Prognostic value of computed tomography­derived skeletal muscle index and radiodensity in patients with gastric cancer after curative gastrectomy.

The association of computed tomography (CT)-derived skeletal muscle index (SMI) and skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD) with postoperative prognosis in patients with gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the association between SMI and SMD with 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with GC. SMI and SMD were measured preoperatively in patients who underwent gastrectomy. Patients were categorized into Groups 1 (high SMI and SMD), 2 (high SMI or SMD) and 3 (low SMI and SMD). OS and RFS rates were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test. Among 459 patients, OS and RFS rates were significantly lower in the low-SMD group than in the high-SMD group (OS, 83.4% vs. 88.8%, respectively; P=0.04 and RFS, 80.5% vs. 87.2%, respectively; P=0.02). OS and RFS rates were also significantly lower in Group 3 than in Groups 2 and 1 (P=0.006). Multivariate analysis revealed that a low SMI and SMD (Group 3) was a significant independent prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR), 2.32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17-4.59; P=0.016] and RFS (HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.19-4.37; P=0.013). In summary, low SMI and SMD values may be useful postoperative prognostic indicators for patients with GC.

Longitudinal Alterations in the Control of Lateral Center of Mass Movement During Walking in a Patient With Unilateral Transtibial Amputation: A Case Study.

This study assessed longitudinal changes in the control of the center of mass (CoM) in the lateral direction through gait reacquisition in an individual with unilateral transtibial amputation (UTTA). We examined a male patient with UTTA who could walk on a parallel bar. The marker trajectories and ground reaction forces were measured every two weeks (total: four times) using an optical motion capture system and force plates. After two measurements, the samples were collected without a parallel bar. Subsequently, we evaluated the CoM movement and its segmental coordination through uncontrolled manifold (UCM) analysis. After the second measurement, the walking speed and step length increased. The lateral CoM movements gradually increased toward the prosthetic side until the third measurement. In the fourth measurement, the CoM movement towards the prosthetic side was the smallest and closest to the intact side at the end of the stance phase. In addition, segmental coordination improved significantly. Enhanced gait performance delayed the improvement of segmental coordination for CoM movement in the lateral direction.

Global Immune-Nutrition-Information Index Is Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients Who Received Curative Treatment.

Background/Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of the Global Immune-Nutrition-Information Index (GINI) in patients with gastric cancer (GC) who received curative treatment and to clarify the potential of the GINI as a biomarker. Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent curative resection for GC at Yokohama City University between 2005 and 2020 were selected based on their medical records. The GINI was calculated as follows: GINI=[C-reactive protein × platelet × monocyte × neutrophil]/[albumin × lymphocyte]. Results: A total of 258 patients were included in this study. Of these, 169 patients were categorized into the GINI-low group and 89 into the GINI-high group using a cut-off value of 1,730. The three- and five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 86.4% and 78.4%, respectively, in the GINI-low group, and 66.4% and 58.3% in the GINI-high group (p<0.001). In a multivariate analysis for OS, the GINI was identified as an independent prognostic factor [hazard ratio (HR)=1.772; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.053-2.979, p=0.031]. Similar results were observed for RFS. In addition, the GINI affected the perioperative clinical course, including postoperative surgical complications and postoperative adjuvant treatment. Conclusion: The GINI is a promising biomarker for the treatment and management of GC.

Preoperative Visceral-to-Subcutaneous Fat Ratio by Sex as a Predictor of Postoperative Survival in Patients With Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The sex-specific effect of the visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (VSR) before gastrectomy on postoperative survival in patients with gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. This study measured the preoperative VSR in patients with GC and analyzed its relationship with 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) by sex. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 540 patients with GC undergoing gastrectomy. Preoperative visceral and subcutaneous fat volumes were measured using computed tomography, and the VSR was calculated. A cutoff value for the VSR was established using 5-year survival data, and its association with survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank tests, and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the 459 patients analyzed (300 males and 159 females), OS and RFS were significantly lower in the low-VSR group than in the high-VSR group in males (OS: 76.2% vs. 88.1%, p=0.01; RFS: 74.6% vs. 86.0%, p=0.02). In females, no difference in OS was observed between the groups, whereas the high-VSR group had significantly lower RFS than that of the low-VSR group (RFS: 74.7% vs. 88.9%, p=0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that a low VSR was an independent poor predictor of OS in males and a high VSR was an independent poor predictor of RFS in females. CONCLUSION: In patients with GC, the sex-dependent preoperative VSR was a potentially useful predictor of postoperative survival.

The Systemic Immune-inflammation Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) was developed and evaluated for various malignancies. This study evaluated the clinical impact of the SII in patients with gastric cancer (GC) who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent curative resection for GC at Yokohama City University between 2005 and 2020 were chosen consecutively based on their medical records. SII was calculated as follows: platelet (cell/mm3 ×103)× neutrophil (cell/mm3)/lymphocyte (cell/mm3). Three measurements were obtained preoperatively. RESULTS: In total, 258 patients were enrolled in this study. Based on the 3- and 5-year survival rates and previous studies, we set the cutoff value of the SII to 550. The 258 patients were classified into the SII-low (n=152) and SII-high (n=106) groups, respectively. The 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 82.6% and 78.7%, respectively, in the SII-low group and 74.5% and 61.9%, respectively, in the SII-high group. There were significant differences between the two groups (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis of factors associated with OS, the SII was identified as an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio=1.816; 95% confidence interval=1.075-3.069, p=0.026). Similar results were observed for recurrence-free survival. In addition, the incidence of postoperative surgical complications was 30.9% in the SII-low group and 45.2% in the SII-high group (p=0.019). CONCLUSION: The SII was an independent prognostic factor for GC. Thus, the SII may be a promising biomarker for the treatment and management of GC.

Comparison of the Dietary Intake After Gastrectomy Between Male and Female Patients With Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to investigate the differences in the postoperative dietary intake (DI) loss between men and women after radical resection for early gastric cancer (GC), and to identify effective nutritional support for both sexes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, observational study enrolled patients who underwent gastrectomy for GC. DI was assessed using the food frequency questionnaire containing 82 food items (FFQW82) during nutritional counseling before surgery and one and three months postoperatively. RESULTS: The median preoperative DI of all participants was 1,856.3 kcal/day, and DI at 1 and 3 months were 1,532.5 kcal/day and 1,637 kcal/day, respectively. The median preoperative DI was 1805 kcal/day (1,300-2,330 kcal/day) and 1481 kcal/day (1,126-1,957 kcal/day) in men and women, respectively (p<0.0001). The median DI at 1 month was 1627 (1,101-2,195) kcal/day and 1,308 (986-1,915) kcal/day in men and women, respectively (p<0.0001). At 3 months postoperatively, the median DI was 1737 (1,130-2,443) kcal/day in men and 1428 (816-2,005) kcal/day in women (p<0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in the DI loss rate at 1 month (median: -9.7% vs. -9.3%, p=0.765) and 3 months (median: -3.5% vs. -4.8%, p=0.137) between men and women. CONCLUSION: Although the DI loss rate in men and women after gastrectomy for GC was almost similar, the postoperative DI and DI loss differed significantly. Therefore, differences in DI loss after gastrectomy between men and women should be considered while assessing the efficacy of additional nutritional support such as oral nutritional supplements after gastrectomy.

A propensity­matched analysis of the prognostic value of advanced lung cancer inflammation index in patients with gastric cancer after curative resection.

The prognostic significance of inflammation, immune response and nutritional status in patients with cancer is well-documented. The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) has emerged as a novel prognostic indicator, reflecting both inflammation and nutritional status. This study aimed to assess the prognostic relevance of preoperative ALI in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Data of 459 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for GC between December 2013 and November 2017 at the Kanagawa Cancer Center (Yokohama, Japan) were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative ALI was calculated from blood tests. Patients were divided into the high- and low-ALI groups. This study investigated the association between preoperative ALI, clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) after propensity-matched analysis. Comparative analysis revealed that patients in the low-ALI group tended to be older, were predominantly female, had lower body mass index and had a higher incidence of lymphatic invasion compared with those in the high-ALI group before propensity-matched analysis. Notably, the low-ALI group exhibited significantly reduced OS and RFS post-gastrectomy (85.5% vs. 93.8%, P=0.01; and 82.1% vs. 91.8%, P=0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified low ALI as an independent prognostic factor for both OS and RFS. In conclusion, preoperative ALI could provide a valuable prognostic tool for patients with GC undergoing curative resection, offering insights into patient survival outcomes based on their inflammatory and nutritional status.

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.

The Prognostic Immune and Nutritional Indices Are Independent Prognostic Factors for Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Recently, the prognostic immune and nutritional index (PINI) was developed and reported to be a promising nutritional and inflammatory prognostic marker. The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical impact of the PINI for esophageal cancer patients who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records and collected data on consecutive esophageal cancer patients who underwent curative resection at Yokohama City University between 2005 and 2020. The PINI was calculated by dividing the serum ALB concentration (g/dl) by the serum monocyte concentration, both of which were measured before surgery. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients were included in this study. The cutoff value of the PINI was 3.0 in the present study. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 45.2% and 33.5%, respectively, in the PINI-low subgroup, and 69.1% and 61.8%, respectively, in the PINI-high subgroup. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the PINI was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio=2.091, 95% confidence interval=1.287-3.399, p=0.003). Similar results were observed for recurrence-free survival. When comparing the sites of recurrence between the two groups, the incidence of hematological recurrence was significantly greater in the PINI-low subgroup compared to the PINI-high subgroup (46.8% vs. 21.1%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The PINI is a promising nutritional and inflammatory marker for esophageal cancer patients. The PINI might be a useful marker for the treatment and management of esophageal cancer patients.

The Clinical Impact of the Prognostic Immune and Nutritional Index in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Received Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The prognostic immune and nutritional index (PINI) was developed and reported as a promising prognostic factor. This study aimed to clarify the clinical impact of the PINI in gastric cancer (GC) patients who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent curative resection for GC at Yokohama City University between 2005 and 2020 were selected based on their medical records. The PINI was calculated by dividing the serum albumin concentration (g/dl) by the serum monocyte concentration. Both measurements were performed prior to surgery. RESULTS: A total of 262 patients were included in this study. Based on the 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS), we set the cutoff value of the PINI at 3.4 in the present study. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 69.0% and 66.1%, respectively, in the PINI-low group and 90.5% and 82.8% in the PINI-high group. There were significant differences between the two groups (p<0.001). A multivariate analysis of factors associated with OS identified PINI as an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio=1.996; 95% confidence interval=1.096-3.636, p=0.024). Similar results were observed for RFS. In addition, the PINI status affected the recurrence pattern, postoperative anastomotic leakage, and the introduction of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The PINI is a promising nutritional and inflammatory marker for patients with GC and might be a useful marker for the treatment and management of patients with GC.

The Clinical Impact of the Pretreatment Albumin to Fibrinogen Ratio in Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The albumin to fibrinogen ratio (AFR) has been identified as a promising prognostic marker for some malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of AFR in esophageal cancer patients who received curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study included 123 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters were compared between patients with high and low AFRs. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) stratified by each clinical factor was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed when using a pretreatment AFR of 1.23. When comparing the patient backgrounds between the high-AFR (AFR ≥12.3) and low-AFR (AFR<12.3) groups, significant differences were noted in the pathological T status. The high-AFR group had significantly higher OS rates at 3 years (70.8%) and 5 years (59.3%) after surgery in comparison to the low-AFR group (46.6% and 37.4%, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses for OS showed that the AFR was a significant prognostic factor. In addition, when comparing the site of first recurrence, a marginally significant difference was noted in hematological recurrence. CONCLUSION: The AFR is a significant risk factor in patients with esophageal cancer, holding promise as a valuable prognostic factor.

Protocol of a phase II study investigating the efficacy and safety of trifluridine/tipiracil plus ramucirumab as a third-line or later treatment for advanced gastric cancer.

In Japan, systemic chemotherapy is the standard treatment for unresectable, advanced, or recurrent gastric cancer. However, numerous patients with gastric cancer do not receive late-line treatment because of the rapid progression of gastric cancer. Additionally, late-line treatments, such as nivolumab, trifluridine tipiracil (FTD/TPI), or irinotecan, have limited effects on improving clinical symptoms and delaying the onset of symptoms associated with cancer progression. Recently, a combination of FTD/TPI and ramucirumab was reported to have a high response rate in late-line treatment; however, owing to patient selection bias and a high rate of hematologic toxicity in that previous study, this regimen may not be feasible in real-world clinical applications. Our objective is to conduct a single-arm phase II study to assess the safety and efficacy of FTD/TPI plus ramucirumab combination therapy for gastric cancer after third-line treatment under real-world clinical conditions. This study will recruit 32 patients according to eligibility criteria and administer FTD/TPI (35 mg/m2) and intravenous ramucirumab (8 mg/kg). The primary endpoint will be the time to treatment failure. The secondary endpoints will include the overall survival time, progression-free survival time, overall response rate, disease control rate, relative dose intensity, and incidence of adverse events. The results will add new insights for improving the late-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

The CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a promising biomarker. We clarified the clinical impact of the CALLY index in gastric cancer patients who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer at Yokohama City University from 2005 to 2020 were selected based on medical records. The CALYY index was calculated as follows: serum ALB level (g/dl) × lymphocyte count (cells/µl)/C-reactive protein (mg/dl) ×104 Results: Two hundred fifty-nine patients were included in the present study. The three- and five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 64.8% and 57.0%, respectively, in the CALLY index-low group, and 86.2% and 78.2%, respectively, in the CALLY index-high group. There were significant differences between the two groups. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the CALLY index was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio=1.791; 95% confidence interval=1.067-3.009; p=0.028). When comparing the perioperative clinical course between the CALLY index-low and CALLY index-high groups, there were significant differences in postoperative surgical complications and adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The CALLY score was an independent prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer. Our results suggest that the CALLY index is a promising tool for assessing inflammation and nutritional status in patients undergoing gastric cancer treatment and management.

Clinical Impact of Preoperative Prognostic Nutritional Index in Surgical Patients With Pancreatic Cancer Treated With Perioperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is used as a marker to evaluate the nutritional and immunological status of patients with various cancers. This study aimed to investigate whether preoperative PNI is a prognostic factor in patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent perioperative adjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 232 pancreatic cancer patients who underwent surgical resection with perioperative adjuvant chemotherapy between January 2013 and December 2022. Overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: The optimal cutoff value for the preoperative PNI was 44.3 in the present study. PNI <44.3 was associated with older age (p<0.001) and affected the clinical course of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The PNI <44.3 had an important influence on the decreased OS (25.1 vs. 39.0 months) and RFS (13.1 vs. 22.8 months). In univariate and multivariate analyses, the preoperative PNI was an independent prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR)=1.682, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.059-2.673, p=0.028] and RFS (HR=1.559, 95% CI=1.037-2.344, p=0.033). CONCLUSION: Preoperative PNI is a prognostic factor for both OS and RFS in patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent perioperative adjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection. This study suggests that a low PNI may cause a lack of full-dose adjuvant chemotherapy, leading to recurrence and resulting in a poor prognosis for surgical pancreatic cancer patients treated with perioperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Clinical Impact of the Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio in Patients With Gastric Cancer who Received Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of the pretreatment lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) on both short- and long-term oncological outcomes in patients with resectable gastric cancer (GC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients were chosen based on our medical records from consecutive cases of curative resection for GC performed at Yokohama City University from 2005 to 2020. The LMR was calculated as the lymphocyte count divided by the monocyte count measured before surgery. RESULTS: The three- and five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 63.1% and 57.4%, respectively, in the low-LMR subgroup and 86.4% and 77.5%, respectively, in the high-LMR subgroup. According to multivariate analysis, the LMR was an independent prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR)=1.926, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.143-3.245, p=0.014]. In addition, the three- and five-year RFS rates were 54.4% and 50.7%, respectively, in the low-LMR subgroup and 84.0% and 76.0% in the high-LMR subgroup. According to multivariate analysis, the LMR was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR=2.031, 95%CI=1.266-3.258, p=0.003). When comparing the sites of recurrence between the low-LMR and high-LMR groups, there were significant differences in hematologic recurrence, lymph node recurrence, and peritoneal recurrence. CONCLUSION: Preoperative LMR might be a promising tool for the treatment and management of GC.

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.

Clinical Impact of the C-reactive Protein-albumin-lymphocyte Index in Post-gastrectomy Patients With Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Recently, preoperative inflammatory, immune, and nutritional statuses have attracted attention as prognostic factors in post-curative gastrectomy patients with gastric cancer (GC). The usefulness of the C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index as a prognostic factor in patients with various cancers, has been reported. However, reports on the clinical significance of the CALLY index in patients with GC after gastrectomy remain inadequate. In this prospective study, we focused on the preoperative CALLY index and investigated its usefulness as a prognostic factor in patients with GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 459 patients who underwent gastrectomy for GC between December 2013 and November 2017 at Kanagawa Cancer Center, Kanagawa, Japan. The preoperative CALLY index was calculated based on the preoperative blood test data. Patients were divided into high- and low-CALLY groups. The associations of the preoperative CALLY scores with clinicopathological factors, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after gastrectomy for GC were evaluated. RESULTS: The low-CALLY group was significantly older, had higher venous invasion, and a more progressive pStage than did the high-CALLY group. OS and RFS after gastrectomy in the low-CALLY group were significantly worse than those in the high-CALLY group (77.9% vs. 88.9%; p<0.001 and 73.8% vs. 87.1%; p<0.001, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, a low CALLY score was an independent prognostic factor of worse OS and RFS. CONCLUSION: Preoperative CALLY levels may be a useful prognostic predictor in patients with GC after curative gastrectomy.

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.

Survival Predictors Before Preoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Radical resection after preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a standard treatment for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LAESCC), but its outcome remains unsatisfactory. In order to develop a personalized treatment program for LAES, we herein compared the survival prediction utility of five pre-NAC nutritional, inflammatory, and immune indexes in patients with LAESCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the survival of 203 patients with LAESCC who underwent radical resection after NAC from January 2011 to September 2019 for the following representative pre-NAC nutritional, inflammatory, and immune indices: modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, Prognostic Nutritional Index, C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, serum neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index (GNRI) were evaluated for their impact on survival. RESULTS: Of the five indices, GNRI was the best predictor of survival as determined by the area under the curve (p<0.05). When patients were divided into three groups according to the nutritional risk assessment of Bouillanne et al. using the pre-NAC GNRI, the 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were significantly stratified (p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, the GNRI independently identified a poor OS group [group 1: hazard ratio (HR)=2.598, p=0.002; group 2: HR=6.257, p<0.001] and a high recurrence risk group (group 1: HR=1.967, p=0.016; group 2: HR=4.467, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with LAESCC, GNRI may be the most accurate, reliable, and useful prognostic factor among the five major systemic inflammatory and nutritional indices.

A multi-institutional prospective observational study to compare postoperative quality of life of patients who undergo total or proximal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer (CCOG1602).

BACKGROUND: Proximal gastrectomy (PG) has become an increasingly preferred procedure for treating early cancer in the upper third of the stomach. However, advantages of PG in postoperative quality of life (QOL) over total gastrectomy (TG) has not fully proven. METHODS: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective observational study (CCOG1602) of patients who undergo TG or PG for cStage I gastric cancer. We used the PGSAS-37 and EORTC-QLQ-C30 to evaluate the changes in body weight and QOL over a 3-year postoperative period. The primary endpoint was the weight loss rate 3 years after surgery. RESULTS: We enrolled 109 patients from 18 institutions and selected 65 and 19 patients for inclusion in the TG and PG groups, respectively. Mean postoperative weight loss rates were 16.0% and 11.7% for the TG and PG groups, respectively (p = 0.056, Cohen's d 0.656) during postoperative year 1% and 15.0% and 10.8% for TG and PG (p = 0.068, Cohen's d 0.543), respectively, during postoperative year 3, indicating that the PG group achieved a better trend with a moderate effect size. According to the PGSAS-37, the PG group experienced a better trend in the indigestion subscale (p < 0.001, Cohen's d -1.085) and total symptom score (p = 0.050, Cohen's d -0.59) during postoperative year 3 compared with the TG group. In contrast, the EORTC-QLQ-C30 detected no difference between the groups at any time point during 3-year postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study demonstrates that PG tended to be more favorable compared with TG with respect to postoperative weight loss and QOL, particularly regarding indigestion.