Impact of Tumor Subclassifications for Identifying an Appropriate Surgical Strategy in Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is subclassified into small and large duct types. The impact of these subclassifications for identifying appropriate surgical strategies remains unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 118 patients with ICC who underwent liver resection. Based on the pathological examination results, the participants were divided into the small duct-type ICC group (n = 64) and large duct-type ICC group (n = 54). The clinicopathological features and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups to investigate the impact of subclassification for selecting appropriate surgical strategies. RESULTS: Ten patients in the small duct-type ICC group had synchronous or metachronous hepatocellular carcinoma. The large duct-type ICC group had higher proportions of patients who underwent major hepatectomy, extrahepatic bile duct resection, portal vein resection, and lymph node sampling or dissection than the small duct-type ICC group. The large duct-type ICC group had significantly higher incidences of lymph node metastasis/recurrence and pathological major vessel invasion than the other. The small duct-type ICC group exhibited significantly higher recurrence-free and overall survival rates than the large duct-type ICC group. Further, the large duct-type ICC group had a significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastasis/recurrence than the small duct-type ICC at the perihilar region group. CONCLUSIONS: Suitable surgical strategies may differ between the small and large duct-type ICCs. In patients with large duct-type ICCs, hepatectomy with lymph node dissection and/or biliary reconstruction should be considered, whereas hepatectomy without these advanced procedures can be suggested for patients with small duct-type ICCs.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy with celiac artery resection (PD-CAR) for unresctable locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (LA-PDAC) involving the celiac artery (CeA), the common hepatic artery and the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) is considered unresectable. We developed the novel procedure of pancreaticoduodenectomy with celiac artery resection (PD-CAR) for such LA-PDACs. METHODS: From 2015 to 2018, we performed curative pancreatectomy with major arterial resection for 13 LA-PDACs as a clinical study (UMIN000029501). Of those, four patients with pancreatic neck cancer involving the CeA and GDA were candidates for PD-CAR. Prior to surgery, blood flow alterations were performed to unify the blood flow to the liver, stomach, and pancreas, resulting in feeding from the cancer-free artery. During PD-CAR, arterial reconstruction of the unified artery was performed as needed. Based on the records of PD-CAR cases, we retrospectively analyzed the validity of the operation. RESULTS: R0 resection was achieved in all patients. Arterial reconstruction was performed in three patients. In another patient, the hepatic arterial flow was maintained by preserving of the left gastric artery. The mean operative time was 669 min, and the mean blood loss was 1003 ml. Although Clavien-Dindo classification III-IV postoperative morbidities occurred in three patients, no reoperations nor mortalities occurred. Although two patients died of cancer recurrence, one patient survived for 26 months without recurrence (died of cerebral infarction), and another is alive at 76 months without recurrence. CONCLUSION: PD-CAR, which enabled R0 resection and preservation of the residual stomach, pancreas, and spleen, provided acceptable postoperative outcomes.

Efficacy and safety of tazobactam/ceftolozane in combination with metronidazole for intraabdominal infection in a hepato-biliary-pancreatic field in clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: This single-center study evaluated the efficacy and safety of tazobactam/ceftolozane (TAZ/CTLZ) in combination with metronidazole for intraabdominal infection in a hepato-biliary-pancreatic field in clinical practice. METHODS: This study included 50 patients, including 35 with intraabdominal abscess or peritonitis, 5 with liver abscess, 4 with cholecystitis, and 6 with cholangitis with sepsis. Of the 50 patients, 29 received TAZ/CTLZ and metronidazole after a prior antibacterial therapy failure, including tazobactam/piperacillin, cefmetazole, and levofloxacin. Source control was performed in 36 patients. RESULTS: The clinical response could be evaluated in 49 patients. The clinical cure rate at end-of-therapy was 91.8% (45 of 49 patients) and that at test-of-cure was 89.6% (43 of 48 patients). Of 5 patients in whom clinical response at test-of-cure was a failure, 1 developed infectious disease during chemoradiotherapy for recurrent cancer and 4 after liver resection or pancreatoduodenectomy. Three of the 4 patients were associated with pancreatic juice leakage. Isolated pathogens were eradicated or presumably eradicated in 27 of 31 (87.1%) patients in whom microbiological response at test-of-cure could be evaluated. The response rate for AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae was 87.5%. Nausea was observed in two patients. Aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities were increased in 3 of the 50 (6.0%) patients. The activities improved after the antibiotic discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: This observational study demonstrated that TAZ/CTLZ in combination with metronidazole has a favorable effect without major drug-related adverse events for intraabdominal infection in the hepato-biliary-pancreatic field in clinical practice although the efficacy of TAZ/CTLZ may decrease in compromised patients.

Laparoscopic liver resection reduces postoperative infection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed to compare the occurrence of postoperative infections between patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and those undergoing open liver resection (OLR). METHODS: This study included 446 patients who underwent initial curative liver resection for HCC 5 cm or less in size without macroscopic vascular invasion. To adjust for confounding factors between the LLR and OLR groups, propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting (IPW) analysis were performed. The incidence rates of postoperative infection, including incisional surgical site infection (SSI), organ/space SSI, and remote infection (RI), were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: An imbalance in several confounding variables, including period of surgery, extent of liver resection, difficult location, proximity to a major vessel, tumor size ≥ 3 cm, and multiple tumors, was observed between the two groups in the original cohort. After matching and weighting, the imbalance between the two groups significantly decreased. Compared with OLR, LLR was associated with a lower volume of intraoperative blood loss (140 vs. 350 mL, P < 0.001 in the matched cohort; 120 vs. 320 mL, P < 0.001 in the weighted cohort) and reduced risk of postoperative infection (2.0% vs. 12%, P = 0.015 in the matched cohort; 2.9% vs. 14%, P = 0.005 in the weighted cohort). Of the types of postoperative infections, organ/space SSI and RI were less frequently observed in the LLR group than in the OLR group in the matched cohort (1.0% vs. 6.0%, P = 0.091 for organ/space SSI; 0% vs. 6.0%, P < 0.001 for RI) and in the weighted cohort (1.2% vs. 7.8%, P < 0.001 for organ/space SSI; 0.3% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.009 for RI). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with OLR, LLR for HCC might reduce postoperative infections, including organ/space SSI and RI.

Prognostic Factors and Lymph Node Metastasis Patterns of Primary Duodenal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness and extent of regional lymph node dissection in primary duodenal cancer (DC) remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the prognostic factors and lymph node metastasis (LNM) patterns in DC. METHODS: Fifty-three patients who underwent surgical resection for DC between January 1998 and December 2018 at two institutions were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the prognostic factors of resected DC. Moreover, the relationships between depth of tumor invasion and incidence of LNM and between tumor location and LNM stations were analyzed. RESULTS: The five-year survival rate of the study population was 68.9%. Multivariate survival analysis demonstrated that histologic grade G2-G4, presence of LNM, pT3-4, and elevated preoperative CA19-9 were the independent poor prognostic factors. No patient with pTis-T2 had LNM. On the other hand, LNM was found in 70% of patients with pT3-4. Among 36 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), LNM around the pancreatic head was observed, regardless of the duodenal cancer site, including the duodenal bulb and the third to the fourth portion. CONCLUSIONS: Histologic grade G2-G4, presence of LNM, pT3-T4, and elevated preoperative CA19-9 were the independent poor prognostic factors in patients with resected DC. Our results suggested that lymph node dissection could be omitted for DC Tis-T1a. Moreover, based on the high frequency of LNM in T3-4 cases, PD with lymph node dissection in the pancreatic head region was considered necessary for T3-4 DC at any site.

Postoperative direct-acting antiviral treatment after liver resection in patients with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: We investigated effects of direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-induced sustained virological response (SVR) after liver resection in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for postoperative recurrence and survival. METHODS: Surgical outcomes in 18 patients with postoperative DAA-induced SVR (HCC-DAA group) were compared with those in 23 patients with preoperative DAA-induced SVR (DAA-HCC group) and those in 10 patients who did not receive DAA therapy (control group). Patients who received DAA therapy >1 year after surgery and those with recurrence <1 year after surgery were excluded. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of aminotransferases improved 1 year after surgery in both the HCC-DAA and DAA-HCC groups. The number of HCC-DAA patients with albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 1 increased from 11 to 15. The disease-free survival rate did not differ between HCC-DAA group (3 years, 60%) and the other two groups (DAA-HCC group, 92% and control group, 60%). The 3-year overall survival rates were better in the DAA-HCC group (84%) and HCC-DAA group (100%) than in the control group (46%; all ps < 0.05 according to Holm's test). Multivariable analysis revealed that tumor stage was an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence, and ALBI grade at 1 year after surgery was predictive of postoperative survival, but DAA-induced SVR was neither. CONCLUSIONS: Although postoperative DAA-induced SVR itself may not suppress postoperative recurrence, improvement in liver function as a result of DAA administration after surgery may prolong postoperative survival.

Impact of Advancing Age on the Status and Risk of Postoperative Infections After Liver Resection.

BACKGROUND: Despite the recently increasing number of elderly patients undergoing liver resection, the impact of advancing age on postoperative infections (PIs) incidence and risk remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of advancing age on PIs incidence and status. METHODS: This retrospective study included 744 patients undergoing liver resection without biliary reconstruction or combined resection of other organs. Multivariable analysis with a restricted cubic spline was used to evaluate the impact of advancing age on PIs and to determine its association with PIs risk in patients undergoing open and laparoscopic liver resection (OLR and LLR, respectively). RESULTS: Multivariable analysis demonstrated that advancing age was significantly associated with increased PIs risk (P = 0.017). The spline curve showed that the odds ratio for PIs sharply increased starting approximately at 65 years of age. Unadjusted restricted cubic splines assessing the subcategories of PIs demonstrated that advancing age was associated with increased risks of organ/space surgical site infection and sepsis (P = 0,064 and 0.048, respectively). Multivariable analysis revealed that LLR was associated with the lower PIs risk compared with OLR (P = 0.025), whereas the lower PIs risk with LLR was not significantly obscured by advancing age (P = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Advancing age was associated with increased risk of PIs, including organ/space surgical site infections and sepsis, after liver resection especially in patients aged ≥ 65 years.

[Pancreatic Cancer with Hemobilia after Biliary Self-Expandable Metallic Stent Placement during Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy-A Case Report].

A 67-year-old woman was diagnosed with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer and obstructive jaundice. A covered self-expandable metallic stent(SEMS)was placed endoscopically. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus nabpaclitaxel was provided. Forty-seven days after the SEMS placement, she presented with hematemesis. Computed tomography revealed migration of SEMS into the small bowel. No pseudoaneurysms were detected. Upper digestive endoscopy demonstrated hemobilia without obvious causes of bleeding in the stomach or duodenum. As hemorrhage recurrence was confirmed in the bile duct, we performed pancreaticoduodenectomy. Thus, bile duct hemorrhage can occur in patients with pancreatic cancer after SEMS placement.

[A Case of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Successfully Treated with Liver Resection after Administration of Sorafenib].

CASE: A 76-year-old man was referred to our hospital for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with chronic hepatitis type B. Although he underwent right anterior sectionectomy and S3 segmentectomy, multiple recurrences were found in the hepatic remnant after 2 months. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)and transcatheter arterial infusion (TAI)were performed separately. One and a half month after the last TAI, AFP and PIVKA-Ⅱ levels markedly elevated, and multiple early enhancing nodules with portal vein tumor thrombosis were detected on CT. A half dose of sorafenib(400mg/ day)was administered to the patient who was refractory to TACE. Sorafenib was discontinued after 4 weeks because the patient developed general fatigue and anorexia(Grade 3). Furthermore, these adverse events became worse, and ascites appeared. He was hospitalized in the palliative care unit for best supportive care for 3 weeks and also received outpatient treatment for more than 14 months. Fifteen months after discontinuing sorafenib administration, his condition improved dramatically, and CT revealed that the multiple HCC had reduced in size. Moreover, the portal vein tumor thrombosis disappeared. As his performance status and liver function were well preserved, he underwent partial hepatectomy for residual HCC. The patient remains alive without recurrence at 18 months, despite no administration of sorafenib. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that sorafenib administration combined with surgical treatment could possibly cure advanced HCC refractory to TACE.

[A Case of Metachronous Liver Metastasis of Gallbladder Cancer Controlled by Liver Resection].

The patient was an 81-year-old woman. She had undergone extended cholecystectomy with lymph node dissection for primary gallbladder cancer. The pathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma(pT2, N0, M0, pStage Ⅱ). Eleven months after the initial surgery, dynamic CT revealed a solitary low-enhanced tumor in S5 ofthe liver. As the tumor was detected with abnormal FDG uptake by PET-CT, we diagnosed the patient with a metastatic liver tumor from gallbladder cancer. Although chemotherapy was considered, conservative treatment was selected as the patient did not want to undergo chemotherapy. Therefore, laparoscopic partial liver resection was performed 15 months after the initial surgery with the consideration that no other distant metastasis was found, and tumor markers were within normal ranges. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 13 days after liver resection without any morbidities. The resected tumor was pathologically diagnosed as a metastatic liver tumor from gallbladder cancer. She has achieved 18 months recurrence free survival after the liver resection without adjuvant chemotherapy. Although liver resection for a metastatic liver tumor from gallbladder cancer is not a standardized treatment, it may be a therapeutic option in cases of limited metastasis.

[A Resected Case for Needle-Tract Implantation after Radiofrequency Ablation to the Hepatocellular Carcinoma].

A 82-year-old female had received radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in segment 2 30 months before surgery. One month before surgery, enhanced CT showed enhanced lesion about 20 mm in diameter in the abdominal wall along the needle-tract. There was no other recurrent lesion including liver. We diagnosed the lesion as needle-tract implantation and she underwent surgical resection of the abdominal rectus muscle and sheath including needle-tract. The pathological findings revealed well differentiated HCC. After the surgery, she underwent transcatheter arterial embolization for the recurrent HCC in segment 3 and segment 4. Twenty one months after the surgery, she has been alive without recurrence. Our case demonstrated that surgical resection of the needle-tract implantation of the HCC is one of the useful therapeutic options for the selected patients.

[A Case Report with R0 Resection for Locally Advanced Appendiceal Cancer Invading to the Right External Iliac Vessels].

A 46-year-old man presented with right lower quadrant pain. Enhanced CT revealed a 30 mm sized irregular shaped mass originating from the appendix and invading the abdominal wall. We performed the laparoscopic appendectomy. Finally, the pathologic finding revealed a local advanced appendiceal carcinoma. From the intraoperative findings, the residual tumor was existed around the right external iliac vessels and abdominal wall. The patient was treated with chemotherapy for 13 months. Although the residual tumor encased the right external iliac vessels, the abdominal wall, and psoas major muscle, there were no signs of distant metastasis. We performed ileocecal resection with D3 lymph node dissection. The right external iliac vessels, abdominal wall, and psoas major muscle were resected simultaneously, and reconstructed by femoral- femoral bypass. As a result, R0 resection was achieved pathologically.

[Successful Conversion Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer with Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule-A Case Report].

A 66-year-old female with upper abdominal pain was diagnosed the pancreatic tail cancer infiltrating into the stomach and transverse colon by computed tomography(CT). Umbilical metastasis(so called Sister Mary Joseph's nodule)and peritoneal metastases in pouch of Douglas were detected by FDG-PET. The patient was diagnosed as unresectable pancreatic cancer with distant metastases. Thus, she received FOLFIRINOX therapy. After 9 courses of FOLFIRINOX therapy and 15 courses of FOLFIRI therapy, the pancreatic tumor shrunk on CT. In addition, umbilical metastasis and peritoneal metastases disappeared on FDG-PET. Therefore, conversion surgery was scheduled. Fourteen months after the initial treatment, we performed distal pancreatectomy with left adrenalectomy partial gastrectomy, transverse colectomy, and umbilical resection. The patient was discharged 15 days after the operation without serious complications. Histopathological findings revealed the presence of adenocarcinoma infiltrating into the preperitoneal adipose tissue in the umbilicus. Histological therapeutic effect was Grade Ⅰb according to the 7th Edition of the General Rules for the Study of Pancreatic Cancer. Seven months after the operation, local recurrence was showed. The patient is still alive 2 years and 5 months since the initial treatment.

[Undifferentiated Carcinoma of the Gallbladder with Rapid Postoperative Progression-A Case Report].

A 74-year-old woman presented with epigastric pain. Imaging revealed a tumor measuring 80 mm, with internal necrosis, originating from the gallbladder and invading the liver. We performed extended anterior segmentectomy of the liver and lymph node resection following a preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as an undifferentiated carcinoma of the gallbladder. Although curative resection was performed, the patient developed recurrence with liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination after 6 postoperative weeks and died after 10 postoperative weeks.

The Clinical Indications for Limited Surgery of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas.

BACKGROUND: There are many reports about limited surgery for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas. However, there is no consensus on limited surgery for IPMNs. The primary objective of this study was to define the clinical indications for limited surgery for IPMNs. METHODS: The data of 98 patients who underwent curative resections for IPMN were retrospectively analyzed. IPMNs were classified into four different pathological grades: low-grade dysplasia (LGD), intermediate-grade dysplasia (IGD), high-grade dysplasia (HGD), and invasive carcinoma (Inv-IPMN). Inv-IPMNs were divided into T1a, T1b, and T1c or over T1c (≥T1c). Based on preoperative radiological findings, IPMNs were stratified into the three groups using the 2012 International Consensus Guidelines: worrisome features, high-risk stigmata (HRS), and others. RESULTS: There were no positive lymph node cases and no recurrent cases of LGDs, IGDs, and HGDs. On the other hand, positive lymph node cases in T1a, T1b, and ≥T1c were seen in 37.5, 20, and 22.2% of cases, respectively. The recurrence rates of T1a, T1b, and ≥T1c were 50, 40, and 55.6%, respectively. Of the HRS cases, 30 (73.2%) were malignant and 25 (61%) were Inv-IPMN. HRS showed sensitivity of 92.6%, specificity of 77.5%, and accuracy of 81.6% to identify Inv-IPMN by preoperative imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Limited surgery such as parenchyma-sparing pancreatectomy should be avoided for all cases of Inv-IPMNs, because every Inv-IPMN including T1a has the potential for lymph node metastasis and recurrence. HRS had high preoperative diagnostic ability for predicting Inv-IPMN. For cases that meet HRS criteria, pancreatectomy with lymphadenectomy is needed, and limited surgery should be withheld.

Preoperative predictors for early recurrence of resectable pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: The first-line treatment for resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) is surgical resection. However, our patients have often experienced early recurrence after curative resection for RPC, with desperately poor prognosis. Some reports indicated that minimally distant metastasis not detected at operation might cause early recurrence. The present study aimed to identify preoperative clinicopathological features of early recurrence after curative resection of RPC. METHODS: Ninety RPC patients who underwent curative resection between 2000 and 2014 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 90 patients, 32 had recurrence within 1 year. Univariate analysis demonstrated that preoperative serum carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9) ≥529 U/mL (P = 0.0011), preoperative serum s-pancreas-1 antigen (SPan-1) ≥37 U/mL (P = 0.0038), and histological grades G2-G4 (P = 0.0158) were significantly associated with recurrence within 1 year after curative resection. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that preoperative serum CA19-9 ≥ 529 U/mL (P = 0.0477) and histological grade G2-G4 (P = 0.0129) were independent predictors of recurrence within 1 year. Recurrent cases within 1 year postoperatively had significantly more distant metastasis than cases with no recurrence within 1 year (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum CA19-9 ≥ 529 U/mL and histological grades G2-G4 were independent predictive factors for recurrence within 1 year after pancreatectomy for RPC. Furthermore, recurrent cases within 1 year had more frequent distant metastasis than cases with no recurrence within 1 year. These results suggest that RPC patients with preoperative serum CA19-9 ≥ 529 U/mL should receive preoperative therapy rather than surgery.

Establishment and characterization of new cell lines of anaplastic pancreatic cancer, which is a rare malignancy: OCUP-A1 and OCUP-A2.

BACKGROUND: Anaplastic pancreatic cancer (APC) cell lines have been scarcely established. METHODS: The morphology, gene expressions, karyotyping and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers of newly established APC cell lines OCUP-A1 and OCUP-A2 were analyzed. Their abilities of proliferation under normoxia and hypoxia, migration and invasion were compared to 4 commercially available pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) cell lines. Their induction of angiogenesis, stem-like cell population and subcutaneous tumor growth in nude mice were estimated, comparing 2 PDA cell lines examined here. RESULTS: OCUP-A1 and OCUP-A2 cells continuously grew with spindle and polygonal shapes, respectively. Gene analysis revealed 9 gene mutations including KRAS and TP53. Karyotyping clarified numerical structural abnormalities in both cells. Loss of E-cadherin and expression of vimentin in both cell lines were observed. The doubling time of both cell lines was approximately 20 h. Proliferation, migration and invasion abilities were not notable compared to other PDA cell lines. However stem-like cell population of both cell lines was superior to a part of PDA cell lines. Moreover OCUP-A1 showed stronger hypoxia tolerance and induction of angiogenesis than other PDA cell lines. The tumorigenicity in vivo of OCUP-A2 was stronger than conventional PDA cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: The OCUP-A1 and OCUP-A2 cell lines of rare malignancies might be useful for investigating the biology of pancreatic cancer.

Clinical and pathological features of five-year survivors after pancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Clinical factors determining short-term survival after pancreatectomy have been well studied, but factors predicting long-term survival with curative resection are poorly understood in pancreatic carcinoma. Our objective was to identify clinical and pathological features of five-year disease-free survivors after surgical resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS: The clinical and pathological data from 147 patients who underwent a potentially curative resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma at our institution between 1988 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of 147 patients, 18 survived for more than five years after surgery without disease recurrence. A univariate analyses demonstrated that: two or fewer lymph node metastases (P=0.014), a preoperative serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) level of 40 U/mL or less (P=0.0018), an absence of intrapancreatic nerve invasion (P=0.028), and undergoing an R0 resection (P=0.011) were significantly associated with five-year survival. A logistic regression model identified the following independent cancer-related predictors of five-year survivors: having two or fewer lymph node metastases (odds ratio (OR): 6.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08 to 112.98; P=0.0385), a preoperative serum CA19-9 level of 40 U/mL or less (OR: 5.02; 95% CI: 1.68 to 16.48; P=0.0036), and undergoing an R0 resection (OR: 3.63; 95% CI: 1.12 to 14.28; P=0.0316). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that number of lymph node metastases being two or less, a preoperative serum CA19-9 level of 40 U/mL or less, and undergoing an R0 resection may be independent predictive factors to identify actual five-year survivors after pancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Impact of frailty on long-term outcomes after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: sFrailty affects short-term outcomes after liver resection in elderly patients. However, frailty's effects on long-term outcomes after liver resection in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are unknown. METHODS: This prospective, single-center study included 81 independently living patients aged ≥65 years scheduled to undergo liver resection for initial HCC. Frailty was evaluated according to the Kihon Checklist, a phenotypic frailty index." We investigated and compared postoperative long-term outcomes after liver resection between patients with and without frailty. RESULTS: Of the 81 patients, 25 (30.9%) were frail. The proportion of patients with cirrhosis, high serum alpha-fetoprotein level (≥200 ng/mL), and poorly differentiated HCC was higher in the frail group than in the nonfrail group (n = 56). Among the patients with postoperative recurrence, the incidence of extrahepatic recurrence was higher in the frail group than in the nonfrail group (30.8% vs. 3.6%, P = 0.028). Moreover, the proportion of patients who underwent repeat liver resection and ablation for recurrence who met the Milan criteria tended to be lower in the frail group than in the nonfrail group. Although there was no difference in disease-free survival between the two groups, the overall survival rate in the frail group was significantly worse than that in the nonfrail group (5-year overall survival: 42.7% vs. 77.2%, P = 0.005). Results of the multivariate analysis indicated that frailty and blood loss were independent prognostic factors for postoperative survival. CONCLUSION: Frailty is associated with unfavorable long-term outcomes after liver resection in elderly patients with HCC.

Significance of Prediction Models for Post-Hepatectomy Liver Failure Based on Type IV Collagen 7s Domain in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Previous studies have attempted to establish predictive models for post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing liver resection. However, a versatile and useful predictive model for PHLF remains to be developed. Therefore, we aimed to develop predictive models for PHLF based on type IV collagen 7s domain (7s collagen) in patients with HCC. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 972 patients with HCC who had undergone initial curative liver resection between February 2000 and December 2020 at our hospital. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using a restricted cubic spline was performed to evaluate the effect of 7s collagen on the incidence of PHLF. A nomogram was developed based on 7s collagen. Results: PHLF grades B or C were identified in 104 patients (11%): 98 (10%) and 6 (1%) PHLF grades B and C, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the preoperative serum level of 7s collagen was significantly associated with a proportional increase in the risk of PHLF, which was confirmed in both laparoscopic and open liver resections. A nomogram was developed based on 7s collagen, with a concordance index of 0.768. The inclusion of 7s collagen values in the predictive model increased the predictive accuracy. Conclusion: The findings highlight the efficacy of the serum level of 7s collagen as a predictive factor for PHLF. Our novel nomogram using 7s collagen may be useful for predicting the risk of PHLF.