C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio as a risk factor for anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer with intraoperative use of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging.

INTRODUCTION: Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) reduces anastomotic leakage (AL) in rectal cancer surgery. However, no studies investigating risk factors for anastomotic leakage specific to the group using ICG-FI have ever previously been conducted. The purpose of this retrospective multicenter study was to ascertain the risk factors for AL in the group using ICG-FI. METHODS: A total of 638 patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic anterior resection for rectal cancer between April 2018 and March 2023 were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: the ICG-FI group (n = 269) and the non-ICG-FI group (n = 369) for comparative analysis. The effects of clinicopathological and treatment-related factors on AL in the ICG-FI group were evaluated using both univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The incidence of AL in the ICG-FI group was 4.8%. Although there was no significant difference in the incidence of AL between the two groups, it was observed to be lower in the ICG-FI group. A multivariate analysis revealed a preoperative C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) ≥ 0.049 (odds ratio, 3.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-13.70; p = 0.048) as an independent risk factor for AL in the ICG-FI group. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, CAR was the only identified risk factor for AL in the ICG-FI group. It was suggested that CAR could be a criterion for early surgical intervention, prior to the escalation of risks, or for considering interventions such as diverting stoma creation.

Comparison of Survival Between ypStage and pStage in Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In East Asia, the standard treatment for resectable advanced gastric cancer involves gastrectomy and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy; nevertheless, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is also expected to improve survival rates. However, it remains unclear whether the same criteria can be used to select adjuvant chemotherapy for patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or how survival varies between post-chemotherapy pathological Stage (ypStage) and pathological Stage without chemotherapy (pStage). This study evaluated the long-term outcomes of ypStage and pStage in gastric cancers and investigated the optimal intensity of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients who have received preoperative chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2007 to November 2019, 1,585 patients underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at the Kanagawa Cancer Center. The patient background was adjusted by propensity score matching, and recurrence-free survival was compared between the two groups. In addition, a prognostic factor analysis was conducted for each yp/pStage. RESULTS: The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates for yp/pStage I were 77.1% and 90.9%, respectively, with no significant difference (p=0.342). The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates for yp/pStage II were 50.4% and 69.1%, respectively, with no significant difference (p=0.062). The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates for yp/pStage III were 42.9% and 68.7%, respectively, with a significant difference observed (p=0.016). In the prognostic factor analysis for each stage, the presence or absence of preoperative chemotherapy was selected as an independent prognostic factor for yp/pStage I [hazard ratio (HR)=17.72; p=0.001] and yp/pStage II (HR=2.655, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: ypStage tends to have a worse prognosis than pStage, and further development of multidisciplinary treatment is necessary.

Prospective observational study comparing the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic colectomy with or without epidural anesthesia: the Kanagawa Yokohama Colorectal Cancer Study Group (KYCC) 1806.

PURPOSE: There have been no adequate comparisons of the efficacy, safety, and efficiency of analgesia after laparoscopic colorectal resection (LAC), with and without epidural anesthesia (EDA). METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective observational study of patients undergoing LAC. The primary end point was the mean visual analog scale (VAS) score on postoperative days (PODs) 1-7. The secondary end points were the highest VAS, complication rate, days to first ambulation and fatigue, length of hospital stay, and time to commencement of surgery. RESULTS: We compared an EDA group (Group E, n = 48) and a no-EDA group (Group O, n = 48) after matching. The mean VAS was not significantly different between the groups (28.7 vs. 30.1, p = 0.288). On assessing the secondary end points, the highest VAS was not significantly different between the groups. In fact, the VAS was lower in Group E only on POD 2. There was no difference in the incidence of complications, the time to first postoperative evacuation was shorter in Group E, and postoperative hospitalization was similar. The time to surgery was shorter in Group O. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LAC without EDA is a feasible option, but with the early and regular use of adjunctive measures to provide more stable analgesia.

The Naples Prognostic Score Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of the Naples Prognostic Score (NPS) in patients with gastric cancer and to clarify the potential of the NPS as a nutritional and inflammation evaluation system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 158 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinical pathological parameters of the high-NPS (NPS >2) and low-NPS (NPS=0, 1) groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) rates at 3 and 5 years were 86.7% and 77.7%, respectively, in the low-NPS group and 55.4% and 47.4%, respectively, in the high-NPS group. There were significant differences in OS between the two groups. Uni- and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the NPS was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR=2.495, 95%CI=1.240-5.451). In addition, the 3- and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 82.1% and 76.0%, respectively, in the NPS-low group, and 43.8% and 36.6% in the NPS-high group. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the NPS was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (HR=2.739, 95%CI=1.509-4.972). When the first site of recurrence was compared between the low-NPS group and high-NPS group, there were significant differences in peritoneal recurrence (8.7% vs. 34.3%, p=0.001) and hematologic recurrence (5.6% vs. 21.9%, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: The NPS was a significant prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer who received curative treatment. The NPS may be a promising biomarker for the treatment and management of gastric cancer.

The Clinical Benefit of the Modified Neutrophil-Platelet Score as a Surrogate Prognostic Marker in Patients With Resectable Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Gastric cancer is a common cause of cancer death worldwide, especially in East Asia. This study evaluated the impact of preoperative modified Neutrophil-Platelet Score (mNPS) on the survival and recurrence of patients with resectable gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study analyzed 168 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy and subsequently received adjuvant treatment for gastric cancer between 2015 and 2021. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups: 76 patients with an mNPS of 0 were classified into the low-mNPS group, whereas 92 patients with an mNPS of ≥1 were classified into the high-mNPS group. The 3- and 5-year OS rates in the low-mNPS group were 65.6% and 56.2%, respectively, and those in the high-mNPS group were 45.3% and 36.9%, respectively. The difference in OS between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.007). The 3- and 5-year RFS rates in the low-mNPS group were 45.6% and 38.7%, respectively, whereas those in the high-mNPS group were 33.4% and 28.1%, respectively. The difference in RFS between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.043). A multivariate analysis showed that the mNPS was a significant independent prognostic factor for OS and RFS. CONCLUSION: mNPS is a potential prognostic marker for patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy. Higher mNPS values were associated with lower 3- and 5-year OS and RFS rates, indicating a potential correlation between elevated mNPS and worse outcomes.

Albumin-Globulin Ratio Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients who Received Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The albumin-globulin ratio (AGR) is a useful biomarker for predicting postoperative complications and a poor prognosis in patients with various types of cancer and can be evaluated without invasive testing or surgery. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the AGR in predicting the short- and long-term prognoses of patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical resection at our institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective cohort analysis in which eligible patients were selected from the medical records of patients who underwent radical resection for gastric cancer at Yokohama City University from 2000 to 2020 and their medical records were reviewed. A total of 240 patients with gastric cancer were classified into high-AGR (>1.57) and low-AGR (≤1.57) groups and their overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and postoperative complication rates were compared. RESULTS: Of the total 240 patients, 87 were classified into the high AGR group and 153 were classified into the low AGR group; the incidence of postoperative complications in the two groups did not differ to a statistically significant extent (34.4% vs. 39.2%, p=0.491). The long-term findings showed that the 5-year OS and RFS rates were significantly better in the high AGR group [84.0% vs. 64.8% (p=0.005), 80.0% vs. 61.9% (p=0.015), respectively]. CONCLUSION: Preoperative low AGR is a risk factor for OS and DFS in patients with gastric cancer who undergo surgery. The AGR may be a useful biomarker that can be applied as a prognostic indicator for patients with gastric cancer.

Non-invasive intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm forming a protruding lesion toward the duodenum from the accessory papilla: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm (IOPN), previously classified as a subtype of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), has been described as an independent disease by the WHO since 2019. IOPN is a rare tumor, with few reported cases. Herein, we report a case of resected non-invasive IOPN that formed a lesion protruding toward the duodenum from the accessory papilla. CASE PRESENTATION: An 80-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of a giant mass in the pancreatic head detected on abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) performed for a close examination of a mass in the right breast. CT revealed a 90-mm-sized tumor with a mixture of solid and cystic components, with contrast enhancement in the pancreatic head, and a dilated main pancreatic duct. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a semi-circumferential papillary tumor protruding toward the duodenal lumen, which did not protrude from the papilla of Vater. Transpapillary biopsy led to a preoperative diagnosis of IPMN with an associated invasive carcinoma. As there were no distant metastasis, open subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Analysis of the surgical specimen and histopathological examination revealed that the tumor was an IOPN that protruded toward the duodenal mucosa from the accessory papilla while replacing the duodenal mucosa with no obvious stromal invasion. CONCLUSION: IOPN is a rare and poorly recognized tumor with few reported cases. There have been no reports describing IOPN forming a protruding lesion toward the duodenum from the accessory papilla. Therefore, further accumulation of cases such as this one is important to advance the study of IOPN.

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Patients With Esophageal Cancer Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The perioperative nutritional status has recently been reported to influence the prognosis of various types of cancer. We investigated the relationship between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with esophageal cancer who received radical and adjuvant therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent radical resection for esophageal cancer at our hospital (n=187) were included. Background characteristics, surgical factors, and OS were examined retrospectively. The GNRI was calculated using preoperative values, with GNRI <98 classified as low-GNRI. RESULTS: Seventy-five and 112 patients were classified into the GNRI-low and -high groups, respectively. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 75.7% and 66.7%, respectively, in the GNRI-high group and 43.2% and 36.7% in the GNRI-low group; the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, low-GNRI was selected as a risk factor for OS. The hazard ratio for low-GNRI was 2.184 (95% confidence interval=1.361-3.508, p=0.001). The 5-year RFS rate in the high- and low-GNRI groups was 54.6% and 25.0%, respectively (p=0.001). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, low-GNRI was a risk factor for RFS. The hazard ratio for low-GNRI was 1.704 (95%CI=1.121-2.590, p=0.013). Regarding the type of recurrence, lymph node recurrence was significantly more common in the low-GNRI group (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Low-GNRI was an independent risk factor for OS and RFS after radical resection of esophageal cancer. The preoperative GNRI may be a useful prognostic factor after esophageal cancer surgery.

Pretreatment Fibrinogen Level Is a Prognostic Factor for Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pretreatment fibrinogen levels are a promising prognostic marker for some malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of fibrinogen levels before treatment in patients with esophageal cancer who underwent curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 123 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters in the high fibrinogen and low fibrinogen groups were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall survival (OS) stratified by individual clinical factors was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed when a pretreatment fibrinogen level of 400 g/dl was used as a cutoff value. The comparison of the patient background factors between the high fibrinogen (400 g/dl) and low fibrinogen (<400 g/dl) groups revealed significant differences in pathological T status and lymph node metastasis. In the low fibrinogen group, the OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery (71.4% and 58.1%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the high fibrinogen group (38.3% and 32.4%, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses for OS showed that the fibrinogen level prior to treatment was a significant prognostic factor. Similar results were observed for recurrence-free survival. In addition, when the first recurrence site was compared, there were marginally significant differences in hematologic recurrence. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment fibrinogen levels are a significant risk factor in patients with esophageal cancer. Therefore, pretreatment fibrinogen levels are a promising prognostic factor for patients with esophageal cancer.

Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study evaluated the clinical impact of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with esophageal cancer who received curative treatment and perioperative adjuvant treatment. The association between LMR and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with esophageal cancer was also investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 181 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters of patients with high and low LMR statuses were analyzed. RESULTS: The OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were significantly lower (40.6% and 33.8%, respectively) in the low-LMR group than in the high-LMR group (67.1% and 58.4%, respectively). The pretreatment LMR was selected as an independent prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis model [hazard ratio (HR)=2.606; 95%CI=1.504-4.516, p<0.001]. Similar results were observed for RFS. Furthermore, LMR was associated with the occurrence of postoperative surgical complications and hematological recurrence. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 63.3% in the low-LMR group and 27.2% in the high-LMR group (p<0.001). Moreover, the hematologic recurrence rate in the low-LMR group was significantly higher than that in the high-LMR group (46.7% vs. 23.8%, p=0.011). CONCLUSION: The LMR may be a promising prognostic and predictive factor for esophageal cancer, and may be used to select optimal treatment strategies in the future.

Clinical Impact of Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Surgical Patients With Pancreatic Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer remains poor, despite recent advances in surgical techniques, perioperative care, neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a prognostic factor and determine the optimal cutoff value in surgical patients with pancreatic cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 461 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent resection between January 2013 and December 2022 in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Kanagawa Cancer Center. The association between continuous or categorical variables and NLR was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and Fisher's exact test. Overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional-hazard regression models. RESULTS: The optimal cutoff value for the preoperative NLR was 3.2. The NLR≥3.2 was associated with a large tumor size (p=0.005), poor histological differentiation (p=0.002), and less adjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.048). The NLR≥3.2 had an important influence on the decreased OS (21.6 vs. 25.8 months), and RFS (10.3 vs. 14.3 months). In univariate and multivariate analyses, the preoperative NLR was an independent prognostic factor for OS (p=0.022) and RFS (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Preoperative NLR (cutoff value: 3.2) within two weeks before surgery is a prognostic factor for OS and RFS in surgical patients with pancreatic cancer. This study could help establish evidence on the immune system's impact and a unified treatment strategy pre-surgery, potentially improving the prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer.

The C-reactive Protein to Prealbumin Ratio Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Patients With Gastric Cancer Who Receive Curative Surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio (CPAR) has been proposed and introduced in gastrointestinal cancer management. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of the CPAR in patients with gastric cancer (GC) who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 447 patients who underwent curative treatment for GC between 2013 and 2017. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters were compared between patients with high and low CPARs. RESULTS: Overall survival (OS) stratified by each clinical factor was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed using a pretreatment CPAR of 5.0. Significant differences were observed in the 3- and 5-year OS rates of the CPAR-low (CPAR <5.0) and CPAR-high (CPAR ≥5.0) groups. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 92.6% and 87.8%, respectively, in the CPAR-low group and 88.0% and 75.4% in the CPAR-high group. The CPAR was determined to be a significant prognostic factor for OS in a multivariate analysis (p=0.032). Similar results were observed for recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: The CAPR is a prognostic factor for GC patients. Therefore, the CAPR may be a promising nutritional biomarker of inflammation that can be applied in the management of GC patients.

[A Case of Desmoid Fibromatosis of the Small Intestinal Mesentery Institutions].

The patient was a 27-year-old man. He was referred to our hospital because he was aware of a mass in his abdomen. An abdominal ultrasound showed a 70-mm mass lesion. Enhanced computed tomography showed a 70-mm mass with well- defined margins and heterogeneous internal enhancement near the proximal jejunum. The patient was diagnosed with a suspected primary submucosal tumor of the duodenum or small intestine, and surgery was planned to diagnose and treat the tumor. The tumor was located in the upper jejunal mesentery, and tumor resection and partial small bowel resection were performed. Histopathological examination revealed proliferation of spindle-shaped cells without karyomitosis, and mixed collagen fibers in the tissue. Immunohistochemistry showed ß-catenin(+), SMA(+), AE1/AE3(-), KIT(-), CD34(-), and S-100(-). Based on these findings, we diagnosed primary desmoid fibromatosis of the small intestinal mesentery. In this report, we describe a case of primary desmoid fibromatosis of the small intestinal mesentery with a review of the literature.

[Laparoscopic Low-Anterior Resection for Sigmoid Colon Cancer and Rectosigmoid Adenoma in a Patient with Situs Inversus].

A 63-year-old woman, who were in a nursing house, visited our hospital with complaints of bloody stools and anemia. Some investigations were performed, CS and CT revealed her diagnosis with sigmoid colon cancer(cT3N0M0)and rectosigmoid adenoma with situs inversus(SI). Laparoscopic low-anterior resection was performed. Postoperative course was good without any complications, and she discharged our hospital at the day 7 after the operation. In surgery, we had to be conscious of mirror image and set operative equipment and operative staffs inversely from normal setting. Some previous reports suggested that some surgical process such as cutting and separating with left hand(non-dominant hand), especially at interior separation, were effective in laparoscopic surgery for SI patients. However, in our operation, we used ultrasonic coagulator with short-pitched incision with surgeon's right hand(dominant hand)instead of left-handed process, and it could be useful for laparoscopic surgery for SI patients. In intrapelvic processes, we proceeded with the surgery as usual because of the symmetric structure of intrapelvic organs. We could complete the laparoscopic low-anterior resection for SI patient with several ingenuity for operative processes.

The Clinical Influence of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in Patients With Gastric Cancer Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We evaluated the clinical impact of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in patients who received curative treatment and perioperative adjuvant treatment. We also investigated the association between the GNRI and the clinicopathological features of patients with GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 280 patients who underwent curative treatment for GC between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters of the high-GNRI and low-GNRI groups were compared. RESULTS: In the GNRI-high group, the overall survival (OS) rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were significantly lower (82.7% and 77.9%, respectively) than those in the GNRI-low group (56.4% and 40.8%). The GNRI was selected for the final multivariate analysis model for OS. The GNRI was also a significant prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival (RFS). The RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 79.1% and 74.8%, respectively, in the GNRI-high group, and 48.0% and 38.6% in the GNRI-low group. The GNRI was selected for the final multivariate analysis model for RFS. The GNRI was also found to affect the postoperative clinical course, including postoperative surgical complications and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The GNRI may be a promising prognostic and predictive factor for gastric cancer. In the future, the GNRI may be used to select optimal treatment strategies.

The Clinical Impact of Change in the Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio During the Perioperative Period in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Gastrectomy.

AIM: Recently, change in the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (cNLR) has been shown to be a promising prognostic inflammation marker in some malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of the cNLR in gastric cancer patients who received curative gastrectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study included 450 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2013 and 2017 at Kanagawa Cancer Center. The cNLR was defined as follows: cNLR = NLR at 1 month after surgery-NLR at 1 week before surgery. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters of the increased cNLR and decreased cNLR groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The OS stratified by each clinical factor was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed using a cutoff value of cNLR at 0.762. When comparing the patient background factors between the increased cNLR (≥ 0.762) and decreased cNLR (< 0.762) groups, there were no significant differences in age, sex, T status, or N status. In the increased cNLR group, the OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 87.5% and 77.3%, respectively, while those in the decreased cNLR group were 92.8% and 87.3%, which amounted to a statistically significant difference (p = 0.041). The univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with OS showed that cNLR was a significant prognostic factor. When the postoperative course was compared between the two groups, the incidence rates of postoperative surgical complications and other-cause death were significantly higher in the increased cNLR group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSION: The cNLR is one of the significant risk factors in gastric cancer patients. Our results suggested that the changes of inflammation status during perioperative periods might be a promising prognostic factor for gastrointestinal cancer patients.

The Clinical Impact of Change in the C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Recently, change in the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) has become a promising prognostic marker in some malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of change in the CAR in gastric cancer patients who received curative resection. METHOD: The present study included 458 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2013 and 2017. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters were compared between patients who showed a high-change in CAR and those who showed a low-change in CAR. RESULTS: The OS stratified by each clinical factor was compared using a log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed using a 0.05 change in CAR. When the patient background factors were compared between the high-change (change in CAR ≥ 0.05) and low-change (change in CAR < 0.05) groups, the median age, sex ratio, T factor, and N factor were similar. In the low-change group, the OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 94.1% and 87.6%, respectively, which amounted to a significant difference from the low-change group, with rates of 83.6 and 77.5% in the high-change group. In the low-change group, the RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 90.1% and 85.1%, respectively, while those in the high-change group 77.6 and 75.2%. The univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with OS and RFS showed that the change in CAR was a significant prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The change in CAR is a significant risk factor and promising prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients.

The Clinical Impact of the Pretreatment Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is a promising prognostic marker in some malignancies. The present study evaluated the clinical impact of the PLR in patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 258 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters between the high- and low-PLR statuses were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) stratified by each clinical factor was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed using a pretreatment PLR of 150. When comparing the patient backgrounds between the high-PLR (PLR≥150) and low-PLR (PLR<150) groups, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were significantly higher at 70.8% and 60.4%, respectively, for the high-PLR group than at 83.6% and 79.7%, respectively, for the low-PLR group. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the OS showed that the PLR was a significant prognostic factor. In addition, when comparing the first recurrence sites, there were significant differences in peritoneal recurrence. CONCLUSION: The PLR is a significant risk factor for gastric cancer, making it a promising prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer.

Short- and long-term outcomes of transanal decompression tube and self-expandable metallic stent for obstructive colorectal cancer based on a multicenter database (KYCC2110).

AIM: There are well-known methods for decompressing the colorectal tract before surgery, including transanal decompression tubes (TDT) and self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS). This study aimed to compare the short and long-term results in patients with malignant large bowel obstruction in whom TDT or SEMS were placed before surgery. METHODS: This retrospective observational study enrolled 225 patients with malignant large bowel obstruction in whom TDT or SEMS were placed preoperatively and underwent R0 resection between 2008 and 2020. One-to-two propensity score matching was performed according to patient characteristics. Short- and long-term outcomes were compared. The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival (RFS). The secondary endpoints were the overall survival (OS) and postoperative complication rate. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients in the TDT group and 114 in the SEMS group were matched. The 3-year RFS rates were 66.7% in the TDT group and 69.9% in the SEMS group (p = 0.54), and the 3-year OS rates were 90.5% in the TDT group and 87.1% in the SEMS group (p = 0.52). No significant differences in the long-term results were observed between the two groups. Regarding short-term results, the SEMS group had significantly fewer stoma construction (p = 0.007) and shorter postoperative hospitalization (p < 0.001). The incidence of postoperative complications (grade ≥ 2) was significantly lower in the SEMS group (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: No significant differences in the long-term results were observed between the TDT and SEMS group. The SEMS showed significant usefulness in terms of improving short-term outcomes.

Risk factors for early recurrence in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent curative resection.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers, and surgical resection is the only potentially curative approach. However, the rate of recurrence remains high, particularly within the first 6 months, and is associated with a poor prognosis. The present study evaluated the clinical characteristics and risk factors for early recurrence in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients who underwent curative resection, regardless of the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, to identify predictive factors associated with early recurrence and poor outcomes as well as to determine the optimal treatment strategy for patients at high risk of early recurrence after surgical resection. METHODS: Patients who underwent pancreatic resection for PDAC at our institution from 2013 to 2021 were included in this study. We investigated the clinicopathological features of patients in groups: those with recurrence within 6 months, recurrence between 6 and 12 months, and recurrence beyond 12 months or no recurrence. A logistic regression analysis identified covariates associated with early recurrence at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: The study included 403 patients with a median follow-up of 25.7 months. Recurrence was observed in 279 patients, with 14.6% recurring within 6 months, 23.3% within 6-12 months, and 62% after 12 months or not at all. The preoperative CA19-9 level, modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), and positive peritoneal cytology were significant risk factors for early recurrence within 6 months, while positive peritoneal cytology, lymph node metastasis, and the absence of adjuvant chemotherapy were significant risk factors for recurrence within 12 months. For patients who received preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, the preoperative CA19-9 level, mGPS, and positive peritoneal cytology were significant independent risk factors for early recurrence within 6 months, while positive peritoneal cytology, lymph node metastasis, and the absence of adjuvant chemotherapy were significant independent risk factors for recurrence within 12 months. The study concluded that the overall survival after surgical resection for potentially resectable PDAC worsened according to the number of risk factors present in the patient. CONCLUSIONS: We clarified that preoperative CA19-9, positive peritoneal cytology, and the lack of adjuvant chemotherapy were consistent predictors for early recurrence within 6 and 12 months. In addition, an increased number of risk factors affecting the patient was associated with a poorer overall survival after potentially curable resection. Calculating the number of risk factors for early recurrence may be an essential predictive factor when considering treatment strategies.