Anti-reflux effects of a novel esophagogastric asymmetric anastomosis technique after laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Reflux esophagitis is a common postoperative complication of proximal gastrectomy. There is an urgent need for a safer method of performing esophageal-gastric anastomosis that reduces the risk of reflux after proximal gastrectomy. We hypothesize that a novel technique termed esophagogastric asymmetric anastomosis (EGAA) can prevent postoperative reflux in a safe and feasible manner. AIM: To observe a novel method of EGAA to prevent postoperative reflux. METHODS: Initially, we employed a thermal stress computer to simulate and analyze gastric peristalsis at the site of an esophagogastric asymmetric anastomosis. This was done in order to better understand the anti-reflux function and mechanism. Next, we performed digestive tract reconstruction using the EGAA technique in 13 patients who had undergone laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy. Post-surgery, we monitored the structure and function of the reconstruction through imaging exams and gastroscopy. Finally, the patients were followed up to assess the efficacy of the anti-reflux effects. RESULTS: Our simulation experiments have demonstrated that the clockwise contraction caused by gastric peristalsis and the expansion of the gastric fundus caused by the increase of intragastric pressure could significantly tighten the anastomotic stoma, providing a means to prevent the reverse flow of gastric fluids. Thirteen patients with esophagogastric junction tumors underwent laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy, with a mean operation time of 304.2 ± 44.3 min. After the operation, the upper gastroenterography in supine/low head positions showed that eight patients exhibited no gastroesophageal reflux, three had mild reflux, and two had obvious reflux. The abdominal computed tomography examination showed a valve-like structure at the anastomosis. During follow-up, gastroscopy revealed a closed valve-like form at the anastomosis site without stenosis or signs of reflux esophagitis in 11 patients. Only two patients showed gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and mild reflux esophagitis and were treated with proton pump inhibitor therapy. CONCLUSION: EGAA is a feasible and safe surgical method, with an excellent anti-reflux effect after proximal gastrectomy.

Phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 for clinical stage III gastric or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma.

Background: Although perioperative treatment has been the standard of care for resectable gastric cancer in the West, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is still the standard in Japan. We conducted the first phase 2 trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 (DOS) chemotherapy for cStage III gastric or esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma in Japan. Methods: Eligibility criteria included cStage III adenocarcinoma of the stomach or EGJ. Patients received docetaxel (40 mg/m2, day 1), oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2, day 1), or S-1 (80 mg/m2, days 1-14) during a 3-week cycle. After two or three cycles of DOS, patients underwent surgical resection. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Between June 2015 and March 2019, 50 patients were enrolled from four institutions. Of 48 eligible patients (37 gastric and 11 EGJ adenocarcinoma), 42 (88%) completed two or three DOS cycles. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and diarrhea occurred in 69% and 19% of patients, respectively, but there were no treatment-related deaths. R0 resection was achieved in 44 (92%) patients, and the pathological response rate (≥ grade 1b) was 63% (30/48). The 3-year PFS, overall survival, and disease-specific survival rates were 54.2%, 68.7%, and 75.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant DOS chemotherapy had a sufficient antitumor effect and tolerable safety profile in patients with gastric or EGJ adenocarcinoma. The survival benefit of a neoadjuvant strategy using our DOS regimen should be validated in phase 3 trials.

Serum CYR61 as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of esophagogastric junction tumor.

BACKGROUND: Esophagogastric junction tumor (EGJ) is a rare but fatal disease with a rapid rising incidence worldwide in the late 20 years, and it lacks a convenient and safe method for diagnosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of serum CYR61 as a biomarker for the diagnosis of EGJ tumor. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to estimate CYR61 levels in sera of 152 EGJ tumor patients and 137 normal controls. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy. The Mann-Whitney's U test was used to compare the difference of serum levels of CYR61 between groups. And chi-square tests were employed to estimate the correlation of the positive rate of serum CYR61 between/among subgroups. RESULTS: Serum CYR61 levels were statistically lower in EGJ tumor and early-stage EGJ tumor patients than those in normal controls (P<0.0001). The sensitivity, specificity and the area under the curve (AUC) of this biomarker in EGJ tumor were 88.2%, 43.8% and 0.691, respectively, and those for early stage of EGJ tumor were 80.0%, 66.4% and 0.722, respectively. Analyses showed that there was no correlation between the clinical data and the levels of CYR61 (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that CYR61 might be a potential biomarker to assist the diagnosis of EGJ tumor.

Esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma: Preoperative chemoradiation or perioperative chemotherapy?

Multimodal treatment is currently the standard of care for locally advanced esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma due to poor results after surgery alone. Neoadjuvant therapy is intended to shrink the tumor and eliminate potential circulating tumor cells. However, which neoadjuvant treatment is best for patients with EGJ tumors remains controversial. We aimed to compare outcomes of preoperative chemoradiation and perioperative chemotherapy for EGJ adenocarcinomas. For this purpose, we performed a thorough review of the literature describing neoadjuvant treatments for EGJ adenocarcinomas or comparing both therapies. Although some studies have shown better locoregional control and higher rates of complete pathologic response after chemoradiation, data suggest that both types of neoadjuvant therapy have similar survival benefits. As current data are heterogeneous and many studies have included significantly different types of patients in their analysis, future studies with better patient selection are still needed to define which neoadjuvant therapy should be chosen. In addition, targeted therapies and immunotherapy have promising results and should be further explored.

[Current status of anti-reflux surgery of proximal gastrectomy for esophagogastric junction tumor].

In recent years, the overall incidence of gastric cancer has been decreasing worldwide, while the incidence of the esophagogastric junction tumor is increasing year by year. With the progress of the diagnostic technology of upper gastrointestinal tumors and the gradual popularization of early cancer screening, the detection rate of early esophagogastric junction tumor keeps increasing. Therefore, in recent years, the clinical application of gastric function preserving surgery is gradually increasing. As an important part of the surgical treatment strategy of esophagogastric junction tumors, proximal gastrectomy has attracted more and more attention with the confirmation of oncological safety. Compared with total gastrectomy, patients after proximal gastrectomy have better nutritional status and quality of life. However, the high incidence of reflux esophagitis after traditional proximal gastrectomy has seriously affected the quality of life of patients, and also hindered the application of proximal gastrectomy in esophagogastric junction tumors. How to reduce the occurrence of reflux esophagitis after proximal gastrectomy by optimizing the method of digestive tract reconstruction has been a big challenge in clinical practice. This article reviews the current methods of anti-reflux surgery for proximal gastrectomy for esophagogastric junction tumors, aiming to provide a reference for choosing a reasonable anti-reflux surgery.