Rapid metastatic recurrence after pancreatic cancer resection: a multi-center, regional analysis of trends in surgical failure over two decades.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAc) is a lethal malignancy, attributed in part to high rates of rapid recurrence (rrPDAc) following resection. We sought to characterize recurrence rates over time and investigate factors predictive of rrPDAc. METHODS: A regional multi-institutional cancer registry, augmented with data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, was queried for patients with PDAc from 1996 to 2020. rrPDAc was defined as recurrence within 6 months following curative-intent resection. RESULTS: We identified 924 patients who underwent resection for PDAc; rrPDAc occurred in 236 (26%) patients. Median incidence of rrPDAc was 25.3% (IQR 22-30.2%) per year. Median survival in rrPDAc, non-rapid recurrence, and no recurrence was 10.3, 25.2, and 56.1 months respectively (p < 0.001). Variables independently associated with greater odds of rrPDAc included surgical site infection (SSI) (OR 2.06) and nodal positivity (OR 2.05); adjuvant therapy was associated with lower odds (OR 0.38). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not alter risk of rrPDAc. Three-year post-recurrence survival was no different in rrPDAc versus those without. CONCLUSION: Despite therapeutic advances, incidence of rrPDAc remains unchanged. SSIs and nodal positivity are independently associated with increased risk of rrPDAc, while adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with lower risk. Strategies focused on preventing rapid recurrence may improve survival.

Similar Outcomes in Minimally Invasive versus Open Management of Primary Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Regional, Multi-Institutional Collaborative Analysis.

In pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs), the impact of minimally invasive (MI) versus open resection on outcomes remains poorly studied. We queried a multi-institutional pancreatic cancer registry for patients with resected non-metastatic PNET from 1996−2020. Recurrence-free (RFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and operative complications were evaluated. Two hundred and eighty-two patients were identified. Operations were open in 139 (49%) and MI in 143 (51%). Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 77 (27%, n = 23 MI), distal pancreatectomy in 184 (65%, n = 109 MI), enucleation in 13 (5%), and total pancreatectomy in eight (3%). Median follow-up was 50 months. Thirty-six recurrences and 13 deaths from recurrent disease yielded 5-year RFS and DSS of 85% and 95%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, grade 1 (HR 0.07, p < 0.001) and grade 2 (HR 0.20, p = 0.002) tumors were associated with improved RFS, while T3/T4 tumors were associated with worse RFS (OR 2.78, p = 0.04). MI resection was not associated with RFS (HR 0.53, p = 0.14). There was insufficient mortality to evaluate DSS with multivariable analysis. Of 159 patients with available NSQIP data, incisional surgical site infections (SSIs), organ space SSIs, Grade B/C pancreatic fistulas, reoperations, and need for percutaneous drainage did not differ by operative approach (all p > 0.2). Nodal harvest was similar for MI versus open distal pancreatectomies (p = 0.16) and pancreaticoduodenectomies (p = 0.28). Minimally invasive surgical management of PNETs is equivalent for oncologic and postoperative outcomes.

Metastatic cervical carcinoma from an unknown primary: literature review.

Carcinoma of an unknown primary (CUP) encompasses a heterogeneous group of tumors for which no primary site can be detected following a thorough history, physical examination, and noninvasive and invasive testing. CUP presenting with metastasis to the neck (metastatic cervical carcinoma from an unknown primary [MCCUP]) has been an enigma since von Volkmann first described it in 1882 as a cancer arising in a branchial cleft cyst. Genetic studies have shed some light on this unusual entity. In most cases, clinical features, imaging studies, and a meticulous assessment of the upper aerodigestive tract should assist in identifying the source of disease. Molecular testing of cytologic specimens for Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus (HPV) can facilitate identification of the primary site in the nasopharynx and oropharynx. At least 25% of MCCUPs are directly attributable to HPV-related malignancies, and this number can be expected to increase. Minimally invasive transoral mucosal sampling can identify an otherwise clinically and radiologically occult cancer. We performed a literature review with the objective of discussing the history, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and management of MCCUP.

Challenges in the treatment of angiosarcoma: a single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Angiosarcomas are rare tumors that carry poor prognosis. Because of insidious growth rate, the diagnosis is often difficult and delayed. METHODS: Between 1990 and 2011, 72 (41 female, 31 male) patients were treated at our institution. Pathologic confirmation was obtained and multiple prognostic factors were evaluated for survival. RESULTS: Forty-four cases were sporadic and 28 cases were secondary. In the sporadic group, 16 (36%) patients had increased sun exposure, while in the secondary group, the majority (n = 23, 82%) of patients had prior exposure to radiation. The latent period between radiation exposure and diagnosis was predictive of survival (P = .037). Presentation was delayed by more than 3 months in 41% of patients. The majority of men developed head and neck angiosarcomas (n = 15, 48.5%), while women developed breast angiosarcomas (n = 21, 51%). Median survival was prolonged in patients treated initially with surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A delay in the diagnosis of angiosarcoma can affect survival. Clinical suspicion and prompt diagnosis are essential for successful multimodal therapy. Initial surgical resection with adjuvant chemotherapy provides survival advantage.

Impact of preoperative therapy on patterns of recurrence in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: A theoretical advantage of preoperative therapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma is that it facilitates the early treatment of micrometastases and reduces postoperative systemic recurrence. METHODS: Medical records of 309 consecutive patients undergoing resection of adenocarcinoma in the head of the pancreas were reviewed. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Associations between preoperative therapy and patterns of recurrence were determined using chi-squared analysis. RESULTS: Preoperative therapy was administered to 108 patients and upfront surgery was performed in 201 patients. Preoperative therapy was associated with a significantly longer median disease-free survival of 14 months compared with 12 months in patients submitted to upfront surgery (P = 0.035). The rate of local disease as a component of first site of recurrence was significantly lower with preoperative therapy (11.3%) than with upfront surgery (22.9%) (P = 0.016). Preoperative therapy was associated with a lower rate of hepatic metastasis (21.7%) than upfront surgery (34.3%) (P = 0.026). Preoperative therapy did not affect rates of peritoneal or pulmonary metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative therapy for pancreatic cancer was associated with longer disease-free survival and lower rates of local and hepatic recurrences. These data support the use of preoperative therapy to reduce systemic and local failures after resection.

A better prognosis for Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary origin.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence that Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) arising from a nodal basin without evidence of a primary cutaneous (PC) site has better prognosis. We present our experience at 2 tertiary care referral centers with stage III MCC with and without a PC site. METHODS: Fifty stage III MCC patients were identified between 1996 and 2011. Clinical data were analyzed, with primary endpoints being disease-free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: Of stage III patients, 34 patients presented with a PC site and 16 patients with an unknown primary (UP) site. Treatment strategies varied; of patients with UP vs. PC sites, 25% vs. 44% underwent combined regional lymphadenectomy and radiation, with an additional 25% vs. 15% receiving chemotherapy. The median disease-free survival for a UP site was not reached vs. 15 months for a PC site (hazards ratio = .48, P = .18). The median overall survival for a UP site was not reached vs 21 months for a PC site (hazards ratio = .34, P = .03). Multivariate analysis showed that UP status was a significant factor in overall survival (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Stage III MCC with a UP site portends a better prognosis than MCC with a PC site.

How to define and manage borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

Historically, borderline resectable (BLR) pancreatic cancer has had many definitions, which has made interpretation of treatment data and outcomes difficult. Advances in imaging, surgical technique, and the potential benefit of neoadjuvant therapy have emphasized the need for uniform classification. Despite recent efforts to provide a clearer definition, prospective randomized trials are lacking in the literature. This article reviews current definitions, treatment sequences, outcomes, and prognostic factors associated with BLR pancreatic cancer. Further clarification and consensus on the definition of BLR pancreatic cancer will allow for further data collection and cooperation in future efforts to make progress and standardize treatment.

Partial stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy and the success of this procedure in terms of palliation.

BACKGROUND: In the 1990s, partial stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy (PSPG) was introduced. Benefits of this method are that it preferentially shunts food away from the obstructed duodenum or pylorus, thus reducing reflex emesis. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing PSPG for malignant obstruction from 1999 to 2011 was performed. Ability to tolerate oral intake in the postoperative period and at last follow-up was the criterion for a successful bypass. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients with locally advanced or metastatic tumors underwent PSPG. The median follow-up period was 8 months. No patient developed signs of gastric outlet obstruction after PSPG. Seventy-five percent of patients had pancreatic or duodenal and 25% had nonpancreatic cancers. Nine patients developed postoperative complications. The perioperative mortality rate was zero. Median overall survival was 9 months. All patients were tolerating an enteral diet on the day of discharge, and as of the last follow-up, 95% were tolerating their enteral diets. CONCLUSIONS: This and a previous study from the authors' institution show that PSPG is a good alternative for palliative bypass in the setting of malignant gastric outlet obstruction over classic gastrojejunostomy.

Preoperative FDG-PET/CT Is an Important Tool in the Management of Patients with Thick (T4) Melanoma.

The yield of preoperative PET/CT (PET/CT) for regional and distant metastases for thin/intermediate thickness melanoma is low. Objective of this study is to determine if PET/CT performed for T4 melanomas helps guide management and alter treatment plans. Methods. Retrospective cohort of 216 patients with T4 melanomas treated at two tertiary institutions. Fifty-six patients met our inclusion criteria (T4 lesion, PET/CT and no clinical evidence of metastatic disease). Results. Fifty-six patients (M: 32, F: 24) with median tumor thickness of 6 mm were identified. PET/CT recognized twelve with regional and four patients with metastatic disease. Melanoma-related treatment plan was altered in 11% of the cases based on PET/CT findings. PET/CT was negative 60% of the time, in 35% of the cases; it identified incidental findings that required further evaluation. Conclusion. Patients with T4 lesions, PET/CT changed the treatment plan 18% of the time. Regional findings changed the surgical treatment plan in 11% and the adjuvant plan in 7% of our cases due to the finding of metastatic disease. Additionally 20 patients had incidental findings that required further workup. In this subset of patients, we feel there is a benefit to PET/CT, and further studies should be performed to validate our findings.

The anatomic course of the first jejunal branch of the superior mesenteric vein in relation to the superior mesenteric artery.

Introduction. The purpose of this study is to determine the anatomic course of the first jejunal branch of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) in relation to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Methods. Three hundred consecutive contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed by a surgical oncologist with confirmation of findings by a radiologist. Results. The overall incidence of a first jejunal branch coursing anterior to the SMA was 41%. There was no correlation between patient gender and position of the jejunal branch. In addition, there was no correlation between size of the first jejunal branch and its location in relation to the SMA. The IMV drained into the SMV in 27% of the patients. The IMV drained into the SMV-portal vein confluence in 17% of patients and inserted into the splenic vein in 54%. An anterior coursing first jejunal branch statistically correlated with an IMV that drained into the SMV-portal vein confluence (P = 0.009). Conclusion. The first jejunal branch of the SMV has a highly variable course in relation to the SMA and has a higher incidence of an anterior location in this population than previously reported.

Case report and literature review: Metastatic lobular carcinoma of the breast an unusual presentation.

INTRODUCTION: Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common type of invasive breast carcinoma (between 5% and 15%). The incidence of invasive lobular carcinoma has been increasing while the incidence of invasive duct carcinoma has not changed in the last two decades. This increase is postulated to be secondary to an increased use of combined replacement hormonal therapy. Patients with invasive lobular carcinoma tend to be slightly older than those with non-lobular invasive carcinoma with a reported mean age of 57 years compared to 64 years. On mammography, architectural distortion is more common and microcalcifications less common with invasive lobular carcinoma than invasive ductal carcinoma. The incidence of extrahepatic gastrointestinal (GI) tract metastases observed in autopsy studies varies in the literature from 6% to 18% with the most commonly affected organ being the stomach, followed by colon and rectum. Gastric lesions seem to be slightly more frequent, compared to colorectal lesions (6-18% compared to 8-12%, respectively). PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present the case of a 70-year-old woman who was referred to our institution with a concurrent gastric and rectal cancer that on further evaluation was diagnosed as metastatic invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. She has a stage IV clinical T3N1M1 left breast invasive lobular carcinoma (ER positive at 250, PR negative, HER-2/neu 1+ negative) with biopsy proven metastases to left axillary lymph nodes, gastric mucosa, peritoneum, rectal mass, and bone who presented with a partial large bowel obstruction. She is currently being treated with weekly intravenous paclitaxel, bevacizumab that was added after her third cycle, and she is also receiving monthly zoledronic acid. She is currently undergoing her 12-month of treatment and is tolerating it well. Discussion Breast cancer is the most common site-specific cancer in women and is the leading cause of death from cancer for women aged 20-59 years. It accounts for 26% of all newly diagnosed cancers in females and is responsible for 15% of the cancer-related deaths in women.(9) Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies that metastasize to the GI tract, along with melanoma, ovarian and bladder cancer. CONCLUSION: We present one of the first reports of metastatic lobular breast cancer presenting as a synchronous rectal and gastric tumors. Metastatic lobular carcinoma of the breast is a rare entity with a wide range of clinical presentations. A high level of suspicion, repetition of endoscopic procedures, and a detailed pathological analysis is necessary for early diagnosis, which might help to avoid surgical treatment due to incorrect diagnosis. Patients with a history of breast cancer who present with new gastrointestinal lesions should have these lesions evaluated for evidence of metastasis through histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical analysis. Differentiating between a primary GI lesion and metastatic breast cancer will allow initiation of appropriate treatment and help prevent unnecessary operations.

Circulating tumor cells in patients undergoing surgery for hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been detected in patients with a variety of metastatic cancers, including colorectal, and may be a significant prognostic variable in patients with liver metastases. This prospective study involved 20 patients (13 men and 7 women) undergoing surgical excision or ablation of liver metastases from a colon or rectal primary tumor. Four 7.5-mL vials of peripheral blood were drawn preoperatively, 2 weeks postoperatively, and during mobilization of the liver or at the beginning of radiofrequency ablation. The samples were centrifuged, the sera combined to a final volume of 7.5 mL, and the CellSearch system used to identify circulating epithelial cells. A CTC count >2 was defined as clinically significant. Preoperative CTC levels averaged 3.9 (range, 0-56) and were significant in 2 patients (10%). Postoperative CTC levels averaged 1.0 (in 18 patients; range, 0-9) and were significant in 1 patient (5%). Intraoperative CTC levels averaged 28.2 (range, 0-315) and were significant in 10 patients (50%). At a median follow-up of 11.5 months (range, 5-25), 6 patients (30%) were dead of disease, 6 patients (30%) showed no evidence of disease, and 8 patients (40%) were alive with disease. Statistical analysis suggested a correlation between the presence of postoperative CTCs and survival (P = 0.036), as well as with disease-free survival (P = 0.036). Thus, CTCs are present and quantifiable in many patients with colorectal hepatic metastases, and peripheral CTCs are present in greater quantity during intraoperative liver manipulation. This preliminary study suggests a relationship between the presence of postoperative CTCs and outcome. Further accrual and follow-up of this group is needed to confirm these findings.