Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Multi-Institutional Validation of Prognostic Nomograms.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic nomograms for patients with resected extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) include the Sarculator and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSKCC) nomograms. We sought to validate these two nomograms within a large, modern, multi-institutional cohort of resected primary extremity STS patients. METHODS: Resected primary extremity STS patients from 2000 to 2017 were identified across nine high-volume U.S. institutions. Predicted 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) and distant metastases cumulative incidence (DMCI), and 4-, 8-, and 12-year disease-specific survival (DSS) were calculated with Sarculator and MSKCC nomograms, respectively. Predicted survival probabilities stratified in quintiles were compared in calibration plots to observed survival assessed by Kaplan-Meier estimates. Cumulative incidence was estimated for DMCI. Harrell's concordance index (C-index) assessed discriminative ability of nomograms. RESULTS: A total of 1326 patients underwent resection of primary extremity STS. Common histologies included: undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (35%), fibrosarcoma (13%), and leiomyosarcoma (9%). Median tumor size was 8.0 cm (IQR 4.5-13.0). Tumor grade distribution was: Grade 1 (13%), Grade 2 (9%), Grade 3 (78%). Median OS was 172 months, with estimated 5- and 10-year OS of 70% and 58%. C-indices for 5- and 10-year OS (Sarculator) were 0.72 (95% CI 0.70-0.75) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.70-0.75), and 0.72 (95% CI 0.69-0.75) for 5- and 10-year DMCI. C-indices for 4-, 8-, and 12-year DSS (MSKCC) were 0.71 (95% CI 0.68-0.75). Calibration plots showed good prognostication across all outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Sarculator and MSKCC nomograms demonstrated good prognostic ability for survival and recurrence outcomes in a modern, multi-institutional validation cohort of resected primary extremity STS patients. External validation of these nomograms supports their ongoing incorporation into clinical practice.

A multi-institutional validation study of prognostic nomograms for retroperitoneal sarcoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prognostic nomograms for patients undergoing resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) include the Sarculator and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) sarcoma nomograms. We sought to validate the Sarculator and MSK nomograms within a large, modern multi-institutional cohort of patients with primary RPS undergoing resection. METHODS: Patients who underwent resection of primary RPS between 2000 and 2017 across nine high-volume US institutions were identified. Predicted 7-year disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) and 4-, 8-, and 12-year disease-specific survival (DSS) were calculated from the Sarculator and MSK nomograms, respectively. Nomogram-predicted survival probabilities were stratified in quintiles and compared in calibration plots to observed survival outcomes assessed by Kaplan-Meier estimates. Discriminative ability of nomograms was quantified by Harrell's concordance index (C-index). RESULTS: Five hundred and two patients underwent resection of primary RPS. Histologies included leiomyosarcoma (30%), dedifferentiated liposarcoma (23%), and well-differentiated liposarcoma (15%). Median tumor size was 14.0 cm (interquartile range [IQR], 8.5-21.0 cm). Tumor grade distribution was: Grade 1 (27%), Grade 2 (17%), and Grade 3 (56%). Median DFS was 31.5 months; 7-year DFS was 29%. Median OS was 93.8 months; 7-year OS was 51%. C-indices for 7-year DFS, and OS by the Sarculator nomogram were 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62-0.69) and 0.69 (95%CI: 0.65-0.73); plots demonstrated good calibration for predicting 7-year outcomes. The C-index for 4-, 8-, and 12-year DSS by the MSK nomogram was 0.71 (95%CI: 0.67-0.75); plots demonstrated similarly good calibration ability. CONCLUSIONS: In a diverse, modern validation cohort of patients with resected primary RPS, both Sarculator and MSK nomograms demonstrated good prognostic ability, supporting their ongoing adoption into clinical practice.

Effect of Surgical Approach on Node Harvest in Gastrectomy: Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND: Gastrectomy is the cornerstone of treatment for gastric cancer. Recent studies demonstrated significant surgical outcome advantages for patients undergoing minimally invasive versus open gastrectomy. Lymph node harvest is an indicator of adequate surgical resection, and greater harvest is associated with improved staging and patient outcomes. This study evaluated lymph node harvest based on surgical approach. METHODS: Gastric adenocarcinoma patients were identified from NCDB who underwent gastrectomy between 2010 and 2016. Patients were classified by surgical approach into three cohorts: robotic, laparoscopic, or open gastrectomy. Clinical and demographic data were collected. Lymph node harvest was compared with univariate analysis and multivariable generalized linear mixed model. Univariate analysis with propensity matching was also performed to control for differences in patient population across cohorts. RESULTS: We identified 10,690 patients that underwent gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma, with 68% males and median age of 66 (IQR 5774) years. 7161 (67%) underwent open, 2841 (26.6%) laparoscopic, and 688 (6.4%) robotic gastrectomy. Multivariable analysis revealed robotic was associated with a significantly higher median node harvest (18, IQR 1326) compared to laparoscopic (17, IQR 1125) and open gastrectomy (16, IQR 1023). Laparoscopic was also associated with significantly higher node harvest then open gastrectomy. Propensity-matched analysis (6950 patients) showed robotic gastrectomy was still associated with significantly higher node harvest (18, IQR 1226) compared to laparoscopic (17, IQR 1125) and open (17, IQR 1124); however, laparoscopic and open were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Robotic approach is associated with increased node harvest compared to laparoscopic and open approach in gastrectomy patients.

Swallowing dysfunction after minimally invasive oesophagectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Patients undergoing oesophagectomy frequently experience malnutrition, which in combination with the catabolic effects of surgery can result in loss of muscle mass and function. Safe swallowing requires preservation of muscle mass. Swallowing dysfunction puts postoperative patients at risk for aspiration and pneumonia. Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS) enables assessment of postoperative swallowing impairments. The current study assessed incidence and risk factors associated with swallowing dysfunction and restricted diet at discharge in patients after oesophagectomy in a high-volume surgical centre. METHODS: Patients with an MBSS after oesophagectomy were identified between March 2015 to April 2020 at a high-volume surgical centre. Swallowing was quantitatively evaluated on MBSS with the Rosenbek Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS). Muscle loss was evaluated clinically with preoperative hand grip strength (HGS). Univariable and multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: 129 patients (87% male; median age 66 years) underwent oesophagectomy with postoperative MBSS. Univariate analysis revealed older age, preoperative feeding tube, lower preoperative HGS and discharge to non-home were associated with aspiration or penetration on MBSS. Age and preoperative feeding tube remained as independent predictors in the multivariable analysis. Both univariate and multivariable analyses revealed increased age and preoperative feeding tube were associated with diet restrictions at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Swallowing dysfunction after oesophagectomy is correlated with increased age and need for preoperative enteral feeding tube placement. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between muscle loss and aspiration with the goal of enabling preoperative physiological optimisation and patient selection.

Preoperative Muscle Strength Is a Predictor of Outcomes After Esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia, loss of muscle mass and strength, has been associated with more frequent complications after esophagectomy. This study compared hand-grip strength, muscle mass, and intramuscular adipose tissue as predictors of postoperative outcomes and mortality after esophagectomy. METHODS: Minimally invasive esophagectomy was performed on 175 patients with esophageal cancer. Skeletal muscle index and skeletal muscle density were derived from preoperative CTs. Hand-grip strength was measured using dynamometer. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed. RESULTS: Preoperative hand-grip strength was normal in 91 (52%), intermediate in 43 (25%), and weak in 41 (23%) patients. Hand-grip strength was significantly correlated with both skeletal muscle index and skeletal muscle density. Postoperative pneumonia occurred in 8/41 (20%) patients with weak strength compared to 4/91 (4%) with normal strength (p = 0.006; Cochran-Armitage Test). Prolonged postoperative ventilation occurred in 11/41 (27%) patients with weak strength compared to 11/91 (12%) with normal strength (p = 0.036). Median length of stay was 9 days in patients with weak strength compared to 7 days for those with normal strength (p = 0.005; Kruskal-Wallis Test). Discharge to non-home location occurred in 15/41 (37%) with weak strength compared to 8/91 (9%) with normal strength (p < 0.001). Postoperative mortality at 90 days was 4/41 (10%) with weak strength compared with no mortalities (0/91) in the normal strength group (p = 0.004). Mortality at 1 year was 18/39 (46%) in patients with weak strength compared to 6/81 (7%) with normal strength, among 158 patients with 1-year follow-up (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative hand-grip strength was found to be a powerful predictor of postoperative pneumonia, length of stay, discharge to non-home location, and mortality after esophagectomy.

Jejunostomy at the time of esophagectomy is associated with improved short-term perioperative outcomes: analysis of the NSQIP database.

Adequate preoperative and perioperative nutrition has been shown to improve outcomes for patients undergoing esophagectomy. The most effective way to provide enteral nutrition for patients after esophagectomy is via jejunostomy tube. There is an open debate whether a feeding jejunostomy tube is necessary at the time of esophagectomy. This study evaluated short term surgical outcomes for patients undergoing esophagectomy with and without concurrent jejunostomy tube placement. Esophageal cancer patients were identified from the NSQIP database who underwent esophagectomy between 2005 through 2016. Patients were classified into 2 cohorts: patients with concurrent jejunostomy tube placement and those without jejunostomy placement at the time of esophagectomy. Clinical and demographic data was collected. Differences in short term outcomes were assessed by univariate and multivariable analysis, including prolonged hospital stay (>30 days), in-hospital mortality, and 30-day mortality for both cohorts. We identified 8,632 patients that underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer with 80% males and mean age of 63.2±10.6 years. Twenty percent (n=1,723) had preoperative weight loss in the 6-month period preceding surgery. Forty-five percent (n=3,900) patients had jejunostomy placement at the time of esophagectomy. Overall, the rate of prolonged hospital stay (P=0.006), in-hospital mortality (P<0.001) and 30-day mortality (P<0.001) were significantly higher in patients without concurrent jejunostomy in both univariable and multivariable models. This study demonstrates that patients with jejunostomy placement at the time of esophagectomy have improved short term perioperative outcomes.

Effect of Surgical Approach on Node Harvest in Robotic Gastrectomy.

There has been increasing utilization of minimally invasive surgical approaches. This study evaluates the effect of surgical approach on total lymph node harvest in gastrectomy. Patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2007 and 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Data collected included age, gender, race, BMI, neoadjuvant therapy, tumor stage, surgical approach, and total number of lymph nodes harvested. The total number of harvested lymph nodes for open, laparoscopic, and robotic gastrectomy was compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test for univariate analysis and a Poisson regression model for multivariable analysis. One hundred four patients were identified. Median node harvest for open, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches were 16, 17, and 36, respectively. Multivariable analysis controlling for gender, BMI, pathological T stage, and year of operation demonstrates that surgical approach is statistically significantly associated with lymph node harvest (F = 83.4, P < 0.0001). In multivariable analysis, robotic approach was associated with greater lymph node harvest than both open (P < 0.0001) and laparoscopic (P < 0.0001) approaches, whereas laparoscopic approach was associated with greater lymph node harvest than open (P < 0.0001) approach. These data demonstrate that for patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma at our institution, robotic approach is associated with greater lymph node harvest than both laparoscopic and open approaches.