[Clinical Analysis of Pulmonary Pleomorphic Carcinoma:Report of Four Cases].

Of 243 resected cases of primary non-small cell lung cancer for ten years in our hospital, we experienced 4 patients (1.6%) of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. All patients were males and heavy smokers. Histologically, the vascular invasion was showed in 3 of 4 patients. In only one patient, recurrence was recognized, and he died 18 months after surgery. The other 3 patients were alive without recurrence for 86, 92, and 60 months after surgery. In general, prognosis of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is very poor. But in my study, 3 of 4 patients of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma survive from this disease. As the planning of an appropriate treatment strategy of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma,further detailed assessment of adjuvant chemotherapy, such as immune check point inhibitors, will be considered to be necessary.

Survival benefits of gastrectomy compared to conservative observation for older patients with resectable gastric cancer: a propensity score matched analysis.

PURPOSE: Radical gastrectomy is considered the first choice of curative treatment for older patients with gastric cancer (GC). However, there is limited data on the survival benefits of gastrectomy for older patients with GC. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study where medical records of patients aged ≥ 75 years with clinically resectable primary GC, comprising 115 patients who underwent radical surgery (S group) and 33 patients who received conservative therapy (non-S group) (total cohort) and 44 propensity-matched patients (matched cohort), were reviewed. Survival and independent risk factors, including comorbidities and systemic nutritional and inflammatory statuses, were evaluated. RESULTS: In the total cohort, the 5-year overall survival (OS) in the S group was significantly higher than that in the non-S group (53.7% vs 19.7%, P < 0.0001). In the matched cohort, the 3-year OS in the S group was significantly higher than that in the non-S group (59.4% vs 15.9%, P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis of the total cohort showed that no surgery was an independent prognostic factor for poor OS (hazard ratio (HR) 3.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.91-7.20, P = 0.0001). In the S group in the total cohort, the multivariate analysis showed that renal disease (HR 2.51, 95% CI 1.23-5.12, P < 0.05) was an independent prognostic factor for poor OS. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrectomy for older patients improved the prognosis; however, careful patient selection is essential, especially among those with renal disease.

The influence of the interval between percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage and cholecystectomy on perioperative outcomes: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) is recommended for acute cholecystitis patients at high risk for surgical treatment. However, there is no evidence about the best timing of surgery after PTGBD. Here, we retrospectively investigated the influence of the interval between PTGBD and surgery on perioperative outcomes and examined the optimal timing of surgery after PTGBD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 22 patients who underwent cholecystectomy after PTGBD from January 2008 to August 2019. We examined perioperative factors between patients with an interval of ≤ 7 days between PTGBD and cholecystectomy (≤ 7-day group; n = 12) and those with an interval of ≥ 8 days (≥ 8-day group; n = 10). Moreover, we also examined perioperative factors between patients with an interval of ≤ 14 days from PTGBD to cholecystectomy (≤ 14-day group; n = 10) and those with an interval of ≥ 15 days (≥ 15-day group; n = 12). RESULTS: Of the 22 patients, 9 had Grade I cholecystitis, 12 had Grade II cholecystitis, and 2 had Grade III cholecystitis. Nine patients had high-grade cholecystitis before PTGBD and 13 had a poor general condition. We examined perioperative factors between patients with an interval of ≤ 7 days between PTGBD and cholecystectomy (≤ 7-day group; n = 12) and those with an interval of ≥ 8 days (≥ 8-day group; n = 10). The C-reactive protein (CRP) level before surgery was significantly higher (12.70 ± 1.95 mg/dL vs. 1.13 ± 2.13 mg/dL, p = 0.0007) and the total hospitalization was shorter (17.6 ± 8.0 days vs. 54.1 ± 8.8 days, p = 0.0060) in the ≤ 7-day group than in the ≥ 8-day group. We also examined perioperative factors between patients with an interval of ≤ 14 days from PTGBD to cholecystectomy (≤ 14-day group; n = 14) and those with an interval of ≥ 15 days (≥ 15-day group; n = 8). The CRP level before surgery was significantly higher (11.13 ± 2.00 mg/dL vs. 0.99 ± 2.64 mg/dL, p = 0.0062) and the total hospitalization was shorter (19.5 ± 7.2 days vs. 59.9 ± 9.5 days, p = 0.0029) in the ≤ 14-day group than in the ≥ 15-day group. However, there were no significant differences between the ≤ 14-day group and the ≥ 15-day group in the levels of hepatic enzymes before surgery, adhesion grade, amount of bleeding during surgery, operative duration, frequency of surgical complications, or length of hospitalization after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The interval between PTGBD and surgery has little influence on perioperative outcomes.

[A Study of the Usefulness of Decompression in Treating Bowel Obstruction Due to Colorectal Cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether to perform decompression prior to resection in cases of bowel obstruction due to colorectal cancer. SUBJECTS: There were 83 patients who underwent resection to treat a bowel obstruction due to colorectal cancer from January 2006 to August 2016. Clinical aspects and the prognosis for colorectal cancer were examined in patients who underwent decompression prior to resection and those who did not. RESULTS: Of the 83 patients, 50 underwent decompression whereas 33 did not. Patients who did not undergo decompression most often had cancer in the right colon. Surgery took longer for patients who underwent decompression; some had extensive blood loss. Patients who underwent decompression were hospitalized for significantly longer. Patients who did not undergo decompression with an obstruction of the left colorectum due to cancer had more severe complications. DFS and OS did not differ significantly in patients with a bowel obstruction due to colorectal cancer. OS did not differ significantly for patients with an obstruction of the left colorectum due to cancer, but DFS was better for patients who underwent decompression. CONCLUSION: Patients with an obstruction of the left colorectum due to cancer should undergo decompression prior to resection.

Sarcopenia is an independent predictor of complications after colorectal cancer surgery.

PURPOSE: The significance of sarcopenia after colorectal cancer (CRC) resection has only been discussed with relatively small samples or short follow-up periods. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of sarcopenia in a large-sample study. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between sarcopenia and clinical factors, surgical outcomes, and the survival in 494 patients who underwent CRC surgery between 2004 and 2013. Sarcopenia was defined based on the sex-specific skeletal muscle mass index measured by preoperative computed tomography. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was associated with sex (higher rate of male, P < 0.0001), and low body mass index (P < 0.0001), but not age or tumor stage. Sarcopenia was associated with higher incidence of all postoperative complications (P = 0.02), especially for patients with Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥2 (CDC; P = 0.0007). Postoperative hospital stays were significantly longer for sarcopenic patients than for non-sarcopenic patients (P = 0.02). In a multivariate analysis, sarcopenia was an independent predictor for postoperative complications (P = 0.01, odds ratio 1.82, 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.00). Among postoperative complications (CDC grade ≥2), sarcopenia was correlated with non-surgical-site infections (P = 0.03). Sarcopenia was not correlated with the overall or recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia was an independent predictive factor for postoperative complications after CRC surgery.

Prognostic Significance of Postoperative Complications After Curative Resection for Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of postoperative complications on long-term survival after curative resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. BACKGROUND: The relation between postoperative complications and long-term survival after curative surgery for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is controversial; thus, this issue should be resolved with a large-scale, well-designed study. METHODS: Clinicopathological features and survival of 580 consecutive patients who received curative resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were investigated according to the development of postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates of patients with pStage 0, I, and II disease with postoperative complications (n = 116) were significantly poorer than those of patients without postoperative complications (n = 288) (overall 69.6% vs 46.9%, P < 0.0001; disease-specific; 76.7% vs 58.9%, P < 0.0022), whereas no differences were found in patients with pStage III and IV disease (n = 176). In the univariate and multivariate analyses for disease-specific survival, pT3, pT4, pN positivity, and development of postoperative complications were significant prognostic factors in all patients. Also, when the analysis was limited to the pStage 0, I, and II patients, development of postoperative complications, and pT3, pT4, and pN positivity, were found to be independent poor prognostic factors in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio: 1.56, 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.41, P = 0.0476). CONCLUSIONS: The development of postoperative complications is an independent disease-specific poor prognostic factor after curative resection for patients with less-advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Clinicopathological Features of Cervical Esophageal Cancer: Retrospective Analysis of 63 Consecutive Patients Who Underwent Surgical Resection.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this retrospective study were to elucidate the clinicopathological features and recent surgical results of cervical esophageal cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Cervical esophageal cancer has been reported to have a dismal prognosis. Accurate knowledge of the clinical characteristics of cervical esophageal cancer is warranted to establish appropriate therapeutic strategies. METHODS: The clinicopathological features and treatment results of 63 consecutive patients with cervical esophageal cancer (Ce group) who underwent surgical resection from 1980 to 2013 were analyzed and compared with 977 patients with thoracic or abdominal esophageal cancer (T/A group) who underwent surgical resection during that time. RESULTS: Among the patients who received curative resection, the 5-year overall and disease-specific survival rates of the Ce patients were significantly better than those of the T/A patients (overall: 77.3% vs 46.5%, respectively, P = 0.0067; disease-specific: 81.9% vs 55.8%, respectively, P = 0.0135). Although total pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy procedures were less frequently performed in the recent period, the rate of curative surgical procedures was markedly higher in the recent period (2000-1013) than that in the early period (1980-1999) (44.4% vs 88.9%, P = 0.0001). The 5-year overall survival rate in the recent period (71.5%) was significantly better than that in the early period (40.7%, P = 0.0342). CONCLUSIONS: Curative resection for cervical esophageal cancer contributes to favorable outcomes compared with other esophageal cancers. Recent surgical results for cervical esophageal cancer have improved, and include an increased rate of curative resection and decreased rate of extensive surgery.

The Expression of CCAT2, a Novel Long Noncoding RNA Transcript, and rs6983267 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotypes in Colorectal Cancers.

Colon cancer-associated transcription 2 (CCAT2) was recently identified as a novel long noncoding RNA transcript encompassing the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs6983267. CCAT2 is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) where it promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and chromosomal instability, although the clinical relevance of this enhanced expression is unknown. In this retrospective study, CCAT2 expression was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction in 149 CRC patients, and its associations with clinicopathological characteristics, outcome, rs6983267 genotypes, microsatellite status, DNA ploidy, and BubR1 expression were analyzed. CCAT2 expression in cancer tissue was significantly higher than in noncancer tissue (p < 0.001), particularly in cases of metastatic cancer (p < 0.001). However, relative CCAT2 expression levels and rs6983267 genotypes were not correlated with clinicopathological features or patient prognosis. CRC cases demonstrating high CCAT2 expression were all microsatellite stable (p < 0.005). Together, this indicates that CCAT2 expression was associated with microsatellite-stable CRC.

Protein Expression of Programmed Death 1 Ligand 1 and HER2 in Gastric Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Programmed death 1 (PD-1) is an immunoinhibitory receptor and has been identified as a new target for immunotherapy in cancer. Here we report the expression of PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) in surgically resected gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined formalin-fixed tumor samples from 144 gastric cancer patients with a primary diagnosis of gastric carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect PD-L1. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) loss of heterozygosity were investigated in these patients. RNA interference was used to downregulate HER2 expression, and PD-L1 protein expression was assessed by flow cytometry using the gastric cancer cell line MKN45. RESULTS: Overexpression of PD-L1 was significantly correlated with tumor invasion (p = 0.011) and associated with poor survival. The number of PD-L1-positive cases increased according to the HER2 score in clinical samples. siRNA-mediated downregulation of HER2 significantly decreased PD-L1 protein expression in MKN45 cells. CONCLUSIONS: PD-L1 expression was associated with poor survival of gastric cancer, and HER2 signaling affects the expression of PD-L1 in gastric cancer. In gastric cancer, PTEN and HER2 are potential candidate biomarkers for developing human antibodies that block PD-L1.

Final report of KSCC0803: feasibility study of capecitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The impact of oral capecitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients with resected colon cancer was unclear. We previously planned and conducted a prospective feasibility study (KSCC0803) and reported on the safety of oral capecitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients with resected stage III colon cancer. The purpose of the current study was to assess the survival results from that study. METHODS: The study subjects were Japanese patients with resected stage III colon cancer. The protocol adjuvant regimen consisted of oral capecitabine 1250 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1-14 of a 3-week cycle for a total of eight cycles. The 3- and 5-year disease free survival (DFS) rates and overall survival (OS) rates were analyzed in the eligible cohort. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were registered between September 2008 and August 2009 and treated with the protocol regimen. The median follow-up time was 60.7 months. The 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 71.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 61.7-79.8%] and 69.7% (95% CI: 59.4-77.8%), respectively. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 92.6% (95% CI: 85.2-96.4%) and 84.5% (95% CI: 75.1-90.5%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The survival results in this study are in line with those of previously reported, reliable, studies. The safety and tolerability of the protocol regimen have already been confirmed. Oral capecitabine is acceptable as adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients with resected stage III colon cancer.

High expression of the Notch ligand Jagged-1 is associated with poor prognosis after surgery for colorectal cancer.

The importance of Notch signaling in colorectal cancer (CRC) carcinogenesis and progression has previously been presented. Increased expression of Jagged-1 (JAG1), a Notch ligand, in CRC has been revealed, but the detailed prognostic significance of JAG1 in CRC has not been determined. Protein expression of JAG1 was examined using immunohistochemistry in 158 CRC specimens. Expression of JAG1 and E-cadherin and their associations with clinicopathologic characteristics, overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were evaluated. In vitro studies using compounds to regulate intracellular signaling and small interfering RNA to silence JAG1 were performed in a colon cancer cell line. JAG1 expression in cancerous tissues was weak, moderate or strong in 32%, 36% and 32% of specimens, respectively, and correlated with histologic type and T stage. In multivariate analysis, JAG1 expression, histologic type and lymphatic invasion independently correlated with OS and RFS. The combination of high JAG1 expression and low E-cadherin expression had an additive effect toward poorer OS and RFS compared with the low JAG1/high E-cadherin expression subtype. A significant correlation between JAG1 expression and KRAS status was detected in groups stratified as high E-cadherin expression. In vitro studies suggested that RAS-MEK-MAP kinase and the Wnt pathways positively regulated JAG1 expression. Gene silencing with siJAG1 indicated that JAG1 promotes the transition from epithelial to mesenchymal characteristics and cell growth. High expression of JAG1 is regulated by various pathways and is associated with poor prognosis through promoting the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and cell proliferation or maintaining cell survival in CRC.

Expression of PD-L1 and HLA Class I in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic Factors for Patient Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on malignant cell surfaces are pivotal for tumor immunity. The clinical significance of their expression in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains to be determined. METHODS: PD-L1 and HLA class I protein expression was investigated by immunohistochemical staining of resected specimens from 90 ESCC patients who underwent radical surgery without preoperative therapy. The relationships between the expression of PD-L1 and HLA class I and clinicopathologic factors and patient prognosis were assessed. RESULTS: High expression of PD-L1 and HLA class I were observed in 17 (18.9 %) and 35 (38.9 %) of 90 cases, respectively. High PD-L1 expression was correlated with the depth of tumor invasion (P = 0.0379), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0031), recurrence (P = 0.0085), and poor overall survival (OS) (5-year survival rate; low/high: 60.9/28.4 %, P = 0.0110). Among those patients with high expression of HLA class I, high PD-L1 expression was correlated with significantly poorer recurrence-free survival (median survival time, low/high: 102.5/3.1 months, P = 0.0016) and poorer OS (median survival time, low/high: 102.5/13.1 months, P = 0.0027). Multivariate analysis showed that combined high PD-L1/high HLA class I expression was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio 2.88, 95 % confidence interval 1.02-7.04, P = 0.0455) and OS (hazard ratio 2.95, 95 % confidence interval 1.03-7.50, P = 0.0447). CONCLUSIONS: High PD-L1 expression was a significant independent prognostic factor in ESCC patients with high HLA class I expression.

Current status of and perspectives regarding neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The significance of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains controversial with regard to the pathological response and long-term survival. We herein review the current status of and future perspectives regarding NACRT followed by esophagectomy for locally advanced ESCC. Some studies have suggested that a pathological complete response with NACRT is more common in patients with ESCC than in those with adenocarcinoma and that NACRT provided a survival benefit limited to patients with ESCC. However, NACRT may increase the risk of postoperative complications after esophagectomy. It is obvious that a favorable pathological response is the most important factor for obtaining a survival benefit, although no established parameters have been implemented clinically to predict the response to NACRT. Prospective clinical studies and basic research studies to identify predictive biomarkers for the response to NACRT are needed to aid in the development of NACRT treatment strategies for patients with ESCC.

[Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcoma of the Chest Wall].

A 79-year-old man complaining of an anterior chest mass with pain had an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. A mass, 7 cm in size, with destruction of the right 4th rib was found on chest computed tomography. A F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) corresponding to the lesion showed an abnormal accumulation of FDG with the standardized uptake value(SUV) max=16.19. A malignant tumor of the chest wall origin was suspected and the tumor was resected with the 3th, 4th, and 5th ribs. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. He died of local recurrence about 5 months after the operation.

Recent advances in multidisciplinary approach for rectal cancer.

Surgery is a major treatment option for rectal cancer, and total mesorectal excision has been demonstrated to be advantageous in terms of oncological outcome and thus has been the standard surgical approach. Radiotherapy before or after radical surgery is the optimal treatment to control local recurrence of advanced rectal cancer. To date, in many countries, the combination of neoadjuvant concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy is considered the standard therapy. A more recent interest in neoadjuvant therapy has been the use of oxaliplatin or targeted agents for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. However, despite many trials of oxaliplatin and targeted agents, 5-FU-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy has remained the only standard treatment option. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or induction chemotherapy with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy may further improve patient survival, as some clinical studies recently indicated. In Japan, neoadjuvant therapy is not the standard treatment method, because surgery with lateral lymph node dissection is usually performed and this type of surgery may reduce recurrence rate as does radiation therapy. The phase III study to evaluate the oncological effect of the Japanese standard operation (mesorectal excision, ME) with lateral lymph node dissection in comparison with ME alone for clinical stage II and III lower rectal cancer is currently ongoing.

Total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for elderly patients with gastric cancer.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the feasibility of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) in elderly patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 138 patients who underwent TLDG from April 2005 to March 2009. Of these 138 patients, 20 were older than 75 years of age, and 118 were 75 years of age or younger. RESULTS: The preoperative respiratory function and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) -physical status were significantly worse in the elderly patients than in the younger patients (P = 0.013). Hypertension and respiratory disease were more common in the elderly patients than in the younger patients (P = 0.032 / P = 0.005). The findings for the following parameters were similar in the two groups: intraoperative blood loss, operation time, severe postoperative complication rate, time required to start a solid diet, and duration of postoperative hospital stay. The rate of major complications was not different between the two groups, although minor complications were more commonly observed in the elderly patients. CONCLUSION: TLDG was found to be a safe procedure for elderly patients. This method can be used as one of the standard treatments for gastric cancer in elderly patients.

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.

Successful Treatment of Refractory Enterocutaneous Fistula After Esophagectomy Using Soft Coagulation by an Endoscopic and Percutaneous Approach: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a serious complication after esophagectomy, and the refractory fistula (RF) following AL is therapeutically challenging with no optimal management strategies known. Thus, new therapeutic options are required for treating RF. CASE REPORT: A 67-year-old man who underwent endoscopic mucosal dissection was subjected to subtotal esophagectomy and reconstruction with a gastric tube through the retrosternal route with cervical anastomosis as additional therapy. On postoperative day 5, leakage from the esophagogastric anastomosis was detected. A refractory enterocutaneous fistula (4 cm in length) developed between the esophagogastric anastomosis (the fistula opening was 1 cm approximately) and cervical skin. The RF did not heal despite the drainage of saliva, enteral nutrition, oral administration of biperiden hydrochloride for orofacial dyskinesia to rest the esophagogastric anastomosis, coagulation factor XIII transvenously, and fibrin glue injection from the opening of the fistula, probably due to difficulty in maintaining the rest of the esophagogastric anastomosis caused by orofacial dyskinesia. On postoperative day 76, soft coagulation to the fistula opening at the esophagogastric anastomosis by an endoscopic approach and to the fistula via the fistula opening at the cervical site by a percutaneous approach was performed. The post-treatment course was uneventful. The RF completely closed immediately after soft coagulation. CONCLUSION: Soft coagulation using endoscopic and percutaneous approaches to RF is a minimally invasive procedure and may be a useful option if the fistula opening of the anastomotic site is small and accessible endoscopically, and there are no vital organs around the fistula.

Survival Benefits of Laparoscopic Gastrectomy in Elderly Patients With Gastric Cancer: Focusing on Preoperative Nutritional and Inflammatory Status.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) may have greater clinical benefits as a less invasive surgery for elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the survival benefit of LG in elderly patients with GC, especially focusing on preoperative comorbidities, and nutritional and inflammatory status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data collected from 115 patients aged ≥75 years with primary GC who underwent curative gastrectomy, comprising 58 patients who underwent open gastrectomy (OG) and 57 patients who underwent LG, were retrospectively reviewed (total cohort), and 72 propensity-matched patients (matched cohort) were selected for survival analysis. The aim of the study was to determine short- and long-term outcomes, and the clinical markers to identify a population who may benefit from LG in elderly patients. RESULTS: The complication and mortality rates as a short-term outcome in the total cohort and overall survival (OS) as a long-term outcome in the matched cohort did not differ significantly between the groups. In the total cohort, advanced tumor stage and ≥3 comorbidities were independent factors for poor prognosis in terms of OS [hazard ratio (HR)=3.73, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.78-7.78, p<0.001 and HR=2.50, 95% CI=1.35-4.61, p<0.01, respectively]. The surgical approach was not an independent risk factor for postoperative complications (grade ≥III) and OS. In subgroup analysis of the total cohort, patients with a neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥3 in the LG group demonstrated a trend toward greater OS (HR=0.26, 95% CI=0.10-0.64, interaction p<0.05). CONCLUSION: LG might offer greater survival benefits than OG in frail patients such as those with high NLR.

Successful conversion surgery following chemotherapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in an older adult patient with stage IVB esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy are common treatments for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with distant metastasis; however, the prognosis remains poor, and complete remission is difficult to achieve. Here, we report a case of an older adult patient with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgery following combined treatment of immunotherapy and chemotherapy and achieved pathological complete response. CASE PRESENTATION: An 80-year-old woman presenting with difficulty swallowing was referred to our hospital. She was diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with distant metastasis of the lymph node at the dorsal side of the IVC and the left supraclavicular lymph node. She was treated with pembrolizumab, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil. After four pharmacotherapy courses, primary tumor and metastatic lymph node shrinkage was observed. The patient underwent thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy and regional lymph node dissection. The lymph node at the dorsal side of the IVC was not resected, and the left supraclavicular lymph node was removed. Histological examination revealed complete response with no residual tumor or lymph node metastasis. The patient had no recurrence 10 months postoperatively without adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion surgery following preoperative therapy, including immunotherapy, may be an effective treatment strategy for improving survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma even among older adult patients.