Serial circulating tumour DNA analysis for locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative therapy: prediction of pathological response and postoperative recurrence.

BACKGROUND: The "watch-and-wait" approach is a common treatment option amongst patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, the diagnostic sensitivity of clinical modalities, such as colonoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging to determine pathological response, is not high. We analysed the clinical utility of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) of patients with LARC to predict response to preoperative therapy and postoperative recurrence. METHODS: A serial ctDNA analysis of 222 plasma samples from 85 patients with LARC was performed using amplicon-based deep sequencing on a cell-free DNA panel covering 14 genes with over 240 hotspots. RESULTS: ctDNA was detected in 57.6% and 22.3% of samples at baseline and after preoperative treatment, respectively, which was significantly different (P = 0.0003). Change in ctDNA was an independent predictor of complete response to preoperative therapy (P = 0.0276). In addition, postoperative ctDNA and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were independent prognostic markers for risk of recurrence after surgery (ctDNA, P = 0.0127 and CEA, P = 0.0105), with a combined analysis having cumulative effects on recurrence-free survival (P = 1.0 × 10-16). CONCLUSIONS: Serial ctDNA analysis may offer clinically useful predictive and prognostic markers for response to preoperative therapy and postoperative recurrence in patients with LARC.

A retrospective analysis of ramucirumab monotherapy in previously treated Japanese patients with advanced or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The REGARD trial demonstrated that ramucirumab monotherapy improved both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared with best supportive care plus placebo as second-line treatment for patients with advanced gastric cancer. However, the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab monotherapy for previously treated Japanese patients with advanced gastric cancer remains unknown. METHODS: Previously treated Japanese patients with advanced gastric cancer who received ramucirumab monotherapy between June 2015 and March 2016 at the Cancer Institute Hospital were enrolled in the study. OS, PFS, best overall response, and safety profiles were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled in this study. Ramucirumab monotherapy was generally administered as third-line therapy. After a median follow-up period of 7.4 months, the median PFS was 2.1 months (95% CI 1.0-3.5), and median OS was 12.9 months (95% CI 2.3, not reached). In 13 patients who had measurable lesions on radiologic examination, partial response was observed in one patient (7.7%) and stable disease was observed in five patients (38.5%). A total of 12 patients (63.2%) had adverse events (AEs). Common AEs included hypertension (8 patients, 42.1%), fatigue (6 patients, 31.6%), and bleeding (5 patients, 26.3%). Grade 3 AEs included gastrointestinal bleeding and aspiration pneumonia (1 patient each, 5.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that ramucirumab monotherapy in Japanese patients with previously treated advanced gastric cancer has comparable efficacy and safety profiles as reported in the REGARD trial.

[Safety of Laparoscopic Surgery after Preoperative Short Course Radiotherapy for Lower Rectal Cancer].

BACKGROUNDS: In the setting of routine use of preoperative chemoradiotherapy(CRT)for cStage II / III rectal cancer, shortcourse radiotherapy(short-RT)is selectively used for reducing local recurrence.The purpose of this study is to clarify the safety of laparoscopic surgery after preoperative short-RT for lower rectal cancer. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients who un- derwent short-RT followed by laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for cStage II / III lower rectal cancer were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The reasons for selecting short-RT included comorbidity(n=10), refusal of CRT(n=8), multiple cancers (n=6)and others(n=4).All patients completed planned dose of radiation without severe acute toxicity.Median interval from completion of short-RT to surgery was 17 days(range 7-58).All patients underwent laparoscopic surgery without conversion to open surgery.Median operation time, blood loss and the number of dissected lymph nodes were 379 minutes (range 175-890), 90mL(range 0-1,185)and 27(range 12-71), respectively.Grade 3-4 complications occurred in 3 cases (10.7%).There were 2 cases with pathological complete response. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery for lower rectal cancer after short-RT is safe and feasible.

[A Case with Metastatic Huge Ovarian Tumor from Transverse Colon Cancer, Who Underwent Systemic Chemotherapy after Bilateral Oophorectomy and Right Hemi Colectomy].

Metastatic ovarian tumors from colon cancer would be resistant to chemotherapy, and compromising quality of life(QOL) of these patients was caused by acute enlargement of the tumors. A 37-year-old woman with abdominal distension was diagnosed with transverse colon cancer, bilateral ovarian metastases, liver metastases, and peritoneal dissemination at prior hospital. Two courses of chemotherapy(FOLFOX)were administered, but metastaticovarian tumors enlarged. Chemotherapy was discontinued and she was referred to our institution. To achieve symptom relief, improving QOL, and to resume chemotherapy, we planned bilateral oophorectomy and primary tumor resection if other stenotic lesion was not present. As a result, we safely performed open bilateral oophorectomy and right hemi colectomy, and the patient discharged on postoperative day 11 without complications. Chemotherapy was resumed and continued for 7 months up to this time. Even though, curative resection could not be achieved, oophorectomy should be performed in patients with enlarged metastatic ovarian tumor from colon cancer, in spite of administration of chemotherapy.

[A Case of Lymph Node Metastasis of Rectal Laterally Spreading Tumor with Mucosal Cancer after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection].

A screening fecal occult blood test was positive in a 76-year-old female. Colonoscopy showed laterally spreading tumor (LST)over 15 cm at lower rectum. endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)was performed. Pathological findings showed LST-G, 150×100 mm, adenocarcinoma(tub1-tub2), tubular adenoma, moderate-severe atypia, Tis(M), ly(-), v(-), HMX, VMX. Two years later CT detected one swollen lymph node at mesorectum and PET-CT showed FDG up take at the lymph node. We diagnosed lymph node metastasis, performed laparoscopic very low anterior resection. Pathological findings showed one lymph node metastasis, but there were no residual cancer at rectum. We cut the surgical specimen at 5mm intervals because of it's big size. It might be impossible with this procedure to detect SM invasion at this specimen.

Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for a colon cancer patient with an ileal conduit.

Here, we describe our experience of laparoscopic surgery in a colon cancer patient with an ileal conduit. To our knowledge, this is the second case presented in the English-language literature. A 71-year-old woman with a history of both open anterior exenteration with ileal conduit reconstruction for bladder cancer and open cholecystectomy for cholecystitis was diagnosed with ascending colon cancer (cT3N1M0). Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with conduit preservation was planned. After adhesiolysis, complete mesocolic excision and central vascular ligation were achieved laparoscopically without injury to the conduit or other structures. Laparoscopic surgery for patients with an ileal conduit can be technically demanding. A preoperative plan based on preoperative imaging and the patient's previous operative record is crucial, especially when considering the optimal balance between oncological radicality and functional outcomes.