Assessment of tumour response to chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: accuracy of the RECIST criteria.

Evaluation of tumour size modifications in response to treatment is a critical issue in the management of advanced malignancies. In 1981, the World Health Organization (WHO) established guidelines for tumour response assessment. These WHO1981 criteria were recently simplified in a revised version, named RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours), which uses unidimensional instead of bidimensional measurements, a reduced number of measured lesions, withdrawal of the progression criteria based on isolated increase of a single lesion, and different shrinkage threshold for definitions of tumour response and progression. In order to validate these new guidelines, we have compared results obtained with both classifications in a prospective series of 91 patients receiving chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Data from iterative tomographic measurements were fully recorded and reviewed by an expert panel. The overall response and progression rates according to the WHO1981 criteria were 19% and 58%, respectively. Using RECIST criteria, 16 patients were reclassified in a more favourable subgroup, the overall response rate being 28% and the progression rate 45% (non-weighted kappa concordance test 0.72). When isolated increase of a single measurable lesion is not taken into account for progression with the WHO1981 criteria, only 7 patients were reclassified and the kappa test was satisfying, i.e. > or =0.75, for the whole population as well as for each of the responding and progressive subgroups. Since it provides concordant results with a simplified method, the use of RECIST criteria is recommended for evaluation of treatment efficacy in clinical trials and routine practice.

Biopsies of the ampullary region in patients suspected to have sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Tumors of the ampulla of Vater that develop within the ampulla can go unrecognized during endoscopic examination. Patients with intra-ampullary tumors may present with a clinical picture very similar to that of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. We wished to determine what percentage of patients initially diagnosed with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction are later found to have an intra-ampullary neoplasm. Sixty-nine consecutive patients were considered to have sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and subsequently were treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy. No gallstones were found in the gallbladder or bile duct. Patients returned for biopsies of the ampulla at least 10 days after the endoscopic sphincterotomy. Three patients (4.3%) were found to have ampullary adenocarcinoma. Thirty-six had normal results of biopsy analysis and 30 had inflammatory or fibrotic changes on biopsy specimens. No objective criteria (clinical, biologic, endoscopic, or radiographic) that would help to distinguish between an ampullary tumor and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction were identified. Biopsies of the ampulla should be performed in all patients suspected of having sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and treated by endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Endoscopic stenting for pain relief in chronic pancreatitis: results of a standardized protocol.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic endoscopic stenting aims to relieve abdominal pain due to chronic pancreatitis. Optimal treatment modalities and post-treatment effects have still to be determined. The object of this study was to investigate the results of a standardized protocol of endoscopic stenting. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with abdominal pain due to chronic pancreatitis and stricture of the distal main pancreatic duct were treated according to the following protocol: after balloon dilation of the stenosis, a 10F stent was placed into the main pancreatic duct and then exchanged every 2 months, the total duration of drainage being 6 months. RESULTS: Use of analgesics could be discontinued in 17 patients (74%) on termination of drainage, and in 12 patients (52%) 1 year later. These results were significantly associated with reduction of main pancreatic duct diameter and resolution of stricture, but were not influenced by abstinence from alcohol and pancreatic enzyme supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic duct stenting results in short-term clinical improvement in patients with chronic pancreatitis and proximal main pancreatic duct stricture. Persistence of advantageous clinical results is to be expected in 50% of cases and when strictures have resolved.