Microcirugía transanal endoscópica en el tratamiento para el cáncer del recto / Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery for Treating Rectal Cancer

Introducción: La microcirugía transanal endoscópica es un procedimiento mínimamente invasivo que se aplica para el tratamiento local del cáncer del recto en estadios iniciales. Su utilización en estadios más avanzados del cáncer del recto resulta controversial. Sin embargo, con el uso rutinario del tratamiento neoadyuvante constituye una opción atractiva que se ha comenzado a considerar. Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados de la microcirugía transanal endoscópica para el tratamiento del cáncer del recto en el Centro Nacional de Cirugía de Mínimo Acceso. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de una base de datos prospectiva de 18 años. La muestra fue de 150 pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de selección y las variables estudiadas fueron: edad, sexo, indicación, tiempo quirúrgico, entre otras. Resultados: La principal indicación fue el adenocarcinoma del recto T1. La edad media fue 63 años (32-93); el tiempo quirúrgico, 76 minutos (25-240) y el tamaño tumoral, 2,8 cm (1-4). La estancia hospitalaria fue de 1 día (12 horas-7 días), la morbilidad fue 6,7 porciento y las principales complicaciones posoperatorias fueron el sangramiento, la dehiscencia de sutura, el absceso, la fístula rectovaginal y la estenosis. La recurrencia local fue 8,2 porciento, 7,1 porciento y 2,5 porciento para los adenocarcinomas T1, T2 y T3 respectivamente. La supervivencia global a los 5 años fue 97,5 porciento y la supervivencia libre de enfermedad fue 95,5 porciento. Conclusión: La microcirugía transanal endoscópica es una técnica factible y segura en el tratamiento de los adenocarcinomas T1, mientras que en los T2 y T3 se requiere de la radioquimioterapia preoperatoria(AU)

Introduction: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is a minimally invasive procedure applied for the local treatment of rectal cancer at early stages. Its use in more advanced stages of rectal cancer is controversial. However, with the routine use of neoadjuvant treatment, it is an attractive option that has begun to be considered. Objective: To assess the outcomes of transanal endoscopic microsurgery for the treatment of rectal cancer at Centro Nacional de Cirugía de Mínimo Acceso. Methods: A retrospective study of an 18-year prospective database was performed. The sample consisted of 150 patients who met the selection criteria and the variables studied were age, sex, indication, surgical time, among others. Results: The main indication was T1 rectal adenocarcinoma. The mean age was 63 years (32-93); surgical time, 76 minutes (25-240); and tumor size, 2.8 cm (1-4). Hospital stay was 1 day (12 hours-7 days), morbidity was 6.7 percent, and the main postoperative complications were bleeding, suture dehiscence, abscess, rectovaginal fistula and stenosis. Local recurrence was 8.2 percent, 7.1 percent and 2.5 percent for T1, T2 and T3 adenocarcinomas, respectively. Overall survival at 5 years was 97.5 percent and disease-free survival was 95.5 percent . Conclusion: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is a feasible and safe technique for treating T1 adenocarcinomas, while T2 and T3 adenocarcinomas require preoperative radiochemotherapy(AU)

Value of endorectal ultrasonography in the assessment of invasion staging of low rectal cancer with local progression after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy / Valor de la ultrasonografía endorectal en la evaluación de la estadificación de la invasión del cáncer rectal bajo con progresión local, después de administrar radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante

Abstract Although stages T3 and T4 rectal cancer can be reduced to T1 or T2 after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy, the accuracy of the endorectal ultrasonography (ERUS) for the post-radiochemotherapy evaluation of low rectal cancer has seldom been reported. We aimed to investigate the value of ERUS in the assessment of invasion staging in low rectal cancer with local progression, and the factors affecting its accuracy, after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. A total of 114 patients administered with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for stages II and III low rectal cancer (local stage T3/T4) from February 2018 to December 2020 were enrolled in the study. The changes in local lesions were evaluated using ERUS before and after radiochemotherapy, and compared with the pathological T staging. The accuracy of post-neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy re-staging examined with ERUS was evaluated, and univariate analysis was used to identify the factors affecting the accuracy. After neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy, the blood flow distribution within the lesion significantly declined (P<0.05), the max length and max thickness of the longitudinal axis of the lesion were reduced (P<0.05), and the uT staging was decreased (P<0.05), when compared with lesions before the treatment. Compared with postoperative pathological T staging, the accuracies of ERUS in T1, T2, T3 and T4 stages were 11.11%, 28.57%, 27.27% and 100%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that review time of ERUS, post-operative T staging and Wheeler rectal regression stage were factors affecting the accuracy of ERUS re-staging. ERUS is more accurate for T4 re-staging, follow-up reviewed six weeks after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy and low regression tumors, with a high application value for the assessment of the efficacy of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for low rectal cancer.

Resumen Aunque el cáncer de recto en estadios T3 y T4 se puede reducir a T1 o T2 después de la radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante, rara vez se ha informado la precisión de la ecografía endorrectal (ERUS) para la evaluación posterior a la radioquimioterapia del cáncer de recto inferior. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar el valor de ERUS en la evaluación de la estadificación de la invasión en el cáncer de recto inferior con progresión local, después de la radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante y los factores que afectan su precisión. Se incluyeron en el estudio un total de 114 pacientes a los que se les administró radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante para el cáncer de recto inferior en estadios II y III (estadio local T3/T4), desde febrero de 2018 hasta diciembre de 2020. Los cambios en las lesiones locales se evaluaron mediante ERUS antes y después de la radioquimioterapia y se compararon con la estadificación patológica T. Se evaluó la precisión de la re-estadificación examinada con ERUS, después de la radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante y se utilizó un análisis univariado para identificar los factores que afectan su precisión. Después de la radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante, la distribución del flujo sanguíneo dentro de la lesión disminuyó significativamente (P<0,05), la longitud máxima y el espesor máximo del eje longitudinal de la lesión se redujeron (P<0,05) y la estadificación uT disminuyó (P<0,05), en comparación con las lesiones antes del tratamiento. En comparación con la estadificación T patológica posoperatoria, las precisiones de ERUS en las etapas T1, T2, T3 y T4 fueron del 11,11%, 28,57%, 27,27% y 100%, respectivamente. El análisis univariable indicó que el tiempo de revisión de ERUS, la estadificación T postoperatoria y la etapa de regresión rectal de Wheeler fueron factores que afectaron la precisión de la re-estadificación con ERUS. ERUS es más preciso para la re-estadificación de T4, el seguimiento seis semanas después de la radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante y en tumores de baja regresión, con un alto valor de aplicación para la evaluación de la eficacia de la radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante para el cáncer rectal bajo.

Impact of lymph nodal stage on gallbladder cancer survival after extended cholecystectomy and adjuvant radiochemotherapy: long-term results from an oncology institute, Chile.

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is one of the most important causes of cancer death in Chile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 103 patients with a diagnosis of GBC who were treated with surgery and adjuvant radiochemotherapy (RT-CT) was carried out at the Oncological Institute of Viña del Mar, Chile. Of these, 56 underwent surgery with oncological criteria, in which the impact of lymph node involvement and prognostic factors for survival were analysed. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 47.5 months. The 5-year survival of the patients operated on with oncological surgery was 55%, and for those resected without oncological criteria, it was 32% (p = 0.02). Regarding the impact of lymph node involvement, 5-year overall survival (OS) in patients with compromised lymph nodes was 32% versus 68% for patients without compromised lymph nodes (p = 0.006). Five-year OS in patients without involved nodes, with 1 involved node or with>1 involved node was 68%, 44% and 12%, respectively (p = 0.0002). The N ratio was grouped in 0, <10% and ≥10%. Five-year OS was 71%, 0% and 24%, respectively (p = 0.003). There was no evidence of differences in survival with respect to the number of lymph nodes studied. CONCLUSION: Our data provide information regarding the importance of lymph node involvement in patients with GBC undergoing surgery with oncological criteria and adjuvant RT-CT. In the absence of randomised studies, it is suggested to have a more aggressive therapeutic approach in those patients with two or more involved nodes or with a lymph node ratio >10%.

Decrease in treatment intensity predicts worse outcome in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radiochemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Radiochemotherapy (RCT) is an effective standard therapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Nonetheless, toxicity is common, with patients often requiring dose modifications. METHODS: To investigate associations of RCT toxicities according to CTCAE version 5.0 and subsequent therapy modifications with short- and long-term treatment outcomes, we studied all 193 patients with HNSCC who received RCT (70 Gy + platinum agent) at an academic center between 03/2010 and 04/2018. RESULTS: During RCT, 77 (41%, 95% CI 34-49) patients developed at least one ≥ grade 3 toxicity, including seven grade 4 and 3 fatal grade 5 toxicities. The most frequent any-grade toxicities were xerostomia (n = 187), stomatitis (n = 181), dermatitis (n = 174), and leucopenia (n = 98). Eleven patients (6%) had their radiotherapy schedule modified (mean radiotherapy dose reduction = 12 Gy), and 120 patients (64%) had chemotherapy modifications (permanent discontinuation: n = 67, pause: n = 34, dose reduction: n = 7, change to other chemotherapy: n = 10). Objective response rates to RCT were 55% and 88% in patients with and without radiotherapy modifications (p = 0.003), and 84% and 88% in patients with and without chemotherapy modifications (p = 0.468), respectively. Five-year progression-free survival estimates were 20% and 50% in patients with and without radiotherapy modifications (p = < 0.001), and 53% and 40% in patients with and without chemotherapy modifications (p = 0.88), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions of radiotherapy dose were associated with impaired long-term outcomes, whereas reductions in chemotherapy intensity were not. This suggests that toxicities during RCT should be primarily managed by modifying chemotherapy rather than radiotherapy.

Adjuvant radiochemotherapy in locally advanced gastric cancer: from evidence to daily clinical practice in a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is one of the main important causes of cancer death in Chile. OBJECTIVE: To report the results of adjuvant radiochemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2018, 214 subjects aged 23-85 (median, 62) years with lymph node and/or serosa involvement were treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after curative resection. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 41 months, overall 3- and 5-year survival was 54.9% and 40.85%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the factors associated with lower survival were aged >65 years, stage group and number of lymph nodes involved. CONCLUSION: In patients with locoregionally advanced gastric cancer treated with curative intent with surgery and adjuvant radiochemotherapy, the overall 5-year survival reported from local clinical practice is similar to that reported in randomised series and supports its use as an effective treatment for this type of patients in our country.

Difference in toxicity between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with squamous-cell cancer of the anal canal treated with concomitant radio-chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal has been increasing over the last 30 years. HIV has been found to be a risk factor for the development of this disease; radio-chemotherapy (RTCT) may also be more toxic than in HIV-negative patients. The study aims at assessing whether there are any differences in terms of toxicity between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients treated with concomitant RTCT. METHODS: Search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL (via Cochrane Library-Wiley), DARE, LILACS bibliographic databases. Experimental and analytical observational studies with at least two comparative arms were included: squamous-cell (SC) anal-canal cancer (ACC) treated with RTCT in HIV-positive vs. HIV-negative patients. RESULTS: Fifteen publications, 14 retrospective studies and 1 systematic review, were found. All radiotherapy (RT) techniques and all chemotherapeutic agents used to manage this disease were included. No differences were found in terms of duration (P=0.67) and dose (P=0.53) of RT, while CT results were contradictory. Acute and hematological toxicities were significantly higher in HIV-positive patients, while gastrointestinal, dermatological and chronic toxicities did not significantly differ between the two groups. Given the high heterogeneity of the studies, no objective comparison could be made between studies that included antiretrovirals and those that did not. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-positive patients may be at higher risk for acute and hematological toxicity than HIV-negative patients. A precise conclusion cannot be drawn on the use of antiretrovirals, given the high heterogeneity of data.

Chemo-radiotherapy integration in unresectable locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a review.

Approximately one-third of all non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are locally-advanced at diagnosis, and 15-17% of these tumors are unresectable at presentation. Definitive chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) represents the standard therapeutic approach. However, the literature has shown that only 15% of patients are alive at 5 years and this percentage has remained unchanged despite various attempts of improvement. The recent introduction of immunotherapy has not only strongly changed the clinical scenario but has also drawn attention to a stage of disease apparently forgotten for decades. Stage III NSCLC can represent an interesting setting for the combined use of chemo-radiation and immunotherapy, due to the potential synergistic effect between radiation and immune checkpoint inhibitors. We reviewed the available literature in order to report the state of art of stage III NSCLC, by focusing on trials that evaluate different combinations of CRT and new drugs of PD-1/PD-L1 axis, and anti-CTLA-4. The future goal in the management of unresectable stage III NSCLC will be the optimal patients' selection combined with the use of individualized immuno/chemotherapies that could potentially improve clinical outcomes.

Comparative efficacy and toxicity of induction chemotherapy with concurrent stereotactic body radiotherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy with subsequent chemotherapy in patients with clinical stage T1-3N0M0 non-small cell lung carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We compared the clinical efficacy and toxicity of stereotactic body radiotherapy with induction chemotherapy and concurrent radiochemotherapy vs stereotactic body radiotherapy with subsequent chemotherapy in patients with clinical stage T1-3N0M0 non-small cell lung carcinoma. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 38 patients with c-stage T1-3N0M0 non-small cell lung carcinoma who received stereotactic body radiotherapy. All patients received six cycles of chemotherapy. Fifteen of the patients were treated with three cycles of induction chemotherapy, one cycle of concurrent radiochemotherapy, and then two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy, while 23 patients received Sequential Radiotherapy/Chemotherapy. RESULTS: Patients in the induction chemotherapy group experienced a longer duration of esophagitis (median 2 vs 0, range 0-6 vs 0-3.6 weeks, p = 0.04). We divided the patients into two groups based on their median pre-treatment tumor volume (cm3): >32.11 and ≤32.11. The tumor response rate in patients with larger tumor volume was substantially higher in the induction chemotherapy group than in the Sequential Radiotherapy/Chemotherapy group (66.67 vs 40%). Among patients with pre-treatment tumor volume (cm3) >32.11, the median local progression-free survival (LPFS) in the induction chemotherapy group and Sequential Radiotherapy/Chemotherapy group was 18 months (range 7-72 months) and 11 months (range 6-53 months), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous SBRT and chemotherapy can result in a longer duration of esophagitis. However, for patients with large tumor volume, ICT combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy may result in better local tumor response as well as longer LPFS and progression-free survival. To better elucidate the best treatment, further clinical trials are needed.

Predictive factors for survival in neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for advanced rectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by radical surgery is the standard approach in advanced rectal carcinoma. Tumor response is determined in histological specimen. OBJECTIVE: To assess predictive factors for survival in 115 patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 115 patients treated with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by radical surgery with total mesorectal excision, in our hospital from January 2007 to December 2014. All patients received pelvic radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy, followed by radical surgery and in some adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, distance to anal verge, radial margin, perineural invasion, and good grade regression are predictive factors for both, specific and disease free survival; and in multivariant, only radial margin and perineural invasion were predictive factors for survival. We found distance to anal verge (<5 cm) as the only clinical factor to predict a positive margin in the histologic specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Perineural invasion and positive radial margin are predictive factors for both specific and disease free survival.

Dosimetric predictors of acute hematologic toxicity during concurrent intensity-modulated radiotherapy and chemotherapy for anal cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed at investigating whether the irradiated volume of pelvic bone marrow (PBM) and specific subsites may predict the occurrence of acute hematologic toxicity (HT) in anal cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemo-radiation. METHODS: 50 patients, submitted to IMRT and concurrent chemotherapy, were analyzed. Several bony structures were defined on planning-CT: PBM and lumbar-sacral (LSBM), lower pelvis (LPBM) and iliac (IBM) bone marrow. On dose-volume histograms, dosimetric parameters were taken. Endpoints included white blood-cell-count (WBC), absolute-neutrophil-count (ANC), hemoglobin (Hb) and platelet nadirs and acute hematologic toxicity (HT) according to RTOG scoring scale. Generalized linear modeling was used to find correlations between dosimetric variables and blood cell nadirs, while logistic regression analysis was used to test correlation with ≥G3 HT. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the optimal cut-off points for predictive dosimetric variables with the Youden method. RESULTS: Maximum detected acute HT comprised 38 % of ≥G3 leukopenia and 32 % of ≥G3 neutropenia. Grade 2 anemia was observed in 4 % of patients and ≥G3 thrombocytopenia in 10 %. On multivariate analysis a higher PBM-V 20 was associated with lower WBC nadir. Increased LSBM-V 40 was correlated with a higher likelihood to develop ≥G3 HT. A cut-off point at 41 % for LSBM-V 40 was found. Patients with LSBM-V 40 ≥41 % were more likely to develop ≥G3 HT (55.3 vs. 32.4 %; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Increased low-dose to pelvic bony structures significantly predicted for WBC decrease. Medium-high dose to specific osseous subsites was associated with a higher probability of HT. LSBM-V 40 was a strong predictor of ≥G3 HT. A threshold at 41 % for LSBM-V 40 could be used to limit HT.

Sinonasal Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma with Intracranial Invasion and Perineural Spread: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

We present the case of a 51-year-old patient with sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams revealed an expansive process in the right nostril accompanied with perineural spread and invasion to the floor of the middle cranial fossa. Due to the size of the tumor and brain involvement, the Head and Neck Tumor Board (HNTB) recommended radiochemotherapy treatment to decrease the size of the lesion. Presently, the patient is undergoing treatment without major complications.

Cáncer gástrico: tratamientos adyuvantes / Gastric cancer: adjuvant treatment

Surgery is still the sole curative treatment for gastric cancer. In early stages only surgery is required; in more advanced stages (2 and 3) supplementary antitumoral treatments are needed. The use of neoadjuvant therapies (before surgery) or adjuvant therapies (post surgery) is reviewed. These include administration of chemotherapy with or without concomitant radiotherapy. Recommendations are adjusted according to the type of surgery performed (according to level D1 or D2 dissection).

La cirugía continúa siendo el único tratamiento curativo en cáncer gástrico. En etapas precoces basta sólo la cirugía. En etapas más avanzadas (en general en estadios 2 y 3) se requiere tratamientos antitumorales complementarios. Se revisa la utilidad de los tratamientos neoadyuvantes (previos a la cirugía) o adyuvantes propiamente tales (posteriores a cirugía). Estos incluyen la administración de quimioterapia con o sin radioterapia concomitante. Se ajustan las recomendaciones en relación al tipo de cirugía efectuado (según disección nivel D1 o D2).