The LIver SEntinel LYmph-node (LISELY) study: A prospective intraoperative real time evaluation of liver lymphatic drainage and sentinel lymph-node using near-infrared (NIR) imaging with Indocyanine Green (ICG).

Near-infrared (NIR) imaging with Indocyanine green (ICG) has been recently proposed for the sentinel lymph node (SLN) and lymphatic out-flow detection in several tumors. Nowadays its application in primary and secondary liver (LCs) and biliary cancers (BTCs) remains uninvestigated. A proof-of-concept prospective observational study including 18 patients underwent surgery for LCs and BTCs from September 2021 to November 2021 was carried out. The intraoperative NIR imaging with ICG was detected at predefined temporary intervals in order to identify the main lymphatic out-flow and the SLN. In 14 patients (77.8%) the lymphatic outflow pathway was visualized with a median time of 3 min after ICG injection (IQR 3-10). The SLN was detected and confirmed at the histological examination in 12 patients (66.7%). Intraoperative NIR imaging with ICG is a safe and feasible method to identify the lymphatic out-flow and SLN in LCs and BTCs.

Hepatectomy for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) related HCC: Propensity case-matched analysis with viral- and alcohol-related HCC.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We investigated the clinical impact of the newly defined metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC (MAFLD-HCC) comparing the characteristics and outcomes of patients with MAFLD-HCC to viral- and alcoholic-related HCC (HCV-HCC, HBV-HCC, A-HCC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients included in the He.RC.O.Le.S. Group registry was performed. The characteristics, short- and long-term outcomes of 1315 patients included were compared according to the study group before and after an exact propensity score match (PSM). RESULTS: Among the whole study population, 264 (20.1%) had MAFLD-HCC, 205 (15.6%) had HBV-HCC, 671 (51.0%) had HCV-HCC and 175 (13.3%) had A-HCC. MAFLD-HCC patients had higher BMI (p < 0.001), Charlson Comorbidities Index (p < 0.001), size of tumour (p < 0.001), and presence of cirrhosis (p < 0.001). After PSM, the 90-day mortality and severe morbidity rates were 5.9% and 7.1% in MAFLD-HCC, 2.3% and 7.1% in HBV-HCC, 3.5% and 11.7% in HCV-HCC, and 1.2% and 8.2% in A-HCC (p = 0.061 and p = 0.447, respectively). The 5-year OS and RFS rates were 54.4% and 37.1% in MAFLD-HCC, 64.9% and 32.2% in HBV-HCC, 53.4% and 24.7% in HCV-HCC and 62.0% and 37.8% in A-HCC (p = 0.345 and p = 0.389, respectively). Cirrhosis, multiple tumours, size and satellitosis seems to be the independent predictors of OS. CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy for MAFLD-HCC seems to have a higher but acceptable operative risk. However, long-term outcomes seems to be related to clinical and pathological factors rather than aetiological risk factors.

Role of Inflammatory and Immune-Nutritional Prognostic Markers in Patients Undergoing Surgical Resection for Biliary Tract Cancers.

The relationship between immune-nutritional status and tumor growth; biological aggressiveness and survival, is still debated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prognostic performance of different inflammatory and immune-nutritional markers in patients who underwent surgery for biliary tract cancer (BTC). The prognostic role of the following inflammatory and immune-nutritional markers were investigated: Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), Prognostic Index (PI), Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Platelet to Lymphocyte ratio (PLR), Lymphocyte to Monocyte ratio (LMR), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI). A total of 282 patients undergoing surgery for BTC were included. According to Cox regression and ROC curves analysis for survival, LMR had the best prognostic performances, with hazard ratio (HR) of 1.656 (p = 0.005) and AUC of 0.652. Multivariable survival analysis identified the following independent prognostic factors: type of BTC (p = 0.002), T stage (p = 0.014), N stage (p < 0.001), histological grading (p = 0.045), and LMR (p = 0.025). Conversely, PNI was related to higher risk of severe morbidity (p < 0.001) and postoperative mortality (p = 0.005). In conclusion, LMR appears an independent prognostic factor of long-term survival, whilst PNI seems associated with worse short-term outcomes.

Simultaneous approach for patients with synchronous colon and rectal liver metastases: Impact of site of primary on postoperative and oncological outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We aimed to investigate the impact of the site of the primary on postoperative and oncological outcomes in patients undergone simultaneous approach for colon (CC) and rectal cancer (RC) with synchronous liver metastases (SCRLM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of the 220 patients with SCRLM operated on between Mar 2006 and Dec 2017, 169 patients (76.8%) were treated by a simultaneous approach and were included in the study. Two groups were considered according to the location of primary tumor RC-Group (n = 47) and CC-group (n = 122). RESULTS: Multiple liver metastases were observed in 70.2% in RC-Group and 77.0% in CC-Group (p = 0.233), whilst median Tumor Burden Score (TBS) was 4.7 in RC-Group and 5.4 CC-Group (p = 0.276). Severe morbidity (p = 0.315) and mortality at 90 days (p = 0.520) were comparable between RC-Group and CC-Group. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was similar comparing RC-Group and CC-Group (48.2% vs. 45.3%; p = 0.709), but it was significantly different when considering left-CC, right-CC and RC separately (54.5% vs. 35.2% vs. 48.2%; p = 0.041). Primary tumor location (right-CC, p = 0.001; RC, p = 0.002), microscopic residual (R1) disease at the primary (p < 0.001), TBS ≥6 (p = 0.012), bilobar metastases (p = 0.004), and chemotherapy strategy (preoperative ChT, p = 0.253; postoperative ChT, p = 0.012; and perioperative ChT, p < 0.001) resulted to be independent prognostic factors at multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: In patients with SCRLM, simultaneous resection of the primary tumor and liver metastases seems feasible and safe and allows satisfactory oncological outcomes both in CC and RC. Right-CC shows a worse prognosis when compared to left-CC and RC.