Ileal perforation in the setting of atezolizumab immunotherapy for advanced bladder cancer.

Atezolizumab is a promising immunotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma. Like other immune checkpoint inhibitors, it can produce rare immune-related adverse events (IRAEs). Here we present the recent case of a patient with metastatic bladder cancer who developed diarrhea and abdominal pain months after beginning atezolizumab therapy. He presented to our institution with an ileal perforation secondary to atezolizumab-induced enterocolitis. After surgical repair, the patient's condition improved, and he was discharged. We discuss the management of atezolizumab-induced enterocolitis, including the importance of early recognition and intervention to prevent more devastating complications.

The "global surgeon": is it time for modifications in the American surgical training paradigm?

OBJECTIVE: "Global surgery" is becoming an increasingly popular concept not only for new trainees, but also for established surgeons. The need to provide surgical care in low-resource settings is laudable, but the American surgical training system currently does not impart the breadth of skills required to provide quality care. We propose one possible model for a surgical fellowship program that provides those trainees who desire to practice in these settings a comprehensive experience that encompasses not only broad technical skills but also the opportunity to engage in policy and programmatic development and implementation. METHODS: This is a descriptive commentary based on personal experience and a review of the literature. RESULTS: The proposed model is 2 years long, and can either be done after general surgery training as an additional "global surgery" fellowship or as part of a 3 + 2 general surgery + global surgery system. It would incorporate training in general surgery as well as orthopedics, urology, obstetrics & gynecology, neurosurgery, plastics & reconstructive surgery, as well as dedicated time for health systems training. Incorporating such training in a low-resource setting would be a requirement of such a program, in order to obtain field experience. CONCLUSIONS: Global surgery is a key word these days in attracting young trainees to academic surgical residency programs, yet they are subsequently inadequately trained to provide the required surgical services in these low-resource settings. Dedicated programmatic changes are required to allow those who choose to practice in these settings to obtain the full breadth of training needed to become safe, competent surgeons in such environments.

Oncotype DX(®) colon cancer assay for prediction of recurrence risk in patients with stage II and III colon cancer: A review of the evidence.

Advances in molecular biology have enabled identification of tumor biomarkers that allow for individualized risk assessment for patients with cancer. Molecular predictors of clinical outcome can help inform discussion regarding the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resected colon cancer, such as those with stage II colon cancer in which the benefit of adjuvant therapy is controversial or those with stage III colon cancer who may have a lower risk of recurrence and less absolute benefit from oxaliplatin therapy. This article summarizes the data surrounding the development, validation, and clinical and economic utility of the Oncotype DX(®) colon cancer assay, a multigene expression assay validated to independently predict recurrence risk in patients with stage II and III colon cancer beyond traditional factors.