Comparative Efficacy and Long-Term Oncological Safety of Extended Right Hemicolectomy Versus Left Colectomy for Splenic Flexure Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Splenic flexure adenocarcinoma poses unique challenges in surgical management due to its location and lymphatic drainage. This study compared the efficacy and oncological safety of extended right hemicolectomy (ERC) and left colectomy (LC) for treating this condition. METHODS: This study followed the PRISMA and AMSTAR 2 guidelines. Key outcomes included postoperative mortality, morbidity, severe complications, operative results, pathological findings (R0 resection, lymph nodes), and oncological results (overall survival and disease-free survival at 3 and 5 years). RESULTS: Twelve non-randomised studies were included involving 1710 patients (713 ERC group, 997 LC group). The analysis showed that ERC was associated with more lymph nodes and a lower conversion rate. However, there were no significant differences between ERC and LC in terms of mortality, morbidity, severe complications, anastomotic leak, wound infection, ileus, reoperation, R0 resection, hospital stay, and overall and disease-free survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: ERC and LC are comparable in terms of postoperative and long-term oncological outcomes for splenic flexure adenocarcinoma, with ERC potentially producing a higher lymph node harvest rate and a lower conversion rate. ERC could be suggested for a better stage of the disease and when the surgical team considers the laparoscopic approach.

Modified FOLFIRINOX Versus CISGEM Chemotherapy for Patients With Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer (PRODIGE 38 AMEBICA): A Randomized Phase II Study.

PURPOSE: Whether triplet chemotherapy is superior to doublet chemotherapy in advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) is unknown. METHODS: In this open-label, randomized phase II-III study, patients with locally advanced or metastatic BTC and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and infusional fluorouracil (mFOLFIRINOX), or cisplatin and gemcitabine (CISGEM) for a maximum of 6 months. We report the results of the phase II part, where the primary end point was the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate among the patients who received at least one dose of treatment (modified intention-to-treat population) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (statistical assumptions: 6-month PFS rate ≥ 59%, 73% expected). RESULTS: A total of 191 patients (modified intention-to-treat population, 185: mFOLFIRINOX, 92; CISGEM, 93) were randomly assigned in 43 French centers. After a median follow-up of 21 months, the 6-month PFS rate was 44.6% (90% CI, 35.7 to 53.7) in the mFOLFIRINOX arm and 47.3% (90% CI, 38.4 to 56.3) in the CISGEM arm. Median PFS was 6.2 months (95% CI, 5.5 to 7.8) in the mFOLFIRINOX arm and 7.4 months (95% CI, 5.6 to 8.7) in the CISGEM arm. Median overall survival was 11.7 months (95% CI, 9.5 to 14.2) in the mFOLFIRINOX arm and 13.8 months (95% CI, 10.9 to 16.1) in the CISGEM arm. Adverse events ≥ grade 3 occurred in 72.8% of patients in the mFOLFIRINOX arm and 72.0% of patients in the CISGEM arm (toxic deaths: mFOLFIRINOX arm, two; CISGEM arm, one). CONCLUSION: mFOLFIRINOX triplet chemotherapy did not meet the primary study end point. CISGEM doublet chemotherapy remains the first-line standard in advanced BTC.