Complete response and long­term survival after stereotactic body radiotherapy in a patient with liver metastasis from α­fetoprotein­producing gastric cancer: A case report.

α-Fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric carcinoma (GC) (AFPGC) is a special subtype of GC that is clinically characterized by a high incidence of liver metastasis and poor prognosis. The present study reported the case of a patient with AFPGC who showed complete response (CR) after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for liver metastasis. A 76-year-old male patient underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for GC. The excised tumor was diagnosed as AFPGC due to the patient's high serum AFP level (3,763 ng/ml) and AFP expression on immunohistochemistry. The patient was diagnosed with liver metastasis two months after the surgery. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography indicated that the metastasis was a single recurrent focus. Although the patient underwent seven cycles of chemotherapy with S-1-based regimens, the metastatic tumor showed only a minor response despite the decrease in serum AFP levels. To realize high-quality disease control, SBRT was performed on the liver tumor (total dose of 48 Gy in four fractions). The metastasis showed a significant response two weeks after the completion of SBRT and CR two years later. CR was sustained and the patient survived with no evidence of recurrence 62 months after the diagnosis of liver metastasis. Literature data on the efficacy of radiotherapy for liver metastasis from AFPGC remain scarce. The present case report suggests that SBRT has high efficacy for oligometastatic diseases and may be included as an indication for the treatment of liver metastasis from AFPGC.

Identifying Risk Factors of Complications following Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: Comparison between Splenectomy and Spleen-Preserving Surgery - A Supplementary Analysis of JCOG0110.

INTRODUCTION: Splenectomy for proximal gastric cancer was found to offer no survival benefit in a randomized trial clarifying the role of splenectomy (JCOG0110 study). Although many studies have explored risk factors for morbidities following total gastrectomy, none have assessed the risk factors for postoperative complications in spleen-preserving total gastrectomy. METHODS: Using data from 505 patients enrolled in a previous randomized trial, risk factors for postoperative complications were identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Then, the risk factors were assessed separately between splenectomy and spleen-preserving total gastrectomy. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were identified in 119 patients (23.6%) and were more common following splenectomy than following spleen-preserving surgery (30.7% and 16.1%, respectively, p < 0.01). Multivariable analysis revealed that age ≥65 years (p = 0.032), body mass index ≥25 (p = 0.003), and blood loss ≥350 (p = 0.019) were independent risk factors for postoperative complications in the entire cohort. Among them, only body mass index was a significant independent risk factor for complications in both spleen preservation (p = 0.047) and splenectomy groups (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Risk factors for postoperative complications were essentially the same between splenectomy and spleen preservation. Being overweight increased the risk of postoperative complications.

[Intestinal Occlusion Clip Device].

In laparoscopic sigmoidectomy and rectal resection, intestinal tract irrigation is performed after temporary intestinal occlusion to prevent the dissemination of cancer cells in the intestine and to ensure a clean anastomosis. At this time, a temporary intestinal occlusion clip is used, but it may be difficult to place it at a predetermined position. Therefore, we made a small hole at the tip of the clip, made a loop with a thread that passed through it, grasped it, and manipulated the clip, such that it was relatively easy to place the clip in the proper position.

Portal vein infusion chemotherapy with gemcitabine after surgery for pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSES: Pancreatic cancer still has a poor prognosis even after curative resection because of the high incidence of postoperative liver metastasis. This study prospectively evaluated the feasibility and tolerability of portal vein infusion chemotherapy of gemcitabine (PVIG) as an adjuvant setting after pancreatic resection. METHODS: Thirteen patients enrolled in this study received postoperative chemotherapy with PVIG. The patients received intermittent administration of gemcitabine (800 mg/m(2)) via the portal vein on days 1, 8, and 15 after surgery. The tolerability and the toxicity of PVIG were closely monitored. RESULTS: The PVIG was started on an average of 3.1 days after surgery. Complete doses of chemotherapy (three sessions of portal infusion) were accomplished in 11 of the 13 patients. Grade 3 or 4 leukocytopenia was observed in three patients (23 %), and liver dysfunction was found in one patient (7.7 %). Grade 2 sepsis developed in two cases due to bloodstream infection. Liver metastasis was the first site of recurrence in only two patients. CONCLUSIONS: PVIG can be administered to the liver with acceptable toxicity, but myelosuppression is similar to the systemic use of gemcitabine. Careful observation is required even for locoregional chemotherapy.

Liver perfusion chemotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil followed by systemic gemcitabine administration for resected pancreatic cancer: preliminary results of a prospective phase 2 study.

OBJECTIVES: Liver perfusion chemotherapy (LPC) for pancreatic cancer has been rarely undertaken in a postoperative adjuvant setting. We evaluated the feasibility and antitumor efficacy of LPC with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) followed by gemcitabine treatment. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 27 patients who underwent pancreatic resection and subsequent LPC + gemcitabine treatment during a 3-year period. The liver was infused with 5-FU (125 mg/body per day per route) via both routes of hepatic artery and portal vein for more than 21 days. After that, gemcitabine (1000 mg/m) was administered biweekly. RESULTS: Portal vein thrombosis developed in 1 patient, but 89% patients tolerated LPC for more than 21 days with no life-threatening complication. Systemic administration of gemcitabine was accomplished in 93%; however, 1 patient died of serious capillary leak syndrome. No grade 4 toxicity was recorded, except for that patient. Median survival time and disease-free survival were 27.5 and 24.5 months, respectively. Hepatic relapse was observed in 25.9% (n = 7). Survival was in favor of paraaortic node-negative cases (n = 20) with a 2-year survival of 68.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Liver perfusion chemotherapy was feasible with acceptable toxicity. Systemic use of gemcitabine also seems to be safe for the most part. This adjuvant chemotherapy shows promising survival benefit and seems to be indicative to paraaortic node-negative tumors.

Celiac axis stenosis in pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Celiac axis (CA) stenosis is a fairly common condition in candidates for upper abdominal surgery. In this report, we have documented 5 patients with CA stenosis or occlusion who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, and we have discussed the surgical strategy for this condition. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 126 patients who had undergone resection of the pancreatic head during the past 10 years, and a search was made for obstructive lesions of the CA. RESULTS: Among these 126 patients, there were 5 cases (4%) of CA stenosis or occlusion. Three of them were interpreted as typical CA compression syndrome, based on arteriographic or operative findings, and an excision of the median arcuate ligament dramatically improved the blood flow of the celiac branches after division of the main collaterals. The remaining 2 patients, with organized occlusion of the CA, successfully underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy through preservation of the collateral pathway between the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac branch. In one of these 2 patients, the main collateral pathway, which ran across immediately behind the pancreatic head, was skeletonized and preserved. All 5 patients had uneventful postoperative courses. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, in pancreaticoduodenectomy for patients with organized CA occlusion, precise assessment of the vascular anatomy and preservation of the main collateral pathway are essential for carrying out a successful operation. Celiac axis (CA) stenosis is a fairly common condition in candidates for upper abdominal surgery. In this report, we have documented 5 patients with CA stenosis or occlusion who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, and we have discussed the surgical strategy for this condition.

Remote development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis type B serologically cured for HBs antigenemia with long-standing normalization of ALT values.

In this report, we examine two patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection that had been diagnosed as precirrhosis or liver cirrhosis more than a decade previously. These patients had been cleared of HBsAg and had developed anti-HBs at a later time, yet hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) eventually occurred. Both patients had been found negative for HBV DNA, using sensitive methods. Interestingly, a nontumor specimen of the liver obtained at surgical resection showed a marked reduction of fibrosis when compared to the histology observed when the patient was diagnosed as precirrhosis. Our findings suggest that the fibrosis from liver cirrhosis had been absorbed to a large extent during the long-term absence of active viremia and the normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. However, the cancer-prone biological characteristics of liver cirrhosis remained. Thus, patients with liver cirrhosis due to past chronic hepatitis B should be monitored carefully for the development of HCC even if HBV infection has been serologically resolved.