Ru-Hong Tu

Evaluation of laparoscopic total gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: results of a comparison with laparoscopic distal gastrectomy

AbstractObjectiveTo validate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). BackgroundLaparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) in the treatment of patients with local AGC is becoming increasingly popular, and there have been several multicenter randomized controlled trials focused on this treatment. However, few reports on the procedure of LTG for AGC exist.MethodsThe data of 976 patients who underwent LTG for AGC were retrieved from a prospectively constructed database of 2170 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy between 2007 and 2013. Surgical outcomes of LTG were investigated and compared with those of patients who underwent LDG.ResultsLTG was associated with significantly longer operation time, number of dissected lymph nodes, and time of resume soft diet compared with the LDG group. According to Clavien–Dindo classification, the morbidity and mortality rates of the LTG group were comparable to those of the LDG group. Multivariate analyses revealed that elderly patients, more comorbidities, and longer operation time were the significant independent risk factors for determining postoperative complications. The difference in overall survival rates between the two groups was statistically significant. However, a comparative analysis of overall survival showed no statistical significance for any of the stages of cancer between the LTG and LDG groups.ConclusionsThe study findings suggest that LTG is an oncologically safe procedure for AGC yields comparable surgical outcomes. A well-designed phase III trial can be carried out to provide valuable evidence for the oncologic safety of LTG for the treatment of AGC.

A Scoring System to Predict the Risk of Postoperative Complications After Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer Based on a Large-Scale Retrospective Study

AbstractTo investigate the risk factors for postoperative complications following laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer and to use the risk factors to develop a predictive scoring system.Few studies have been designed to develop scoring systems to predict complications after LG for gastric cancer.We analyzed records of 2170 patients who underwent a LG for gastric cancer. A logistic regression model was used to identify the determinant variables and develop a predictive score.There were 2170 patients, of whom 299 (13.8%) developed overall complications and 78 (3.6%) developed major complications. A multivariate analysis showed the following adverse risk factors for overall complications: age ≥65 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 28 kg/m2, tumor with pyloric obstruction, tumor with bleeding, and intraoperative blood loss ≥75 mL; age ≥65 years, a Charlson comorbidity score ≥3, tumor with bleeding and intraoperative blood loss ≥75 mL were identified as independent risk factors for major complications. Based on these factors, the authors developed the following predictive score: low risk (no risk factors), intermediate risk (1 risk factor), and high risk (≥2 risk factors). The overall complication rates were 8.3%, 15.6%, and 29.9% for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories, respectively (P < 0.001); the major complication rates in the 3 respective groups were 1.2%, 4.7%, and 10.0% (P < 0.001).This simple scoring system could accurately predict the risk of postoperative complications after LG for gastric cancer. The score might be helpful in the selection of risk-adapted interventions to improve surgical safety.

A novel predictive model based on preoperative blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for survival prognosis in patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms

Purpose Evaluate the predictive value of the preoperative blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on the clinical outcomes of patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (g-NENs) after radical surgery. Results The NLR was significantly higher in patients with g-NENs than in matched normal volunteers (P < 0.05). A higher blood NLR was not significantly associated with clinical characteristics (all P > 0.05). According to the multivariate analysis, the NLR was an independent prognostic factor of RFS and OS. Nomograms, including the NLR, Ki-67 index and lymph node ratio, had superior discriminative abilities to predict clinical outcomes. The recurrence rate was 37% (55/147). The median time to recurrence was 9 months; 48 (87%) patients experienced recurrence within the first 2 years. Both the NLR and Ki-67 index were correlated with liver metastases (both P < 0.05) and were also negatively correlated with recurrence time (both P < 0.05). Materials And Methods We enrolled 147 patients who were diagnosed with g-NENs and underwent radical surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify the optimal value for blood NLR. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis were used to identify prognostic factors for g-NENs. A nomogram was adopted to predict RFS and OS after surgery. Conclusions As an independent prognostic factor for g-NENs, blood NLR can improve the predictability of RFS and OS. We recommend that g-NEN patients with a high blood NLR or high Ki-67 index undergo surveillance during the first month and then every 3 months for 2 years post-surgery.

Preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio as a strong predictor of survival and recurrence for gastric cancer after radical-intent surgery

Objectives To evaluate the predictive value of the preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) for the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC) after radical-intent surgery. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 1,810 patients who underwent radical-intent gastrectomy for primary GC from December 2008 to December 2013. X-tile software was used to identify the optimal value for blood LMR. Nomograms were developed to predict overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after surgery. Results LMR was significantly lower in patients with GC than in matched normal volunteers (P<0.001). As shown by forest plots, the long-term outcomes were poorer in the low LMR group than in the high LMR group when considering subgroups separated by clinical characteristics. Cox regression analysis showed that LMR was an independent prognostic factor for OS (P<0.001) and RFS (P=0.001). Nomograms, combining LMR with age, T stage, and N stage, showed better discriminative abilities than the AJCC staging system did in predicting 5-year survival and recurrence from the time of surgery. The recurrence rate was 30.4% (550/1810) and was significantly higher in the low LMR group than in the high LMR group (P<0.05). The LMR was also closely correlated with liver and lymph node metastases (both P<0.05). Conclusion As an independent prognostic factor for GC, preoperative LMR can improve the predictability of individual survival and recurrence. Furthermore, because liver and lymph node metastases were more commonly observed in patients with low blood LMR before surgery, these patients should be closely followed after the operation.OBJECTIVES To evaluate the predictive value of the preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) for the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC) after radical-intent surgery. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 1,810 patients who underwent radical-intent gastrectomy for primary GC from December 2008 to December 2013. X-tile software was used to identify the optimal value for blood LMR. Nomograms were developed to predict overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after surgery. RESULTS LMR was significantly lower in patients with GC than in matched normal volunteers (P<0.001). As shown by forest plots, the long-term outcomes were poorer in the low LMR group than in the high LMR group when considering subgroups separated by clinical characteristics. Cox regression analysis showed that LMR was an independent prognostic factor for OS (P<0.001) and RFS (P=0.001). Nomograms, combining LMR with age, T stage, and N stage, showed better discriminative abilities than the AJCC staging system did in predicting 5-year survival and recurrence from the time of surgery. The recurrence rate was 30.4% (550/1810) and was significantly higher in the low LMR group than in the high LMR group (P<0.05). The LMR was also closely correlated with liver and lymph node metastases (both P<0.05). CONCLUSION As an independent prognostic factor for GC, preoperative LMR can improve the predictability of individual survival and recurrence. Furthermore, because liver and lymph node metastases were more commonly observed in patients with low blood LMR before surgery, these patients should be closely followed after the operation.

CDK5RAP3 acts as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer through inhibition of β-catenin signaling.

CDK5RAP3 was isolated as a binding protein of the Cdk5 activator p35. Although CDK5RAP3 has been implicated in cancer progression, its expression and function have not been investigated in gastric cancer. Our study demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of CDK5RAP3 were markedly decreased in gastric tumor tissues when compared with respective adjacent non-tumor tissues. CDK5RAP3 in gastric cancer cells significantly reduced cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor xenograft growth through inhibition of β-catenin. Secondly, CDK5RAP3 was found to suppress the phosphorylation of GSK-3β (Ser9), leading to the phosphorylation (Ser37/Thr41) and subsequent degradation of β-catenin. Lastly, the prognostic value of CDK5RAP3 for overall survival was found to be dependent on β-catenin cytoplasm/nucleus localization in human gastric cancer samples. Collectively, our results demonstrated that CDK5RAP3 negatively regulates the β-catenin signaling pathway by repressing GSK-3β phosphorylation and could be a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

The Impact of Confluence Types of the Right Gastroepiploic Vein on No. 6 Lymphadenectomy During Laparoscopic Radical Gastrectomy

AbstractThis study investigated anatomical variations in the confluence types of the right gastroepiploic vein (RGEV) to improve knowledge regarding no. 6 lymphadenectomy for laparoscopic gastrectomy.The RGEV drainage patterns of 144 patients who were diagnosed with gastric cancer and underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy at our department from July 2010 to June 2011 were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed, and we compared the impact of different drainage patterns on no. 6 lymphadenectomy.The RGEV confluence types were classified into 6 categories in this study. Types I, II, and III, which were observed in 53 (36.8%), 27 (18.8%), and 21 (14.6%) cases, respectively, were the most frequently found during gastrectomy. All 3 of these types included a gastropancreatic trunk and were defined as the gastropancreatic group (GP group). In addition, 15 cases (10.4%) were categorized as type IV, 19 (13.2%) were categorized as type V, and 9 (6.3%) were categorized as type VI. These 3 types, which could form a gastrocolic trunk, were defined as the gastrocolic group (GC group). No significant differences were found with respect to the clinicopathological characteristics, postoperative morbidity, perioperative mortality, and 3-year overall survival rates after surgery between the 2 groups (all P > 0.05). However, the mean no. 6 lymph node (No. 6 LN) dissection time, the mean blood loss due to No. 6 LN dissection and the rate of infrapyloric vascular injury were significantly increased in the GC group compared with the GP group (all P < 0.05).The RGEV exhibits 6 types of drainage patterns, and the division points of this vein during laparoscopic gastrectomy depend on the different drainage patterns. For types IV, V, and VI, the surgeon should carefully vascularize and divide the RGEV above its confluences during surgery.

Learning Curve of the Application of Huang Three-Step Maneuver in a Laparoscopic Spleen-Preserving Splenic Hilar Lymphadenectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer

AbstractTo investigate the learning curve of the application of Huang 3-step maneuver, which was summarized and proposed by our center for the treatment of advanced upper gastric cancer.From April 2012 to March 2013, 130 consecutive patients who underwent a laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy (LSPL) by a single surgeon who performed Huang 3-step maneuver were retrospectively analyzed. The learning curve was analyzed based on the moving average (MA) method and the cumulative sum method (CUSUM). Surgical outcomes, short-term outcomes, and follow-up results before and after learning curve were contrastively analyzed. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used for a multivariable analysis to determine the factors that affect the operative time using Huang 3-step maneuver.Based on the CUSUM, the learning curve for Huang 3-step maneuver was divided into phase 1 (cases 1–40) and phase 2 (cases 41–130). The dissection time (DT) (P < 0.001), blood loss (BL) (P < 0.001), and number of vessels injured in phase 2 were significantly less than those in phase 1. There were no significant differences in the clinicopathological characteristics, short-term outcomes, or major postoperative complications between the learning curve phases. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that body mass index (BMI), short gastric vessels (SGVs), splenic hilar artery (SpA) type, and learning curve phase were significantly associated with DT. In the entire group, 124 patients were followed for a median time of 23.0 months (range, 3–30 months). There was no significant difference in the survival curve between phases.AUGC patients with a BMI less than 25 kg/m2, a small number of SGVs, and a concentrated type of SpA are ideal candidates for surgeons who are in phase 1 of the learning curve.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Versus Open Resection for Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis.

AbstractPublished reports on laparoscopic resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) were limited to small experiences and selection bias.Two hundred fourteen patients who underwent primary gastric GIST resection at our institution (January 2006–December 2012) were identified from a prospectively collected database. Laparoscopic resections (LAP) were performed in 133 patients, and open resections (OPEN) were performed in 81 patients. The short- and long-term outcomes were analyzed using propensity-score matching (PSM) by comparing the clinicopathological factors between these groups.The tumor resection method and tumor size were significantly different between the LAP and OPEN groups. After PSM, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in these clinicopathological factors. The LAP group had less blood loss and shorter operation time, time to first flatus, time to first fluid diet, time to gastric tube removal, and postoperative stay before PSM. In addition, there were no differences regarding the time of drainage tube removal or hospitalization expense. Other than the time of gastric tube removal, which was similar in these 2 groups, the short-term outcomes were similar before and after PSM. The rates of postoperative complications in the LAP and OPEN groups were 6.8% and 22.8%, respectively, before PSM (P = 0.001) and 5.6% and 22.5%, respectively, after PSM (P = 0.004). The multivariate analyses for complications showed that tumors were located in the middle of the stomach, and the operation method and proximal gastrectomy were independent risk factors before and after PSM. The 5-year cumulative survival rates in the LAP and OPEN groups were 95.4% and 85.9%, respectively, (P = 0.07) before PSM and 93.1% and 91.9%, respectively, (P = 0.69) after PSM (not significantly different).Laparoscopic resection for gastric GISTs had better short-term outcomes and similar long-term outcomes compared with open surgery. Localized gastric GISTs can be treated with laparoscopic surgery.

Different long-term oncologic outcomes after radical surgical resection for neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the stomach

Purpose To explore differences in long-term outcomes between gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (GNEC) and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). Methods One hundred GNEC patients and 3089 GAC patients were enrolled. Differences in long-term outcomes between the groups were analyzed by 1:2 propensity score matching. Results Statistically significant differences between the groups were noted in terms of gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, tumor size, T stage, N stage, TNM stage and surgical approach. However, differences were not significant after matching. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates for the GNEC group were reduced compared with those for the GAC group, though disease-free survival rates and mean recurrence times were similar. Notably, the mean post-recurrence survival of the GNEC group was significantly worse than that of the GAC group (5.2 vs. 14.8 months, p<0.001). A strong negative correlation was found between a high Ki-67 labeling index and overall survival time. Cox regression analysis indicated the Ki-67 labeling index to be an independent factor influencing patient post-recurrence survival. Conclusions The long-term oncologic outcome of GNEC was worse than that of GAC, which may be relative to its reduced post-recurrence survival. A high Ki-67 labeling index was an independent factor influencing patient post-recurrence survival.PURPOSE To explore differences in long-term outcomes between gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (GNEC) and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). METHODS One hundred GNEC patients and 3089 GAC patients were enrolled. Differences in long-term outcomes between the groups were analyzed by 1:2 propensity score matching. RESULTS Statistically significant differences between the groups were noted in terms of gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, tumor size, T stage, N stage, TNM stage and surgical approach. However, differences were not significant after matching. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates for the GNEC group were reduced compared with those for the GAC group, though disease-free survival rates and mean recurrence times were similar. Notably, the mean post-recurrence survival of the GNEC group was significantly worse than that of the GAC group (5.2 vs. 14.8 months, p<0.001). A strong negative correlation was found between a high Ki-67 labeling index and overall survival time. Cox regression analysis indicated the Ki-67 labeling index to be an independent factor influencing patient post-recurrence survival. CONCLUSIONS The long-term oncologic outcome of GNEC was worse than that of GAC, which may be relative to its reduced post-recurrence survival. A high Ki-67 labeling index was an independent factor influencing patient post-recurrence survival.

Do preoperative enlarged lymph nodes affect the oncologic outcome of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Background To investigate the long-term outcome of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy (LAG) for gastric cancer (GC) with preoperative enlarged lymph nodes (LNs). Materials and Methods We retrospectively collected data on 855 patients who underwent LAG for GC. The patients were divided into large (>10 mm) and small (=10 mm) LN groups (LG and SG) based on the preoperative size of the LNs. The outcomes were compared using a 1:1 propensity score-matching method. The enlarged LNs were divided into five areas according to their location. Results Before matching, the LG was associated with more retrieved LNs than the SG, whereas after matching, the numbers of LNs retrieved were similar. These numbers remained similar as the number of areas with enlarged LNs increased. Before matching, patients in the LG demonstrated a significantly lower 3-year overall survival rate than those in the SG (p < 0.001). Additionally, in the LG, 3-year overall survival rates were similar among patients with different total numbers of areas with enlarged LNs. After matching, the 3-year overall survival rate of the LG was close to that of the SG (81.1% vs. 72.4%, p = 0.066). A stratified analysis according to the only independent prognostic factor (pTNM stage) demonstrated that the 3-year overall survival rates at each stage were similar between the LG and SG. Conclusions LAG has similar oncologic outcomes for GC with or without preoperative enlarged LNs in the same tumor stage. Furthermore, the total number of areas with enlarged LNs has no impact on the long-term outcome.