Minimally invasive thymectomy for myasthenia gravis favours left-sided approach and low severity class.

OBJECTIVES: Complete thymectomy is a key component of the optimal treatment for myasthenia gravis. Unilateral, minimally invasive approaches are increasingly utilized with debate about the optimal laterality approach. A right-sided approach has a wider field of view, while a left-sided approach accesses potentially more thymic tissue. We aimed to assess the impact of laterality on perioperative and medium-term outcomes, and to identify predictors of a 'good outcome' using standard definitions. METHODS: We performed a multicentre review of 123 patients who underwent a minimally invasive thymectomy for myasthenia gravis between January 2000 and August 2015, with at least 1-year follow-up. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America standards were followed. A 'good outcome' was defined by complete stable remission/pharmacological remission/minimal manifestations 0, and a 'poor outcome' by minimal manifestations 1-3. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with a 'good outcome'. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of thymectomies (113/123) were robotic-assisted. The left-sided approach had a shorter median operating time than a right-sided: 143 (interquartile range, IQR 110-196) vs 184 (IQR 133-228) min, P = 0.012. At a median of 44 (IQR 27-75) months, the left-sided approach achieved a 'good outcome' (46%, 31/68) more frequently than the right-sided (22%, 12/55); P = 0.011. Multivariable analysis identified a left-sided approach and Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America class I/II to be associated with a 'good outcome'. CONCLUSIONS: A left-sided thymectomy may be preferred over a right-sided approach in patients with myasthenia gravis given the shorter operating times and potential for superior medium-term symptomatic outcomes. A lower severity class is also associated with a 'good outcome'.

Clinical Misstagings and Risk Factors of Occult Nodal Disease in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to compare the clinical to the pathologic stage in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A prospective database from 1 surgeon was reviewed. Patients had NSCLC, chest tomography (CT), and most had positron emission tomography (PET). Those with suggested N1, N2, central tumors, or tumors larger than 5 cm underwent mediastinoscopy or endobronchial ultrasound, or both, and if N2 negative, underwent resection with complete thoracic lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: Between January 2006 and December 2016, there were 1,444 consecutive patients. The sensitivity and specificity for CT was 76% and 79% for pathologic stage I, 48% and 89% for stage II, and 58% and 88% for stage III. The sensitivity and specificity for PET was 77% and 70% for pathologic stage I, 43% and 88% for stage II, and 46% and 93% for stage III. Pathologic N1 disease was proven in 7% of patients and missed in 4% by CT, 5% by PET, and 3% by both. Pathologic N2 disease was proven in 20% of patients and missed in 9% by CT, 10% by PET, and 8% by both. Occult N2 disease was present in 10% of clinically stage I patients and in 21% of clinically stage II patients. Independent predictors of occult N1 disease included high maximum standardized uptake value (p = 0.034) and predictors of N2 disease included African American race (p = 0.020) and large tumor size (p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Despite advancements in CT, PET, and minimally invasive nodal biopsy, there remains significant NSCLC misstaging, especially for N2 disease. Improved, targeted N2 lymph node biopsy may improve preresection staging.

Review: Microfluidics technologies for blood-based cancer liquid biopsies.

Blood-based liquid biopsies provide a minimally invasive alternative to identify cellular and molecular signatures that can be used as biomarkers to detect early-stage cancer, predict disease progression, longitudinally monitor response to chemotherapeutic drugs, and provide personalized treatment options. Specific targets in blood that can be used for detailed molecular analysis to develop highly specific and sensitive biomarkers include circulating tumor cells (CTCs), exosomes shed from tumor cells, cell-free circulating tumor DNA (cfDNA), and circulating RNA. Given the low abundance of CTCs and other tumor-derived products in blood, clinical evaluation of liquid biopsies is extremely challenging. Microfluidics technologies for cellular and molecular separations have great potential to either outperform conventional methods or enable completely new approaches for efficient separation of targets from complex samples like blood. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of blood-based targets that can be used for analysis of cancer, review microfluidic technologies that are currently used for isolation of CTCs, tumor derived exosomes, cfDNA, and circulating RNA, and provide a detailed discussion regarding potential opportunities for microfluidics-based approaches in cancer diagnostics.

The long-term survival of robotic lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer: A multi-institutional study.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to report the world's largest series with the longest follow-up of robotic lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: This was a multi-institutional retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients from 4 institutions' prospective robotic databases. RESULTS: There were 1339 patients (men 55%, median age 68 years). The median operative time was 136 minutes, median number of lymph nodes was 13 (5 N2 stations and 1 N1), median blood loss was 50 cc, and 4 (0.005%) patients received intraoperative transfusions. Conversions occurred in 116 patients (9%) and for bleeding in 24 (2%). Median length of stay was 3 days. Major morbidity occurred in 8%. The 30-day and 90-day operative mortality was 0.2% and 0.5%, respectively. Follow-up was complete in 99% of patients with a median follow-up of 30 months (range 1-154 months). The 5-year stage-specific survival was: 83% for the 672 patients with stage IA NSCLC, 77% for the 281 patients with stage IB, 68% for the 118 patients with stage IIA, 70% for 99 patients with IIB, 62% for 143 patients with stage IIIA (122 had N2 disease, 73%), and 31% for 8 patients with stage IIIB (none had N3 disease). The cumulative incidence of metastatic NSCLC was 15% (128 patients, 95% confidence interval, 13%-18%). The cumulative incidence of local recurrence in the ipsilateral operated chest was 3% only (26 patients, 95% confidence interval, 2%-5%). CONCLUSIONS: The oncologic results of robotic lobectomy for NSCLC are promising, especially for patients with pathologic N2 disease. However, further follow-up and studies are needed.