Trends in vitamin D level and risk of vitamin D deficiency after gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A retrospective study of a single high-volume center experience.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Post-gastrectomy vitamin D deficiency can result in osteoporosis and fractures, which can decrease patient quality of life and increase their socioeconomic burden. However, because there is no consensus around preoperative measurement and regular postoperative monitoring of serum vitamin D [25(OH)vitD] level for gastric cancer patients, we performed a retrospective study with a single high-volume center experience. METHODS: We reviewed a database of 614 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy between December 2015 and December 2019. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for 25(OH)vitD deficiency after one year postoperative (n = 546). A linear mixed model was used to evaluate changes between preoperative (n = 585) and postoperative (6 [n = 504] and 12 months [n = 572]) 25(OH)vitD values. RESULTS: Preoperative 25(OH)vitD deficiency occurred in 67.7% of patients with gastric cancer. Patients who underwent postoperative chemotherapy for advanced pathologic disease were more likely to be 25(OH)vitD deficient at postoperative year one than those who did not receive chemotherapy (P = 0.005). Postoperative chemotherapy was an independent risk factor along with preoperative 25(OH)vitD level for one year postoperative 25(OH)vitD deficiency (P = 0.002). Meanwhile, there was significant change in 25(OH)vitD level after surgery according to reconstruction (increased in Billroth I group compared to gastrojejunostomy group, P = 0.016), pathologic stage (increased in stage I group, decreased in stage II and III group, P = 0.005), postoperative chemotherapy (increased in non-chemotherapy group, decreased in chemotherapy group, P = 0.001), and season of surgery (increased when the blood tests were performed at summer, decreased when tested in non-summer season, P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: More than half of gastric cancer patients had preoperative 25(OH)vitD deficiency, and those who had postoperative chemotherapy were at risk for 25(OH)vitD deficiency one year after surgery. There was a significant change in 25(OH)vitD level after surgery according to reconstruction method and postoperative chemotherapy. Preoperative measurement and regular postoperative monitoring should be considered for high-risk patients.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy vs. Surgery Alone for pT3N0M0 Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: As both the role and clinical application of adjuvant chemotherapy (CTx) for pT3N0M0 gastric cancer after curative gastrectomy have fluctuated chronologically, the oncological benefit of adjuvant CTx in patients should be elucidated. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2018, 1083 patients underwent radical gastrectomy for pT3N0M0 gastric cancer and were subsequently divided into two groups: the surgery-alone group (n = 471) and the adjuvant CTx group (n = 612). Chronological changes in adjuvant CTx and various chemotherapeutic regimens were evaluated and disease-free survival was compared between the two groups. Risk factors for tumor recurrence were also analyzed. RESULTS: The proportion of patients in the surgery-alone group was more than 60% until 2001, whereas in the CTx group this increased to over 80%, especially after publication of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7th edition staging manual. The main chemotherapeutic agents were tegafur-uracil (UFT) and 5-fluorouracil with leucovorin until 2008, whereas tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (TS-1) has been the main agent since 2009. The 5-year disease-free survival was 89.2% in the surgery-alone group and 89.9% in the CTx group, which was not significantly different (p = 0.694). In multivariate analysis, larger tumor size (≥ 4.5 cm) and venous invasion were significant risk factors for tumor recurrence. In addition, adjuvant CTx did not improve the oncological outcome, even in the large tumor size group (p = 0.760) and the venous invasion group (p = 0.753). CONCLUSIONS: As adjuvant CTx did not show any oncological benefit in pT3N0M0 gastric cancer in this large-scale study, it might be unnecessary for these patients after curative gastrectomy.

Comparison of Open and Laparoscopic Gastrectomy in Elderly Patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to estimate surgical outcomes of elderly patients older than 80 years who received laparoscopic or open gastrectomy for gastric cancer and to identify risk factors for postoperative complications. METHODS: Two hundred forty-two elderly patients older than 80 years underwent gastric cancer surgery between January 2010 and December 2016 in three tertiary hospitals. They were divided into two groups: laparoscopic gastrectomy (N = 59) and open gastrectomy (N = 183). The surgical outcomes and risk factors for postoperative complication were evaluated. RESULTS: Among the elderly patients, 24.4% showed an ASA score of 3 or 4, and 20.7% showed a Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score of 2 or more. 46.3% of patients had hypertension and 15.3% had diabetes. The laparoscopic gastrectomy group showed similar operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, and faster postoperative gastrointestinal recovery compared to the open gastrectomy group. The incidence of postoperative complications was 30.1% in the open group and 22.0% in the laparoscopic group (P = 0.249). One patient died for pulmonary complication in the open gastrectomy group. In multivariate analysis, older age, male, higher CCI score, and open approach were found to be correlated with increased risk for postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Although elderly patients over 80 years had a high incidence of comorbidity, gastric cancer surgery can be safely performed. The laparoscopic approach might be feasible for open surgery in improving quality of life in these patients, given a faster postoperative intestinal recovery period, with similar risk for postoperative complications.

Missed lesions in synchronous multiple gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to define differences between synchronous multiple gastric cancer (MGC) and solitary gastric cancer (SGC) and to evaluate the characteristics of missed lesions in MGC so as to improve the detection rate of missed lesions during perioperative procedure. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analysed data on 9157 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer in a single hospital. The characteristics of 8893 SGC and 264 MGC patients were evaluated. The characteristics of missed lesions in MGC were compared with those of diagnosed lesions found in preoperative endoscopy. RESULTS: Of the 9157 gastric patients, 264 patients with MGC showed a total of 565 cancer lesions, 70 of which were missed at endoscopy. The patients with MGC demonstrated different characteristics compared with those with SGC in terms of sex, age, type of operation, depth of tumour, lymph node metastasis, tumour size, tumour location and curability (P < 0.05). The characteristics of the missed lesions (n = 70) were a small size (P < 0.05), a middle one-third location (P < 0.001) and a flat type by macroscopic examination (P < 0.05) as compared with detected lesions (n = 495). No survival difference was detected between patients with and without missed lesions over a mean follow-up of 36.0 +/- 22.7 month. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative gastroscopy should be performed meticulously in the entire stomach, especially in older men, in order to identify the presence and locations of cancer lesions that might otherwise be missed.

Recurrence after curative resection of early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the recurrence of EGC after curative gastrectomy, due to its relatively low incidence. This study evaluated recurrence patterns and independent predictive factors for recurrence in order to determine appropriate follow-up and early detection of recurrence. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 3,883 consecutive patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for EGC at Samsung Medical Center between February 1995 and January 2006 and were followed up until January 2008. The clinical and pathological characteristics and the predictive factors for recurrence were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Eighty-five (2.2%) patients had recurrence, and liver was the most common site of recurrence (45.9%). The recurrence rates within 2, 3, and 5 years were 43.5%, 67.1%, and 85.6%, respectively. There were 106 overall recurrences, with 86 (81.1%) being detected by computed tomography (CT). Second primary cancer was the primary cause of death after gastrectomy, followed by recurrence. Old age (>60 years), tumor size (>3 cm), multiple tumor, N category, and N2 station metastasis were significant factors for recurrence by multivariate analysis, but depth of invasion was not a significant factor. CONCLUSIONS: Age, tumor size, number of tumors, N category, and N2 station metastasis were predictive factors for recurrence, with lymph node metastasis being the most significant factor. After curative gastrectomy, follow-up programs should be applied for more than 5 years for EGC patients, and computed tomography could be an essential diagnostic tool.

Omentum-preserving gastrectomy for early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The omentum has variable functions in surgical procedures. Nevertheless, there is very little information about the effect of omentum on abdominal complications after gastrectomy. The purpose of the present study was to determine the outcome of omentum-preserving gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. METHODS: We evaluated 1,116 patients who had a gastrectomy for early gastric cancer between the years 2004 and 2006; 992 patients underwent conventional gastrectomy (CG), and 124 patients had an omentum-preserving gastrectomy (OPG). These cases were analyzed retrospectively. The early and late abdominal complications were compared between the CG and OPG groups. RESULTS: The results of the study show no significant differences between the early abdominal complications in the CG and OPG groups. However, the late abdominal complication rate in the OPG was significantly lower than the CG (p = 0.026). The most common risk factor associated with early abdominal complications was type of operation. The combination of CG and early abdominal complication represented a statistically significant risk for late abdominal complications (p = 0.026, 0.031 respectively). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate that the omentum-preserving gastrectomy in the treatment of early gastric cancer showed a lower rate of abdominal complications compared to the conventional gastrectomy.

The difficult choice between total and proximal gastrectomy in proximal early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Surgical results including postoperative complications, prognoses, body weight changes, and nutritional statuses were compared in patients with early gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach who were treated by total gastrectomy or proximal gastrectomy. METHODS: The authors reviewed clinicopathologic features, postoperative complications, survivals, body weight changes, and biochemical markers after surgery in 423 patients who underwent total or proximal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach. RESULTS: The proximal gastrectomy group (n = 89) had smaller tumors, shorter resection margins, and smaller numbers of retrieved lymph nodes than the total gastrectomy group (n = 334). N stages and 5-year survival rates were similar after total and proximal gastrectomy. Postoperative complication rates after total gastrectomy and proximal gastrectomy were 12.6% and 61.8%, respectively, which was significant (P < .001). Rates of anastomotic stenosis and reflux esophagitis were 6.9% and 1.8% after total gastrectomy and 38.2% and 29.2% after proximal gastrectomy, respectively. The parameters that reflect nutritional status (ie, body weight, serum hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, glucose, and cholesterol) were similar in the proximal and total gastrectomy groups at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Although the surgical safeties and curabilities of proximal and total gastrectomy were similar, proximal gastrectomy was found to be associated with a markedly higher rate of complications such as anastomotic stenosis and reflux esophagitis and to provide no benefit in terms of postoperative weight loss. The authors conclude that proximal gastrectomy is not a better option for upper-third early gastric cancer than total gastrectomy.

Clinical significance of tumor location in remnant gastric cancers developed after partial gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer.

We sought to elucidate the clinical value of tumor location of the remnant gastric cancer developed after partial gastrectomy for gastric cancer to determine the disease characteristics and surgical outcome. Fifty-two patients underwent a second operation with a curative intent because of remnant gastric cancer after undergoing partial gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 1995 and 2005. The clinicopathological features of their primary and recurrent diseases, surgical results, and survivals according to tumor sites within the remnant stomach were examined. Tumors that developed at the anastomotic site (n = 27) in remnant stomach favored a female gender, younger age, and unfavorable histological characteristics of primary and recurrent diseases and were also associated with lower tumor resectability than those that developed in the non-anastomotic site (n = 25). The overall 5-year survival rates of patients that experienced an anastomotic recurrence and non-anastomotic recurrence were 36.9 and 95.8% (p = 0.001), respectively, and the overall 5-year survival rates of patients with stage I primary gastric cancer were 83.3 and 100% (p = 0.018) for anastomotic and non-anastomotic recurrence. Tumor location of remnant gastric cancer is an important factor for predicting surgical outcome, but it also reflects the characteristics of primary and recurrent diseases. It is hoped that these results will assist surgeons establishing the treatment plan for remnant gastric cancer.

Surgical outcome of synchronous second primary cancer in patients with gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: In order to improve the likelihood of curative and safe gastric surgery, this study investigated the clinical features and surgical outcomes of gastric cancer with a synchronous cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 10,090 gastric cancer patients at Samsung Medical Center from September 1994 to December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 90 patients with gastric cancer and a synchronous second primary cancer underwent simultaneous surgery for gastric cancer and second primary cancer. The clinicopathological characteristics of the patients, surgical outcome, and prognosis were examined. RESULTS: The most common synchronous second primary cancer was colorectal cancer (37 patients), followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (13 patients), renal cell carcinoma (11 patients), and pancreatic carcinoma (5 patients). The incidence of a second primary cancer in the gastric cancer patients was higher than the incidence in the general population. Stage I gastric cancer patients had more synchronous cancers than stage II patients (59 vs. 31). Postoperative complications were encountered in 7 patients. Four patients underwent reoperation. Two patients died from hepatic failure and leakage of esophagojejunal anastomosis. The 5-year survival rate of stage I and II gastric cancer was 61% and 39%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Since gastric cancer patients with a synchronous second primary cancer are not rare, the possibility of synchronous cancers in gastric cancer patients should be considered. The prognosis of early stage gastric cancer patients with a synchronous second primary cancer was influenced more by the presence of the second primary cancer than by the gastric cancer itself.