Determination of "borderline resectable" pancreatic cancer - A global assessment of 30 shades of grey.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. Accurate preoperative assessment using computed tomography (CT) to determine resectability is crucial in ensuring patients are offered the most appropriate therapeutic strategy. Despite the use of classification guidelines, any interobserver variability between reviewing surgeons and radiologists may confound decisions influencing patient treatment pathways. METHODS: In this multicentre observational study, an international group of 96 clinicians (42 hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons and 54 radiologists) were surveyed and asked to report 30 pancreatic CT scans of pancreatic cancer deemed borderline at respective multidisciplinary meetings (MDM). The degree of interobserver agreement in resectability among radiologists and surgeons was assessed and subgroup regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Interobserver variability between reviewers was high with no unanimous agreement. Overall interobserver agreement was fair with a kappa value of 0.32 with a higher rate of agreement among radiologists over surgeons. CONCLUSION: Interobserver variability among radiologists and surgeons globally is high, calling into question the consistency of clinical decision making for patients with PDAC and suggesting that central review may be required for studies of neoadjuvant or adjuvant approaches in future as well as ongoing quality control initiatives, even amongst experts in the field.

Effect of Early and Intensive Telephone or Electronic Nutrition Counselling Delivered to People with Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer on Quality of Life: A Three-Arm Randomised Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Delay in dietetic service provision for upper gastrointestinal cancer exacerbates disease-related malnutrition and consequently increases morbidity and mortality. Dietetic services are usually referral-based and provided face-to-face in inpatient or outpatient settings, which can delay the commencement of nutrition care. The aim of this study was to provide intensive dietetic intervention close to the time of diagnosis for upper gastrointestinal cancer and assess the effect on quality-adjusted life years. METHODS: A three-arm randomised controlled trial of adults newly diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal cancer was performed. A behavioural-based, individually tailored, symptom-directed nutrition intervention was provided in addition to usual care, delivered by a dietitian using a telephone (synchronously) or a mobile application (asynchronously) for 18 weeks, compared with a usual care control group. Data were collected at baseline, three, six, and twelve months post-randomisation. The primary outcome was quality-adjusted life years (EQ-5D-5L quality of life assessment tool). Data were analysed using linear mixed models. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven participants were randomised. Quality-adjusted life years were not different in the intervention groups compared with control (telephone: mean (95% CI) 0.04 (0.43, 2.3), p = 0.998; App: -0.08 (-0.18, 0.02), p = 0.135) after adjustment for baseline, nutrition risk status, age, and gender. Survival was similar between groups over 12 months. The asynchronous mobile app group had a greater number of withdrawals compared with the telephone group. CONCLUSION: Early and intensive nutrition counselling, delivered at home, during anticancer treatment did not change quality-adjusted life years or survival over 12 months compared with usual care. Behavioural counselling alone was unable to achieve nutritional adequacy. Dietetic services delivered asynchronously using a mobile app had low acceptance for patients undergoing anticancer treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 27 January 2017 Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry, ACTRN12617000152325.

Metal stents are safe and cost-effective for preoperative biliary drainage in resectable pancreaticobiliary tumours.

BACKGROUNDS: To compare the complication rates and overall costs of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) and plastic stents (PS) in clinically indicated preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) prior to a pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: We conducted an Australian multicentre retrospective cohort study using the databases of four tertiary hospitals. Adult patients who underwent clinically indicated endoscopic PBD prior to PD from 2010 to 2019 were included. Rates of complications attributable to PBD, surgical complications and pre-operative endoscopic re-intervention were calculated. Costing data were retrieved from our Financial department. RESULTS: Among the 157 included patients (mean age 66.6 ± 9.8 years, 45.2% male), 49 (31.2%) received SEMS and 108 received PS (68.8%). Baseline bilirubin was 187.5 ± 122.6 µmol/L. Resection histopathology showed mainly adenocarcinoma (93.0%). Overall SEMS was associated less complications (12.2% vs. 28.7%, p = 0.02) and a lower pre-operative endoscopic re-intervention rate (4.3 vs. 20.8%, p = 0.03) compared with PS. There was no difference in post-PD complication rates. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, stent type was an independent risk factor of PBD complication (OR of SEMS compared to PS 0.24, 95% CI 0.07-0.79, p = 0.02) but not for any secondary outcome measures. Upfront material costs were $56USD for PS and $1991USD for SEMS. Accounting for rates of complications, average costs were similar ($3110USD for PS and $3026USD for SEMS). CONCLUSION: In resectable pancreaticobiliary tumours, SEMS for PBD was associated with reduced risk of overall PBD-related complications and pre-surgical endoscopic reintervention rates and was comparable to PS in terms of overall cost.

Effect of early and intensive nutrition care, delivered via telephone or mobile application, on quality of life in people with upper gastrointestinal cancer: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A major challenge for those living with cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach and pancreas), is the impact of the disease and treatment on nutritional status and quality of life. People with cancer and malnutrition have a greater risk of morbidity and mortality. Nutrition intervention is recommended to commence immediately in those who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Novel cost-effective approaches that can deliver early, pre-hospital nutrition intervention before usual hospital dietetic service is commenced are needed. Linking clinicians and patients via mobile health (mHealth) and wireless technologies is a contemporary solution not yet tested for delivery of nutrition therapy to people with cancer. The aim of this study is to commence nutrition intervention earlier than usual care and evaluate the effects of using the telephone or mHealth for intervention delivery. It is hypothesised that participants allocated to receive the early and intensive pre-hospital dietetic service will have more quality-adjusted life years lived compared with control participants. This study will also demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of mHealth for the nutrition management of patients at home undergoing cancer treatment. METHODS: This study is a prospective three-group randomised controlled trial, with a concurrent economic evaluation. The 18 week intervention is provided in addition to usual care and is delivered by two different modes, via telephone (group 1) or via mHealth (group 2), The control group receives usual care alone (group 3). The intervention is an individually tailored, symptom-directed nutritional behavioural management program led by a dietitian. Participants will have at least fortnightly reviews. The primary outcome is quality adjusted life years lived and secondary outcomes include markers of nutritional status. Outcomes will be measured at three, six and 12 months follow up. DISCUSSION: The findings will provide evidence of a strategy to implement early and intensive nutrition intervention outside the hospital setting that can favourably impact on quality of life and nutritional status. This patient-centred approach is relevant to current health service provision and challenges the current reactive delivery model of care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 27th January 2017 Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ( ACTRN12617000152325 ).