Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Improves Oncological Outcomes and Long-Term Survival Among Elderly Patients with Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: In the USA, approximately half of newly diagnosed patients with GC are 75 years or older. The objective of the current population-based study was to investigate the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on the outcomes of elderly patients with locally advanced GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients aged > 75 years were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). The primary outcome of the study was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included lymph node (LN) harvest, surgical margin status, and 30-day mortality. To minimize the effect of selection bias on the assessed outcome between the two study groups (NAC versus no NAC), propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. RESULTS: After PSM, a total of 1958 patients were included in both groups. NAC utilization increased from 2013 to 2019 (21% versus 42.7%, ptrend < 0.001). On pathologic analysis, patients who received NAC were more likely to have ≥ 16 LNs evaluated (NAC 60.1% versus no NAC 55.5%, p = 0.044) and negative resection margins (NAC 88.6% versus no NAC 83%, p = 0.001). Patients who received NAC were also less likely to experience 30-day mortality following resection (NAC 4.1% versus no NAC 7.1%). Receipt of NAC was associated with improved 1-year (73.9% versus 68.3%), 3-year (48.2% versus 43.5%), and 5-year OS (36.9% versus 30.5%) compared with patients who underwent upfront surgery (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Receipt of NAC was associated with improved oncological outcomes among elderly patients undergoing resection for locally advanced GC.

Textbook Oncological Outcome in European GASTRODATA.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the rate of textbook outcome (TO) and textbook oncological outcome (TOO) in the European population based on the GASTRODATA registry. BACKGROUND: TO is a composite parameter assessing surgical quality and strongly correlates with improved overall survival. Following the standard of treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer, TOO was proposed as a quality and optimal multimodal treatment parameter. METHODS: TO was achieved when all the following criteria were met: no intraoperative complications, radical resection according to the surgeon, pR0 resection, retrieval of at least 15 lymph nodes, no severe postoperative complications, no reintervention, no admission to the intensive care unit, no prolonged length of stay, no postoperative mortality and no hospital readmission. TOO was defined as TO with the addition of perioperative chemotherapy compliance. RESULTS: Of the 2558 patients, 1700 were included in the analysis. TO was achieved in 1164 (68.5%) patients. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy [odds ratio (OR) = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.04-1.70] and D2 or D2+ lymphadenectomy (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.15-2.10) had a positive impact on TO achievement. Older age (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.94), pT3/4 (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63-0.99), ASA 3/4 (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.54-0.86) and total gastrectomy (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.45-0.70), had a negative impact on TO achievement. TOO was achieved in 388 (22.8%) patients. Older age (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.27-0.53), pT3 or pT4 (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.39-0.69), and ASA 3 or 4 (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.43-0.79) had a negative impact on TOO achievement. CONCLUSIONS: Despite successively improved surgical outcomes, stage-appropriate chemotherapy in adherence to the current guidelines for multimodal treatment of gastric cancer remains poor. Further implementation of oncologic quality metrics should include greater emphasis on perioperative chemotherapy and adequate lymphadenectomy.

Systemic inflammatory response markers for prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tumour development is greatly influenced by the systemic inflammatory response. Inflammatory factors, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphcyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), mirror the balance between systemic inflammation and anti-tumour response. The current investigation examined the predictive and prognostic value of NLR, PLR, and LMR in advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients. METHODS: This study is a retrospective, observational analysis involving 105 GC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Thestudy population included patients who met the eligibility criteria.The relationship between NLR, PLR, LMR and demographic and clinical variables was assessed using theΧ2test. Survival data were analysed by Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: High NLR levels were associated with more advanced tumour stage.Higher risk of no tumour regression after NAC was observed if a high pretreatment level of NLR or PLR was found. All patients with an increase in NLR after NAC had a significantly higher risk of no tumor response.In groups high (no change), increase, decrease, and low (no change), NLR and PLR OS medians were: 33, 67, 78, and not reached-NR and 34, 29, 36, and NR, respectively. All patients had a significantly higher risk of death if NLR increased after NAC. An increase in post-NAC PLR level was associated with an increased risk of death only if the PLR baseline value was low. CONCLUSION: NLR and PLR are promising predictive and prognostic factors in advanced GC patients treated with NAC.

Current Status of Treatment among Patients with Appendiceal Tumors-Old Challenges and New Solutions?

The 5th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of the digestive system distinguishes four categories of appendiceal tumors (ATs): serrated lesions and polyps, mucinous neoplasms, adenocarcinomas, and neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). The differential diagnosis of ATs can be challenging in medical practice, due to their rarity and lack of data from randomized controlled trials on a large, diverse group of patients. ATs are usually noted in specimens obtained during appendectomies due to clinical acute appendicitis. In the European population, most ATs (65%) occur over the age of 50 and among women (56.8%). According to histological type, 54.6% are neuroendocrine tumors (NETs); 26.8% cystic, mucinous, and serous neoplasms; and 18.6% adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS). On pathologic analysis, most AT findings are benign lesions or small NENs that do not require further therapeutic measures. The presence of appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (AMN) can lead to pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). While the multimodal treatment for abdominal malignancies has evolved over the past several decades, the clinical workup and treatment of ATs remain a challenge. Therefore, this review aims to describe the diagnostic possibilities, molecular-based diagnosis, staging, differences in the treatment process, and prognostic factors associated with ATs.

Proximal gastric cancer-time for organ-sparing approach?

BACKGROUND: A steady increase in gastroesophageal junction and proximal gastric cancer (GC) incidence has been observed in the West. Given recent advances in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), we sought to characterize short- and long-term outcomes of patients with proximal GC who underwent total (TG) vs proximal gastrectomy (PG). METHODS: Patients with stage II/III proximal GC who underwent curative-intent treatment between 2009 and 2019 were identified using National Cancer Database. Multivariable analysis was used to identify oncologic outcomes after TG vs PG. RESULTS: Among 7616 patients with GC who underwent surgical resection, PG and TG were performed on 5246 (68.8%) and 2370 patients (31.2%), respectively. Patients who underwent PG were more likely to receive NAC (TG 52.3% vs PG 64.5%) (P < .001). On pathologic analysis, patients who underwent TG were more likely to have pT4 tumors (TG 11.7% vs PG 3.1%), metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) (TG 64.6% vs PG 60.4%), and >16 LNs evaluated (TG 64.1% vs PG 53.1%), yet a lower likelihood of negative resection margins (TG 86.6% vs PG 90.0%) (all P < .001). Although gastrectomy procedure type did not affect long-term survival, receipt of NAC was associated with overall survival (OS) among patients who underwent TG (5-year OS, NAC 43.5% vs no NAC 24.6%) and PG (5-year OS, NAC 43.1% vs no NAC 26.7%) (both P < .001). CONCLUSION: PG may be an alternative surgical approach to TG in well-selected patients with proximal GC after administration of preoperative systemic chemotherapy.

Gut Microbiota-Adversary or Ally? Its Role and Significance in Colorectal Cancer Pathogenesis, Progression, and Treatment.

In 2022, colorectal cancer (CRC) was the third most prevalent malignancy worldwide. The therapeutic approach for CRC typically involves a multimodal regimen. The human gut microbiota comprises over 35,000 bacterial species. The composition of the gut microbiota is influenced by dietary intake, which plays a crucial role in food absorption, nutrient extraction, and the development of low-grade inflammation. Dysbiosis in the gut microbiota is a key driver of inflammation and is strongly associated with CRC development. While the gut microbiome influences CRC initiation and progression, emerging evidence suggests a role for the gut microbiome in modulating the efficacy and toxicity of cancer treatments. Therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiome, such as probiotics, hold promise as effective interventions in the modern therapeutical approach to CRC. For example, Microbiota Implementation to Reduce Anastomotic Colorectal Leaks (MIRACLe) implementation has resulted in improvements in clinical outcomes, including reduced incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL), surgical site infections (SSIs), reoperation, as well as shorter recovery times and hospital stays compared with the control group. Therefore, this review aims to describe the current state of knowledge regarding the involvement of the gut microbiota in CRC pathogenesis and its potential therapeutic implications to treat CRC.

Improved guideline compliance and textbook oncologic outcomes among patients undergoing multimodal treatment and minimally invasive surgery for locally advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been identified to improve unfavorable survival outcomes among patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC), several randomized controlled trials have not demonstrated a difference in oncological outcomes/overall survival (OS) among patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) versus open gastrectomy. This study aimed to investigate National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline adherence and textbook oncological outcome (TOO) among patients undergoing MIS versus open surgery for LAGC. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with stage II/III LAGC (cT2-T4N0-3M0) who underwent curative-intent treatment between 2013 and 2019 were evaluated using the National Cancer Database. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess the association between surgical approach, NCCN guideline adherence, TOO, and OS. The study was registered on the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry (registration number: ISRCTN53410429) and conducted according to the Strengthening The Reporting Of Cohort Studies in Surgery and Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. RESULTS: Among 13,885 patients, median age at diagnosis was 68 years (IQR, 59-76); most patients were male (n = 9887, 71.2%) and identified as White (n = 10,295, 74.1%). Patients who underwent MIS (n = 4692, 33.8%) had improved NCCN guideline adherence and TOO compared with patients who underwent open surgery (51.3% vs 43.5% and 36.7% vs 27.3%, respectively; both P < .001). Adherence to NCCN guidelines and likelihood to achieve TOO increased from 2013 to 2019 (35.6% vs 50.9% and 31.4% vs 46.4%, respectively; both P < .001). Moreover, improved median OS was observed among patients with NCCN guideline adherence and TOO undergoing MIS versus open surgery (57.3 vs 49.8 months [P = .041] and 68.4 vs 60.6 months [P = .025], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: An overall increase in guideline-adherent treatment and achievement of TOO among patients with LAGC undergoing multimodal and curative-intent treatment in the United States was observed. Adoption of minimally invasive gastrectomy may result in improved short- and long-term outcomes.

Prognostic Value of Inflammatory Burden Index in Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Multimodal Treatment.

Since increasing evidence underlines the prominent role of systemic inflammation in carcinogenesis, the inflammation burden index (IBI) has emerged as a promising biomarker to estimate survival outcomes among cancer patients. The IBI has only been validated in Eastern gastric cancer (GC) patients; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the IBI as a prognostic biomarker in Central European GC patients undergoing multimodal treatment. Ninety-three patients with histologically confirmed GC who underwent multimodal treatment between 2013 and 2021 were included. Patient recruitment started with the standardization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Blood samples were obtained one day prior to surgical treatment. The textbook outcome (TO) served as the measure of surgical quality, and tumor responses to NAC were evaluated according to Becker's system tumor regression grade (TRG). A high IBI was associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.13-7.72). In multivariate analysis, a high IBI (HR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.28-5.13) and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR, HR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.32-4.94) were associated with an increased risk of death, while NAC administration (HR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.18-0.90) and TO achievement (HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.22-0.81) were associated with a lower risk of death. The IBI was associated with postoperative complications and mortality among GC patients undergoing multimodal treatment.

MalnutritiOn assessment with biOelectrical impedaNce analysis in gastRic cancer patIentS undergoing multimodaltrEatment (MOONRISE)-Study protocol for a single-arm multicenter cross-sectional longitudinal study.

European data suggests that over 30% of gastric cancer (GC) patients are diagnosed with sarcopenia before surgery, while unintentional weight loss occurs in approximately 30% of patients following gastrectomy. Preoperative sarcopenia significantly increases the risk of major postoperative complications, and preoperative body weight loss remains a superior predictor of outcome and an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in patients with GC. A standardized approach of nutritional risk screening of GC patients is yet to be established. Therefore, the MOONRISE study aims to prospectively analyze the changes in nutritional status and body composition at each stage of multimodal treatment among GC patients from five Western expert centers. Specifically, we seek to assess the association between nutritional status and body composition on tumor response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Secondary outcomes of the study are treatment toxicity, postoperative complications, quality of life (QoL), and OS. Patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma scheduled for multimodal treatment will be included in the study. Four consecutive nutritional status assessments will be performed throughout the treatment. The following study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05723718) and will be conducted in accordance with the STROBE statement. The anticipated duration of the study is 12-24 months, depending on the recruitment status. Results of this study will reveal whether nutritional status and body composition assessment based on BIA will become a validated and objective tool to support clinical decisions in GC patients undergoing multimodal treatment.

Textbook Neoadjuvant Outcome-Novel Composite Measure of Oncological Outcomes among Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Multimodal Treatment.

The incidence of gastric cancer (GC) is expected to increase to 1.77 million cases by 2040. To improve treatment outcomes, GC patients are increasingly treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) prior to curative-intent resection. Although NAC enhances locoregional control and comprehensive patient care, survival rates remain poor, and further investigations should establish outcomes assessment of current clinical pathways. Individually assessed parameters have served as benchmarks for treatment quality in the past decades. The Outcome4Medicine Consensus Conference underscores the inadequacy of isolated metrics, leading to increased recognition and adoption of composite measures. One of the most simple and comprehensive is the "All or None" method, which refers to an approach where a specific set of criteria must be fulfilled for an individual to achieve the overall measure. This narrative review aims to present the rationale for the implementation of a novel composite measure, Textbook Neoadjuvant Outcome (TNO). TNO integrates five objective and well-established components: Treatment Toxicity, Laboratory Tests, Imaging, Time to Surgery, and Nutrition. It represents a desired, multidisciplinary care and hospitalization of GC patients undergoing NAC to identify the treatment- and patient-related data required to establish high-quality oncological care further. A key strength of this narrative review is the clinical feasibility and research background supporting the implementation of the first and novel composite measure representing the "ideal" and holistic care among patients with locally advanced esophago-gastric junction (EGJ) and GC in the preoperative period after NAC. Further analysis will correlate clinical outcomes with the prognostic factors evaluated within the TNO framework.

Techniques of staging laparoscopy and peritoneal fluid assessment in gastric cancer: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Staging laparoscopy for gastric cancer is recommended to assess the tumor's locoregional extension and exclude peritoneal disease. As there is no consensus on optimizing the procedure's diagnostic accuracy, we aimed to systematically review the literature on operative techniques, followed by peritoneal lavage fluid assessment in gastric cancer patients. Specifically, we sought to indicate the most common characteristics of the procedure and cytological evaluation. METHODS: This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The protocol for this systematic review was registered on PROSPERO database (CRD: 42022306746). On September 2022, a search was carried out using Embase, Medline ALL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science Core Collection. RESULTS: The search identified 1632 studies on staging laparoscopy and 2190 studies on peritoneal fluid assessment. Some 212 studies were included. Open Hasson was the method of choice in accessing the peritoneal cavity in 65% of the studies, followed by establishing a pneumoperitoneum at 10-12 mmHg in 52% of reports. Most frequently, the patient was positioned supine (70%), while a 30° scope and three ports were used to assess the peritoneal cavity clockwise (72%, 77%, and 85%, respectively). Right and left upper abdomen quadrants were the predominant area of laparoscopic exploration (both 65%), followed by the primary tumor region (54%), liver and pelvis (both 30%), and small bowel and spleen (19% and 17%, respectively). Regions of peritoneal lavage and aspiration were limited to the pelvis (50%), followed by right and left upper abdomen quadrants (37.5% and 50%, respectively). No studies compared different methods of operative techniques or analysis of ascites/fluid. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a high heterogeneity in the technique of staging laparoscopy and peritoneal fluid assessment in gastric cancer patients. Further research and initiatives to reach a consensus on the standardization of the procedure are warranted.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), Oncological Outcomes and Long-Term Survival among Patients with Gastric Cancer and Limited Peritoneal Disease Progression after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: The role of surgery in stage IV gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis (PM) remains unclear. The objective of the current single-center study was to define the impact of gastrectomy with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on outcomes among Central European GC patients with limited peritoneal disease progression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed GC who underwent curative-intent multimodal treatment between 2013 and 2023 were included. Patients without adenocarcinoma, who did not undergo gastrectomy, had early (cT1) or metastatic GC at the time of initial diagnosis, who underwent multivisceral resection, incomplete cytoreduction or palliative care, died before planned curative-intent treatment, or had incomplete clinical or pathological missing information were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients who underwent curative-intent treatment for GC with PM were included in the final analytic cohort. Patients who underwent gastrectomy with CRS+HIPEC were less likely to achieve TOO (CRS+HIPEC: 28% vs. CRS: 57.1%, p = 0.033) compared with individuals after CRS alone. Specifically, patients who underwent gastrectomy with CRS+HIPEC had a higher likelihood of postoperative complications (CRS+HIPEC: 48% vs. CRS: 20.4%, p = 0.018) and longer hospital LOS (median, CRS+HIPEC: 12 vs. CRS: 10, p = 0.019). While administration of HIPEC did not impact long-term survival (median OS, CRS+HIPEC: 16 months vs. CRS: 12 months, p = 0.55), postoperative complications (median OS, CCI < 30:16 months vs. CCI > 30:5 months, p = 0.024) and ICU stay (median OS, no ICU stay: 16 months vs. ICU stay: 5 months, p = 0.008) were associated with worsened long-term survival among GC patients with PM. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the current study demonstrated a lack of survival benefit among advanced GC patients with PM undergoing gastrectomy with CRS+HIPEC when compared with individuals after gastrectomy with CRS alone. Administration of perioperative chemotherapy and achievement of TO failed to withstand the peritoneal disease progression during NAC.

Staging LaParoscopy to Assess Lymph NOde InvoLvement in Advanced GAstric Cancer (POLA)-Study protocol for a single-arm prospective observational multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: In the era of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer (GC), the role of staging laparoscopy (SL) will become more established. However, despite guidelines recommendations, SL for optimal preoperative staging remains underutilized. Diagnostic value of near-infrared (NIR) / indocyanine green (ICG) guided sentinel node (SN) mapping in GC confirmed its technical feasibility, however no data exist regarding its potential role in pathological nodal staging. To the best of our knowledge, current study is the first to evaluate the role of ICG in nodal staging of advanced GC patients undergoing SL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-arm prospective observational multicenter study was approved by the Bioethical Committee of Medical University of Lublin (Ethic Code: KE-0254/331/2018). The protocol is registered at clinicaltrial.gov (NCT05720598), and the study results will be reported according to the Strengthening of Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. The primary endpoint of this study is the identification rate of ICG-guided SN in advanced GC patients. The secondary endpoints include pathological and molecular assessment of retrieved SNs and other pretreatment clinical variables potentially associated with SL: pattern of perigastric ICG distribution according to patients' pathological and clinical characteristics, neoadjuvant chemotherapy compliance, 30-day morbidity, and mortality. CONCLUSION: POLA study is the first to investigate the clinical value of ICG-enhanced sentinel node biopsy during staging laparoscopy in advanced GC patients in a Western cohort. Identifying pN status before multimodal treatment will improve GC staging process.

Prognostic Value of Systemic Inflammatory Response Markers in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer in the Eastern European Population.

The prognostic value of the systemic inflammatory response markers, namely neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has not yet been clarified in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer (GC) in the Eastern European population. This study aimed to verify the prognostic value of NLR, PLR, and LMR in GC patients undergoing multimodal treatment. One hundred six GC patients undergoing NAC and gastrectomy between 2012 and 2020 were included. Analysed blood samples were obtained prior to NAC (pre-NAC group) and before surgical treatment (post-NAC group). To evaluate the prognostic value of the NLR, LMR, and PLR, univariable and multivariable overall survival (OS) analyses were performed. In the pre-NAC group, elevated NLR and PLR were associated with significantly higher risk of death (mOS: 36 vs. 87 months; HR = 2.21; p = 0.0255 and mOS: 30 vs. 87 months; HR = 2.89; p = 0.0034, respectively). Additionally, a significantly higher risk of death was observed in patients with elevated NLR in the post-NAC group (mOS: 35 vs. 87 months; HR = 1.94; p = 0.0368). Selected systemic inflammatory response markers (NLR, PLR) are significant prognostic factors in patients with advanced GC treated with NAC and gastrectomy, as shown in the Eastern European population.

Prognostic value of molecular cytology by one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) assay of peritoneal washings in advanced gastric cancer patients.

Peritoneal dissemination is a common form of gastric cancer (GC) recurrence, despite surgery with curative intent. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of intraperitoneal lavage One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) assay in advanced GC patients. OSNA assay targeting CK-19 mRNA was applied to detect free cancer cells (FCC) in intraperitoneal lavage samples obtained during gastrectomy. A total of 82 GC patients were enrolled to investigate the correlation between OSNA assay and patient's prognosis. Of the 82 patients, OSNA assay was positive in 25 (30.5%) patients. The median OS in OSNA positive patients was significantly lower than in OSNA negative patients (19 vs 45 months). Positive OSNA assay result was a significant unfavourable prognostic factor in both, univariable (HR 3.45, 95% CI 0.95-12.48; p = 0.0030) and multivariable analysis (HR 3.10, 95% CI 1.22-8.54; p = 0.0298). Positive OSNA assay in intraperitoneal lavage is a valuable indicator of poor survival in advanced GC patients after multimodal treatment. After further confirmation on larger sample size, OSNA assay of peritoneal washings could be considered an adjunct tool to conventional cytology, the current gold standard, to provide precise intraoperative staging and additional prognostic information.

Union is strength: Textbook outcome with perioperative chemotherapy compliance decreases the risk of death in advanced gastric cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Perioperative chemotherapy (POC) in advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients significantly increases the curative resection rate and overall survival (OS). Textbook outcome (TO) represents a composite of surgical quality metrics strongly associated with improved OS. However, the current definition of TO after resection for GC does not include POC. Herein we propose to supplement the current description of TO with an additional feature, POC compliance. The present study aimed to evaluate prognostic impact of thus defined textbook oncological outcome (TOO) among patients undergoing gastrectomy for advanced GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected data from a prospectively maintained database of all patients operated for GC between 2010 and 2020 in our institution. Patients with histologically confirmed and resectable advanced GC but without distant metastases, in whom multimodal treatment was planned by institutional MDT were included. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients were analyzed. In the multivariate analysis, patients with TOO had a 50 % lower risk of death than patients without TOO (medians: NR vs 42 months; HR = 0.50, p = 0.0109). Patients treated with POC had a 43 % lower risk of death than patients treated with only preoperative chemotherapy (medians: 78 vs 33 months; HR = 0.57, p = 0.0450). Patients with a pathological response (PR) in the primary tumor had a 59 % lower risk of death than patients without PR (medians: NR vs 36 months; HR = 0.41, p = 0.0229). POC combined with TO surgery significantly decreased the risk of death in advanced GC patients (medians: NR vs 42 months; HR = 0.35, p = 0.0258). CONCLUSION: Since TOO is associated with improved survival, it may serve as a multimodal treatment quality parameter in patients with advanced GC.

A Propensity Score Matched Analysis of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide versus Radioisotope Sentinel Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer Patients after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

The standard method for nodal staging in breast cancer (BC) patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with a radioisotope (RI) injection. However, SLNB after NAC results in high false-negative rates (FNR), and the RI method is restricted by nuclear medicine unit dependency. These limitations resulted in the development of the superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) method, reducing FNR and presenting a comparable detection rate. This bi-institutional cohort comparison study aimed to assess the efficacy of SPIO and radioisotope SNLB in BC patients after NAC using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) analysis. The study group comprised 508 patients who underwent SLNB after NAC for ycT1-4N0M0 BC between 2013 and 2021 in two high volume centers. Data were retrieved from prospectively conducted databases. In the SPIO group, the median of retrieved sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) was significantly higher than in the RI group (3 vs. 2; p < 0.0001). The SPIO method was associated with a significantly higher chance of retrieving at least three lymph nodes when compared to the RI method (71% vs. 11.3%; p < 0.0001). None of the analyzed demographic and clinical variables had a statistically significant influence on the efficacy of SLNs retrieval in the RI group, while in the SPIO group, patients with ≥three harvested SLNs had lower weight and decreased BMI. Based on this PSM analysis, SPIO-guided SLNB allowed the efficient retrieval and detection of SLNs in BC patients after NAC compared to RI.

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide for Identifying Sentinel Lymph Node in Breast Cancer after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Feasibility Study.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a well-established procedure for staging clinically node-negative early breast cancer (BC). Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) demonstrated efficacy for nodal identification using a magnetic probe after local retroaeroal interstitial injection. Its benefits lie in its flexibility, which is an essential property in the global setting, where access to the isotope is difficult. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the SPIO for SLNB in BC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Seventy-four female patients were included. The median time of lymph node retrieval was 20 min. The median number of resected sentinel nodes (SNs) was 4. SN was detected in all patients. No serious adverse event was observed. SPIO in identifying SN in BC patients after NAC is feasible and oncologically safe.

Molecular Cytology by One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) Assay of Peritoneal Washings during D2 Gastrectomy in Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients: Preliminary Results.

The presence of peritoneal free cancer cells (FCC) in gastric cancer (GC) patients is a poor prognostic factor. D2 gastrectomy may induce exfoliated FCC spread from the primary tumour or involved lymph nodes (LN). Conventional cytology for FCC detection has several limitations, whereas prophylactic use of extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage (IPL) does not improve survival. A prospective single-arm observational study was conducted to verify whether D2 gastrectomy causes an intraoperative increase of FCC in peritoneal fluid. Twenty-seven GC patients underwent D2 gastrectomy, followed by objective quantitative measurements of CK19 mRNA level reflecting FCC with One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) assay. The IPL with 3000 mL of saline was performed twice: (1) after gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and (2) after alimentary tract reconstruction. The IPL samples were analysed by initial cytology and four (1-4) consecutive OSNA assays. Initial OSNA measurement (1) revealed positive results (≥24.6 cCP/µL) in 7 (29.6%) patients. Subsequent OSNA measurements showed a significant decrease in the FCC level after D2 gastrectomy (1 vs. 2; p = 0.0012). The first IPL induced a non-significant increase in the FCCs (2 vs. 3, p = 0.3300), but the second IPL reversed it to normal levels (3 vs. 4, p = 0.0.0574). The OSNA assay indicates a temporal intraoperative increase in the peritoneal FCC in advanced GC patients undergoing D2 gastrectomy. Two consecutive IPLs are necessary to reverse the increase of CK19 mRNA level in peritoneal washings.