Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair and Roux-en-Y Conversion for Refractory Duodenogastroesophageal Reflux after Billroth I Distal Gastrectomy

Distal gastrectomy with Billroth I or II reconstruction may cause duodenogastroesophageal reflux (DGER), thereby resulting in digestive or respiratory symptoms. The mainstay of treatment is medication with proton pump inhibitors. However, these drugs may have limited effects in DGER. Laparoscopic fundoplication has been proven to be highly effective in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but it cannot be performed optimally for GERD that develops after gastrectomy. We report the case of a 72-year-old man with a history of distal gastrectomy and Billroth I anastomosis due to early gastric cancer. GERD due to bile reflux occurred after surgery and was refractory to medical therapy. The patient underwent Roux-en-Y conversion from Billroth I gastroduodenostomy and hiatal hernia repair with only cruroplasty. Fundoplication was not performed. His symptoms improved significantly after the surgery. Therefore, laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair and Roux-en-Y conversion can be an effective surgical procedure to treat medically refractory DGER after Billroth I gastrectomy.

Long-limb Roux-en-Y Reconstruction after Subtotal Gastrectomy to Treat Severe Diabetic Gastroparesis

The role of surgical intervention in patients with diabetic gastroparesis is unclear. We report a case of a 37-year-old man with a history of recurrent episodes of vomiting and long-standing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy did not reveal any findings of reflux esophagitis or obstructive lesions. A gastric emptying time scan showed prolonged gastric emptying half-time (344 minutes) indicating delayed gastric emptying. Laboratory tests revealed elevated fasting serum glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c, 12.9%) and normal fasting C-peptide and insulin levels. We performed Roux-en-Y reconstruction after subtotal gastrectomy to treat gastroparesis and improve glycemic control, and the patient showed complete resolution of gastrointestinal symptoms postoperatively. Barium swallow test and gastric emptying time scan performed at follow-up revealed regular progression of barium and normal gastric emptying. Three months postoperatively, his fasting serum glucose level was within normal limits without the administration of insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs with a reduced HbA1c level (6.9%). Long-limb Roux-en-Y reconstruction after subtotal gastrectomy may be useful to treat severe diabetic gastroparesis by improving gastric emptying and glycemic control.

Analysis of lawsuit cases in the Department of Surgery in Korea

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to prepare medical staff in order to prevent medical malpractice litigation through analysis of litigation cases related to the department of surgery in Korea. METHODS: A total of 94 litigation cases related to the department of surgery, where a certain amount of payment was ordered to the defendant between 2005 through 2010, were analyzed. We examined time of occurrence, amount claimed and awarded in damages, plaintiff claims, and court opinion. RESULTS: An average of 3.2 years was spent from the date of the incident occurring to the end of the litigation procedures. The average amount awarded in judgments for damages was 59,708,983 ± 67,307,264 (range, 1,700,000–365,201,482) Korean won. Cases were found involving the following opinion of the court: violation of duty of care (49 cases), violation of informed consent (7 cases), violation of duty of care and informed consent (5 cases), and settlement, reconciliation, and others (32 cases). By analyzing defendants' negligence in court opinions, diagnosis (30.8%) was the most common, followed by post-operation management (27.7%). CONCLUSION: Physicians have to conduct treatment and surgery based on exact diagnosis and be careful to observe patients' conditions and symptoms after surgery. It is essential to identify the current status and characteristics of medical litigation for reducing further litigation and improving patient safety. In order to create a safe medical environment, national efforts should be made not only by individuals but also at the national level.

Antireflux surgery is equally beneficial in nonerosive and erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease

PURPOSE: Although nonerosive and erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have similar symptom severity, nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) is considered a milder type of GERD and gastroenterologists have hesitated to refer these patients for antireflux surgery. The aim of this study was to compare surgical outcomes of antireflux surgery between patients with NERD and erosive reflux disease (ERD). METHODS: Seventy patients met the inclusion criteria of this study among a total of 117 patients who underwent antireflux surgery from November 2012 to October 2017. According to preoperative endoscopy, patients were classified into NERD group (minimal changes or no esophagitis) and ERD group. Clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared between NERD and ERD. RESULTS: There were 26 patients in NERD group and 44 patients in ERD group. The male:female ratio was higher in the ERD group than in the NERD group (P = 0.044). Preoperative symptoms, response to acid suppressive medication, acid exposure on pH monitoring study, and esophageal manometry results were similar in the 2 groups. Reflux on barium esophagography was more frequently observed in ERD (77.3%) than in NERD (50.0%, P = 0.019). At 6 months after surgery, complete resolution and partial improvement of GERD symptoms were similar in the 2 groups (80.8% and 15.4%, respectively, in NERD vs. 88.6% and 2.3%, respectively, in ERD; P = 0.363). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is equally beneficial to patients with NERD and ERD. Antireflux surgery should not be avoided for GERD patients without mucosal breaks on endoscopy as the evidence of erosive esophagitis.

Factors predicting outcomes of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease: experience at a single institution in Korea

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic fundoplication is considered the standard surgical treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Western countries. However, some patients experience poor surgical outcomes with this procedure. The study aimed to identify the predictive factors of the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for the treatment of Korean GERD patients. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with GERD were treated using laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication between November 2012 and February 2015. Symptom control rates were compared according to clinical and surgical factors to identify predictive factors of successful surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-five men and 26 women were enrolled. Preoperatively, typical symptoms were present in 60 patients (98%), while atypical symptoms were present in 40 patients (66%). Postoperatively, typical symptoms were controlled in 51 of 60 patients (85.0%), while atypical symptoms were controlled in 33 of 40 patients (82.5%). Overall, at 6 months postsurgery, 54 (88.5%) reported some resolution of GERD symptoms, with 48 (78.7%) achieving complete control. Patients who exhibited a good response to proton pump inhibitor therapy had a significantly greater rate of complete symptom control (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic fundoplication is effective for controlling GERD symptoms. Response to preoperative proton pump inhibitor was a predictor of successful outcome.

Laparoscopic Gastrectomy Performed by an Expert in Open Gastrectomy

PURPOSE: Senior surgeons prefer open gastrectomy (OG), while young surgeons prefer laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes of LG performed by a senior surgeon who was an expert in OG during his learning period, by comparing them with LGs performed by a young surgeon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A senior surgeon performed 50 curative gastrectomies with laparoscopy (LG-S group) from March 2015 to August 2016. A young surgeon's initial 50 LGs comprised the LG-Y group. Clinicopathological characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared between the LG-S and LG-Y groups. RESULTS: D2 lymphadenectomy was more frequently performed in the LG-S group than in the LG-Y group (P=0.029). The operation time and number of retrieved lymph nodes did not significantly differ between the 2 surgeons (P=0.258 and P=0.410, respectively). Postoperative hospital stay and postoperative complication rate were similar between 2 groups (P=0.234 and P=1.000, respectively). Similarly, significant decreases in operation time with increasing case numbers were observed for both surgeons, whereas the number of retrieved lymph nodes increased significantly in the LG-Y group but not in the LG-S group. CONCLUSIONS: The LG outcomes when performed by the senior surgeon were comparable to those when performed by the young surgeon, despite performing more extended lymphadenectomies. Senior surgeons who are experts in OG should not refrain from performing LG.

Disappearance of Serum Methylated p16 Indicates Longer Survival in Patients with Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess clinical correlations with postoperative alteration of p16 DNA methylation, and to clarify whether postoperative changes in the serum DNA methylation status of p16 could be used as a reliable prognostic factor for gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three consecutive gastric adenocarcinoma patients who underwent gastric resection (Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea) were included. DNA methylation of p16 was evaluated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction using serum DNA preoperatively and at the 10th postoperative day. The correlation between changes in methylation status and patients' prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: p16 was methylated in 79.2% of preoperative serum DNA and in 54.7% of postoperative serum DNA, respectively. Methylation in p16 disappeared more frequently in patients who underwent standard D2 lymphadenectomy compared to those who underwent modified D1+ lymphadenectomy (P=0.016). Whereas methylation of preoperative serum DNA was not correlated with survival, patients with postoperative disappearance of p16 methylation showed longer survival than those without postoperative disappearance of p16 methylation in the patients who had gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis (P=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative disappearance of p16 methylation could be an available prognostic factor for node-positive gastric cancer.

Post-extubation negative pressure pulmonary edema complicating laparoscopic appendectomy: A report of two cases

We report two cases of post-extubation negative pressure pulmonary edema in otherwise healthy patients. The patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy under general anesthesia and developed negative pressure pulmonary edema immediately after extubation. All cases fully resolved within 24 hours with supplementary oxygen. The literature suggests that post-extubation pulmonary edema occurs more frequently than is generally thought, with a frequency of 0.05-0.1% in all anesthesia, and is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. Most cases occur in the early post-operative period, and this is potentially life-threatening condition. Therefore, anesthesiologist and surgeon are well placed to witness, investigate and manage this condition.

Laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann's procedure / 대한외과학회지

Reversal of Hartmann's procedure is a major surgical procedure associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Because of the difficulty of the procedure, laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann's procedure is not well established. We describe our experience with this laparoscopic procedure to assess its difficulty and safety. Five patients (4 men and 1 woman) underwent laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann's procedure (LRHP). The initial surgeries were performed to manage obstructive colorectal cancer for 4 patients, and rectovesical fistula for one patient. The procedure was laparoscopically completed for 4 patients. Conversion to open laparotomy was required for one patient, secondary to massive adhesion in lower abdomen. Transient ileostomies were made in 2 cases. Operative time ranged from 240 to 545 minutes. There was no operative mortality. LRHP can be performed safely by an experienced surgeon. However, it is still technically challenging and time consuming.

Interstitial lung disease caused by TS-1: a case of long-term drug retention as a fatal adverse reaction / 대한외과학회지

TS-1 is an oral anti-cancer agent for gastric cancer with a high response rate and low toxicity. We report a case of long-term drug retention of TS-1 causing interstitial lung disease (ILD) as a fatal adverse reaction. A 65-year-old woman underwent a total gastrectomy with pathologic confirmation of gastric adenocarcinoma. She received 6 cycles of TS-1 and low-dose cisplatin for post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy followed by single-agent maintenance therapy with TS-1. After 8 months, the patient complained of a productive cough with sputum and mild dyspnea. A pulmonary evaluation revealed diffuse ILD in the lung fields, bilaterally. In spite of discontinuing chemotherapy and the administration of corticosteroids, the pulmonary symptoms did not improve, and the patient died of pulmonary failure. TS-1-induced ILD can be caused by long-term drug retention that alters the lung parenchyma irreversibly, the outcome of which can be life-threatening. Pulmonary evaluation for early detection of disease is recommended.

Postoperative Complications of Laparoscopy-assisted Gastrectomy in Early Gastric Cancer: The Importance of Precise Preoperative Staging

PURPOSE: Although laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) has become a popular treatment option for early gastric cancer, information about postoperative complications is limited in the literature and their risk factors vary among investigators. We analyzed the complications and their risk factors of LAG. METHODS: We performed LAGs in 92 gastric cancer patients from July 2006 to December 2009. LAG indication was gastric cancer preoperatively diagnosed as cT1N0. Clinical and operative data and perioperative complications were retrospectively reviewed. According to the surgical experience, cases were divided into early (1~40) and late (41~92) groups because operative times stabilized after the 40th case. RESULTS: There were no open conversion or mortality cases. Complications occurred in 11 patients. Two of them were non-surgical complications: postoperative delirium and cerebral infarction. Surgical complications were ischemic necrosis of transverse colon, duodenal stump leakage, anastomotic bleeding, leakage and stenosis. Univariate analysis proved that lymph node metastasis, and comorbidities were related to complication rate (P=0.000, P=0.032). Multivariate analysis proved that lymph node metastasis was the most important risk factor of complication (P=0.001). Surgical experience was not related to complication rate (12.5% in early period and 11.5% in late period, P=1.000). CONCLUSION: Complication rate of LAG was acceptable (11.9%). According to this study, unexpected lymph node metastasis is thought to be the most important risk factor for complications of LAG. Therefore, it is possible to accomplish lower complication rates in this procedure with careful patient selection through accurate preoperative evaluation.

Risk Factors for Complications Following Resection of Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Operative morbidity and mortality from gastric cancer have decreased in recent years, but many studies have demonstrated that its prevalence is still high. Therefore, we investigated the risk factors for morbidity and mortality considering the type of complication in patients with gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 259 gastrectomies between 2004 and 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Overall morbidity and mortality rates were 26.6% and 1.9%, respectively. A major risk factor for morbidity was combined resection (especially more than two organs) (P=0.005). The risk factors for major complications in which a re-operation or intervention were required were type of gastrectomy, upper location of lesion, combined resection, and respiratory comorbidity (P=0.042, P=0.002, P=0.031). Mortality was associated with preexisting neurologic disease such as cerebral stroke (P=0.016). In the analysis of different complication's risk factors, a wound complication was not associated with any risk factor, but combined resection was associated with bleeding (P=0.007). Combined resection was an independent risk factor for a major complication, surgical complication, and anastomotic leakage (P=0.01, P=0.003, P=0.011, respectively). Palliative resection was an independent risk factor for major complications and a previous surgery for malignant disease was significantly related to anastomosis site leakage (P=0.033, P=0.007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for gastrectomy complications of gastric cancer were combined resection, palliative resection, and a previous surgery for a malignant disease. To decrease post-gastrectomy complications, we should make an effort to minimize the range of combined resection, if a palliative gastrectomy is needed for advanced gastric cancer.

Bacteriologic Study and Antibiotics Sensitivity of Acute Appendicitis Treated with Laparoscopic Appendectomy

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the bacteriological characteristics and antibiotics sensitivity in acute appendicitis. METHODS: The microbiologic culture and antibiotics sensitivity tests were done on 165 patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy under the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The postoperative complications were also checked. The microbiologic and clinical results were compared between perforated and non-perforated groups. RESULTS: The most common organism cultured from the periappendiceal fluid was Escherichia coli (51.2%), followed by Enterobacter (16.2%) and Pseudomonas (8.9%). In the antibiotics sensitivity test, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were highly susceptible. Ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were also highly susceptible. Piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem and meropenem were very highly susceptible. The complication rate of perforated appendicitis group (17.9%) was higher than that of the non-perforated appendicitis group (7.1%) (P<0.001). A surgical drain was used more frequently in perforated group (23% vs 84.6%, P<0.001). The mean in-patient days were longer in the perforated group (5.7 vs 7.2 days, P<0.001). In the patients with infectious wound complication, antibiotic resistance was more prominent in the non-perforated group than in the perforated group. CONCLUSION: In the perforated appendicitis group, more precise and careful procedure was required. In the non-perforated appendicitis group, more prudent use of the available antibiotics to conserve valuable therapeutic resources and improved infection control to limit the spread of resistant organisms was required.

A case of papillary thyroid cancer and pheochromocytoma with ganglioneuroma / 대한내과학회지

Composite tumors containing pheochromocytoma and ganglioneuroma are very rare. We report a 70-year-old female with papillary thyroid carcinoma and a compound adrenal medullary tumor, composed of pheochromocytoma/ ganglioneuroma. She had complained of epigastric discomfort 2 months earlier. Chest computed tomography and pancreatic magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intrathoracic goiter and pancreatic cystic tumor. She underwent an explorative laparotomy, and a left adrenalectomy was done because of an adrenal mass, not the pancreatic mass. The pathological diagnosis was a compound adrenal medullary tumor, composed of pheochromocytoma and ganglioneuroma. Although there was no evidence of thyroid cancer on fine needle aspiration cytology, a total thyroidectomy was done because of the neck discomfort. The pathological diagnosis was a papillary thyroid carcinoma, and she underwent radioactive iodine therapy.

Case of Small Bowel Perforation due to Enteropathy-Type T-Cell Lymphoma

Enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma (ETTL) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, it is a subtype of the peripheral T-cell lymphomas. This disease is associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy, has a high risk of intestinal perforation and obstruction, and is refractory to chemotherapeutic treatment. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who was diagnosed with enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma of the small intestine, which was positive for the markers of cytotoxic T cells, CD3, CD8, and CD56, on immunohistochemical staining after resection of the perforated terminal ileum.

Clinical Review of Cholelithiasis after Gastric Resection in Gastric Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: An increased incidence of cholelithiasis has been widely reported following a truncal vagotomy and gastrectomy in benign peptic ulcer disease. However, there have been few studies on cholelithiasis following a gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients. Therefore, the incidence, influencing factors, natural course and whether a prophylactic cholecystectomy is required during a gastrectomy were investigated. METHODS: 1, 057 patients with gastric cancer, who received a gastrectomy at Chung-Ang University Hospital between January, 1992 and December, 2001, were reviewed. Of the 1, 057 patients, 591 were included in this study, with 420 and 46 patients excluded due to lack of follow-up after the gastrectomy and because they received a preoperative or concomitant cholecystectomy, respectively. Age, gender, extents of gastrectomy, anastomosis methods and cancer staging were investigated as factors for potential correlation with any incidence. Furthermore, the interval between the gastrectomy and the discovery of cholelithiasis and the number of patients receiving a cholecystectomy due to cholecystitis during the follow-up period were also studied. RESULTS: The preoperative prevalence of cholelithiasis was 7.22% (46/637). The incidence of cholelithiasis after a gastrectomy was 7.61% (45/591), with a mean duration of 32.13+/-28.18 months. There were no significant differences in the incidences of cholelithiasis according to age, gender, extents of gastrectomy or stage (P>0.05). 23 cases of cholelithiasis (50%) were detected within 24 months and 80% (36/45) of all cases developed within 48 months. Among the 45 gallstone patients, only 6 (13.33%) developed acute cholecy- stitis and received a cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: The incidence of cholelithiasis after a gastrectomy was very low, and was independent of age, gender, and other influencing factors in our study. Therefore, close observation and follow-up evaluation would be helpful in the prevention and detection of cholelithiasis. Also further study will be needed on the relationship between the methods of anastomosis and the incidence of cholelithiasis. The clinical benefits of a prophylactic cholecystectomy during a gastrectomy should also be studied carefully.

The Influence of Expressions of Cyclin B1 and D1 on Clinicopathologic Prognostic Factors and Survival Rate in Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Disturbance in normal cell cycles by cell cycle control factors is an important process of cancer carcinogenesis. The aims of this dissertation were identify the influence of cyclin B1 and D1 on the growth and expression of gastric cancer and their effects on the prognosis. METHOD: The subjects were 128 patients selected from those who underwent gastric surgery for their gastric cancer between January 1995 and December 1998. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted for cyclin B1 and D1 using paraffin embedded tissues, followed by analysis of their protein expressions, possible prognostic factors and survival rate. RESULTS: Cyclin B1 expression was founded in 48 of the 128 patients (37.5%), and that of cyclin D1 in 96 (75%). Both cyclin B1 and D1 showed no statistical significance with T-stage, location of tumors or histologic types. However, for the case of any significance with lymph node metastasis, the higher the N-stage, the greater was the expression of cyclin B1 (P=0.014). For the case of any significance with life term, the Kaplan-Meier method showed the greater the expression of cyclin B1, the shorter the life term (P=0.042). CONCLUSION: An association was indicated between cyclin B1 and lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer, but has no relation with the T-stage, histologic type or location of tumors. Cyclin D1 shows no association with lymph node metastasis, T-stage, histologic type or location of tumors. However, cyclin B1 showed a significant association with the survival rate.

Comparison of Clinical Differences between Colonic Obstruction and Non-obstruction Groups in Colon Surgery

PURPOSE: The purpose for this study is to compare the clinical differences of the two groups (ie. colonic obstruction and non-obstruction) in colonic surgery. METHODS: A retrospective clinical analysis was done in 149 patients with colorectal disease who had been surgically treated from January 1995 to December 1997 at our institution. RESULTS: 1) The peak age of incidence was in the 7th. and 8th. decades (53.3%)in the obstruction group and 6th. and 7th. decades (54.3%) in the non-obstruction group, the sex ratio of male to female was higher in the obstruction group (2.00:1) than in the non-obstruction group (1.04:1). 2) The most common cause of colonic obstruction was malignant disease in both groups (75.4% in the obstruction group and 78.3% in the non-obstruction group). 3) The most frequent symptom and sign of the two groups were abdominal pain (36.8% and 2.6% respectively). 4) The most common location was cecum (24.6%) followed by sigmoid colon (22.8%) and rectum (15.8%) in the obstruction group, and rectum (40.2%) followed by ascending colon (15.2%), cecum (13.0%), and transverse colon (13.1 %) in the non obstruction group. 5) The right hemicolectomy was the most common procedure in the obstruction group (29.8%) while abdominoperineal resection was most frequently performed in the non-obstruction group (23.9 %). The surgical resection rate was 77.4% and 100% in obstruction group and non-obstruction group, respectively. 6) In the case of colon cancer, the stage of cancer (according to Modified Astler-Coller classification) was much higher in the obstruction group. An average 6.5 metastatic lymph nodes were found from 18.5 dissected lymph nodes in the obstruction group whereas 2.7 out of 13.9 lymph nodes in the non-obstruction group. 7) The postoperative complication rate of obstruction group were 21.4% whereas that of non-obstruction group were 15.0% respectively. The postoperative mortality rate was 14% in the obstruction group and 3.3% in the non-obstruction group. The complication rate and postoperative mortality of the obstruction group was higher than those of the non-obstruction group, especially in the malignant disesae group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate that the obstruction group has a different clinical course from the non- obstruction group and associated higher postoperative complication and mortality rate.

Factors for Conversion from Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy to Open Cholecystectomy

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has replaced open cholecystectomy (OC) for the majority of patients. However, a minority of patients still require conversion to open cholecystectomy during the perioperative period. This study was designed to determine the contributing factors related to conversion to open cholecystectomy. METHODS: The data from 3,510 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, performed at Chung-Ang university hospital from September 1990 to June 2001, were reviewed retrospectively. Pre-operative laboratory data, post-operative pathologic findings, complications, and the reasons for conversion to open cholecystectomy were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty six (1.88%) of 3,510 patients were converted to open surgery, due to bleeding (39%), adhesion (26%), bile duct injury (23%) and inflammation (6%). These conversion cases were more prevalent in males and needed longer hospital stay. Thickening of the gallbladder wall and gangrenous cholecystitis were frequent pathologic findings among the conversion cases. CONCLUSION: Thickening of the gallbladder wall, inflammation and anatomical variation of the gallbladder were important factors for conversion to open surgery. Thus, these predictive findings allow the surgeons to preoperatively discuss the higher risk of conversion and allow for an earlier judgement and decision on conversion if intraoperative difficulty is encountered.

The Effect of COX-2 Inhibitor on the Growth and Metastasis of Gastric Cancer Xenograft

PURPOSE: Tumor invasion and metastasis are known to be extremely important factors in the prognosis of cancer patients. Although recent studies have demonstrated that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in various cancers including gastric cancer, the mechanisms underlying the contribution of COX-2 to tumorigenesis and tumor promotion remain unclear. METHODS: In order to determine the role of COX-2 in tumor growth and metastasis, we investigated COX-2 expression, apoptosis and the expression of E-cadherin, CD44v6, MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in gastric cancer xenografts treated with meloxicam (a selective COX-2 inhibitor). RESULTS: Cells from the MKN45 gastric cancer cell line that overexpress COX-2 were inoculated subcutaneously into athymic mice. Oral administration with meloxicam reduced the tumor volume (P<0.01), induced apoptosis of cancer cells (P<0.01), suppressed the proliferation rates (P<0.01), increased the expression of E-cadhrin (P<0.05) and reduced the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2. CONCLUSION: The above data showed that COX-2 inhibitors can inhibit tumor growth and suppress metastatic potential by expression of adhesion molecules and suppression of metalloproteinases, suggesting that this inhibitor can be used as an additive anti-cancer drug in cases of stomach cancer with radical resection, although further evaluation is required.