Model to predict major complications following liver resection for HCC in patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is rapidly growing as risk factor for HCC. Liver resection for HCC in patients with MS is associated with increased postoperative risks. There are no data on factors associated with postoperative complications. AIMS: The aim was to identify risk factors and develop and validate a model for postoperative major morbidity after liver resection for HCC in patients with MS, using a large multicentric Western cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The univariable logistic regression analysis was applied to select predictive factors for 90 days major morbidity. The model was built on the multivariable regression and presented as a nomogram. Performance was evaluated by internal validation through the bootstrap method. The predictive discrimination was assessed through the concordance index. RESULTS: A total of 1087 patients were gathered from 24 centers between 2001 and 2021. Four hundred and eighty-four patients (45.2%) were obese. Most liver resections were performed using an open approach (59.1%), and 743 (68.3%) underwent minor hepatectomies. Three hundred and seventy-six patients (34.6%) developed postoperative complications, with 13.8% major morbidity and 2.9% mortality rates. Seven hundred and thirteen patients had complete data and were included in the prediction model. The model identified obesity, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, portal hypertension, open approach, major hepatectomy, and changes in the nontumoral parenchyma as risk factors for major morbidity. The model demonstrated an AUC of 72.8% (95% CI: 67.2%-78.2%) ( https://childb.shinyapps.io/NomogramMajorMorbidity90days/ ). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing liver resection for HCC and MS are at high risk of postoperative major complications and death. Careful patient selection, considering baseline characteristics, liver function, and type of surgery, is key to achieving optimal outcomes.

Distinct Indications for Adjuvant Therapy in Resected Invasive Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms of the Pancreas Compared with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Surgical and adjuvant management of mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) lacks formal guidelines and data is limited to institutional studies. Factors associated with receipt of adjuvant therapy and any associated impact on survival remain to be clarified. In the absence of other data, guidelines that recommend adjuvant chemotherapy for invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma have been extrapolated to MCN. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The National Cancer Database (2004-2019) was utilized to identify all patients that underwent pancreatic resection for invasive MCNs. Patients that received neoadjuvant therapy or did not undergo lymphadenectomy were excluded. Patient, tumor, and treatment factors associated with survival were assessed. RESULTS: For 161 patients with invasive MCN, median overall survival (OS) was 133 months and 45% of patients received adjuvant therapy. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that poorly differentiated tumors [odds ratio (OR) 4.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47-11.98; p = 0.008] and positive lymph node status (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.02-6.98; p = 0.042) were independent predictors of receiving adjuvant therapy. Lymph node positivity [hazard ratio (HR) 2.90, 95% CI 1.47-5.73; p = 0.002], positive margins (HR 5.28, 95% CI 2.28-12.27; p < 0.001), and stage III disease (HR 12.46, 95% CI 1.40-111.05; p = 0.024) were associated with worse OS. Receipt of adjuvant systemic therapy was independently associated with decreased risk of mortality in node positive patients (HR 0.23, 95% CI 0.10-0.69; p = 0.002). Survival was not associated with adjuvant therapy in patients with negative lymph nodes or margin negative status. CONCLUSION: In contrast to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), where adjuvant therapy improves OS for every tumor stage, surgery alone for invasive MCN is not associated with improved OS compared with surgery plus adjuvant therapy in node-negative patients. Surgery alone is likely sufficient for a subset of invasive MCN.

Long-Term Survival Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Surgery for Ileal Neuroendocrine Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Ileal neuroendocrine tumors (i-NETs) are characterized by their multifocality and bulky mesenteric mass. Having shown that minimally invasive surgery (MIS) utilizing a hand-access port device has favorable short-term outcomes and achieves the goals of surgery for i-NETs, we sought to analyze long-term survival outcomes of MIS. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-eight patients who underwent resection of primary i-NETs at a single institution between January 2007 and February 2023 were retrospectively studied. Patients were categorized into the MIS or open surgery cohorts on an intention-to-treat basis. Open surgery was selected mainly based on the need for hepatectomy or bulky mesenteric mass resection. Overall survival was analyzed using log-rank tests with propensity score matching (PSM) and Cox proportional hazards regression. PSM was performed to reduce standardized mean differences of the variables to <0.2. RESULTS: Overall, 129 (77%) patients underwent MIS and 39 (23%) underwent open surgery. Twenty-seven MIS patients were converted to an open procedure. The median follow-up time was 49 months (interquartile range 23-87 months). In the PSM cohorts, overall survival did not differ significantly between the MIS and open surgery cohorts {median 99 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 91-not applicable [NA]) vs. 103 months (95% CI 86-NA), p = 0.77; hazard ratio 0.87 (95% CI 0.33-2.2), p = 0.77}. CONCLUSIONS: MIS is an alternative to open surgery for i-NETs, achieving similar short- and long-term oncological outcomes. Bulky mesenteric mass and a plan for concurrent liver resection are potential criteria for open surgery.

Long-Duration Neoadjuvant Therapy with FOLFIRINOX Yields Favorable Outcomes for Patients Who Undergo Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer.

BACKGROUND: In 2023 alone, it's estimated that over 64,000 patients will be diagnosed with PDAC and more than 50,000 patients will die of the disease. Current guidelines recommend neoadjuvant therapy for patients with borderline resectable and locally advanced PDAC, and data is emerging on its role in resectable disease. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may increase the number of patients able to receive complete chemotherapy regimens, increase the rate of microscopically tumor-free resection (R0) margin, and aide in identifying unfavorable tumor biology. To date, this is the largest study to examine surgical outcomes after long-duration neoadjuvant chemotherapy for PDAC. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of single-institution data. RESULTS: The routine use of long-duration therapy in our study (median cycles: FOLFIRINOX = 10; gemcitabine-based = 7) is unique. The majority (85%) of patients received FOLFIRINOX without radiation therapy; the R0 resection rate was 76%. Median OS was 41 months and did not differ significantly among patients with resectable, borderline-resectable, or locally advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that in patients who undergo surgical resection after receipt of long-duration neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX therapy alone, survival outcomes are similar regardless of pretreatment resectability status and that favorable surgical outcomes can be attained.

Resection versus resection with ablation: Analysis from the colorectal liver operative metastasis international collaborative.

BACKGROUND: Thermal ablation has recently become a key therapy for the treatment of colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). However, the role of ablation in combination with resection has not yet been firmly established. We hypothesize that in patients with CLM, those who undergo liver resection with ablation (RA) have similar outcomes compared with those who undergo liver resection only. METHODS: We reviewed a multicenter international database of 906 surgical procedures for CLM from 5 high volume hepatobiliary surgical units. Patients undergoing RA (n = 63) were matched based on the number of lesions and tumor size using a 1:1 balanced propensity score analysis with those having resection only (n = 63). Our primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: The mean age of our cohort was 58 ± 11 years, with 43% females. With a median follow-up of 70.8 months, patients in the resection and RA group had a median OS of 45.1 and 54.8 months (p = 0.71), respectively. The median DFS was 22.7 and 14.2 months (p = 0.045), respectively. Using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, the treatment approach was not associated with OS (p = 0.94) or DFS (p = 0.059). A higher number of lesions is independently associated with worse DFS (hazard ratio: 1.12, p < 0.01). When there was disease recurrence, the region of recurrence was similar between the RA versus resection only groups (p = 0.27), but there was a shorter time to recurrence in the RA group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: For CLM, the treatment approach was not significantly associated with OS or DFS, while tumor biology likely played an important role. Prospective research on the quality and effectiveness of thermal ablation combined with hepatic resection is warranted.

Metastatic melanoma to small bowel: metastasectomy is supported in the era of immunotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic melanoma to the small bowel is an aggressive disease often accompanied by obstruction, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal bleeding. With advancements in melanoma treatment, the role for metastasectomy continues to evolve. Inclusion of novel immunotherapeutic agents, such as checkpoint inhibitors, into standard treatment regimens presents potential survival benefits for patients receiving metastasectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an institutional experience of 15 patients (12 male, 3 female) between 2014-2022 that underwent small bowel metastasectomy for metastatic melanoma and received perioperative systemic treatment. Median age of patients was 64 years (range: 35-83 years). No patients died within 30 days of their surgery, and the median hospital length of stay was 5 days. Median overall survival in these patients was 30.1 months (range: 2-115 months). Five patients died from disease (67 days, 252 days, 426 days, 572 days, 692 days postoperatively), one patient died of non-disease related causes (1312 days postoperatively), six patients are alive with disease, and three remain disease free. CONCLUSIONS: This case series presents an updated perspective of the utility of metastasectomy for small bowel metastasis in the age of novel immunotherapeutic agents as standard systemic treatment. Small bowel metastasectomy for advanced melanoma performed in conjunction with perioperative systemic therapy is safe and appears to promote long-term survival and enhanced quality of life.

Minimally Invasive Versus Open Liver Resections for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare minimally invasive (MILR) and open liver resections (OLRs) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). BACKGROUND: Liver resections for HCC on MS are associated with high perioperative morbidity and mortality. No data on the minimally invasive approach in this setting exist. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicenter study involving 24 institutions was conducted. Propensity scores were calculated, and inverse probability weighting was used to weight comparisons. Short-term and long-term outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 996 patients were included: 580 in OLR and 416 in MILR. After weighing, groups were well matched. Blood loss was similar between groups (OLR 275.9±3.1 vs MILR 226±4.0, P =0.146). There were no significant differences in 90-day morbidity (38.9% vs 31.9% OLRs and MILRs, P =0.08) and mortality (2.4% vs 2.2% OLRs and MILRs, P =0.84). MILRs were associated with lower rates of major complications (9.3% vs 15.3%, P =0.015), posthepatectomy liver failure (0.6% vs 4.3%, P =0.008), and bile leaks (2.2% vs 6.4%, P =0.003); ascites was significantly lower at postoperative day 1 (2.7% vs 8.1%, P =0.002) and day 3 (3.1% vs 11.4%, P <0.001); hospital stay was significantly shorter (5.8±1.9 vs 7.5±1.7, P <0.001). There was no significant difference in overall survival and disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: MILR for HCC on MS is associated with equivalent perioperative and oncological outcomes to OLRs. Fewer major complications, posthepatectomy liver failures, ascites, and bile leaks can be obtained, with a shorter hospital stay. The combination of lower short-term severe morbidity and equivalent oncologic outcomes favor MILR for MS when feasible.

National Practice Patterns in Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Updates in Management and Survival.

BACKGROUND: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare malignancy with a historically poor prognosis. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has emerged as an effective therapy for patients with peritoneal malignancies. A contemporary analysis of trends in management of and survival from MPM is warranted. METHODS: Patients with MPM were identified from the National Cancer Database (2004-2018). Patients were categorized by treatment (CRS-HIPEC, CRS-chemotherapy, CRS only, chemotherapy only, no treatment), and joinpoint regression was employed to compute the annual percent change (APC) in treatment over time. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze factors associated with survival. RESULTS: Of 2683 patients with MPM, 19.1% underwent CRS-HIPEC, and 21.1% received no treatment. Joinpoint regression revealed a statistically significant increase in the proportion of patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC over time (APC 3.21, p = 0.01), and a concurrent decrease in the proportion of patients who underwent no treatment (APC - 2.21, p = 0.02). Median overall survival was 19.5 months. Factors independently associated with survival included CRS-HIPEC, CRS, histology, sex, age, race, Charlson Comorbidity Index, insurance, and hospital type. Although there was a strong association between year of diagnosis and survival on univariate analysis (2016-2018 HR 0.67, p < 0.001), this association was attenuated after adjustment for treatment. CONCLUSIONS: CRS-HIPEC is increasingly employed as a treatment for MPM. In parallel, there has been a decrease in patients receiving no treatment with an increase in overall survival. These findings suggest that patients with MPM may be receiving more appropriate therapy; however, a substantial proportion of patients may remain undertreated.

A Machine Learning Approach to Predict Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreaticoduodenectomy Using Only Preoperatively Known Data.

BACKGROUND: Clinically-relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a major postoperative complication and the primary determinant of surgical outcomes. However, the majority of current risk calculators utilize intraoperative and postoperative variables, limiting their utility in the preoperative setting. Therefore, we aimed to develop a user-friendly risk calculator to predict CR-POPF following PD using state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) algorithms and only preoperatively known variables. METHODS: Adult patients undergoing elective PD for non-metastatic pancreatic cancer were identified from the ACS-NSQIP targeted pancreatectomy dataset (2014-2019). The primary endpoint was development of CR-POPF (grade B or C). Secondary endpoints included discharge to facility, 30-day mortality, and a composite of overall and significant complications. Four models (logistic regression, neural network, random forest, and XGBoost) were trained, validated and a user-friendly risk calculator was then developed. RESULTS: Of the 8666 patients who underwent elective PD, 13% (n = 1160) developed CR-POPF. XGBoost was the best performing model (AUC = 0.72), and the top five preoperative variables associated with CR-POPF were non-adenocarcinoma histology, lack of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, pancreatic duct size less than 3 mm, higher BMI, and higher preoperative serum creatinine. Model performance for 30-day mortality, discharge to a facility, and overall and significant complications ranged from AUC 0.62-0.78. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we developed and validated an ML model using only preoperatively known variables to predict CR-POPF following PD. The risk calculator can be used in the preoperative setting to inform clinical decision-making and patient counseling.

Survival Outcomes of Optimally Treated Colorectal Metastases: The Importance of R0 Status in Surgical Treatment of Hepatic and Peritoneal Surface Disease.

BACKGROUND: Although colorectal hepatic metastases (HM) and peritoneal surface disease (PSD) are distinct biologic diseases, they may have similar long-term survival when optimally treated with surgery. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed prospectively managed databases. Patients undergoing R0 or R1 resections were analyzed with descriptive statistics, the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression. Survival was compared over time for the following periods: 1993-2006, 2007-2012, and 2013-2020. RESULTS: The study enrolled 783 HM patients undergoing liver resection and 204 PSD patients undergoing cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Compared with PSD patients, HM patients more often had R0 resections (90.3% vs. 32.4%), less often had pre-procedure chemotherapy (52.4% vs. 92.1%), and less often were functionally independent (79.7% vs. 95.6%). The 5-year overall survival for HM was 40.9%, with a median survival period of 45.8 months versus 25.8% and 33.4 months, respectively, for PSD (p < 0.05). When stratified by resection status, R0 HM and R0 PSD did not differ significantly in median survival (49.0 vs. 45.4 months; p = 0.83). The median survival after R1 resection also was similar between HM and PSD (32.6 vs. 26.9 months; p = 0.59). Survival between the two groups again was similar over time when stratified by resection status. The predictors of survival for HM patients were R0 resection, number of lesions, intraoperative transfusion, age, and adjuvant chemotherapy. For the PSD patients, the predictors were peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score, estimated blood loss (EBL), and female gender. CONCLUSION: The study showed that R0 resections are associated with improved outcomes and that median survival is similar between HM and PSD patients when it is achieved. Surveillance and treatment strategies that facilitate R0 resections are needed to improve results, particularly for PSD.

Conditional Survival After Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Results from the Colorectal Liver Operative Metastasis International Collaborative (COLOMIC).

INTRODUCTION: Complete resection of colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) improves long-term survival in colorectal cancer. However, there is limited recent data on conditional survival (CS) as postoperative survival milestones are achieved post-hepatectomy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the penta-institutional Colorectal Liver Operative Metastasis International Collaborative (COLOMIC), with 906 consecutive CLM hepatectomy cases. CS was calculated using Bayes' theorem and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Additional CS analyses were performed on additional clinicopathologic risk factors, including colon cancer laterality, KRAS mutation status, and extrahepatic disease. RESULTS: The 5-year CS was 40.6%, 45.3%, 52.8%, and 65.3% at 0, 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively, with significant improvements each year (p < 0.005). CS was not significantly different between right-sided and left-sided colorectal cancers by 3 years postoperatively. Patients with KRAS mutations had worse CS at all timepoints (p < 0.001). Extrahepatic disease was a poor prognostic factor for OS and CS (p < 0.001). However, CS for patients with KRAS mutations or extrahepatic disease improved significantly as 2-year, postoperative survival was achieved (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Five-year CS after hepatectomy for CLM improved with each passing year of survival postoperatively. Although extrahepatic disease and KRAS mutations are poor prognostic factors for OS, these populations still had improved CS after 2 years postoperatively.

Esophageal and Esophagogastric Junction Cancers, Version 2.2023, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

Cancers originating in the esophagus or esophagogastric junction constitute a major global health problem. Esophageal cancers are histologically classified as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or adenocarcinoma, which differ in their etiology, pathology, tumor location, therapeutics, and prognosis. In contrast to esophageal adenocarcinoma, which usually affects the lower esophagus, esophageal SCC is more likely to localize at or higher than the tracheal bifurcation. Systemic therapy can provide palliation, improved survival, and enhanced quality of life in patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease. The implementation of biomarker testing, especially analysis of HER2 status, microsatellite instability status, and the expression of programmed death-ligand 1, has had a significant impact on clinical practice and patient care. Targeted therapies including trastuzumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab, and pembrolizumab have produced encouraging results in clinical trials for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Palliative management, which may include systemic therapy, chemoradiation, and/or best supportive care, is recommended for all patients with unresectable or metastatic cancer. Multidisciplinary team management is essential for all patients with locally advanced esophageal or esophagogastric junction cancers. This selection from the NCCN Guidelines for Esophageal and Esophagogastric Junction Cancers focuses on the management of recurrent or metastatic disease.

Hand-Assisted Versus Pure Minimally-Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy: Is There a Downside to Lending a Hand?

BACKGROUND: Hand-assisted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (HALDP) is suggested to offer similar outcomes to pure laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP). However, given the longer midline incision, it is unclear whether HALDP increases the risk of postoperative hernia. Our aim was to determine the risk of postoperative incisional hernia development after HALDP. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from patients undergoing HALDP or LDP at a single center (2012-2020). Primary endpoints were postoperative incisional hernia and operative time. All patients had at minimum six months of follow-up. Outcomes were compared using unadjusted and multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients who underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy were retrospectively identified. Forty-one patients (43%) underwent HALDP. Patients with HALDP were older (median, 67 vs. 61 years, p = 0.02). Sex, race, Body Mass Index (median, 27 vs. 26), receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, gland texture, wound infection rates, postoperative pancreatic fistula, overall complications, and hospital length-of-stay were similar between HALDP and LDP (all p > 0.05). In unadjusted analysis, operative times were shorter for HALDP (164 vs. 276 min, p < 0.001), but after adjustment, did not differ significantly (MR 0.73; 0.49-1.07, p = 0.1). Unadjusted incidence of hernia was higher in HALDP versus LDP (60% vs. 24%, p = 0.004). After adjustment, HALDP was associated with an increased odds of developing hernia (OR 7.52; 95% CI 1.54-36.8, p = 0.014). After propensity score matching, odds of hernia development remained higher for HALDP (OR 4.62; 95% CI 1.28-16.65, p = 0.031) p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with LDP, HALDP was associated with increased likelihood of postoperative hernia with insufficient evidence that HALDP shortens operative times. Our results suggest that HALDP may not be equivalent to LDP.

Post-COVID cholangiopathy: A narrative review.

Since the spread of the first cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection much progress has been made in understanding the disease process. However, we are still facing the complications of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Multiple sequelae may appear as a consequence of acute infection. This set of entities called post-COVID-19 syndrome involves a wide variety of new, recurrent or persistent symptoms grouped together as a consequence of the acute disease process. One of those that has attracted the most attention is the liver and bile duct involvement called post-COVID-19 cholangiopathy. This is characterized by elevation of liver markers such as alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and transaminases as well as alterations in the bile ducts in imaging studies. Thus, a narrative review of the cases reported until the end of 2021 was carried out. From the findings found, we concluded that patients who have had COVID-19 or during the process have required hospitalization should remain under follow-up for at least 6 months by a multidisciplinary team.

Determining Hospital Volume Threshold for Safety of Minimally Invasive Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Contemporary Cutpoint Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend limiting minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) to high-volume centers. However, the definition of high-volume care remains unclear. We aimed to objectively define a minimum number of MIPD performed annually per hospital associated with improved outcomes in a contemporary patient cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients undergoing MIPD were included from the National Cancer Database (2010-2017). Multivariable modeling with restricted cubic splines was employed to identify an MIPD annual hospital volume threshold associated with lower 90-day mortality. Outcomes were compared between patients treated at low-volume (≤ model-identified cutoff) and high-volume (> cutoff) centers. RESULTS: Among 3079 patients, 141 (5%) died within 90 days. Median hospital volume was 6 (range 1-73) cases/year. After adjustment, increasing hospital volume was associated with decreasing 90-day mortality for up to 19 (95% CI 16-25) cases/year, indicating a threshold of 20 cases/year. Most cases (82%) were done at low-volume (< 20 cases/year) centers. With adjustment, MIPD at low-volume centers was associated with increased 90-day mortality (OR 2.7; p = 0.002). Length of stay, positive surgical margins, 30-day readmission, and overall survival were similar. On analysis of the most recent two years (n = 1031), patients at low-volume centers (78.2%) were younger and had less advanced tumors but had longer length of stay (8 versus 7 days; p < 0.001) and increased 90-day mortality (7% versus 2%; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The cutpoint analysis identified a threshold of at least 20 MIPD cases/year associated with lower postoperative mortality. This threshold should inform national guidelines and institution-level protocols aimed at facilitating the safe implementation of this complex procedure.

Gastric Cancer, Version 2.2022, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Over 95% of gastric cancers are adenocarcinomas, which are typically classified based on anatomic location and histologic type. Gastric cancer generally carries a poor prognosis because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Systemic therapy can provide palliation, improved survival, and enhanced quality of life in patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease. The implementation of biomarker testing, especially analysis of HER2 status, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and the expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), has had a significant impact on clinical practice and patient care. Targeted therapies including trastuzumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab have produced encouraging results in clinical trials for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Palliative management, which may include systemic therapy, chemoradiation, and/or best supportive care, is recommended for all patients with unresectable or metastatic cancer. Multidisciplinary team management is essential for all patients with localized gastric cancer. This selection from the NCCN Guidelines for Gastric Cancer focuses on the management of unresectable locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic disease.

Perioperative chemotherapy for resectable colorectal liver metastases: Analysis from the Colorectal Operative Liver Metastases International Collaborative (COLOMIC).

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy has been increasingly combined with surgery as multimodality treatment for resectable colorectal-liver metastases (CLM). There is paucity of clinical data addressing optimal timing of chemotherapy relative to surgery. We examined outcomes of patients undergoing hepatectomy for resectable CLM. METHODS: Seven hundred and eighteen patients treated with hepatectomy for CLM were analyzed from five hepatobiliary institutions between 2000 and 2018. Overall survival (OS) was measured from time of hepatectomy for patients receiving: surgery alone, neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and neoadjuvant-plus-adjuvant (perioperative) chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to detect differences in OS between treatment groups. Single- and multi-variable analysis with Cox proportional hazards were run for OS between groups. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-seven patients (19.08%) received surgery, 104 (14.48%) received neoadjuvant-only, 214 (29.81%) received adjuvant-only, and 263 (36.63%) received perioperative chemotherapy; with median OS of 48.20, 46.83, 56.27, and 49.93 months, respectively. No differences in median OS were seen between groups on Kaplan-Meier analysis. No significant difference in Charlson-Deyo comorbidity status was seen between groups (p = 0.853), while significant difference was seen in maximum tumor size (p = 0.0023). On multivariate analysis, adjuvant (p = 0.010) and perioperative (p = 0.020) chemotherapy were independently associated with OS compared to surgery alone. DISCUSSION: Despite group differences, chemotherapy after surgery was independently associated with improved OS in CLM.

Outcomes after repeat hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases from the colorectal liver operative metastasis international collaborative (COLOMIC).

BACKGROUND: Resection of colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) is beneficial when feasible. However, the benefit of second hepatectomy for hepatic recurrence in CLM remains unclear. METHODS: The Colorectal Liver Operative Metastasis International Collaborative retrospectively examined 1004 CLM cases from 2000 to 2018 from a total of 953 patients. Hepatic recurrence after initial hepatectomy was identified in 218 patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to offset selection bias. Cox proportional-hazards regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with OS. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients underwent second hepatectomy. Unadjusted median OS was 60.1 months in repeat-hepatectomy versus 38.3 months in the single-hepatectomy group (p = 0.015). In the PSM population, median OS remained significantly better in the repeat-hepatectomy group (60.1 vs. 33.1 months; p = 0.0023); median RFS was 12.4 months for the repeat-hepatectomy group, versus 9.8 months in the single-hepatectomy group (p = 0.0050). Repeat hepatectomy was associated with lower risk of death (hazard ratio: 0.283; p = 0.000012). Obesity, tobacco use, and high intraoperative blood loss were associated with significant risk of death (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In CLM with hepatic recurrence, second hepatectomy was beneficial for OS. With PSM, the OS benefit of performing a second hepatectomy remained significant.

Primary Cutaneous Malignant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor Mimicking Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma: A Report of a Rare Entity.

ABSTRACT: Primary cutaneous malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a rare and potentially aggressive neoplasm. In this article, we report the case of a 34-year-old man who initially presented with a 3-cm mass involving the skin and soft tissue of the right shoulder that, over 3 months, enlarged to 12 cm. Histologic examination of the mass revealed an infiltrative neoplasm with features resembling an undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, including sheets of pleomorphic cells with abundant atypical mitoses and necrosis. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed features suggestive of PEComa. Next-generation sequencing revealed pathogenic homozygous deletions of TSC2 and TP53 genes and numerous large-scale copy number changes. Taken together, the findings supported malignant PEComa. This case demonstrates only the seventh example of malignant cutaneous PEComa. Although cutaneous PEComa is chiefly a benign mesenchymal neoplasm, in rare cases, it can rapidly transform into a malignant and infiltrative sarcoma, requiring prompt surgical management.

Association of primary tumor laterality with surgical outcomes for colorectal liver metastases: results from the Colorectal Liver Operative Metastasis International Collaborative (COLOMIC).

BACKGROUND: Primary laterality of colorectal cancer is thought to be associated with differences in outcomes. Liver metastasis is the most common site of solitary colorectal cancer spread. However, how primary colorectal cancer laterality affects outcomes in colorectal liver metastasis remains unclear. METHODS: The Colorectal Liver Operative Metastasis International Collaborative (COLOMIC) of operative hepatectomy cases for colorectal liver metastasis was compiled from five participating institutions. This included consecutive cases from 2000 to 2018 at all sites. A total of 884 patients were included in this study. Univariate, multivariate, and Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed. RESULTS: Patients with left-sided versus right-sided cancers had significantly better overall survival: 49.4 vs. 41.8 months (p < 0.05). Patients with KRAS mutations had significantly worse median overall survival compared to KRAS wild-type (43.6 vs 56.1 months; p < 0.001). In left-sided cancers, KRAS mutations were associated with significantly worse median overall survival compared to KRAS wild-type cancers (43.6 vs 56.6 months; p < 0.01). This association was absent in patients with right-sided primary tumors. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed different variable sets (non-overlapping) were associated with overall survival, when comparing left-sided and right-sided cancers. CONCLUSION: Understanding how primary tumor laterality and related biological aspects affect long-term outcomes can potentially inform treatment decisions for patients with colorectal liver metastases.