Laparoscopic surgery reduced frequency of postoperative small bowel obstruction, and hospital stay compared with open surgery in a cohort of patients with colorectal cancer: a propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery (LS) is reported to reduce postoperative complications and hospital stay compared with open surgery (OP). Because patient selection may have been biased in previous studies, propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used in this study to test the benefits of LS compared with OP. METHODS: A total of 759 patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer undergoing curative surgery were retrospectively reviewed. To minimize confounding bias between LS and OP groups, a 1:1 PSM analysis was performed based on adjuvant chemotherapy, age, albumin, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status depth of tumor, gender, lymph node dissection, maximum tumor size, obstructive tumor, previous abdominal surgery, pathological stage, tumor differentiation, and tumor location. Statistical analyses including chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, univariate analyses and Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were performed using the data after PSM to investigate the benefits of LS compared with OP. RESULTS: After PSM analysis, 460 patients remained in the study. The LS group had lower intraoperative blood loss (34 ± 70 vs 237 ± 391, mL; P < 0.001), lower frequency of postoperative small bowel obstruction (SBO) (17/213 vs 30/230; P = 0.045), lower rate of nasogastric tube insertion (7/223 vs 17/213; P = 0.036), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (13 ± 10 vs 25 ± 47, day; P < 0.001) than the OP group. Univariate analyses showed that LS significantly reduced the risk of postoperative SBO (odds ratio [OR] 0.532; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.285-0.995; P = 0.048) and nasogastric tube insertion (OR 0.393; 95% CI 0.160-0.967; P = 0.042) compared with OP. There were no significant differences in OS and RFS between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: LS reduced intraoperative blood loss, frequency of postoperative SBO, rate of nasogastric tube insertion, and postoperative hospital stay compared with OP.

The preoperative pan-immune-inflammation value is a novel prognostic predictor for with stage I-III colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgery.

PURPOSE: The pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) is useful for stratifying outcomes in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. However, it is unclear whether preoperative PIV can predict the surgical outcomes of patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer who receive surgery. METHODS: The records of 758 patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer who received surgical treatment were retrospectively reviewed. The preoperative PIV was calculated as follows: (neutrophil count × platelet count × monocyte count)/lymphocyte count. The cut-off value was determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve for overall survival. RESULTS: The cut-off value of the preoperative PIV was 376. Five hundred sixty-eight patients (74.9%) had low values (≤ 376), and 190 (25.1%) had high values (> 376). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the PIV (> 376/ ≤ 376) (HR 2.485; 95% CI 1.552-3.981, P < 0.001) was significantly associated with overall survival, as well as age (> 60/ ≤ 60, years) (HR 1.988; 95% CI 1.038-3.807, P = 0.038), globulin-to-albumin ratio (> 0.83/ ≤ 0.83) (HR 2.013; 95% CI 1.231-3.290, P = 0.005) and postoperative complication (C-D grade III-V/0-II) (HR 1.991; 95% CI 1.154-3.438, P = 0.013). The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test showed significant differences in overall survival between patients with stage I-III disease with high (> 376) and low (≤ 376) PIVs. CONCLUSION: The preoperative PIV is useful for predicting surgical outcomes in patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer.

Impact of Primary Tumor Location on Survival After Curative Resection in Patients with Colon Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Propensity Score-Matching Studies.

BACKGROUND: Recent retrospective subgroup analyses of patients with unresectable colon cancer (CC) receiving systemic chemotherapy have demonstrated that there is a significant difference in treatment outcome between patients with right-sided CC (RSCC) and those with left-sided CC (LSCC). However, it is impossible to divide patients with CC randomly into RSCC and LSCC groups before surgery. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the impact of primary tumor location (PTL) on survival after curative surgery for patients with CC using propensity score-matching (PSM) studies instead of randomization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a comprehensive electronic search of the literature up to January 2019 to identify studies that had used databases allowing comparison of postoperative survival between patients with RSCC and those with LSCC. To integrate the impact of PTL on 5-year overall survival (OS) after curative surgery, a meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the selected PSM studies. RESULTS: Five studies involving a total of 398,687 patients with CC were included in this meta-analysis. Among 205,641 patients with RSCC, 69,091 (33.6%) died during the observation period, whereas among 193,046 patients with LSCC, 63,380 (32.8%) died during the same period. These results revealed that patients with RSCC and those with LSCC had almost the same 5-year OS (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.89-1.07; p = .64; I2 = 97%). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis has demonstrated that there was no significant difference in 5-year OS between patients with RSCC and those with LSCC after curative resection. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: To integrate the impact of primary tumor location (PTL) on 5-year overall survival (OS) after curative surgery, five propensity score-matching (PSM) studies involving a total of 398,687 patients with colon cancer (CC) were included in this meta-analysis. Among 205,641 patients with right-sided CC (RSCC), 69,091 (33.6%) died during the observation period, whereas among 193,046 patients with left-sided CC (LSCC), 63,380 (32.8%) died during the same period. These results revealed that patients with RSCC and those with LSCC had almost the same 5-year OS (risk ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-1.07; p = .64; I2 = 97%).

Omentectomy Does Not Affect the Postoperative Outcome of Patients With Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of omentectomy on postoperative outcomes in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). BACKGROUND: Although several meta-analyses have investigated the influence of bursectomy on postoperative outcomes in patients with LAGC, no meta-analyses have explored the influence of omentectomy on postoperative outcomes in such patients. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive electronic search of the literature up to December 2020 to identify studies that compared postoperative outcomes between patients with LAGC who did and did not undergo omentectomy. A meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity was analyzed using I2 statistics. RESULTS: Eight retrospective studies involving a total of 2658 patients with LAGC who underwent surgery were included in this meta-analysis. Among them, 3 propensity score matching (PSM) studies demonstrated that the 5-y recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was 72.9% (314/431) in patients with LAGC who did not undergo omentectomy, whereas it was 70.3% (303/431) in those who did. The results revealed no significant difference in 5-y RFS between groups (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.74-1.13; P = 0.41; I2 = 0%). Two PSM studies also revealed no significant difference in 5-y overall survival (OS) between groups (RR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.52-1.13; P = 0.18; I2 = 47%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of these meta-analyses show that omentectomy had no significant influence on 5-y OS, especially 5-y RFS, in patients with LAGC.

[Preoperative C-reactive protein predicts recurrence after curative resection in advanced gastric cancer patients receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using S-1].

New chemotherapeutic regimens such as S-1 plus docetaxel, S-1 plus oxaliplatin and capecitabine plus oxaliplatin are reported to be effective and safe as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (PAC) for advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients. Although the use of these PACs is increasing, it is still unclear how to choose the best regimen for advanced GC patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate which clinical characteristics are associated with recurrence after curative surgery in patients receiving S-1 as PAC. Thirty-nine patients who received a PAC regimen with S-1 for more than 1 year after curative surgery for advanced GC were enrolled. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazard model were performed to detect clinical characteristics that correlated with recurrence. Patients were divided into two groups, recurrence, and non-recurrence, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify the cut-off values. Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test were used for comparison of relapse-free survival (RFS). Fifteen patients had a recurrence after surgery (38.5%, 15/39). Multivariate analysis using clinical characteristics revealed that preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) (>0.3/≤0.3, mg/dL) (HR 10.73;95% C.I., 1.824-63.14;P=0.009) was significantly associated with recurrence. Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test demonstrated that preoperative CRP (>0.3/≤0.3, mg/dL) was also significantly associated with RFS (P<0.001). Therefore, preoperative CRP is significantly associated with recurrence and RFS after curative surgery in advanced GC patients receiving S-1 as PAC.

A high preoperative Glasgow prognostic score predicts a high likelihood of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery in patients with colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although the use of laparoscopic resection for colon cancer (LRC) has been increasing, conversion to open surgery sometimes becomes necessary because of intraoperative difficulties. Although the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) is well known to be a predictor of outcome in patients with various cancers, it is unclear whether the preoperative GPS can predict the need for conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors predictive of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery in patients with colon cancer. METHODS: Data from 308 consecutive patients who underwent LRC between January 2006 and March 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. Preoperative clinical factors in patients who had undergone LRC were compared between conversion and non-conversion groups, and multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify preoperative factors that might predict conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. RESULTS: Among 308 patients who had undergone LRC, conversion to open surgery was necessary in 28 (9.1%). Sixteen of the latter patients (6.8%) had GPS 0 (among a total of 234) and 6 (11.5%) had GPS 1 (among a total of 52). The proportion of patients with GPS 2 who required conversion was 27.2% (6/22), which was significantly higher than for those with GPS 0 or 1. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that GPS 2 (odds ratio [OR] 3.352; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.049-10.71; p = 0.041) and preoperative ileus (OR 7.405; 95% CI 2.386-22.98; p = 0.001) were independent factors predictive of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A high preoperative GPS is an independent factor predictive of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery in patients with colon cancer.

Clinical Significance of the C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio for Survival After Surgery for Colorectal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to estimate the clinical significance of the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR) for prediction of postoperative survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). BACKGROUND: The Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), calculated from the serum levels of CRP and albumin, is well known to be a valuable inflammation-based prognostic system for several types of cancer. A recent study has demonstrated that the CAR is also useful for prediction of treatment outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Uni- and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model were performed to detect the clinical characteristics that were most closely associated with overall survival (OS). All recommended cutoff values were defined using receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare OS curves between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 627 patients who had undergone elective CRC surgery were enrolled. Multivariate analysis using the results of univariate analyses demonstrated that CAR (>0.038/≤0.038) was associated with OS (hazard ratio 2.596; 95% confidence interval 1.603-4.204; P < 0.001) along with pathological differentiation (others/well or moderately), carcinoembryonic antigen level (>8.7/≤8.7, ng/ml), stage (III, IV/0, I, II), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (>2.9/≤2.9), and GPS (2/0, 1). Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test demonstrated a significant difference in OS curves between patients with low CAR (≤0.038) and those with high CAR (>0.038; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CAR is as useful for predicting the postoperative survival of patients with CRC as previously reported inflammation-based prognostic systems, such as GPS and NLR.

Total Steroid Intake is Associated With Hospital Mortality in Patients With Pan-Peritonitis due to Colorectal Perforation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with pan-peritonitis (PP) due to colorectal perforation have high mortality rate because colorectal perforation causes septic shock. The association between total steroid intake (TSI) and hospital mortality of such patients is not clear. METHODS: One hundred forty-two patients who underwent surgery for PP due to colorectal perforation were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups by 8000 mg of TSI. The cut-off value of TSI was determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve for hospital mortality. RESULTS: The cut-off value of TSI for hospital mortality was 8000 mg. Patients with TSI>8000 mg had high rate of hemodialysis, hospital mortality, and elevated neutrophil ratio (>95%) compared with those with TSI≤8000 mg. Multivariate analyses revealed that TSI (>8000/≤8000, mg) (OR, 9.669; 95% CI, 1.011-92.49; P = .049) was significantly associated with hospital mortality as well as bleeding volume (>1000/≤1000, mL) (OR, 26.08; 95% CI, 3.566-190.4; P = .001), lymphocyte ratio (≤4/>4, %) (OR, 7.988; 95% CI, 1.498-42.58; P = .015) and C-reactive protein (≤7.5/>7.5, mg/dL) (OR, 41.66; 95% CI, 4.784-33.33; P = .001). DISCUSSION: There was a significant association between TSI and hospital mortality in patients with PP due to colorectal perforation as well as intraoperative bleeding and systemic inflammatory markers.

Inflammation-based prognostic system predicts postoperative survival of colorectal cancer patients with a normal preoperative serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen.

BACKGROUND: Although carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a valuable indicator for estimating the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), some patients with advanced CRC show no elevation of the CEA level. On the other hand, inflammation-based prognosis, assessed by the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), has been established as one of the important prognostic factors of survival after surgery for several types of cancer. We estimated the postoperative survival of CRC patients with a normal preoperative serum level of CEA on the basis of the GPS. METHODS: Among 491 patients who had undergone elective CRC surgery, 271 with a normal preoperative serum CEA level (≤5.0 ng/ml) were enrolled. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship to overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test were used to compare the survival curves between patients with GPS 0 (group A), and 1 or 2 (group B). RESULTS: Univariate analyses using clinical characteristics revealed that lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, platelet count, the serum levels of CEA and C-reactive protein, tumor, node, metastasis staging system (stage 0, I, II/III, IV), and the GPS (0/1, 2) were associated with overall survival. Among these characteristics, multivariate analysis demonstrated that the GPS and platelet count were associated with overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test demonstrated a significant difference in overall survival between groups A and B (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Even if CRC patients have a normal preoperative serum level of CEA before surgery, the GPS is able to predict their postoperative survival.

Preoperative thrombocytosis is associated with survival after surgery for colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of preoperative thrombocytosis on survival after surgery in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Four hundred fifty-three patients who had undergone CRC surgery were retrospectively identified from institutional database. On the basis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, they were classified into two groups: group A, with a preoperative platelet count of ≤300 (×10(9) /L), and Group B, with a preoperative platelet count of >300 (×10(9) /L). Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship to overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test were used to compare the survival curves between groups A and B. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in overall survival between the two groups (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis of selected preoperative clinicolaboratory characteristics showed that overall survival was associated with the platelet count (Group A/B) (odds ratio, 1.642; 95% CI, 1.025-2.629; P = 0.039) as well as the number of tumors (1/≥2), and the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). CONCLUSION: Preoperative thrombocytosis is associated with survival after surgery in CRC patients, and is able to divide such patients into two independent groups before surgery.

Fluorescence imaging visualizes three sets of regional lymph nodes in patients with lower rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To demonstrate the usefulness of a fluorescence imager (photodynamic eye; PDE) for observation of lymph flow in lower rectal cancer (LRC). METHODOLOGY: Between October 2006 and January 2010, PDE observations were performed in 14 patients with LRC. After induction of general anesthesia, a total of 2mL of indocyanine green (ICG) (2.5mg/mL) was injected into the submucosal layer on the dentate line or the anal margin of the LRC. RESULTS: Preoperative PDE observation was able to demonstrate several lymph flows running to the bilateral inguinal areas from the perianal area immediately after ICG injection in 13 of the patients (92.9%). Although these flows were pooled in the bilateral inguinal areas, there was no pooling of such lymph flows in the perianal area. Intraoperative PDE observation was able to demonstrate not only mesenteric lymph nodes in all patients but also bilateral lateral lymph nodes in 13 patients (92.9%). Although 6 patients had undergone sphincter-preserving surgery (SPS), no local recurrence was observed in such patients during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: PDE is able to visualize three sets of regional lymph nodes in patients with LRC, suggesting that it would be useful for determining the effectiveness of SPS for such patients.

Postoperative Complications Associated With Intra- Versus Extracorporeal Anastomosis for Laparoscopic Right Colectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the postoperative complications of intracorporeal anastomosis (ICA) and extracorporeal anastomosis (ECA) in patients undergoing laparoscopic right colectomy (LRC). BACKGROUND: Although several studies have compared postoperative complications of ICA and ECA after LRC, most were retrospective studies. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive electronic search of the literature to identify studies that compared postoperative complications between ICA and ECA in patients who underwent LRC. We performed meta-analysis using random-effects models to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of experiencing complications, and we analyzed heterogeneity using I2 statistics. RESULTS: Fifteen studies consist of randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, and propensity score matching studies involving a total of 3219 patients who underwent LRC were included. Among 1377 patients who received ICA, 255 (18.5%) had postoperative complications, whereas among 1652 patients who received ECA, 373 (22.6%) had such complications. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that ICA was associated with a significantly reduced risk of postoperative complications (RR, .73; 95% CI: .57-.95; P = .02; I2 = 57%) compared with ECA. Although there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in risk of anastomotic leakage (RR, .67; 95% CI: .39-1.17; P = .16; I2 = 8%), there was a significant difference between them in risk of surgical site infection (RR, .50; 95% CI: .34-.71; P = .0002; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Intracorporeal anastomosis is associated with a reduced risk of postoperative complications compared with ECA in patients undergoing LRC.

Sequential evaluations of trace elements in patients receiving parenteral nutrition.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate alterations of serum trace element (TE) levels in critically ill patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) including the recommended doses of TEs. METHODOLOGY: Measurements of serum levels of TEs such as zinc, iron, copper, manganese and iodine were performed on the day before, and two and four weeks after, administration of PN. RESULTS: Forty-six patients who received PN from October 2007 to August 2009, were enrolled. All patients received 100µmol (6.5mg) zinc, 35µmol (2mg) iron, 5µmol (0.3mg) copper, 1µmol (0.05mg) manganese and 1µmol (0.13mg) iodine as the recommended daily doses. There were no significant differences in the serum levels of iron, copper and manganese among the three measurement points. On the other hand, there were significant differences in the serum levels of zinc (p<0.001), triiodothyronine (T3) (p=0.010) and unbound T3 (p=0.006) among the three points, but not for thyroxine (T4) and unbound T4. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended doses of TEs are justified for critically ill patients in terms of constant serum levels, except for zinc and iodine.

Dressing change reduces the central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare the time interval from insertion until development of central venous catheter related bloodstream infection (CVC-RBSI) between patients who received non-routine dressing change group (Group 1) and patients who received routine dressing change group (Group 2). METHODOLOGY: Between March 2006 and July 2008, patients who underwent CVC were randomly divided into Groups 1 and 2. Comparative study between the two groups was performed by reference to the incidences of CVC-RBSI from the prospectively obtained database. RESULTS: One hundred-eighty nine patients underwent 530 CVC insertions. Group 1 had 254 CVCs and Group 2 had 276 CVCs. There were no significant inter-group differences in patient background factors, except for gender. In addition, Group 1 had a shorter duration of catheter insertion than Group 2. Nevertheless, Group 1 had not only a significantly shorter period from insertion until the development of CVC-RBSI but also a higher frequency of fever than Group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our comparison between non-routine dressing change group and routine dressing change group indicate that routine dressing change can reduce the incidence of CVC-RBSI in patients undergoing CVC insertions.

Impact of anastomotic leakage on postoperative survival of patients with colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis using propensity score matching studies.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of anastomotic leakage (AL) on postoperative survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). BACKGROUND: Although several studies have compared the postoperative survival of patients with CRC with and without AL, the background characteristics of the two groups were not aligned in most studies. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive electronic search of the literature up to March 2020 to identify propensity score matching (PSM) studies that compared postoperative survival between CRC patients with and without AL. A meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity was analyzed using I (Akiyoshi et al., 2011) [2] statistics. RESULTS: Four PSM studies involving a total of 1676 patients with CRC undergoing surgery were included in this meta-analysis. Among 234 patients who had AL, 163 (69.7%) survived at 5 years after surgery, whereas among 1422 patients who did not have AL, 1156 (81.3%) survived at 5 years after surgery. Background characteristics of the two groups were adjusted with PSM in all 4 studies. The result of the meta-analysis revealed a significant difference between the two groups (RR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.09-2.45; P = 0.02; I2 = 66%) in 5-year overall survival (OS). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this meta-analysis demonstrate a significantly decreased 5-year OS in patients with CRC who had AL compared with patients with CRC who did not have AL.

Appendectomy Does Not Increase the Risk of Future Emergence of Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of appendectomy history on emergence of Parkinson's disease (PD). BACKGROUND: Although there are several studies to investigate the relationship between appendectomy history and emergence of PD, the results are still controversial. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive electronic search of the literature (the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and the Web of Science) up to April 2020 to identify studies that had employed databases allowing comparison of emergence of PD between patients with and those without appendectomy history. To integrate the impact of appendectomy history on emergence of PD, a meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the selected studies, and heterogeneity was analyzed using I2 statistics. RESULTS: Four studies involving a total of 6 080 710 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Among 1 470 613 patients with appendectomy history, 1845 (.13%) had emergences of PD during the observation period, whereas among 4 610 097 patients without appendectomy history, 6743 (.15%) had emergences of PD during the observation period. These results revealed that patients with appendectomy history and without appendectomy had almost the same emergence of PD (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, .87-1.20; P = .83; I2 = 87%). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis has demonstrated that there was no significant difference in emergence of PD between patients with and those without appendectomy history.

Systemic inflammatory response associated with distant metastasis of T1 or T2 colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: There are currently no studies examining the relationship between systemic inflammatory response and distant metastasis in colorectal cancer patients. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of a systemic inflammatory response on distant metastasis by examining clinicopathological factors in patients with colorectal cancer infiltrating the submucosal layer (T1) or the proper muscular layer (T2). METHODS: Univariate analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of a systemic inflammatory response on distant metastasis in patients with T1 or T2 colorectal cancer using collected clinicopathological data. RESULTS: Between 1993 and 2008, 156 patients with pathologically diagnosed T1 or T2 colorectal cancer were enrolled. Univariate analysis using clinicopathological factors and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) (0, 1/2) demonstrated that, as well as lymph node metastasis, administration of oral anti-cancer drug and CEA, CRP (odds ratio, 36.25; 95% CI 4.026-326.4; P = 0.001) and GPS (odds ratio, 24.50; 95% CI 1.715-349.9; P =0.018) were associated with distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: CRP and GPS are associated with distant metastasis of T1 or T2 colorectal cancer. Because of the small number of patients with stage IV disease (n =4), a multi-center retrospective study is needed to confirm these findings.

The clinical influence of the preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio on the postoperative outcome of patients with early-stage gastrointestinal cancer.

AIM: The lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) is useful for predicting the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC) and those with colorectal cancer (CRC) undergoing surgery. The relationship between the LMR and postoperative outcome of patients with early-stage gastrointestinal cancers such as stage I GC and CRC remains unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 323 stage I GC and 152 stage I CRC patients undergoing surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model were performed to identify the clinical characteristics associated with overall survival (OS), and the cut-off values of these variables were determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used for postoperative survival comparisons according to the LMR (GC: LMR < 4.2 vs ≥4.2; CRC: LMR < 3.0 vs ≥3.0). RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that OS was significantly associated with the LMR (<4.2/≥4.2) (HR, 2.489; 95% CI, 1.317-4.702; P = 0.005), as well as age (>75/≤75 years) (HR, 3.511; 95% CI, 1.881-6.551; P < 0.001) and albumin level (≤3.5/>3.5 g/dL) (HR, 3.040; 95% CI, 1.575-5.869; P = 0.001), in stage I GC patients. Survival analysis demonstrated a significantly poorer OS in stage I GC patients with a LMR < 4.2 compared with ≥4.2 (P < 0.001). In stage I CRC patients, despite a significant difference in OS according to the LMR (<3.0 vs ≥3.0) (P = 0.040), univariate analysis revealed no significant association between the LMR and OS. CONCLUSION: LMR is a useful predictor of the postoperative outcome of stage I GC patients treated surgically.

Influence of inflammation-based prognostic score on mortality of patients undergoing chemotherapy for far advanced or recurrent unresectable colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed that the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), an inflammation-based prognostic score that includes only C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin, is a useful tool for predicting postoperative outcome in cancer patients. However, few studies have investigated the mGPS in patients undergoing chemotherapy for far-advanced or recurrent unresectable colorectal cancer (AR-UCRC). OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the influence of the mGPS for prognostication of patients undergoing chemotherapy for AR-UCRC. METHODS: The mGPS was calculated as follows: patients with an elevated level of CRP (>1.0 mg/dL) were allocated a mGPS of 1 or 2 depending on the absence or presence of hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dL) and patients showing no elevated level of CRP (< or =1.0 mg/dL) were allocated a mGPS of 0. Prognostic significance was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier, univariate, and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: One hundred twelve patients who had undergone chemotherapy for AR-UCRC with regimens such as FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil/l-leucovorin/irinotecan hydrochloride) or FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil/oxialiplatin) were evaluated retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test revealed that mGPS 2 predicted a higher risk of mortality than mGPS 0 or 1 (P < 0.0001). Univariate analyses revealed that the neutrophil ratio (P = 0.0411), CA 19-9 (P = 0.0473), CRP (P = 0.0477), albumin (P = 0.0043), and mGPS (0, 1/2) (P < 0.0001) were associated with mortality. Multivariate analyses using these 5 factors revealed that only mGPS (0, 1/2) (odds ratio: 6.071; 95% CI: 1.625-22.68; P = 0.0073) was an independent risk factor of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: mGPS is an important and independent predictor of mortality in patients undergoing chemotherapy for AR-UCRC.