The response of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma to platinum and olaparib therapy in a germline BRCA2 variant carrier: case report and literature review.

A 73-year-old Japanese man with a history of distal biliary cancer treated by pancreatoduodenectomy developed pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) treated by remnant pancreatectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Thirteen months after surgery, multiple liver metastases developed and FOLFOX chemotherapy was initiated. Based on the PACC diagnosis and a positive family history for breast and ovarian cancer genetic testing was performed which revealed a pathogenic germline BRCA2 variant (c.8629G > T, p.Glu2877Ter). Olaparib therapy was initiated and the metastases responded well (partial response). PACC is a BRCA2-associated cancer which may respond well to PARP inhibitors.

Recent progress in chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is a common malignancy worldwide. Definitive chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for patients with resectable stage oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma who cannot undergo surgery, as well as those with locally advanced unresectable oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, it has several disadvantages such as poor survival, radiation-related toxicities and severe and lethal complications related to salvage treatment for residual or recurrent disease. Numerous clinical trials on chemoradiotherapy have been conducted to confirm the optimal combination of irradiation and chemotherapy. For advanced disease, multimodal treatment strategies including salvage surgery are essential. Palliative chemoradiotherapy is also crucial for dysphagia in locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma with or without metastatic lesions. Recently, the synergistic mechanism of radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy has been reported. Early phase clinical trials suggest that a combination of immunotherapy and chemoradiotherapy can improve clinical outcomes with manageable side effects, but further investigations are needed. Here, we reviewed the existing clinical data and current development of chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Cartilage regeneration is related to superior mid-term patient-reported outcomes after open-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

PURPOSE: Medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) is related to cartilage improvement in the medial compartment. This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with cartilage improvement and patient-reported outcomes (PRO) after OWHTO. It was hypothesised that cartilage improvement is associated with favourable PRO. METHODS: This retrospective study included 94 patients who underwent OWHTO. The mean follow-up period was 5 years. The weight-bearing line ratio (WBLR) was defined as the ratio of the distance from the medial tibial edge to the tibial insertion of the weight-bearing line and the tibial width. The International Cartilage Research Society grade evaluated the medial femoral condyle (MFC) and medial tibial plateau (MTP) at initial and second-look arthroscopy, and cartilage improvement after OWHTO was assessed. Postoperative knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scores (KOOS) were compared between the groups with improved and non-improved cartilage. Additionally, factors related to cartilage improvement and postoperative KOOS scores were analysed. RESULTS: Regarding the MFC, KOOS pain, symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL) were significantly higher in the cartilage-improved group than in the non-improved group (p = 0.012, 0.003, 0.001, 0.006), and cartilage improvement was significantly related to KOOS pain, ADL and QOL (p = 0.021, 0.039, 0.013). In addition, the postoperative WBLR was associated with cartilage improvement, with a cutoff value of 54.0% (p = 0.046). Regarding the MTP, KOOS ADL and QOL (p = 0.026, 0.022) were significantly higher in the cartilage-improved group than in the nonimproved group. Body mass index (BMI) was significantly related to the postoperative QOL (p = 0.018) and associated with cartilage improvement, with a cutoff value of 25.9 kg/m2 (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: A postoperative WBLR greater than 54.0% and a preoperative BMI below 25.9 kg/m2 were associated with cartilage improvement, positively impacting PRO after OWHTO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Second-line tislelizumab versus chemotherapy in Japanese patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: subgroup analysis from RATIONALE-302.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has a poor prognosis, with limited second-line systemic therapy options, and represents an increasing disease burden in Japan. In the phase 3 RATIONALE-302 study, the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 antibody, tislelizumab, significantly improved overall survival (OS) versus chemotherapy as second-line treatment for advanced/metastatic ESCC. Here, we report the Japanese patient subgroup results. METHODS: Patients with advanced/metastatic ESCC, with disease progression during/after first-line systemic therapy were randomized 1:1 to open-label tislelizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks or investigator's choice of chemotherapy (paclitaxel/docetaxel). Efficacy and safety were assessed in all randomized Japanese patients. RESULTS: The Japanese subgroup comprised 50 patients (n = 25 per arm). Tislelizumab improved OS versus chemotherapy (median: 9.8 vs. 7.6 months; HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.31, 1.12). Among patients with programmed death-ligand 1 score ≥ 10%, median OS was 12.5 months with tislelizumab (n = 10) versus 2.9 months with chemotherapy (n = 6) (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.09, 1.03). Tislelizumab improved progression-free survival versus chemotherapy (median: 3.6 vs. 1.7 months, respectively; HR 0.50; 95% CI 0.27, 0.95). Objective response rate was greater with tislelizumab (32.0%) versus chemotherapy (20.0%), and responses were more durable (median duration of response: 8.8 vs. 2.6 months, respectively). Fewer patients experienced ≥ grade 3 treatment-related adverse events with tislelizumab (24.0%) versus chemotherapy (47.8%). Tislelizumab demonstrated an improvement in health-related quality of life versus chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: As second-line therapy for advanced/metastatic ESCC, tislelizumab improved OS versus chemotherapy, with a favorable safety profile, in the Japanese patient subgroup, consistent with the overall population. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03430843.

Protocol digest of a randomized controlled adaptive Phase II/III trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients with oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study JCOG2203 (NEO-JPEG).

Treatment strategies for oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma have not been standardized despite its poor prognosis due to differences in the incidence rates between Western countries and Asia. This randomized Phase II/III trial was initiated in June 2023 to determine which neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen, docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S-1 or fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and docetaxel, is a more promising treatment in Phase II and confirm the superiority of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S-1 or fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and docetaxel followed by surgery and postoperative chemotherapy over upfront surgery and postoperative chemotherapy in terms of overall survival in patients with Clinical Stage III or IVA oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma in Phase III. A total of 460 patients, including 150 patients in Phase II and 310 patients in Phase III, are planned to be enrolled from 85 hospitals in Japan over 5 years. This trial has been registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials as jRCTs031230182 (https://jrct.niph.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCTs031230182).

Greater medial proximal tibial slope is associated with bone marrow lesions in middle-aged women with early knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow lesion (BML) is an important magnetic resonance finding (MRI) finding that predicts knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of proximal tibial morphology on BML, including the spreading root sign (SRS), in women without radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). It was hypothesized that varus alignment and a greater posterior tibial slopes (PTS) are associated with BML. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 359 female volunteers without knee OA who were participants in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project in 2017 or 2019 were enrolled. Participants were divided into the non-OA and early knee OA (EKOA) groups based on the Luyten's classification criteria. The presence of pathological cartilage lesions, BMLs, attritions, meniscal lesions and effusions was scored on T2-weighted fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) according to the Whole-Organ MRI Scoring system. The medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) and medial and lateral PTS (MPTS and LPTS, respectively) were measured. Regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to reveal the relationship between BMLs and proximal tibial morphological parameters. RESULTS: Of the 359 participants, 54 (15%) were classified as having EKOA. The prevalence of cartilage lesions, BMLs, attritions, meniscal lesions and effusions was higher in the EKOA group than in the non-OA group. The two groups had no significant difference in the proximal tibial parameters. Regression analysis revealed that age and a smaller MPTA were associated with BML in both groups. Attrition (p = 0.029) and the MPTS (p = 0.025) were positively associated with BML in the EKOA group. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of BMLs was higher in women with EKOA and correlated with the varus and greater posterior slopes in those without radiographic knee OA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective case-control study.

Bevacizumab, Irinotecan, and Biweekly Trifluridine/Tipiracil for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: MODURATE, a Phase Ib Study.

BACKGROUND: In this phase Ib study MODURATE, we optimized the dosing schedule and tested the efficacy and safety of trifluridine/tipiracil, irinotecan, and bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin treatment failure. METHODS: We included a dose escalation (3 + 3 design) and an expansion cohort. Patients were administered trifluridine/tipiracil (25-35 mg/m2 twice daily, days 1-5), irinotecan (150-180 mg/m2, day 1), and bevacizumab (5 mg/kg, day 1) every 2 weeks. The recommended phase II dose (RP2D) in the dose escalation cohort was administered to at least 15 patients in both cohorts combined. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled. Five dose-limiting toxicities were observed. RP2D was defined as trifluridine/tipiracil 35 mg/m2, irinotecan 150 mg/m2, and bevacizumab 5 mg/kg. Of 16 patients who received RP2D, 86% (14/16) experienced grade ≥3 neutropenia without febrile neutropenia. Dose reduction, delay, and discontinuation occurred in 94%, 94%, and 6% of patients, respectively. Three patients (19%) showed partial response and 5 had stable disease for >4 months, with a median progression-free and overall survival of 7.1 and 21.7 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Biweekly trifluridine/tipiracil, irinotecan, and bevacizumab administration may have moderate antitumor activity with high risk of severe myelotoxicity in previously treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer [UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000019828) and Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs041180028)].

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy using proton beams can reduce cardiopulmonary morbidity in esophageal cancer patients: a systematic review.

This systematic review was performed to investigate the superiority of proton beam therapy (PBT) to photon-based radiotherapy (RT) in treating esophageal cancer patients, especially those with poor cardiopulmonary function. The MEDLINE (PubMed) and ICHUSHI (Japana Centra Revuo Medicina) databases were searched from January 2000 to August 2020 for studies evaluating one end point at least as follows; overall survival, progression-free survival, grade ≥ 3 cardiopulmonary toxicities, dose-volume histograms, or lymphopenia or absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) in esophageal cancer patients treated with PBT or photon-based RT. Of 286 selected studies, 23 including 1 randomized control study, 2 propensity matched analyses, and 20 cohort studies were eligible for qualitative review. Overall survival and progression-free survival were better after PBT than after photon-based RT, but the difference was significant in only one of seven studies. The rate of grade 3 cardiopulmonary toxicities was lower after PBT (0-13%) than after photon-based RT (7.1-30.3%). Dose-volume histograms revealed better results for PBT than photon-based RT. Three of four reports evaluating the ALC demonstrated a significantly higher ALC after PBT than after photon-based RT. Our review found that PBT resulted in a favorable trend in the survival rate and had an excellent dose distribution, contributing to reduced cardiopulmonary toxicities and a maintained number of lymphocytes. These results warrant novel prospective trials to validate the clinical evidence.

Wide QRS Complex Transient Pattern in a Patient With Severe COVID-19.

This case report describes a patient in their 60s with shortness of breath who tested positive for COVID-19.

Spectroscopic Quantitative Measurement of the Cartilage Surface using Arthroscopy Correlates with a Conventional Macroscopic Grading System.

Purpose: To quantify the cartilage surface profile visualized during arthroscopic surgery and examine its clinical utility by comparing the results of quantitative measurements with a conventional grading system. Methods: Fifty consecutive patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and who underwent arthroscopic surgery were included in this study. A 4 K camera system was used, and the cartilage surface profile was visualized using the augmented reality imaging program. The highlighted image was displayed in 2 colors: black (the worn cartilage area) and green (the part where the cartilage thickness was maintained). The percentage of the green area was calculated using ImageJ and used as an index of cartilage degeneration. The quantitative value was statistically compared with the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade as a conventional macroscopic evaluation. Results: In the quantitative measurement, the median percentage of the green area was 60.7 at ICRS grades 0 and 1 (interquartile range [IQR], 67.3-51.0), 47.2 at grade 2 (IQR, 54.1-39.2), 36.5 at grade 3 (IQR, 43.2-30.4), and 34.0 at grade 4 (IQR, 38.5-29.3). There was a significant difference between the macroscopic grades, except for Grades 3 and 4. There was a significant negative correlation between macroscopic evaluation and quantitative measurement (r = -0.672, P < .001). Conclusions: The quantitative measurement of the cartilage surface profile using the spectroscopic absorption technique was significantly correlated with the conventional macroscopic grading system and demonstrated fair to good inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities. Level of Evidence: Level II, diagnostic (prospective cohort study).

Clinical impact of right ventricular pacing burden in patients with post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement permanent pacemaker implantation.

AIMS: Patients who undergo permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have a worse outcome. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors of worse outcomes in patients with post-TAVR PPM implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a single-centre, retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent post-TAVR PPM implantation from 11 March 2011 to 9 November 2019. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by landmark analysis with cut-off at 1 year after the PPM implantation. Of the 1389 patients underwent TAVR during the study duration and a total of 110 patients were included in the final analysis. Right ventricular pacing burden (RVPB) ≥ 30% at 1 year was associated with a higher likelihood of heart failure (HF) readmission [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 6.333; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.417-28.311; P = 0.016] and composite endpoint of overall death and/or HF (aHR: 2.453; 95% CI: 1.040-5.786; P = 0.040). The RVPB ≥30% at 1 year was associated with higher atrial fibrillation burden (24.1 ± 40.6% vs. 1.2 ± 5.3%; P = 0.013) and a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (-5.0 ± 9.8% vs. + 1.1 ± 7.9%; P = 0.005). The predicting factors of the RVPB ≥30% at 1 year were the presence of RVPB ≥40% at 1 month and the valve implantation depth measured from non-coronary cusp ≥4.0 mm (aHR: 57.808; 95% CI: 12.489-267.584; P < 0.001 and aHR: 6.817; 95% CI: 1.829-25.402; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The RVPB ≥30% at 1 year was associated with worse outcomes. Clinical benefit of minimal RV pacing algorithms and biventricular pacing needs to be investigated.

Defining conversion therapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

A multimodality treatment conference with experts from across East Asia was held to establish a consensus for conversion therapy. An agreement was reached that conversion therapy was defined as surgery or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) aiming at cure after initial treatment for tumors that were initially unresectable due to adjacent organ invasion or distant metastasis.

Biomarker analysis for patients with pancreatic cancer treated with nanoliposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin.

BACKGROUND: Nanoliposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) is a standard second-line therapy for patients with pancreatic cancer. Identification of biomarkers is important to determine appropriate treatment strategies. We investigated the clinical practice outcomes and biomarkers associated with the nanoliposomal irinotecan plus 5-FU/LV regimen. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients treated with nanoliposomal irinotecan plus 5-FU/LV as a second or subsequent treatment after gemcitabine-based therapy between June 2020 and March 2021 at Shizuoka Cancer Center. RESULTS: We analyzed 55 consecutive patients who met the selection criteria. At a median of 9.4 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) were 2.3 and 6.6 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) was significantly associated with PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-4.30; P = 0.028) and OS (0 vs. 1 or 2: HR 2.46; 95% CI 1.15-5.25; P = 0.029). The OS was significantly longer in patients with CA19-9 response than in those without CA19-9 response (12.6 vs. 5.6 months; HR 0.24; 95% CI 0.08-0.75; P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Nanoliposomal irinotecan was efficacious and tolerable in clinical practice. GPS and CA19-9 response were good candidates as predictive biomarkers, whereas GPS was a good candidate prognostic biomarker for the nanoliposomal irinotecan plus 5-FU/LV regimen.

A Japanese case of familial malignant melanoma with germline CDK4 variant incidentally diagnosed by cancer genome profiling.

Familial malignant melanoma (FMM) is a hereditary tumor that is quite rare in Japan; to date, the germline CDK4 variant has scarcely been reported around the world. Thus, we report on a woman with FMM who developed salivary gland cancer, for which a germline pathogenic variant of CDK4 was incidentally identified through comprehensive genomic profiling. She had a history of multiple atypical nevi and a facial melanoma since her 30 s and multiple family histories of melanoma; however, none of her relatives were aware of its heredity. Genetic counseling and skin surveillance were performed. Precision medicine for cancer can discover this rare genetic syndrome and provides us with the opportunity to manage the health of patients and their relatives.

Early tumor shrinkage and depth of response in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer treated with 2-weekly docetaxel combined with cisplatin plus fluorouracil: an exploratory analysis of the JCOG0807.

BACKGROUND: We herein investigated the association between early tumor shrinkage (ETS) and depth of response (DpR) and clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer treated with 2-weekly docetaxel combined with cisplatin plus fluorouracil (bDCF) using data from the JCOG0807, a phase I/II trial of bDCF as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic esophageal cancer. METHODS: ETS was defined as a percent decrease in the sum of the target lesions' longest diameter after 8 weeks, whereas DpR was defined as a percentage of the maximal tumor shrinkage during the treatment course. Multivariable analyses were conducted to identify significant prognostic variables in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS): one for ETS and covariates, and another for DpR and covariates. RESULTS: Among 53 patients, 35 patients with ETS ≥ 20% (66.0%) had longer PFS (7.5 vs. 3.4 months, hazard ratio [HR]: 0.26, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.14-0.49), OS (13.8 vs. 6.1 months, HR 0.20, 95% CI 0.11-0.39), and PPS (6.4 vs. 2.8 months, HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.20-0.72) than those with ETS < 20%. In addition, 37 patients with DpR ≥ 30% (69.8%) had longer PFS (7.5 vs. 2.9 months, HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.08-0.34), OS (13.8 vs. 6.0 months, HR 0.14, 95% CI 0.07-0.27), and PPS (6.8 vs. 2.8 months, HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.15-0.58) than those with DpR < 30%. Multivariable analyses revealed that each ETS and DpR was an independent factor of longer PFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: ETS and DpR might be associated with clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer treated with bDCF.

Lipoprotein(a) and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, the Impact of Available Lipid-Lowering Medications on Lipoprotein(a): An Update on New Therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To review evidence of existing and new pharmacological therapies for lowering lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) concentrations and their impact on clinically relevant outcomes. METHODS: We searched for literature pertaining to Lp(a) and pharmacological treatments in PubMed. We reviewed articles published between 1963 and 2020. RESULTS: We found that statins significantly increased Lp(a) concentrations. Therapies that demonstrated varying degrees of Lp(a) reduction included ezetimibe, niacin, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors, lipoprotein apheresis, fibrates, aspirin, hormone replacement therapy, antisense oligonucleotide therapy, and small interfering RNA therapy. There was limited data from large observational studies and post hoc analyses showing the potential benefits of these therapies in improving cardiovascular outcomes. CONCLUSION: There are multiple lipid-lowering agents currently being used to treat hyperlipidemia that also have a Lp(a)-lowering effect. Two RNA therapies specifically targeted to lower Lp(a) are being investigated in phase 3 clinical trials and, thus far, have shown promising results. However, evidence is lacking to determine the clinical relevance of reducing Lp(a). At present, there is a need for large-scale, randomized, controlled trials to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes associated with lowering Lp(a).

Permanent Pacemaker Insertion Reduction and Optimized Temporary Pacemaker Management After Contemporary Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With Self-Expanding Valves (from the Pristine TAVI Study).

Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) reduction and optimal management of newly acquired conduction disturbances after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are crucial. We sought to evaluate the relation between transcatheter heart valve (THV) implantation depth and baseline and newly acquired conduction disturbances on PPMI after TAVI. This study included 1,026 consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (mean age 79.7 ± 8.4 years; 47.4% female) who underwent TAVI with the newer-generation self-expanding THVs Primary outcomes were early and late PPMI defined as the need for PPMI during the index admission and between discharge and 30 days, respectively. Early and late PPMI was required for 115 (11.2%) and 21 patients (2.0%), respectively. Early PPMI rates decreased from 26.7% in 2015 and 2016 to 5.7% in 2021, and so did the mean THV depth from 4.4 ± 2.4 mm to 1.8 ± 1.6 mm. Receiver operator characteristics curve analyses showed THV depth had significant discriminatory value for early and late PPMI with cutoff values of 3.0 and 2.2 mm, respectively. Rates of early and late PPMI were significantly lower for patients with shallower compared with deeper implantations (5.1% vs 22.6% and 0.4% vs 4.1%, p <0.001 for both, respectively). Furthermore, rates of early PPMI were lower with shallower implantations in patients with new left bundle branch block after TAVI (2.4% vs 15.9%; p <0.001) and those with baseline right bundle branch block (7.5% vs 29.6%; p = 0.017). Lower rates of PPMI with shallower THV implantation were consistently observed, including in patients with baseline and newly acquired conduction disturbances. Our findings might help optimize the management of a temporary pacemaker after TAVI.

Comprehensive registry of esophageal cancer in Japan, 2015.

BACKGROUND: The registration committee for esophageal cancer in the Japan Esophageal Society (JES) has collected the patients' characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients who underwent any treatment during 2015 in Japan. METHODS: We analyzed patients' data who had visited the participating hospitals in 2015. We collected the data using the National Clinical Database with a web-based data collection system. We used the Japanese Classification of Esophageal Cancer 10th edition by JES and the TNM classification by the Union of International Cancer Control (UICC) for cancer staging. RESULTS: A total of 9368 cases were registered from 355 institutions in Japan. Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma accounted for 86.7% and 7.4%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates of patients treated by endoscopic resection, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, radiotherapy alone, and esophagectomy were 87.2%, 33.5%, 24.2%, and 59.9%, respectively. Esophagectomy was performed in 5172 cases. Minimally invasive approaches were selected for 60.6%, and 54.4% underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy. The operative mortality (within 30 days after surgery) was 0.79% and the hospital mortality was 2.3%. The survival curves showed an excellent discriminatory ability both in the clinical and pathologic stages by the JES system. The survival of pStage IV was better than IIIC in the UICC system because pStage IV included the patients with supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (M1 LYM). CONCLUSION: We hope this report improves all aspects of diagnosing and treating esophageal cancer in Japan.