Impact of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Feeding on Nutritional Status in Patients Undergoing Chemoradiotherapy for Oesophageal Cancer.

Introduction: Oesophageal cancer causes dysphagia and weight loss. Malnutrition further worsens with multimodal treatment. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement in the nutritional status of patients with oesophageal cancer requiring chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods: A comparative study with a prospective arm and a historical cohort was conducted. Oesophageal cancer patients undergoing CRT with dysphagia grade >2 and/or weight loss >10% were submitted to PEG-tube placement (pull method) before CRT. Stoma seeding was evaluated through a swab obtained after placement and, in surgical patients, the resected stoma. A matched historical cohort without PEG placement was used as control (trial ACTRN12616000697482). Results: Twenty-nine patients (intervention group, IG) were compared to 30 patients (control group, CG). Main outcomes did not differ in the IG and CG: weight loss during CRT 8.1 ± 5.5 kg versus 9.1 ± 4.2 kg (p = 0.503); 6-month mortality after CRT or surgery 17.2% versus 26.7% (p = 0.383); perioperative complication rate 54.5% versus 55.6% (p = 1.000); unplanned hospital admissions 34.5% versus 40.0% (p = 0.661). In the CG, during CRT, 14 (46.7%) patients presented with dysphagia grade 3-4, of whom 12 required nasogastric tube feeding (n = 10), surgical gastrostomy (n = 1), and oesophageal dilation (n = 1). In the IG, 89.7% used the PEG tube during CRT, sometimes exclusively in 51.7%. Adverse events were mainly minor (n = 12, 41.4%), mostly late peristomal infections, 1 major complication (exploratory laparotomy due to suspected colonic interposition, not confirmed). There was no cytological or histological evidence of stomal tumour seeding. Conclusion: Weight loss, hospital admissions, surgical complications, and mortality were identical in oesophageal cancer patients referred for CRT, regardless of prophylactic PEG. However, half of the patients required exclusive enteral nutritional support, making PEG-tube placement an alternative to consider.

Introdução: A neoplasia do esófago associa-se a disfagia e perda ponderal, sendo a desnutrição agravada pelo tratamento multimodal. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da colocação de gastrostomia percutânea endoscópica (PEG) no estado nutricional de doentes com neoplasia do esófago propostos para quimiorradioterapia (QRT). Métodos: Estudo comparativo com braço prospetivo e controlo retrospetivo. Incluídos doentes com neoplasia do esófago propostos para QRT definitiva ou neoadjuvante, com disfagia grau >2 e/ou perda de peso <10%. Colocada PEG (método pull) antes do início de QRT. Avaliada sementeira tumoral por zaragatoa e histologia. Como controlo, utilizada coorte histórica de doentes sem PEG. Registo ACTRN12616000697482. Resultados: 29 doentes (grupo intervenção, GI) foram comparados com 30 controlos (GC). Sem diferença significativa nos principais outcomes: perda de peso durante a QRT 8.1 ± 5.5 kg versus 9.1 ± 4.2 kg (p = 0.503); mortalidade aos 6 meses após QRT ou cirurgia 17.2% versus 26.7% (p = 0.383); taxa de complicações perioperatórias 54.5% versus 55.6% (p = 1.000); admissões hospitalares não planeadas 34.5% versus 40.0% (p = 0.661). No GC, durante a QRT, 14 (46.7%) apresentaram disfagia graus 3­4, dos quais 12 necessitaram de nutrição por sonda nasogástrica (n = 10), gastrostomia cirúrgica (n = 1) ou dilatação esofágica (n = 1). No GI, 89.7% utilizaram a PEG durante QRT, em algum momento de forma exclusiva em 51.7%. Os eventos adversos foram sobretudo minor (n = 12; 41.4%), sobretudo infeções tardias peri-estoma; 1 complicação major (laparotomia exploradora por suspeita de interposição de cólon, não confirmada). Sem evidência citológica ou histológica de sementeira tumoral no estoma. Conclusão: Embora não se tenham observado diferenças na perda de peso, complicações cirúrgicas e mortalidade entre grupos, metade dos utentes necessitou de nutrição entérica exclusiva, tornando a colocação de PEG uma alternativa a considerar.

Mid-Esophagus Columnar Metaplasia: What Is the Biopathogenic Pathway?

We report a case of metaplastic columnar epithelium in the mid-esophagus in a patient with history of caustic ingestion. A cardiac-type gastric phenotype, with early signs of intestinalization, was confirmed by immunohistochemistry studies (MUC5AC, MUC6, SOX2, and CDX2). Nonmetaplastic mucosa had histologic evidence of gastroesophageal reflux. In this case, esophageal reepithelization seems to have been modulated by acidic gastroesophageal reflux, which might activate transcription factors leading to phenotypic reprogramming of the regenerative epithelium. Most interestingly, it is a clinical example showcasing the origin of columnar metaplasia from stem cells located within the esophageal epithelium.

Intensive Follow-Up After Curative Surgery for Colorectal Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of postoperative surveillance programs after curative treatment for colorectal cancer is to detect asymptomatic recurrences with the premise that an important rate will be eligible for curative resection, improving overall survival. We have implemented a surveillance program for patients with colorectal cancer, stages II-III, with periodic clinical, carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen-19-9 assessment, computed tomography and colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to assess the rate of curative treatment of recurrence, colorectal cancer mortality and clinical characteristics associated with non-resectable recurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Open cohort study, single center. All patients on the intensive surveillance program between March 2008 and January 2015 were included. STATISTICS: chi-square, Wilcoxon rank sum test, logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier log-rank test (SPSS20®). RESULTS: We had a total 404 patients evaluated; 59.6% male; mean age of 65 ± 10 years; 50.7% rectal tumor; 56.2% stage III. The average time of follow-up was 37 months and the recurrence rate was 12.9% (n = 52), mostly detected in the first three years (88.4%). The pattern of recurrence was associated with the site of the primary tumor (p < 0.001). Twenty-one patients underwent curative resection. Factors associated with non-resectable recurrence were aged ≥ 70 years (p = 0.022), disease location in the colon (p = 0.033) and cancer antigen-19-9-9 elevation (p = 0.024). The overall rate of cancer-specific mortality was 2.2% (n = 9). DISCUSSION: The association between colon cancer and non-resectable recurrence is explained by the higher rate of disseminated disease in these patients. Cancer antigen-19-9 added no benefit to the surveillance program. CONCLUSION: This intensive real-world postoperative surveillance program allowed performing curative surgery to 40.3% of patients with recurrence.

Introdução: A vigilância intensiva pós-operatória do carcinoma colo-retal permite a deteção da recorrência em fase assintomática, aumentando o número de doentes que podem beneficiar de nova cirurgia. Implementámos um programa de vigilância de doentes com carcinoma colo-retal estádios II-III, operados com intenção curativa, com avaliação clínica, tomografia computorizada e colonoscopia. O presente estudo teve como objectivos avaliar a taxa de cirurgia de intenção curativa, a taxa de mortalidade por cancro e identificar características clínicas associadas à irresecabilidade da recidiva. Material e Métodos: Estudo de coorte, unicêntrico. Foram incluídos todos os doentes com carcinoma colo-retal integrados em programa de vigilância entre março de 2008 e janeiro de 2015. Análise estatística: qui-quadrado, Wilcoxon, regressão logística, Kaplan-Meier (SPSS20®). Resultados: Avaliámos 404 doentes; idade média: 65 ± 10 anos, 59,6% sexo masculino, 50,7% reto, 56,2% estádio III. O tempo médio de vigilância foi 37 meses e a taxa de recidiva foi 12,9% (n = 52), a maioria detetada nos primeiros três anos (88,4%). O padrão de recidiva associou-se à localização do tumor primário (p < 0,001). Vinte e um doentes foram submetidos a cirurgia curativa. Os fatores associados a recidiva irressecável foram: idade ≥ 70 anos (p = 0,022), carcinoma colo-retal localizado no cólon (p = 0,033) e elevação de antigénio carboidrato 19-9 (p = 0,024). A taxa global de mortalidade específica por cancro foi 2,2% (n = 9). Discussão: A associação entre neoplasia do cólon e recidiva irressecável deve-se à taxa mais elevada de doença disseminada nestes doentes. O antigénio carboidrato 19-9 não trouxe benefício acrescido ao programa de vigilância. Conclusão: Este estudo confirma o interesse clínico da vigilância intensiva na deteção de recidiva assintomática, permitindo alcançar cirurgia curativa em 40,3% dos doentes com recidiva.