Dedicated MRI staging versus surgical staging of peritoneal metastases in colorectal cancer patients considered for CRS-HIPEC; the DISCO randomized multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Selecting patients with peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer (CRCPM) who might benefit from cytoreductive surgery followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is challenging. Computed tomography generally underestimates the peritoneal tumor load. Diagnostic laparoscopy is often used to determine whether patients are amenable for surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown to be accurate in predicting completeness of CRS. The aim of this study is to determine whether MRI can effectively reduce the need for surgical staging. METHODS: The study is designed as a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) of colorectal cancer patients who are deemed eligible for CRS-HIPEC after conventional CT staging. Patients are randomly assigned to either MRI based staging (arm A) or to standard surgical staging with or without laparoscopy (arm B). In arm A, MRI assessment will determine whether patients are eligible for CRS-HIPEC. In borderline cases, an additional diagnostic laparoscopy is advised. The primary outcome is the number of unnecessary surgical procedures in both arms defined as: all surgeries in patients with definitely inoperable disease (PCI > 24) or explorative surgeries in patients with limited disease (PCI < 15). Secondary outcomes include correlations between surgical findings and MRI findings, cost-effectiveness, and quality of life (QOL) analysis. CONCLUSION: This randomized trial determines whether MRI can effectively replace surgical staging in patients with CRCPM considered for CRS-HIPEC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in the clinical trials registry of U.S. National Library of Medicine under NCT04231175 .

Molecular alterations and potential actionable mutations in peritoneal mesothelioma: a scoping review of high-throughput sequencing studies.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal mesothelioma (PeM) is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. Currently there is a lack of effective systemic therapies. Due to the rarity of PeM, it is challenging to study new treatment options. Off-label use of targeted drugs could be an effective approach. This scoping review aims to explore the genomic landscape of PeM to identify potential therapeutic targets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search of Embase, Medline, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was carried out up to 1 November 2022. Studies that reported on molecular alterations in PeM detected by high-throughput sequencing techniques were included. Genes that were altered in ≥1% of PeMs were selected for the identification of potential targeted therapies. RESULTS: Thirteen articles were included, comprising 824 PeM patients. In total, 142 genes were altered in ≥1% of patients, of which 7 genes were altered in ≥10%. BAP1 was the most commonly altered gene (50%). Other commonly altered genes were NF2 (25%), CDKN2A (23%), CDKN2B (17%), PBRM1 (15%), TP53 (14%), and SETD2 (13%). In total, 17% of PeM patients were carriers of a germline mutation, mainly in BAP1 (7%). CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review provides an overview of the mutational landscape of PeM. Germline mutations might be a larger contributor to the incidence of PeM than previously thought. Currently available targeted therapy options are limited, but several targeted agents [such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors] were identified that might provide new targeted therapy options in the future.

Discordance of intraoperative frozen section analysis with definitive histology of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer surgery: complementary axillary lymph node dissection is irrelevant for subsequent systemic therapy.

BACKGROUND: In breast cancer surgery, intraoperative frozen section (FS) analysis of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) enables axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) during the same operative procedure. In case of discordance between a "negative" FS analysis and definitive histology, an ALND as a second operation is advocated since additional lymph node metastases may be present. The clinical implications of the subsequent ALND in these patients were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2000 and May 2008, 879 consecutive breast cancer patients underwent surgery including sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with intraoperative FS analysis of 2 central cuts from axillary SLNs. Following fixation and serial sectioning, SLNs were further examined postoperatively with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical techniques. For patients with a discordant FS examination, the effect of the pathology findings of the subsequent ALND specimen on subsequent nonsurgical therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: FS analysis detected axillary metastases in the SLN(s) in 200 patients (23%), while the definitive pathology examination detected metastases in SLNs in another 151 patients (17%). A complementary ALND was performed in 108 of the 151 patients with discordant FS. Additional tumor positive axillary lymph nodes were found in 17 patients (16%), leading to "upstaging" in 7 (6%). Subsequent nonsurgical treatment was adjusted in 4 patients (4%): all 4 had more extensive locoregional radiotherapy; no patient received additional hormonal and/or chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Discordance between intraoperative FS analysis and definitive histology of SLNs is common. In this selection of patients, a substantial proportion had additional lymph node metastases, but postsurgical treatment was rarely adjusted based on the findings of the complementary ALND.

Prognostic value of micrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes of patients with breast carcinoma: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic meaning and thus indication for adjuvant therapy of lymphogenic micrometastases in breast cancer patients is still under debate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1999 to 2007, 703 patients with (c)T(1-2)N(0) breast cancer underwent surgery including sentinel lymph node biopsy. Examination of sentinel lymph nodes consisted of hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry staining following serial sectioning of the sentinel node. Patients were divided into four groups: (p)N(0) (n=423), (p)N(1micro) (n=81), (p)N(1a) (n=130) and (p)N(>or=1b) (n=69). Median follow-up was 40 months. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, 53 patients had died and 64 had recurrent disease. Compared with (p)N(0) and following adjustment for possible confounders, including adjuvant systemic treatment, overall survival was not significantly different for (p)N(1micro) while significantly worse for (p)N(1a) and (p)N(>or=1b) {hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.59 [0.14-2.58], 4.31 [1.85-10.01], 10.66 [4.04-28.14], respectively}. Likewise, disease-free survival was not significantly different for (p)N(1micro) and worse for (p)N(1a) and (p)N(>or=1b) (HR [95% CI]: 1.43 [0.67-3.02], 2.79 [1.37-5.66], 7.13 [3.27-15.54], respectively). Distant metastases were more commonly observed in the (p)N(1micro) than in the (p)N(0) group, but still not as common as in the (p)N(1a) or (p)N(>or=1b) group (HR [95% CI]: 4.85 [1.79-13.18], 10.34 [3.82-28.00], 23.25 [7.88-68.56], respectively). CONCLUSION: Although the risk of distant metastases was higher in patients in the (p)N(1micro) than in the (p)N(0) group, no statistically significant differences were observed in overall or disease-free survival between (p)N(0) and (p)N(1micro). Micrometastatic lymph node involvement in itself should not be an indication for adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Total pelvic exenteration for locally advanced and locally recurrent rectal cancer in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Total pelvic exenteration (TPE) is a radical approach for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) in case of tumour invasion into the urogenitary tract. The aim of this study is to assess surgical and oncological outcomes of TPE for LARC and LRRC in elderly patients compared to younger patients. METHODS: All patients who underwent TPE for LARC and LRRC between January 1990 and March 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients aged <70 years were classified as younger and ≥70 years as elderly patients. RESULTS: In total 126 patients underwent TPE, of whom 88 younger and 38 elderly patients. Elderly patients had a significantly higher number of ASA > II patients (p = 0.01). Indication for surgery LARC (n = 73) and LRRC (n = 53) did not differ significantly. The 30-day mortality rate was significantly higher (p = 0.01) in elderly (13%) compared to younger patients (3%). Elderly patients experienced more anastomotic leakage (p = 0.02). Median overall survival (OS) was 75 months [95%CI 37.1; 112.9] for elderly and 45 months [95%CI 22.4; 67.8] for younger patients (p = 0.77). The 5-year OS rate was 44% in both groups. Median disease specific survival (DSS) was 78 months [95%CI 69.1; 86.9] for elderly and 60 months [95%CI 36.6; 83.4] for younger patients (p = 0.34). The 5-year DSS rate was 57% and 49%, respectively. CONCLUSION: TPE is an invasive treatment for rectal cancer with high 30-day mortality in elderly patients. Oncological outcomes are similar in elderly and younger patients. Therefore, TPE should not be withheld because of high age only, but careful patient selection is needed.

"Axillary recurrences after sentinel lymph node biopsy: a multicentre analysis and follow-up of sentinel lymph node negative breast cancer patients".

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to conduct a multicentre data analysis to identify prognostic factors for developing an axillary recurrence (AR) after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in a large cohort of breast cancer patients with long follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prospective databases from different hospitals of clinically node negative breast cancer patients operated on between, 2000 and 2002 were analyzed. SLNB was performed and pathological analysis done by local pathologists according to national guidelines. Adjuvant treatment was given according to contemporary guidelines. Multivariate analysis was performed using all available variables, a p-value of <0,05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: A total of 929 patients who did not undergo axillary lymph node dissection were identified. After a median follow up of 77 (range 1-106) months, fifteen patients developed an isolated AR (AR rate 1,6%). Multivariate analysis showed that young age (p = 0.007) and the absence of radiotherapy (p = 0.010) significantly increased the risk of developing an AR. Distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) was significantly worse for patients with an AR compared to all other breast cancer patients (p < 0,0001). CONCLUSION: Even after long-term follow up, the risk of developing an AR after a negative SLN in breast cancer is low. Young age and absence of radiation therapy are highly significant factors for developing an axillary recurrence. DMFS is worse for AR patients compared to patients initially diagnosed with N0 or N1 disease.