In Cho

Is microsatellite instability a prognostic marker in gastric cancer?: A systematic review with meta‐analysis

The relationship between survival in gastric cancer patients and the status of microsatellite instability (MSI) has not yet been established. The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to obtain integrated and more precise data for the value of MSI as a prognostic marker in gastric cancer.

Is microsatellite instability a prognostic marker in gastric cancer

The relationship between survival in gastric cancer patients and the status of microsatellite instability (MSI) has not yet been established. The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to obtain integrated and more precise data for the value of MSI as a prognostic marker in gastric cancer.

Intracorporeal Esophagojejunostomy Using a Circular Stapler with a New Purse-String Suture Technique During Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy

Received August 18, 2012; Revised October 10, 2012; Ac 10, 2012. From the Departments of Surgery (Kim, Cho, Hyung) (Jang), Yonsei University College of Medicine; the Depart ture, Hongik University (Jang); and the Robot and MIS Ce Hospital, Yonsei University Health System (Hyung), Seoul Correspondence address: Woo Jin Hyung, MD, PhD, Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yon mun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. email: wjhyung@gmail.co

Risk factors for double primary malignancies and their clinical implications in patients with sporadic gastric cancer

AIMS We carried out a large scale study to identify the risk factors for double primary malignancy (DPM) development in gastric cancer patients and to evaluate the clinical implications for these patients. METHODS A total of 2593 patients who underwent gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer from January 2005 to November 2010 were reviewed with regard to DPM. We compared the clinicopathological characteristics, risk factors for developing DPM, and prognosis between the DPM+ group and the DPM- group. RESULTS Of the 2593 patients, 152 (5.9%) were diagnosed with DPM. The most common accompanying malignancies were colorectal, lung and thyroid. Multivariate analysis indicated that age (p = 0.016) and MSI status (p = 0.002) were associated with a higher frequency of DPM. 30.3% of patients were diagnosed with DPM within 1 year around perioperative period and 53.3% of patients had DPM detected during 5 years of post-operative follow up periods. Although there was no significant difference in overall survival between the DPM+ and DPM- group, DPM+ patients had a worse prognosis than DPM- patients in stage I gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS Gastric cancer patients over the age of 60 or with a MSI-high status had an increased risk for developing DPM. Further, in stage I gastric cancer, the presence of DPM was associated with a worse prognosis. Therefore, careful pre- and postoperative surveillance is especially important in these patients.

Totally laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: analysis of initial 50 consecutive cases of single surgeon in comparison with totally laparoscopic Billroth I reconstruction.

Purpose Roux-en-Y reconstruction (RY) in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer is a more complicated procedure than Billroth-I (BI) or Billroth-II. Here, we offer a totally laparoscopic simple RY using linear staplers. Materials and Methods Each 50 consecutive patients with totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with RY and BI were enrolled in this study. Technical safety and surgical outcomes of RY were evaluated in comparison with BI. Results In all patients, RY gastrectomy using linear staplers was safely performed without any events during surgery. The mean operation time and anastomosis time were 177.0±37.6 min and 14.4±5.6 min for RY, respectively, which were significantly longer than those for BI (150.4±34.0 min and 5.9±2.2 min, respectively). There were no differences in amount of blood loss, time to flatus passage, diet start, length of hospital stay, and postoperative inflammatory response between the two groups. Although there was no significant difference in surgical complications between RY and BI (6.0% and 14.0%), the RY group showed no anastomosis site-related complications. Conclusion The double stapling method using linear staplers in totally laparoscopic RY reconstruction is a simple and safe procedure.

The assessment of the oncological safety margin of insufficient lymph node dissection in pT2 (pm) gastric cancer

Purpose To identify the effect of insufficient lymph node dissection (LND) on the survival of patients with pT2 gastric cancer. Materials and Methods A total of 340 patients (120 patients with insufficient LND and others with D2 LND) who underwent gastrectomy for pT2 gastric cancer between January 2008 and December 2010 were included. Results The incidence of preoperatively diagnosed early gastric cancer was higher and there were fewer metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) in the insufficient LND group than the D2 group, but there was no survival difference between two groups (p=0.365). Among the 89 patients with metastatic LNs after D2 LND, 13 patients (14.6%) had metastatic LNs at selected N2 stations (#10, 11, or 12a), but none of these patients were in the pN1 category. One patient had five metastatic LNs at station #11p with no metastatic LNs at any other stations. The number of metastatic LNs was identified as the only risk factor for LN metastasis at selected N2 stations by logistic regression. Conclusion If a patient has pN0 or pN1 category after insufficient LND for pT2 gastric cancer, the surgery can be regarded as secure. However, for patients with pN2 or pN3 category, more careful examination is required.

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy in a gastric cancer patient with intestinal malrotation.

As the incidence of early gastric cancer increases, laparoscopic surgery has become one of the treatments of choice for gastric cancer. With the increase of laparoscopic surgery, the chance of discovering aberrant anatomy during the operation also increases. We present a case of laparoscopic total gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients with intestinal malrotation. Intestinal malrotation occurs in one in every 500 births. We found that laparoscopic total gastrectomy in such patients can be performed successfully when it is performed with a proper Roux limb orientation through an alternative minilaparotomy.

Feasibility and effects of a postoperative recovery exercise program developed specifically for gastric cancer patients (PREP-GC) undergoing minimally invasive gastrectomy

Purpose Exercise intervention after surgery has been found to improve physical fitness and quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and effects of a postoperative recovery exercise program developed specifically for gastric cancer patients (PREP-GC) undergoing minimally invasive gastrectomy. Materials and Methods Twenty-four patients treated surgically for early gastric cancer were enrolled in the PREP-GC. The exercise program comprised sessions of In-hospital Exercise (1 week), Home Exercise (1 week), and Fitness Improvement Exercise (8 weeks). Adherence and compliance to PREP-GC were evaluated. In addition, body composition, physical fitness, and QOL were assessed during the preoperative period, after the postoperative recovery (2 weeks after surgery), and upon completing the PREP-GC (10 weeks after surgery). Results Of the 24 enrolled patients, 20 completed the study without any adverse events related to the PREP-GC. Adherence and compliance rates to the Fitness Improvement Exercise were 79.4% and 99.4%, respectively. Upon completing the PREP-GC, patients also exhibited restored cardiopulmonary function and muscular strength, with improved muscular endurance and flexibility (P<0.05). Compared to those in the preoperative period, no differences were found in symptom scale scores measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Stomach Cancer-Specific Module (QLQ-STO22); however, higher scores for global health status and emotional functioning were observed after completing the PREP-GC (P<0.05). Conclusions In gastric cancer patients undergoing minimally invasive gastrectomy, PREP-GC was found to be feasible and safe, with high adherence and compliance. Although randomized studies evaluating the benefits of exercise intervention during postoperative recovery are needed, surgeons should encourage patients to participate in systematic exercise intervention programs in the early postoperative period (Registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01751880).

Consideration of clinicopathologic features improves patient stratification for multimodal treatment of gastric cancer

Preoperative staging of gastric cancer with computed tomography alone exhibits poor diagnostic accuracy, which may lead to improper treatment decisions. We developed novel patient stratification criteria to select appropriate treatments for gastric cancer patients based on preoperative staging and clinicopathologic features. A total of 5352 consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were evaluated. Preoperative stages were determined according to depth of invasion and nodal involvement on computed tomography. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify clinicopathological factors associated with the likelihood of proper patient stratification. The diagnostic accuracies of computed tomography scans for depth of invasion and nodal involvement were 67.1% and 74.1%, respectively. Among clinicopathologic factors, differentiated tumor histology, tumors smaller than 5 cm, and gross appearance of early gastric cancer on endoscopy were shown to be related to a more advanced stage of disease on preoperative computed tomography imaging than actual pathological stage. Additional consideration of undifferentiated histology, tumors larger than 5 cm, and grossly advanced gastric cancer on endoscopy increased the probability of selecting appropriate treatment from 75.5% to 94.4%. The addition of histology, tumor size, and endoscopic findings to preoperative staging improves patient stratification for more appropriate treatment of gastric cancer.Preoperative staging of gastric cancer with computed tomography alone exhibits poor diagnostic accuracy, which may lead to improper treatment decisions. We developed novel patient stratification criteria to select appropriate treatments for gastric cancer patients based on preoperative staging and clinicopathologic features. A total of 5352 consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were evaluated. Preoperative stages were determined according to depth of invasion and nodal involvement on computed tomography. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify clinicopathological factors associated with the likelihood of proper patient stratification. The diagnostic accuracies of computed tomography scans for depth of invasion and nodal involvement were 67.1% and 74.1%, respectively. Among clinicopathologic factors, differentiated tumor histology, tumors smaller than 5 cm, and gross appearance of early gastric cancer on endoscopy were shown to be related to a more advanced stage of disease on preoperative computed tomography imaging than actual pathological stage. Additional consideration of undifferentiated histology, tumors larger than 5 cm, and grossly advanced gastric cancer on endoscopy increased the probability of selecting appropriate treatment from 75.5% to 94.4%. The addition of histology, tumor size, and endoscopic findings to preoperative staging improves patient stratification for more appropriate treatment of gastric cancer.