Prognostic factors and significance of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by gastrectomy.

PURPOSE: In Japan, gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy are the standard treatments for locally advanced gastric cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is not affected by postgastrectomy syndromes or postoperative complications. This multicenter retrospective study investigated the prognostic factors and significance of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent NAC followed by gastrectomy. METHODS: Consecutive patients (n = 221) with advanced gastric cancer who underwent NAC followed by curative surgery were enrolled in this study. Prognostic factors including postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A multivariate analysis revealed that pathological lymph node metastasis (ypN) status and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for the overall and relapse-free survival. Forty-five patients (20.4%) did not receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. There were no significant differences between patients with and without adjuvant chemotherapy for all factors, except age. The most common reason for not undergoing postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was a poor condition (n = 23). CONCLUSIONS: ypN status and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors in gastric cancer patients who underwent NAC followed by curative gastrectomy. It is important to maintain the patient's condition during NAC and the perioperative period so that they can receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Portal vein wedge resection and patch venoplasty with autologous vein grafts for hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Advanced hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancer often invades critical blood vessels, including the portal vein (PV) and hepatic artery. Resection with tumor-free resection margins is crucial to achieving a favorable prognosis in these patients. Herein, we present our cases and surgical techniques for PV wedge resection with patch venoplasty using autologous vein grafts during surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PhCC). CASE PRESENTATION: Case 1: 73-year-old female patient with PDAC; underwent subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy, with superior mesenteric vein wedge resection and venoplasty with the right gonadal vein. Case 2: 67-year-old male patient with PDAC; underwent distal pancreatectomy and celiac axis resection, with PV wedge resection and venoplasty with the middle colic vein. Case 3: 51-year-old female patient with type IV PhCC; underwent left hepatectomy with caudate lobectomy and bile duct resection, with hilar PV wedge resection and venoplasty with the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV). Case 4: 69-year-old male patient with type IIIA PhCC; underwent right hepatopancreatoduodenectomy, with hilar PV resection and patch venoplasty with the IMV. All patients survived for over 12 months after the surgery, without local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: PV wedge resection and patch venoplasty is a useful technique for obtaining tumor-free margins in surgeries for hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancer.

Re-appraisal of the universal definition of tumor rupture among patients with high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Aim: Tumor rupture has been indicated as a risk factor for recurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). The universal definition of tumor rupture was proposed. This study evaluated whether the universal definition was more accurate in identification of GISTs with high recurrent risk than subjective judgment. Methods: The study included 507 patients with high-risk GISTs who underwent complete resection between December 2012 and December 2015. We conducted a questionnaire survey in participating institutes to re-diagnose tumor rupture based on the universal definition according to their surgical and pathological findings. We compared the clinical outcomes of tumor rupture based on the definition to those based on the surgeon's judgment and clarified the clinical importance of the rupture. Results: Sixty-four patients were initially registered to have tumor rupture by surgeon's judgment, and it became 90 patients who had tumor rupture after reevaluation. Although there were significant differences in recurrence-free survival (RFS) between no rupture and rupture for both initial registration and reevaluation (p = 0.002, <0.001, respectively), a significant difference in overall survival was only observed after reevaluation (p = 0.011). Tumor rupture was significantly associated with large tumor size, mixed cell type in histology, R1 resection, frequent adjuvant therapy and recurrence, but not with location, mitosis, and genotype. Adjuvant therapy more than 3 years improved RFS of patients with tumor rupture. Conclusion: This study suggested that tumor rupture based on the universal definition more accurately identified GISTs with poor prognostic outcomes than the subjective judgment.

Crohn's disease-related anal fistula cancer diagnosed by examination under anesthesia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: As the number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases, the incidence of IBD-related colorectal cancer (CRC) is also on the rise. Crohn's disease (CD)-related CRC has been reported to have a poorer prognosis than sporadic CRC, and the early detection of CD-related CRC is difficult. Japanese patients with CD are reported to have a higher frequency of anorectal cancer than the Western population; however, methods for early diagnosis have not yet been established because of perianal pain during the examination. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of CD-related anal fistula cancer that was detected early by surveillance examination under anesthesia (EUA). The patient was a 37-year-old man, diagnosed with CD at the age of 15 years and started medical treatment. However, due to poor disease control, the intestinal tract remained highly inflamed and the patient continued to have over 10 bowel movements per day. He was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment after a colonoscopy (CS), which revealed multiple active ulcers and stenoses. Since three perianal seton drainage tubes had been placed around his anus since the age of 33 years, we decided to perform an EUA to rule out cancer coexistence in the anorectal region. After a random biopsy of the rectum by CS under general anesthesia, we resected and curetted multiple perianal fistulas as much as possible and reinserted the seton drainage tubes. Pathological examination of the fistula tract revealed adenocarcinoma in one tract, indicating the coexistence of anal fistula cancer. Based on the diagnosis of multiple intestinal stenoses and anal fistula cancer due to CD, we performed hand-assisted laparoscopic total colectomy, rectal amputation, extensive perineal resection, and reconstruction using a left rectus abdominis flap. CONCLUSION: In a long-term CD patient with anorectal lesions, we performed an EUA to diagnose the coexistence of anal fistula cancer at an early stage, and surgical resection was achieved. EUA is effective for the early detection and treatment of CD-related CRC and may contribute to an improved prognosis.

[A Case Report-A Successful Case of Distal Pancreatectomy with En Bloc Celiac Axis Resection for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer with an Aberrant Right Hepatic Artery].

In cases of pancreatic cancer with anatomical variations of the hepatic artery, it is important to evaluate the hemodynamics of each case for surgical indication. We report the case of a 68-year-old man with locally advanced pancreatic cancer and an aberrant right hepatic artery who underwent distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection(DP-CAR). He was admitted to our institute due to abdominal discomfort. A CT scan showed pancreatic cancer invading the common hepatic artery. He underwent chemoradiotherapy with a diagnosis of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. After the tumor downstaging, we performed DP-CAR, which included a gastroduodenal artery and a proper hepatic artery resection. Even though delayed gastric emptying was observed after the operation, he was discharged on postoperative day 36.

[FOLFIRI plus RAM Therapy in Later Line of Unresectable Colorectal Cancer].

FOLFIRI plus ramucirumab(RAM)therapy has been reported to be effective and safe in the RAISE trial as second-line treatment for unresectable colorectal cancer. It is hypothesized that RAM may be effective in patients with PD treated with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab(Bev)due to different mechanism of action from that of Bev, which is also an angiogenesis inhibitor. From January 2017 to December 2021, we conducted a retrospective study of 6 patients who had PD with 5-FU, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, or Bev as first or second-line treatment at our institution and who received FOLFIRI plus RAM in later line treatment. The 6 cases consisted of 3 patients in the third-line treatment, 1 patient in the fourth-line treatment, and 2 patients in the sixth-line treatment. The anti-tumor effect was PD in all cases in the third-line and fourth-line treatment, but the 2 patients of sixth-line treatment were controlled diseases.

Long-term adjuvant therapy for high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the real world.

PURPOSE: Three years of adjuvant imatinib is the standard therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with high-risk features. The prognostic effects of long-term adjuvant therapy are unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prospective registry study recruited 515 patients with high-risk GISTs between Dec. 2012 and Dec. 2015 were analyzed. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS), and secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS) and safety. The study was designed to compare RFS after 3.5 years of 3-year adjuvant therapy (3.0 ± 0.5 years: 3-year group) with that of more than 3.5 years (median 5.2 years: longer group). RESULTS: Five-year RFS and 5-year OS were 68.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 63.8-72.1) and 92.3% (95% CI 89.5-94.4), respectively. The recurrence rate during adjuvant was estimated to be 2.9/100 person-years (95% CI 2.0-4.1) and those after the end of adjuvant, which appeared similar irrespective of the adjuvant duration or reason to stop adjuvant, were estimated 12.0/100 person-years (95% CI 10.2-14.0). The 5-year RFS rates of 3-year and longer groups were 78.7% (95% CI 70.8-84.7) and 92.7% (95% CI 85.2-96.4), respectively. RFS after 3.5 years of the longer group was significantly better than that of the 3-year group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.56; 95% CI 0.39-0.78; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The recurrence risk of high-risk GISTs after adjuvant therapy is similar irrespective of the adjuvant duration and imatinib adjuvant may not cure but may delay recurrence. RFS after long-term adjuvant therapy appeared better than that after 3-year adjuvant.

Laparoscopic mesh removal for mesh infection related to pararectal incision of previous appendectomy after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: A case report.

A 67-year-old man with a history of appendectomy 40 years ago underwent single-incision laparoscopic surgery for total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair. Postoperatively, the pararectal incisional scar obtained from the appendectomy was infected; thus, antibiotic therapy and drainage were performed. However, the infection persisted. After 5 postoperative months, the mesh was laparoscopically removed at a sufficient distance from the infected site. No enterocutaneous fistula was observed. After 1 year and 10 months, no recurrence of hernia or infection was observed. Thus, laparoscopic mesh removal is feasible. Infection of a 40-year-old incision rarely results in mesh infection. Therefore, in pararectal incision, the extent of mesh coverage should be considered; if the overlap is large, changing the technique by not covering the incision may be necessary.

Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: a Single-Centre Experience of 1469 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Despite having once been extensively used for cosmetics or pain reduction, the use of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has declined in recent years due to technical difficulties and a reported increase in complications. Since the introduction of SILC in 2009, our hospital has been actively involved with this technique. Our experience suggests that SILC is not a difficult procedure and can be safe and useful, with particularly excellent cosmetic outcomes. This study retrospectively details the outcomes of SILC at our hospital. METHOD: Data on 1469 cases of SILC performed on a waitlist basis at Osaka Police Hospital from May 2009 to December 2020 were collected and retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: The median operative time and blood loss were 96 min and 0 mL, respectively. A total of 46 patients (3.1%) required conversion surgery, including 36 needing additional ports and 10 requiring laparotomy. Intraoperative complications included common bile duct injury in 1 patient (0.07%) and right hepatic artery injury in 1 patient (0.07%), with no other organ injury. Postoperative Clavien-Dindo 3 or higher complications were observed in 18 patients (1.2%). Incisional hernias occurred in 15 patients (1.0%). The median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days. CONCLUSION: This study showed that SILC can be performed safely without any increase in complications, as reported previously. Granted that it is performed safely, SILC may be a useful technique due to its superior cosmetic outcomes or pain reduction.

Long-term outcomes of single-incision versus multiport laparoscopic totally extra-peritoneal inguinal hernia repair: a single-institution experience of 186 consecutive cases.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was conducted to compare the long-term outcomes of single-incision totally extraperitoneal (S-TEP) inguinal hernia repair and conventional multiport totally extraperitoneal (M-TEP) inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: The study population included 186 consecutive patients (S-TEP, n = 149; M-TEP, n = 37) who underwent elective surgery for inguinal hernia at Osaka Police Hospital between 2011 and 2013. RESULTS: No significant between-group difference was found in patient or hernia characteristics or in perioperative outcomes, with the exception of age (S-TEP group vs. M-TEP group: median 69 [IQR 60-75] years vs. 64 [55-69] years, respectively; P = 0.019). Furthermore, no significant between-group difference was found in follow-up time (5.5 [3.0-5.8] vs. 5.4 [3.1-5.7] years, P = 0.839), recurrence rate (0.6 vs. 2.4%, P = 0.358), chronic pain (1.2 vs. 0%, P = 1.000), feeling the mesh (2.3 vs. 7.1%, P = 0.142), or movement limitation (0.6 vs. 0%, P = 1.000). All chronic symptoms were "mild but not bothersome." A metachronous contralateral inguinal hernia developed in 8.1% of patients. CONCLUSION: The long-term outcomes of S-TEP repair were comparable to those of M-TEP, with rates of recurrence, chronic pain, feeling the mesh, and movement limitation falling within acceptable limits.

New response evaluation criteria using early morphological change in imatinib treatment for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of molecularly targeted drugs, including imatinib, has greatly improved the prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), and based on the different response image, the methods of response evaluation have been established for GISTs. Furthrmore, the best response evaluation using them has been reported to be associated with progression-free survival (PFS) in imatinib treatment. However, since it is more important to predict the clinical outcomes of imatinib treatment in "early treatment phase", new predicting factor in earlier stage is desired to work out the whole strategy of each patient. Early morphological change (EMC) was previously reported as a predictive marker for molecularly targeted drugs in metastatic colorectal cancer. The purpose of the present study was to verify the efficacy of EMC in predicting the outcome in patients with GIST receiving imatinib at early evaluation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 66 patients. EMC in computed tomography (CT) image was evaluated, and the patients were categorized into two groups: active MR (morphological response) (+) group and active MR (-) group. We investigated the association between the presence of active MR and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-five patients had active MR ( +). The median progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with/without active MR was 49/23 months (P = 0.0039). CONCLUSION: The evaluation criteria based on EMC could be a sensitive method to predict the clinical outcome of imatinib treatment for patients with unresectable GIST.

Long-term outcomes of single-incision versus multiport laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer: results of a propensity score-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic colectomy (SILC) for colon cancer (CC), as practiced in real-world settings, especially in relation to disease stage, have not been established. We examined, retrospectively, both short- and long-term outcomes of SILC versus those of multiport laparoscopic colectomy (MPLC) performed for CC in a propensity-score-matched cohort. METHODS: The study involved 263 patient pairs matched 1:1 from among 691 patients who, between January 2008 and May 2014, underwent either SILC or MPLC for a primary solitary CC at our hospital. Short-term and long-term operative outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Operation time was the only surgical outcome that varied significantly between the two groups (p = 0.0004). Overall 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) in the SILC group was 93.7 (95% CI 89.6-96.2)%, and CSS per pathological stage (I, II and III) was 98.5 (90.0-99.8)%, 96.0 (88.2-98.7)%, and 88.3 (79.6-93.6)%, respectively, whereas overall 5-year CSS in the MPLC group was 93.3 (89.4-95.9)%, and CSS per pathological stage was 100%, 95.4 (88.3-98.3)%, and 84.1 (74.1-90.8)% (p = 0.5278, 0.2679, 0.7666, and 0.9073), respectively. Overall 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) in the SILC group was 94.0 (90.2-96.4)%, and 3-year DFS per pathological stage was 98.6 (90.4-99.8)%, 90.1 (81.4-95.0)%, and 79.0 (69.4-86.2)%, respectively, whereas overall 3-year DFS in the MPLC group was 93.2 (89.4-95.7)%, and 3-year DFS per pathological disease stage was 100%, 94.5 (87.4-97.7)% and 75.5 (64.7-83.8)% (p = 0.2829, 0.7401, 0.4335 and 0.8518), respectively. Thus, oncological outcomes did not differ significantly between groups. Incisional hernia occurred in 21 (8.0%) SILC group patients and 17 (6.5%) MPLC group patients, without a significant between-group difference (p = 0.6139). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that perioperative and oncological outcomes of SILC performed for CC are comparable to those of MPLC performed for CC.

Circulating MicroRNAs in Gastrointestinal Cancer.

Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) is a common disease and is considered to be the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide; thus, new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for GIC are urgently required. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are functional RNAs that are transcribed from the genome but do not encode proteins. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short ncRNAs that are reported to function as both oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Moreover, several miRNA-based drugs are currently proceeding to clinical trials for various diseases, including cancer. In recent years, the stability of circulating miRNAs in blood has been demonstrated. This is of interest because these miRNAs could be potential noninvasive biomarkers of cancer. In this review, we focus on circulating miRNAs associated with GIC and discuss their potential as novel biomarkers.

Risk Factors for Lymph Node Metastasis in Pathological T1b Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The rate of lymph node metastasis (LNM) of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) with a submucosal (SM) invasion depth of 1000 µm or more can reach 12.5%, which is the most common reason for additional resection in daily practice. Other studies have reported that the rate of LNM is less than 2%, regardless of the depth of invasion, if the lesions show good histology, lymphovascular infiltration is negative, and tumor budding is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate new risk factors for LNM in T1b colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 239 patients who were diagnosed with pathological T1b CRC after colorectal surgical resection at the Osaka Police Hospital in Japan between January 2008 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed in this study. RESULTS: The LNM rate was 11.3% (27/239). The variables identified as being significant factors using multivariate analysis were: i) lymphatic invasion (Ly)-positive [odds ratio (OR)=5.97; 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.27-15.74], ii) female gender (OR=3.49; 95%CI=1.38-8.85), and iii) left-sided colorectal involvement (OR=4.98; 95%CI=1.22-20.39). If none of these risk factors were present with T1b, the LNM rate was 0% (0/28). CONCLUSIONS: Ly-positive, female gender, and left-sided colorectal involvement could be risk factors for LNM in T1b CRC.

[Effect of Endoscopic Resection on Prognosis in T1b Colorectal Cancer].

With the advancement of endoscopic resection(ER)of colorectal cancer, surgical resection after ER has been increasing. This study evaluated the effects of initial ER on short- and long-term outcomes in T1b colorectal cancer. This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with pathological T1b colorectal cancer who underwent colorectal surgical resection between 2008 and 2018. A total of 239 eligible patients were divided into 2 groups: patients initially treated using surgical resection with lymph node dissection(LND)(surgery alone, n=142)and patients treated using initial ER and additional surgical resection with LND(surgery after ER, n=97). No significant differences were observed in short-term outcomes(ie, operative time, blood loss, or postoperative complications)or the long-term outcomes(ie, recurrence rate, overall survival rate, or recurrence free survival rate)between groups.

[A Case of Carcinomatous Meningitis from Gastric Cancer with Improvement of QOL by Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt].

In cases where carcinomatous meningitis leads to hydrocephalus and increases intracranial pressure, patients present with exacerbated pain and several neurological symptoms. It is reported that multidisciplinary therapy, including radiation therapy, drug therapy, and surgery, is performed for patients with carcinomatous meningitis; however, it is rarely successful. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting(V-P shunt)is a surgical intervention that might relieve the pain temporarily and improve the quality of life. VPS should be taken into consideration in line with patients' and their families' intentions since the overall survival is fairly short.

Single-incision retroperitoneal laparoscopic repair of superior lumbar hernia using self-fixating ProGrip mesh: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Lumbar hernia is rare and represents less than 1-2% of all abdominal hernias. There are mainly two types of lumbar hernia: superior lumbar hernia and inferior lumbar hernia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old woman was admitted complaining of a mass in her left lumbar area. Under a diagnosis of superior lumbar hernia, single-incision laparoscopic retroperitoneal repair was performed. A single, 2-cm-long incision was made and the retroperitoneal space was dissected gradually. The hernia orifice was recognized and hernia sac was slipped from the hernia orifice. The collateral branch of subcostal nerve and iliohypogastric nerve were recognized. Laparoscopic self-fixating mesh was placed to cover the hernia orifice without mesh fixation. The patient remained well with no signs of recurrence. DISCUSSION: In laparoscopic lumbar hernia repair, it is important to be careful not to damage subcostal nerve and iliohypogastric nerve. Self-fixating mesh without fixation is useful due to the prevention from nerve injury. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of single-incision laparoscopic repair for superior lumbar hernia. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery could provide good cosmetic results with minimal incision. CONCLUSION: We successfully performed single-incision retroperitoneal laparoscopic repair of superior lumbar hernia using self-fixating mesh.

[Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma(NLPHL)Which Originate from the Mesentery-A Series of Two Cases].

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma(NLPHL)is a subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma. It is uncommon in Japan, and only a few cases of NLPHL originating from the mesentery have been reported. Most patients with NLPHL present in the early stage, but some patients have malignancy at initial presentation. We should perform staging laparotomy for the diagnosis and treatment of cases in which a lymph node biopsy is difficult.

[Case Series of the TAS-102 plus Bevacizumab(Bev)Combination Therapy in Unresectable Advanced Colorectal Cancer].

A phase-Ⅱtrial of TAS-102 plus bevacizumab(Bev)combination therapy showed a progression-free survival(PFS)of 3.7-4.6 months. Here, we report 12 cases of unresectable advanced recurrent colorectal cancer treated with TAS-102 plus Bev therapy at our hospital between June 2017 and February 2020. The median PFS was 6 months(2-12). Adverse events greater than Grade 3 were neutropenia(33.3%), febrile neutropenia(8.3%), thrombocytopenia(8.3%), and vomiting (8.3%). The frequency of non-hematotoxicity was low. In conclusion, the TAS-102 plus Bev therapy may be a useful option for the late-line treatment of unresectable advanced recurrent colorectal cancer.

[Launching Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery for Rectal Cancer in Our Hospital-Short-Term Results].

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery(RALS)for rectal cancer has been covered by National Health Insurance in Japan since April 2018. We launched RALS in our hospital in October 2019 and now report the short-term results(up to January 2020). Altogether, 15 consecutive patients(12 men, 3 women: median age 70 years)with rectal cancer underwent RALS during that period. For the first 2 cases, we performed RALS under the instruction of an experienced proctor from another institution. Among the 15 patients, 6 underwent high anterior resection and 9 low anterior resection. Median operating time was 358 min, median intraoperative blood loss was 0 mL, and there were no apparent intraoperative complications. Median postoperative length of hospital stay was 13 days, and only 1 patient developed a high-grade complication(Clavien-Dindo Grade Ⅲb)postoperatively. Hence, RALS for rectal cancer was launched successfully in our institution.