Factors that Minimize Curative Resection for Gallbladder Adenocarcinoma: an Analysis of Clinical Decision-Making and Survival

Factors Associated With Surgical Management in Gallbladder Cancer-A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicare-Based Study

INTRODUCTION

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) incidence is rising, yet prognosis remains poor. Oncological resection of stage T1b or higher improves survival, yet many patients do not receive appropriate resection. This study aims to evaluate factors that may attribute to this discrepancy using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare (SEER-Medicare) database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SEER Medicare (2008-2015) patients with GBC stage T1b or higher were classified as receiving cholecystectomy alone (CCY) or cholecystectomy and liver/biliary resection (oncologic resection). Outcomes and overall survival were compared, before and after propensity score matching on baseline characteristics, using Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively.

RESULTS

We identified 1129 patients of which 830 underwent CCY (58.3% early stage/41.7% late stage) while 299 had complete resection (54.2% early stage/45.8% late stage). CCY patients were more often female (73.4% versus 65.6%; P = 0.0104), ≥80 y old (48.2% versus 22.4%; P < 0.0001), frail (44.5% versus 27.1%; P < 0.0001), treated by general surgeons (98.1% versus 84.9%; P < 0.0001) versus surgical oncologists, not undergoing chemotherapy (72.3% versus 54.5%; P < 0.0001), managed at nonacademic hospitals (51.2% versus 28.4%; P < 0.0001). After matching, oncologic resection demonstrated improved overall survival compared to CCY at 1-y (69.2% versus 47.2%; P < 0.0001), 3-y (42.8% versus 21.1%; P < 0.0001), and 5-y (37.5% versus 17.4%; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Most GBC patients may not be receiving appropriate oncological resection, especially patients who are female, older, frail, operated on by a general surgeon, not undergoing chemotherapy, or managed at nonacademic hospitals. Even when adjusting for patient factors, complete resection is associated with overall survival outcomes at multiple endpoints. Limiting sex, age, and frail status as factors and involving surgical oncologists or receiving management at academic centers may increase oncologic resection rates and thus improve survival for GBC patients.

Gallbladder Cancer Incidentally Found at Cholecystectomy: Perioperative Risk Factors

PURPOSE

Risk factors of gallbladder cancer (GBC) are not well-defined resulting in greater than 60% of GBCs being diagnosed incidentally following cholecystectomy performed for presumed benign indications. As most localized GBCs require more extensive oncologic surgery beyond cholecystectomy, this study aims to examine factors associated with incidentally found GBC to improve preoperative and intraoperative diagnoses.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database from 2007 to 2017 was used to identify cholecystectomies performed with and without a final diagnosis of GBC. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to compare demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics among those with and without a diagnosis of GBC.

RESULTS

The incidence of GBC was observed to be 0.11% (441/403,443). Preoperative factors associated with risk of GBC included age > 60 (OR 6.51, p < .001), female sex (OR 1.75, p < .001), history of weight loss (2.58, p < .001), and elevated preoperative alkaline phosphatase level (OR 1.67, p = .001). Open approach was associated with 7 times increased risk of GBC compared to laparoscopic approach (OR 7.33, p < .001). In addition to preoperative factors and surgical approach, longer mean operative times (127 min vs 70.7 min, p < .001) were significantly associated with increased risk of GBC compared to benign final pathology.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that those with incidentally discovered GBC at cholecystectomy are unique from those undergoing cholecystectomy for benign indications. By identifying predictors of GBC, surgeons can choose high risk individuals for pre-operative oncologic evaluation and consider better tools for identifying GBC such as intraoperative frozen pathology.

Intramucosal Extent as a Marker for Advanced Disease and Survival in Gallbladder Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common biliary tract malignancy and has a poor prognosis. The clinical significance of focal vs diffuse GBC remains unclear.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted on all patients with non-metastatic GBC at a quaternary care center. Pathology was reviewed, and gallbladder cancer pattern was defined based on the extent of mucosal involvement; "diffuse" if the tumor was multicentric or "focal" if the tumor was only in a single location. Patients undergoing liver resection and portal lymphadenectomy were considered to have definitive surgery. The primary outcome was overall survival and assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves.

RESULTS

63 patients met study criteria with 32 (50.7%) having diffuse cancer. No difference was observed in utilization of definitive surgery between the groups (14 [43.8%] with focal and 12 [38.7%] with diffuse, P = .88). Lymphovascular invasion (P = .04) and higher nodal stage (P = .04) were more common with diffuse GBC. Median overall survival was significantly improved in those with focal cancer (5.1 vs 1.2 years, P = .02). Although not statistically significant, this difference in overall survival persisted in patients who underwent definitive surgery (4.3 vs 2.4 years, P = .70).

DISCUSSION

Patients with diffuse involvement of the gallbladder mucosa likely represent a subset with aggressive biology and worse overall survival compared to focal disease. These findings may aid surgeons in subsequent surgical and medical decision-making for patients with GBC.

Residual cancer is a strong predictor of survival in T3 incidental gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Index cholecystectomy is insufficient for curing T3 incidental gallbladder cancer (IGC), and once residual cancer (RC) is found, the prognosis is often poor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of RC on the prognosis and the optimal choice of adjuvant therapy for R0 reresection patients with T3 IGC.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed data from patients with T3 IGC who underwent radical reresection from January 2013 to December 2018. RC was defined as histologically proven cancer at reresection. Demographics and tumour treatment-related variables were analysed in correlation with RC and survival. Adjuvant (Adj) chemoradiotherapy (CRT) was correlated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

Of the 167 patients with IGC who underwent surgery, 102 underwent radical extended resection. Thirty-two (31.4%) RCs were found. Hepatic side tumours (T3h) and both side tumours (T3h + T3p) were associated with the presence of RC. In multivariate analysis, RC and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS (P < 0.05). RC was associated with a significantly shorter median OS (20 vs. 53 months; P < 0.01) and DFS (11 vs. 40 months; P < 0.001) despite R0 resection. For R0 reresection patients with RC and/or lymph node metastasis, Adj CRT significantly improved OS (P = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

Residual cancer and lymphatic metastasis are important factors for the poor prognosis of T3 IGC despite R0 resection, and these patients should actively receive adjuvant therapy.

Current management of incidental gallbladder cancer: A review

Early-stage gallbladder cancer (GBC) is mostly discovered incidentally by the pathologist after cholecystectomy for a presumed benign disease. It is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract with a variable incidence rate all over the World. The majority of patients with GBC remain asymptomatic for a long time and diagnosis is usually late when the disease is at an advanced stage. Radical surgery consisting in resection of the gallbladder liver bed and regional lymph nodes seems to be the best treatment option for incidental GBC. However, recurrence rates after salvage surgery are still high and the addition of neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy may improve outcomes. The aim of the present review is to evaluate current literature for advances in management of incidental GBC, with particular focus on staging techniques and surgical options.