Treatments for colorectal cancer (CRC) of all stages have evolved considerably over the past two decades, resulting in improved long-term outcomes. After curative treatment, however, 30% of patients ...with stage I-III and up to 65% of patients with stage IV CRC develop recurrent disease. Thus, patients are routinely offered surveillance in order to detect disease recurrence at an early, asymptomatic stage, with the intention of improving survival. Nevertheless, controversy continues to surround the optimal surveillance protocols. For patients with stage I-III CRC, more-intensive surveillance improves overall survival compared with less-intensive or no surveillance, probably owing to improved outcomes after cancer recurrence, as well as proactive treatment of other conditions detected opportunistically. The benefit of surveillance after curative treatment of stage IV CRC is more controversial, but might be justified because repeat resection can improve overall survival and 20% of these patients are eligible for such treatment with curative intent. No trials have assessed the optimal follow-up approach after curative resection of metastatic CRC, and similarly to surveillance of patients with stage I-III disease, most programmes are more intensive during the first 3 years than at later time points. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of surveillance strategies for patients with CRC, and discuss the future development of patient-centred programmes.
Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) affect over 50 % of all patients with colorectal cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer in the western world. Resection of CRLM may provide cure and ...improves survival over chemotherapy alone. However, resectability of CLRM has to be decided in multidisciplinary tumor boards and is based on oncological factors, technical factors and patient factors.
The advances of chemotherapy lead to the abolition of contraindications to resection in favor of technical resectability, but somatic mutations and molecular subtyping may improve selection of patients for resection in the future. Technical factors center around anatomy of the lesions, volume of the remnant liver and quality of the liver parenchymal. Multiple strategies have been developed to overcome volume limitations and they are reviewed here. The least investigated topic is how to select the right patients among an elderly and frail patient population for the large variety of technical options specifically for bi-lobar CRLM to keep 90-day mortality as low as possible.
The review is an overview over the current state-of-the art and a systematic guide to the topic of resectability of CRLM for both clinicians and patients.
Purpose
This population-based study determined the cumulative incidence (CI) of local, regional, and distant recurrences, examined metastatic patterns, and identified risk factors for recurrence ...after curative treatment for CRC.
Methods
All patients undergoing resection for pathological stage I–III CRC between January 2015 and July 2015 and registered in the Netherlands Cancer Registry were selected (
N
= 5412). Additional patient record review and data collection on recurrences was conducted by trained administrators in 2019. Three-year CI of recurrence was calculated according to sublocation (right-sided: RCC, left-sided: LCC and rectal cancer: RC) and stage. Cox competing risk regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for recurrence.
Results
The 3-year CI of recurrence for stage I, II, and III RCC and LCC was 0.03 vs. 0.03, 0.12 vs. 0.16, and 0.31 vs. 0.24, respectively. The 3-year CI of recurrence for stage I, II, and III RC was 0.08, 0.24, and 0.38. Distant metastases were found in 14, 12, and 16% of patients with RCC, LCC, and RC. Multiple site metastases were found often in patients with RCC, LCC, and RC (42 vs. 32 vs. 28%). Risk factors for recurrence in stage I–II CRC were age 65–74 years, pT4 tumor size, and poor tumor differentiation whereas in stage III CRC, these were ASA III, pT4 tumor size, N2, and poor tumor differentiation.
Conclusions
Recurrence rates in recently treated patients with CRC were lower than reported in the literature and the metastatic pattern and recurrence risks varied between anatomical sublocations.
AbstractBackgroundPatient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being used to improve care delivery and are becoming part of routine clinical practice. ObjectiveThis systematic review ...aims to give an overview of PROM administration methods and their facilitators and barriers in breast cancer clinical practice. MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central, CINAHL, and Web of Science for potentially relevant articles from study inception to November 2017. Reference lists of screened reviews were also checked. After inclusion of relevant articles, data were extracted and appraised by 2 investigators. ResultsA total of 2311 articles were screened, of which 34 eligible articles were ultimately included. Method and frequency of PROM collection varied between studies. The majority of studies described a promising effect of PROM collection on patients (adherence, symptom distress, quality of life, acceptability, and satisfaction), providers (willingness to comply, clinical decision making, symptom management), and care process or system outcomes (referrals, patient-provider communication, hospital visits). A limited number of facilitators and barriers were identified, primarily of a technical and behavioral nature. ConclusionAlthough interpreting the impact of PROM collection in breast cancer care is challenging owing to considerations of synergistic (multicomponent) interventions and generalizability issues, this review found that systematic PROM collection has a promising impact on patients, providers, and care processes/ systems. Further standardization and reporting on method and frequency of PROM collection might help increase the effectiveness of PROM interventions and is warranted to enhance their overall impact.
•Overall complete ablation rate after thermal ablation of small breast cancers ≤ 2cm is 86%.•Radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation and cryoablation are promising techniques as an alternative to ...surgical resection without jeopardizing treatment effectiveness or safety.•Local recurrence rates after vary from 0 – 3% after a median follow-up of 12 – 61 months.•The evaluation of complete ablation when no subsequent resection will be performed remains challenging.
Women with early-stage breast cancer have an excellent prognosis with current therapy, but could presumably be treated less invasively, without the need for surgery. The primary goal of this meta-analysis was to examine whether thermal ablation is an effective method to treat early-stage breast cancer.
Studies reporting on complete ablation rate after thermal ablation as a treatment of small breast cancers (≤ 2 cm) were included. Methodologic quality of included studies was assessed using MINORS criteria. Complete ablation rates are given as proportions, and meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed.
The overall complete ablation rate in 1266 patients was 86% and was highest after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (92%). Local recurrence rates varied from 0% to 3%, with a median follow-up of 15 to 61 months. Overall, complication rates were low (5%-18% across techniques) and were highest after high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation and lowest after cryoablation. Cosmetic outcome was good to excellent in at least 85% of patients but was reported infrequently and long-term results of cosmetic outcome after thermal ablation and radiotherapy are still lacking.
Thermal ablation techniques treating early-stage breast cancer (≤ 2 cm) are safe and effective based on complete ablation rate and short-term local recurrence rates. Especially, RFA, microwave ablation, and cryoablation are promising techniques as an alternative to surgical resection without jeopardizing current treatment effectiveness or safety. Owing to great heterogeneity in the included studies, a formal recommendation on the best technique is not possible. These findings warrant the design of large randomized controlled trials comparing thermal ablation and breast-conserving surgery in the treatment of T1 breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to compare adhesion formation after laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer resection.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:After colorectal surgery, most patients develop ...adhesions, with a high burden of complications. Laparoscopy seems to reduce adhesion formation, but evidence is poor. Trials comparing open- and laparoscopic colorectal surgery have never assessed adhesion formation.
METHODS:Data on adhesions were gathered during resection of colorectal liver metastases. Incidence of adhesions adjacent to the original incision was compared between patients with previous laparoscopic- and open colorectal resection. Secondary outcomes were incidence of any adhesions, extent and severity of adhesions, and morbidity related to adhesions or adhesiolysis.
RESULTS:Between March 2013 and December 2015, 151 patients were included. Ninety patients (59.6%) underwent open colorectal resection and 61 patients (40.4%) received laparoscopic colorectal resection. Adhesions to the incision were present in 78.9% after open and 37.7% after laparoscopic resection (P < 0.001). The incidence of abdominal wall adhesions and of any adhesion was significantly higher after open resection; the incidence of visceral adhesions did not significantly differ. The extent of abdominal wall and visceral adhesions and the median highest Zühlke score at the incision were significantly higher after open resection. There were no differences in incidence of small bowel obstruction during the interval between the colorectal and liver operations, the incidence of serious adverse events, and length of stay after liver surgery.
CONCLUSION:Laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection is associated with a lower incidence, extent, and severity of adhesions to parietal surfaces. Laparoscopy does not reduce the incidence of visceral adhesions.
To assess, in a phase 2 study, the efficacy and toxicity of stereotactic body radiation therapy for oligometastases to the lung in inoperable patients.
Patients with lung metastases were included in ...this study if (1) the primary tumor was controlled; (2) patients were ineligible for or refused surgery and chemotherapy; and (3) patients had 5 or fewer metastatic lesions in no more than 2 organs. Large peripheral tumors were treated with a dose of 60 Gy (3 fractions), small peripheral tumors with 30 Gy (1 fraction), central tumors received 60 Gy (5 fractions), and mediastinal tumors or tumors close to the esophagus received 56 Gy (7 fractions).
Thirty patients with 57 metastatic lung tumors from various primary cancers were analyzed. The median follow-up was 36 months (range, 4-60 months). At 2 years, local control for the 11 central tumors was 100%, for the 23 peripheral tumors treated to 60 Gy it was 91%, and for the 23 tumors treated in a single 30-Gy fraction it was 74% (P=.13). This resulted in an overall local control rate at 1 year of 79%, with a 2-sided 80% confidence interval of 67% to 87%. Because the hypothesized value of 70% lies within the confidence interval, we cannot reject the hypothesis that the true local control rate at 1 year is ≤70%, and therefore we did not achieve the goal of the study: an actuarial local control of the treated lung lesions at 1 year of 90%. The 4-year overall survival rate was 38%. Grade 3 acute toxicity occurred in 5 patients. Three patients complained of chronic grade 3 toxicity, including pain, fatigue, and pneumonitis, and 3 patients had rib fractures.
The local control was promising, and the 4-year overall survival rate was 38%. The treatment was well tolerated, even for central lesions.
Patients with resected colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) who display only the desmoplastic histopathological growth pattern (dHGP) exhibit superior survival compared to patients with any ...non-desmoplastic growth (non-dHGP). The aim of this study was to compare the tumour microenvironment between dHGP and non-dHGP.
The tumour microenvironment was investigated in three cohorts of chemo-naive patients surgically treated for CRLM. In cohort A semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry was performed, in cohort B intratumoural and peritumoural T cells were counted using immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis, and in cohort C the relative proportions of individual T cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry.
One hundred and seventeen, 34, and 79 patients were included in cohorts A, B, and C, with dHGP being observed in 27%, 29%, and 15% of patients, respectively. Cohorts A and B independently demonstrated peritumoural and intratumoural enrichment of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in dHGP, as well as a higher CD8+/CD4+ ratio (cohort A). Flow cytometric analysis of fresh tumour tissues in cohort C confirmed these results; dHGP was associated with higher CD8+ and lower CD4+ T cell subsets, resulting in a higher CD8+/CD4+ ratio.
The tumour microenvironment of patients with dHGP is characterised by an increased and distinctly cytotoxic immune infiltrate, providing a potential explanation for their superior survival.
Abstract Objective To evaluate and compare the overall survival (OS) in case-matched patient groups treated either with systemic therapy or surgery for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Methods ...Patients with CRLM, without extra-hepatic disease, treated with chemotherapy with or without targeted therapy in two phase III studies ( n = 480) were selected and case-matched to patients who underwent liver resection ( n = 632). Matching criteria were sex, age, established prognostic factors for survival (clinical risk score). Available computed tomography (CT)-scans of patients treated with systemic therapies were reviewed by three independent liver surgeons for resectability. Survival was compared between patients with resectable CRLM (based on CT-scan review) who were treated with systemic therapy versus patients who underwent liver resection. Results A total of 96 patients treated with systemic therapy were included. Pre-treatment CT-scans of the liver were available for review in 56 of the systemically treated patients, and metastases were unanimously considered resectable in 36 patients (64.3%) (complex resectable: n = 25; 69%). These 36 patients were case-matched with 36 patients who underwent liver resection (wedge resection or segmentectomy: n = 26; 72%). Median OS in the patient group treated with systemic therapy was 26.5 months (range 0–81 months), which was significantly lower than that in case-matched patients who underwent liver resection (median OS 56 months; range 6–116) ( p = 0.027). Conclusions In this case-matched control study, surgery provided superior OS rates compared to systemic therapy for CRLM. Resection of CRLM should always be considered, preferably in a dedicated liver centre, since not all patients that qualify for resection are identified as such.
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