice to restore bowel continuity.

EORTC 1409 GITCG/ESSO 01 - A prospective colorectal liver metastasis database for borderline or initially unresectable diseases (CLIMB): Lessons learnt from real life. From paradigm to unmet need.

AIM: Multidisciplinary management of metastatic colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is still challenging. To assess postoperative complications in initially unresectable or borderline resectable CRLM, the prospective EORTC-1409 ESSO 01-CLIMB trial capturing 'real-life data' of European centres specialized in liver surgery was initiated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 219 patients were registered between May 2015 and January 2019 from 15 centres in nine countries. Eligible patients had borderline or initially unresectable CRLM assessed by pre-operative multidisciplinary team discussion (MDT). Primary endpoints were postoperative complications, 30-day and 90-days mortality post-surgery, and quality indicators. We report the final results of the 151 eligible patients that underwent at least one liver surgery. RESULTS: Perioperative chemotherapy with or without targeted treatment were administered in 100 patients (69.4%). One stage resection (OSR) was performed in 119 patients (78.8%). Two stage resections (TSR, incl. Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS)) were completed in 24 out of 32 patients (75%). Postoperative complications were reported in 55.5% (95% CI: 46.1-64.6%), 64.0% (95% CI: 42.5-82%), and 100% (95% CI: 59-100%) of the patients in OSR, TSR and ALPPS, respectively. Post-hepatectomy liver failure occurred in 6.7%, 20.0%, and 28.6% in OSR, TSR, and ALPPS, respectively. In total, four patients (2.6%) died after surgery. CONCLUSION: Across nine countries, OSR was more often performed than TSR and tended to result in less postoperative complications. Despite many efforts to register patients across Europe, it is still challenging to set up a prospective CRLM database.

Evolution of Patterns of Care and Outcomes in the Real-Life Setting for Patients with Metastatic GIST Treated in Three French Expert Centers over Three Decades.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare mesenchymal tumors characterized by KIT or PDGFRA mutations. Over three decades, significant changes in drug discovery and loco-regional (LR) procedures have impacted treatment strategies. We assessed the evolution of treatment strategies for metastatic GIST patients treated in the three national coordinating centers of NetSarc, the French network of sarcoma referral centers endorsed by the National Institute of Cancers, from 1990 to 2018. The primary objective was to describe the clinical and biological profiles as well as the treatment modalities of patients with metastatic GIST in a real-life setting, including access to clinical trials and LR procedures in the metastatic setting. Secondary objectives were to assess (1) patients' outcome in terms of time to next treatment (TNT) for each line of systemic treatment, (2) patients' overall survival (OS), (3) evolution of patients' treatment modalities and OS according to treatment access: <2002 (pre-imatinib approval), 2002-2006 (pre-sunitinib approval), 2006-2014 (pre-regorafenib approval), post 2014, and (4) the impact of clinical trials and LR procedures on TNT and OS in the metastatic setting. 1038 patients with a diagnosis of GIST made in one of the three participating centers between 1990 and 2018 were included in the national prospective database. Among them, 492 patients presented metastasis, either synchronous or metachronous. The median number of therapy lines in the metastatic setting was 3 (range 0-15). More than half of the patients (55%) participated in a clinical trial during the course of their metastatic disease and half (51%) underwent additional LR procedures on metastatic sites. The median OS in the metastatic setting was 83.4 months (95%CI [72.7; 97.9]). The median TNT was 26.7 months (95%CI [23.4; 32.3]) in first-line, 10.2 months (95%CI [8.6; 11.8]) in second line, 6.7 months (95%CI [5.3; 8.5]) in third line, and 5.5 months (95%CI [4.3; 6.7]) in fourth line, respectively. There was no statistical difference in OS in the metastatic setting between the four therapeutic periods (log rank, p = 0.18). In multivariate analysis, age, AFIP Miettinen classification, mutational status, surgery of the primary tumor, participation in a clinical trial in the first line and LR procedure to metastatic sites were associated with longer TNT in the first line, whereas age, mitotic index, mutational status, surgery of the primary tumor and LR procedure to metastatic sites were associated with longer OS. This real-life study advocates for early reference of metastatic GIST patients to expert centers to orchestrate the best access to future innovative clinical trials together with LR strategies and further improve GIST patients' survival.

Complete pathological response after chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors in deficient MMR metastatic colorectal cancer: Results of a retrospective multicenter study.

About 5% of the patients with metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRC) present microsatellite instability (MSI)/deficient mismatch repair system (dMMR). While metastasectomy is known to improve overall and progression-free survival in mCRC, specific results in selected patients with dMMR/MSI mCRC are lacking. Our study aimed to describe metastasectomy results, characterize histological response and evaluate pathological complete response (pCR) rate in patients with dMMR/MSI mCRC. We retrospectively reviewed data from all consecutive patients with dMMR/MSI mCRC who underwent surgical metastasectomy between January 2010 and June 2021 in 17 French centers. Primary outcome was to assess the pCR rate defined by tumor regression grade (TRG) 0. Secondary endpoints included relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), and explored TRG as predictive factor for RFS and OS. Among the 88 patients operated, 109 metastasectomies were performed in 81 patients after neoadjuvant treatment [chemotherapy ± targeted therapy (CTT): 69, 85.2%; immunotherapy (ICI): 12, 14.8%], and pCR was achieved in 13 (16.1%) patients. Among the latter, pCR rate were 10.2% in the patients having received CTT (N = 7) and 50.0% in the patients treated with ICI (N = 6). Radiological response did not predict TRG. With a median follow-up of 57.9 (IQR 34.2-81.6) months, median RFS was 20.2 (15.4-not reached) months, median OS was not reached. Major pathological responses (TRG0 + TRG1) were significantly associated with longer RFS (HR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03-0.55; P = .006). The pCR rate of 16.1% achieved with neoadjuvant treatment in patients with dMMR/MSI mCRC is consistent with previously reported rates in pMMR/MSS mCRC. Immunotherapy showed better pCR rate than chemotherapy ± targeted therapy. Further prospective trials are needed to validate immunotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment in resectable/potentially resectable dMMR/MSI mCRC and identify predictive factors for pCR.

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): French intergroup clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatments and follow-up (SNFGE, FFCD, GERCOR, UNICANCER, SFCD, SFED, SFRO, SFR).

INTRODUCTION: This document is a summary of the French intergroup guidelines regarding the management of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) published in January 2019, and available on the French Society of Gastroenterology website (SNFGE) (www.tncd.org). METHODS: This collaborative work was realized by all French medical and surgical societies involved in the management of mCRC. Recommendations are graded in three categories (A, B and C), according to the level of evidence found in the literature, up until December 2018. RESULTS: The management of metastatic colorectal cancer has become complex because of increasing available medical, radiological and surgical treatments alone or in combination. The therapeutic strategy should be defined before the first-line treatment, mostly depending on the presentation of the disease (resectability of the metastases, symptomatic and/or threatening disease), of the patient's condition (ECOG PS, comorbidities), and tumor biology (RAS, BRAF, MSI). The sequence of targeted therapies also seems to have an impact on the outcome (angiogenesis inhibition beyond progression). Surgical resection of metastases was the only curative intent treatment to date, joined recently by percutaneous tumor ablation tools (radiofrequency, microwave). Localized therapies such as hepatic intra-arterial infusion, radioembolization and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, also have seen their indications specified (liver-dominant disease and resectable peritoneal carcinomatosis). New treatments have been developed in heavily pretreated patients, increasing overall survival and preserving quality of life (regorafenib and trifluridine/tipiracil). Finally, immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated high efficacy in MSI mCRC. CONCLUSION: French guidelines for mCRC management are put together to help offer the best personalized therapeutic strategy in daily clinical practice, as the mCRC therapeutic landscape is complexifying. These recommendations are permanently being reviewed and updated. Each individual case must be discussed within a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Systemic chemotherapy plus cetuximab after complete surgery in the treatment of isolated colorectal peritoneal carcinoma: COCHISE phase II clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this non-randomised phase II study was to evaluate the combination of systemic chemotherapy plus cetuximab after complete cytoreductive surgery (CCS) for treatment of isolated colorectal peritoneal carcinoma (CRPC). This multicentre, prospective phase II clinical trial was conducted in seven national cancer referral centres, however research published during study recruitment indicated cetuximab treatment as ineffective in patients with mutated KRAS genes, leading to an additional exclusion criterion to the current protocol, excluding patients with mutated KRAS genes. This significantly impacted recruitment and the study did not achieve the necessary recruitment of 46 patients. RESULTS: Fourteen patients underwent CCS and were included in the study, however one did not provide informed consent and another received only one cycle of chemotherapy leading to 12 patients in the per protocol population for analysis. Adjuvant Folfox Cetuximab was administered when CCS was achieved for patients > 18 years with histologically proven CRPC and no other metastatic disease (liver, lungs, lymphadenopathy, etc.). CRPC median index was 5.00 (range: 1-17). Median PFS was 12.3 months [95% CI (3.7-28.2)] with 8.3% [95% CI (0.5-31.1)] and 0% PFS at 3 and 5 years respectively. Median OS was 43.4 months [95% CI (16.8-60)]. Trial registration Clinical Trials NCT00766142, October 3, 2008. Retrospectively registered.

Hepatotoxicities Induced by Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: Distinguishing the True From the False.

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is thought to be the cause of hepatotoxicity of non-tumoural parenchyma. Studies on hepatotoxicity are contradictory. We investigated the impact of a single-line pre-operative chemotherapy on non-tumoural liver analysed by an expert hepatico-pancreatico-biliary pathologist, and the consequences on surgical outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients operated for CRLM, after a pure first-line pre-operative chemotherapy, were retrospectively included. Two comparative histopathological analyses were performed for vascular toxicity and steatohepatitis. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2015, 147 patients were included. Chemotherapy was based on oxaliplatin (40.1%), irinotecan (55.8%), or both (4.1%). The expert pathologist described 38.8% of vascular lesions including dilation, nodular regeneration, and peliosis. In multivariate analysis, vascular lesions correlated to male sex (P = .01), pre-operative platelets <150 g/L (P = .04), and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) score >0.36 (P = .02). Steatohepatitis was observed in 15 patients (10.2%), more frequently after irinotecan (14.8% vs 3.4%, P = .01; odds ratio [OR] = 7.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.5-34.7]), and for patients with body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2 (P = .004; OR = 10.0; 95% CI = [2.1-47.5]). A total of 29 patients (19.7%) developed major complications with 2 risk factors: portal vein obstruction (PVO) and septic surgery. Reproducibility assessment of steatohepatitis and dilated lesions by 2 pathologists showed moderate agreement (Kappa score 0.53 and 0.54, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There is a probable association between non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and irinotecan. Oxaliplatin seems to lead to higher vascular lesions. Except in the presence of pre-existent comorbidities, liver toxicities should not restrain the use of pre-operative chemotherapy prior to parenchymal-sparing surgery.

Parenchymal sparing surgery for colorectal liver metastases: The need for a common definition.

BACKGROUND: The definition of parenchymal sparing surgery (PSS) for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) diverges requiring a clarification of the concept. METHOD: A consecutive series of patients were treated by PSS for their CRLMs, either by resection or intra-operative ablation (IOA), whenever possible a one-stage surgery and minimal usage of portal vein embolization. Post-operative complications were the primary endpoint with a special focus on post-operative liver failure. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty-seven patients underwent a PSS out of which 328 patients received a median of 9 pre-operative cycles of chemotherapy. One hundred and twenty-eight patients had a major resection, combined with IOA in 137 patients and IOA alone in 50 cases. The 5yr-overall survival was 50.3%. There was no difference in post-operative complications between minor and major resections, validating our PSS definition based on the Tumor burden/Healthy liver ratio and not just the retrieved volume. CONCLUSIONS: PSS is defined as a high ratio of tumoral burden per specimen retrieved while favoring one-stage surgery approach. Our series, using combined resections and IOAs, matches this definition well. Furthermore, complications were correlated neither to chemotherapy nor to liver-induced toxicities, contrary to extended hepatectomies.

Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinoma.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant neoplasm that accounts for 1-2% of all pancreatic neoplasms. Here we report two cases of ACC and describe their clinical features, the therapies used to treat them, and their prognosis. The first patient was a 65-year-old woman who had an abdominal CT scan for a urinary infection. Fortuitously, a rounded and well-delimited corporeal pancreatic tumor was discovered. An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration revealed an ACC. During the puncture, a hypoechoic cavity appeared inside the lesion, corresponding to a probable necrotic area. Treatment consisted of a distal splenopancreatectomy. The second patient was a 75-year-old man who complained of abdominal pain. An abdominal CT scan showed a cephalic pancreatic lesion and two hepatic metastases. An EUS-guided fine needle aspiration showed a pancreatic ACC. The patient received chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin (GEMOX regimen), which enabled an objective response after 6 cycles.

Cytoreductive surgery of colorectal peritoneal metastases: outcomes after complete cytoreductive surgery and systemic chemotherapy only.

BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive peritoneal surgery (CRS) associated with hyperthermic peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has long been considered the standard treatment for colorectal peritoneal metastases (CPM). However, although efficacy of surgery has been demonstrated, evidence supporting HIPEC's role is less certain. METHOD: Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and morbidity were analysed retrospectively for fifty consecutively included patients treated for colorectal CPM with complete CRS and systemic chemotherapy only. RESULTS: Median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 8 (range 1-24). 23 patients had liver or lung metastases (LLM). 22 patients had synchronous CPM. 27 complications occurred (12 Grade 1/2, 14 Grade 3, 1 Grade 4a, 0 Grade 5). Median follow-up was 62.5 months (95 %CI 45.4-81.3), median survival 32.4 months (21.5-41.7). Three- and 5-year OS were 45.5% (0.31-0.59) and 29.64% (0.17-0.44) respectively. Presence of LLMs associated with peritoneal carcinomatosis was significantly associated with poorer prognosis, with survival at 5 years of 13.95% (95 %CI 2.9-33.6) vs. 43.87% (22.2-63.7) when no metastases were present (P= 0.018). Median PFS was 9.5 months (95 %CI 6.2-11.1). CONCLUSION: With an equivalent PCI range and despite one of the highest rates of LLM in the literature, our survival data of CRS + systemic chemotherapy only compare well with results reported after additional HIPEC. Tolerance was better with acceptable morbidity without any mortality. Extra-hepatic metastasis (LLM) is a strong factor of poor prognosis. Awaiting the results of the randomized PRODIGE trial, these results indicate that CRS + systemic chemotherapy only is a robust hypothesis to treat colorectal CPM.

Combined ablation and resection (CARe) as an effective parenchymal sparing treatment for extensive colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Combined intra-operative ablation and resection (CARe) is proposed to treat extensive colorectal liver metastases (CLM). This multicenter study was conducted to evaluate overall survival (OS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), hepatic recurrence-free survival (HRFS) and progression-free survival (PFS), to identify factors associated with survival, and to report complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four centers combined retropectively their clinical experiences regarding CLM treated by CARe. CLM characteristics, pre- and post-operative chemotherapy regimens, surgical procedures, complications and survivals were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 288 patients who received CARe, 210 (73%) had synchronous and 255 (88%) had bilateral CLM. Twenty-two patients (8%) had extrahepatic disease. Median follow-up was 3.17 years (95%CI 2.83-4.08). Median OS was 3.33 years (95%CI 3.08-4.17) and 5-year OS was 37% (95%CI 29-45). One- and 5-year LRFS from ablated lesions were 87.9% (95%CI 83.3-91.2) and 78.0% (95%CI 71-83), respectively. Median HRFS and PFS were 14 months (95%CI 11-18) and 9 months (95%CI 8-11), respectively. One hundred patients experienced complications: 29 grade I, 68 grade II-III-IV, and three deaths. In the multivariate models adjusted for center, the occurrence of complications was confirmed as a major independent factor associated with 3-year OS (HR 1.80; P = 0.008). Five-year OS was 25.6% (95%CI 14.9-37.6) for patients with complications and 45% (95%CI 33.3-53.4) for patients without. CONCLUSIONS: Recent strategies facing advanced CLM include non-anatomic resections, portal-induced hypertrophy of the future remnant liver and aggressive medical preoperative treatments. CARe has the qualities of an approach that allows effective tumor clearance while maintaining good tolerance for the patient.

Patterns of complications following intraoperative radiofrequency ablation for liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (IRFA) is added to surgery to obtain hepatic clearance of liver metastases. Complications occurring in IRFA should differ from those associated with wedge or anatomic liver resection. METHODS: Patients with liver metastases treated with IRFA from 2000 to 2010 were retrospectively analysed. Postoperative outcomes are reported according to the Clavien-Dindo system of classification. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients underwent 173 procedures for 430 metastases. Of these, 97 procedures involved IRFA plus liver resection and 76 involved IRFA only. The median number of lesions treated by IRFA was two (range: 1-11). A total of 123 (71.1%) procedures were carried out in patients who had received preoperative chemotherapy. The mortality rate was 1.2%. Thirty (39.5%) IRFA-only patients and 45 (46.4%) IRFA-plus-resection patients presented complications. Immediate complications (n = 4) were associated with IRFA plus resection. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, previous abdominal surgery or hepatic resection, body mass index, number of IRFA procedures, portal pedicle clamping, total vascular exclusion and preoperative chemotherapy were not associated with a greater number of complications of Grade III or higher severity. Length of surgery >4 h [odds ratio (OR) 2.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-6.3; P < 0.05] and an associated contaminating procedure (OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.53-9.06; P < 0.005) led to a greater frequency of complications of Grade III or higher. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality and morbidity after IRFA, with or without resection, are low. Nevertheless, long interventions and concurrent bowel operations increase the risk for septic complications.

Diaphragmatic hernia after lung percutaneous radiofrequency ablation: incidence and risk factors.

PURPOSE: To evaluate diaphragmatic hernias (DH) after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) for basal lung nodules and to detect risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2009 and December 2012, the presence of DH was retrospectively recorded in all of the patients who underwent PRFA with multitine expandable electrodes for ablation of nodules in the lower lobe. All nodules were classified into three groups according to the location of the tines after deployment relative to the diaphragm: In group 1, the tines were at a distance of >1 cm from the diaphragm; in group 2, at least one tine was in contact with the diaphragm without perforation; and in group 3, at least one tine was perforating the diaphragm. RESULTS: We recorded 4 cases of DH (3 on the left side, 1 on the right side) in 156 patients (2.3% of procedures). The delay of onset was 7.8 months. DH occurred in groups 2 (n = 1) and 3 (n = 3). Only the 3 cases that occurred on the left side were symptomatic (2 intussusceptions and 1 gastroesophageal reflux) and were surgically repaired. The electrode was positioned in the center of the diaphragm in all cases. CONCLUSION: The central position of the electrode and the contact of at least one tine with the diaphragm after deployment seem to be a risk factor to develop DH.

Prognostic factors in node-negative colorectal cancer: a retrospective study from a prospective database.

PURPOSE: There is a need to identify a subgroup of high-risk patients with node-negative colorectal cancer who have a poor long-term prognosis and may benefit from adjuvant therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of clinical and pathological parameters in a retrospective study from a prospective, continuous database of homogenously treated patients. METHODS: This study included 362 patients operated in a single institution for Dukes A and B (node-negative) colorectal cancer. The median follow-up was 140 months. The prognostic value of 13 clinical and pathological parameters was investigated. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified six independent prognostic factors: age at time of diagnosis (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.076), number of lymph nodes removed (HR = 0.948), perineural invasion (HR = 2.173), venous invasion (HR = 1.959), lymphatic vessel invasion (HR = 2.126), and T4 stage (HR = 5.876). CONCLUSION: These parameters could be useful in identifying patients with high-risk node-negative colorectal cancer who should be presented to adjuvant therapy.

The simultaneous occurrence of mucinous cystadenomas in liver and pancreas.

The occurrence of mucinous cystadenomas localized to the liver and pancreas simultaneously and treated with a single surgical procedure has been described for the first time in this report. A 47-year-old woman attended the outpatient clinic complaining of abdominal pain and the appearance of an abdominal mass. On clinical examination, hepatomegaly was found. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a large cystic lesion of the left lobe of the liver, thus causing the hepatomegaly. Moreover, the computed tomography scan showed a cystic lesion of the pancreas. Both lesions had thick walls and septa. Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver and pancreas confirmed the presence of septa within the cysts. Surgery was performed owing to the suspected malignancy. It should be emphasized that the patient had preoperatively received prophylactic treatment for hydatosis. A hepatic pericystectomy and enucleation of the pancreatic lesion were performed during the surgery. Pathology showed a mucinous cystadenoma without sign of malignancy. At the 4-year follow-up, no recurrence was found. This case is of interest for several reasons: the unusual double presentation, the treatment, and the follow-up. This case report confirms the common origin of mucinous cystic tumours of liver and pancreas.