Efficacy and Safety of Apatinib in Patients with Recurrent or Refractory Melanoma.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with metastatic malignant melanoma is very poor and partly due to resistance to conventional chemotherapies. The study's objectives were to assess the activity and tolerability of apatinib, an oral small molecule anti-angiogenesis inhibitor, in patients with recurrent advanced melanoma. METHODS: This was a single-arm, single-center phase II trial. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) and the secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and overall survival (OS). Eligible patients had received at least one first-line therapy for advanced melanoma and experienced recurrence. Apatinib (500 mg) was orally administered daily. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (V660E BRAF status: 2 mutation, 2 unknown, 11 wild type) were included in the analysis. The median PFS was 4.0 months. There were two major objective responses, for a 13.3% response rate. Eleven patients had stable disease, with a DCR of 86.7%. The median OS was 12.0 months. The most common treatment-related adverse events of any grade were hypertension (80.0%), mucositis oral (33.3%), hand-foot skin reaction (26.7%), and liver function abnormalities, hemorrhage, diarrhea (each 20%). The only grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse effects that occurred in 2 patients was hypertension (6.7%) and mucositis (6.7%). No treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: Apatinib showed antitumor activity as a second- or above-line therapy in patients with malignant melanoma. The toxicity was manageable. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT03383237.

[Technical advantages of nano carbon development combined with artery approach in lymph node sorting of rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the technical advantages of nano carbon development combined with artery approach in lymph node sorting of rectal cancer. METHODS: From December 2015 to June 2016, 70 patients with of rectal cancer in General Surgery Department of Henan Cancer Hospital were randomly divided into nano carbon development combined with artery approach group(artery approach group) and conventional group. Specimen of artery approach group was placed on the sorting table. Anatomy was performed from the root of inferior mesenteric artery to left colonic artery, sigmoid artery and superior rectal artery. Along the arterial vessel shape, the black-stained lymph nodes and non-stained lymph nodes (perhaps pink, pale yellow, white or pale brown) were examined carefully using visual and haptic combination method for identification of lymph node. From the root of inferior mesenteric artery, central lymph nodes were sorted. Along the vessel shape, vascular lymph nodes were sorted. Intestinal lymph nodes around the rectum were examined as well. Then, specimen was reversed on the sorting table and underwent sorting as above after the examination of obverse. The conventional group received routine method. The total number, the average harvested number, the number of positive lymph nodes and the number of patients with lymph nodes less than 12 were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Among 70 cases, 37 were male and 33 were female with the median age of 57(32-88) years old. Dixon resection was performed in 46 cases, and Miles resection in 24 cases. Total sorting lymph node was 1 105, including 641 of artery approach group and 464 of control group with significant difference (t=20.717, P=0.000). Lymph node sorting time of artery approach group was (12.6±3.9) minutes, which was shorter than (18.2±4.1) minutes of control group (t=12.464, P=0.000). In artery approach group, number of lymph node with diameter less than 5 mm was 142, sorting rate was 22.2%(142/641), of which 29 were positive(20.4%). In conventional group, 37 lymph nodes with diameter less than 5 mm were found, and sorting rate was 8.0%(37/464), of which 6 were positive(16.2%). Number of the first station of lymph node sorting in artery approach group and conventional group was 282(44%) and 169(36.4%); number of the second station lymph node sorting was 230(35.9%) and 180(38.8%); number of the third station lymph node sorting was 129(20.1%) and 115(24.8%). CONCLUSION: The method of nano carbon development combined with artery approach in lymph node sorting of rectal cancer has some advantages, such as simple operation, more harvested lymph nodes, and more accurate pathological staging.

[Application of three-stitch preventive transverse colostomy in anterior resection of low rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application of three-stitch preventive transverse colostomy in anterior resection of low rectal cancer. METHOD: From May 2015 to March 2016, 70 consecutive low rectal cancer patients undergoing anterior resection and preventive transverse colostomy in our department were recruited in this prospective study. According to the random number table method, 70 patients were divided into three-stitch transverse colostomy group(observation group, n=35) and traditional transverse colostomy group(control group, n=35). Procedure of three-stitch preventive transverse colostomy was as follows: firstly, at the upper 1/3 incision 0.5-1.0 cm distance from the skin, 7# silk was used to suture from outside to inside, then the needle belt line went through the transverse edge of the mesangial avascular zone. At the lower 1/3 incision 0.5-1.0 cm distance from the skin, 7# silk was used to suture from inside to outside, then silk went through the transverse edge of the mesangial avascular zone again and was ligatured. Finally, in the upper and lower ends of the stoma, 7# silk was used to suture and fix transverse seromuscular layer and the skin. The operation time and morbidity of postoperative complications associated with colostomy were compared between two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups(all P>0.05). The operative time of observation group was shorter than that of control group [(3.2±1.3) min vs. (15.5±3.4) min, P<0.05]. Incidences of colostomy skin-mucous separation, dermatitis, stoma rebound were significantly lower in observation group [5.7%(2/35) vs. 34.3%(12/35), P=0.007; 8.6%(3/35) vs. 31.4%(11/35), P=0.036; 0 vs. 17.1%(6/35), P=0.025, respectively], while incidences of parastomal hernia and stoma prolapse in two groups were similar (both P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with traditional transverse colostomy method, the three-stitch preventive transverse colostomy has more operating advantages and can reduce postoperative complications associated with colostomy.