Propensity score analysis of 18-FDG PET/CT-enhanced staging in patients undergoing surgery for esophageal cancer.

PURPOSE: PET/CT is now integral to the staging pathway for potentially curable esophageal cancer (EC), primarily to identify distant metastases undetected by computed tomography. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of PET/CT introduction on survival and assess patterns of recurrence after esophagectomy. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort of EC patients staged between 1998 and 2016 were considered for inclusion. After co-variate adjustment using propensity scoring, a cohort of 496 patients (273 pre-PET/CT and 223 post-PET/CT) who underwent esophagectomy [median age 63 years (31-80), 395 males, 425 adenocarcinomas, 71 squamous cell carcinomas, 325 neoadjuvant therapy] were included. The primary outcome measure was overall survival (OS) based on intention to treat. RESULTS: Three-year OS pre-PET/CT was 42.5% compared with 57.8% post-PET/CT (Chi2 6.571, df 1, p = 0.004). On multivariable analysis, pT stage (HR 1.496 [95% CI 1.28-1.75], p < 0.0001), pN stage (HR 1.114 [95% CI 1.04-1.19], p = 0.001) and PET/CT staging (HR 0.688 [95% CI 0.53-0.89] p = 0.004) were independently associated with OS. Recurrent cancer was observed in 125 patients (51.4%) pre-PET/CT, compared with 74 patients post-PET/CT (37.8%, p = 0.004), and was less likely to be distant recurrence after PET/CT introduction (39.5 vs. 27.0%, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced PET/CT staging is an important modality and independent factor associated with improved survival in patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer.

Meta-analysis of the prognostic value of CpG island methylator phenotype in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) has been identified as a distinct molecular subtype of gastric cancer, yet associations with survival are conflicting. A meta-analysis was performed to estimate the prognostic significance of CIMP. METHODS: Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, PubMed Central and Cochrane databases were searched systematically for studies related to the association between CIMP and survival in patients undergoing potentially curative resection for gastric cancer. RESULTS: A total of 918 patients from ten studies were included, and the median proportion of tumours with CIMP-high (CIMP-H) status was 40·9 (range 4·8-63) per cent. Gene panels for assessing CIMP status varied between the studies. Pooled analysis suggested that specimens exhibiting CIMP-H were associated with poorer 5-year survival (odds ratio (OR) for death 1·48, 95 per cent c.i. 1·10 to 1·99; P = 0·009). Significant heterogeneity was observed between studies (I2 = 88 per cent, P < 0·001). Subgroup analysis according to whether studies showed a tendency towards poor (5 studies) or improved (5) outcomes for patients with CIMP-H tumours, revealed that CIMP-H was associated with both poor (OR for death 8·15, 4·65 to 14·28, P < 0·001; heterogeneity I2 = 52 per cent, P = 0·08) and improved (OR 0·42, 0·27 to 0·65; P < 0·001, heterogeneity I2 = 0 per cent, P = 0·960) survival. CONCLUSION: There was heterogeneity in the gene panels used to identify CIMP, which may explain the survival differences.

Cardiorespiratory fitness is impaired and predicts mid-term postoperative survival in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm disease.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? To what extent cardiorespiratory fitness is impaired in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysmal (AAA) disease and corresponding implications for postoperative survival requires further investigation. What is the main finding and its importance? Cardiorespiratory fitness is impaired in patients with AAA disease. Patients with peak oxygen uptake of <13.1 ml O2  kg-1  min-1 and ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide at anaerobic threshold ≥34 are associated with increased risk of postoperative mortality at 2 years. These findings demonstrate that cardiorespiratory fitness can predict mid-term postoperative survival in AAA patients, which may help to direct care provision. ABSTRACT: Preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing is a standard assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and risk stratification. However, to what extent CRF is impaired in patients undergoing surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease and the corresponding implications for postoperative outcome requires further investigation. We measured CRF during an incremental exercise test to exhaustion using online respiratory gas analysis in patients with AAA disease (n = 124, aged 72 ± 7 years) and healthy sedentary control subjects (n = 104, aged 70 ± 7 years). Postoperative survival was examined for association with CRF, and threshold values were calculated for independent predictors of mortality. Patients who underwent preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing before surgical repair had lower CRF [age-adjusted mean difference of 12.5 ml O2  kg-1  min-1 for peak oxygen uptake ( V ̇ O 2 peak ), P < 0.001 versus control subjects]. After multivariable analysis, both V ̇ O 2 peak and the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide at anaerobic threshold ( V ̇ E / V ̇ C O 2 - AT ) were independent predictors of mid-term postoperative survival (2 years). Hazard ratios of 5.27 (95% confidence interval 1.62-17.14, P = 0.006) and 3.26 (95% confidence interval 1.00-10.59, P = 0.049) were observed for V ̇ O 2 peak  < 13.1 ml O2  kg-1  min-1 and V ̇ E / V ̇ C O 2 - AT ≥ 34, respectively. Thus, CRF is lower in patients with AAA, and those with a V ̇ O 2 peak  < 13.1 ml O2  kg-1  min-1 and V ̇ E / V ̇ C O 2 - AT ≥ 34 are associated with a markedly increased risk of postoperative mortality. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that CRF can predict mid-term postoperative survival in AAA patients, which may help to direct care provision.

Additional value of EUS in oesophageal cancer patients staged N0 on PET/CT: validation of a prognostic model.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastases are a major prognostic indicator in oesophageal cancer. Radiological staging largely influences treatment decisions and is becoming more reliant on PET and CT. However, the sensitivity of these modalities is suboptimal and is known to under-stage disease. The primary aim of this study was to validate a published prognostic model in oesophageal cancer patients staged N0 with PET/CT, which showed that EUS nodal status was an independent predictor of survival. The secondary aim was to assess the prognostic significance of pathological lymph node metastases in this cohort. METHODS: An independent validation cohort included 139 consecutive patients from a regional upper gastrointestinal cancer network staged N0 with PET/CT between 1st January 2013 and 31st June 2015. Replicating the original study, two Cox regression models were produced: one included EUS T-stage and EUS N-stage, and one included EUS T-stage and EUS N0 versus N+. The primary outcome of the prognostic model was overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier analysis assessed differences in OS between pathological node-negative (pN0) and node-positive (pN+) groups. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean OS of the validation cohort was 29.8 months (95% CI 27.1-35.2). EUS T-stage was significantly and independently associated with OS in both models (p = 0.011 and p = 0.012, respectively). EUS N-stage and EUS N0 versus N+ were not significantly associated with OS (p = 0.553 and p = 0.359, respectively). There was a significant difference in OS between pN0 and pN+ groups (χ2 13.315, df 1, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Lymph node metastases have a significant detrimental effect on OS. This validation study did not replicate the results of the developed prognostic model but the continued benefit of EUS in patients staged N0 with PET/CT was demonstrated. EUS remains a valuable component of a multi-modality approach to oesophageal cancer staging.

Prognostic Significance of Acute Kidney Injury Following Emergency Laparotomy: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

AIMS: Post-operative acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and independent mortality risk factor carrying high clinical and economic cost. This study aimed to establish the incidence of AKI in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy (EL), to determine patients' risk profile and consequent mortality. METHODS: Consecutive 239 patients of median age 68 (IQR 51-76) years, undergoing EL in a UK tertiary hospital, were studied. Primary outcome measure was AKI and in-hospital operative mortality. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients (39.7%) developed AKI, which was associated with in-hospital mortality in 32 patients (33.7%) compared with 7 patients (4.9%) without AKI. AKI occurred in 81.1% of all mortalities, but none occurred when AKI resolved within 48 h of EL. AKI was associated with chronic kidney disease, age, serum lactate, white cell count, pre-EL systolic blood pressure and tachycardia (p < 0.010). Median length of hospital stay in AKI survivors was 15 days compared with 11 days in the absence of AKI (p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, only AKI at 48 h post-EL was significantly and independently associated with mortality [HR 10.895, 95% CI 3.152-37.659, p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: Peri-operative AKI after EL was common and associated with a more than sixfold significant greater mortality. Pre-operative risk profile assessment and prompt protocol-driven intervention should minimise AKI and reduce EL mortality.

Operative learning curve trajectory in a cohort of surgical trainees.

BACKGROUND: Certification of completion of training in general surgery in the UK requires demonstration of competence in index operations by means of three level 4 competence consultant-validated procedure-based assessments (PBAs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the trajectory of operative learning curves related to PBA performance levels for curriculum-defined indicative operations with respect to numbers performed and training time. METHODS: Logbook data from consecutive higher general surgical trainees were compared with PBA evaluations to determine the relationship between PBA performance level, operative experience, training time and indicative numbers. Learning curve gradients were calculated using the inverse trigonometric function of tan related to operative experience and training time. RESULTS: Eighty-four surgical trainees participated. Median caseload to achieve three level 4 competence assessments was 64 (range 18-110) for inguinal hernia, 83 (15-177) for emergency laparotomy, 87 (23-192) for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 95 (22-209) for appendicectomy, 45 (17-111) for segmental colectomy and 16 (6-28) for Hartmann's procedure. Median learning curve gradients to achieve level 4 competence for emergency laparotomy were 15·3° and 33·7° by caseload and training time respectively, compared with 73·3° and 59·9° for Hartmann's procedure. Significant variance was observed in the gradients of all learning curves related to both the caseload between the first level 3 and the first level 4 PBA (P = 0·001), and between the first and third level 4 PBAs (P < 0·001). CONCLUSION: Significant learning curve gradient variance was observed, with discrepancies between expected indicative operative numbers and the point at which competence was judged to have been achieved. Numbers of index operations to achieve certification of completion of training warrant further examination.

Accuracy of contemporary oesophageal cancer lymph node staging with radiological-pathological correlation.

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of contemporary N-staging and provide radiological-pathological correlation in patients with lymph node metastases (LNMs) that were radiologically staged N0. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients were included who underwent surgery alone (n=41) or neoadjuvant therapy (n=71) between October 2010 and December 2015. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and combined positron-emission tomography (PET) and CT N-stage were compared to pathological N-stage [node-negative (N0) versus node-positive (N+) groups]. Fifty LNMs from 15 patients preoperatively staged as N0 were measured and the maximum size recorded. RESULTS: Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of N0 versus N+ disease with CECT, EUS, and PET/CT was 54.5%, 39.7% and 77.3%, 55.4%, 42.6% and 75%, and 57.1% 35.3%, and 90.9%, respectively. All techniques were more likely to under-stage nodal disease; CECT (X2 32.890, df=1, p<0.001), EUS (X2 28.471, df=1, p<0.001), and PET/CT (X2 50.790, df=1, p<0.001). PET/CT was more likely to under-stage nodal disease than EUS (p=0.031). Median LNM size was 3 mm, with 41 (82%) of LNMs measuring <6 mm and 22 (44%) classified as micro-metastases (≤2 mm). CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated poor N-staging accuracy in the modern era of radiological staging. Eighty-two percent of LNMs measured <6 mm, making direct identification extremely challenging on medical imaging. Future research should focus on investigating and developing alternative surrogate markers to predict the likelihood of LNMs.

Esophageal cancer's 100 most influential manuscripts: a bibliometric analysis.

Bibliometric analysis highlights key topics and publications that have shaped the understanding and management of esophageal cancer (EC). Here, the 100 most cited manuscripts in the field of EC are analyzed. The Thomson Reuters Web of Science database with the search terms 'esophageal cancer' or 'esophageal carcinoma' or 'oesophageal cancer' or 'oesophageal carcinoma' or 'gastroscopy' was used to identify all English language full manuscripts for the study. The 100 most cited papers were further analyzed by topic, journal, author, year, and institution. A total of 121,556 eligible papers were returned and the median (range) citation number was 406.5 (1833 to 293). The most cited paper focused on the role of perioperative chemotherpy in EC (1833 citations). Gastroenterology published the highest number of papers (n = 15, 6362 citations) and The New England Journal of Medicine received the most citations (n = 12, 12125 citations). The country and year with the greatest number of publications were the USA (n = 50), and 1998, 1999, and 2000 (n = 7). The most ubiquitous topic was the pathology of EC (n = 66) followed by management of EC (n = 54), and studies related to EC prognosis (n = 44). The most cited manuscripts highlighted the pathology, management, and prognosis of EC and this bibliometirc review provides the most influential references serving as a guide to popular research themes.

Propensity Score Analysis of an Enhanced Recovery Programme in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of an enhanced recovery programme (ERP) on outcomes of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer surgery by means of propensity score-matched analysis. METHODS: Three hundred consecutive patients diagnosed with UGI cancer were studied prospectively before and after the introduction of an ERP. Multiple regression models, including propensity scores, were developed to assess confounding variables associated with undergoing surgery, and the risk adjusted association between treatment and length of hospital stay (LOHS). RESULTS: After regression for confounding factors, a cohort of 252 patients was available of whom 160 received ERP [median age 66 years (IQR 58-73), 119 male, 81 oesophageal, 79 gastric cancer] and 92 control [66 years (IQR 58-74), 74 male, 58 oesophageal, 34 gastric cancer]. ERP operative morbidity (Clavien-Dindo ≥3) and mortality were 13.8 and 3.1 % compared with 17.4 (p = 0.449) and 2.2 % (p = 0.658) in controls. Median ERP critical care and total LOS were 1 (IQR 0-1) and 13 (IQR 10-17) days, compared with 1 (IQR 1-2, p = 0.009) and 16 (IQR 13-26, p < 0.001) days. Multivariable analysis revealed ERP (HR 1.477, 95 % CI 1.084-2.013, p = 0.013), tumour location (HR 2.420, 95 % CI 1.624-3.606, p < 0.001), operative procedure (HR 1.143, 95 % CI 1.032-1.265, p = 0.010), and operative morbidity (HR 0.277, 95 % CI 0.179-0.429, p < 0.001) to be associated with LOHS. CONCLUSION: An ERP in UGI cancer surgery was feasible, safe, and effective.

Propensity score analysis of oesophageal cancer treatment with surgery or definitive chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The role of treatments involving surgery versus definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) for oesophageal cancer remains controversial. METHODS: Consecutive patients with oesophageal cancer were studied. Those whose treatment involved surgery alone or who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were compared with those receiving dCRT. Multiple regression models, including propensity scores, were developed to assess confounding factors associated with undergoing surgery or dCRT, and the risk-adjusted association between treatment and survival. RESULTS: From a total of 727 patients, regression adjustment to control for bias created a cohort of 521 patients available for comparison (277 in the surgery group and 244 in the dCRT group). Local and distant recurrence rates were 10·1 and 22·0 per cent respectively after surgery, compared with 26·2 and 11·9 per cent following dCRT (P < 0·001). Median survival, and 2- and 5-year survival rates after surgery were 27 months, 53·8 and 31·0 per cent respectively, compared with 28 months, 54·2 and 31·9 per cent after dCRT (P = 0·918). On multivariable analysis, disease-free survival was related to endosonographic tumour category (hazard ratio (HR) 0·76, 95 per cent confidence interval 0·10 to 6·04 for T1; HR 1·57, 0·21 to 11·58 for T2; HR 2·12, 0·29 to 15·49 for T3; HR 3·07, 0·41 to 23·16 for T4; P = 0·003, in relation to T0 as reference), lymph node metastasis count (HR 1·10, 1·04 to 1·15; P < 0·001) and total disease length (HR 0·96, 0·93 to 1·00; P = 0·041). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in survival after oesophageal cancer treatment involving surgery or dCRT.

N-staging of oesophageal and junctional carcinoma: is there still a role for EUS in patients staged N0 at PET/CT?

AIM: To assess whether separate endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) lymph node (N)-staging is still of prognostic value in those staged node negative (N0) at combined positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with oesophageal cancer (OC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventeen consecutive patients [median age 67 years; 88 male; 98 cases of adenocarcinoma, 19 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)] staged as N0 at PET/CT underwent EUS to record tumour (T)- and N-stage. The patients were subsequently separated into two groups: EUS N0 (n = 78) and EUS N+ (n = 39). Survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier and Cox's proportional hazard methods was performed. Primary outcome was overall survival from diagnosis. RESULTS: EUS N-stage and EUS N0 versus EUS N+ (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively) were found to be significantly and independently associated with survival in two models of multivariate analysis, in patients staged N0 at PET/CT. EUS T-stage was significantly associated with survival on univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: EUS N-staging still has prognostic value in patients staged N0 at PET/CT. There is a significant difference in survival between EUS N0 and positive nodal EUS status in those staged N0 at PET/CT, suggesting PET/CT is unreliable for local staging. PET/CT and EUS continue to have complimentary roles in OC staging.

Critical values for body mass index related to morbidity in high-volume low-complexity general surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) on outcomes of high-volume low-complexity (HVLC) general surgery procedures and to determine critical values for BMI when selecting patients into HVLC programmes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted of studies looking at patients in different BMI categories undergoing HVLC general surgery procedures (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, inguinal hernia repair and umbilical or paraumbilical hernia repair), in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comparison meta-analysis model was constructed to compare the outcomes using random-effects modelling. The QUIPS (Quality In Prognosis Studies) tool and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system were used to assess bias. RESULTS: A total of 26 studies including 486,392 patients were examined. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, BMI ≥40 was associated with higher conversion to open surgery (odds ratio [OR]: 1.33, p=0.040) but did not affect complications (OR: 0.69, p=0.400) or length of hospital stay (mean difference [MD]: -0.01 days, p=0.900). In inguinal hernia repair, BMI ≥35 was associated with longer operative time (MD: 18.00 minutes, p<0.00001), and higher risk of wound complications (OR: 3.01, p<0.00001) and hospital readmission (OR: 1.46, p=0.0008). In umbilical or paraumbilical hernia repair, BMI ≥30 was associated with higher risk of wound complications (OR: 6.45, p<0.0001) and hospital readmission (OR: 5.56, p<0.00001), and longer operative time (MD: 4.01 minutes, p=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity was associated with longer operative time (up to 23 minutes) and higher risk of postoperative morbidity (up to 4-fold) in HVLC procedures. BMI <40 (moderate GRADE certainty - laparoscopic cholecystectomy) and BMI <35 (moderate GRADE certainty - inguinal hernia) appear to represent optimal critical values for perioperative safety metrics.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the influence of circumferential resection margin involvement on survival in patients with operable oesophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic role and definition of circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement in operable oesophageal cancer remain controversial. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) and Royal College of Pathologists (RCP) define CRM involvement as tumour found at the cut resection margin and within 1 mm of the cut margin respectively. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to determine the influence of CRM involvement on survival in operable oesophageal cancer. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library (January 1990 to June 2012) were searched for studies correlating CRM involvement with 5-year mortality. Statistical analysis of dichotomous variables was performed using the odds ratio (OR) as the summary statistic. RESULTS: Fourteen studies involving 2433 patients with oesophageal cancer who had undergone potentially curative oesophagectomy were analysed. Rates of CRM involvement were 15·3 per cent (173 of 1133) and 36·5 per cent (889 of 2433) according to the CAP and RCP criteria respectively. Overall 5-year mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with CRM involvement compared with CRM-negative patients according to both CAP (OR 4·02, 95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 2·25 to 7·20; P < 0·001) and RCP (OR 2·52, 1·96 to 3·25; P < 0·001) criteria. CRM involvement between 0·1 and 1 mm was associated with a significantly higher 5-year mortality rate than CRM-negative status (involvement more than 1 mm from CRM) (OR 2·05, 95 per cent c.i. 1·41 to 2·99; P < 0·001). CONCLUSION: CRM involvement is an important predictor of poor prognosis. CAP criteria differentiate a higher-risk group than RCP criteria, but overlook a patient group with similar poor outcomes.

Prognostic significance of 18-FDG PET/CT and EUS-defined tumour characteristics in patients with oesophageal cancer.

AIM: To determine the correlation between 2-[(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) defined maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and endoluminal ultrasound-defined tumour volume (EDTV) in patients with oesophageal cancer (OC) and their relative prognostic significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eighty-five consecutive patients with OC were staged using CT, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and PET/CT. The maximum potential EDTV was calculated (πr(2)L, where r = tumour thickness and L = total length of disease including proximal and distal lymph node metastases). Primary outcome measure was survival from diagnosis. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of patients (168/185) had FDG-avid tumours on PET/CT. SUVmax correlated positively and significantly with EDTV (Spearman's rho = 0.339, p = 0.001). On univariate analysis, survival was inversely related to the PET/CT lymph node metastasis count (LNMC, p = 0.015), EUS N stage (p = 0.002), EDTV (<48 cm(3), p = 0.001), EUS total length of disease (p = 0.001), SUVmax (p = 0.002), PET/CT N stage (p < 0.0001), and EUS LNMC (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis two factors were significantly and independently associated with survival: EDTV (HR, 3.118; 95% CI: 1.357-7.167; p = 0.007), and PET/CT N stage (HR, 0.496; 95% CI: 0.084-1.577; p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: EDTV and PET/CT N stage were important predictors of survival and further research is needed to identify critical prognostic values.

Prognostic significance of circumferential resection margin involvement following oesophagectomy for cancer and the predictive role of endoluminal ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: The optimum multimodal treatment for oesophageal cancer, and the prognostic significance of histopathological tumour involvement of the circumferential resection margin (CRM+) are uncertain. The aims of this study were to determine the prognostic significance of CRM+ after oesophagectomy and to identify endosonographic (endoluminal ultrasonography (EUS)) features that predict a threatened CRM+. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-nine consecutive patients underwent potentially curative oesophagectomy (103 surgery alone, 124 neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CS) and 42 chemoradiotherapy (CRTS)). Primary outcome measures were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: CRM+ was reported in 98 (38.0%) of all, and in 90 (62.5%) of pT3 patients. Multivariate analysis of pathological factors revealed: lymphovascular invasion (HR 2.087, 95% CI 1.396-3.122, P<0.0001), CRM+ (HR 1.762, 95% CI 1.201-2.586, P=0.004) and lymph node metastasis count (HR 1.563, 95% CI 1.018-2.400, P=0.041) to be independently and significantly associated with DFS. Lymphovascular invasion (HR 2.160, 95% CI 1.432-3.259, P<0.001) and CRM+ (HR 1.514, 95% CI 1.000-2.292, P=0.050) were also independently and significantly associated with OS. Multivariate analysis revealed EUS T stage (T3 or T4, OR 24.313, 95% CI 7.438-79.476, P<0.0001) and use or not of CRTS (OR 0.116, 95% CI 0.035-0.382, P<0.0001) were independently and significantly associated with CRM+. CONCLUSION: A positive CRM was a better predictor of DFS and OS than standard pTNM stage.

Prognostic significance of total disease length in esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study tested the hypothesis that endoluminal ultrasound (EUS) defined total length of disease (including both the primary tumor and the position and number of proximal and distal lymph nodes-ELoD) and the associated EUS lymph node metastasis count (ELNMC) are better predictors of outcome than endoscopic esophageal cancer (OC) length and radiological tumor node metastasis stage in patients who undergo potentially curative treatment with surgery or definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT). METHODS: A total of 645 consecutive patients diagnosed with OC and managed by a multidisciplinary team were staged by CT and EUS. The primary outcome measure was survival from date of diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 323 patients received surgery (208 neoadjuvant chemotherapy), and 322 who were deemed unsuitable for surgery received dCRT. Univariable analysis revealed that survival was related to EUS T (p < 0.0001), N (p < 0.0001), EUS primary tumor length (p = 0.037), ELoD (p = 0.011), ELNMC (p < 0.0001), and treatment type (p = 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed two factors: ELoD (hazard ratio (HR), 0.961; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.925-0.998; p = 0.041) and ELNMC (HR, 1.08; 95 % CI, 1.015-1.15; p = 0.016) were independently associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: ELoD and ELNMC should become part of routine OC radiological staging to optimize stage-directed therapeutic outcomes.

Relative prognostic value of TNM7 vs TNM6 in staging oesophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Stage migration consequent upon new cancer staging definitions may result in artifactual alterations in stage-specific survival and prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the new TNM7 oesophageal cancer (OC) system on stage categorisation and survival when compared with historical controls. METHODS: A total of 202 patients diagnosed with operable OC and undergoing oesophagectomy (118 neoadjuvant chemotherapy) were studied. Patients originally classified and staged using TNM6 were retrospectively re-staged using TNM7. RESULTS: Re-classification of TNM7 resulted in stage migration in 11.9% of patients (9.9% downstaged, 2.0% upstaged) when compared with TNM6. Five-year survival for stages I, II and III was 78%, 46% and 18% using TNM6, compared with 62%, 51% and 18%, respectively, using TNM7. Univariable analysis revealed that histological grade (P = 0.006), pT (P < 0.0001), TNM6 pN (P < 0.0001), TNM7 pN (P < 0.0001), number of lymph node metastases (P < 0.0001), TNM6 stage group (P < 0.0001), TNM7 stage group (P < 0.0001) and TNM7 prognostic group (P < 0.0001) were all associated with survival. Multivariable analysis revealed that only the TNM7 prognostic group was independently and significantly associated with survival. CONCLUSION: TNM7 is a better prognostic tool than TNM6 and represents an important advance in staging OC.

Comparison of patients' needs and doctors' perceptions of information requirements related to a diagnosis of oesophageal or gastric cancer.

The aim of this study was to assess the information needs of patients diagnosed with oesophageal and gastric cancer and to compare these with their perceived information needs in the opinion of junior doctors. One hundred patients and 100 doctors responded to a questionnaire regarding the information needs of cancer patients. Seventy-nine per cent of patients wanted as much information as possible about their diagnosis, but only 35% of doctors were willing to give all the available information (P < 0.0001). Seventy-seven per cent of patients wanted to receive their diagnosis from a consultant whereas only 5% of doctors believed that patients should receive their diagnoses from a consultant (P < 0.0001). Eighty-four per cent of doctors were willing to communicate a serious illness with a good prognosis, yet only 43% would communicate a diagnosis with a poor prognosis (P < 0.0001). All 100 doctors had received formal training in breaking bad news, but 20 considered this inadequate. Socio-economic deprivation was associated with poor access to supplementary Internet derived information (P < 0.001). The majority of patients with a diagnosis of oesophagogastric cancer want a great deal of information regarding their illness, which contrasts with doctors' perceptions. Adequate training in information disclosure may help address this issue.