Impact of surgical proximal and distal margins on the recurrence of resectable colon cancer: a single-center observational cohort study.

PURPOSE: Few studies have investigated the impact of the surgical proximal and distal margins on colon cancer recurrence. We conducted this study to investigate the effect of resection margins on the prognosis of resectable colon cancer. METHODS: We analyzed data on 1458 patients who underwent colorectal resection in our institute between January, 2004 and March, 2020, including 579 patients with resectable colon cancer. The association between the resection margin and recurrence for each oncological status was assessed and the value of the resection length that influenced recurrence was analyzed. RESULTS: Patients who had pT4 colon cancer with margins of more than 7 cm had a trend of fewer recurrences and longer relapse-free survival (RFS) than those with colon cancer of other stages (P = 0.033; hazard ratio [HR], 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.89). Multivariate analysis identified a margin of < 7 cm as an independent risk factor for RFS in patients with pT4 colon cancer (P = 0.023; HR, 2.65; 95% CI 1.013-6.17). No correlation was found between resection margins and recurrence, depending on the extent of lymph node metastasis and tumor location. CONCLUSION: A resection margin of at least 7 cm should be maintained for patients with pT4 colon cancer.

A Multicenter Analysis of Short-term and Long-term Outcomes Following Laparoscopic Multivisceral Resection for Advanced Colorectal Cancer.

Background/Aim: Recent research has demonstrated that laparoscopic multivisceral resection (MVR) for advanced colorectal cancer is safe, practicable, and yields satisfactory oncological results, which is in line with the growing usage of laparoscopic surgery. The effectiveness of laparoscopic MVR is still debatable, though. The goal of this study was to compare the short- and long-term results of patients with advanced colorectal cancer treated with open MVR with laparoscopic procedures. Patients and Methods: Data on 3,571 consecutive patients hospitalized at the Kyushu University National Kyushu Cancer Center for colorectal cancer surgery between 2004 and 2020 were gathered retrospectively. In the end, 84 individuals with advanced colorectal cancer who had a colectomy with MVR were examined. We evaluated invasiveness in terms of complications, blood loss, and operating time. Recurrence-free survival rates and overall 5-year survival were among the oncological outcomes. Results: Of the 84 patients examined, 29 underwent laparoscopic treatment, and 55 underwent open treatment. The laparoscopic surgery group experienced shorter hospital stays (15 vs. 18 days, p<0.05) and much less blood loss (median volume: 167 vs. 1,058 g, p<0.005) than the open surgery group. Following the exclusion of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer from the study (groups undergoing laparoscopic surgery, n=25; open surgery, n=38), the groups displayed comparable pathologic results and no discernible variations in either the 5-year overall survival (p=0.87) or recurrence-free survival (p=0.86). Conclusion: In certain individuals with advanced colorectal cancer, a laparoscopic method of manipulation with MVR may be less invasive than an open method without compromising the prognosis.

Clinicopathological Impact of High Preoperative CA19-9 in Early-stage Colorectal Cancer: A Single-center Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study examined the clinical significance of very high preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of patients who underwent curative resection for primary CRC (c-Stage I-III) between 2004 and 2022 in our facility. The patients were classified into three groups according to the preoperative CA19-9 level: normal (≤37.0 U/ml), high (>37.0 to ≤100.0 U/ml), and very high (>100.0 U/ml). RESULTS: Of 971 patients, 885 (91.1%), 67 (6.9%), and 19 (2.0%) had normal, high, and very high CA19-9 levels, respectively. Overall survival (very high vs. normal: p<0.0001, very high vs. high: p=0.01) and recurrence-free survival (very high vs. normal: p<0.0001, very high vs. high: p=0.18) were significantly worse in the very high group. On multivariate analysis including TNM stage, very high preoperative CA19-9 levels were independently associated with worse overall (odds ratio=4.54; 95% confidence interval=2.03-10.16; p=0.0002) and recurrence-free survival (odds ratio=3.49; 95% confidence interval=1.82-6.69; p=0.0002). CONCLUSION: High preoperative CA19-9 levels were associated with poor survival in early-stage CRC. Careful intraoperative observation and close follow-up might be necessary.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With T4b or Obstructive Colon Cancer: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for colon cancer remains unestablished. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of NAC in patients with locally advanced T4b or obstructive T4a colon cancers (LACC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of patients with LACC who underwent colon surgery between 2010 and 2022 after NAC at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics, surgical outcomes, tumor features, and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 800 patients with LACC who underwent radical resection, 11 received NAC because of cT4b or cT4a with mechanical obstruction. NAC, administered as a doublet regimen, had a median duration of three months, without grade ≥3 adverse events. R0 resection was achieved in all patients and downstaging was observed in eight patients. One patient developed a postoperative abdominal abscess, and adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to eight patients. Four patients experienced recurrence: liver metastasis in two, and local recurrence in two. Among these, three patients underwent resection of recurrent tumors. Median follow-up was 30 months. CONCLUSION: NAC is feasible for T4b or obstructive T4a colon cancer and may be a treatment option for LACC. Further large-scale studies are required to confirm the efficacy of NAC in these patients.

Book-Binding Technique in Totally Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy with Billroth I Reconstruction: Clinical Results and Outcomes in 188 Patients with Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastrectomy is widely used as a curative treatment for gastric cancer. Although delta-shaped anastomosis is commonly used for Billroth I anastomosis after totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG), it has some drawbacks. The book-binding technique (BBT) was developed as an alternative, and this study aimed to examine its short-term results in 188 consecutive cases. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study included patients who underwent BBT reconstruction after TLDG for gastric malignancy between 2011 and 2020. BBT is a technique for intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy, which is a triangular anastomosis with a linear stapler that does not require additional dissection or rotation of the duodenum. The short-term outcomes of BBT reconstruction and postoperative endoscopic findings were analyzed. RESULTS: This study evaluated 188 patients who underwent TLDG and BBT reconstruction. Anastomotic stenosis and leakage occurred in 1.1% and 0.5% of the patients, respectively. The median time to the first diet was 3.1 days, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 11.9 days. BBT anastomoses were performed by 19 surgeons and took an average of 32.8 minutes to complete, with completion times decreasing as the surgical team became more proficient. On endoscopy performed 1 year postoperatively, 5.2% had reflux esophagitis (grade A or higher), 67.8% had gastritis (grade 1 or higher), 37.4% had residual food (grade 1 or higher), and 37.4% had bile reflux (grade 1). CONCLUSIONS: BBT is a safe and feasible method for intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy in TLDG for patients with gastric malignancy and demonstrates good surgical outcomes.

Field experiment of a telesurgery system using a surgical robot with haptic feedback.

PURPOSE: To verify the usefulness of haptic feedback in telesurgery and improve the safety of telerobotic surgery. METHODS: The surgeon's console was installed at two sites (Fukuoka and Beppu; 140 km apart), and the patient cart was installed in Fukuoka. During the experiment, the surgeon was blinded to the haptic feedback levels and asked to grasp the intestinal tract in an animal model. The surgeon then performed the tasks at each location. RESULTS: No marked differences in task accuracy or average grasping force were observed between the surgeon locations. However, the average task completion time was significantly longer, and the system usability scale (SUS) was significantly lower rating for remote operations than for local ones. No marked differences in task accuracy or task completion time were observed between the haptic feedback levels. However, with haptic feedback, the organ was grasped with a significantly weaker force than that without it. Furthermore, with haptic feedback, experienced surgeons in robotic surgery tended to perform an equivalent task with weaker grasping forces than inexperienced surgeons. CONCLUSION: The haptic feedback function is a tool that allows the surgeon to perform surgery with an appropriate grasping force, both on site and remotely. Improved safety is necessary in telesurgery; haptic feedback will thus be an essential technology in robotic telesurgery going forward.

Evolution of Treatment Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Esophageal Cancer Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis of 1500 Consecutive Esophagostomies.

Objective: To clarify the surgical outcomes of esophagectomy in Japan and comprehensively evaluate trends over time. It is important to analyze data from a large number of consecutive patients from a single institution. Methods: We evaluated the treatment outcomes, complications, and prognosis of 1500 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy during 5 periods: group A (n = 284), 1964-1984; group B (n = 345), 1985-1993; group C (n = 253), 1994-2002; group D (n = 297), 2003-2012; and group E (n = 321), 2013-March 2020. Results: The incidences of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 93.8% and 3.3%, respectively. The proportion of adenocarcinoma cases has gradually increased over time. The in-hospital mortality rates for groups A, B, C, D, and E were 12%, 4.6%, 1.2%, 2.9%, and 1.5%, respectively. Group A had a significantly higher mortality rate than the other groups (P < 0.0001). Three-year survival rates were 22.2%, 47.8%, 53.4%, 69.9%, and 72.6% in groups A-E, respectively, 5-year survival rates were 17.2%, 41.3%, 49.2%, 63.9%, and 68.4%, respectively (P < 0.0001, group A vs groups D and E). The prognosis improved over time. Multivariate analysis revealed that depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, the extent of lymph node resection, curative resection, pulmonary complications, and anastomotic leakage were significant independent prognostic factors. However, for recent surgeries (groups D and E), only the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and curative resection were significant independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: Valuable changes in background and prognostic factors occurred over time. These findings will help optimize esophageal cancer management and improve patient outcomes.

Preoperative Hemoglobin Level as Predictor of the Development of High-output Stoma in Rectal Cancer Surgery.

Background/Aim: High-output stomas (HOSs) are a complication that can cause dehydration or renal dysfunction and affect the quality of life of patients, causing water, sodium, and magnesium depletion with malnutrition. Preoperative factors that are useful for predicting HOS are not well defined. Patients and Methods: A total of nine patients developed HOS among 31 patients who underwent rectal cancer surgery with ileostomies during 2014-2021. Clinicopathological and surgical parameters were also analyzed. HOS was defined as maximum output of ≥2,000 ml/day. Results: The clinicopathological features did not differ between the HOS and non-HOS groups. Lower Hemoglobin (Hb) levels (<12 mg/dl) and longer operation times (≥300 min) were shown to be risk factors in the development of HOS. Conclusion: Low Hb levels on preoperative blood tests were predictors of HOS development in patients who underwent rectal cancer surgery and ileostomies simultaneously in our data set. Further studies are required to improve the robustness of these findings.

Esophagectomy for esophageal stricture with systemic sclerosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by frequent esophageal involvement. However, there are few reports on esophagectomy for esophageal strictures associated with SSc. Herein, we present a case of successful treatment of an esophageal stricture associated with SSc through subtotal esophagectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old female patient was diagnosed with SSc, interstitial pneumonia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The patient developed an esophageal ulcer and benign stricture that required a subtotal esophagectomy 10 years after the diagnosis. Histopathological findings revealed thinning of the muscle layer, a characteristic feature of SSc. The patient was free of dysphagia or regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: An esophagectomy is a valuable option for treating esophageal strictures in SSc. Therefore, surgical approaches should be established for patients with SSc.

A pathological complete response after immunotherapy with pembrolizumab for distal duodenal adenocarcinoma caused by Lynch syndrome: a case report.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum is a rare neoplasm that is often microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H). Pembrolizumab, a monoclonal antibody, has been recently approved in Japan for treatment of MSI-H solid tumors. Lynch syndrome is a frequent hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome. It is linked to an increased risk of various types of cancer, including colorectal and endometrial cancer, and is closely related to MSI-H. We present the case of a 55-year-old woman who was diagnosed with duodenal cancer. Biopsy findings revealed MSI-H, and pembrolizumab therapy was initiated because the tumor was in contact with the left renal vein and had metastasized to the mesenteric lymph nodes of the small intestine. Subsequently, after completing two courses of pembrolizumab therapy, the patient developed duodenal stenosis and underwent surgery. Pathological analysis of the resected specimen revealed no evidence of malignancy. Given the patient's previous cancer history and the occurrence of cancer in close relatives, genetic testing of peripheral blood was performed, which revealed the diagnosis of Lynch syndrome. Furthermore, the variant responsible for Lynch syndrome was found to be a mutation of NM_000251.3:c.211 + 1G > C in MSH2.

Left recurrent nerve lymph node dissection in robotic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer without esophageal traction.

BACKGROUND: Because the robotic arm is located on the dorsal side of the patient, when the esophagus is pulled dorsally for the left recurrent nerve lymph node (LRLN) dissection, the robotic arm interferes with the surgical field. This made it difficult to prepare for the left recurrent lymph node dissection. We developed LRLN dissection in robotic surgery with natural space creation by physiological organ movement and evaluated the short-term results. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 102 cases of robot-assisted thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy (RATE) among radical subtotal esophagectomies performed between December 2018 and December 2022 using medical records. LRLN dissection is preceded by a dissection of the esophagus from the trachea. Leaving the esophagus on the vertebral side and away from the trachea resulted in a physiological elevation of the esophagus, providing space between the trachea and esophagus. RESULTS: The thoracic surgery time in RATE was 181 (115-394) min. The number of LRLNs dissected was 4 (1-14). Six patients (6%) had a postoperative recurrence in the mediastinal lymph nodes. Seven patients (7%) had grade ≥ 1 left recurrent nerve palsy. CONCLUSIONS: LRLN dissection with RATE using natural space creation was performed safely with a sufficient number of dissected lymph nodes and little left recurrent nerve palsy.

Combined treatment with surgery and immune checkpoint inhibitor extended survival in a case of gastric intramural metastasis from esophageal cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Intramural metastasis (IM) of esophageal cancer is classified as distant metastasis according to the Japanese Classification of Esophageal Cancer, and it is well-known to be associated with a poor prognosis. We herein report a case of perforated gastric IM of esophageal cancer that was successfully controlled with nonradical surgery and subsequent immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old woman was referred to our department for the treatment of esophageal cancer and perforated gastric ulcer. A histological examination of the main tumor and gastric ulcer lesion revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Since the gastric wall tumor had invaded the celiac artery, complete resection was considered impossible. Chemotherapy was administered but led to severe adverse events, so palliative resection was performed. Two months after surgery, computed tomography revealed enlargement of the residual tumor around the celiac artery. However, after nivolumab monotherapy was started, the tumor diminished remarkably, and the quality of life of the patient dramatically improved. Nine months after nonradical surgery, she is surviving without any disease concern. CONCLUSIONS: With the increased availability of ICIs, multidisciplinary treatment with surgery and ICIs can potentially lead to long-term survival, even in cases expected to have a poor prognosis.

Telesurgery and telesurgical support using a double-surgeon cockpit system allowing manipulation from two locations.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies on telesurgery have been reported globally, a clinically applicable technique has not yet been developed. As part of a telesurgical study series conducted by the Japan Surgical Society, this study describes the first application of a double-surgeon cockpit system to telesurgery. METHODS: Surgeon cockpits were installed at a local site and a remote site 140 km away. Three healthy pigs weighing between 26 and 29 kg were selected for surgery. Non-specialized surgeons performed emergency hemostasis, cholecystectomy, and renal vein ligation with remote assistance using the double-surgeon cockpits and specialized surgeons performed actual telesurgery. Additionally, the impact of adding internet protocol security (IPsec) encryption to the internet protocol-virtual private network (IP-VPN) line on communication was evaluated to address clinical security concerns. RESULTS: The average time required for remote emergency hemostasis with the double-surgeon cockpit system was 10.64 s. A non-specialized surgeon could safely perform cholecystectomy or renal vein ligation with remote assistance. Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills and System Usability Scale scores were higher for telesurgical support-assisted surgery by a non-specialized surgeon using the double-surgeon cockpits than for telesurgery performed by a specialized surgeon without the double-cockpit system. Adding IPsec encryption to the IP-VPN did not have a significant impact on communication. CONCLUSION: Telesurgical support through our double-surgeon cockpit system is feasible as first step toward clinical telesurgery.

Lineage of drug discovery research on fluorinated pyrimidines: chronicle of the achievements accomplished by Professor Setsuro Fujii.

Prof. Setsuro Fujii achieved significant results in the field of drug discovery research in Japan. He developed nine well-known drugs: FT, UFT, S-1 and FTD/TPI are anticancer drugs, while cetraxate hydrochloride, camostat mesilate, nafamostat mesilate, gabexate mesilate and pravastatin sodium are therapeutic drugs for various other diseases. He delivered hope to patients with various diseases across the world to improve their condition. Even now, drug discovery research based on Dr. Fujii's ideas is continuing.

Artificial Intelligence-Based Prediction of Recurrence after Curative Resection for Colorectal Cancer from Digital Pathological Images.

BACKGROUND: To develop an artificial intelligence-based model to predict recurrence after curative resection for stage I-III colorectal cancer from digitized pathological slides. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 471 consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for stage I-III colorectal cancer at our institution from 2004 to 2015 were enrolled, and 512 randomly selected tiles from digitally scanned images of hematoxylin and eosin-stained tumor tissue sections were used to train a convolutional neural network. Five-fold cross-validation was used to validate the model. The association between recurrence and the model's output scores were analyzed in the test cohorts. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the cross-validation was 0.7245 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6707-0.7783; P < 0.0001]. The score successfully classified patients into those with better and worse recurrence free survival (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that a high score was significantly associated with worse recurrence free survival [odds ratio (OR) 1.857; 95% CI 1.248-2.805; P = 0.0021], which was independent from other predictive factors: male sex (P = 0.0238), rectal cancer (P = 0.0396), preoperative abnormal carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (P = 0.0216), pathological T3/T4 stage (P = 0.0162), and pathological positive lymph node metastasis (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The artificial intelligence-based prediction model discriminated patients with a high risk of recurrence. This approach could help decision-makers consider the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Fecal microbiota in patients with a stoma decreases anaerobic bacteria and alters taxonomic and functional diversities.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant diseases. Generally, stoma construction is performed following surgery for the resection of the primary tumor in patients with CRC. The association of CRC with the gut microbiota has been widely reported, and the gut microbiota is known to play an important role in the carcinogenesis, progression, and treatment of CRC. In this study, we compared the microbiota of patients with CRC between with and without a stoma using fecal metagenomic sequencing data from SCRUM-Japan MONSTAR-SCREEN, a joint industry-academia cancer research project in Japan. We found that the composition of anaerobes was reduced in patients with a stoma. In particular, the abundance of Alistipes, Akkermansia, Intestinimonas, and methane-producing archaea decreased. We also compared gene function (e.g., KEGG Orthology and KEGG pathway) and found that gene function for methane and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production was underrepresented in patients with a stoma. Furthermore, a stoma decreased Shannon diversity based on taxonomic composition but increased that of the KEGG pathway. These results suggest that the feces of patients with a stoma have a reduced abundance of favorable microbes for cancer immunotherapy. In conclusion, we showed that a stoma alters the taxonomic and functional profiles in feces and may be a confounding factor in fecal microbiota analysis.

[Two Cases of Robot-Assisted Total Pelvic Exenteration and Intracorporeal Ileal Conduit for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer].

We describe two cases of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with robot-assisted total pelvic exenteration (Ra-TPE) and intracorporeal ileal conduit (ICIC). The first case was in a 71-year-old man with LARC (RbP, T4bN2bM0, cStage IIIc). He was started on bevacizumab+S-1/oxaliplatin therapy in July 2019. In April 2020, he developed Fournier's gangrene due to subcutaneous penetration of rectal cancer. Emergency drainage and colostomy were performed simultaneously, and a percutaneous vesical fistula was created. In May 2020, Ra-TPE and ICIC were performed. Histopathological analysis revealed moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma (ypT3N0, RM0). At postoperative 9 months, thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy was performed for a right metastatic lung tumor. At present, ie, at postoperative 12 months, the patient has been free of recurrence and metastasis, with a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level of 1.4 ng/ml and carcinoma antigen (CA) 19-9 level of 11 U/ml. The second case was in a 61-year-old man with fistula-associated anal cancer (PRb, T4N3M1b, cStage IVb). In April 2019, he was started on FOLFOXIRI+cetuximab therapy. In August 2020, Ra-TPE, ICIC, and transperineal total mesenteric excision were performed. Histopathological analysis revealed adenocarcinoma (ypT4N0, RM0). At postoperative 11 months, thoracoscopic left lower lobectomy was performed for a left metastatic lung tumor. At present, ie, at postoperative 12 months, the patient remains free of recurrence and metastasis, with a CEA level of 7.3 ng/ml and CA19-9 level of 12 U/ml. Ra-TPE, which allows transperineal removal of a specimen, can be performed as a minimally invasive surgery in combination with ICIC.

Influence of Robotic Rectal Resection Versus Laparoscopic Rectal Resection on Postoperative Ileus: A Single-center Experience.

AIM: This study was performed to clarify the relationship between robotic rectal resection and postoperative ileus (POI) by comparing robotic surgery with laparoscopic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 238 patients who underwent robotic (n=41) or laparoscopic (n=197) rectal resection for rectal cancer in our institution from January 2013 to June 2020. First, we compared the background factors and short-term surgical outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic surgery. Next, we investigated the postoperative complications of robotic and laparoscopic rectal resection. Finally, we identified the risk factors for POI following rectal cancer resection. RESULTS: The percentages of patients with an Rb tumor location, treatment by abdominoperitoneal resection/intersphincteric resection/low anterior resection, a temporary diverting ileostomy, and a long operation time were significantly higher in robotic than laparoscopic surgery ( P <0.0001, P =0.0002, P =0.0078, and P =0.0001, respectively). There was no significant difference in any individual postoperative complication between robotic and laparoscopic surgery. Risk factors for POI were male sex ( P =0.0078), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy ( P =0.0007), an Rb tumor location ( P =0.0005), treatment by abdominoperitoneal resection/intersphincteric resection/low anterior resection ( P =0.0044), a temporary diverting ileostomy ( P <0.0001), and operation time of ≥240 minutes ( P =0.0024). Notably, robotic surgery was not a risk factor for POI following rectal resection relative to laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSION: Although patients who underwent robotic surgery had more risk factors for POI, the risk of POI was similar between robotic and laparoscopic rectal resection.

Clinical impact of the triple-layered circular stapler for reducing the anastomotic leakage in rectal cancer surgery: Porcine model and multicenter retrospective cohort analysis.

Aim: To investigate the impact of the triple-layered circular stapler compared with the double-layered circular stapler on anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery. Methods: The bursting pressure was compared between porcine ileocolic anastomoses created using a double- or triple-layered stapler. We also retrospectively analyzed the incidence of severe anastomotic leakage in 194 patients who underwent colorectal anastomosis using a double- or triple-layered circular stapler during rectal cancer resection performed in two cancer centers between January 2015 and April 2021. Results: In the porcine model, the bursting pressure was higher in anastomoses created using the triple-layered stapler than the double-layered stapler (end-to-end anastomosis: 26.4 ± 6.2 mm Hg vs 14.5 ± 4.3 mm Hg, P = .0031; side-to-side anastomosis: 27.7 ± 5.0 mm Hg vs 18.0 ± 2.9 mm Hg, P = .0275). Intersectional leakage occurred in 41% and 83% of anastomoses created using the triple- or double-layered stapler, respectively (P = .0821). In the clinical cohort, the double- and triple-layered stapler was used in 153 and 41 patients, respectively. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was lower for anastomoses created using the triple-layered stapler vs the double-layered stapler (0.0% vs 5.8%, P = .0362). In multivariate analysis, the factors independently associated with a lower incidence of anastomotic leakage were female sex (odds ratio: 0.16, 95% confidence interval: 0.01-0.90, P = .0354) and triple-layered stapler usage (odds ratio: 0.00, 95% confidence interval: 0.00-0.96, P = .0465). Conclusion: Anastomoses created using a triple-layered circular stapler had high bursting pressure, which might contribute to a lower incidence of anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery.