A nonrandomized controlled trial: long-term outcomes of LATG/LAPG for cStage I gastric cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study JCOG1401.

BACKGROUND: A previous report confirmed the safety of laparoscopy-assisted total and proximal gastrectomies (LATG and LAPG) (JCOG1401). This report demonstrates the 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after long-term follow-up to confirm the efficacy of these surgical methods as key secondary endpoints for cStage I gastric cancer. METHODS: This study enrolled patients who had histologically proven gastric adenocarcinoma and were diagnosed with clinical T1N0, T1N(+), or T2N0 tumors according to the 14th edition of the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma (3rd English edition). RESULTS: Between April 2015 and February 2017, 246 patients were enrolled, although one patient was excluded because of misregistration. Meticulous follow-up was continued for > 5 years for each patient, and the data were analyzed in March 2022. The 5-year RFS was 90.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 85.5-93.2%), and the 5-year OS was 91.2% (95% CI 86.9-94.2%) in all enrolled patients. Grade 3 or 4 late postoperative complications were detected in 12.7% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This single-arm study showed that the long-term outcomes of LATG/LAPG for cStage I gastric cancer were acceptable, which is considered one of the standard treatments when performed by experienced surgeons. Trail registration UMIN000017155 ( http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/ ).

Pancreatic thickness as a predictor of postoperative pancreatic fistula after laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Despite technical advances in minimally invasive gastrectomy for gastric cancer, an increased incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) has been reported. POPF can cause infectious and bleeding complications, which could lead to surgery-related death; therefore, reduction of the post-gastrectomy POPF risk is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the importance of pancreatic anatomy as a predictor of POPF in patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy. METHODS: Data were collected from 331 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The thickness of the pancreas anterior to the most ventral level of the splenic artery (TPS) was measured. The correlation between TPS and POPF incidence was investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The cutoff value of TPS was 11.8 mm, which predicted a high drain amylase concentration on postoperative day 1, and patients were categorized into thin (Tn group) and thick TPS groups (Tk group). There was no significant difference in the background characteristics between the two groups, except for sex (P = 0.009) and body mass index (P < 0.001). The incidences of POPF grade B or higher (2% vs. 16%, P < 0.001), all postoperative complications of grade II or higher (12% vs. 28%, P = 0.004), and postoperative intra-abdominal infections of grade II or higher (4% vs. 17%, P = 0.001) were significantly higher in the Tk group. Multivariable analysis identified that high TPS was the only independent risk factor for grade B or higher POPF and grade II or higher postoperative intra-abdominal infectious complications. CONCLUSIONS: The TPS is a specific predictive factor for POPF and postoperative intra-abdominal infectious complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy. Careful pancreatic manipulation during suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy is necessary for patients with increased TPS (> 11.8 mm) to avoid postoperative complications.

Expanding on the professional role of dental hygienists as key managers of medical-dental and hospital-dental clinic collaboration in a local Japanese hospital without a dentistry department: From a questionnaire survey after a web seminar.

INTRODUCTION: Perioperative oral management (POM) was introduced into the Japanese universal health insurance system in 2012. Collaboration with dental clinics is important for hospitals without a dentistry department. A dental hygienist newly assigned as a member of the patient flow management centre led a seminar to promote collaboration via the web. This study represents the first step to explore the possible role of the hospital-based dental hygienist in the field of regional medical-dental cooperation of POM by assessing their willingness to participate in providing this type of care by a survey. METHODS: The rate of attendees' satisfaction and the current problems of the collaboration for POM were evaluated through a questionnaire survey after the web seminar. RESULTS: All respondents reported satisfaction with the web seminar although it was the first experience of an online seminar for half of the respondents. All hospital dentists, but only 47.8% of dentists working at clinics, had participated in POM. Dental hygienist tended to show greater desire to participate in POM than dentists. All respondents appreciated the role played by the dental hygienist as a key manager of medical-dental collaboration between the hospital and local clinics. CONCLUSION: The hospital-based dental hygienist can play a role in planning and management of web seminars for POM, to raise awareness and promote regional medical-dental cooperation of POM.

A multicenter non-randomized phase III study of sentinel node navigation surgery for early gastric cancer.

This prospective multicenter non-randomized phase III study aims to evaluate the long-term outcome of sentinel node navigation surgery for early gastric cancer compared with conventional distal or total gastrectomy. Clinically diagnosed primary T1N0M0 gastric cancer patients with a single lesion (≤40 mm) and without previous endoscopic treatment will be enrolled in this study. Sentinel nodes are identified by dye and radioisotope tracers and are subjected to intraoperative rapid pathology. For patients with negative sentinel node metastasis, individualized surgery consisting of limited stomach resection and sentinel node basin dissection is performed, while standard gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection is employed for the positive sentinel node patients. A total of 225 patients will be accrued from 13 hospitals that have experience in sentinel node mapping. The primary endpoint is 5-year relapse-free survival. The secondary endpoints are overall survival, sentinel node detection rate, diagnostic accuracy for sentinel node, distribution of sentinel nodes and metastatic sentinel node/non-sentinel node, and postoperative quality of life.

[A Case of Rectal Cancer with Virchow Lymph Node Metastasis in Which Complete Response Was Achieved with Chemoradiation Therapy].

A 43-year-old man underwent a low anterior resection of the rectum due to upper rectal cancer. The pathological Stage was Ⅳ with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Postoperative chemotherapy with CapeOX was initiated, but para-aortic lymph node metastasis was discovered 4months after the surgery. Chemoradiation therapy with Cape and Bev, and 70 Gy/28 Fr led to the disappearance of the metastasized lesions. At 13months after the surgery, FDG accumulation was observed in the Virchow's lymph node, and chemotherapy with IRIS and Bev was initially administered. Subsequently, chemoradiation therapy with S-1 and Bev, and 66 Gy/33Fr was administered, followed by chemotherapy with S-1 and Bev, S-1. These therapies led to complete response(CR). However, 35 months after the surgery, the Virchow's lymph node had enlarged again, and chemoradiation therapy with S-1 and 60 Gy/30Fr was administered. Although no FDG accumulation was detected in the lymph node at 40 months after the surgery, metastasis was found in the mediastinal lymph nodes. Panitumumab therapy achieved CR, and no metastasis had been identified at 60 months after the final therapy. Chemoradiation therapy is a treatment option to improve the prognosis of patients with metastasis only in the Virchow's lymph node.

[A Case of Robot-Assisted Conversion Surgery for Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Dissemination That Responded to Intravenous and Intraperitoneal Paclitaxel Combined with S-1 Chemotherapy].

This case involved a 69-year-old female patient with peritoneal dissemination of an advanced gastric cancer. She underwent chemotherapy comprisingintravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel combined with S-1. After 20 courses, a staging laparoscopy was performed, and pathological analysis of the peritoneal dissemination and cytologic analysis of ascites fluid yielded negative results. A radical robot-assisted total gastrectomy was successfully performed. The pathological stage was determined to be ypT4aN2M0, ypStage ⅢB. We continued to administer the same chemotherapy regimen for 15 courses (total: 35 courses)after surgery. No recurrence has been detected during the 1-year period after surgery.

Robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: the first clinical series.

BACKGROUND: Radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is associated with high morbidity, especially with pulmonary complications. Mediastinoscopic esophagectomy via a small left neck incision combined with the esophageal hiatus, without using transthoracic approach, has been reported to reduce pulmonary complication; however, from technical point of view, this approach using non-articulating, straight, long forceps is extremely challenging, especially in the middle mediastinal area. Its technical difficulties may be attenuated using da Vinci Surgical System. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy. METHODS: Robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy was performed in six patients between October 2016 and May 2017. Robotic esophageal mobilization with upper and middle mediastinal lymphadenectomy was performed via the three da Vinci Xi (Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA) trocars placed on the 5-cm left cervical incision. Thereafter, the remaining part of radical esophagectomy was completed via a transhiatal approach. RESULTS: Upper and middle mediastinal lymphadenectomy was robotically completed via the transcervical approach in all cases without conversion to transthoracic approach. No postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥ III) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy was technically feasible and safe. Use of da Vinci Surgical System may help attenuate technical difficulties in transcervical middle mediastinal lymph node dissection.

Outermost layer-oriented medial approach for infrapyloric nodal dissection in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Based on our experience of suprapancreatic nodal dissection in laparoscopic gastrectomy, we developed an outermost layer-oriented medial approach for infrapyloric nodal dissection. The objective of this single-institution retrospective study was to determine the feasibility, safety, and reproducibility of this novel and unique dissection procedure. METHODS: This approach can be performed in the same manner as suprapancreatic nodal dissection but by replacing the left gastric artery with the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA), the common hepatic artery with the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (ASPDA), and the splenic artery with the gastroduodenal artery. It comprises five steps: (1) mobilization of the transverse mesocolon along the prepancreatic membrane, (2) medial dissection along the dissectable layer between the pancreatic head and the dorsal side of the right gastroepiploic vein (RGEV), (3) division of the RGEV and determination of the lateral and cranial borders, (4) dissection along the outermost layer of the RGEA and ASPDA and transection of the infrapyloric artery and RGEA, and (5) transection of the duodenal bulb. RESULTS: This novel method was applied in 112 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy from 2014 to 2015. The anatomical landmarks that we determined to appropriately identify the outermost layer were highly reproducible, and our novel procedure based on these landmarks was successfully completed in all cases, without any intraoperative complications. Furthermore, in all cases, no. 6 lymph nodes were fully and adequately dissected within the infrapyloric area anatomically defined in the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma ver. 14. Pancreatic fistula occurred only in 1.8% cases. CONCLUSIONS: This novel outermost layer-oriented medial approach is a robust procedure that may help laparoscopic surgeons in performing safe and reproducible infrapyloric nodal dissection.

[A Case of Duodenal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Resection with Preservation of the Pancreatic Head Following Chemotherapy with Imatinib].

A 60-year-old male was admitted to our hospital on account of a duodenal submucosal tumor on the opposite side of Vater's papilla identified on a screening gastroduodenoscopy. The tumor was diagnosed as a duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)due to positive c-kit and DOG1tests. Gastroduodenography and enhanced computed tomography showed a 50mm tumor widely invadingthe descendingportion of the duodenum close to the papilla of Vater and indicated the need for extended resection includingpancreaticoduodenectomy to achieve curation. Preoperative chemotherapy was initiated with imatinib mesylate(imatinib)to preserve the pancreas. A 16 month course of imatinib shrunk the tumor up to 21mm and laparoscopic partial duodenectomy was performed as a curative resection. So far, no local tumor recurrence has been seen for 26 months after the surgery. Herein, we report this case with a review of the literature.

Robotic valvuloplastic esophagogastrostomy using double flap technique following proximal gastrectomy: technical aspects and short-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Valvuloplastic esophagogastrostomy by double flap technique (VEG-DFT) is a promising procedure to prevent reflux after proximal gastrectomy (PG), and is achieved by the burial of the abdominal esophagus into the gastric submucosa; however, laparoscopic VEG-DFT is technically demanding due to complicated suturing and ligation maneuvers. The present study was designed to determine the feasibility and safety of robotic VEG-DFT. METHODS: After robotic PG, seromuscular flaps were extracorporeally created at the anterior wall of the remnant stomach through a small umbilical incision. Then, using a robot, the posterior wall of the esophagus was fixed to the cranial end of the mucosal window, and layer-to-layer sutures were placed between the anterior aspects of esophagus and the remnant stomach. Finally, the anastomosis was covered by seromuscular flaps. Short-term outcomes of 12 consecutive patients who underwent VEG-DFT between January 2014 and December 2015 were assessed. RESULTS: Operations were successfully completed using robotic assistance in all patients. Median operative, surgeon console, and anastomosis times were 406 (324-613 min), 267 (214-483), and 104 (76-186) min, respectively, and median estimated blood loss was 31 (5-130) ml. The first six cases were required to reach a learning plateau. Both mortality and morbidity rates within 30 days after surgery were 0%. Postoperative hospital stay was 10 (9-30) days. No postoperative reflux esophagitis was observed, whereas anastomotic stenosis, which required endoscopic balloon dilation, developed in three patients (25%) in postoperative month 2. There was a significant association between the total number of stitches used for VEG-DFT and anastomotic stenosis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Robotic assistance may be useful for VEG-DFT with a short learning curve. Attention is required to prevent postoperative anastomotic stenosis possibly caused by an excessive number of stitches for esophagogastrostomy.

Laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: technical aspects and surgical, nutritional and oncological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Higher morbidity in total gastrectomy than in distal gastrectomy has been reported, but laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy (LsTG) has been reported to be safe and feasible in early gastric cancer (GC). We determined the surgical, nutritional and oncological outcomes of LsTG for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). METHODS: Of the 816 consecutive patients with GC who underwent radical gastrectomy at our institution between 2008 and 2012, 253 who underwent curative laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for AGC were enrolled. LsTG was indicated for patients with upper stomach third tumors, who hoped to avoid total gastrectomy, <4 cm to the esophagogastric junction and a 2-cm proximal margin with cut end negative in frozen section, whereas laparoscopic conventional distal gastrectomy (LcDG) and laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) were performed otherwise. Surgical outcomes and postoperative nutritional status were primarily assessed. RESULTS: Of 253 patients, the morbidity (Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥ III) was 17.0% (43 patients). The 3-year overall survival and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates were 80.2 and 73.5%, respectively. LcDG, LsTG and LTG were performed in 121, 27 and 105 patients, individually. Morbidity was strongly associated with LTG (P = 0.001). Postoperative loss of body weight was significantly greater after LTG in comparison with LcDG or LsTG (P < 0.001). No difference in morbidity and postoperative loss of body weight were observed between LcDG and LsTG group. CONCLUSIONS: LG for AGC was feasible and safe surgically and oncologically. LsTG for AGC may be safer than LTG from surgical and postoperative nutritional point of view.

[A Case of Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer - R0 Resection Was Performed by Pancreaticoduodenectomy with Portal Vein Resection Following Neoadjuvant Therapy].

A 76-year-old woman, complained of weight loss, was admitted in our hospital. After investigation, she was diagnosed with clinical Stage III B gastric cancer with invasion into the pancreas and transverse colon. After performing the staging laparoscopy and gastrojejunostomy for pyloric stenosis, she was treated with 2 courses of SOX therapy as neoadjuvant therapy, and subsequently underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and right hemicolectomy combined with portal vein resection due to severe adhesion by the tumor. The pathological diagnosis was pT4b(colon), pN0(0/22), pM0, pStage III B. There were no findings of tumor invasion into the pancreas or the portal vein. She was discharged without any complications. She did not receive the adjuvant chemotherapy, and died of other illness at 10 months after surgery. For the locally advanced gastric cancer such as invasion to the pancreas, the extended resection as an R0 resection could be achieved more safely, by evaluating accurately the incurable factors and planning an effective strategy according to the patient's condition.

Technical aspects and short- and long-term outcomes of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: a single-institution retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: D2 total gastrectomy combined with splenectomy or pancreaticosplenectomy reportedly increases morbidity and mortality. Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains controversial because of its technical difficulties and lack of long-term results. We determined the feasibility and safety of TLTG for AGC. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective study was conducted. Ninety-two consecutive AGC patients who underwent radical TLTG were enrolled. The primary end point was morbidity. The patients were observed for 3 years following TLTG. We assessed short-term surgical and long-term outcomes, including 3-year overall survival rates (3yOS) and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates (3yRFS). RESULTS: Early and late morbidities (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3) were 26.1 and 6.5 %, respectively. Operative time, estimated blood loss, number of dissected lymph nodes, and postoperative hospital stay were 444 (278-694) min, 100 (0-2267) g, 48 (16-89), and 23 (9-136) days, respectively, and 3yOS and 3yRFS rates were 70.7 and 60.9 %, respectively. Factors associated with postoperative complications and 3yOS were operative time [OR 1.011 (1.006-1.017), p < 0.01] and cancer recurrence within 3 years [HR 312.191 (1.126-86573.245], p = 0.045], respectively. 3yRFS was associated with tumor size (≥50 mm) [HR 10.325 (1.328-80.289), p = 0.026], pathological N factor ≥2 [HR 3.188 (1.196-8.495), p = 0.02], and postoperative pancreatic fistula combined with intra-abdominal abscesses Clavien-Dindo grade ≥2; [HR 3.670 (1.440-9.351), p = 0.006]. CONCLUSIONS: TLTG for AGC is sufficiently feasible and safe from both surgical and oncological point of view.

Comparison of the long-term outcomes of robotic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer and conventional laparoscopic approach: a single institutional retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Robotic gastrectomy (RG) for gastric cancer (GC) has been increasingly performed over the last decade. The technical feasibility and safety of RG for GC, predominantly early GC, have previously been reported; however, few studies have evaluated the oncological outcomes. This study aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of RG for GC compared with those of conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG). METHODS: Of the 521 consecutive patients with GC who underwent radical gastrectomy at our institution between 2009 and 2012, 84 consecutive patients who underwent RG and 437 patients who received LG were enrolled in this study. Long-term outcomes including the 3-year overall survival (3yOS) and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates (3yRFS) were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: In the RG group, the 3yOS rates stratified by pathological stage according to the Japanese classification of gastric carcinoma (IA, IB, II, and III) were 94.7, 90.9, 89.5, and 62.5 %, respectively. No differences in 3yOS (RG, 86.9 % vs. LG, 88.8 %; p = 0.636) or 3yRFS (RG, 86.9 % vs. LG, 86.3 %; p = 0.905) were observed between the groups. 3yOS was strongly associated with cancer recurrence within 3 years (p < 0.001), while 3yRFS was associated with tumor size ≥ 30 mm (p < 0.001), clinical stage ≥ IB (p < 0.001), estimated blood loss ≥ 50 mL (p = 0.033), and postoperative pancreatic fistula CD grade ≥ III) (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: RG for GC was feasible and safe from the oncological point of view in a cohort including a considerable number of patients with advanced GC.

Going back to home to die: does it make a difference to patient survival?

BACKGROUND: Many patients wish to stay at home during the terminal stage of cancer. However, there is concern that medical care provided at home may negatively affect survival. This study therefore explored whether the survival duration differed between cancer patients who received inpatient care and those who received home care. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the place of care/death and survival duration of 190 cancer patients after their referral to a palliative care consultation team in a Japanese general hospital between 2007 and 2012. The patients were classified into a hospital care group consisting of those who received palliative care in the hospital until death, and a home care group including patients who received palliative care at home from doctors in collaboration with the palliative care consultation team. Details of the place of care, survival duration, and patient characteristics (primary site, gender, age, history of chemotherapy, and performance status) were obtained from electronic medical records, and analyzed after propensity score matching in the place of care. RESULTS: Median survival adjusted for propensity score was significantly longer in the home care group (67.0 days, n = 69) than in the hospital care group (33.0 days, n = 69; P = 0.0013). Cox's proportional hazard analysis revealed that the place of care was a significant factor for survival following adjustment for covariates including performance status. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the general concern that home care shortens the survival duration of patients is not based on evidence. A cohort study including more known prognostic factors is necessary to confirm the results.

Surgical Approach to the Upper Side of the Gastrosplenic Ligament During Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy for Proximal Gastric Cancer: Operative Techniques and Initial Results.

Background: Laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer has become widespread as minimally invasive surgical treatment, but use of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) remains limited because of the technical difficulty and complexity of lymphadenectomy at the splenic hilum. Surgical techniques and initial experiences with the surgical approach to the upper side of the gastrosplenic ligament during LTG are introduced. Materials and Methods: Between January 2019 and December 2022, 57 patients with proximal gastric cancer underwent LTG using this approach. Results: Regarding the extent of lymphadenectomy, D1+, D2, spleen-preserving D2 + 10, and D2 + 10 with splenectomy were performed in 31, 18, 4, and 4 patients, respectively. Operative time was 341 (192-724) minutes, and estimated blood loss was 30 (0-515) g. There were no conversions to laparotomy and no postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III. Conclusions: The present procedure is safe and feasible and provides an excellent operative view at the splenic hilum, making it easier to determine exactly the extent of lymphadenectomy in accordance with cancer progression.

Non-inferiority of additional gastrectomy after endoscopic submucosal dissection compared with surgery alone on long-term prognosis: A propensity score-matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients in whom endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has resulted in non-curative resection need further surgical treatment. However, the oncological outcome of additional gastrectomy after ESD compared with surgery alone remains unclear. METHODS: The clinical data of 778 patients who underwent gastrectomy for early gastric cancer from January 2008 to December 2019 in Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Of these 778 patients, 187 underwent additional gastrectomy after ESD (ESD (+) group) and 591 underwent surgery alone (ESD (-) group). We compared the overall survival and disease-free survival between the ESD (+) and ESD (-) groups, using propensity score matching to adjust for baseline characteristics. We also assessed early postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: After propensity score matching based on sex, age, tumor diameter, tumor gross type, and operative procedure, each group comprised 144 patients with no significant differences in clinical background characteristics. After matching, the 5-year overall survival rate in the ESD (+) and ESD (-) group was 90.9% and 87.8%, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.470). In addition, there was no significant difference in the disease-free survival rate (97.6% vs. 95.8%, respectively; P = 0.504). The postoperative complication rate was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Additional gastrectomy for patients in whom ESD resulted in non-curative resection did not adversely affect the long-term prognosis. Additional gastrectomy after ESD is oncologically acceptable for early gastric cancer.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer diagnosed as stage IV responding to combined modality therapy and surviving for a long duration].

A 47-year-old woman was diagnosed as advanced gastric cancer of cardia(poorly-differentiated adenocarcionoma), with multiple para-aortic lymph node and liver metastasis, in March, 2005. We attempted neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel(DOC), cisplatin(CDDP), and S-1(DCS). After 3 courses of DCS, we confirmed that the para-aortic lymph nodes and liver metastasis became small. Then, we were able to perform total gastrectomy, splenectomy, and D2 lymph node dissection. Additionally, we performed an intraoperative radiofrequency ablation to the scar of the liver metastasis. Histopathologically, we identified lymph node metastases in #1 and #16b1 pre. S-1 and DOC were administered as adjuvant chemotherapy. At seven years since the operation, the patient has shown no signs of recurrence. Combined modality therapy for advanced gastric cancer diagnosed with stage IV can be an effective treatment, so we hope that it will be established as a standard therapy.

[Analysis of the eligibility of elderly colorectal cancer patients for adjuvant chemotherapy combined with polysaccharide K].

We enrolled 62 elderly patients( ≥70 years of age) with colorectal cancer who had undergone surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy at our department and analyzed the overall surviva(l OS) and disease-free surviva(l DFS) to identify the patients who responded to treatment. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was performed with oral anticancer agents, including doxifluridine( 5'-DFUR), uracil/tegafur( UFT), and UFT/Leucovorin( LV); all patients also received polysaccharide K( PSK), an immunomodulator, in combination with chemotherapy. The 3-year OS and DFS rates for all patients were 83.4% and 78.6%, respectively, with no significant differences in these rates based on the chemotherapeutic agents used. The patients were assigned to low and high groups on the basis of the median cut-off values of each clinical laboratory parameter and the data obtained were subjected to univariate analysis. The results of the univariate analysis suggested that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels were significant prognostic factors. Further multivariate analysis using Cox regression analysis identified the preoperative CEA level alone as an independent factor. When stratification analysis was performed using a preoperative CEA level of 4.0 ng/mL as the cut-off value, the results indicated that the outcome of patients with a high preoperative CEA level may be 8-fold worse than that of patients with a low preoperative CEA level. For these patients, the use of chemotherapeutic drugs that elicit a more potent antitumor effect should be considered.

Using LAP PROTECTOR™ to prevent subcutaneous emphysema after robotic gastrectomy.

Subcutaneous emphysema (SE), a complication of robotic gastrectomy (RG), occurs when the gas used to establish pneumoperitoneum escapes and enters the soft tissue. SE typically does not result in major clinical problems, but massive SE can have life-threatening consequences. Hence, developing adequate preventive methods against postoperative SE is essential. We aimed to determine whether an existing protective device, the LAP PROTECTOR™ (LP), can be used to reduce the incidence of SE after RG. We analyzed the data of 194 patients who underwent RG at our hospital between August 2016 and December 2022. Since September 2021 (the 102nd patient), we have used the LP (FF0504; Hakko Medical, Hongo, Tokyo, Japan) at the trocar site, as this was expected to reduce the incidence of SE. The primary endpoint of this study was the efficacy of the LP in reducing the incidence of clinically relevant SE (defined as SE extending into the cervical area) a day after RG. Univariate analysis revealed that sex, body mass index (BMI), and LP usage differed significantly between patients with and without postoperative SE. Logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex (odds ratio [OR]: 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15-0.72, P < 0.001), high BMI (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 1.23-4.45, P = 0.009), and LP usage (OR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04-0.3, P < 0.001) were preventive factors independently associated with a lower incidence of clinically relevant SE. Placing an LP at the trocar site may be a safe and effective method of preventing SE after RG.