The role of tumour biological factors in technical anatomical resectability assessment of colorectal liver metastases following induction systemic treatment: An analysis of the Dutch CAIRO5 trial.

BACKGROUND: Large inter-surgeon variability exists in technical anatomical resectability assessment of colorectal cancer liver-only metastases (CRLM) following induction systemic therapy. We evaluated the role of tumour biological factors in predicting resectability and (early) recurrence after surgery for initially unresectable CRLM. METHODS: 482 patients with initially unresectable CRLM from the phase 3 CAIRO5 trial were selected, with two-monthly resectability assessments by a liver expert panel. If no consensus existed among panel surgeons (i.e. same vote for (un)resectability of CRLM), conclusion was based on majority. The association of tumour biological (sidedness, synchronous CRLM, carcinoembryonic antigen and RAS/BRAFV600E mutation status) and technical anatomical factors with consensus among panel surgeons, secondary resectability and early recurrence (<6 months) without curative-intent repeat local treatment was analysed by uni- and pre-specified multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: After systemic treatment, 240 (50%) patients received complete local treatment of CRLM of which 75 (31%) patients experienced early recurrence without repeat local treatment. Higher number of CRLM (odds ratio 1.09 [95% confidence interval 1.03-1.15]) and age (odds ratio 1.03 [95% confidence interval 1.00-1.07]) were independently associated with early recurrence without repeat local treatment. In 138 (52%) patients, no consensus among panel surgeons was present prior to local treatment. Postoperative outcomes in patients with and without consensus were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Almost a third of patients selected by an expert panel for secondary CRLM surgery following induction systemic treatment experience an early recurrence only amenable to palliative treatment. Number of CRLM and age, but no tumour biological factors are predictive, suggesting that until there are better biomarkers; resectability assessment remains primarily a technical anatomical decision.

Defining Textbook Outcome in liver surgery and assessment of hospital variation: A nationwide population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Textbook outcome (TO) is a composite outcome measure covering the surgical care process in a single outcome measure. TO has an advantage over single outcome parameters with low event rates, which have less discriminating impact to detect differences between hospitals. This study aimed to assess factors associated with TO, and evaluate hospital and network variation after case-mix correction in TO rates for liver surgery. METHODS: This was a population-based retrospective study of all patients who underwent liver resection for malignancy in the Netherlands in 2019 and 2020. TO was defined as absence of severe postoperative complications, mortality, prolonged length of hospital stay, and readmission, and obtaining adequate resection margins. Multivariable logistic regression was used for case-mix adjustment. RESULTS: 2376 patients were included. TO was accomplished in 1380 (80%) patients with colorectal liver metastases, in 192 (76%) patients with other liver metastases, in 183 (74%) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 86 (51%) patients with biliary cancers. Factors associated with lower TO rates for CRLM included ASA score ≥3 (aOR 0.70, CI 0.51-0.95 p = 0.02), extrahepatic disease (aOR 0.64, CI 0.44-0.95, p = 0.02), tumour size >55 mm on preoperative imaging (aOR 0.56, CI 0.34-0.94, p = 0.02), Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥2 (aOR 0.73, CI 0.54-0.98, p = 0.04), and major liver resection (aOR 0.50, CI 0.36-0.69, p < 0.001). After case-mix correction, no significant hospital or oncological network variation was observed. CONCLUSION: TO differs between indications for liver resection and can be used to assess between hospital and network differences.

Assessment of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Baseline Clinical Examination and Ultrasonographic Imaging for the Detection of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With High-risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

IMPORTANCE: Patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck may develop lymph node metastasis; therefore, additional workup of the regional lymph nodes in these patients should be considered. However, there is uncertainty regarding the value of baseline ultrasonographic imaging in addition to clinical examination for the detection of metastasis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination and baseline ultrasonography for the detection of metastasis among patients with high-risk cutaneous SCC of the head and neck and to assess the accuracy of ultrasonography when baseline clinical examination produces negative results. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This diagnostic study was conducted among a retrospective cohort of 233 patients with 246 high-risk cutaneous SCC tumors of the head and neck. The study included all patients with high-risk cutaneous SCC of the head and neck who received clinical examination and baseline ultrasonographic imaging of their lymph nodes at the Erasmus Medical Center Cancer Institute, a tertiary referral hospital for patients with skin cancer in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017. Data were analyzed from October 13, 2020, to September 29, 2021. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Fine-needle aspiration cytologic biopsy and 6 months of follow-up per patient were used as the reference standards. RESULTS: Among 233 patients (176 men [75.5%]; median age, 79.1 years [IQR, 71.5-83.7 years]; data on race and ethnicity were not collected) with 246 high-risk cutaneous SCC tumors of the head and neck, 20 metastases were cytologically confirmed at baseline, and 2 metastases were detected during 6 months of follow-up, yielding a 9% metastasis rate. The sensitivity of clinical examination was 50% (95% CI, 28%-72%), and the specificity was 96% (95% CI, 93%-98%). The PPV and NPV were 55% (95% CI, 36%-72%) and 95% (95% CI, 93%-97%), respectively. In the total cohort, ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 91% (95% CI, 71%-99%) and a specificity of 78% (95% CI, 72%-83%), with a PPV of 29% (95% CI, 23%-35%) and an NPV of 99% (95% CI, 96%-100%). In the group of patients with negative results at baseline clinical examination, 9 of 11 metastases were detected by ultrasonography, with 82% sensitivity (95% CI, 48%-98%); specificity was 79% (95% CI, 73%-84%), PPV was 17% (95% CI, 12%-23%), and NPV was 99% (95% CI, 96%-100%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this diagnostic study, among a cohort of patients with high-risk cutaneous SCC of the head and neck, baseline ultrasonography was more sensitive than clinical examination alone for the detection of lymph node metastasis. In the setting of a negative result at baseline clinical examination, ultrasonography had high sensitivity for detecting nodal metastases, but this sensitivity should be evaluated against the high rate of false-positive findings.

Nationwide oncological networks for resection of colorectal liver metastases in the Netherlands: Differences and postoperative outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Widespread differences in patient demographics and disease burden between hospitals for resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) have been described. In the Netherlands, networks consisting of at least one tertiary referral centre and several regional hospitals have been established to optimize treatment and outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess variation in case-mix, and outcomes between these networks. METHODS: This was a population-based study including all patients who underwent CRLM resection in the Netherlands between 2014 and 2019. Variation in case-mix and outcomes between seven networks covering the whole country was evaluated. Differences in case-mix, expected 30-day major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo ≥3a) and 30-day mortality between networks were assessed. RESULTS: In total 5383 patients were included. Thirty-day major morbidity was 5.7% and 30-day mortality was 1.5%. Significant differences between networks were observed for Charlson Comorbidity Index, ASA 3+, previous liver resection, liver disease, preoperative MRI, preoperative chemotherapy, ≥3 CRLM, diameter of largest CRLM ≥55 mm, major resection, combined resection and ablation, rectal primary tumour, bilobar and extrahepatic disease. Uncorrected 30-day major morbidity ranged between 3.3% and 13.1% for hospitals, 30-day mortality ranged between 0.0% and 4.5%. Uncorrected 30-day major morbidity ranged between 4.4% and 6.0% for networks, 30-day mortality ranged between 0.0% and 2.5%. No negative outliers were observed after case-mix correction. CONCLUSION: Variation in case-mix and outcomes are considerably smaller on a network level as compared to a hospital level. Therefore, auditing is more meaningful at a network level and collaboration of hospitals within networks should be pursued.

Reshaping the critical role of surgeons in oncology research.

Surgery remains a mainstay in the treatment of most solid cancers. Surgeons have always engaged in various forms of high-quality cancer research to optimize outcomes for their patients, for example, contributing to clinical research and outcomes research as well as health education and public health policy. Over the past decade, however, concerns have been raised about a global decline in the number of surgeons performing basic science research alongside clinical activity - so-called surgeon scientists. Herein, we describe some of the unique obstacles faced by contemporary trainee and practising surgeons engaged in research, as well as providing a perspective on the implications of the diminishing prominence of the surgeon scientist. Finally, we offer some thoughts on potential strategies and future directions for surgical engagement in oncology research to increase the number of research-active surgeons.

Identification and assessment of health-related quality of life issues in patients with sporadic desmoid-type fibromatosis: a literature review and focus group study.

PURPOSE: Sporadic desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) is a rare, chronic, non-metastasising, disease of the soft tissues. It is characterised by local invasive and unpredictable growth behaviour and a high propensity of local recurrence after surgery thereby often having a great impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). This study aims to review currently used HRQL measures and to asses HRQL issues among DTF patients. METHODS: A mixed methods methodology was used consisting of (1) a systematic literature review, according to the PRISMA guidelines (2009), using search terms related to sporadic DTF and HRQL in commonly used databases (e.g. Embase, Medline Ovid, Web of science, Cochrane Central, Psyc Info, and Google scholar), to provide an overview of measures previously used to evaluate HRQL among DTF patients; (2) focus groups to gain insight into HRQL issues experienced by DTF patients. RESULTS: The search strategy identified thirteen articles reporting HRQL measures using a wide variety of cancer-specific HRQL tools, functional scores, symptom scales (e.g. NRS), and single-item outcomes (e.g. pain and functional impairment). No DTF-specific HRQL tool was found. Qualitative analysis of three focus groups (6 males, 9 females) showed that participants emphasised the negative impact of DTF and/or its treatment on several HRQL domains. Six themes were identified: (1) diagnosis, (2) treatment, (3) follow-up and recurrence, (4) physical domain, (5) psychological and emotional domain, and (6) social domain. CONCLUSION: A DTF-specific HRQL tool and consensus regarding the preferred measurement tool among DTF patients is lacking. Our study indicates that HRQL of DTF patients was negatively affected in several domains. A DTF-specific HRQL measure could improve our understanding of short- and long-term effects and, ideally, can be used in both clinic and for research purposes.