Consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods by patients with stomach adenocarcinoma: a multicentric case-control study in the Amazon and southeast regions of Brazil.

PURPOSE: There is limited information about the dietary habits associated with stomach adenocarcinoma in the Brazilian population, so our purpose is to analyze the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods by patients with stomach adenocarcinoma in Brazil. METHODS: A multicentric hospital-based case-control study was conducted in São Paulo (southeastern region) and Belém (Amazon region) of Brazil with 1,045 individuals, both sexes, between 18 and 75 years old. In São Paulo, there were 214 cases with stomach adenocarcinoma and 150 controls patients submitted to stomach endoscopy named as Group I (without any pre-malignant gastric disease) and the Healthy Controls (Group 2) comprised 401 individuals matched by age and sex from the prevention unit at A.C .Camargo Cancer Center. In Belém, it has two groups one are cases 140 and second 140 hospital controls, recruited in outpatient clinics. Lifestyle and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) were administered in cases and controls in both places. Univariate and multivariable binomial logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: In São Paulo, cases reported two times greater consumption of processed meat (adjusted OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.32-4.96) and of sweets (≥ 80 g/day) than Group 1 (endoscopic controls) (adjusted OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.21-4.18). Compared with Group 2, processed food consumption (≥ 44 g/day) as well as ≥ 44 g/day of salted bread increased the odds of having stomach adenocarcinoma (adjusted OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.82-4.81 and adjusted OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.30-3.18), respectively. In Belém, individuals who reported consuming ≥ 166 g/day of fried and roasted meat and fish were more likely to have stomach adenocarcinoma (adjusted OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.13-4.30). CONCLUSIONS: In both cities, consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods, especially salted bread, yellow cheese, fried and roasted meats, fish fried, processed meat, and sweets, was independently associated with the chance of having stomach adenocarcinoma.

Symptomatic Recurrence and Survival Outcomes After Curative Treatment of Gastric Cancer: Does Intensive Follow-up Evaluation Improve Survival?

BACKGROUND: Intensive surveillance after treatment of gastric cancer patients with curative intent may lead to an earlier diagnosis of disease recurrence, but its impact on survival is uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate whether early diagnosis of disease recurrence among asymptomatic patients was associated with long-term survival. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed patients with stages 1 to 3C gastric adenocarcinoma treated between 1999 and 2018. All recurrence events were classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic (detected by follow-up tests), and their clinicopathologic characteristics, patterns of recurrence, and survival were analyzed. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 669 patients treated with a total gastrectomy in 48.6% and a D2-lymphadenectomy in 88.8% of the cases. Most of the tumors were pT3-4 (46.5%), with 45.5% involving lymph node metastases and 42.3% manifesting a diffuse histology. During a median follow-up period of 80.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 75.3-84.8 months), 166 patients had recurrences (24.8%), 65.7% of which were symptomatic. The peritoneum was the main site of recurrence (37.2%), and peritoneal recurrence was associated with worse overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio, 1.69; 95%CI, 1.2-2.37). The median disease-free, post-recurrence survival, and OS periods in the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups were respectively 13.4 versus 17.2 months (p = 0.04), 11.9 versus 4.7 months (p < 0.001), and 29.9 versus 26.4 months (p = 0.21). When OS was analyzed among the patients with non-peritoneal recurrence, no difference was observed between the two groups (31.3 vs 31.1 months; p = 0.46). CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of asymptomatic disease recurrence did not affect the OS of the gastric cancer patients treated with curative intent. The use of intensive surveillance strategies in this scenario still requires further evidence.

Surgery or active surveillance for pNETs < 2 cm: Preliminary results from a single center Brazilian cohort.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Incidence of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETS) seems to be rising over the years, with many cases incidentally diagnosed. Surgery and active surveillance are current treatment modalities for small pNETS. We review our institutional series and compare outcomes for small asymptomatic and nonfunctioning tumors. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with 2 cm or less and well differentiated pNETS at a single Brazilian Cancer Center. From 2002 to 2020, patients received active surveillance or surgery as a treatment strategy. Short and long-term results were compared. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were included, 41 in surgical strategy and 23 in the active surveillance approach. Baseline group characteristics were comparable. More patients on active surveillance underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and had tumors located in the pancreatic head (41% vs. 17%, p = 0.038). Minimally invasive procedure was chosen in 80.1% of the surgical patients. No patient died after surgery. Median follow-up period was 38.6 and 46.4 months for active surveillance and surgery cohorts, respectively. No difference in disease progression rate was observed. CONCLUSION: Both approaches seem to be safe for small pNETs. Long-term outcome and quality of life should be considered when discussing such options with patients.

Patterns of disease relapse and posttreatment follow-up of patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A single-center analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the patterns of disease relapse and follow-up of patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Additionally, we looked at patients' characteristics at relapse and survival. METHODS: We included patients with potentially resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed from 2008 to 2018 who were submitted to resection with clear macroscopic margins and started posttreatment surveillance. RESULTS: The study population consists of 73 patients. The median interval between imaging studies was 3.2 months during the first 2 years of follow-up and 5.1 months thereafter. Forty-eight patients (65.8%) experienced disease relapse. The most frequent single site of relapse was locoregional (N = 21; 43.8%). At relapse, 31 patients (64.6%) were symptomatic and forty-two patients (87.6%) had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1. Most patients were able to undergo additional anticancer therapy (N = 41; 85.4%). Patients with asymptomatic relapses experienced longer median postrelapse survival (25.4 vs. 11.3 months; p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: A follow-up protocol that included imaging studies every 3 months in the first 2 years and every 6 months thereafter is able to diagnose disease relapse when patients have adequate performance status and are still able to undergo additional anticancer treatment.

Cancer risk-reducing surgery: Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology Guideline Part 2 (Gastrointestinal and thyroid).

BACKGROUND: Risk-reducing operations are an important part of the management of hereditary predisposition to cancer. In selected cases, they can considerably reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with cancer in this population. OBJECTIVES: The Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (BSSO) developed this guideline to establish national benchmarks for cancer risk-reducing operations. METHODS: The guideline was prepared from May to December 2021 by a multidisciplinary team of experts to discuss the surgical management of cancer predisposition syndromes. Eleven questions were defined and assigned to expert groups that reviewed the literature and drafted preliminary recommendations. Following a review by the coordinators and a second review by all participants, the groups made final adjustments, classified the level of evidence, and voted on the recommendations. RESULTS: For all questions including risk-reducing colectomy, gastrectomy, and thyroidectomy, a major agreement was achieved by the participants, always using accessible alternatives. CONCLUSION: This and its accompanying article represent the first guideline in cancer risk reduction surgery developed by the BSSO and it should serve as an important reference for the management of families with cancer predisposition.

Early postoperative outcomes among patients with delayed surgeries after preoperative positive test for SARS-CoV-2: A case-control study from a single institution.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on surgical complications for patients that have delayed surgery after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We aimed to analyze the surgical outcomes of patients submitted to surgery after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: Asymptomatic patients that had surgery delayed after preoperative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 were matched in a 1:2 ratio for age, type of surgery and American Society of Anesthesiologists to patients with negative RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: About 1253 patients underwent surgical procedures and were subjected to screening for SARS-CoV-2. Forty-nine cases with a delayed surgery were included in the coronavirus disease (COVID) recovery (COVID-rec) group and were matched to 98 patients included in the COVID negative (COVID-neg) group. Overall, 22 (15%) patients had 30-days postoperative complications, but there was no statistically difference between groups -16.3% for COVID-rec and 14.3% for COVID-neg, respectively (odds ratio [OR] 1.17:95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45-3.0; p = .74). Moreover, we did not find difference regarding grades more than or equal to 3 complication rates - 8.2% for COVID-rec and 6.1% for COVID-neg (OR 1.36:95%CI 0.36-5.0; p = .64). There were no pulmonary complications or SARS-CoV-2 related infection and no deaths within the 30-days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that patients with delayed elective surgeries due to asymptomatic preoperative positive SARS-CoV-2 test are not at higher risk of postoperative complications.

Predictors of long-term survival in patients with hepatic resection of colorectal metastases: Analysis of a Brazilian Cancer Center Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic metastases are a major cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer. A comprehensive assessment of the prognostic factors associated with long-term survival could improve patient selection for surgical approaches and decrease morbidity and futile locoregional treatments. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases at a single center from 2000 to 2012. RESULTS: To identify factors associated with 5- and 10-year overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), we analyzed 280 patients and 150 patients in the 5- and 10-year cohorts, respectively. Only seven relapses occurred after 5 years of follow-up, and no relapses occurred after 10 years. Multivariable analysis indicated that bilobar disease and extra-hepatic disease before hepatectomy were independent 5- and 10-year predictors of OS, and major postoperative complications predicted OS in the 5-year survival cohort only. Our analysis indicated that prognostic factors associated with DFS included some confounders and was therefore inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results suggest that the predictors of 5- and 10-year OS rates of colorectal cancer patients with hepatic metastases are similar, differing only by postoperative complications that influenced exclusively 5-year survival. Since no relapse occurred 10 years after hepatic resection, oncological remission is likely.

Short-term outcomes after vascular resection for pancreatic tumors: Lessons learned from 72 cases from a single Brazilian Cancer Center.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic malignant tumors are resectable at diagnosis in only 15% to 20% of cases and invasion of vascular structures is commonly present. Therefore, extended resections are needed for adequate local control and negative margins. However, morbidity and mortality associated with these enlarged resections are limiting factors. The aim of this study was to correlate demographic and technical aspects that influenced early and late outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2007 and May 2019, 523 pancreatic surgeries were performed, of which 72 required vascular resections. Clinical and histopathological data, surgical techniques, and perioperative parameters were analyzed in a prospectively collected database. RESULTS: Of the 72 cases of vascular resection, 31 were male and 41 females with a mean age of 60.9 years (34-81). The most commonly affected vascular structure was the portal vein (in 40.3%). Free margins were obtained in 77.8% of cases. Postoperative mortality rate at 60 days was 13.9%. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and age were the most important predictors of major complications. CONCLUSION: Extended resections with vascular involvement in pancreatic surgeries are feasible and safe; furthermore, patient selection plays are key. ASA and age were the most important factors in the decision-making process for extended resections.

Identification of DNA mutations in gastric washes from gastric adenocarcinoma patients: Possible implications for liquid biopsies and patient follow-up.

Whereas cancer patients have benefited from liquid biopsies, the scenario for gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is still dismal. We used next-generation deep sequencing of TP53-a highly mutated and informative gene in GAC-to assess mutations in tumor biopsies, plasma (PL) and stomach fluids (gastric wash-GW). We evaluated their potential to reveal tumor-derived mutations, useful for monitoring mutational dynamics at diagnosis, progression and treatment. Exon-capture libraries were constructed from 46 patients including tumor biopsies, GW and PL pre and post-treatment (196 samples), with high vertical coverage >8,000×. At diagnosis, we detected TP53 mutations in 15/46 biopsies (32.6%), 7/46 GW- (15.2%) and 6/46 PL-samples (13%). Biopsies and GW were concordant in 38/46 cases (82.6%) for the presence/absence of mutations and, furthermore, four GW-exclusive mutations were identified, suggesting tumor heterogeneity. Considering the combined analysis of GW and PL, TP53 mutations found in biopsies were also identified in 9/15 (60%) of cases, the highest detection level reported for GAC. Our study indicates that GW could be useful to track DNA alterations, especially if anchored to a comprehensive gene-panel designed for this malignancy.

The Potential Clinical Implications of Circulating Tumor Cells and Circulating Tumor Microemboli in Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is the third deadliest malignant neoplasm worldwide, mostly because of late disease diagnosis, low chemotherapy response rates, and an overall lack of tumor biology understanding. Therefore, tools for prognosis and prediction of treatment response are needed. Quantification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) and their expression of biomarkers has potential clinical relevance. Our aim was to evaluate CTCs and CTM and their expression of HER2 and plakoglobin in patients with nonmetastatic GAC, correlating the findings to clinicopathological data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CTC enrichment was performed with isolation by size of epithelial tumor cells, and the analysis was performed with immunocytochemistry and microscopy. Two collections were made: one at diagnosis (55 samples before neoadjuvant treatment) and one after surgery and before adjuvant therapy (33 samples). RESULTS: A high detection rate of CTCs (90%) was observed at baseline. We evaluated HER2 expression in 45/55 biopsy samples and in 42/55 CTC samples, with an overlap of 36 subjects. Besides the good agreement observed for HER2 expression in primary tumors and paired CTCs for 36 cases (69.4%; κ = 0.272), the analysis of HER2 in CTCs showed higher positivity (43%) compared with primary tumors (11%); 3/5 patients with disease progression had HER2-negative primary tumors but HER2-positive CTCs. A significant CTC count drop in follow-up was seen for CTC-HER2-positive cases (4.45 to 1.0 CTCs per mL) compared with CTC-HER2-negative cases (2.6 to 1.0 CTCs per mL). The same was observed for CTC-plakoglobin-positive cases (2.9 to 1.25 CTCs per mL). CONCLUSION: CTC analysis, including their levels, plakoglobin, and HER2 expression, appears to be a promising tool in the understanding the biology and prognosis of GAC. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The analysis of circulating tumor cell levels from the blood of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, before and after neoadjuvant treatment, is useful to better understand the behavior of the disease as well as the patients more likely to respond to treatment.

Predicting overall and major postoperative morbidity in gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative complications after gastric cancer resection vary in different series and they might have a significant impact in long-term outcomes. Our aim was to build a prediction rule on gastric cancer patients' overall and major morbidity risks. METHODS: This retrospective study included 1223 patients from a single center who were resected between 1992 and 2016. Overall and major morbidity predictors were identified through multiple logistic regression. Models' performances were assessed through discrimination, calibration, and cross-validation, and nomograms were constructed. RESULTS: The mean age was 61.3-year old and the male gender was more frequent (60%). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (HTN), diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A D2-distal gastrectomy was the most frequent procedure and 87% of all lesions were located in the middle or distal third. Age, COPD, coronary heart disease, chronic liver disease, pancreatic resection, and operative time were independent predictors of overall and major morbidity. The extent of resection and splenectomy was associated with overall events and HTN with major ones. Both models were very effective in predicting events among patients at higher risk. CONCLUSIONS: The overall and major morbidity models and nomograms included clinical- and surgical-related data that were very effective in predicting events, especially for high-risk patients.

Is primary sidedness a prognostic factor in patients with resected colon cancer liver metastases (CLM)?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have suggested that sidedness of origin from colorectal adenocarcinomas is a predictor of survival, however the impact of this factor in patients with resected colon cancer liver metastases (CLM) is not clear. So, in this study, we compared clinic and pathologic characteristics and long-term survival of patients with resected CLM according to the primary tumor location. METHODS: This is a retrospective analyzes of a prospective database. Patients with resected CLM from 1998 to 2012 were included. Right colon included tumors from cecum to middle transverse colon, and left colon included tumors from splenic flexure to sigmoid. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-one patients were included, 27 right colon and 124 left colon. In the latter group, there were more patients with synchronous disease (67.7 × 6.2%, P = 0.026) and a higher CEA (22.0 × 11.7 ng/mL, P = 0.001). However, K-Ras mutation was more frequent in right sided tumors (75.0 × 24.1%, P = 0.001). There was no difference in long term survival in both groups in this series even when adjusted for the confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Sidedness do not seem to be a predictor of long term survival in patients with resected colon cancer liver metastases.

Neoadjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy followed by radical surgery and HIPEC in patients with very advanced gastric cancer and peritoneal metastases: report of an initial experience in a western single center.

BACKGROUND: The association of preoperative systemic and intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been described in Eastern patients with very good outcomes in treatment responders. The aim of this paper is to describe the initial results of this multidisciplinary regimen in gastric cancer patients with very advanced peritoneal metastases. CASE PRESENTATION: We present here the first four cases who received the treatment protocol. They had a baseline PCI between 19 and 33. Two patients had received systemic chemotherapy prior to this regimen. Three of them had significant response and were taken to cytoreductive surgery, while one patient who had 12 cycles of chemotherapy previously showed signs of disease progression and subsequently died. There was no significant postoperative morbidity, and three patients remain alive, two of them with no signs of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Systemic and intraperitoneal chemotherapy led to a marked response in peritoneal disease extent in our initial experience and allowed three of four patients with very advanced disease to be treated with cytoreductive surgery.

Noncurative Resection for Gastric Cancer Patients: Who Could Benefit? : Determining Prognostic Factors for Patient Selection.

BACKGROUND: Resections have long been recommended for patients with incurable gastric cancer. However, high morbidity rates and more efficient chemotherapy regimens have demanded more accurate patient selection. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of gastric cancer patients treated with noncurative resection in a single cancer center. METHODS: Medical charts of patients treated with a noncurative resection between January 1988 and December 2012 were analyzed. Individuals who had M1 disease were included, along with those with no metastasis but who had an R2 resection. Morbidity, mortality, and survival prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: In the period, 192 patients were resected, 159 with previously diagnosed metastatic disease and the other 33 having resection with macroscopic residual disease (R2). A distal gastrectomy was performed in 117 patients and a total resection in 75, with a more limited lymph node dissection in 70 % of cases. A multivisceral resection was deemed necessary in 42 individuals (21.9 %). Overall morbidity was 26.6 % and 60-day mortality was 6.8 %. Splenectomy was the only independent prognostic factor for higher morbidity. Median survival was 10 months, and younger age, distal resection, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for survival. A prognostic score obtained from these factors identified a 20-month median survival in patients with these favorable characteristics. CONCLUSION: Noncurative surgery may be considered in selected gastric cancer patients as long as it has low morbidity and allows the realization of chemotherapy.

Comparative analysis of basaloid and conventional squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus: prognostic relevance of clinicopathological features and protein expression.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC), a variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), is a rare and aggressive epithelial malignancy which has been reported in only 0.1-11 % of primary esophageal carcinomas. In this study, a comparison of clinicopathological features and protein expression between esophageal BSCC (EBSCC) and conventional esophageal SCC (ESCC) cases from Brazil was performed in order to find factors that can be relevant to better characterize EBSCC. The expression of HER2, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Ki-67, and cyclins (A, B1, and D1) in 111 cases (95 ESCC and 16 EBSCC) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray. When the clinicopathological data were compared, no significant difference was found between the two histological types. Although the difference is not significant (p = 0.055), the EGFR expression was more frequent in the conventional ESCC than in the EBSCC group. Our results indicate that the clinicopathological profiles of conventional ESCC and EBSCC are similar and provide no indicators for differences in prognosis between these two groups.

Total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: an analysis of postoperative and long-term outcomes through time: results of 413 consecutive cases in a single cancer center.

BACKGROUND: Advanced gastric cancer in the upper or middle third of the stomach is routinely treated with a total gastrectomy, albeit in some cases with higher morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to describe the morbimortality and survival results in total gastrectomy in a single center. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with gastric adenocarcinoma treated with a total gastrectomy at a single Brazilian cancer center between January 1988 and December 2011. Clinical, surgical, and pathology information were analyzed through time, with three 8-year intervals being established. Prognostic factors for survival were evaluated only among the patients treated with curative intent. RESULTS: The study comprised 413 individuals. Most were male and their median age was 59 years. The majority of patients had weight loss and were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists 2. A curative resection was performed in 336 subjects and a palliative resection was performed in 77 subjects. Overall morbidity was 37.3% and 60-day mortality was 6.5%. Temporal analysis identified more advanced tumors in the first 8-year period along with differences in the surgical procedure, with more limited lymph node dissections. In addition, a significant decrease in mortality was observed, from 13 to 4%. With a median follow-up of 74 months among living patients, median survival was 56 months, and 5-year overall survival was 49.2%. Weight loss, lymphadenectomy, tumor size, and T and N stages were prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Total gastrectomy is a safe and feasible treatment in experienced hands. Advances in surgical technique and perioperative care have improved outcomes through time.

Pancreatic mucinous cystadenoma with serum CA 19-9 over 1,000,000 U/mL: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of pancreatic cystic neoplasms has become more accurate recently. In some cases, however, doubt remains regarding the lesion's malignant potential. CA 19-9 has long been identified as a reliable biomarker in differentiating pancreatic benign and malignant lesions, especially in non-jaundiced patients. CASE REPORT AND DISCUSSION: We report a case of a young female who presented with a mucinous lesion in the tail of the pancreas and a serum CA 19-9 over 1,000,000 U/mL. She was taken to surgery and had a distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Pathology reports showed only a mucinous cystadenoma. After 1 year of follow-up, her serum CA 19-9 was normal. Following that, the work-up in these lesions, the role of the biomarker in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and in the differentiation between benign and malignant lesions is discussed.

Gallbladder cancer: expert consensus statement.

An American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA)-sponsored consensus meeting of expert panellists was convened on 15 January 2014 to review current evidence on the management of gallbladder carcinoma in order to establish practice guidelines. In summary, within high incidence areas, the assessment of routine gallbladder specimens should include the microscopic evaluation of a minimum of three sections and the cystic duct margin; specimens with dysplasia or proven cancer should be extensively sampled. Provided the patient is medically fit for surgery, data support the resection of all gallbladder polyps of >1.0 cm in diameter and those with imaging evidence of vascular stalks. The minimum staging evaluation of patients with suspected or proven gallbladder cancer includes contrasted cross-sectional imaging and diagnostic laparoscopy. Adequate lymphadenectomy includes assessment of any suspicious regional nodes, evaluation of the aortocaval nodal basin, and a goal recovery of at least six nodes. Patients with confirmed metastases to N2 nodal stations do not benefit from radical resection and should receive systemic and/or palliative treatments. Primary resection of patients with early T-stage (T1b-2) disease should include en bloc resection of adjacent liver parenchyma. Patients with T1b, T2 or T3 disease that is incidentally identified in a cholecystectomy specimen should undergo re-resection unless this is contraindicated by advanced disease or poor performance status. Re-resection should include complete portal lymphadenectomy and bile duct resection only when needed to achieve a negative margin (R0) resection. Patients with preoperatively staged T3 or T4 N1 disease should be considered for clinical trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Following R0 resection of T2-4 disease in N1 gallbladder cancer, patients should be considered for adjuvant systemic chemotherapy and/or chemoradiotherapy.

Safety and preliminary results of perioperative chemotherapy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for high-risk gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer relapse occurs in about 30% of the patients treated with gastrectomy and D2-lymphadenectomy, mainly as distant or peritoneal metastases. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been associated with an improvement in survival and lower peritoneal recurrence, albeit with increased morbidity. The aim of this study is to report the preliminary results of the association of perioperative chemotherapy, radical surgery and HIPEC in high-risk gastric patients in a single institution. METHODS: Treatment protocol was started in 2007 and included patients younger than 65 years old, with good performance status and gastric adenocarcinoma with serosa involvement and lymph node metastases, located in the body or antrum. Patients should receive three preoperative cycles of DCF (Docetaxel 75 mg/m2, Cisplatin 75 mg/m2 and continuous intravenous infusion of 5-Fluorouracil 750 mg/m2 for 5 days), followed by gastric resection with D2-lymphadenectomy, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with Mytomicin C 34 mg/m2 and three more postoperative cycles of DCF. RESULTS: Ten patients were included between 2007 and 2011. Their median age was 47 years old and six were male. Nine were staged with cT4 cN + tumors and one as cT3 cN+. Nine patients completed all three preoperative chemotherapy cycles. Eight individuals were treated with a total gastrectomy and the other two had a distal gastrectomy, all having HIPEC. Postoperative morbidity was 50%, with no deaths. Regarding postoperative chemotherapy, only 5 patients completed three cycles. With a median follow-up of 25 months, three relapses were identified and 7 patients remain disease-free, two with more than 4 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The association of perioperative systemic and intraperitoneal chemotherapy plus radical surgery is a feasible multimodality treatment, with acceptable morbidity. With a longer follow-up and a larger group of patients, we hope to be able to determine if it also influences survival outcomes and patterns of recurrence. MINI-ABSTRACT: The association of perioperative chemotherapy, gastric resection and D2-lymphadenectomy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy proved to be associated with acceptable morbidity. For survival analysis, a longer follow-up is needed.

Evaluation of Bacteria and Fungi DNA Abundance in Human Tissues.

Whereas targeted and shotgun sequencing approaches are both powerful in allowing the study of tissue-associated microbiota, the human: microorganism abundance ratios in tissues of interest will ultimately determine the most suitable sequencing approach. In addition, it is possible that the knowledge of the relative abundance of bacteria and fungi during a treatment course or in pathological conditions can be relevant in many medical conditions. Here, we present a qPCR-targeted approach to determine the absolute and relative amounts of bacteria and fungi and demonstrate their relative DNA abundance in nine different human tissue types for a total of 87 samples. In these tissues, fungi genomes are more abundant in stool and skin samples but have much lower levels in other tissues. Bacteria genomes prevail in stool, skin, oral swabs, saliva, and gastric fluids. These findings were confirmed by shotgun sequencing for stool and gastric fluids. This approach may contribute to a more comprehensive view of the human microbiota in targeted studies for assessing the abundance levels of microorganisms during disease treatment/progression and to indicate the most informative methods for studying microbial composition (shotgun versus targeted sequencing) for various samples types.