Clinical effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Fibrinogen-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Was an Independent Predictor of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Clinically Node-Negative Advanced-Stage Gastric Cancer

Purpose

Various hematological indicators have been reported to predict lymph node metastasis (LNM) in gastric cancer (GC) patients, but the relationship between FLR and LNM has not been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of preoperative fibrinogen-to-lymphocyte ratio (FLR) in predicting LNM in patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 571 eligible patients with primary AGC adenocarcinoma who underwent radical gastrectomy (discovery cohort). Patients were divided into high and low FLR groups according to the optimal cutoff value determined by Youden index. FLR is an independent predictor of LNM determined by logistic regression and validated in the validation cohort of 207 patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of FLR for LNM. The nonlinear relationship between FLR and LNM risk was assessed using restricted cubic spline. Sensitivity analyses were performed according to FLR quartiles to further assess the robustness of the results. The nomogram was built based on FLR and clinicopathological characteristics, and was evaluated by calibration curves, ROC curve analysis and decision curve analysis.

Results

In the discovery cohort, the area under the curve (AUC) value for FLR to predict LNM was 0.592. There is a linear relationship between the FLR value and the risk of LNM, and the risk of LNM increased with FLR value. High FLR level is an independent risk factor for LNM, and the results of sensitivity analysis robust this finding. The nomogram for individual risk assessment performed well. Furthermore, we verified the FLR was an independent predictor of LNM in the validation cohort.

Conclusion

FLR was an independent predictor of LNM in patients with cN0 AGC.

Impact of Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite promising results, the effectiveness of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in patients with gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis (GCPC) has not been systematically evaluated. The aim of this systematic review is to compare the survival, complications and risk of recurrence between CRS + HIPEC versus CRS alone in GCPC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A systematic review was performed in MEDLINE and Web of Science according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Primary studies with patients with GCPC older than 18 years were included. Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria were used to assess the quality of the studies. We performed random-effects meta-analysis of risk ratios (RR). We assessed heterogeneity using the I² statistic.

RESULTS

Five studies were included in the qualitative and four in the quantitative analysis. The overall survival (OS) rate after 1 year was 3.65 times higher for CRS + HIPEC than CRS alone [RR = 3.65, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.01-13.26, I² = 73%]. The OS rate after 5 years was more than three times higher for CRS + HIPEC than for CRS alone (RR = 3.25, 95% CI = 1.28-8.26, I² = 8%). No significant differences between CRS + HIPEC and CRS alone related to complications were found (RR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.83-1.33, I² = 0%). The risk of peritoneal recurrence was significantly lower for CRS + HIPEC than for CRS alone (RR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.11-0.48, I² = 40%). The results may be associated with some information or indication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Results should be analysed cautiously given the detected heterogeneity and limitations of included studies. However, treatment with CRS + HIPEC seems to increase the survival of patients with GCPC, more than treatment with CRS alone, decrease the risk of peritoneal recurrence and not be associated with more complications.

The Role of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Non-colorectal Peritoneal Surface Malignancies

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal carcinomatosis, from a variety of gastrointestinal and gynecological malignancies, has been historically challenging to treat and there remains a wide range of biologic aggressiveness in these patients. Malignancies commonly associated with PC include those of colorectal, appendiceal, gastric, ovarian, sarcoma, small intestinal, and primary peritoneal origin among others. Advances in our understanding of this unique disease process have led to significant interest in cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) as an emerging treatment option. The goal of CRS-HIPEC is to remove all visible macroscopic disease while preserving organ function, and then treat microscopic disease through perfusion of the peritoneal cavity with heated chemotherapy.

PURPOSE

Although recent reviews have focused on the management of peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to colorectal cancer given the publication of several recent randomized controlled trials, the purpose of the current review is to summarize the evidence on CRS-HIPEC for non-colorectal peritoneal surface malignancies, including appendiceal neoplasms, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, gastric cancer, and ovarian cancer.

RESULTS

While retrospective studies have clarified the importance of prognostic factors such as the peritoneal carcinomatosis index, completeness of cytoreduction, histopathological characteristics, and lymph node positivity, the lack of convincing level 1 evidence for the use of CRS-HIPEC has led to it remaining a highly controversial topic.

CONCLUSION

The decision to utilize CRS-HIPEC should involve a multidisciplinary team approach and evaluation of prognostic factors to balance the short-term morbidity of the operation with maximum long-term benefits. Large, multi-institutional groups and ongoing trials hold promise for clarifying the role of CRS-HIPEC in peritoneal surface malignancies.

Retrospective study on efficacy of a paclitaxel combined with a leucovorin and fluorouracil regimen for advanced gastric cancer

Purpose:

To investigate the efficacy of paclitaxel combined with a leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil regimen (PLF regimen; q2w) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) for advanced gastric cancer.

Methods:

A total of 183 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent 3 cycles of PLF regimen chemotherapy before surgery and received surgery 2 weeks after chemotherapy were enrolled as a treatment group. A total of 184 patients with advanced gastric cancer and no NCT during the same period were enrolled as the controls and treated with surgery. Both groups underwent a D2 radical gastrectomy and the standard postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Results:

In the NCT group, there were 19 cases of complete remission, 86 cases of partial remission, 72 cases of stable disease, and 6 cases of progressive disease, with an overall response rate of 57.4%. The R0 resection rate was higher than in the control group (85.2% vs 61.4%, p < .05). In the NCT group, 12 cases of esophagogastric cancer (20.7%) showed complete remission and 32 cases (55.2%) showed partial remission, while 7 cases of distal gastric cancer (5.6%) showed complete remission and 54 cases (43.2%) showed partial remission. Pathologic complete remission was higher for esophagogastric cancer than for distal gastric cancer (20.7% vs 3.2%, p < .05). Differences were found between the NCT and control groups in terms of 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall and disease-free survival.

Conclusion:

The PLF regimen showed good tolerability and a high response rate, especially for esophagogastric cancer. This regimen reduced the tumor size, lowered the tumor stage, and improved the R0 resection rate and survival rate.

Efficacy after preoperative capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) versus docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S1 (DOS) in patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacies of the XELOX and DOS regimens as preoperative chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS

All cases of locally advanced gastric cancer treated with the XELOX or DOS regimen were reviewed retrospectively. Propensity score matching (PSM) was carried out to reduce selection bias based on age, gender, location, Lauren type, carcinoembryonic antigen level, clinical tumor stage, and clinical node stage.

RESULTS

From January 2010 to December 2016, 248 patients were matched; 159 of them received the XELOX regimen and 89 the DOS regimen. The response rates in the XELOX and DOS groups were 34.5 and 38.1%, respectively (P = 0.823). After four cycles of chemotherapy, 111 patients (69.8%) in the XELOX group and 65 patients (73.0%) in the DOS group underwent radical surgery (P = 0.485). The median progression-free survival (33.0 months vs. 18.7 months, P = 0.0356) and the median overall survival (43.8 months vs. 29.1 months, P = 0.0003) were longer for patients who received the DOS regimen than for those who received the XELOX regimen. The occurrence of grade 3 to 4 toxicity was similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

For locally advanced gastric cancer patients, the DOS regimen showed more benefit than the XELOX regimen as preoperative chemotherapy, without any added toxicity effects.

Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer: a PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is extensively used in the treatment of patients with gastric cancer (GC), particularly in high risk, advanced gastric cancer. Previous trials testing the efficacy of NAC have reported inconsistent results.

METHODS

This study compares the combined use of NAC and surgery with surgery alone for GC by using a meta-analytic approach. We performed an electronic search of PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane Library to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on NAC published before Oct 2015. The primary outcome of the studies was data on survival rates for patients with GC. The summary results were pooled using the random-effects model. We included 12 prospective RCTs reporting data on 1538 GC patients.

RESULTS

Patients who received NAC were associated with significant improvement of OS (P = 0.001) and PFS (P < 0.001). Furthermore, NAC therapy significantly increased the incidence of 1-year survival rate (SR) (P = 0.020), 3-year SR (P = 0.011), and 4-year SR (P = 0.001). Similarly, NAC therapy was associated with a lower incidence of 1-year (P < 0.001), 2-year (P < 0.001), 3-year (P < 0.001), 4-year (P = 0.001), and 5-year recurrence rate (P = 0.002). Conversely, patients who received NAC also experienced a significantly increased risk of lymphocytopenia (P = 0.003), and hemoglobinopathy (P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study suggested that NAC is associated with significant improvement in the outcomes of survival and disease progression for GC patients while also increasing some toxicity.

Prognostic factors associated with locally advanced gastric cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical resection

In this retrospective study, we analyzed prognostic factors associated with survival outcomes in 73 locally advanced gastric cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgical resection. Median disease-free survival (DFS) for 64 patients that received R0 resection was 685 days, whereas median overall survival (OS) for 73 patients was 930 days. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that post-treatment nodal stages (P = 0.002), nervous invasion (P = 0.0492) and serum CA199 levels (P = 0.0398) were independent prognostic factors for DFS. Nodal stages (P = 0.0007), presence of nervous invasion (P = 0.0259) and non-radical resection (P = 0.0165) were independent prognostic factors for OS. These results indicate that post-treatment nodal stages, neural invasion and serum CA199 levels are all associated with poor DFS. Moreover, post-treatment nodal stage, resection type and neural invasion status are independent prognostic factors for OS.

Changing Trends in Gastric Cancer Surgery

Gastric cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death. It requires multimodal treatment and surgery is the most effective treatment modality. Radical surgery includes total or subtotal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection. The extent of lymphadenectomy still remains controversial. Eastern surgeons have performed D2 or more extended lymphadenectomy while their Western colleagues have performed more limited lymph node dissection. However, the trend has been changing in favour of D2 lymph node dissection in both hemispheres. Currently, D2 is the recommended type of lymphadenectomy in experienced centres in the west. In Japan, D2 lymph node dissection is the standard surgical approach. More extensive lymphadenectomy than D2 has not been found to be associated with improved survival and generally is not performed. Bursectomy and splenectomy are additional controversial issues in surgical performance, and trends regarding them will be discussed. The performance of bursectomy is controversial and there is no clear evidence of its clinical benefit. However, a trend toward better survival in patients with serosal invasion has been reported. Routine splenectomy as a part of lymph node dissection has largely been abandoned, although splenectomy is recommended in selected cases. Minimally invasive surgery has gained wide popularity and indications for minimally invasive procedures have been expanding due to increasing experience and improving technology. Neoadjuvant therapy has been shown to have beneficial effects and seems necessary to provide a survival benefit. Diagnostic laparoscopy should be kept in mind prior to treatment.

Recent insights in the therapeutic management of patients with gastric cancer

Gastric cancer remains frequent and one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. In this article, we aimed to comprehensively review recent insights in the therapeutic management of gastric cancer, with focus on the surgical and perioperative management of resectable forms, and the latest advances regarding advanced diseases. Surgical improvements comprise the use of laparoscopic surgery including staging laparoscopy, a better definition of nodal dissection, and the development of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The best individualized perioperative management should be assessed before curative-intent surgery for all patients and can consists in perioperative chemotherapy, adjuvant chemo-radiation therapy or adjuvant chemotherapy alone. The optimal timing and sequence of chemotherapy and radiation therapy with respect to surgery should be further explored. Patients with advanced gastric cancer have a poor prognosis. Nevertheless, they can benefit from doublet or triplet chemotherapy combination, including trastuzumab in HER2-positive patients. Upon progression, second-line therapy can be considered in patients with good performance status. Although anti-HER2 (trastuzumab) and anti-VEGFR (ramucirumab) may yield survival benefit, anti-EGFR and anti-HGFR therapies have failed to improve outcomes. Nevertheless, combination regimens containing cytotoxic drugs and targeted therapies should be further evaluated; keeping in mind that gastric cancer biology is different between Asia and the Western countries.

Comparison of neoadjuvant versus a surgery first approach for gastric and esophagogastric cancer

Gastric cancer remains a significant worldwide health concern. While surgery is required for cure, all but the earliest of cancers will require multimodality therapy. Chemotherapy and chemoradiation in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings have shown to improve overall survival, but the sequencing of treatment is controversial. As healthcare expenses surge, it is increasingly important to impart value to these treatments. This review will look at the intersection of effective treatment and costs for gastric cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:296-303. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Role of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer

Peritoneal metastasis, either synchronous or metachronous, is commonly seen in gastric cancer. It is associated with a poor prognosis, with a median survival of less than one year. The outcomes are not significantly improved by the use of systemic chemotherapy. We review the relevant literature on the role of HIPEC in gastric cancer. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been used in three situations in gastric cancer. Besides its role as a definitive treatment in patients with established peritoneal metastasis (PM), it has been used as a prophylaxis against peritoneal recurrence after curative surgery and also as a palliative treatment in advanced peritoneal metastasis with intractable ascites. While prophylactic HIPEC has been shown to reduce peritoneal recurrence and improve survival in many randomised trials, palliative HIPEC can reduce the need for frequent paracentesis. Although CRS with HIPEC has shown promise in increasing the survival of selected patients with established PM from gastric cancer, larger studies are needed before this can be accepted as a standard of care.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer associated peritoneal carcinomatosis (GCPC) has a poor prognosis with a median survival of less than one year. Systemic chemotherapy including targeted agents has not been found to significantly increase the survival in GCPC. Since recurrent gastric cancer remains confined to the abdominal cavity in many patients, regional therapies like aggressive cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have been investigated for GCPC. HIPEC has been used for three indications in GC- as an adjuvant therapy after a curative surgery, HIPEC has been shown to improve survival and reduce peritoneal recurrences in many randomised trials in Asian countries; as a definitive treatment in established PC, HIPEC along with CRS is the only therapeutic modality that has resulted in long-term survival in select groups of patients; as a palliative treatment in advanced PC with intractable ascites, HIPEC has been shown to control ascites and reduce the need for frequent paracentesis. While the results of randomised trials of adjuvant HIPEC from western centres are awaited, the role of HIPEC in the treatment of GCPC is still evolving and needs larger studies before it is accepted as a standard of care.

Neo-adjuvant chemo(radio)therapy in gastric cancer: Current status and future perspectives

In the last 20 years, several clinical trials on neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy as a therapeutic approach for locally advanced gastric cancer have been performed. Even if more data are necessary to define the roles of these approaches, the results of preoperative treatments in the combined treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma are encouraging because this approach has led to a higher rate of curative surgical resection. Owing to the results of most recent randomized phase III studies, neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced resectable gastric cancer has satisfied the determination of level I evidence. Remaining concerns pertain to the choice of the optimal therapy regimen, strict patient selection by accurate pre-operative staging, standardization of surgical procedures, and valid criteria for response evaluation. New well-designed trials will be necessary to find the best therapeutic approach in pre-operative settings and the best way to combine old-generation chemotherapeutic drugs with new-generation molecules.

Neoadjuvant Therapy of DOF Regimen Plus Bevacizumab Can Increase Surgical Resection Ratein Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) is best treated with surgical resection. Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy has shown promising results in treating advanced gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy using the docetaxel/oxaliplatin/5-FU (DOF) regimen and bevacizumab in LAGC patients.Eighty LAGC patients were randomized to receive DOF alone (n = 40) or DOF plus bevacizumab (n = 40) as neoadjuvant therapy before surgery. The lesions were evaluated at baseline and during treatment. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were counted using the FISH test. Patients were followed up for 3 years to analyze the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).The total response rate was significantly higher in the DOF plus bevacizumab group than the DOF group (65% vs 42.5%, P = 0.0436). The addition of bevacizumab significantly increased the surgical resection rate and the R0 resection rate (P < 0.05). The DOF plus bevacizumab group showed significantly greater reduction in CTC counts after neoadjuvant therapy in comparison with the DOF group (P = 0.0335). Although the DOF plus bevacizumab group had significantly improved DFS than the DOF group (15.2 months vs 12.3 months, P = 0.013), the 2 groups did not differ significantly in OS (17.6 ± 1.8 months vs 16.4 ± 1.9 months, P = 0.776. Cox proportional model analysis showed that number of metastatic lymph nodes, CTC reduction, R0 resection, and neoadjuvant therapy are independent prognostic factors for patients with LAGC.Neoadjuvant of DOF regimen plus bevacizumab can improve the R0 resection rate and DFS in LAGC. These beneficial effects might be associated with the reduction in CTC counts.

Neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer

Currently, there is no international consensus on the best treatment regimen for patients with advanced resectable gastric carcinoma. In the United States, where a limited lymph-node dissection is frequently performed, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after surgery is the standard treatment. In Europe, intensified perioperative chemotherapy is commonly administered. In Japan and South Korea, postoperative S-1-based adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery with D2 lymph-node dissection is the standard treatment. Several ongoing trials are currently evaluating the optimal sequence of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, as well as the place of targeted therapeutic agents in the treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma.