Physicians are Unable to Consistently Predict Patient Health Literacy in a Breast Clinic.

INTRODUCTION: Health literacy (HL) is a patient's capacity to understand health information. Low HL is associated with worse cancer outcomes and adherence to treatment regimens. This study aimed to test physicians' ability to predict their patients' HL after an initial consultation to determine if routine HL screening is valuable. METHODS: From February 2023 through June 2023, patients seen at an academic breast clinic completed a validated, self-reported HL assessment. Surgical and medical oncologists estimated their patients' HL by answering the same HL questionnaire based on their perception of the patient visit. Patient and physician scores were compared using an intraclass correlation coefficient. Linear regression was used to evaluate associations between physicians' ability to predict HL and other variables. RESULTS: The cohort included 210 patient HL scores with corresponding physician scores for each. Most patients (75.7%) had adequate HL. There was moderate agreement between the patient and physician HL scores (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.677, P < 0.01), meaning physicians could somewhat predict their patient's HL. Physicians were worse at predicting HL when patients had low HL. There was no difference in physicians' ability to predict HL based on patient age (P = 0.09) or race (P = 0.29). Additionally, we found no difference in the ability to predict HL based on the physician's specialty (P = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: After an initial consultation, physicians cannot accurately predict patient HL, particularly in patients with lower HL. Given the impact of low HL on a patient's ability to make treatment decisions and adhere to treatment plans, using a validated tool to measure HL is necessary.

Conditional Survival Following Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Surface Malignancies: An Analysis from the US HIPEC Collaborative.

INTRODUCTION: The long-term prognosis of patients who undergo cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) varies considerably on the basis of histological and operative factors. While overall survival (OS) estimates are used to inform adjuvant therapy and surveillance strategies, conditional survival may provide more clinically relevant estimates of prognosis by accounting for disease-free time elapsed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients from 12 academic institutions who underwent CRS ± HIPEC for PSM from 2000 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. OS and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method while conditional overall (COS) and conditional disease-free survival (CDFS) rates were calculated at 1, 2, or 3 years from surgery for different tumor histologies. RESULTS: Overall, 1610 patients underwent CRS ± HIPEC. Among patients with benign appendiceal mucinous tumors (N = 460), 5-year OS and COS at 3 years were 92.1% and 96.3% (Δ4.2%), respectively. For patients with well-differentiated appendiceal cancers (N = 400), 5-year OS and COS at 3 years were 76.3% and 88.3% (Δ12.0%), respectively. For patients with high-grade appendiceal cancers (N = 258), 5-year OS and COS at 3 years were 43.8% and 75.4% (Δ31.6%), respectively. For patients with colorectal cancers (N = 362), 5-year OS and COS at 3 years were 31.8% and 67.3% (Δ35.5%), respectively. For patients with peritoneal mesothelioma (N = 130), 5-year OS and COS at 3 years were 67.6% and 89.7% (Δ22.1%), respectively. Similar trends were observed for DFS/CDFS. CONCLUSION: The conditional survival of patients undergoing CRS ± HIPEC for PSM is associated with tumor histology. COS and CDFS provide a more accurate, dynamic estimate of survival than OS and DFS, especially for patients with more aggressive histologies.

Implementation of a Breast Intraoperative Oncoplastic Form to Aid Management of Oncoplastic Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Oncoplastic breast conservation surgery (BCS) uses concurrent reduction and/or mastopexy with lumpectomy to improve aesthetic outcomes. However, tissue rearrangement can shift the original tumor location site in relation to external breast landmarks, resulting in difficulties during re-excision for a positive margin and accurate radiation targeting. We developed the Breast Intraoperative Oncoplastic (BIO) form to help depict the location of the tumor and breast reduction specimen. This study seeks to assess physician perspectives of the implementation outcomes. METHODS: From February 2021 to April 2021, the BIO form was used in 11 oncoplastic BCS cases at a single institution. With institutional review board approval, surgical oncologists (SOs), plastic surgeons (PSs), and radiation oncologists (ROs) were administered a 12-question validated survey on Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM), using a 5-point Likert scale during initial implementation and at 6-month reassessment. RESULTS: Twelve physicians completed the survey initially (4 SOs, 4 PSs, and 4 ROs). The mean scores for Acceptability of Intervention Measure, Intervention Appropriateness Measure, and Feasibility of Intervention Measure were high (4.44, 4.56, and 4.56, respectively). Twelve completed the second survey (5 SOs, 3 PSs, and 4 ROs). The mean scores were marginally lower (4.06, 4.21, and 4.25). There were no significant differences when stratified by number of years in practice or specialty. Free text comments showed that 75% of physicians found the form helpful in oncoplastic BCS. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate high feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the BIO form. Results of this study suggest multidisciplinary benefits of implementing the BIO form in oncoplastic BCS.

Impact of care fragmentation on the outcomes of patients receiving neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Neoadjuvant therapy (NT) is increasingly used for localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The impact of care fragmentation during NT on the outcomes of patients with PDAC is unknown. METHODS: Adult patients with Stage I-III PDAC who received NT and patients who underwent surgery first followed by adjuvant therapy (AT) between 2004 and 2016 were queried from the National Cancer Database. Short- and long-term outcomes were compared between patients who received fragmented care (FC; care provided at >1 hospital) versus integrated care (IC; care at a single institution). RESULTS: Among 6522 patients who underwent NT before pancreatectomy, 3755 (57.6%) received FC and 2767 (42.4%) received IC. While patients who received FC had a longer time to initiation of treatment (33.2 vs. 29.7 days, p < 0.001), there was no difference in median overall survival (OS) (26.7 vs. 26.5 months, p = 0.6). Among patients who underwent upfront surgery followed by AT (n = 15 291), patients who received FC had a longer time from diagnosis to undergoing surgery but less time from surgery to AT and no difference in OS (24.0 vs. 24.0 months, p = 0.910). CONCLUSION: Although care fragmentation was associated with slightly longer times to initiate and complete treatment among patients with localized PDAC, long-term survival outcomes were similar.

Regulatory T-cell and neutrophil extracellular trap interaction contributes to carcinogenesis in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) impair cancer immunosurveillance by creating an immunosuppressive environment that fosters tumor cell survival. Our previous findings demonstrated that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are involved both in innate and adaptive immunity, are abundant in livers affected by non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, how NETs interact with Tregs in the development of NASH-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NASH-HCC) is not known. METHODS: A choline-deficient, high-fat diet+diethylnitrosamine mouse model and the stelic animal model were utilized for NASH-HCC and a western diet mouse model was used for NASH development. Treg depletion was achieved using FoxP3-DTR mice. RNA sequencing was used to explore the mechanism by which NETs could regulate Treg differentiation. Bioenergetic analyses of naïve CD4+ T-cells were assessed by Seahorse. RESULTS: Although the absolute number of CD4+ T-cells is lower in NASH livers, the Treg subpopulation is selectively increased. Depleting Tregs dramatically inhibits HCC initiation and progression in NASH. There is a positive correlation between increased NET and hepatic Treg levels. RNA sequencing data reveals that NETs impact gene expression profiles in naïve CD4+ T-cells, with the most differentially expressed genes being those involved in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. By facilitating mitochondrial respiration, NETs can promote Treg differentiation. Metabolic reprogramming of naïve CD4+ T-cells by NETs requires toll-like receptor 4. Blockade of NETs in vivo using Pad4-/- mice or DNase I treatment reduces the activity of Tregs. CONCLUSIONS: Tregs can suppress immunosurveillance in the premalignant stages of NASH. NETs facilitate the crosstalk between innate and adaptive immunity in NASH by promoting Treg activity through metabolic reprogramming. Therapies targeting NETs and Treg interactions could offer a potential strategy for preventing HCC in patients with NASH. LAY SUMMARY: Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) can promote tumor development by suppressing cancer immunosurveillance, but their role in carcinogenesis during non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression is unknown. Herein, we discovered that selectively increased intrahepatic Tregs can promote an immunosuppressive environment in NASH livers. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) link innate and adaptive immunity by promoting Treg differentiation via metabolic reprogramming of naïve CD4+ T-cells. This mechanism could be targeted to prevent liver cancer in patients with NASH.

Time to Surgery and Colon Cancer Survival in the United States.

PURPOSE: Time to surgery (TTS) is of concern to patients diagnosed with cancer and their physicians. Controversy surrounds the impact of TTS on colon cancer survival. There are limited national data evaluating the association; thus, our aim was to estimate the overall survival (OS) impact from increasing TTS for patients with colon cancer. METHODS: Using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), we assessed OS as a function of time between diagnosis and surgery by evaluating intervals encompassing <7, 7 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90, 91 to 120, and 121 to 180 days in length. All patients were diagnosed with nonmetastatic colon cancer and underwent surgery as initial treatment. Our main outcome was OS as a function of time between diagnosis and surgery, after adjusting for patient, demographic, and tumor-related factors using Cox regression models and propensity score-based weighting. RESULTS: A total of 514,103 patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2012 were included. Individuals having <7, 7 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90, 91 to 120, and 121 to 180 days between diagnosis and surgery comprised 35.4%, 45%, 15.1%, 2.9%, 1%, and 0.6% of the patients, respectively. There was a steady increase in median TTS across the years. On multivariable analysis, TTS >30 days or within the first week independently increased mortality risk. There was a significant increase in mortality with TTS 31 to 60 [hazard ratio (HR) 1.13], 61 to 90 (HR 1.49), <7 (HR 1.56), 91 to 120 (HR 2.28), and 121 to 180 (HR 2.46) compared to surgery performed 7 to 30 days after diagnosis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TTS is independently associated with OS and this represents a public health issue that should be addressed at a national level. Although time is required for evaluation before surgery, efforts to reduce TTS should be pursued.

Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy use in early stage breast cancer during the covid-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: Physician treatment preferences for early stage, estrogen positive breast cancer (ER + BC) patients were evaluated during the initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US when neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) was recommended to allow safe deferral of surgery. METHODS: A validated electronic survey was administered May-June, 2020 to US medical oncologists (MO), radiation oncologists (RO), and surgeons (SO) involved in clinical trials organizations. Questions on NET use included practice patterns for locoregional management following NET. RESULTS: 114 Physicians from 29 states completed the survey-42 (37%) MO, 14 (12%) RO, and 58 (51%) SO. Before COVID-19, most used NET 'rarely' (49/107, 46%) or 'sometimes' (36, 33%) for ER + BC. 46% would delay surgery 2 months without NET. The preferred NET regimen was tamoxifen for premenopausal and aromatase inhibitor for postmenopausal women. 53% planned short term NET until surgery could proceed. Most recommended omitting axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for one micrometastatic node after 1, 2, or 3 months of NET (1 month, N = 56/93, 60%; 2 months, N = 54/92, 59%; 3 months, N = 48/90, 53%). With longer duration of NET, omission of ALND decreased, regardless of years in practice, percent of practice in BC, practice type, participation in multidisciplinary tumor board, or number of regional COVID-19 cases. CONCLUSION: More physicians preferred NET for ER + BC during the pandemic, compared with pre-pandemic times. As the duration of NET extended, more providers favored ALND in low volume metastatic axillary disease. The Covid-19 pandemic affected practice of ER + BC; it remains to be seen how this may impact outcomes.

Durability of hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance and subsequent risk for hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance is regarded as the ideal endpoint for antiviral treatment. However, reports on the durability of and outcomes after HBsAg seroclearance are few, which has become a focus in clinical practice. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the durability and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence after HBsAg seroclearance after treatment cessation. We searched PubMed, Embase, Medline and Web of Science for studies that reported the durability and HCC incidence after HBsAg seroclearance published between 1 January 2000 and 31 January 2020. Data were analysed by a random-effects model. Thirty-eight studies and 43,924 patients were finally included. The results showed that HBsAg seroclearance was durable, with a pooled recurrence rate of 6.19% (95% CI: 4.10%-8.68%). There was no significant difference in recurrence rates after different seroclearance methods or among recurrence types and different regions. Anti-HBs seroconversion resulted in a significantly reduced recurrence rate (RR = 0.25, p < .001). Patients who experienced HBsAg seroclearance had significantly lower HCC incidence than HBsAg-positive (RR = 0.41, p < .001). The pooled HCC incidence after HBsAg seroclearance was 1.88%; this rate was reduced to 0.76% among patients without baseline cirrhosis. In conclusion, the analysis during an average follow-up of 4.74 years suggested that in patients who experienced sustained HBsAg seroclearance and anti-HBs seroconversion, this was associated with low HCC incidence. Patients without baseline cirrhosis benefited even more. We emphasize the importance of gaining HBsAg seroclearance while highlighting the benefits of achieving this as early as possible.

Full Abstract to Published Manuscript: Evaluation of the Scientific Impact of the American Society of Breast Surgeons Conference.

BACKGROUND: The scientific rigor of the abstracts presented at the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) annual meeting has not been recently evaluated. In this study, we sought to determine the rate at which abstracts presented at the 2017 and 2018 ASBrS meetings were published in peer-reviewed journals, and compared the rates with breast abstracts presented at the 2018 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) meeting. METHODS: Abstracts from the 2017 and 2018 ASBrS and 2018 SSO conferences were searched in PubMed for published manuscripts using the abstract title and/or first or last author. RESULTS: In 2017, 21.6% of the 268 abstracts presented at the ASBrS conference resulted in full publication, compared with 36.6% of the 273 abstracts presented at the 2018 ASBrS conference, resulting in a significant difference in the publication rate (p < 0.001). Of the 158 abstracts published from the 2017 and 2018 meetings, 75 (47.8%) were published in Annals of Surgical Oncology (ASO). There was no correlation between impact factor and time to publication. Oral presentations and quick shots were more likely to be published than poster presentations, and oral presentations were more likely to be published in higher-impact journals. The 2018 SSO meetings resulted in 54 of 111 (48.6%) breast abstracts leading to full publication. CONCLUSION: Approximately 29.2% of the abstracts presented at the ASBrS 2017 and 2018 conferences resulted in a published manuscript. A higher publication rate in higher impact journals for oral presentations indicates that the abstract review process properly stratifies the research.

Durability of Interferon-induced Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seroclearance.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance has been recommended as an optimal endpoint of antiviral treatment by the latest chronic hepatitis B management guideline.1 However, few reports investigated the durability of response after HBsAg seroclearance, because of a lower HBsAg seroclearance rate and the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient number of samples for analysis. Our center has made a long-term commitment to investigate the personalized antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B. More than 300 patients achieved HBsAg seroclearance by interferon (IFN)-based antiviral treatment. In this study, the durability and the effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antibody (Anti-HBs) level on relapse after HBsAg seroclearance were investigated.

Contrasting Roles of the PD-1 Signaling Pathway in Dendritic Cell-Mediated Induction and Regulation of HIV-1-Specific Effector T Cell Functions.

Eliciting highly functional CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses against a broad range of epitopes will likely be required for immunotherapeutic control of HIV-1 infection. However, the combination of CTL exhaustion and the ability of HIV-1 to rapidly establish CTL escape variants presents major hurdles toward this goal. Our previous work highlighted the use of monocyte-derived, mature, high-interleukin-12 (IL-12)-producing type 1 polarized dendritic cells (MDC1) to selectively induce more potent effector CTLs derived from naive, rather than memory, CD8+ T cell precursors isolated from HIV-1-positive participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. In this study, we report that these highly stimulatory antigen-presenting cells also express enhanced levels of the coinhibitory molecule programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), the ligand for PD-1, which is further upregulated upon subsequent stimulation with the CD4+ T helper cell-derived factor CD40L. Interestingly, blocking the PD-1 signaling pathway during MDC1 induction of HIV-1-specific CTL responses inhibited the priming, activation, and differentiation of naive CD8+ T cells into effector T cells expressing high levels of T-box transcription factor (T-bethi) and eomesodermin (Eomes+). In contrast, PD-1 blockade enhanced the overall magnitude of memory HIV-specific CTL responses and reversed the exhausted memory phenotype from a T-betlow/Eomes+ to a T-bethi/Eomes+ phenotype. These results indicate that the PD-L1/PD-1 signaling pathway has a previously unappreciated dual role in the induction and regulation of HIV-1-specific CTL immunity, which is greatly determined by the context and differentiation stage of the responsive CD8+ T cells.IMPORTANCE Targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint axis with signaling inhibitors has proven to be a powerful immunotherapeutic strategy to enhance the functional quality and survival of existing antigen-specific effector T cells. However, our study demonstrates that the context and timing of PD-1 signaling in T cells greatly impact the outcome of the effector response. In particular, we show that PD-1 activation plays a positive role during the DC-mediated initiation stage of the primary T cell response, while it serves as an inhibitory mechanism during the effector phase of the response. Therefore, caution should be taken in the design of therapies that include targeting of the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway in order to avoid potential negative impacts on the induction of de novo T cell responses.

Disparities in the Use of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines support either immediate surgical resection or neoadjuvant therapy (NT) for patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, which patients are selected for NT and whether disparities exist in the use of NT for PDAC are not well understood. METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database from 2004 through 2016, the clinical, demographic, socioeconomic, and hospital-related characteristics of patients with stage I/II PDAC who underwent immediate surgery versus NT followed by surgery were compared. RESULTS: Among 58,124 patients who underwent pancreatectomy, 8,124 (14.0%) received NT whereas 50,000 (86.0%) did not. Use of NT increased significantly throughout the study period (from 3.5% in 2004 to 26.4% in 2016). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that travel distance, education level, hospital facility type, clinical T stage, tumor size, and year of diagnosis were associated with increased use of NT, whereas comorbidities, uninsured/Medicaid status, South/West geography, left-sided tumor location, and increasing age were associated with immediate surgery (all P<.001). Based on logistic regression-derived interaction factors, the association between NT use and median income, education level, Midwest location, clinical T stage, and clinical N stage significantly increased over time (all P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to traditional clinicopathologic factors, several demographic, socioeconomic, and hospital-related factors are associated with use of NT for PDAC. Because NT is used increasingly for PDAC, efforts to reduce disparities will be critical in improving outcomes for all patients with pancreatic cancer.

Development of Residents' Self-Efficacy in Multidisciplinary Management of Breast Cancer Survey.

BACKGROUND: Treating patients with breast cancer is multidisciplinary; however, it is unclear whether surgery residency programs provide sufficient training in multidisciplinary care. Self-efficacy is one way of measuring the adequacy of training. Our goal was to develop a method of assessing self-efficacy in multidisciplinary breast cancer care. METHODS: Based on a literature review and subject-matter expert input, we developed a 30-item self-efficacy survey to measure six domains of breast cancer care (genetics, surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, and radiology). We constructed and validated the survey using a seven-step survey development framework. The survey was administered to general surgery residents at a single academic surgical residency. RESULTS: Response rate was 66% (n = 31). Internal consistency was strong (Cronbach alpha = 0.92). Self-efficacy was moderate (mean = 3.05) and tended to increase with training (postgraduate year [PGY] 1: mean= 2.37 versus PGY 5: mean= 3.54; P < 0.001), providing evidence for construct validity. Self-efficacy was highest in the surgery (3.56) compared with others (genetics 2.67, medical oncology 3, radiation oncology 2.67, pathology 2.67, and radiology 3.33). This trend was similar across all PGY groups, except for interns, whose self-efficacy in surgery was low. CONCLUSIONS: We created a survey to assess self-efficacy in multidisciplinary breast cancer care and provided initial evidence of survey validity. Although self-efficacy in surgery improved with years in training, medical and radiation oncology self-efficacy remained low. As modern breast cancer treatment is highly multidisciplinary, an expanded education program is needed to help trainees incorporate multidisciplinary clinical perspectives.

Prognosis of Macrophage Density in the Absence of Neutrophils in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite the advances in treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), predicting prognosis remains a challenge. Immune cells in the tumor microenvironment may provide an insight to predicting recurrence. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the association of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) with recurrence in DTC and to identify serum cytokines that correlate with the presence of these immune cells in the tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two DTC tissues from our institutional neoplasia repository were stained for immunohistochemistry markers for TAMs and TANs. In addition, cytokine levels were analyzed from these patients from preoperative blood samples. TAM and TAN staining were compared with clinical data and serum cytokine levels. RESULTS: Neither TAM nor TAN scores alone correlated with tumor size, the presence of lymph node metastases, multifocal tumors, lymphovascular or capsular invasion, or the presence of BRAFV600E mutation (all P > 0.05). There was no association with recurrence-free survival (RFS) in TAN density (mean RFS, 169.1 versus 148.1 mo, P = 0.23) or TAM density alone (mean RFS, 121.3 versus 205.2 mo, P = 0.54). However, when scoring from both markers were combined, patients with high TAM density and TAN negative scores had significantly lower RFS (mean RFS, 50.7 versus 187.3 mo, P = 0.04) compared with the remaining cohort. Patients with high TAM/negative TAN tumors had significantly lower serum levels of interleukin 12p70, interleukin 8, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and tumor necrosis factor beta. CONCLUSIONS: In DTCs, high density of TAMs in the absence of TANs is associated with worse outcome. Assessment of multiple immune cell types and serum cytokines may predict outcomes in DTC.

Long-Term and Oncologic Outcomes of Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Liver Resection for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Multicenter, Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

BACKGROUND: To assess long-term oncologic outcomes of robotic-assisted liver resection (RLR) for colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases as compared to a propensity-matched cohort of laparoscopic liver resections (LLR). Although safety and short-term outcomes of RLR have been described and previously compared to LLR, long-term and oncologic data are lacking. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of all patients who underwent RLR and LLR for CRC metastases at six high-volume centers in the USA and Europe between 2002 and 2017. Propensity matching was used to match baseline characteristics between the two groups. Data were analyzed with a focus on postoperative and oncologic outcomes, as well as long-term recurrence and survival. RESULTS: RLR was performed in 115 patients, and 514 patients underwent LLR. Following propensity matching 115 patients in each cohort were compared. Perioperative outcomes including mortality, morbidity, reoperation, readmission, intensive care requirement, length-of-stay and margin status were not statistically different. Both prematching and postmatching analyses demonstrated similar overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between RLR and LLR at 5 years (61 vs. 60% OS, p = 0.87, and 38 vs. 31% DFS, p = 0.25, prematching; 61 vs. 60% OS, p = 0.78, and 38 vs. 44% DFS, p = 0.62, postmatching). CONCLUSIONS: Propensity score matching with a large, multicenter database demonstrates that RLR for colorectal metastases is feasible and safe, with perioperative and long-term oncologic outcomes and survival that are largely comparable to LLR.

Texture analysis on preoperative contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging identifies microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Radiomic texture analysis quantifies tumor heterogeneity. The aim of this study is to determine if radiomics can predict biologic aggressiveness in HCC and identify tumors with MVI. METHODS: Single-center, retrospective review of HCC patients undergoing resection/ablation with curative intent from 2009 to 2017. DICOM images from preoperative MRIs were analyzed with texture analysis software. Texture analysis parameters extracted on T1, T2, hepatic arterial phase (HAP) and portal venous phase (PVP) images. Multivariate logistic regression analysis evaluated factors associated with MVI. RESULTS: MVI was present in 52.2% (n = 133) of HCCs. On multivariate analysis only T1 mean (OR = 0.97, 95%CI 0.95-0.99, p = 0.043) and PVP entropy (OR = 4.7, 95%CI 1.37-16.3, p = 0.014) were associated with tumor MVI. Area under ROC curve was 0.83 for this final model. Empirical optimal cutpoint for PVP tumor entropy and T1 tumor mean were 5.73 and 23.41, respectively. At these cutpoint values, sensitivity was 0.68 and 0.5, respectively and specificity was 0.64 and 0.86. When both criteria were met, the probability of MVI in the tumor was 87%. CONCLUSION: Tumor entropy and mean are both associated with MVI. Texture analysis on preoperative imaging correlates with microscopic features of HCC and can be used to predict patients with high-risk tumors.

Pathologic complete response following neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: defining the incidence, predictors, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant therapy (NT) is increasingly utilized for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) but the nationwide incidence and long-term prognosis of a pathologic complete response (pCR) remains poorly understood. METHODS: Patients with localized PDAC and known cT and pT stage who received NT prior to pancreatectomy from 2004 to 2016 were identified using the National Cancer Database. The clinicopathologic characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients who did and did not experience a pCR were compared. RESULTS: Among 7,902 patients who underwent NT prior to pancreatectomy, 244 (3.1%) experienced a pCR while 7,658 (96.9%) did not. On multivariable regression, longer duration of NT (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.14-1.27 per month) and use of preoperative radiation (OR 9.98, 95% CI 3.05-32.71) were independently associated with a pCR. Median overall survival (OS) was longer among patients who experienced a pCR (77 vs 26 months, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, pCR was the strongest predictor of improved OS (HR 0.43, 95%CI 0.32-0.58, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A pCR following NT for PDAC occurs infrequently but is associated with significantly improved OS. Better predictors of response and more effective preoperative regimens should be aggressively sought.

Long-term trajectory of kidney function in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by cyst and kidney growth, which is hypothesized to cause loss of functioning renal mass and eventually end-stage kidney disease. However, the time course of decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is poorly defined. The Consortium for Radiologic Imaging Studies of Polycystic Kidney Disease study is a 14-year observational cohort study of 241 adults with ADPKD. As an estimate of the rate of kidney growth, participants were stratified into 5 subclasses based on baseline age and magnetic resonance imaging measurements of total kidney volume (TKV) according to the method of Irazabal. GFR trajectories spanning over four decades of life were reconstructed and fitted using mixed polynomial models, which were validated using data from the HALT-PKD study. GFR trajectories were nonlinear, with a period of relative stability in most participants, followed by accelerating decline. The shape and slope of these trajectories were strongly associated with baseline Irazabal class. Patients with PKD1 mutations had a steeper GFR decline than patients with PKD2 mutations or with no detected mutation, largely mediated by the effect of genotype on Irazabal class. Thus, GFR decline in ADPKD is nonlinear, and its trajectory throughout adulthood can be predicted from a single measurement of kidney volume. These models can be used for clinical prognostication, clinical trial design, and patient selection for clinical interventions. Our findings support a causal link between growth in kidney volume and GFR decline, adding support for the use of TKV as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials.

Baseline total kidney volume and the rate of kidney growth are associated with chronic kidney disease progression in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by progressive enlargement of kidney cysts leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Identification of an early biomarker that can predict progression of CKD is urgently needed. In an earlier Consortium for Radiologic Imaging Studies of Polycystic Kidney Disease (CRISP) study (a prospective, multicenter, observational analysis of 241 patients with ADPKD initiated in 2000), baseline height-adjusted total kidney volume (htTKV) was shown to be associated with development of CKD stage 3 after eight years of follow-up. Here we conducted an extended study and found that in a multivariable logistic regression model, baseline htTKV was shown to be a strong, independent predictor for the development of CKD after a median follow-up of 13 years. The odds ratio of reaching each CKD stage per 100 mL/m increment in htTKV was 1.38 (95% confidence interval 1.19-1.60) for stage 3, 1.42 (1.23-1.64) for stage 4, and 1.35 (1.18-1.55) for stage 5 or ESRD. Baseline htTKV was also associated with relative decreases in the glomerular filtration rate of 30%, and 57% or more. Moreover, the rate of change in htTKV was negatively correlated with the slope of the glomerular filtration rate. While ADPKD genotype was also associated with CKD outcomes, it was not an independent prognostic factor after adjusting for htTKV. Thus, baseline total kidney volume and the rate of kidney growth are strongly associated with the development of advanced stages of CKD. These findings support the use of total kidney volume as a prognostic and potentially monitoring biomarker in ADPKD.

A potent hepatitis B surface antigen response in subjects with inactive hepatitis B surface antigen carrier treated with pegylated-interferon alpha.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance represents a clinical cure, although the clearance rate is extremely low. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety profiles of pegylated-interferon α-2a (PEG-IFNα-2a) as a therapeutic option for inactive HBsAg carriers. There were 144 inactive HBsAg carriers enrolled and divided into a therapeutic group (102 subjects) and a control group (42 subjects). PEG-IFNα-2a and PEG-IFNα-2a combined with adefovir dipivoxil were used for treatment group subjects with hepatitis B virus DNA <20 IU/mL and 20 IU/mL ≤ hepatitis B virus DNA < 2,000 IU/mL, respectively. Total therapy duration was no more than 96 weeks. HBsAg clearance and seroconversion rates at therapeutic weeks 48 and 96 were used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy. Per protocol analysis showed that the HBsAg clearance rate and seroconversion rate in the treatment group were 29.8% and 20.2% at week 48 and increased to 44.7% and 38.3% at week 96, respectively. However, the HBsAg clearance rate in the control group was 2.4% at weeks 48 and 96, and no subject achieved seroconversion. The quantitative HBsAg levels and changes during the early period of treatment (at week 12 and week 24) as well as the alanine aminotransferase elevation at week 12 were strong predictors of HBsAg clearance. The adverse events were similar to those with treatment for chronic hepatitis B patients. CONCLUSION: High rates of HBsAg clearance and seroconversion could be achieved by PEG-IFNα-2a-based treatments and the treatments were relatively safe for inactive HBsAg carriers. (Hepatology 2017;66:1058-1066).