Perioperative chemotherapy versus postoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with resectable gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas: A survival analysis of 5058 patients

Advancements in photodynamic therapy of esophageal cancer

The poor prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer leads to the constant search for new ways of treatment of this disease. One of the methods used in high-grade dysplasia, superficial invasive carcinoma, and sometimes palliative care is photodynamic therapy (PDT). This method has come a long way from the first experimental studies to registration in the treatment of esophageal cancer and is constantly being improved and refined. This review describes esophageal cancer, current treatment methods, the introduction to PDT, the photosensitizers (PSs) used in esophageal carcinoma PDT, PDT in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus, and PDT in invasive adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. For this review, research and review articles from PubMed and Web of Science databases were used. The keywords used were "photodynamic therapy in esophageal cancer" in the years 2000-2020. The total number of papers returned was 1,000. After the review was divided into topic blocks and the searched publications were analyzed, 117 articles were selected.

Neutrophile-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios as prognostic and response biomarkers for resectable locally advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Perioperative fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) improves prognosis in locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) ratios are prognostic biomarkers but not predictive factors.

AIM

To assess blood ratios’ (NLR, LMR and PLR) potential predictive response to FLOT and survival outcomes in resectable LAGC patients.

METHODS

This was a multicentric retrospective study investigating the clinical potential of NLR, LMR, and PLR in resectable LAGC patients, treated with at least one preoperative FLOT cycle, from 12 Portuguese hospitals. Means were compared through non-parametric Mann-Whitney tests. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis defined the cut-off values as: High PLR > 141 for progression and > 144 for mortality; high LMR > 3.56 for T stage regression (TSR). Poisson and Cox regression models the calculated relative risks/hazard ratios, using NLR, pathologic complete response, TSR, and tumor regression grade (TRG) as independent variables, and overall survival (OS) as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

This study included 295 patients (mean age, 63.7 years; 59.7% males). NLR was correlated with survival time (r = 0.143, P = 0.014). PLR was associated with systemic progression during FLOT (P = 0.022) and mortality (P = 0.013), with high PLR patients having a 2.2-times higher risk of progression [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89-5.26] and 1.5-times higher risk of mortality (95%CI: 0.92-2.55). LMR was associated with TSR, and high LMR patients had a 1.4-times higher risk of achieving TSR (95%CI: 1.01-1.99). OS benefit was found with TSR (P = 0.015) and partial/complete TRG (P < 0.001). Patients without TSR and with no evidence of pathological response had 2.1-times (95%CI: 1.14-3.96) and 2.8-times (95%CI: 1.6-5) higher risk of death.

CONCLUSION

Higher NLR is correlated with longer survival time. High LMR patients have a higher risk of decreasing T stage, whereas high PLR patients have higher odds of progressing under FLOT and dying. Patients with TSR and a pathological response have better OS and lower risk of dying.

Ziyin Huatan Recipe, a Chinese herbal compound, inhibits migration and invasion of gastric cancer by upregulating RUNX3 expression

OBJECTIVES

Ziyin Huatan Recipe (ZYHT), a traditional Chinese medicine comprised of Lilii Bulbus, Pinelliae Rhizoma, and Hedyotis Diffusa, has shown promise in treating gastric cancer (GC). However, its potential mechanism has not yet been clearly addressed. This study aimed to predict targets and molecular mechanisms of ZYHT in treating GC by network pharmacology analysis and to explore the role of ZYHT in GC both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Targets and molecular mechanisms of ZYHT were predicted via network pharmacology analysis. The effects of ZYHT on the expression of metastasis-associated targets were further validated by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. To explore the specific molecular mechanisms of the effects of ZYHT on migration and invasion, the runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) gene was knocked out by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9, and lentiviral vectors were transfected into SGC-7901 cells. Then lung metastasis model of GC in nude mice was established to explore the anti-metastasis effect of ZYHT. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to explore the impact of ZYHT on the expression of metastasis-related proteins with or without RUNX3 gene.

RESULTS

The network pharmacology analysis showed that ZYHT might inhibit focal adhesion, migration, invasion and metastasis of GC. ZYHT inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells in vitro via regulating the expression of metastasis-associated targets. Knocking out RUNX3 almost completely reversed the cell phenotypes (migration and invasion) and protein expression levels elicited by ZYHT. In vivo studies showed that ZYHT inhibited the metastasis of GC cells to the lung and prolonged the survival time of the nude mice. Knocking out RUNX3 partly reversed the metastasis of GC cells to the lung and the protein expression levels elicited by ZYHT.

CONCLUSION

ZYHT can effectively inhibit the invasion and migration of GC in vitro and in vivo, and its molecular mechanism may relate to the upregulation of RUNX3 expression.

Effect of Chemoradiotherapy on the Survival of Resectable Gastric Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) after surgery are necessary to reduce the risk of metastasis and recurrence for resectable gastric cancer (GC) patients. Adjuvant CT and CRT have been proven to significantly improve the prognosis for GC patients, when compared with surgery only. However, it is still unclear whether radiotherapy offers additional survival benefits to advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were systematically searched for eligible studies that compared survival benefits between CRT and CT. The endpoints of this meta-analysis were measured as HR for OS or DFS and 95% CI using fixed- or random-effect models. Additionally, side effects, completed rate, and metastatic risk, were calculated as OR. Subgroup analyses according to clinicopathological factors were presented.

RESULTS

A total of 28 eligible studies involving 20,220 patients were included in our study. Of these, 17 studies evaluated the survival benefits of additional radiotherapy on overall survival (OS) of gastric cancer patients, ten reported the impact of CRT on disease-free survival (DFS), and 26 studies showed long-term survival rate. The pooled results were significant (HR for OS 0.84, 95% CI 0.71-0.99; HR for DFS 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.89). The subgroup analysis showed that adjuvant CRT increased OS for patients without preoperative treatment; showed similar nausea/vomiting, but an increased risk of neutropenia; reduced the risk of locoregional recurrence; failed to improve OS for lymph node (LN)-positive GC patients; and significantly improved prognosis for R1-treated patients. Of note, DFS was improved in all the subgroups via decreasing the locoregional recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Compared with CT, adjuvant CRT can improve survival for advanced gastric cancer patients, with similar nausea/vomiting, but increased risk of neutropenia. Patients without preoperative treatment or with positive surgical margins should be strongly recommended to undergo CRT. Treatment regimens should be carefully decided by doctors based on patients' tolerance, physical status, and reaction to treatment. Moreover, CRT improves the DFS for patients regardless of subgroups, because it significantly reduced the risk of locoregional recurrence.

Comparison of 4 lymph node staging systems for the prognostic prediction of esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with ≤15 retrieved lymph nodes

BACKGROUND

Directly applying the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) staging system to evaluate the prognosis of patients with esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (AEG) might lead to under-staging, when insufficient lymph nodes were retrieved during surgery. The prognostic value of 4 lymph nodes staging systems, 8th AJCC TNM N stage, lymph node ratio (LNR), log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS), and negative lymph nodes (NLN), in AEG patients having ≤15 retrieved lymph nodes were compared.

METHODS

869 AEG patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2012 with ≤15 retrieved lymph nodes were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to assess the association of cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) with 8th AJCC TNM N stage, LNR, LODDS, and NLN respectively. Predictive survival ability was assessed and compared using linear trend χ2 score, likelihood ratio (LR) test, Akaike information criterion (AIC), Harrell concordance index (C-index), and Receiver Operative Curve (ROC).

RESULTS

The N stage, LNR, LODDS, and NLN were all independent prognostic predictors for CSS and OS in multivariate Cox models. Comparatively, LODDS demonstrated higher linear trend χ2 score, LR test score, C-index and integrated area under the curve (iAUC) value, and lower AIC in CSS compared to the other three systems. Moreover, for patients without regional lymph node metastasis, NLN showed higher C-index and lower AIC.

CONCLUSIONS

LODDS showed better predictive performance than N, LNR, and NLN among patients with node-positive patients while NLN performed better in node-negative patients. A combination of LODDS and NLN has the potential to provide more prognostic information than the current AJCC TNM classification.

Integrative Radiogenomics Approach for Risk Assessment of Postoperative and Adjuvant Chemotherapy Benefits for Gastric Cancer Patients

Gastric cancer (GC) is a typical heterogeneous malignant tumor, whose insensitivity to chemotherapy is a common cause of tumor recurrence and metastasis. There is no doubt regarding the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) for GC, but the population for whom it is indicated and the selection of specific options remain the focus of present research. The conventional pathological TNM prediction focuses on cancer cells to predict prognosis, while they do not provide sufficient prediction. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning is a validated tool that assesses the involvement of careful identification of the tumor, lymph node involvement, and metastatic spread. Using the radiomics approach, we selected the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression model to build a radiomics signature for predicting the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with complete postoperative gastric cancer and further identifying candidate benefits from ACT. The radiomics trait-associated genes captured clinically relevant molecular pathways and potential chemotherapeutic drug metabolism mechanisms. Our results of precise surrogates using radiogenomics can lead to additional benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy and then survival prediction in postoperative GC patients.

Comparison of Perioperative Chemotherapy versus Postoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Operable Stomach Cancer: A Western Canadian Province Experience

Background: The standard approaches for resectable stomach cancer are postoperative chemoradiotherapy (PCR) or perioperative chemotherapy (PC). Limited evidence is available regarding the superiority of one of the two approaches. We aimed to compare the survival of patients with operable stomach cancer who were treated with PC or PCR. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with operable stomach cancer diagnosed between 2005–2015 in the province of Saskatchewan were identified and, based on type of treatment, were placed into PCR and PC groups. A Cox proportional multivariate analysis was performed to assess independent prognostic variables, including survival advantage of PC over PCR. Results: A total of 88 eligible patients with a median age of 66 (56–71) and a male to female ratio of 1:0.44 were identified. Seventy-three (83%) patients had pathologically node positive disease. Sixty-seven (76%) patients received PCR, while 21 (24%) patients received PC. The median overall survival of the whole group was 34 months, with 38 months (95% CI 24.6–51.3) in the PCR group vs. 30 months (14.3–45.7) in the PC group (p = 0.29). Median relapse-free survival was 34 months (20.7–47.3) in the PCR group vs. 23 months (6.7–39.3) in the PC group (p = 0.20). Toxicities were comparable. On multivariate analysis, T ≥ 3 tumor (HR, 3.57 (1.39–8.56)), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (LNR) > 2.8 (HR, 1.85 (1.05–3.25)), and positive resection margins (HR, 1.89 (1.06–3.37)) were independently correlated with inferior survival. Conclusions: This well-designed population based cohort study suggests a lack of survival benefit of PC over PCR. Both treatment options remain viable approaches for resectable stomach cancer.

Treatment approach, hospital practice patterns, and receipt of multimodality therapy as measures of quality for locally advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Adequate lymphadenectomy (AL) during surgical resection and delivery of multimodality therapy (MMT) are considered important for optimizing oncologic outcomes in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. Both neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches to MMT delivery are considered acceptable treatment strategies. Our goal was to evaluate the association between MMT treatment approach, hospital practice patterns, and survival and to explore whether AL and MMT might represent measures of quality for locally advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS

A national cohort study of 5433 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (≥cT2 and/or cN+) treated at 987 hospitals within the National Cancer Database (2006-2015). Patients were categorized as receiving a neoadjuvant therapy (NT) or adjuvant therapy (AT) approach. Patients were also categorized based on receipt of AL (≥15 nodes) and MMT (surgery with any preoperative, perioperative, or postoperative AT). Hospitals were stratified based on the predominant treatment approach and the proportion of patients that achieved performance benchmarks (AL ≥ 80%; MMT ≥ 75%). Multivariable Cox shared frailty modeling was used to evaluate the association with the overall risk of death.

RESULTS

Overall, 54.5% of patients were treated with an AT and 45.6% with an NT approach. Relative to surgery alone, receipt of MMT by either approach was associated with decreased risk of death (NT-hazard ratio [HR]: 0.75, 95% confidence interval: [0.65-0.86]; AT-HR: 0.80 [0.71-0.90]). Relative to care at mixed pattern hospitals, care at predominantly AT hospitals was associated with an increased risk of death (HR: 1.28 [1.12-1.47]). Relative to patients whose care achieved no quality measures, AL (HR: 0.75, [0.67-0.82]) and MMT (HR: 0.68 [0.60-0.76]) were each associated with a reduced risk of death. Receipt of both measures was associated with an even greater reduction (HR: 0.47 [0.40-0.56]). Hospital performance on AL, MMT, or both measures was not associated with the risk of death.

CONCLUSION

Because over half of patients are treated with surgery first (many having surgery alone) and care at hospitals favoring a surgery first approach is associated with worse outcomes, quality improvement (QI) efforts should focus on increasing the use of NT strategies. Furthermore, delivery of AL and MMT together may represent an actionable, generalizable target for gastric cancer QI efforts because it improves survival and is unrelated to the context in which care is provided.

Value of quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in predicting extramural venous invasion in locally advanced gastric cancer and prognostic significance

Background

Extramural venous invasion (EMVI) has been found to be related to poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Preoperative diagnosis of EMVI is challenging, as it can only be detected by surgical pathology. The present study aimed to investigate the value of quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting EMVI preoperatively, and to determine the relationship between prediction results and prognosis in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC).

Methods

Between January, 2015, and June, 2017, 79 LAGC patients underwent MRI preoperatively were enrolled in this study. Pathological EMVI (pEMVI) was used as the gold standard for diagnosis. The differences in quantitative DCE-MRI and DWI parameters between groups with different pEMVI status were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to build the combined prediction model for pEMVI with statistically significant quantitative parameters. The performance of the model for predicting pEMVI was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Patients were grouped based on MRI-predicted EMVI (mrEMVI). Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to investigate the relationship between mrEMVI and 2-year recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Results

Of the 79 LAGC patients who underwent MRI, 29 were pEMVI positive and 50 were pEMVI negative. Among the patients' clinical and pathological characteristics, only postoperative staging showed a significant difference between the 2 groups (P=0.015). The pEMVI-positive group had higher volume transfer constant (K^trans) and rate constant (k_ep), and lower apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values than the negative group (0.189 vs. 0.082 min^-1, 0.687 vs. 0.475 min^-1, and 1.230×10^-3 vs. 1.463×10^-3 mm²/s, respectively; P<0.05). Quantitative parameters, K^trans and k_ep, and ADC values, were independently associated with pEMVI which odds ratio values were 3.66, 2.65, and 0.30 (P<0.05), respectively, using multivariate logistic regression. ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in predicting pEMVI using combined K^trans, k_ep, and ADC values were 0.879, 72.4%, 96%, 91.3%, and 85.7%, respectively. A total of 23 cases were considered to be mrEMVI positive, and 56 cases were considered to be mrEMVI negative, according to the predictive results. The median RFS of the mrEMVI-positive group was significant lower than the negative group (21.7 vs. 31.2 months), and the 2-year RFS rate in the mrEMVI-positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative group (43.6% vs. 72.5%, P=0.010).

Conclusions

The quantitative DCE-MRI parameters, K^trans and k_ep, and DWI parameter, ADC, are independent predictors of pEMVI in LAGC; mrEMVI was confirmed to be a poor prognostic predictor for RFS.

Lack of National Adoption of Evidence-Based Treatment for Resectable Gastric Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Level 1 evidence for multimodal treatment of resectable gastric adenocarcinoma from the Intergroup 0116 (2001) and MAGIC (2006) trials demonstrated survival benefit of adjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) and perioperative chemotherapy, respectively. We evaluated the adoption of evidence-based treatment in the post-MAGIC era and its impact on survival.

METHODS

A total of 7058 patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma undergoing definitive surgical resection between 2004 and 2015 were analyzed using the National Cancer Database.

RESULTS

Over the study period, the proportion of patients receiving adjuvant CRT decreased from 19.1% to 9.1%, while perioperative chemotherapy increased from 1.9% to 28.6%. Utilization of perioperative chemotherapy surpassed adjuvant CRT in 2011. Evidence-based treatment (either perioperative chemotherapy or adjuvant CRT) had better overall survival (OS) than other treatments for clinical stage II-III patients (p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis of the whole study period, evidence-based treatments were associated with better OS (HR 0.67 [0.60-0.74], p < 0.05). Only 360/1262 (28.5%) patients in the perioperative chemotherapy group completed postoperative therapy, which was associated with improved OS (p < 0.05). For clinical stage III patients (n = 2402), only 806 (33.6%) received evidence-based treatment, while 487 (22.2%) underwent surgery alone. On multivariate analysis of these patients between 2010 and 2015, both perioperative chemotherapy (HR 0.49 [0.35-0.68]) and adjuvant CRT (HR 0.31 [0.21-0.44]) were associated with better OS than surgery alone (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Since the INT-0116 and MAGIC trials, utilization of evidence-based treatments for resectable gastric adenocarcinoma has increased, with perioperative chemotherapy surpassing adjuvant CRT as the preferred practice. However, overall utilization of these regimens remains quite low nationally despite association with improved OS.

Honokiol Suppression of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-Positive Gastric Cancer Cell Biological Activity and Its Mechanism

BACKGROUND The purpose of our study was to determine the effects and mechanisms of honokiol on human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive gastric cancer cells by in vitro study. MATERIAL AND METHODS We measured HER2 expression in different gastric cancer cell lines by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot (WB) assay. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle were evaluated by cell-counting kit 8 and flow cytometry assays. The invading cell numbers and wound-healing rates were measured by transwell and wound-healing assays. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), P21, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 proteins and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression were measured by WB and RT-qPCR assay. HER2 protein expression was evaluated by cellular immunofluorescence. RESULTS Honokiol suppressed cell proliferation via increasing cell apoptosis, invasion, and migration with dose dependence. By WB and RT-qPCR assays, compared with the control group, PI3K, AKT, P21, and MMP-9 proteins and mRNA expression were significantly different (P<0.05). By cellular immunofluorescence, HER2 protein expression was significantly depressed in honokiol-treated groups compared with control groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Honokiol has suppressive effects on HER2-positive gastric cancer cell biological activities via regulation of HER2/PI3K/AKT pathways in vitro.

Pattern of Recurrence and Patient Survival after Perioperative Chemotherapy with 5-FU, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin and Docetaxel (FLOT) for Locally Advanced Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma in Patients Treated Outside Clinical Trials

Background: The 5-FU, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin and Docetaxel (FLOT) protocol provides superior oncologic results compared to other perioperative chemotherapeutic protocols for the treatment of non-metastatic esophagogastric cancer (EGAC). Survival and the pattern of recurrence of EGAC after FLOT and curative tumor resection are analyzed in a collective of patients treated outside clinical trials. Methods: Two-hundred-seventy-seven patients with EGAC (cT3-4 and/or cN+) were treated with perioperative FLOT-chemotherapy plus curative surgery between 2009 and 2018. Data were analyzed retrospectively from a prospective database. Results: Two-hundred-twenty-eight patients were included in the analysis. Postoperative in-hospital mortality was 2%. The median survival was 61–months, and median recurrence-free survival was 42 months. Multivariate analysis identified postoperative nodal status and T-stage as independent predictors of improved overall and recurrence-free survival. Administration of adjuvant chemotherapy failed to be significant for overall survival but was an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival. Recurrence occurred after a median of 9 months (range 1–46 months). Eighty-nine percent of recurrence occurred during the first 24 months. The rate of local recurrence was low. After surgery for gastric cancer, the major recurrence site was peritoneal carcinomatosis (56%), while esophageal cancer recurred mostly as metastasis to distant organs (78%). The specific site of recurrence had no impact on overall survival time. Conclusion: Real-life application of FLOT shows oncologic results comparable to clinical trials. Recurrence after FLOT and surgery for EGAC occurs predominantly early within the first two years after surgery and in the form of distant organ metastasis for esophageal tumors or peritoneal carcinomatosis for gastric tumors.

Optimizing adjuvant therapies for the treatment of gastric cancer: with a special focus on Asia

Introduction: Today, there is a global consensus that adjuvant treatment is mandatory for stage II and III gastric cancer. What remains controversial, however, is what constitutes the best adjuvant therapy. A comprehensive review including published papers, doi documents, and abstracts from the ASCO annual meeting was undertaken to develop this updated review.Areas covered: Adjuvant treatments for stage II or more advanced and potentially curable gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma are, exclusively, reviewed and discussed.Expert opinion: The role of radiation is not yet established for gastric and GEJ cancers. Postoperative chemoradiotherapy offers no survival advantage over chemotherapy alone for patients who undergo D2 surgery. It is not yet clear if neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is better than adjuvant chemotherapy. Individualized treatment plans should be determined for many patients as efficacy depends on tumor histology, and toxicity varies enormously among effective options.

Survival outcomes in patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas treated with perioperative chemotherapy with or without preoperative radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Perioperative chemotherapy (POC) is one standard approach for the treatment of resectable cancers of the stomach and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), whereas there has been growing interest in preoperative therapies. The objective of the current study was to compare survival between patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy (PCRT) with those receiving POC using a large database.

METHODS

The National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 with American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical group stage IB to stage IIIC (excluding T2N0 disease) adenocarcinoma of the stomach or GEJ. Patients treated with definitive surgery and POC with or without preoperative radiotherapy of 41 to 54 Gy were included. Overall survival (OS) was defined from the date of definitive surgery and estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 14 patient and treatment variables were used for propensity score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

A total of 1048 patients were analyzed: 53.2% received POC and 46.8% received PCRT. The primary tumor site was the GEJ in 69.1% of patients and stomach in 30.9% of patients. The median age of the patients was 60 years, and the median follow-up was 25.8 months. The use of PCRT was associated with a greater pathologic complete response rate of 13.1% versus 8.2% (P = .01). POC was associated with a decreased risk of death in unmatched groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.83; P = .043). Using PSM cohorts, POC decreased the risk of death with a median OS of 45.1 months versus 31.4 months (HR, 0.70; P = .016). The 2-year OS rate was 72.9% versus 62.5% and the 5-year OS rate was 40.7% versus 33.1% for POC versus PCRT, respectively. Survival favored POC in PSM gastric (HR, 0.41; P = .07) and GEJ (HR, 0.77; P = .08) patient subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of preoperative radiotherapy to POC appears to be associated with an increased risk of death in patients with resectable gastric and GEJ cancers.

Correlation between Skeletal Muscle Mass and Adverse Events of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery is a promising treatment strategy for patients with advanced gastric cancer. Severe toxicity associated with the treatment may reduce the dose intensity of chemotherapy, resulting in the effect of chemotherapy being attenuated. Recently, skeletal muscle mass has been reported to be associated with the treatment outcomes of cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether pretreatment skeletal muscle mass is a predictor of adverse events as well as the relationship between changes in skeletal muscle mass and adverse events during NAC.

METHODS

This study included 41 advanced gastric cancer patients who were treated with NAC followed by surgery. Body composition was assessed before and after NAC. The relationship between the pre-NAC body composition and adverse events was investigated as well as the relationship between changes in body composition and adverse events.

RESULTS

Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that low pre-NAC skeletal muscle mass was the only factor significantly associated with severe diarrhea (p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in body weight before and after NAC, but skeletal muscle mass was significantly reduced after NAC (-5.93 ± 7.69%, p < 0.01). Furthermore, patients who experienced severe diarrhea showed significantly greater relative skeletal muscle decrease than those who did not (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-NAC low skeletal muscle mass was a useful predictor of severe diarrhea. Prevention of severe adverse events may contribute to maintaining the skeletal muscle mass.

Characteristics and Survival of Gastric Cancer Patients with Pathologic Complete Response to Preoperative Therapy

BACKGROUND

Pathologic complete response of a primary tumor (ypT0) after preoperative therapy is associated with improved overall survival (OS). However, whether other variables are associated with outcome for gastric cancer patients with ypT0 status is unknown.

METHODS

This study reviewed an institutional database of patients who underwent resection of gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma after preoperative therapy and identified patients with ypT0 status. Cox regression models were used to identify clinicopathologic predictors of OS.

RESULTS

Of 77 patients with ypT0 status identified in this study, 36 (47%) had gastroesophageal junction tumors. At presentation, 62 patients (81%) had clinical T3 disease, and 7 (9%) had clinical T4 disease. The clinical nodal status was positive (cN+) for 45 patients (58%). Preoperative chemoradiation was administered to 75 patients (97%). The median follow-up duration was 3.54 years. The median OS was 10 years, and the 5-year OS rate was 61%. Univariable analysis identified age of 65 years or older at the time of diagnosis, histologic grade, and ypN status as significant predictors of OS. Multivariable analysis confirmed age of 65 years or older [hazard ratio (HR), 4.26; p < 0.001] and persistent nodal disease (ypN+ status; HR, 5.12; p < 0.001) to be independently associated with OS. Clinical stage was not associated with survival. In the subset of ypT0N0 patients, no clinicopathologic feature was predictive of survival.

CONCLUSION

For gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma patients with ypT0 status after preoperative therapy, ypN+ status substantially reduced survival. Pretreatment clinical stage had no impact on OS for patients with a pathologic complete response.

Combined neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio predicts chemotherapy response and prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer

Background

The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are representative blood markers of systemic inflammatory responses. However, the clinical significance of the combination of these markers is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the NLR and PLR in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with chemotherapy and assess the clinical utility of a new blood score combining the NLR and PLR (NLR-PLR score) as a predictor of tumor response and prognosis.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 175 patients with gastric cancer receiving chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. These patients were categorized into progressive disease (PD) and non-PD groups according to tumor response. The NLR and PLR before treatment were examined, and the cut-off values were determined. The NLR-PLR score ranged from 0 to 2 as follows: score of 2, high NLR (> 2.461) and high PLR (> 248.4); score of 1, either high NLR or high PLR; score of 0, neither high NLR nor high PLR.

Results

With regard to tumor response, 64 and 111 patients had PD and non-PD, respectively. The NLR-PLR score was significantly higher in patients with PD than in those with non-PD (p = 0.0009). The prognosis was significantly poorer in patients with a higher NLR-PLR score than in those with a lower NLR-PLR score (p <  0.0001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the NLR-PLR score was an independent prognostic factor for prediction of overall survival (p = 0.0392).

Conclusion

Low-cost stratification according to the NLR-PLR score might be a promising approach for predicting tumor response and prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

The optimal strategy of multimodality therapies for resectable gastric cancer: evidence from a network meta-analysis

Background: Controversy continues regarding the optimal strategy of multimodality therapies for resectable gastric cancer. The aim of this network meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of surgery combined with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) by integrating the direct and indirect method.

Methods: A systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed through Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and PMC databases. Overall survival (OS) was the primary outcome of interest. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted and treatments were ranked based on their effectiveness for improving survival.

Results: Fifty-six RCTs involving 12,435 patients were included. Overall analysis showed that neoadjuvant CRT resulted in a statistically significantly better OS compared with adjuvant CT, adjuvant RT, adjuvant CRT, neoadjuvant CT, neoadjuvant RT, and surgery alone. Moreover, subgroup analysis of D2 lymphadenectomy revealed that neoadjuvant CRT was not significant superior to neoadjuvant CT (HR = 0.67, 95% CrI 0.41-1.08), adjuvant CRT (HR = 0.67, 95% CrI 0.37-1.21), and adjuvant CT (HR = 0.60, 95% CrI 0.35-1.04). With a tendency to survival benefit, neoadjuvant CRT had an 89% probability of being the best selection.

Conclusions: Our study showed no significant survival advantage for neoadjuvant CRT, though the highest probability of being the best treatment was observed. Further clinical trials are essential to determine the value of neoadjuvant CRT, especially in D2 lymphadenectomy subgroup.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts-derived IL-8 mediates resistance to cisplatin in human gastric cancer

Chemoresistance remains the major obstacle to achieve optimal prognosis in gastric cancer patients, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in gastric cancer chemoresistance remain poorly understood. We identified the high pretherapeutical serum IL-8 level in gastric cancer patients was associated with poor response to platinum-based therapy, and it increased gradually during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and it decreased after radical surgery. Immunohistochemistry assays showed that IL-8 was highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues in chemoresistant patients, and located in CAFs. Primary CAFs produced more IL-8 than the corresponding normal fibroblasts, and human stomach fibroblast line Hs738 secreted more IL-8 after co-cultured with conditioned media from AGS or MGC-803 cells. IL-8 increased the IC50 of cisplatin (CDDP) in AGS or MGC-803 in vitro. Simultaneously, IL-8 treatment enhanced the expression of PI3K, phosphorylated-AKT (p-AKT), phosphorylated-IKb (p-IKb), phosphorylated-p65 (p-p65) and ABCB1, and ABCB1 and p-p65 were overexpressed in tumor tissues of chemoresistant patients. Collectively, CAFs derived IL-8 promotes chemoresistance in human gastric cancer via NF-κB activation and ABCB1 up-regulation. Our study provides a novel strategy to improve the chemotherapeutical efficacy and the prognosis of gastric cancer.

Comparison of gastric cancer survival after R0 resection in the US and China

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Gastric cancer (GC) outcomes differ between Asian and Western countries, even when controlling for contributing factors, but whether this difference holds true for China remains inadequately studied. We sought to compare the presentation, treatment, and outcomes of patients with GC undergoing curative intent (R0) resection between the US and China, and to ascertain whether geography/ institution is an independent predictor of disease-specific survival (DSS).

METHODS

Data were analyzed from patients with GC undergoing R0 resection at high-volume cancer centers in the US (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center [MSKCC], n = 1378) and China (Fujian Medical University Union Hospital [FMUUH], n = 4262) between 2000 and 2014. Factors associated with DSS were examined by multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The 5-year DSS ( P < 0.001) for all patients was better at MSKCC than at FMUUH, even among patients not receiving preoperative chemotherapy ( P < 0.001), but stratification by substage eliminated this difference ( P > 0.05). Factors independently associated with DSS included age, histology, tumor size, T category, N category, gastrectomy type, and preoperative chemotherapy, but not institution.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the presentation of patients with GC between MSKCC and FMUUH differs, survival of patients with curatively resected GC, when matched for clinical stage, is comparable.

Between evidence and new perspectives on the current state of the multimodal approach to gastric cancer: Is there still a role for radiation therapy?

In patients affected by gastric cancer (GC), especially those in advanced stage, the multidisciplinary approach of treatment is fundamental to obtain a good disease control and quality of life. Although many chemotherapeutics in combination to radiotherapy are adopted in the peri- or postoperative setting, the most optimal timing, regimens and doses remains controversial. In the era of radical surgery performed with D2-lymphadenectomy, the role of radiation therapy remains to be better defined. Categories of patients, who could benefit more from an intensified local treatment rather than more toxic systemic therapy, are still under investigation. Evidence and recent updates of the randomized trials, meta-analysis and prospective trials show that the postoperative radiotherapy plays a fundamental role in reducing the loco-regional recurrence and in turn the disease-free survival in operable advanced GC patients, also after a well performed D2 surgery. Therapeutic decisions should be taken considering the individual patients, but the multimodal approach is necessary to guarantee a longer survival and a good quality of life. Ongoing randomized trials could better define the timing and the combination of radiotherapy and systemic therapy.

Adjuvant chemoradiation for gastric carcinoma: State of the art and perspectives

An estimated 990,000 new cases of gastric cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year. Surgical excision, the only chance for prolonged survival, is feasible in about 20% of cases. Even after surgery, the median survival is limited to 12 to 20 months due to the frequency of locoregional and/or metastatic recurrences. This led to clinical trials associating surgery with neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatments to improve tumor control and patient survival. The most studied modalities are perioperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. To date, evidence has shown a survival benefit for postoperative chemoradiotherapy and for perioperative chemotherapy. Phase III trials are ongoing to compare these two modalities. The aim of this review is to synthesize current knowledge about adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in the management of gastric adenocarcinoma, and to consider its prospects by integrating modern radiotherapy techniques.