A multicenter, retrospective study of a through-the-needle injection-capable electrosurgical knife for endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a technically challenging resection technique for en-bloc removal of dysplastic and early cancerous gastrointestinal (GI) lesions. We conducted a single-arm retrospective study evaluating the safety and efficacy of a new through-the-needle injection-capable electrosurgical knife used in upper and lower ESD procedures performed at 6 US academic centers. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected on consecutive cases in which the new ESD knife was used. The primary efficacy endpoint was successful ESD (en bloc resection with negative margins). Secondary efficacy endpoints included en-bloc resection rate, curative resection rate, median ESD time, and median dissection speed. The safety endpoint was device- or procedure-related serious adverse events (SAEs). RESULTS: ESD of 581 lesions in 579 patients were reviewed, including 187 (32.2%) upper GI and 394 (67.8%) lower GI lesions. Prior treatment was reported in 283 (48.9%) patients. Successful ESD was achieved in 477 (82.1% of 581) lesions ‒ lower for patients with versus without submucosal fibrosis (73.6% versus 87.0%, respectively, P < 0.001), but similar for those with versus without previous treatment (81.7% versus 82.3%, respectively, P = 0.848). Four hundred and forty-three (76.2% of 581) lesions met criteria for curative resection. Median ESD time was 1.0 (range 0.1-4.5) hour. Median dissection speed was 17.1 (IQR 5.3-29.8) cm2/hour. Related SAEs were reported in 15 (2.6%) patients, including delayed hemorrhage (1.9%), perforation (0.5%), or postpolypectomy syndrome (0.2%). CONCLUSION: A newly developed through-the-needle injection-capable ESD knife showed a good success rate and excellent safety at US centers. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04580940).

Contemporary report of surgical outcomes after single-stage total pancreatectomy: A 10-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Surgeons rarely perform elective total pancreatectomy (TP). Our study seeks to report surgical outcomes in a contemporary series of single-stage (SS) TP patients. METHODS: Between the years 2013 to 2023 we conducted a retrospective review of 60 consecutive patients who underwent SSTP. Demographics, pathology, treatment-related variables, and survival were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: SSTP consisted of 3% (60/1859) of elective pancreas resections conducted. Patient median age was 68 years. Ninety percent of these patients (n = 54) underwent SSTP for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Conversion from a planned partial pancreatectomy to TP occurred intraoperatively in 31 (52%) patients. Fifty-nine patients (98%) underwent an R0 resection. Median length of hospital stay was 6 days. The majority of morbidities were minor, with 27% patients (n = 16) developing severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥3). Thirty and ninety-day mortality rates were 1.67% (one patient) and 5% (three patients), respectively. Median survival for the entire cohort was 24.4 months; 22.7 months for PDAC patients, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival of 68%, 43%, and 16%, respectively. No mortality occurred in non-PDAC patients (n = 6). CONCLUSION: Elective single-stage total pancreatectomy can be a safe and appropriate treatment option. SSTP should be in the armamentarium of surgeons performing pancreatic resection.

Clinical Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Gemcitabine plus S-1 for Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Compared with Upfront Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus S-1 (NAC-GS) in the prognosis of patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been reported. NAC-GS is now assumed to be a standard regimen for resectable PDAC in Japan. However, the reason for this improvement in prognosis remains unclear. METHODS: In 2019, we introduced NAC-GS for resectable PDAC. From 2015 to 2021, 340 patients were diagnosed with resectable PDAC (anatomical and biological [carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 < 500 U/mL]) and were divided according to the treatment period (upfront surgery [UPS] group, 2015-2019, n = 241; NAC-GS group, 2019-2021, n = 80). We used "intention-to-treat" analysis to compare the clinical outcomes of NAC-GS to those of UPS. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients with NAC-GS, 75 (93.8%) completed two cycles of NAC-GS, and the resection rate of the NAC-GS group was comparable to that of the UPS group (92.5 vs. 91.3%, P = 0.73). The R0 resection rate was significantly higher in the NAC-GS group than in the UPS group (91.3 vs. 82.6%, P = 0.04), even though the surgical burden was smaller. Progression-free survival tended to be better (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.70, P = 0.06), and overall survival was significantly better in the NAC-GS group than in the UPS group (HR 0.55, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: NAC-GS provided improvements in microscopic invasion leading to a high R0 rate and smooth administration and completion of adjuvant therapy, which might lead to an improved prognosis in patients with resectable PDAC.

Normalization of tumor markers and a clear resection margin affect progression-free survival of patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer who have undergone conversion surgery.

BACKGROUND: With the advent of intensive combination regimens, an increasing number of patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer (UPC) have regained the opportunity for surgery. We investigated the clinical benefits and prognostic factors of conversion surgery (CS) in UPC patients. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients with UPC who had received CS following first-line systemic treatment in our center between 2014 to 2022. Treatment response, safety of the surgical procedure and clinicopathological data were collected. We analyzed the prognostic factors for postoperative survival among UPC patients who had CS. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients with UPC were enrolled (53 with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and 14 with metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC)). The duration of preoperative systemic treatment was 4.17 months for LAPC patients and 6.52 months for MPC patients. All patients experienced a partial response (PR) or had stable disease (SD) preoperatively according to imaging. Tumor resection was unsuccessful in four patients and, finally, R0 resection was obtained in 81% of cases. Downstaging was determined pathologically in 87% of cases; four patients achieved a complete pathological response. Median postoperative-progression-free survival (PO-PFS) was 9.77 months and postoperative overall survival (PO-OS) was 31.2 months. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the resection margin and postoperative changes in levels of tumor markers were significant prognostic factors for PO-PFS. No factors were associated significantly with PO-OS according to multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: CS is a promising strategy for improving the prognosis of UPC patients. The resection margin and postoperative change in levels of tumor markers are the most important prognostic factors for prolonged PFS. Multidisciplinary treatment in high-volume centers is strongly recommended. Prospective studies must be undertaken to resolve the various problems regarding optimal regimens, the duration of treatment, and detailed criteria for CS.

Outcomes of extended total mesorectal excision in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

AIM: Extended total mesorectal excision (eTME) is a complex procedure involving en bloc resection of the structures surrounding the various quadrants of the rectum. This study, presenting the largest series so far of patients undergoing eTME, aimed to assess the surgical and survival outcomes of patients following treatment with eTME and to compare these outcomes with historical data on pelvic exenteration. METHOD: The study is a retrospective review of all patients with locally advanced rectal cancer requiring an eTME (2014-2020). The database includes the demographic profile, operative details, histopathological features and follow-up. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty three patients who underwent eTME were analysed. The overall Clavien-Dindo complication rate of > IIIa was 21.1%. The anterior quadrant was the most common anatomical site resected (68.5%). The R1 resection rate was 10.4%. After a median follow-up of 28 months, there were 51 recurrences in the study and twenty two deaths were recorded. The local recurrence rate was 7.3% among the study population. The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival were 66.7% and 80.4%, respectively, at 3 years. The majority of the recurrences were distant metastasis (84.3%). In univariate analysis, the quadrant involved did not affect survival. In multivariate analysis, signet ring histology, metastatic presentation, inadequate tumour response and R1 resection affected DFS. CONCLUSION: The recurrence pattern, R1 resection rate and survival outcomes of patients in the present study were comparable with those for patients undergoing an exenteration. Therefore, eTME is probably a safe alternative to pelvic exenterations when R0 resection is achievable and when the procedure is performed in high-volume specialist tertiary care centres.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal polyps: outcome determining factors.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has gained increasing popularity in the management of complicated colorectal polyps. However, clinical outcomes for ESD have remained highly inconsistent worldwide. This study investigated and analysed factors that significantly affect ESD outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a single-centred retrospective study on 220 colorectal polyps removed by ESD from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2020. Data were collected and retrieved from clinical records. Variables studied included patient demographics, ESD technicalities and polyp characteristics. The primary outcome was completeness of resection based on en bloc and R0 resection rates. The secondary outcomes were recurrence, complications and hospital stay. Further analysis was performed for significant outcome determining factors. RESULTS: The en bloc resection and R0 resection rates were 97.3% and 65% respectively. Intraprocedural and delayed perforation rates were 3.2% and 0.5% respectively. Intraprocedural and delayed bleeding rates were both 1.8%. Post-polypectomy syndrome rate was 2.7%. The median hospital stay was 4 days. Submucosal fibrosis was a significant determining factor for lower en bloc resection (p = 0.004), lower R0 resection (p = 0.002), intraprocedural perforation (p = 0.001), intraprocedural bleeding (p = 0.025) and post-polypectomy syndrome (p = 0.039). Hybrid snaring was associated with lower en bloc resection (p < 0.001), while longer ESD time was associated with lower R0 resection (p = 0.003) and post-polypectomy syndrome (p = 0.025). Other significant factors for post-polypectomy syndrome included young age (p = 0.021) and large polyp size (p = 0.018). Secondary analysis showed that submucosal fibrosis was significantly associated with non-granular lesions (p < 0.001) and prior biopsy (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Submucosal fibrosis, hybrid snaring, ESD time, age and polyp size were significant outcome determining factors for ESD. By identifying these factors, strategies may be formulated to improve ESD outcomes.

Clinical features and treatment outcomes of dedifferentiated and grade 3 chondrosarcoma: A multi-institutional study.

Chondrosarcoma is the second most common primary malignant bone tumor. In this multicenter study, we sought to evaluate the disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS), and prognostic factors in patients with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma (DDCS) or grade 3 chondrosarcoma (G3CS) in Japan. We retrospectively investigated the treatment outcomes and prognostic factors in 62 patients with DDCS and 19 patients with G3CS at 15 institutions participating in the Japanese Musculoskeletal Oncology Group. We also clarified significant clinicopathological factors for oncological outcomes. In surgery for primary lesions aimed at cure, a histologically negative margin (R0) was obtained in 93% (14/15) of patients with G3CS and 100% (49/49) of patients with DDCS. The 5-year DSS was 18.5% in patients with DDCS and 41.7% in patients with G3CS (p = 0.13). Local control was obtained in 80% (12/15) and 79.6% (39/49) of patients with G3CS and DDCS in the primary lesion after surgery with a wide surgical margin, respectively. In multivariate analysis, stage and no treatment/palliative treatment for the primary lesion were independent prognostic factors for DSS of DDCS, and age and no treatment/palliative treatment for DSS of G3CS. The 5-year DFS rate was 22.8% in 26 patients with DDCS who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, and 21.4% in 14 patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy. The prognosis of DDCS remains poor, although R0 resection was carried out in most cases. Effective and/or intensive chemotherapeutic regimens or agents should be considered or developed for patients with high-grade chondrosarcoma, particularly for those with DDCS.

Conversion surgery for microsatellite instability-high gastric cancer with a complete pathological response to pembrolizumab: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are reportedly effective in treating microsatellite instability (MSI)-high gastric cancer. There are a few case reports of conversion surgery (CS) with nivolumab but none with pembrolizumab. Herein, we describe a patient with MSI-high gastric cancer who was successfully treated with pembrolizumab and underwent CS with a pathological complete response. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old man was diagnosed with stage III gastric cancer (T3N2M0) based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography, which revealed a neoplastic lesion and enlarged perigastric lymph nodes in the gastric lesser curvature. The anterior superior lymph node of the common hepatic artery (CHA) was determined to be unresectable due to invasion of the pancreatic head and CHA. Histopathologically, the biopsied tissue showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, then determined to be MSI-high. After three courses of mFOLFOX6 therapy, the patient was diagnosed with progressive disease. Since one course of paclitaxel plus ramucirumab therapy caused grade 3 fatigue, his second-line therapy was switched to pembrolizumab monotherapy. After three courses, the primary tumor and perigastric lymph nodes had shrunk, and it was determined as a partial response. The anterior superior lymph node of the CHA became resectable based on the improvement of infiltration of the pancreatic head and CHA due to shrinkage of the lymph node. Tumor markers remained low; hence, distal gastrectomy plus D2 lymphadenectomy was performed at the end of six courses. Anterior superior lymph node of the CHA was confirmed by intraoperative ultrasonography, and the resection was completed safely. The gross examination of the resected specimen revealed an ulcer scar at the primary tumor site. The histopathological examination showed no viable tumor cell remnants in the primary tumor, which had a grade 3 histological response, and resection margins were negative. The lymph nodes showed mucus retention only in the anterior superior lymph node of the CHA, indicating the presence of metastasis, but no viable tumor cells remained. The patient commenced 6 months of adjuvant pembrolizumab monotherapy 3 months after surgery. Twenty months after surgery, there was no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion surgery following pembrolizumab monotherapy has a potential utility for the treatment of MSI-high gastric cancer.

Establishment, validation and evaluation of predictive model for early relapse after R0 resection in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with microvascular invasion.

BACKGROUNDS: This is the first study to build and evaluate a predictive model for early relapse after R0 resection in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with microvascular invasion (MVI). METHODS: The consecutive HCC patients with MVI who underwent hepatectomy in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Science from Jan 2014 to June 2019 were retrospectively enrolled and randomly allocated into a derivation (N = 286) and validation cohort (N = 120) in a ratio of 7:3. Cox regression and Logistic regression analyses were performed and a predictive model for postoperative early-relapse were developed. RESULTS: A total of 406 HCC patients with MVI were included in our work. Preoperative blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status, MVI classification, largest tumor diameter, the status of serosal invasion, number of tumors, and the status of satellite nodules were incorporated to construct a model. The concordance index (C-index) was 0.737 and 0.736 in the derivation and validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curves showed a good agreement between actual observation and nomogram prediction. The C-index of the nomogram was obviously higher than those of the two traditional HCC staging systems. CONCLUSION: We have developed and validated a prediction model for postoperative early-relapse in HCC patient with MVI after R0 resection.

Phase II feasibility study of adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel/cisplatin/S-1 followed by S-1 for stage III gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel/cisplatin/S-1 (DCS) following S-1 therapy in patients with stage III gastric cancer after curative gastrectomy. METHODS: Patients with stage III gastric cancer who underwent D2 gastrectomy were enrolled. Adjuvant chemotherapy was initiated within 8 weeks of gastrectomy. The first cycle of chemotherapy consisted of S-1 monotherapy (day 1-14), followed by a 7-day rest period. Cycles 2 and 3 consisted of the following: S-1 (day 1-14) administration, followed by a 14-day rest period, and an intravenous infusion of cisplatin and docetaxel on days 1 and 15. After two cycles, S-1 was administered for up to 1 year. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled between 2014 and 2017. Febrile neutropenia of grade 3 or higher was the most common hematological toxicity with 4 patients (13.3%). Other hematological toxicities of grade 3 or higher were as follows: neutropenia in 3 (10.0%), leukopenia in 3 (10.0%), and anemia in 2 (6.7%) patients. Most frequent non-hematological toxicity of grade 3 was anorexia (n = 4, 13.3%) and general fatigue (n = 3, 10.0%); no grade 4 non-hematological toxicities were observed. Twenty-five patients (83.3%) completed two cycles of DCS treatment and 18 (60.0%) completed subsequent S-1 treatment for 1 year. The relative dose intensity of docetaxel and cisplatin was 0.86 and that of S-1 was 0.88. CONCLUSION: The DCS regimen can be acceptable as an adjuvant chemotherapy and offers an effective postoperative treatment option for stage III gastric cancer patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000012785 . DATE OF REGISTRY: 08/01/2014.

Clinical significance and predictors of complete or near-complete histological response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The clinical value and predictors of a favorable histological response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains undefined. OBJECTIVE: To assess the significance and predictors of a favorable histological response to preoperative CRT in patients with localized PDAC. METHODS: The study included 203 patients with localized PDAC undergoing curative-intent resection after CRT. The rate of R0 resection and overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were correlated with the grading of histological response to determine optimal stratification. Clinical factors associated with a significant histological response were evaluated using multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Among all patients, eight patients (3.9%) had a grade 4 (pCR); 40 (19.4%) had a grade 3 estimated rate of residual neoplastic cells <10% (near-pCR); and 155 (76.7%) had a grade 1/2 limited response. The 48 patients with pCR/near-pCR achieved significantly higher R0 resection rate (100%) than those with grade 1/2 (80.0%). The 5-year OS and RFS rates were significantly higher in the patients with pCR/near-pCR (45.3% and 36.5%) than in those with grade 1/2 (27.1% and 18.5%). Gemcitabine plus S-1 based CRT, serum CA19-9 level after CRT <83 U/mL, and interval from initial treatment to surgery ≥4.4 months were independent predictive factors for pCR/near-pCR. CONCLUSIONS: pCR or near-pCR to preoperative CRT contributed to achieving a high rate of R0 resection and improving survival for localized PDAC. The use of gemcitabine plus S-1 as a radiosensitizer, lower serum CA19-9 level after CRT, and longer preoperative treatment duration were significantly associated with pCR or near-pCR.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced colon cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence to support the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in locally advanced colon cancer (LACC). However, its safety, efficacy and side effect profile is yet to be completely elucidated. This review aims to assess NAC regimens, duration, compare completion rates, intra-operative and post-operative complication profiles and oncological outcomes, in order to provide guidance for clinical practice and further research. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched for a systematic review of the literature from 2000 to 2020. Eight eligible studies were included, with a total of 1213 patients, 752 (62%) of whom received NAC. Of the eight studies analysed, two were randomised controlled trials comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by oncological resection to upfront surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, three were prospective single-arm phase II trials analysing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery only, one was a retrospective study comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery versus surgery first followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and the remaining two were single-arm retrospective studies of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. RESULTS: All cases of LACC were determined and staged by computed tomography; majority of the studies defined LACC as T3 with extramural depth of 5 mm or more, T4 and/or nodal positivity. NAC administered was either folinic acid, fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) or capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) with the exception of one study which utilised 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin. Most studies had NAC completion rates of above 83% with two notable exceptions being Zhou et al. and The Colorectal Cancer Chemotherapy Study Group of Japan who both recorded a completion rate of 52%. Time to surgery from completion of NAC ranged on average from 16 to 31 days. The anastomotic leak rate in the NAC group ranged from 0 to 4.5%, with no cases of postoperative mortality. The R0 resection rate in the NAC group was 96.1%. Meta-analysis of both RCTs included in this study showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy increased the likelihood of a negative resection margin T3/4 advanced colon cancer (pooled relative risk of 0.47 with a 95% confidence interval) with no increase in adverse consequence of anastomotic leak, wound infection or return to theatre. CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic review and meta-analysis show that NAC is safe with an acceptable side effect profile in the management of LACC. The current data supports an oncological benefit for tumour downstaging and increased in R0 resection rate.

Outcomes of exenteration in cT4 and fixed cT3 stage primary rectal adenocarcinoma: a subgroup analysis of consolidation chemotherapy following neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate the oncological outcomes and the prognostic factors following pelvic exenteration (PE) in cT4 and fixed cT3 stage primary rectal adenocarcinoma and to study the impact of consolidation chemotherapy following neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (NACRT). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of PE from 2013 to 2018. RESULTS: Out of 2900 colorectal resections, there were 131 pelvic exenterations that were performed, and 100 of these patients had undergone exenteration for primary rectal adenocarcinoma. Of these 100 patients, there were 81 patients who had received NACRT followed by surgery, 50 of whom who had received consolidation chemotherapy and 31 who had undergone surgery without consolidation chemotherapy. R0 resection was achieved in 90% cases. At a median follow-up of 32 months, 2-year disease free survival was 61.8% and estimated 5-year overall survival was 62%. The incidence of distant metastases was 44% vs. 19% (p = 0.023), and the 2-year distant recurrence-free survival was 58% vs. 89% (p = 0.025), respectively, in the 'consolidation chemotherapy group' and the 'no chemotherapy group'. The poorly differentiated grade of tumours, presence of lympho-vascular-invasion, consolidation chemotherapy, and disease recurrence were all found to affect the survival. CONCLUSION: PE with R0 resection achieves excellent survival rates in cT4 and fixed cT3 stage primary rectal adenocarcinoma. The distant recurrence rate may not be altered by consolidation chemotherapy in the subset of high-risk patients. However, further research on consolidation chemotherapy following NACRT in cT4 and fixed cT3 stage primary rectal adenocarcinoma will give a definite answer in the future.

Radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) versus conventional distal pancreatosplenectomy (CDPS) for left-sided pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: The insufficient clearance of regional lymph nodes and unsatisfactory R0 resection rate may result in the metastasis of left-sided pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after conventional distal pancreatosplenectomy (CDPS). Radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) was designed to achieve R0 resection more successfully with better lymph-node clearance; however, there is still insufficient evidence of its short- and long-term results to confirm its superiority. We conducted this study to compare the efficiency of these two procedures. METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective analysis were 103 patients with left-sided PDAC who underwent either RAMPS (n = 46) or CDPS (n = 57). We assessed perioperative data and surgical information and used univariate and multivariate analyses to identify prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline data between the groups. RAMPS was associated with a significantly shorter hospital stay (12.11 days vs. 22.98 days; P < 0.001), and significantly less blood loss (451.09 ml vs. 764.04 ml, P = 0.002), as well as a significantly lower rate of blood transfusion (15.22% vs. 33.33%, P = 0.035). RAMPS and CDPS had comparable perioperative complication rates. Moreover, RAMPS achieved more effective lymph-node retrieval (17.87 vs. 10.23; P < 0.001). The RAMPS group had a higher overall survival (OS) rate (28.73 months vs. 18.30 months; P = 0.003) and a higher disease-free survival (DFS) rate (21.97 months vs. 9.40 months; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: RAMPS achieved better survival and surgical outcomes than CDPS for patients with left-sided PDAC.

Multibending scope use for reduction of perforation risks in endoscopic submucosal dissection.

AIMS: To identify areas that are difficult to access by the single scope at the time of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and examine the effectiveness, en-bloc, R0 resection, and perforation rate after changing to multibending scope at the same site. MATERIAL AND METHODS: When the direct visualization of the submucosal layer became impossible with Q260J or in the position where the device became vertical and peeling became impossible in parallel, we decided to change to the multibending 2TQ260M scope to record the position where the change was effective and the perforation rate. RESULTS: A total of 315 lesions were studied. Of the 12 sites, ESD was completed using the Q260J alone at four sites. The 2TQ260M scope was used with greater frequency at the fornix (88.9%) and on the line of the lesser curvature of the stomach (37.1%). In the cases with observed perforations (0.9%), the submucosal layer was not elevated due to the adhesion caused by strong fibrosis. None of the cases involving the change to 2TQ260M was ineffective, nor were perforations observed, and all resected specimens were en-bloc and R0 resections. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of this scope may help clinicians perform ESD with greater understanding.

Microscopic positive tumor margin does not increase the rate of recurrence in endoscopic resected gastric mesenchymal tumors compared to negative tumor margin.

BACKGROUND: The endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors (GIMTs) is widely accepted because of its minimal invasiveness. However, one major concern is the high rate of positive microscopic margins remaining following endoscopic resection, which was thought to be related to a higher risk of recurrence. This study aimed to determine whether positive margins affect the recurrence rate of gastric GIMTs and the factors associated with positive margins. METHODS: Patients with gastric GIMTs were recruited retrospectively from January 2008 to December 2013. Clinical and pathological features, endoscopic procedure information, and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 777 patients. All tumors were removed along with the pseudocapsule without macroscopic residual (ER0), and the median tumor size was 15.2 mm (range 3-100 mm). Pathological evaluation revealed 371(47.7%) GISTs. The rate of microscopic R1 resection rate was 47.0% (443/777). In a stepwise multivariate analysis, a significantly increased incidence of R1 resection was recorded for the GISTs (OR 11.13, 95% CI 3.00-41.37). In a subgroup analysis of GISTs, a univariate analysis revealed that EFTR achieved a higher rate of R0 resection (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.31-1.00), but it was proven insignificant in a stepwise multivariate analysis. Local recurrence occurred in two patients (0.3%) during a mean follow-up time of 34.2 months. Differences in the recurrence rates between the R0 and R1 groups were statistically insignificant (P = 0.841). CONCLUSIONS: R1 resection for gastric GIMTs is not related to a higher recurrence rate than R0 resection, and ER0 resection is sufficient for gastric GIMTs.

Factors affecting R0 resection of colorectal cancer with synchronous peritoneal metastases: a multicenter prospective observational study by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, R0 resection has been recommended for colorectal cancer patients with peritoneal metastases confined to the adjacent peritoneum and those with a few metastases to the distant peritoneum. R0 resection for M1c disease has drawn attention in Western countries and is currently considered an acceptable therapeutic option in the US National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. However, clinical factors that affect the choice of R0 resection are unknown. METHODS: This multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum. Colorectal cancer patients with synchronous peritoneal metastases were enrolled at 28 institutions in Japan from October 2012 to December 2016. To determine factors affecting R0 resection and R1 resection with intended R0 resection, stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed on clinical factors including age, sex, performance status (PS), body mass index, peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score, presence of ascites, presence of distant metastases, and primary tumor site. RESULTS: R0/R1 resection was performed in 36 (31/5; 25%) of 146 patients. No distant metastases [odds ratio (OR) 52.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) 13.3-210.1; p < 0.0001], low PCI score (1-6) (OR 20.0; 95% CI 4.8-83.4; p < 0.0001), and high PS (0) (OR 2.40; 95% CI 0.66-8.68; p = 0.18) were independent factors affecting R0/R1 resection. PCI score and PS were also independent factors affecting R0/R1 resection in M1c patients without non-peritoneal distant metastases (n = 59). CONCLUSION: Distant metastases, PCI score, and PS are three factors which affect R0 resection for M1c disease.

Conversion surgery for stage IV gastric cancer with a complete pathological response to nivolumab: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Patients with stage IV gastric cancer have a poor prognosis despite the recent development of multidisciplinary treatments that include chemotherapy. However, conversion surgery has emerged as a promising strategy to improve the prognosis in responders with unresectable gastric cancer after chemotherapy. Moreover, nivolumab is currently recommended as a third-line treatment in patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer. However, there are few reports of conversion surgery after nivolumab in patients with stage IV gastric cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old woman complaining of nausea was diagnosed with stage I gastric cancer (T2N0M0). Although we planned gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy, multiple liver metastases were detected during the surgery. After staging laparoscopy, we diagnosed this patient as having stage IV unresectable gastric cancer, and we administered chemotherapy and immunotherapy for 39 months (first-line regimen: 6 courses of S-1 plus oxaliplatin; second-line regimen: 6 courses of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel; and third-line regimen: 20 courses of nivolumab). Although the liver metastases completely disappeared after the second-line chemotherapy, lung metastases and a rapid enlargement of the primary tumor were confirmed. Consequently, the patient received nivolumab at a dose of 3 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks, then a dose of 240 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks from September 2018. After 20 courses of nivolumab, the primary tumor dramatically shrank and the lung metastases disappeared. The patient had a partial primary tumor response to nivolumab. Therefore, the patient underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. The macroscopic examination of the resected specimen showed an ulcer scar in the primary tumor site. The pathological examination demonstrated no residual tumors and no lymph node metastases, and the histological response of the primary tumor was categorized as grade 3. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient is receiving nivolumab to control potential liver and lung metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion surgery might help control tumor progression in responders after chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Clinicopathological factors and prognosis analysis of 39 cases of non-gestational ovarian choriocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Non-gestational ovarian choriocarcinoma (NGOC) is a rare malignant germ cell tumor. Through literature review and cases collection, we aim to analyze prognostic factors for NGOC and summarize its clinicopathological characteristics to guide the individualized treatment. METHODS: We searched PubMed database, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar for cases published between January 1, 1967 and July 31, 2018 using various search terms. We retrieved patients' clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis information from included studies. These patients were divided into two groups: died (case group) or alive (control group) group. We summarized and compared their clinical (age, symptoms, R0 resection, serum HCG levels, chemotherapy regimen) and pathological (pure vs non-pure type, tumor size, tumor location, metastasis sites, stage) features by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Only 39 patients were retrieved from 36 studies in total. The median age was 30 years (range 12- to 65-years old). The peak incidence was in the adolescent age 12-25 years. Median follow-up was 20.3 months (range 1-84 months). 9 (23%) patients died; 24 (62%) patients were alive; 6 (15%) were lost to follow-up. Upon univariate analysis, we found age had a poor impact on overall survival (OS) in NGOC, HR - 0.057, 95% CI - 0.111 to - 0.004. Pure type NGOC has a better OS than mixed type, HR - 2.621, 95% CI - 4.577 to - 0.666. R0 resection is a good prognostic factor for OS, HR 2.967, 95% CI 0.709-5.224. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should try to achieve R0 resection to improve the prognosis for NGOC patients even among advanced patients.

Complete polypectomy and early detection and management of residual disease to reduce the risk of interval colorectal cancers.

Advances in colorectal polyp detection and resection methods aim to reduce interval cancer rates. Complete polypectomy is essential to reduce the risk of early recurrence and the development of interval cancers. To achieve this, polyps must first be correctly identified and then completely excised. This article reviews current adenoma detection methods in use and the management of residual disease.