Background
Before 2016, patients with isolated synchronous colorectal peritoneal metastases (PMCRC) diagnosed in expert centers had a higher odds of undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic ...intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) and better overall survival (OS) than those diagnosed in referring centers. Nationwide efforts were initiated to increase awareness and improve referral networks.
Methods
This nationwide study aimed to evaluate whether the between-center differences in odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC and OS have reduced since these national efforts were initiated. All patients with isolated synchronous PMCRC diagnosed between 2009 and 2021 were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Associations between hospital of diagnosis and the odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC, as well as OS, were assessed using multilevel multivariable regression analyses for two periods (2009–2015 and 2016–2021).
Results
In total, 3948 patients were included. The percentage of patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC increased from 17.2% in 2009–2015 (25.4% in expert centers, 16.5% in referring centers), to 23.4% in 2016–2021 (30.2% in expert centers, 22.6% in referring centers). In 2009–2015, compared with diagnosis in a referring center, diagnosis in a HIPEC center showed a higher odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC (odds ratio OR 1.64, 95% confidence interval CI 1.02–2.67) and better survival (hazard ratio HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66–0.96). In 2016–2021, there were no differences in the odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC between patients diagnosed in HIPEC centers versus referring centers (OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.76–2.13) and survival (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.76–1.32).
Conclusion
Previously observed differences in odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC were no longer present. Increased awareness and the harmonization of treatment for PMCRC may have contributed to equal access to care and a similar chance of survival at a national level.
This study investigates whether inequalities in the utilization of resection and/or ablation for synchronous colorectal liver metastases (SCLM) between patients diagnosed in expert and non-expert ...hospitals changed since a multi-hospital network started.
Patients diagnosed with SCLM between 2009 and 2020 were included. The likelihood of receiving ablation and/or resection was analyzed in the prenetwork (2009-2012), startup (2013-2016), and matured-network (2017-2020) periods.
Nationwide, 13.981patients were diagnosed between 2009 and 2020, of whom 1.624 were diagnosed in the network. Of patients diagnosed in the network's expert hospitals, 36.7% received ablation and/or resection versus 28.3% in nonexpert hospitals (
< 0.01). The odds ratio (OR) of receiving ablation and/or resection for patients diagnosed in expert versus nonexpert hospitals increased from 1.38 (
= 0.581, pre-network), to 1.66 (
= 0.108, startup), to 2.48 (
= 0.090, matured-network). Nationwide, the same trend occurred (respectively OR 1.41,
= 0.011; OR 2.23,
< 0.001; OR 3.20,
< 0.001).
Patients diagnosed in expert hospitals were more likely to receive ablation and/or resection for SCLM than patients diagnosed in non-expert hospitals. This difference increased over time despite the startup of a multi-hospital network. Establishing a multi-hospital network did not have an effect on reducing the existing unequal odds of receiving specialized treatment.
Specialized oncology treatments are increasingly provided through multi-hospital networks. However, scant empirical evidence on the effectiveness of these networks exists. This study analyzes whether a regional multi-hospital network was able to improve equal access to specialized oncology treatments.
Postbariatric outcomes may improve by providing an additional preconditioning program (APP) in targeted patients. However, APPs are a demand for health resources while only little and inconsistent ...evidence consists to support their effectiveness. This cohort study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of APP, by comparing outcomes of patients with and without such APP. We carried out a retrospective single-centre cohort study in a before-after design. Patients signing up for primary gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy and eligible for surgery were included if screened as vulnerable patients. Vulnerable patients screened between September 2017 and March 2018 followed an APP and formed the APP-group. Due to a policy change, APPs were no longer performed since September 2018. Vulnerable patients screened between September 2018 and March 2019 thus did not receive an APP (comparator-group). Multidisciplinary follow-up remained unchanged. Endpoints included percentage total weight loss (%TWL), bodyweight, evolution of comorbidities, protein intake, and number of no-shows. The APP-group comprised 231 patients and the comparator-group 153. %TWL differed statistically significantly at 7 (Δ1.5%, p = .01) and 12 months postoperative (Δ2.8%, p < .01) in favour of the comparator-group, as did bodyweight 12 months postoperative (Δ1.8 kg, p < .01). Statistically significant differences were also found in the evolution of comorbidities, protein intake, and the number of no-shows, most in favour for the comparator-group. APP proofed not to be superior to Non-App. It is debatable whether statically significant differences are clinically relevant given their small magnitude. A care pathway without an APP seems at least as effective as a care pathway without.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)±endoscopic resection (ER) is the preferred treatment for early neoplasia in Barrett's oesophagus (BE). We aimed to report short-term and long-term outcomes for all 1384 ...patients treated in the Netherlands (NL) from 2008 to 2018, with uniform treatment and follow-up (FU) in a centralised setting.
Endoscopic therapy for early BE neoplasia in NL is centralised in nine expert centres with specifically trained endoscopists and pathologists that adhere to a joint protocol. Prospectively collected data are registered in a uniform database. Patients with low/high-grade dysplasia or low-risk cancer, were treated by ER of visible lesions followed by trimonthly RFA sessions of any residual BE until complete eradication of BE (CE-BE). Patients with ER alone were not included.
After ER (62% of cases; 43% low-risk cancers) and median 1 circumferential and 2 focal RFA (p25-p75 0-1; 1-2) per patient, CE-BE was achieved in 94% (1270/1348). Adverse events occurred in 21% (268/1386), most commonly oesophageal stenosis (15%), all were managed endoscopically. A total of 1154 patients with CE-BE were analysed for long-term outcomes. During median 43 months (22-69) and 4 endoscopies (1-5), 38 patients developed dysplastic recurrence (3%, annual recurrence risk 1%), all were detected as endoscopically visible abnormalities. Random biopsies from a normal appearing cardia showed intestinal metaplasia (IM) in 14% and neoplasia in 0%. A finding of IM in the cardia was reproduced during further FU in only 33%, none progressed to neoplasia. Frequent FU visits in the first year of FU were not associated with recurrence risk.
In a setting of centralised care, RFA±ER is effective for eradication of Barrett's related neoplasia and has remarkably low rates of dysplastic recurrence. Our data support more lenient FU intervals, with emphasis on careful endoscopic inspection. Random biopsies from neosquamous epithelium and cardia are of questionable value.
NL7039.
Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is possible after endoscopic resection of early esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). This study aimed to develop and internally validate a prediction model that estimates the ...individual risk of metastases in patients with pT1b EAC.
A nationwide, retrospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted in patients with pT1b EAC treated with endoscopic resection and/or surgery between 1989 and 2016. The primary end point was presence of LNM in surgical resection specimens or detection of metastases during follow-up. All resection specimens were histologically reassessed by specialist gastrointestinal pathologists. Subdistribution hazard regression analysis was used to develop the prediction model. The discriminative ability of this model was assessed using the c-statistic.
248 patients with pT1b EAC were included. Metastases were seen in 78 patients, and the 5-year cumulative incidence was 30.9 % (95 % confidence interval CI 25.1 %-36.8 %). The risk of metastases increased with submucosal invasion depth (subdistribution hazard ratio SHR 1.08, 95 %CI 1.02-1.14, for every increase of 500 μm), lymphovascular invasion (SHR 2.95, 95 %CI 1.95-4.45), and for larger tumors (SHR 1.23, 95 %CI 1.10-1.37, for every increase of 10 mm). The model demonstrated good discriminative ability (c-statistic 0.81, 95 %CI 0.75-0.86).
A third of patients with pT1b EAC experienced metastases within 5 years. The probability of developing post-resection metastases was estimated with a personalized predicted risk score incorporating tumor invasion depth, tumor size, and lymphovascular invasion. This model requires external validation before implementation into clinical practice.
Whether immunologic abnormalities correlate with fatigue severity and functional impairment in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was investigated. Blood mononuclear cells were immunophenotyped and ...circulating and ex vivo-produced cytokines were measured in 76 CFS patients and 69 healthy matched controls. Expression of CDl1b on CD8 cells was significantly decreased in CFS patients. However, the previously reported increased expression of CD38 and HLA-DR was not confirmed. There was no obvious difference in apoptosis in leukocyte cultures, circulating cytokines, and ex vivo production of interleukin (IL)-lα and IL-l receptor antagonist. Endotoxin-stimulated ex vivo production of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-lβ was significantly lower in CFS. The immunologic test results did not correlate with fatigue severity or psychologic well-being as measured by Checklist Individual Strength, Beck Depression Inventory, and Sickness Impact Profile. Thus, these immunologic tests cannot be used as diagnostic tools in individual CFS patients.
PCB 180 is a persistent non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (NDL-PCB) abundantly present in food and the environment. Risk characterization of NDL-PCBs is confounded by the presence of highly ...potent dioxin-like impurities. We used ultrapure PCB 180 to characterize its toxicity profile in a 28-day repeat dose toxicity study in young adult rats extended to cover endocrine and behavioral effects. Using a loading dose/maintenance dose regimen, groups of 5 males and 5 females were given total doses of 0, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300, 1000 or 1700 mg PCB 180/kg body weight by gavage. Dose-responses were analyzed using benchmark dose modeling based on dose and adipose tissue PCB concentrations. Body weight gain was retarded at 1700 mg/kg during loading dosing, but recovered thereafter. The most sensitive endpoint of toxicity that was used for risk characterization was altered open field behavior in females; i.e. increased activity and distance moved in the inner zone of an open field suggesting altered emotional responses to unfamiliar environment and impaired behavioral inhibition. Other dose-dependent changes included decreased serum thyroid hormones with associated histopathological changes, altered tissue retinoid levels, decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin, decreased follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels in males and increased expression of DNA damage markers in liver of females. Dose-dependent hypertrophy of zona fasciculata cells was observed in adrenals suggesting activation of cortex. There were gender differences in sensitivity and toxicity profiles were partly different in males and females. PCB 180 adipose tissue concentrations were clearly above the general human population levels, but close to the levels in highly exposed populations. The results demonstrate a distinct toxicological profile of PCB 180 with lack of dioxin-like properties required for assignment of WHO toxic equivalency factor. However, PCB 180 shares several toxicological targets with dioxin-like compounds emphasizing the potential for interactions.
Aim
To quantify lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and to assess the prognostic value in patients with pT1b esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Methods
In this nationwide, retrospective cohort study, patients were ...included if they were treated with surgery or endoscopic resection for pT1b esophageal adenocarcinoma. Primary endpoint was the presence of metastases, lymph node metastases, or distant metastases, in surgical resection specimens or during follow‐up. A prediction model to identify risk factors for metastases was developed and internally validated.
Results
248 patients were included. LVI was distributed as follows: no LVI (n = 196; 79.0%), 1 LVI focus (n = 16; 6.5%), 2–3 LVI foci (n = 21; 8.5%) and ≥4 LVI foci (n = 15; 6.0%). Seventy‐eight patients had metastases. The risk of metastases was increased for tumors with 2–3 LVI foci subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) 3.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.10–5.47 and ≥4 LVI foci (SHR 3.81, 95% CI 2.37–6.10). The prediction model demonstrated a good discriminative ability (c‐statistic 0.81).
Conclusion
The risk of metastases is higher when more LVI foci are present. Quantification of LVI could be useful for a more precise risk estimation of metastases. This model needs to be externally validated before implementation into clinical practice.
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