Yufeng Ren

Evaluation of 7th Edition of AJCC Staging System for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Purpose: To evaluate and improve the 7th edition International Union against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: A retrospective review of the data from 905 patients with biopsy-proven non-disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma was performed. All the patients were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and received radiotherapy. Results: Satisfied distributions among the stages were observed in the 7th edition staging systems. LRFS only differed in classifications betweenT1 and T3, T1 and T4 (P=0.022 and P=0.016, respectively). Significant differences were observed between patients without and with masticator space involvement for OS, DMFS and PFS (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences in LRFS were observed among different groups with anatomical masticator space involvement. The DMFS between N2 and N3b, N3a and N3b were lack of significance (P=0.060 and P=0.59). The T category and N category were independent prognostic factors for the major endpoints in the Cox multivariate regression analysis (P<0.01). Conclusion: This study confirmed the prognostic value of the 7th edition UICC/AJCC staging system, the revisions of the 7th edition staging system are acceptable. However, our study also revealed limitations in the current staging system and suggested some potential modifications in future revision.

The Optimal Application of Transrectal Ultrasound in Staging of Rectal Cancer Following Neoadjuvant Therapy: A Pragmatic Study for Accuracy Investigation

Background: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is a cost-effective test for preoperative assessment of rectal cancer. However, whether the accuracy of TRUS staging is correlated with tumor location remains obscured. This study is designed to explore their relationship and confirm an optimal application of TRUS in rectal cancer restaging. Methods: From 2005 to 2011, rectal cancer patients with TRUS data were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into five groups according to tumor-involved rectal segment (SEG) above the anal verge: SEG I 1-3cm, II 3-6cm, III 6-9cm, IV 9-12cm, and V 12-16cm. The accuracy and long-term outcomes of tumor staging were compared between ultrasonographic and pathological stages. Results: 219 patients were included, with 55 (25.1%) in SEG I, 123 (56.2%) in SEG II, 32 (14.6%) in SEG III, 4 (1.8%) in SEG IV and 5 (2.3%) in SEG V. The overall accuracy of TRUS staging was remarkably superior to clinical staging by CT (64.8% vs. 34.7%, P<0.001), with 70.3% and 82.2% for ultrasonographic T and N stages respectively. The accuracy of TRUS reached its peak value when tumors were located in SEG II. The 5-year overall survival had no significant difference between TRUS and pathology staging for all stages. A cox regression analysis indicated that high levels of CEA and tumor location were risk factors of inaccurate staging. Conclusions: TRUS is still a valuable examination for restaging of rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. The application of TRUS would be optimal for rectal cancer located 3-6cm above the anal verge.

The efficiency of electronic list-based multidisciplinary team meetings in management of gastrointestinal malignancy: a single-center experience in Southern China

BackgroundThe multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion has earned increasing popularity for the delivery of cancer care. However, MDT meeting (MDTM) is time and resource intensive, and some efforts to optimize discussion processes are required. This study aims to investigate the efficiency of electronic list-based MDTM in treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy.MethodsBetween January 2015 and December 2016, patients with GI cancers were retrospectively reviewed. Patients permitting an MDTM with our novel technique (eMDT group) were compared with those undergoing a traditional discussion (cMDT group). The efficiency of MDT working, including time cost per meeting or case and overall number of reviewed cases, was checked, with accuracy of clinical staging and other outcomes explored meanwhile.ResultsThree thousand six hundred seventy-four patients were included, with 2156 (58.7%) and 1518 (41.3%) cases for eMDT and cMDT groups, respectively. Comparisons in age (Pu2009=xa00.529), gender (Pu2009=xa00.844), cancer type (Pu2009=xa00.218), treatment plan (Pu2009=xa00.737), and pathological stage (Pu2009=xa00.098) were not significant between groups. However, the average time cost in both each meeting (149.4 vs. 205.1xa0min; Pu2009<xa00.001) and each case (3.1 vs. 6.2xa0min; Pu2009<xa00.001) was markedly reduced. Besides, this novel technique was associated with improved accuracy of clinical staging (Pu2009=xa00.070) and reduced hospital stay (Pu2009<xa00.001) compared with the traditional approach, with similar incidence of complications observed (Pu2009=xa00.243).ConclusionsThe MDT working based on an intelligent checklist could save considerable time while not affecting treatment of GI malignancies. The improved efficiency also earns an increased capacity of hospital admission and in-patient care.

External validation of a modified 8th AJCC TNM system for advanced gastric cancer: Long-term results in southern China

BACKGROUNDnThe 8th edition of AJCC TNM staging manual for gastric cancer (GC) has been validated by several studies. A modified staging system based on it and total harvested number of lymph nodes (LNs; cutoff: 30) is suggested to improve predictive capacities for advanced GC. This study is designed to validate the modified method using a single-center database in Southern China.nnnMETHODSnClinical data from 684u202fGC patients with stage II and III according to the 7th edition between 2001 and 2012 were reviewed. A modified staging system was applied to restage the cohort. The three staging systems were compared in terms of prognostic performance on long-term survival.nnnRESULTSnThe median follow-up period of this cohort was 52 (range, 6-180) months, with a median 5-year overall survival rate of 52.4%. Stage migration was observed in 159 (23.2%) patients according to the 8th edition of TNM staging, and another migration was observed in 108 (15.8%) patients according to the modified TNM staging system. Compared with the modified staging system, both 7th and 8th edition of AJCC TNM staging systems did not prove survival concordance on stage IIIA (7th edition) and stage IIIC (8th edition) when <30 LNs were examined. The survival performance between two AJCC staging systems had no significant improvement (c-index, 0.607 vs. 0.609), with the best prognostic stratification obtained using the modified staging method (c-index, 0.631).nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe modified staging system on basis of the 8th AJCC classification and the number of harvested LNs could provide an optimal predictive capacities for advanced gastric cancer.

Nephrotoxicity and long-term survival investigations for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatin: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND & PURPOSEnCytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an effective measure for peritoneal carcinomatosis. The cisplatin (CP) applied in HIPEC carries a risk of kidney injury. This study aims to investigate CP-induced nephrotoxicity post HIPEC and to explore its risk factors.nnnMETHODSnFrom January 2012 to July 2013, 99 patients undergoing CRSxa0+xa0HIPEC were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into CP and Non-CP HIPEC groups. The RIFLE classification was used to assess the severity of acute kidney injury (AKI). Renal and hepatic function, concentrations of tumor markers, and postoperative outcomes were compared between groups.nnnRESULTSn47 (47.5%) patients were in the CP HIPEC group, with 52 (52.5%) patients in the Non-CP HIPEC group. 11 (11.1%) patients developed AKI, with 10 of them from the CP HIPEC group. Two patients with CP-contained HIPEC developed acute renal failure. Plasma levels of both urea nitrogen and creatinine were significantly increased in the CP HIPEC group compared with the Non-CP HIPEC group (Pu202f<u202f0.01). However, postoperative pain (scaled score, 4.2 vs. 3.8; Pu202f=u202f0.279), length of hospital stay (18.1 vs. 20.2 days; Pu202f=u202f0.285), hospital costs (

Efficiency of Electronic List-Based Multidisciplinary Team Meetings in Management of Gastrointestinal Malignancy: A Single-Center Experience in Southern China

1 3182 vs.

Exploration of the optimal treatment regimes for Esthesioneuroblastoma: a single center experience in China.

12 640; Pu202f=u202f0.465) and incidence of postoperative complication (25.5% vs. 17.3%; Pu202f=u202f0.337) were similar in both groups, with comparable 3-year overall survival observed (38.6% vs. 31.8%, Pu202f=u202f0.319). A multivariate analysis indicated that use of CP was an independent risk factor for AKI (Pu202f=u202f0.017, 95% CI: 1.277-4.155).nnnCONCLUSIONSnApplication of CP during HIPEC is associated with an increased risk of nephrotoxicity, without promising long-term survival benefit.

Adjuvant radiotherapy for positive lymph nodes of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Can it earn promising benefits at long-term follow-up?

Background nThe multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion has earned increasing popularity for the delivery of cancer care. However, MDT meeting (MDTM) is time and resource intensive, and some efforts to optimize discussion processes are required. This study aims to investigate the efficiency of electronic list-based MDTM in treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy.

Prognostic Significance of Preoperative and Postoperative Complement C3 Depletion in Gastric Cancer: A Three-Year Survival Investigation

BACKGROUND: Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an uncommon neoplasm arising from the olfactory mucosa. The optimal treatment regimen for ENB remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate its clinical features, long-term outcomes and explore optimal treatment patterns. METHODS: Clinical data of consecutive 44 ENB patients were reviewed retrospectively. The correlation between clinical features and treatment approaches were analyzed, with several prognostic factors explored meanwhile. RESULTS: The age of onset of ENB showed a bimodal distribution, with peaks at 10~20 and 50~60 years. The median follow-up time was 84 months (range, 27~198 months).The 5-year overall and progression free survival rates were 42.7% and 39.1%, respectively, with 10-year rates of 28.9% and 21.7% respectively. Overall, 19 patients developed recurrent disease. Patients undergoing surgery combined with adjuvant radiotherapy had significantly higher 5-year overall survival (67.5% vs. 33.3%, P=0.043) and progress-free survival (60.0%vs. 18.7%, P=0.008) than those receiving other treatment approaches. No-Skin-involved ENB was associated with markedly better 5-year overall survival (45.5%vs.0 %, P=0.038) and progress-free survival (31.3% vs. 0 %, P=0.001) compared with skin-involved tumor. CONCLUSIONS: ENB is a rarely malignant tumor with high probability of locoregional recurrence and poor survival. Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy has been shown to achieve optimal local control and overall survival.

Intracellular Activation of Complement C3 Improves the Function of Intestinal Epithelia During an Acute Gastrointestinal Injury: A Possible Immune Pathway Through Paneth Cells

PURPOSEnThe value of adjuvant radiotherapy for patients with positive lymph nodes after curative resection of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is controversial. This study aims to investigate its long-term benefits in a specific cohort.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnThe charts between 1990 and 2003 from patients with positive lymph nodes were retrospectively reviewed. Those subjects were divided into adjuvant radiotherapy and surgery alone groups, with two subgroups defined by radiation dose (cutoff value: 50Gy). Overall survival, disease-free survival and locoregional recurrence-free survival were compared between two groups, with predictive factors of overall survival analysed meanwhile.nnnRESULTSnIn sum, 175 matched patients with 1:2 ratios for group balance were enrolled for final analysis. During the follow-up (median: 37.0 months), 143 (81.7%) deaths were recorded, with 70.6% of deaths from cancer progression. The median overall survival time (19.5, 4 to 172 months) was not significantly different between the two groups (18.9 vs. 20.0 months, P=0.179). However, the disease-free survival time was significantly shorter in the adjuvant radiotherapy group than that in the control group (median, 11.5 vs. 14.9 months; P=0.001), with the locoregional recurrence-free survival time impressively prolonged (median: 18.3 vs. 16.5 months; P=0.022). Age (P=0.030), number (P=0.005) and ratio (P=0.002) of positive lymph nodes were associated with overall survival, but radiation dose was not (P=0.204).nnnCONCLUSIONnAdjuvant radiotherapy with low- or high-dose did not improve survival compared with surgery alone. However, radiotherapy was effective to control locoregional recurrence, and could be applied as salvage therapy when recurrence event occurred.