Naruhiko Ikoma

Yield of Staging Laparoscopy and Lavage Cytology for Radiologically Occult Peritoneal Carcinomatosis of Gastric Cancer

BackgroundThis study aimed to identify the yield of staging laparoscopy with peritoneal lavage cytology for gastric cancer patients and to track it over time.MethodsThe medical records of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent pretreatment staging laparoscopy at the authors’ institution from 1995 to 2012 were reviewed. The yield of laparoscopy was defined as the proportion of patients who had positive findings on laparoscopy, including those with macroscopic carcinomatosis, positive cytology, or other clinically important findings. To compare the yield of laparoscopy over time, the patients were divided into three 6-year ranges based on the date of diagnosis. Associations between clinicopathologic factors and peritoneal disease were examined using uni- and multivariate analyses.ResultsThe study included 711 patients. Among these patients, 43.5 % had gastroesophageal junction tumors, 72.9 % had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and 53 % had signet ring cell morphology. Endoscopic ultrasound had most commonly identified T3 (83.9 %) and N-positive (66.4 %) tumors. At laparoscopy, 148 (20.8 %) patients had been found to have macroscopic peritoneal carcinomatosis. Among 514 macroscopically negative patients who underwent peritoneal lavage cytologic analysis, 68 (13.2 %) had positive cytology results for malignancy. The total laparoscopy yield was 36 %, which did not change over time (p = 0.58). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that positive cytology or carcinomatosis was associated with poorly differentiated histology, linitis plastica, and equivocal computed tomography findings.ConclusionsLaparoscopy remains a useful staging procedure to evaluate for peritoneal spread when treatment or surgery is considered, even with the current availability of high-quality imaging.

Racial disparities in preoperative chemotherapy use in gastric cancer patients in the United States: Analysis of the National Cancer Data Base, 2006-2014

No studies have investigated whether race/ethnicity is associated with the recommended use of preoperative chemotherapy or subsequent outcomes in gastric cancer. To determine whether there is such an association, analyses of patients with gastric cancer in the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) were performed.

Multimodality Treatment of Gastric Lymphoma

Gastric lymphoma is rare, accounting for 3% of gastric neoplasms and 10% of lymphomas. Treatment should be stratified based on histologic type, stage, Helicobacter pylori infection, and t(11;18) translocation status. Surgery is no longer a mainstay for treatment and should be reserved for rare situations such as perforation, fistula formation, and severe bleeding. Multimodal treatment, including H pylori eradication, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, should be provided as appropriate and can result in excellent outcomes.

Impact of recurrence and salvage surgery on survival after multidisciplinary treatment of rectal cancer

Purpose After preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision for locally advanced rectal cancer, patients who experience local or systemic relapse of disease may be eligible for curative salvage surgery, but the benefit of this surgery has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to characterize recurrence patterns and investigate the impact of salvage surgery on survival in patients with rectal cancer after receiving multidisciplinary treatment. Patients and Methods Patients with locally advanced (cT3-4 or cN+) rectal cancer who were treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision at our institution during 1993 to 2008 were identified. We examined patterns of recurrence location, time to recurrence, treatment factors, and survival. Results A total of 735 patients were included. Tumors were mostly midrectal to lower rectal cancer, with a median distance from the anal verge of 5.0 cm. The most common recurrence site was the lung followed by the liver. Median time to recurrence was shorter in liver-only recurrence (11.2 months) than in lung-only recurrence (18.2 months) or locoregional-only recurrence (24.7 months; P = .001). Salvage surgery was performed in 57% of patients with single-site recurrence and was associated with longer survival after recurrence in patients with lung-only and liver-only recurrence ( P < .001) but not in those with locoregional-only recurrence ( P = .353). Conclusion We found a predilection for lung recurrence in patients with rectal cancer after multidisciplinary treatment. Salvage surgery was associated with prolonged survival in patients with lung-only and liver-only recurrence, but not in those with locoregional recurrence, which demonstrates a need for careful consideration of the indications for resection.

Preoperative Chemoradiation Therapy Does Not Increase Risk of Anastomotic Leak in Patients With Gastric Cancer

INTRODUCTION We sought to determine whether preoperative chemoradiation therapy or chemotherapy increases the risk of anastomotic leak after gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients without gastroesophageal junction involvement. METHODS We reviewed data from a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent gastrectomy at our institution between 2001 and 2016. The incidence of anastomotic leak and symptomatic intra-abdominal fluid collection was determined and tested for associations with the type of preoperative therapy. Risk factors for these adverse events were identified by univariate and multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS Of 346 included patients, 35% had upfront surgery, 44% had preoperative chemoradiation therapy, and 21% had preoperative chemotherapy. Anastomotic leak and intra-abdominal fluid collection were diagnosed in 3.5% and 7.5% of patients, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that concomitant organ resection was the only significant risk factor for anastomotic leak or intra-abdominal fluid collection (P=.014). The type of preoperative therapy was not a risk factor for anastomotic leak or intra-abdominal fluid collection. CONCLUSIONS Anastomotic leak and intra-abdominal fluid collection were rare after gastrectomy, and neither type of preoperative therapy increased the risk of these adverse events. Our results add to the existing literature that preoperative therapy, including preoperative chemoradiation therapy, is safe for patients with gastric cancer.

Survival rates in T1 and T2 gastric cancer: A Western report

The purpose of this study was to identify clinicopathologic factors associated with overall survival (OS) in early T stage gastric cancer in a Western population.

An Update on Randomized Clinical Trials in Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma

There have been remarkable advances in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer over the past 20 years, chiefly achieved by development of new active drugs and establishment of effective systemic therapy regimens. Multidisciplinary care of resectable liver disease with use of perioperative systemic therapy and superior liver resection has resulted in prolonged survival of select patients. Median overall survival has significantly improved with the modern multiagent regimens. This article reviews recent high-quality randomized clinical trials that were conducted to address optimal treatment of advanced and metastatic colorectal carcinoma, mainly focused on initially inoperable metastatic disease.

Preoperative accuracy of gastric cancer staging in patient selection for preoperative therapy: Race may affect accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography

Background Over the last 15 years, large randomized controlled studies have validated the benefit of preoperative therapy for patients with resectable gastric cancer. Computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) are commonly used to select patients for preoperative treatment, but studies of preoperative staging accuracy that focus on patient selection for preoperative therapy are rare; therefore, whether CT or EUS can reliably identify patients eligible for preoperative therapy is still unclear. Our purpose was to determine the accuracy of EUS and CT for preoperative staging of gastric cancer and to identify factors that may affect their usefulness in selecting patients for preoperative therapy. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 8,260 patients with gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma treated at our institution from 1995 to 2013, identifying those who underwent gastrectomy without preoperative treatment. We compared T stage and N status from preoperative EUS and CT reports with those drawn from surgical pathology reports. Clinicopathologic and demographic variables associated with incorrect preoperative staging were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results We identified 187 patients who underwent preoperative staging by EUS (n=145) and/or CT (n=134) before gastrectomy. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of EUS in distinguishing stage T1 from more advanced tumors were 82%, 78%, and 85%, respectively. Variables associated with underestimation of EUS T stage were lymphovascular invasion [odds ratio (OR), 7.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91-29.50; P<0.01] and white race (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.31-10.75; P=0.01). The accuracies, sensitivities, and specificities for determining N status were, respectively, 65%, 49%, and 79% with CT and 66%, 29%, and 95% with EUS. Lymphovascular invasion was associated with a false negative result (OR, 3.79; 95% CI, 1.34-10.70; P=0.01), and well- or moderately differentiated histology was associated with a false positive result for CT N status (OR, 7.14; 95% CI, 2.00-25.44; P<0.01). Conclusions EUS is accurate in distinguishing T1 from T2-T4 lesions; both CT and EUS have low sensitivities and high specificities in determining N status. These accuracies and variables associated with inaccurate staging, including race, should be considered when selecting gastric cancer patients for preoperative therapy.

Recurrence patterns of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma and impact of salvage surgery

Optimal treatment strategies for retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma (RPLMS), particularly recurrent disease, are unknown.

Clinical features and survival of gastric cancer patients with DNA mismatch repair deficiency

Patients with germline DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) have an increased risk of gastric cancer. From our institutional database, we identified 12 patients with germline dMMR gastric cancer. Ten patients (83%) underwent surgical resection, with a 5‐year overall survival rate of 88%. None of the three patients who received preoperative therapy and five patients with recurrent or metastatic disease experienced a significant response to 5‐fluorouracil–based chemotherapy.