[A Case of Remnant Gastric Necrosis after Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy].

A 77-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, angina pectoris, and internal carotid artery stenosis underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy, D2 lymphadenectomy, and Billroth Ⅰ reconstruction for advanced gastric cancer. Hematologic examination revealed severe anemia on postoperative day 2, and abdominal CT scan detected contrast media leakage into the remnant gastric lumen. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed mucosal necrosis and ulceration of a large range. The patient recovered with conservative treatment and was discharged on postoperative day 18. Endoscopic balloon dilation was required to improve anastomotic stenosis after discharge, after which the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy. The stomach is resistant to ischemic changes because of the microvascular networks in the stomach wall; thus, gastric remnant necrosis after gastrectomy is rare. However, for patients with arterial sclerosis, such as in this case, physicians must consider the range of gastrectomy and reconstruction methods.

[A Long‒Term Survival Case of Advanced Rectal Cancer with Liver and Lung, Para‒Aortic Lymph Nodes Metastasis That Responded to Multidisciplinary Therapy].

The patient was a 59‒year‒old woman. In 2005, she underwent low anterior resection plus D2 dissection for rectal cancer (pT4aN2aM0, pStage Ⅲb). In 2007, she underwent hepatic S8 subsegment resection for liver metastasis. After that, FOLFIRI therapy was performed as chemotherapy for recurrence of the right upper lung lobe and para‒aortic lymph node(PALN). CR was once obtained in both(of)PALN and lung, but PALN re‒expansion and left ovary enlargement were observed in 2009, and resection of PALN plus left ovariectomy was performed. Histological examination showed PALNs were metastases from rectal cancer and the ovary was benign. Eleven years after the first operation, she stayed alive without recurrence.

[A Case of Laparoscopy-Assisted Surgery for Intestinal Malignant Lymphoma with Bowel Obstruction].

An 83-year-old woman visited our emergency department with a chief complaint of abdominal pain and vomiting. Abdominal computed tomography showed thickening of the wall of the small intestine in the right middle abdomen and marked bowel dilation and fluid retention in the oral side of the small intestine. The patient was diagnosed with adhesive bowel obstruction and hospitalized for conservative treatment. However, the treatment was unsuccessful, and laparoscopic surgery was performed. The intraoperative findings included thickening of the wall and hardening of the obstructed part, suggestive of an intestinal tumor; thus, this part was resected. A histopathological examination revealed diffuse infiltration of large-sized atypical lymphocytes in the tumor, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was diagnosed through immunochemical staining. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the lymphoma has not recurred. Intestinal malignant lymphoma rarely causes bowel obstruction without invagination. Here, we report this case and review the literature.

[A Case of Port-Site Herniation from an Eight mm Port after Robot-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy].

A 63-year-old-woman was diagnosed with gastric cancer cStage ⅠA after ESD, and then, underwent robot-assisted distal gastrectomy. She vomited on the postoperative day 2 and then was inserted nasogastric tube. The amount of drainage from the tube was increased on the postoperative day 5, therefore, abdominal computed tomography scan was performed, which showed herniation of small bowel at the 8 mm port site in the left upper abdomen. The emergent surgery was performed because of difficulty in manual reduction. Intraoperative findings showed that small intestine was incarcerated at the left 8 mm port-site. The intestine was released by incising the fascia of hernia orifice, then, the fascia was repaired. There was no recurrence of gastric cancer and port-site hernia for 34 months after surgery. In general, the fascia of over 10 mm port site is sutured and closed to avoid port-site hernia, however, it is unclear whether the fascia of 8 mm port-site should be closed after robotic surgery. Since we experienced this case, we have also performed fascia suture on the 8 mm port-site in all cases. And then, we could prevent occurrence of port-site hernia in the 8 mm port-site.

[A Case of Malignant Melanoma Metastasized to the Small Intestine].

A case of 69-year-old man underwent resection for the plantar surface of left foot malignant melanoma and received a sentinel biopsy of left inguinal lymph node. Two years and 10 months later, a mass of 30 mm in diameter in the ileum was detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography, which showed abnormal uptake using FDG positron emission tomography. The partial intestinal resection was performed, and then, the mass was diagnosed as metastasis of malignant melanoma by pathological examination. Malignant melanoma is highly malignant disease that frequently shows distant metastasis. Although the malignant melanoma with distant metastasis shows poor prognosis, previous studies reported the prognosis could be improved when the patient could receive curative resection for single intraabdominal metastasis. Therefore, surgical resection should be considered for the single metastasis of malignant melanoma. We report a case of malignant melanoma with ileum metastasis resected curatively with literature review.

[A Case of Sigmoid Colon Cancer Accompanied by Intestinal Malrotation Treated by Laparoscopic Surgery].

A 52-year-old man whose fecal occult blood test was positive was found to have type 2 sigmoid colon cancer by colonoscopy. On enhanced barium enema study, the cecum was in the pelvis, and the ascending colon was running medially in the abdomen. Enhanced CT scan of the abdomen revealed rotation of the superior mesenteric vein(SMV). We diagnosed the case as sigmoid colon cancer(cT3N0M0, StageⅡA)with non rotation-type intestinal malrotation, and performed laparoscopic surgery. We confirmed the small intestine to be located on the right side of the abdomen, the cecum to be located in the pelvis, and the ascending colon to be running medially in the abdomen. The ascending mesocolon was adherent to the right of the sigmoid mesocolon. Following dissections of the ascending mesocolon from the sigmoid mesocolon, we performed surgery via the inside approach as usual. We dissected the root of the inferior mesenteric artery(IMA), and the operation was completed. In laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer with intestinal malrotation, there are some reports that it could be performed safely if attention is paid to adhesion of the mesenteries and vascular variation in the course of preoperative imaging diagnosis. We report a case of laparoscopic surgery that could be safely performed for sigmoid colon cancer with non rotation-type intestinal malrotation.

Clinical Significance of Tryptophanyl-tRNA Synthetase 1 Gene Expression in Patients With Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase 1 gene (WARS1), encodes a tryptophan-tRNA synthetase involved in the amino acidification of tryptophan-tRNA and has been reported to be involved in cancer cell growth, metastasis promotion, and drug resistance in a variety of cancers. This study investigated the clinical significance of WARS1 expression as a biomarker in gastric cancer tissues obtained from patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) who underwent radical resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: WARS1 expression in GC tissues and adjacent normal gastric mucosa of 253 patients with pStage II/III GC who underwent curative resection was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Association of WARS1 expression levels, categorized into high and low expression based on the median expression levels, with clinicopathological factors and overall survival (OS) of these patients was assessed. RESULTS: The low-WARS1 expression group had significantly higher serosal invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, and pathological stage than did the high-WARS1 expression group. OS was significantly worse in the low- than in the high-WARS1 expression group (5-year survival 52.2% vs. 75.9%; p=0.0001). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, low WARS1 expression was an independent predictor for poor OS (hazard ratio=2.101; 95% confidence interval=1.328-3.322; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: In patients with locally advanced GC, after curative resection, WARS1 expression in GC tissue may be a useful prognostic marker.

Dietary Intake After Surgery in Patients With Gastric Cancer Who Underwent Laparoscopic-assisted Versus Those Who Underwent Conventional Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Dietary intake (DI) loss after gastrectomy is a serious problem for patients with gastric cancer. This study compared the dietary intake after surgery in patients with early gastric cancer who received laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) versus those who underwent conventional open distal gastrectomy (ODG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study enrolling patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Dietary intake was assessed using the food frequency questionnaire with eighty-two food items (FFQW82) at nutritional counseling before surgery and one and three months after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were included. Among them, 69 (58.5%) were male, and 49 (41.5%) were female. Seventy-five (63.6%) received LDG, and 43 (36.4%) received ODG. At 1 month postoperatively, the median DI in the LDG group was 1,540 (1,014-2,195) kcal/day, whereas that in the ODG group was 1547 (986-2,143) kcal/day (p=0.891). At 3 months postoperatively, the median DI in the LDG group was 1,624 (1,050-2,443) kcal/day, and that in the ODG group was 1,652 (917-2,144) kcal/day (p=0.749). There was no significant difference in the DI loss rate at 1 month (median: -8.2% vs. -9.3%, p=0.398) and 3 months (median: -3.2% vs. -3.7%, p=0.635) between the LDG and ODG groups. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery may not prevent postoperative DI loss after distal gastrectomy. Therefore, methods other than laparoscopic surgery are needed to prevent post-gastrectomy DI loss.

Clinical Impact of the Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio in Patients With Gastric Cancer who Received Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of the pretreatment lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) on both short- and long-term oncological outcomes in patients with resectable gastric cancer (GC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients were chosen based on our medical records from consecutive cases of curative resection for GC performed at Yokohama City University from 2005 to 2020. The LMR was calculated as the lymphocyte count divided by the monocyte count measured before surgery. RESULTS: The three- and five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 63.1% and 57.4%, respectively, in the low-LMR subgroup and 86.4% and 77.5%, respectively, in the high-LMR subgroup. According to multivariate analysis, the LMR was an independent prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR)=1.926, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.143-3.245, p=0.014]. In addition, the three- and five-year RFS rates were 54.4% and 50.7%, respectively, in the low-LMR subgroup and 84.0% and 76.0% in the high-LMR subgroup. According to multivariate analysis, the LMR was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR=2.031, 95%CI=1.266-3.258, p=0.003). When comparing the sites of recurrence between the low-LMR and high-LMR groups, there were significant differences in hematologic recurrence, lymph node recurrence, and peritoneal recurrence. CONCLUSION: Preoperative LMR might be a promising tool for the treatment and management of GC.

The CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a promising biomarker. We clarified the clinical impact of the CALLY index in gastric cancer patients who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer at Yokohama City University from 2005 to 2020 were selected based on medical records. The CALYY index was calculated as follows: serum ALB level (g/dl) × lymphocyte count (cells/µl)/C-reactive protein (mg/dl) ×104 Results: Two hundred fifty-nine patients were included in the present study. The three- and five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 64.8% and 57.0%, respectively, in the CALLY index-low group, and 86.2% and 78.2%, respectively, in the CALLY index-high group. There were significant differences between the two groups. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the CALLY index was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio=1.791; 95% confidence interval=1.067-3.009; p=0.028). When comparing the perioperative clinical course between the CALLY index-low and CALLY index-high groups, there were significant differences in postoperative surgical complications and adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The CALLY score was an independent prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer. Our results suggest that the CALLY index is a promising tool for assessing inflammation and nutritional status in patients undergoing gastric cancer treatment and management.

Clinical Impact of the C-reactive Protein-albumin-lymphocyte Index in Post-gastrectomy Patients With Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Recently, preoperative inflammatory, immune, and nutritional statuses have attracted attention as prognostic factors in post-curative gastrectomy patients with gastric cancer (GC). The usefulness of the C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index as a prognostic factor in patients with various cancers, has been reported. However, reports on the clinical significance of the CALLY index in patients with GC after gastrectomy remain inadequate. In this prospective study, we focused on the preoperative CALLY index and investigated its usefulness as a prognostic factor in patients with GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 459 patients who underwent gastrectomy for GC between December 2013 and November 2017 at Kanagawa Cancer Center, Kanagawa, Japan. The preoperative CALLY index was calculated based on the preoperative blood test data. Patients were divided into high- and low-CALLY groups. The associations of the preoperative CALLY scores with clinicopathological factors, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after gastrectomy for GC were evaluated. RESULTS: The low-CALLY group was significantly older, had higher venous invasion, and a more progressive pStage than did the high-CALLY group. OS and RFS after gastrectomy in the low-CALLY group were significantly worse than those in the high-CALLY group (77.9% vs. 88.9%; p<0.001 and 73.8% vs. 87.1%; p<0.001, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, a low CALLY score was an independent prognostic factor of worse OS and RFS. CONCLUSION: Preoperative CALLY levels may be a useful prognostic predictor in patients with GC after curative gastrectomy.

Inflammatory Burden Index Prognostic Impact in Patients With Gastric Cancer After Gastrectomy: A Propensity Score-matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The Inflammatory Burden Index (IBI) has been reported as a novel prognostic indicator in several cancers and diseases. However, research on the IBI in patients with gastric cancer (GC) after gastrectomy is insufficient. This study investigated the utility of the preoperative IBI as a prognostic indicator in patients with GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 459 patients undergoing gastrectomy for GC between 2013 and 2017 at the Kanagawa Cancer Center, Kanagawa, Japan. The IBI was calculated from preoperative blood test data. We evaluated the relationship between the preoperative IBI and clinicopathologic factors, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after gastrectomy for GC, using propensity score matched analysis. RESULTS: Regarding the association between IBI and clinicopathologic features, the high-IBI group was significantly older and had more lymphatic invasion and more progressive pT status than the low-IBI group before propensity score-matched analysis. OS and RFS after curative surgery were significantly lower in patients with a high IBI than in those with a low IBI (77.5% vs. 86.1%; p=0.02 and 74.3% vs. 85.1%; p=0.03, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified high IBI as an independent predictor of both OS and RFS. CONCLUSION: Preoperative IBI may serve as a valuable prognostic indicator for patients undergoing curative gastrectomy for GC.

The Clinical Impact of the Pretreatment Albumin to Fibrinogen Ratio in Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The albumin to fibrinogen ratio (AFR) has been identified as a promising prognostic marker for some malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of AFR in esophageal cancer patients who received curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study included 123 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters were compared between patients with high and low AFRs. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) stratified by each clinical factor was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed when using a pretreatment AFR of 1.23. When comparing the patient backgrounds between the high-AFR (AFR ≥12.3) and low-AFR (AFR<12.3) groups, significant differences were noted in the pathological T status. The high-AFR group had significantly higher OS rates at 3 years (70.8%) and 5 years (59.3%) after surgery in comparison to the low-AFR group (46.6% and 37.4%, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses for OS showed that the AFR was a significant prognostic factor. In addition, when comparing the site of first recurrence, a marginally significant difference was noted in hematological recurrence. CONCLUSION: The AFR is a significant risk factor in patients with esophageal cancer, holding promise as a valuable prognostic factor.

Effect of Preoperative Gastric Shape on Loss of Lean Body Mass After Distal Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Based on gastric shape, patients with gastric cancer can be divided into storage (hook-shaped and ptotic stomach) and reverse outflow (steer-horn and cascade stomach) groups. In patients with gastric cancer, postoperative loss of lean body mass (LBM) is associated with a poor prognosis. This study investigated the influence of preoperative gastric shape on LBM loss 1 month after curative distal gastrectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 2011 and May 2019, we enrolled 487 patients with pathological stage IA/IB/IIA gastric cancer who underwent curative distal gastrectomy and did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were divided into storage (n=370) and outflow (n=117) groups according to whether barium was stored in the stomach during the preoperative fluoroscopic examination. Clinicopathological features, LBM 1 month after gastrectomy, and predictors of postoperative LBM loss were compared between the groups using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The incidence of >5% LBM loss and >7.5% body weight loss 1 month postoperatively were significantly higher in the storage group than in the outflow group (p=0.003 and p=0.009, respectively). Multivariable analysis revealed that gastric shape [odds ratio (OR)=3.30, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.95-5.59, p<0.001], male sex (OR=3.20, 95% CI=2.07-4.96, p<0.001), and Roux-en-Y reconstruction (OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.08-2.64, p=0.02) were independent predictors of LBM loss. Postoperative dietary problems, especially dumping syndrome, diarrhea, and reflux were more common in the storage group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Gastric shape may be a useful independent predictor of postoperative LBM loss in patients with gastric cancer undergoing distal gastrectomy.

Significance of Preoperative Modified Nutritional Risk Index in Patients With Gastric Cancer After Curative Resection.

BACKGROUND/AIM: A new modified nutritional risk index (mNRI), calculated using serum albumin (g/l)+body mass index (BMI) [weight (kg_/height2 (m2)], is a good predictor of postoperative complications and cancer survival. However, no study has used this index in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of the preoperative mNRI values in patients with GC who underwent curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 449 patients who underwent curative resection for GC at Kanagawa Cancer Center between 2013 and 2017. The mNRI cutoff value obtained using a receiver operating characteristic analysis was 23.31. Patients were divided into high and low mNRI groups according to the cutoff value, and the clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In terms of clinicopathological characteristics, the high mNRI group had a higher proportion of men, higher BMI, and a higher proportion of patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class 2/3 compared with the low mNRI group; the low mNRI group had significantly worse 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) than the high mNRI group (OS, p=0.005) (OS, p=0.006; RFS, p=0.018) did. In the multivariate analysis, a low mNRI was an independent predictor of OS (p=0.006) and RFS (p=0.013). CONCLUSION: Preoperative mNRI may be a useful recurrence and prognostic biomarker in patients with GC who have undergone curative resection.

Clinical Significance of Chitinase-3-like Protein 1 Gene Expression in Patients With Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), encoded by CHI3L1, is thought to be involved in growth, invasion, migration, and resistance to chemotherapy in cancer. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of CHI3L1 expression as a biomarker in gastric cancer (GC) tissues of patients with locally advanced GC after curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determined CHI3L1 expression in GC tissues and adjacent normal gastric mucosa of 253 patients with pStage II/III GC who underwent curative resection. We compared the expression levels in GC tissues and adjacent normal gastric mucosa, and examined the relationship between expression in GC tissues and clinicopathological factors and overall survival (OS) in these patients. RESULTS: CHI3L1 expression was significantly associated with lymph-node metastasis and venous invasion. OS rate was significantly lower in the high- than in the low-CHI3L1 expression group (5-year survival 55.5% vs. 72.6%; p=0.009). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, high CHI3L1 gene expression was an independent factor for poor OS (hazard ratio=2.030; 95% confidence interval=1.318-3.127; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with locally advanced GC after curative resection, expression of the CHI3L1 in GC tissue may be a useful prognostic marker.

Clinical Significance of Pregnancy Zone Protein Expression in Patients With Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer After Curative Resection.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pregnancy zone protein (PZP), encoded by PZP, belongs to the α-2-macroglobulin superfamily, and plays an important role in inflammatory responses and immune cell activation in cancer. However, the relationship between gastric cancer (GC) and PZP is poorly studied. This study investigated the clinical significance of PZP expression in GC tissues of patients with locally advanced GC after curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we measured PZP expression in GC tissues and adjacent normal gastric mucosa of 253 patients with pStage II/III GC who underwent curative resection. We compared the expression levels of PZP in GC tissues and adjacent normal gastric mucosa and examined the relationship of PZP expression in GC tissues with clinicopathological factors and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: PZP expression was significantly associated with histology, venous invasion, and pathological stage. The high PZP expression group had significantly worse OS than did the low expression group (5-year survival 48.6% vs. 68.5%, p=0.0003). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, high PZP expression was an independent factor for poor OS (hazard ratio=1.984, 95% confidence interval=1.307-3.012, p=0.0013). CONCLUSION: In post-curative resection patients with locally advanced GC, PZP expression in GC tissue may be a useful prognostic marker.

Asialoglycoprotein Receptor 2 Expression in Patients With Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer After Curative Resection.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The asialoglycoprotein receptor 2 gene (ASGR2) encodes a subunit of the asialoglycoprotein receptor, a transmembrane protein, which has recently been reported to be involved in gastric cancer (GC) progression. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of ASGR2 expression in GC tissues of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) after curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ASGR2 expression was measured in GC tissues and adjacent normal gastric mucosa in 253 patients with pStage II/III GC who underwent curative resection, by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We compared the expression levels in GC tissues and adjacent normal stomach mucosa, and evaluated the relationship of its expression in GC tissues with clinicopathological factors and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: ASGR2 expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and venous invasion. The high ASGR2-expression group demonstrated significantly lower survival than the low expression group (5-year survival 55.5% vs. 72.6%; p=0.009). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, high ASGR2 expression was an independent factor for poor OS (hazard ratio=2.030; 95% confidence interval=1.318-3.127; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: ASGR2 expression in GC tissues may be a useful prognostic marker in patients with LAGC after curative resection.

The Clinical Impact of the Prognostic Immune and Nutritional Index in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Received Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The prognostic immune and nutritional index (PINI) was developed and reported as a promising prognostic factor. This study aimed to clarify the clinical impact of the PINI in gastric cancer (GC) patients who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent curative resection for GC at Yokohama City University between 2005 and 2020 were selected based on their medical records. The PINI was calculated by dividing the serum albumin concentration (g/dl) by the serum monocyte concentration. Both measurements were performed prior to surgery. RESULTS: A total of 262 patients were included in this study. Based on the 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS), we set the cutoff value of the PINI at 3.4 in the present study. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 69.0% and 66.1%, respectively, in the PINI-low group and 90.5% and 82.8% in the PINI-high group. There were significant differences between the two groups (p<0.001). A multivariate analysis of factors associated with OS identified PINI as an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio=1.996; 95% confidence interval=1.096-3.636, p=0.024). Similar results were observed for RFS. In addition, the PINI status affected the recurrence pattern, postoperative anastomotic leakage, and the introduction of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The PINI is a promising nutritional and inflammatory marker for patients with GC and might be a useful marker for the treatment and management of patients with GC.

A propensity­matched analysis of the prognostic value of advanced lung cancer inflammation index in patients with gastric cancer after curative resection.

The prognostic significance of inflammation, immune response and nutritional status in patients with cancer is well-documented. The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) has emerged as a novel prognostic indicator, reflecting both inflammation and nutritional status. This study aimed to assess the prognostic relevance of preoperative ALI in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Data of 459 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for GC between December 2013 and November 2017 at the Kanagawa Cancer Center (Yokohama, Japan) were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative ALI was calculated from blood tests. Patients were divided into the high- and low-ALI groups. This study investigated the association between preoperative ALI, clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) after propensity-matched analysis. Comparative analysis revealed that patients in the low-ALI group tended to be older, were predominantly female, had lower body mass index and had a higher incidence of lymphatic invasion compared with those in the high-ALI group before propensity-matched analysis. Notably, the low-ALI group exhibited significantly reduced OS and RFS post-gastrectomy (85.5% vs. 93.8%, P=0.01; and 82.1% vs. 91.8%, P=0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified low ALI as an independent prognostic factor for both OS and RFS. In conclusion, preoperative ALI could provide a valuable prognostic tool for patients with GC undergoing curative resection, offering insights into patient survival outcomes based on their inflammatory and nutritional status.