Proposal of a new T-stage classification system for ampullary carcinoma based on Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database.

BACKGROUND: Tumor size is still considered a useful prognostic factor in currently available tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification staging systems for most solid tumors, but the significance of tumor size on the prognosis of ampullary carcinoma remains controversial. The aim of the current study was to propose a new T-stage classification system for ampullary carcinoma to address the impact of tumor size on the prognostic outcome. METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we identified 1080 patients with ampullary carcinoma who underwent radical surgical resection between 2004 and 2015. Based on the results obtained from analysis of various clinicopathologic factors, a new T-stage classification system was proposed. RESULTS: Among the 1080 patients, 618 were men and 462 were women, with a median tumor size of 2.3 (range 0.1-12) cm. Using the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual, we noticed significant differences in overall survival (OS) between T2 vs. T3 tumors (P < 0.001) and T3 vs. T4 tumors (P = 0.002), but failed to observe significant differences between T1 vs. T2 tumors (P = 0.498) in our pair-wise comparison. Using the newly developed T-stage classification system, we were able to differentiate significant differences in OS between T1 vs. T2 tumors (P = 0.032), T2 vs. T3 tumors (P < 0.001) and T3 vs. T4 tumor (P = 0.003) in all pair-wise comparisons. The c-index of the new staging system was 0.653 (95% CI: 0.629-0.677), showing a better discriminatory power than the 0.636 of the 7th AJCC staging system (95% CI: 0.612-0.660). CONCLUSIONS: The new T-stage classification system described herein can better differentiate prognostic outcomes after radical resection in patients with ampullary carcinoma by incorporating tumor size and depth of tumor infiltration.

Impact of Surgical Modalities on Long-term Survival Outcomes of Patients with Duodenal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.

BACKGROUND: The optimal surgical modality for duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) remains undefined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term survival outcomes of patients who underwent radical resection (RR) or limited resection (LR) of duodenal GIST. METHODS: A total of 325 patients identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database who underwent surgery for duodenal GIST between 1986 and 2016 were classified into a LR group and a RR group based on the type of surgery received. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to minimize the selection bias in comparisons. Disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were observed, and factors affecting the survival outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: In the entire cohort, 105 patients (32.3%) underwent RR and 220 (67.7%) received LR. Both the 5-year OS and DSS in RR group were significantly better than those in LR group (71.0% vs. 54.1%, P = 0.014; 66.6% vs. 49.1%, P = 0.025). PSM resulted in 95 pairs of patients, with long-term outcomes being comparable between the two groups. After adjusting covariates in the propensity matched cohort, the type of surgery still showed no significant impact on OS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.160; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.662-2.033) and DSS (HR 1.208; 95% CI 0.686-2.128). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical modalities do not seem to have a significant impact on long-term survival outcomes of patients with duodenal GIST and should mainly depend on the tumor size and location.

Characteristics and survival prognosis of patients with pure squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder.

BACKGROUND: Pure squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gallbladder is rare and often confused with the adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) subtype in previous studies. The present study was attempted to differentiate SCC from ASC by resolving their characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for SCC and ASC of gallbladder cases from 1988 to 2015. Patients' clinicopathological characteristics and survival were analysed between the groups. RESULTS: Of the 709 patients with primary gallbladder cancer included in this study, 249 (35.1%) had pure SCC and the remaining 460 (64.9%) had ASC. It was found that pure SCC was associated with a larger median tumour size (58.0 versus 41.0 mm, P < 0.001), while ASC presented with a worse histological grade (47.4% versus 37.8% for grades III-IV, P = 0.019) and more lymph node invasion (27.4% versus 18.9%, P = 0.041). The 3-year overall survival and disease-specific survival rates in pure SCC were lower than those in ASC (7.5% versus 11.5% for overall survival, P < 0.001; 6.2% versus 10.9% for disease-specific survival, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that early Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results historic stage, treatment with surgery and chemotherapy were significant favourable prognostic factors for pure SCC, while tumour size, late study period, treatment with surgery and radiotherapy were significant predictors for ASC. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences in the clinicopathological characteristics and survival prognosis between pure SCC and ASC. Surgery combined with chemotherapy is the preferred treatment option for pure SCC.

Prognostic factors and benefits of adjuvant therapy for ampullary cancer following pancreatoduodenectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ampullary cancer is a relatively rare gastrointestinal malignancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors for survival and assess the benefits of adjuvant therapy following pancreaticoduodenectomy for this entity. Medline and EMBASE databases were searched to identify eligible studies from January 2000 to August 2019. Review Manager 5.3 statistical software was used for meta-analysis. 71 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis for a total of 8280 patients. The median (range) 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 58% (32-82%) and 51% (28-73%) respectively. In meta-analysis, age >65 years at diagnosis, tumor size >20 mm, poor differentiation, pancreaticobiliary histotype, pT3-4 stage disease, presence of metastatic lymph node, number of metastatic nodes, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, vascular invasion, pancreatic invasion, and positive surgical margins were independently associated with worse overall survival, whereas adjuvant therapy was associated with improved overall survival. In summary, in patients with ampullary cancer undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, tumor factors are the main predictors of worse survival and adjuvant treatment confers a survival benefit.

Long-term survival outcomes of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver: a pooled analysis of 308 patients.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL) is a great clinical challenge due to its rarity. This study aims to examine the long-term survival of UESL patients after treatment using different therapeutic modalities. METHODS: A pooled analysis of individual data was performed on all UESL patients obtained from literature search (n = 307) and our institution (n = 1). RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival rate of the 308 patients was 65.8%, 70% for partial hepatectomy group (n = 271), 78.9% for liver transplantation group (n = 14) and 6.6% for nonsurgical treatment group (n = 23). For patients receiving partial hepatectomy, paediatric patients, radical resection and combined chemotherapy were independent predictors for improved survival. CONCLUSION: Radical hepatectomy combined chemotherapy should be considered as the preferred treatment option for USEL. Liver transplantation appears to be a reasonable alternative for unresectable disease.