Background
The aim of this study is to report the experience with conversion surgery from six Gruppo Italiano Ricerca Cancro Gastrico (GIRCG) centers, focusing our analysis on factors affecting ...survival and the risk of recurrence.
Methods
A retrospective, multicenter cohort study was performed in patients who had undergone conversion gastrectomy between 2005 and 2017. Data were extracted from a GIRCG database including all metastatic gastric cancer patients submitted to surgery. Only stage IV unresectable tumors/metastases which became resectable after chemotherapy were included in this analysis.
Results
Forty-five resected M1 patients were included in the analysis. Reasons for being deemed unresectable at diagnosis were peritoneal involvement (PCI > 6) (
n
= 38, 84.4%), distant metastatic nodes (
n
= 3, 6.6%) and extensive liver involvement (
n
= 4, 8.8%). Median follow-up was 25 months (IQR 9-50). Median overall survival from surgery was 15 months and 1-, 3- and 5-year survivals were 57.2, 36.1 and 24%, respectively. Median progression-free survival was 12 months with 1- and 3-year survival of 46.4 and 33.9%, respectively. At cox regression analysis the only independent prognostic factor for OS was the presence of more than one type of metastasis (HR 4.41, 95% CI 1.72–11.3,
p
= 0.002). A positive microscopic resection margin was the only risk factor for recurrence (HR 5.72, 95% CI 1.04–31.4,
p
= 0.045).
Conclusions
Unresectable stage IV GC patients could benefit from radical surgery after chemotherapy and achieve long survivals. The main prognostic factor for these patients was the presence of more than one type of extra-gastric metastatic involvement.
Background and aims
Clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer (GC) are changing, especially in the West with a decreasing incidence of distal, intestinal-type tumours and the ...corresponding increasing proportion of tumours with Laurén diffuse or WHO poorly cohesive (PC) including signet ring cell (SRC) histology. To accurately assess the behaviour and the prognosis of these GC subtypes, the standardization of pathological definitions is needed.
Methods
A multidisciplinary expert team belonging to the European Chapter of International Gastric Cancer Association (IGCA) identified 11 topics on pathological classifications used for PC and SRC GC. The topics were debated during a dedicated Workshop held in Verona in March 2017. Then, through a Delphi method, consensus statements for each topic were elaborated.
Results
A consensus was reached on the need to classify gastric carcinoma according to the most recent edition of the WHO classification which is currently WHO 2010. Moreover, to standardize the definition of SRC carcinomas, the proposal that only WHO PC carcinomas with more than 90% poorly cohesive cells having signet ring cell morphology have to be classified as SRC carcinomas was made. All other PC non-SRC types have to be further subdivided into PC carcinomas with SRC component (< 90% but > 10% SRCs) and PC carcinomas not otherwise specified (< 10% SRCs).
Conclusion
The reported statements clarify some debated topics on pathological classifications used for PC and SRC GC. As such, this consensus classification would allow the generation of evidence on biological and prognostic differences between these GC subtypes.
This article reports the guidelines for gastric cancer staging and treatment developed by the GIRCG, and contains comprehensive indications for clinical management, including radiological, ...endoscopic, surgical, pathological, and oncological paths.
Background
Data on ERAS for gastrectomy are scarce, and the majority of the studies come from Eastern countries. Patients in the West are older and suffer from more advanced tumors that impair their ...clinical condition and often require neoadjuvant treatment. This retrospective study assessed the feasibility and safety of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for gastrectomy in a Western center.
Methods
We conducted a single-center study of 351 patients operated for gastric cancer: 103, operated from January 2015 to December 2016, followed the standard pathway, while 248, operated from January 2017 to December 2019, followed the ERAS program. The primary outcomes considered were length of hospital stay (LOS) and direct costs. Secondary outcomes were 90-day morbidity and mortality, readmission rate, and compliance with ERAS items. A propensity score (PS) was built on confounding variables.
Results
Compliance with ERAS items after the program was ≥ 70%. Univariable analysis evidenced a 2-day median reduction in LOS and a median cost reduction of €826 per patient in the ERAS group. PS-based multivariable analysis confirmed a significant, 2-day decrease in median LOS and a €1097 saving after ERAS introduction. Ninety-day mortality decreased slightly in ERAS group, while complications and readmissions did not change significantly. When complications were included in the multivariable analysis, ERAS retained its significance, although the effects on LOS and cost were blunted to a median reduction of 1 day and €775, respectively.
Conclusions
ERAS for gastrectomy improved patients’ recovery and reduced hospital costs without changes in morbidity, mortality, or readmission.
Background
The aim of this study is to compare surgical outcomes including postoperative complications and prognosis between total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) for proximal gastric ...cancer (GC). Propensity-score-matching analysis was performed to overcome patient selection bias between the two surgical techniques.
Methods
Among 457 patients who were diagnosed with GC between January 1990 and December 2010 from four Italian institutions, 91 underwent PG and 366 underwent TG. Clinicopathologic features, postoperative complications, and survivals were reviewed and compared between these two groups retrospectively.
Results
After propensity-score matching had been done, 150 patients (75 TG patients, 75 PG patients) were included in the analysis. The PG group had smaller tumors, shorter resection margins, and smaller numbers of retrieved lymph nodes than the TG group. N stages and 5-year survival rates were similar after TG and PG. Postoperative complication rates after PG and TG were 25.3 and 28%, respectively, (
P
= 0.084). Rates of reflux esophagitis and anastomotic stricture were 12 and 6.6% after PG and 2.6 and 1.3% after TG, respectively (
P
<
0.001 and
P
= 0.002). 5-year overall survival for PG and TG group was 56.7 and 46.5%, respectively (
P
= 0.07). Survival rates according to the tumor stage were not different between the groups. Multivariate analysis showed that type of resection was not an independent prognostic factor.
Conclusion
Although PG for upper third GC showed good results in terms of survival, it is associated with an increased mortality rate and a higher risk of reflux esophagitis and anastomotic stricture.
Western strategy for EGJ carcinoma Giacopuzzi, Simone; Bencivenga, Maria; Weindelmayer, Jacopo ...
Gastric cancer : official journal of the International Gastric Cancer Association and the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association,
03/2017, Volume:
20, Issue:
Suppl 1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
In this paper, the epidemiological and clinicobiological behavior of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma in the West is compared and contrasted to that in the East, and an overview is ...provided of current therapeutic strategies employed for this type of tumor in Western countries. It is well known that multimodal treatment is the therapeutic standard in locally advanced EGJ adenocarcinoma, but whether neoadjuvant/perioperative chemotherapy (CT) or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the optimal approach is still debated. Neoadjuvant CRT improves local control in locally advanced Siewert type I and II tumors, so it should be considered the treatment of choice. In the subset of these patients with microscopic systemic disease at diagnosis, more intensive exclusive chemotherapy protocols could be of benefit. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify these patients before planning the treatment. For Siewert type III tumors, perioperative chemotherapy is the standard. While there is general agreement on the optimal surgical approach for Siewert types I and III (a two-field Ivor Lewis operation and a total gastrectomy with distal esophagectomy, respectively), no standard surgical treatment has been defined for Siewert type II tumors. When data from Western series on proximal and circumferential resection margins and on nodal spread in Siewert type II tumors are taken into account, the optimal surgical approach appears to be Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. Whether the extent of esophageal invasion can correctly predict nodal involvement in middle–upper mediastinal stations as a means to restrict indications for transthoracic esophagectomy requires further investigation in the West.
The presence of lymph node metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in patients with gastric carcinoma. Node-negative patients have a better outcome, nevertheless a subgroup of them ...experience disease recurrence.
To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of lymph node-negative advanced gastric carcinoma patients submitted to gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy with a retrieved number of nodes greater than 15, after an actual follow-up of almost 5 years, and to evaluate outcome indicators.
The records of 301 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma and were adequately staged as N0 between 1992 and 2002 were retrospectively analyzed from the prospectively collected database of 7 centers participating to the Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer.
Disease-specific and disease-free survival after 3, 5, and 10 years were 90.4%, 86.1%, 75.9%, and 72.1%, 57.3%, 57.3%, respectively. Mortality was 1.7%. The factors associated with a better disease-free survival at univariate analysis were age <60, T2 tumors, distal location, intestinal histotype, and number of retrieved nodes >25; depth of infiltration and histotype were the only 2 independent predictors of 5-year recurrence-free survival at multivariate analysis.
These parameters must be considered to stratify node-negative gastric cancer patients for an adjuvant treatment and follow-up scheduling. Survival was similar to that previously reported by Eastern Centers. Lymphadenectomy is suggested to be effective, and retrieval of more than 25 nodes may be warranted.
Introduction
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs provide a format for multidisciplinary care and has been shown to predictably improve short term outcomes associated with surgical ...procedures. Esophagectomy has historically been associated with significant levels of morbidity and mortality and as a result routine application and audit of ERAS guidelines specifically designed for esophageal resection has significant potential to improve outcomes associated with this complex procedure.
Methods
A team of international experts in the surgical management of esophageal cancer was assembled and the existing literature was identified and reviewed prior to the production of the guidelines. Well established procedure specific components of ERAS were reviewed and updated with changes relevant to esophagectomy. Procedure specific, operative and technical sections were produced utilizing the best current level of evidence. All sections were rated regarding the level of evidence and overall recommendation according to the evaluation (GRADE) system.
Results
Thirty-nine sections were ultimately produced and assessed for quality of evidence and recommendations. Some sections were completely new to ERAS programs due to the fact that esophagectomy is the first guideline with a thoracic component to the procedure.
Conclusions
The current ERAS society guidelines should be reviewed and applied in all centers looking to improve outcomes and quality associated with esophageal resection.
Background
In case of Krukenberg tumor (KT) of gastric origin it is controversial and debated whether radical surgery in case of synchronous KT or metastasectomy in case of metachronous ones is ...associated with additional benefits. Role of perioperative treatments is unclear.
Methods
Among 2515 female patients who were diagnosed with gastric cancer between January 1990 and December 2012 from 9 Italian centers, 63 presented simultaneously or developed KT as recurrence.
Results
Thirty patients presented with synchronous KT, while 33 developed metachronous ovarian metastases during follow-up. The differences between the two groups were analyzed and compared. The median age of 63 patients was 48.0 years (range 31–71). Resection was possible in 53 patients (20 synchronous and 33 metachronous). Twelve patients in the synchronous group and 15 patients of the metachronous group underwent hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy after resection of KT. All of them underwent adjuvant chemotherapy after KT resection. The median survival for all population was 23 months (95 % confidence interval, 7–39 months). The median survival time in the metachronous group was 36 months, which was significantly longer than that in the synchronous group, 17 months,
p
< 0.0001.
Conclusions
KT remains a clinical challenge for gastric cancer therapy. The extent of disease and feasibility of removal of the metastatic lesion must be carefully evaluated prior to surgery to define the patients group who could benefit most from a resection associated with perioperative treatments.
Background and Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the amount of signet ring cells (SRCs) affects clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of poorly cohesive (PC) ...gastric tumours.
Study design
One hundred seventy‐three patients with PC tumours treated at three European centres from 2004 to 2014 were reclassified in three categories: (a) pure SRC cancers (SRC1) (≥90% SRCs); (b) PC carcinoma with SRC component (SRC2) (>10%, <90% SRCs); (c) PC carcinoma not otherwise specified (SRC3) (≤10% SRCs).
Results
The percentage of SRCs was inversely related to the pT stage (Spearman's ρ = −0.174, P < .001) and the number of positive nodes coded as a continuous variable (P = .009). Five year cancer‐related survival was significantly higher (58%, 95% confidence interval CI: 36%‐75%) in SRC1 compared with SRC2 (39%, 95% CI: 28%‐50%) and SRC3 (38%, 95% CI: 22%‐53%), (P = .048). In multivariable analysis, the impact of PC categories on cancer‐related survival was significant when controlling for sex, age, pT, pN, and curativity (hazard ratio HR of sSRC2 vs SRC1 = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.01‐4.29, P = .046; HR of SRC3 vs SRC1 = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.05‐5.41, P = .039).
Conclusion
The percentage of SRCs was inversely related to tumour aggressiveness, with long‐term survival significantly higher in SRC1 compared with SRC2 and SRC3 tumours.
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