Prognostic analysis and liver metastases relevant factors after gastric and hepatic surgical treatment in gastric cancer patients with metachronous liver metastases: a population-based study

Pembrolizumab in patients with gastric cancer and liver metastases: A paradigm shift in immunotherapy

In this editorial, we explore the impact of immunotherapy and its safety in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) and liver involvement. GC, a formidable adversary in the oncology landscape, presents its most challenging battlefront when it reaches stage IV, often characterized by liver metastases. The prognosis for patients at this advanced stage is daunting, with systemic chemotherapy traditionally offering a median overall survival slightly over a year. However, the landscape of treatment is evolving, with new strategies and therapies offering a glimmer of hope.

Recent advancements in management for noncolorectal, nonneuroendocrine hepatic metastases

BACKGROUND

Owing to the heterogeneity of underlying primary tumors, noncolorectal, nonneuroendocrine metastases to the liver (NCNNMLs), although relatively rare, pose major challenges to treatment and long-term management. Despite being considered the gold standard for colorectal cancer liver metastases, the role of surgical resection for NCNNML remains controversial. Furthermore, advancements in locoregional treatment modalities, such as ablation and various chemotherapeutic modalities, have contributed to the treatment of patients with NCNNML.

METHODS

This was a comprehensive review of literature that used Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science, which were accessed between 2014 and 2024.

RESULTS

NCNNMLs are rare tumor entities with varied presentation and outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach, which includes chemotherapy, surgery, and interventional radiologic techniques, can be implemented with good results.

CONCLUSION

Given the complex nature of NCNNML, its management should be highly individualized and multidisciplinary. Locoregional treatments, such as surgical resection and/or ablation, may be more appropriate for select patients and should be offered as a viable therapeutic option for a subset of individuals.

Genomic biology and therapeutic strategies of liver metastasis from gastric cancer

The liver is a frequent site of metastasis in advanced gastric cancer (GC). Despite significant advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, the overall survival rate for patients afflicted with gastric cancer liver metastasis (GCLM) remains dismally low. Precision oncology has made significant progress in identifying therapeutic targets and enhancing our understanding of metastasis mechanisms through genome sequencing and molecular characterization. Therefore, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the various molecular processes involved in GCLM and the fundamental principles of systemic therapy to develop new treatment approaches. This paper aims to review recent findings on the diagnosis, potential biomarkers, and therapies targeting the multiple molecular processes of GCLM, with the goal of improving treatment strategies for patients with GCLM.

Distinct characteristics of distant metastasis in early-onset gastric cancer patients compared to late-onset patients: An observational study

Presently, there is limited understanding of the features of distant metastasis in early-onset gastric cancer (GC). To explore these disparities, a retrospective study utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was undertaken. The SEER database was utilized to extract patient data, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors associated with distant metastasis and liver metastasis. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare the occurrence of liver metastasis among patients based on their age at diagnosis. The study included 2684 early-onset GC patients and 33,289 late-onset GC patients. Preliminary data analysis indicated that early-onset GC patients exhibited more aggressive characteristics such as poor cell differentiation, advanced T stage, and a higher incidence of distant metastasis, excluding liver metastasis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified younger age as an independent risk factor for distant metastasis, along with T stage, lymph node metastasis (LNM), and tumor size (>3 cm). Another regression analysis revealed that younger age, diffuse type, and female gender were protective factors against liver metastasis. Through PSM, 3276 early-onset GC patients were matched with an equal number of late-onset GC patients, revealing that patients with early-onset GC had fewer instances of liver metastasis but a higher prevalence of distant metastasis. Our findings suggest that early-onset serves as a protective factor against liver metastasis in GC, while it poses a risk for distant metastasis, likely influenced by the increased prevalence of diffuse-type GC in early-onset patients.

Influence of cancer-directed surgery on the prognosis of liver metastases from gastric cancer

There are controversial about the application of cancer-directed surgery (CDS) in patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer, with improved responses to chemotherapy and targeted treatments, the role of CDS in metastatic gastric cancer to the liver needs to be revisited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of CDS on patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer. Data for patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer were extracted from the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A total of 958 individuals were enrolled, 285 in the CDS group and 673 in the non-cancer guided surgery (Non-CDS) group. Following propensity score matching (PSM) analysis at 1:1 in the two groups,285 were included in the survival analysis for each group. Kaplan-Meier values and Cox proportional risk models were used to estimate the effect of CDS on patients' prognoses. Compared with the Non-CDS group, the CDS group significantly prolonged the median overall survival from 4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3-5) to 11 months (95% CI 8-12), p value < 0.001. Overall survival (OS) at 1 year was higher in the CDS group than in the Non-CDS group, at 44% (95 CI 38-50) and 25% (95 CI 20-30), respectively. OS at 3 years was also higher in the CDS group than in the Non-CDS group, at 24% (95 CI 19-29) and 6% (95 CI 3-9), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that Non-CDS (hazard ratio[HR] = 2.26, 95% CI 1.88-2.72, p value < 0.001) was an adverse independent prognostic factor for patients. This study concludes that CDS prolonged survival in patients with gastric cancer with liver metastases. Due to the lack of information on the quality of life, biomarkers, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy in the SEER database, the observed improved survival rates following CDS of hepatic metastasis from gastric cancer requires prospective studies that take these factors into account to properly address the survival advantages and impact on quality of life of such a method.

Analysis of Related Risk Factors and Prognostic Factors of Gastric Cancer with Liver Metastasis: A SEER and External Validation Based Study

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) has a poor prognosis, particularly in patients with liver metastasis (LM). This study aims to identify relevant factors associated with the occurrence of LM in GC patients and factors influencing the prognosis of gastric cancer with liver metastasis (GCLM) patients, in addition to developing diagnostic and prognostic nomograms specifically.

Patients and Methods

Overall, 6184 training data were from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2011 to 2015. 1527 validation data were from our hospital between January 2018 and December 2022. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of LM in GC patients, Cox regression was used to confirm the prognostic factors of GCLM patients. Two nomogram models were established to predict the risk and overall survival (OS) of patients with GCLM. The performance of the two models was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), concordance index (C-index), and calibration curves.

Results

A nomogram included five independent factors from multivariate logistic regression: sex, lymph node removal, chemotherapy, T stage and N stage were constructed to calculate the possibility of LM. Internal and external verifications of AUC were 0.786 and 0.885, respectively. The other nomogram included four independent factors from multivariate Cox regression: surgery at primary site, surgery at other site, chemotherapy, and N stage were constructed to predict OS. C-index for internal and external validations were 0.714 and 0.702, respectively, and the calibration curves demonstrated the robust discriminative ability of the models.

Conclusion

Based on the SEER database and validation data, we defined effective nomogram models to predict risk and OS in patients with GCLM. They have important value in clinical decision-making and personalized treatment.

Efficacy and safety of CalliSpheres® microspheres drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization in GCLM combined trans-arterial infusion therapy for treating primary focus of gastric cancer: a multi-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to observe the safety and efficacy of CalliSpheres microspheres drug-eluting beads (DEB) transhepatic arterial chemoembolization (CSM-TACE) for liver metastasis of gastric cancer (GCLM) combined with trans-arterial infusion therapy (TAIT) as the primary focus of gastric cancer.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Unresectable advanced GCLM patients were collected for retrospective analysis. Patients who progressed after chemotherapy or could not receive systematic chemotherapy were selected. CSM-TACE was used for GCLM treatment and oxaliplatin for TAIT of primary focus of gastric cancer. Adverse reactions, tumor reactions, survival rate, and survival time during treatment were recorded, and prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

Forty-three patients from four oncology centers met inclusion criteria and were enrolled. CSM-TACE averaged (1.51 ± 0.51) times and TAIT averaged (4.58 ± 1.65) times. The follow-up time was 2.5-49 months, and the 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year survival rates were 86.0%, 72.1%, and 41.9%, respectively, with a median overall survival of 11.5 months. The adverse reactions during treatment were grade 1-3. The hazard ratio (HR) of combination therapy was 0.51 (P = 0.040), and the HR of TAIT frequency was 0.34 (P = 0.002), which were independent protective factors affecting prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

CSM-TAC for GCLM combined with TAIT for primary focus of gastric cancer is safe and efficacious, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Survival Outcomes of Hepatectomy in Gastric Cancer Liver Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Gastric cancer liver metastasis (GCLM) is a contraindication for surgical treatment in current guidelines. However, the results of recent studies are questioning this paradigm. We assessed survival outcomes and their predictors following hepatectomy for GCLM in a systematic review of studies published from 2000 to 2022 according to PRISMA guidelines. We identified 42,160 references in four databases. Of these, 55 articles providing data from 1990 patients fulfilled our criteria and were included. We performed a meta-analysis using random-effects models to assess overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at one, three, and five years post-surgery. We studied the impact of potential prognostic factors on survival outcomes via meta-regression. One, three, and five years after surgery, OS was 69.79%, 34.79%, and 24.68%, whereas DFS was 41.39%, 23.23%, and 20.18%, respectively. Metachronous presentation, well-to-moderate differentiation, small hepatic tumoral size, early nodal stage, R0 resection, unilobar compromisation, and solitary lesions were associated with higher overall survival. Metachronous presentation, smaller primary tumoral size, and solitary metastasis were linked to longer DFS. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that hepatectomy leads to favorable survival outcomes in patients with GCLM and provides data that might help select patients who will benefit most from surgical treatment.

Long-term outcomes after different treatments for gastric cancer with synchronous liver metastasis: A PRISMA systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The treatment of gastric cancer (GC) with synchronous liver metastasis is still controversial. This systematic review and network meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the long-term outcomes after different treatments of GC with synchronous liver metastasis.

METHODS

Several electronic databases were searched to identify eligible studies updated on May 1, 2021. Studies assessing the overall survival (OS) after different treatments (including chemotherapy, interventional therapy, surgical therapy alone and adjunctive therapy after surgery) of GC with synchronous liver metastasis were included. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for survival variables.

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies including 4312 patients were included in this network meta-analysis. Adjunctive therapy after surgery performed better than surgery therapy alone (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.23, 95% credible interval [CrI]: 0.69-2.17), chemotherapy (HR = 1.18, 95%CrI: 0.71-1.95), and interventional therapy in terms of 1-year OS (HR = 2.03, 95%CrI: 1.22-3.37). In terms of 3-OS, adjunctive therapy after surgery showed better efficacy than surgery therapy alone (HR = 1.48, 95%CrI: 0.40-5.47), chemotherapy (HR = 1.27, 95%CrI: 0.37-4.35), and interventional therapy (HR = 3.16, 95%CrI: 0.73-13.63). For 5-OS, adjunctive therapy after surgery was superior to surgery therapy alone (HR = 1.74, 95%CrI: 0.08-37.76), chemotherapy (HR = 1.44, 95%CrI: 0.66-3.14), and interventional therapy (HR = 1.46, 95%CrI: 0.06-34.36). There were no statistical inconsistency and small-study effect existed in our network meta-analysis for 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year OS. Cluster ranking analysis performed with surface under the cumulative ranking showed adjuvant therapies after surgery (99.9, 96.7, 90.2) ranking higher than surgery therapy alone, chemotherapy, and interventional therapy for 1-year, 3-year, 5-year OS.

CONCLUSION

The OS of adjuvant therapy after surgery was better than that of surgery therapy alone, chemotherapy, and interventional therapy. Adjuvant therapy after surgery is the most recommended therapy for people with GC with synchronous liver metastasis.

A grading system for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer with liver metastasis

OBJECTIVE

The prognosis of patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer is determined using tumor size and number of metastases; this is similar to the factors used for the prediction of liver metastases from colorectal cancer. The relationship between the degree of liver metastasis from gastric cancer and prognosis with reference to the classification of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer was investigated.

METHODS

This was a multi-institutional historical cohort study. Among patients with stage IV gastric cancer, who visited the cancer hospitals in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, between 2008 and 2015, those with simultaneous liver metastasis were included. Abdominal pretreatment computed tomography images were reviewed and classified into H1 (four or less liver metastases with a maximum diameter of ≤5 cm); H2 (other than H1 and H3) or H3 (five or more liver metastases with a maximum diameter of ≥5 cm). The hazard ratio for overall survival according to the H grade (H1, H2 and H3) was calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

A total of 412 patients were analyzed. Patients with H1, H2 and H3 grades were 118, 162 and 141, respectively, and their median survival time was 10.2, 5.7 and 3.1 months, respectively (log-rank P < 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratio for overall survival was H1: H2: H3 = reference: 1.39 (95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.85): 1.69 (95% confidence interval: 1.27-2.27).

CONCLUSIONS

The grading system proposed in this study was a simple and easy-to-use prognosis prediction index for patients with liver metastasis from gastric cancer.

Ex vivo liver resection followed by autotransplantation in radical resection of gastric cancer liver metastases: A case report

BACKGROUND

Radical resection of gastric cancer liver metastases (GCLM) can increase the 5-year survival rate of GCLM patients. However, patients may lose the theoretical feasibility of surgery due to the critical location of liver metastasis in some cases.

CASE SUMMARY

A 29-year-old woman had a chief complaint of chronic abdominal pain for 1 year. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations suggested a mass of unknown pathological nature located between the first and second hila and the margin of the lower segment of the right lobe of the liver. The anterior wall of the gastric antrum was unevenly thickened. The diagnosis of (gastric antrum) intramucosal well-differentiated adenocarcinoma was histopathologically confirmed by puncture biopsy with gastroscopy guidance. She underwent radical resection (excision of both gastric tumors and ex vivo liver resection followed by autotransplantation simultaneously) followed by XELOX adjuvant chemotherapy. Without serious postoperative complications, the patient was successfully discharged on the 20^th day after the operation. Pathological examination of the excised specimen indicated that gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for primary gastric tumors and R0 resection for liver metastases were achieved. The resected mass was confirmed to be poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (hepatoid adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation) with liver metastases in segments VIII. No recurrence or metastasis within the liver was found during a 7.5-year follow-up review that began 1 mo after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Application of ex vivo liver resection followed by autotransplantation in radical resection for GCLM can help selected patients with intrahepatic metastases located in complex sites obtain a favorable clinical outcome.

Preoperative T2-weighted MR imaging texture analysis of gastric cancer: prediction of TNM stages

PURPOSE

To explore the capability of algorithms to build multivariate models integrating morphological and texture features derived from preoperative T₂-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images of gastric cancer (GC) to evaluate tumor- (T), node- (N), and metastasis- (M) stages.

METHODS

A total of 80 patients at our hospital who underwent abdominal MR imaging and were diagnosed with GC from December 2011 to November 2016 were retrospectively included. Texture features were calculated using T₂-weighted images with a manual region of interest. Morphological characteristics were also evaluated. Classifiers and regression analyses were used to build multivariate models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess diagnostic efficacy.

RESULTS

There were 8, 10, and 3 texture parameters that showed significant differences in GCs at different overall (I-II vs. III-IV), T (1-2 vs. 3-4), and N (- vs. +) stages (all p < 0.05), respectively. Mild thickening was more common in stages I-II, T1-2, and N- GCs (all p < 0.05). An irregular outer contour was more commonly observed in stages III-IV (p = 0.001) and T3-4 (p = 0.001) GCs. T3-4 and N+ GCs tended to be thickening type lesions (p = 0.005 and 0.032, respectively). The multivariate models using the naive bayes algorithm showed the highest diagnostic efficacy in predicting T and N stages (area under the ROC curves [AUC] = 0.900 and 0.863, respectively), and the model based on regression analysis had the best predictive performance in overall staging (AUC = 0.839).

CONCLUSION

Multivariate models combining morphological characteristics with texture parameters based on machine learning algorithms were able to improve diagnostic efficacy in predicting the overall, T, and N stages of GCs.

The Ratio of the Hemoglobin to Red Cell Distribution Width Combined with the Ratio of Platelets to Lymphocytes Can Predict the Survival of Patients with Gastric Cancer Liver Metastasis

Background

Hemoglobin/red cell distribution width (HR) and platelet/lymphocyte (PLR) ratios are considered effective prognostic markers in various cancers. We have proposed a new prognostic parameter: HR+PLR. The aim of this study is to explore the prognostic value of the HR+PLR scoring system in patients with gastric cancer liver metastasis.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 306 patients with gastric cancer liver metastases admitted to our hospital from 2007 to 2014. According to the size of HR value and PLR value, we will divide the patients into three groups, namely, HR+PLR: (1) 0 points: HR > 1.02 and PLR < 128; (2) 1 point: HR > 1.02 and PLR > 128 and HR < 1.02 and PLR < 128; and (3) 2 points: HR < 1.02 and PLR > 128.

Results

The HR+PLR score was statistically different from age (P = 0.049), T stage (P < 0.001), N stage (P = 0.017), number of liver metastases (P = 0.018), gastrectomy (P < 0.001), hepatectomy (P = 0.001), peritoneal metastasis (P = 0.012), prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (P = 0.028), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P = 0.045). The HR+PLR scoring system has a higher area under the ROC curve (AUC value) than PNI, PLR, HR, and PLR (AUC = 0.798, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, gastrectomy (P = 0.001), hepatectomy (P < 0.001), chemotherapy (P = 0.014), and HR+PLR score (P < 0.001) were considered independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion

For patients with gastric cancer liver metastasis, the HR+PLR score is a simple, reliable, and economic prognostic marker.

Chinese consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer with liver metastases

Background

The incidence of gastric cancer with liver metastases (GCLM) is 9.9-18.7%, with a median survival time of 11 months and a 5-year survival rate <20%. Multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) is gradually gaining recognition as the most important method. However, specific treatment plans remain unclear. The aim of study was to provide a consensus to improve the diagnosis and treatment of GCLM.

Methods

We brought together experts from relevant medical fields across China, including the Chinese Research Hospital Association Digestive Tumor Committee, Chinese Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, Chinese Gastric Cancer Association, and the Gastrointestinal Surgical Group of Chinese Surgical Society Affiliated to Chinese Medical Association, to discuss and formulate this consensus.

Results

A consensus was reached on the diagnosis and treatment of GCLM. Moreover, we have developed a new clinical classification system, the Chinese Type for Gastric Cancer Liver Metastases, based on the likelihood of a surgical treatment being successful.

Conclusions

The MDT mode should be implemented throughout all treatment of GCLM.A Chinese version of this expert consensus has been published in the Chinese Journal of Practical Surgery (Volume 39, Issue 10, p. 405-411). Written permission was obtained from the Chinese Journal of Practical Surgery to disseminate the expert consensus in English.