James S. McCaughan

Minimally invasive esophagectomy: outcomes in 222 patients.

Objective: To assess our outcomes after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Summary Background Data: Esophagectomy has traditionally been performed by open methods. Results from most series include mortality rates in excess of 5% and hospital stays frequently greater than 10 days. MIE has the potential to improve these results, but only a few small series have been reported. This report summarizes our experience of 222 cases. Methods: From 1996 to 2002, MIE was performed in 222 patients. Indications for operation included high-grade dysplasia (n = 47) and cancer (n = 175). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used in 78 (35.1%) and radiation in 36 (16.2%). Initially, a laparoscopic transhiatal approach was used (n = 8), but subsequently our approach evolved to include thoracoscopic mobilization (n = 214). Results: There were 186 men and 36 women. Median age was 66.5 years (range, 39–89). Nonemergent conversion to open procedure was required in 16 patients (7.2%). MIE was successfully completed in 206 (92.8%) patients. The median intensive care unit stay was 1 day (range, 1–30); hospital stay was 7 days (range, 3–75). Operative mortality was 1.4% (n = 3). Anastomotic leak rate was 11.7% (n = 26). At a mean follow-up of 19 months (range, 1–68), quality of life scores were similar to preoperative values and population norms. Stage specific survival was similar to open series Conclusions: MIE offers results as good as or better than open operation in our center with extensive minimally invasive and open experience. In this single institution experience, we observed a lower mortality rate (1.4%) and shorter hospital stay (7 days) than most open series. Given these results, we are now developing an intergroup trial (ECOG 2202) to assess MIE in a multicenter setting.

Photodynamic therapy as palliation for esophageal cancer: experience in 215 patients

BACKGROUND Photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilizes a photosensitizing agent, light, and oxygen to endoscopically ablate cancer cells. This review summarizes our experience with PDT for the palliation of bleeding or obstructing esophageal cancer (EC). METHODS All patients with bleeding or obstructing EC treated with PDT from November 1996 through June 2002, were reviewed. After Photofrin II injection, nonthermal light treatment was delivered endoscopically. Dysphagia scores, duration of palliation, reinterventions, complications, and survival after treatment were reviewed. RESULTS A total of 215 patients underwent 318 courses of PDT for bleeding (n = 15), obstruction (n = 277), bleeding and obstruction (n = 18), or other indications (n = 8). Tumor histology included 179 adenocarcinomas, 33 squamous cell carcinomas, and 3 undifferentiated. Seventy-five percent of EC were in the distal esophagus. In 85% of courses for obstruction, mean dysphagia scores improved pre- and post-PDT. The mean dysphagia-free interval was 66 days. Supplemental nutrition was discontinued after PDT in 8 of 27 patients (30%). Thirty-five patients required stent placement after PDT with a mean interval to reintervention of 58.5 days. PDT complications included perforation (2% of treatment courses), stricture (2%), Candida esophagitis (2%), pleural effusions (4%), and sunburn (6%). The procedure-related mortality rate was 1.8%, and median survival was 4.8 months. CONCLUSIONS PDT offers effective palliation for patients with obstructing EC in 85% of treatment courses. The ideal EC patient for PDT palliation has an obstructing endoluminal cancer. Patients living more than 2 months may require reintervention to maintain palliation of malignant dysphagia, and a multimodality treatment approach is common.

Photodynamic therapy for endobronchial malignant disease: A prospective fourteen-year study

BACKGROUND After intravenous injection, the photosensitizer dihematoporphyrin either is selectively retained in tumor cells. This photosensitizer absorbs 630 nm wavelength light energy and produces a singlet oxygen that destroys the tumor. Photodynamic therapy was performed on endobronchial tumors with the use of light generated by an argon dye laser system delivered through cylinder diffusing tip quartz fibers passed through the biopsy channel of a flexible endoscope. OBJECTIVES Our objectives were to determine factors affecting survivals, benefits, and complications. METHODS From 1982 to May 1996, photodynamic therapy was performed on 175 patients with endobronchial tumors. Sixteen had stage I disease, 9 stage II, 42 stage IIIA, 64 stage IIIB, and 44 stage IV. All were followed up until death or November 1996. RESULTS Multivariate analysis of survival of the effects of age, sex, race, histologic features, Karnofsky Performance Status, and clinical stage showed the clinical stage (p < 0.0001) to be the most statistically significant factor. Sixteen patients with stage I disease had a 93% 5-year disease-related estimated survival. Median (months) survivals were as follows: stage I = not reached; stage II = 22.5; stage IIIA = 5.7; stage IIIB = 55; and stage IV = 5.0. Performance status does become significant when it reaches 50 but was not significant for stages I or II. CONCLUSIONS Photodynamic therapy may be considered as an alternative treatment for patients under consideration for surgical treatment for stage I carcinoma in whom the risk of surgery is high. The length of palliation for patients with noncurative disease was equal to or better than that reported historically for most other treatment regimens.

Palliation of esophageal malignancy with photodynamic therapy.

Sixteen patients with esophageal malignancies received photodynamic therapy after 3 mg of hematoporphyrin derivative (Photofrin I) or 2 mg of Photofrin II per kilogram of body weight was injected intravenously two to six days prior to treatment. A tunable dye argon laser system delivered 630 nm light through quartz fibers passed through the biopsy channel of a gastroscope. All patients obtained improvement in swallowing, usually from total obstruction or clear liquids only to a regular diet within three weeks and with new techniques, at least liquids within three days of treatment. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) and esophageal grades were measured before treatment, 1 month following treatment, and periodically until death. Ten patients died an average of 3.7 months after initial treatment (range, 0.6 to 19 months). Six patients are alive at 11, 10, 5, 2.5, 2 months, and 1 month after treatment. The median survival of 12 patients treated more than 6 months ago was 6.5 months and of 9 patients with an initial KPS higher than 30, 8.1 months.

Photodynamic therapy of endobronchial malignancies

Forty‐nine tumor sites in 31 consecutive patients with tracheobronchial malignant neoplasms were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT). After sensitization with the intravenous hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) or its more purified form of dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE), 630 nm of light from a tunable sensitizer argon light system was delivered to the tumor site through the biopsy channel of a flexible bronchoscope. All patients had received, refused, or were ineligible for conventional surgery, ionizing radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Before or at 1 month after each treatment, tumor response was evaluated according to the following categories: (1) complete response (CR) (no visible abnormality, and negative biopsy specimen and cytology); (2) partial response (PR) (degree of obstruction or size of tumor reduced more than 50%); (3) some response (SR) (degree of obstruction or size of tumor reduced 20% to 50%); and (4) progression (PROG) (degree of obstruction or size of tumor reduced by less than 20%). Results were as follows: (1) 37% of the tumors treated achieved CR; (2) 55% achieved PR; (3) 4% achieved SR; and (4) 4% were categorized as PROG. Complete follow‐up was achieved in all patients. Clinical effect was evaluated 1 month after treatment by comparing the Karnofsky performance status (KPS), dyspnea level, oxygen requirement, and presence of symptoms. Sixty‐eight percent had clinical improvement in at least one variable and 48% in two or more variables. The results of this study suggest that PDT can play a useful role in the treatment of endobronchial malignancies.

Effect of light dose on the photodynamic destruction of endobronchial tumors

The effects of various light power densities (milliwatts per centimeter of diffusing fiber [mW/cf]) and light doses (joules per centimeter of diffusing fiber [J/cf]) on the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy to endobronchial and tracheal tumors were evaluated at 46 different sites. All patients had squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. They received 2 mg/kg body weight dihematoporphyrin ether intravenously 2 days before treatment bronchoscopy. Only one light treatment was delivered to the site. Patients were treated with diffusing cylinder light tips and underwent toilet bronchoscopy 2 days after photodynamic therapy. The percentage of obstruction was estimated before and after treatment and before and after toilet bronchoscopy. There was no difference between the effects resulting from power densities of 400 and 500 mW/cf, nor were there differences in the reactions between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The amount of tumor that could be removed at the end of the treatment bronchoscopy, the amount of reobstruction by secretions and exudate seen at toilet bronchoscopy, and the final percent decrease in obstruction at the end of toilet bronchoscopy were proportional to the light dose. Because the final percentage decrease in obstruction plateaued at light doses of 400 to 500 J/cf and there was no statistically significant difference between 400 and 500 J/cf, we recommend using a power density of 500 mW/cf and a light dose of 400 J/cf during photodynamic therapy.

Impacted broncholiths removed with the holmium: YAG laser.

Although the Nd:YAG laser has been used endoscopically to remove broncholiths, our experience with it for this purpose has been tedious and difficult. The calculus burns and partially vaporizes, but most of the removal has to be done mechanically with crushing from biopsy forceps.

Gold vapor laser versus tunable argon-dye laser for endobronchial photodynamic therapy

To compare the effectiveness of a gold vapor pulsed laser versus an argon dye continuous wave laser system in decreasing the amount of obstruction caused by endobronchial tumors when they are treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Endobronchial photodynamic therapy for hemoptysis

Hemoptysis (sometimes life threatening) is a frequent symptom of patients with endobronchial tumors. We recorded the amount of hemoptysis of 140 patients before treatment of the tumors with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and at subsequent follow up examinations. Follow up was 100. A hemoptysis scale of: 0 equals none; 1 equals streaks; 2 equals drops and clots; 3 equals large clots life threatening; 4 equals massive (life threatening requiring transfusions) was recorded.

Scanning laser system for combined fluorescent diagnostics and photodynamic therapy: structural design, preliminary trials, and potentials

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is commonly performed by administration of porphyrin photosensitizers selectively retained by malignant tumors. Subsequent photoexcitation with UV-blue light causes fluorescence useful for diagnosis. Excitation by red light destroys the cancer tissue. The use of high-speed scanning of laser light as an alternative to conventional PDT which employs dispersed light to achieve uniformity of treatment is proposed. It is shown that treatment with scanned light beams produces photochemical effects in malignant animal tissue that are virtually the same as those caused by comparable treatments with diffused light. It is argued that undesirable thermal effects can be reduced by the use of focused, scanned laser beams in lieu of diffused light. It is also shown how concurrent analysis and treatment can proceed using a system of two laser beams. >