Extended surgery for cancer of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of the Minimal Proximal Resection Margin in Total Gastrectomy for Siewert II Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagogastric Junction

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the minimal proximal resection margin (PRM) in total gastrectomy (TG) for Siewert II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG).

METHODS

This study finally included 178 Siewert II advanced AEG patients who underwent TG from January 2017 to September 2020. According to the PRM length, patients were divided into 20-25 mm group and 30-35 mm group. Intraoperative, short-, and long-term postoperative outcomes were compared between two groups.

RESULTS

The PRM of the 20-25 mm group had significantly less operation time compared with the PRM of the 30-35 mm group (P < .001), but the amount of blood loss, management of the diaphragmatic crura, and the incidence of positive resection margin were not significantly different between two groups (P > .05). In short-term postoperative outcomes, first gas-passing time, gastric-tube removal time, start time of diet, hospitalization, postoperative complications, and body weight loss were similar between two groups (P > .05). During the follow-up, the 3-year overall survival rates and the recurrence rates were not significantly different between the PRM of 20-25 mm and 30-35 mm groups (81.2% vs 83.5%, P = .695; 18.8% vs 15.5%, P = .812, respectively).

CONCLUSION

With less operation time and more preserved esophagus, the minimal PRM length of 20-25 mm could be an appropriate option in TG for patients with Siewert II advanced AEG.

A More Extensive Lymphadenectomy Enhances Survival Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the extent of lymphadenectomy that optimizes staging and survival in patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Several studies have found that a more extensive lymphadenectomy leads to better disease-specific survival in patients treated with surgery alone. Few studies, however, have investigated whether this association exists for patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

METHODS

We examined our prospective database and identified patients with EAC treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy between 1995 and 2017. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods, and a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent predictors of OS and DFS. The relationship between the total number of nodes removed and 5-year OS or DFS was plotted using restricted cubic spline functions.

RESULTS

In total, 778 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median number of excised nodes was 21 (interquartile range, 16-27). A lower number of excised lymph nodes was independently associated with worse OS and DFS (OS: hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; confidence interval [CI], 0.97-1.00; P = 0.013; DFS: HR, 0.99; CI, 0.98-1.00; P = 0.028). Removing 25 to 30 lymph nodes was associated with a 10% risk of missing a positive lymph node. Both OS and DFS improved with up to 20 to 25 lymph nodes removed, regardless of treatment response.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal extent of lymphadenectomy to enhance both staging and survival following chemoradiotherapy, regardless of treatment response, is approximately 25 lymph nodes.

Status and prognosis of lymph node metastasis in patients with cardia cancer - a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) has a poor prognosis and survival rates significantly decreases if lymph node metastasis is present. An extensive lymphadenectomy may increase chances of cure, but may also lead to further postoperative morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the optimal treatment of cardia cancer remains controversial. A systematic review of English publications dealing with adenocarcinoma of the cardia was conducted to elucidate patterns of nodal spread and prognostic implications.

METHODS

A systematic literature search based on PRISMA guidelines identifying relevant studies describing lymph node metastasis and the associated prognosis. Lymph node stations were classified according to the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association guidelines.

RESULTS

The highest incidence of metastasis is seen in the nearest regional lymph nodes, station no. 1-3 and additionally in no. 7, 9 and 11. Correspondingly the best survival is seen when metastasis remain in the most locoregional nodes and survival equally tends to decrease as the metastasis become more distant. Furthermore, the presence of lymph node metastasis significantly correlates to the TNM-stage. Incidences of metastasis in mediastinal lymph nodes are associated with poor survival.

CONCLUSION

The best survival rates is seen when lymph node metastasis remains locoregional and survival rates decreases when distant lymph node metastasis is present. The dissection of locoregional lymph nodes offers significantly therapeutic benefit, but larger and prospective studies are needed to evaluate the effect of dissecting distant and mediastinal lymph nodes.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy vs. surgery alone in the treatment of resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

In order to improve the survival of esophageal cancer patients, a trimodality therapy consisting of esophagectomy in combination with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been developed. In this study, we evaluated whether neoadjuvant CRT improved the outcomes of patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) compared to surgery alone. Eighty-eight patients with resectable ESCC were treated with either neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgical resection (Group A, n=52), or surgery alone (Group B, n=36). CRT consisted of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 500 mg/m² on days 1–5) and cisplatin (CDDP, 10–20 mg/kg body weight on days 1–5), repeated after 3 weeks. Survival analysis was performed using the log-rank test with the Kaplan-Meier method. The clinical response of the primary tumor and metastatic nodes was 80.8%. The postoperative complications profile was similar between the two groups, except for anastomotic leakage. The median survival time (MST) was not reached in Group A and was 27.4 months in Group B. The estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 50.3% in Group A and 39.9% in Group B (P=0.134). As regards stage II/III disease, Group A exhibited a better disease-free survival (DFS) compared to Group B (5-year DFS: 57.2% in Group A vs. 31.4% in Group B; P=0.025). Simultaneous locoregional and distant recurrences were more common in the surgery alone group (Group B, P=0.047). Neoadjuvant CRT with 5-FU and CDDP did not contribute to a better prognosis in patients with resectable ESCC. However, it may be beneficial for patients with stage II/III disease.

Tubular stomach or whole stomach for esophagectomy through cervico-thoraco-abdominal approach: a comparative clinical study on anastomotic leakage

BACKGROUND

Esophagectomy through cervico-thoraco-abdominal approach is a useful surgical technique in treating patients with esophageal cancer. However, the cervical reconstruction is also known to have a high rate of anastomotic leakage, as well as anastomotic stricture, intrathoracic stomach syndrome, reflux esophagitis and other complications, thereby influencing postoperative recovery and quality of life.

AIMS

The objective of this study was to investigate whether tubular stomach is superior to whole stomach in reducing anastomotic leakage for esophageal reconstruction through the cervico-thoraco-abdominal (3-field) approach.

METHODS

A total of 850 patients undergoing the 3-field esophagectomy were retrospectively included in this study and divided into a tubular stomach reconstruction group (Group A, n=453) and a whole stomach reconstruction group (Group B, n=397). All patients underwent esophagectomy through right thorax, left cervical part, abdominal triple incisions and done in esophageal reconstruction by hand-sewn two-layer anastomosis.

RESULTS

Results revealed that in comparison with whole stomach, esophageal reconstruction with tubular stomach had a lower incidence of anastomotic leakage (5.5 vs. 9.3%, P<0.05), less manifestation of intrathoracic syndrome (3.3 vs. 9.8%, P<0.001) and less occurence of reflux esophagitis (5.1 vs. 11.1%, P<0.01). However, for the incidence of anastomotic stricture, there was no significant difference between the two groups (9.3 vs. 9.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

This observation study suggests that for esophageal cancer patients undergoing the 3-field esophagectomy tubular stomach is better than whole stomach for esophageal reconstruction as reflected by a reduced postoperative anastomotic leakage, intrathoracic syndrome and reflux esophagitis.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has become an established approach for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. In comparison with open esophagectomy MIE reduces blood loss, respiratory complications, and length of hospital stay. At the University of Pittsburgh, the authors now predominantly perform a laparoscopic-thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. This article details this technique, discusses the recently published series of more than 1000 esophagectomies performed by the authors during the last 15 years, and reviews the current literature on MIE.

Results of postoperative radiochemotherapy of the patients with resectable gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma in Slovenia

Background.

Although the incidence of adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) is sharply rising in the Western world, there are still some disagreements about the staging and the treatment of this disease. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the effectiveness and safety of postoperative radiochemotherapy in patients with a GEJ adenocarcinoma treated at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana.

Patients and methods.

Seventy patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma, who were treated with postoperative radiochemotherapy between January 2005 and June 2010, were included in the study. The treatment consisted of 6 cycles of chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin and concomitant radiotherapy with the total dose of 45 Gy.

Results.

Twenty-six patients (37.1%) completed the treatment according to the protocol. The median follow-up time was 17.7 months (range: 3.3–64 months). Acute toxicity grade 3 or more, such as stomatitis, dysphagia, nausea or vomiting, and infection, occurred in 2.9%, 34.3%, 38.6% and 41.5% of patients, respectively. At 3 years locoregional control (LRC), disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were 78.2%, 25.3%, 35.8%, and 33.9%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis of survival, splenectomy and level of Ca 19-9 >20 kU/L before the adjuvant treatment were identified as independent prognostic factors for lower DFS, DSS and OS. Age <60 years, higher number of involved lymph nodes and advanced disease stage were identified as independent prognostic factors for lower DSS and OS.

Conclusions.

In patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma who first underwent surgery, postoperative radiochemotherapy is feasible, but we must be aware of a high risk of acute toxic side effects.

Suboptimal intake of nutrients after esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction

Esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction results in a variety of postoperative nutrition-related complaints that can impair nutritional intake and nutritional status. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent patients reached the recommended intake of various nutrients at 6 and 12 months after esophagectomy. It was also analyzed whether a suboptimal intake could be explained by the most clinically significant nutrition-related complaints after esophagectomy. In a prospective cohort study (2002 to 2006), the nutrient intake of 96 patients, recorded in preprinted nutritional diaries, was compared with the recommended energy intake in The Netherlands and Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein and micronutrients. Energy and protein intake remained below recommendations in 24% and 7% of the patients, respectively. Less than 10% of the patients had a sufficient intake of all micronutrients. Folic acid, vitamin D, copper, calcium, and vitamin B-1 were the micronutrients most often reported to have a suboptimal intake. Multivariate logistic regression, corrected for preoperative epigastric pain and energy intake, showed that the number of nutrition-related complaints was not an independent risk factor for the presence of a suboptimal intake of nutrients (adjusted odds ratio=1.11; 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.31; P = 0.22). This study shows that the intake of micronutrients remains below recommendations in the majority of patients 12 months after esophagectomy. This problem requires special attention and care by registered dietitians.

Factors predicting survival in patients with proximal gastric carcinoma involving the esophagus

AIM: To investigate the clinicopathologic features which predict surgical overall survival in patients with proximal gastric carcinoma involving the esophagus (PGCE).

METHODS: Electronic pathology database established in the Department of Pathology of the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital was searched for consecutive resection cases of proximal gastric carcinoma over the period from May 2004 through July 2009. Each retrieved pathology report was reviewed and the cases with tumors crossing the gastroesophageal junction line were selected as PGCE. Each tumor was re-staged, following the guidelines on esophageal adenocarcinoma, according to the 7th edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer Staging Manual. All histology slides were studied along with the pathology report for a retrospective analysis of 13 clinicopathologic features, i.e., age, gender, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, surgical modality, Siewert type, tumor Bormann’s type, size, differentiation, histology type, surgical margin, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, and pathologic stage in relation to survival after surgical resection. Prognostic factors for overall survival were assessed with uni- and multi-variate analyses.

RESULTS: Patients’ mean age was 65 years (range: 47-90 years). The male: female ratio was 3.3. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 87%, 61% and 32%, respectively. By univariate analysis, age, male gender, H. pylori, tumor Bormann’s type, size, histology type, surgical modality, positive surgical margin, lymphovascular invasion, and pT stage were not predictive for overall survival; in contrast, perineural invasion (P = 0.003), poor differentiation (P = 0.0003), > 15 total lymph nodes retrieved (P = 0.008), positive lymph nodes (P = 0.001), and distant metastasis (P = 0.005) predicted poor post-operative overall survival. Celiac axis nodal metastasis was associated with significantly worse overall survival (P = 0.007). By multivariate analysis, ≥ 16 positive nodes (P = 0.018), lymph node ratio > 0.2 (P = 0.003), and overall pathologic stage (P = 0.002) were independent predictors for poor overall survival after resection.

CONCLUSION: Patients with PGCE showed worse overall survival in elderly, high nodal burden and advanced pathologic stage. This cancer may be more accurately staged as gastric, than esophageal, cancer.

Prognostic impact of upper, middle, and lower third mucosal or submucosal infiltration in early esophageal cancer

OBJECTIVE

To identify differences in survival of patients with pT1 esophageal cancer relating to depth of wall infiltration.

BACKGROUND DATA

Histologic analysis of mucosal and submucosal infiltration in thirds has shown an increasing rate of lymph node metastases (LNM) according to the depth of wall infiltration in pT1 esophageal cancer.

METHODS

One hundred seventy-one patients had transthoracic en bloc (n = 161) or transhiatal esophagectomy (n = 10) for pT1 esophageal cancer [121 adenocarcinomas (AC), 50 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC)]. The histologic analysis of the specimen comprised depth of wall penetration of the carcinoma in thirds of pT1a = mucosa (m1, m2, m3) or pT1b = submucosa (sm1, sm2, sm3) and number and infiltration of the resected lymph nodes.

RESULTS

The rate of LNM was 0% for 70 mucosal carcinomas and 34% for 101 submucosal carcinomas (P = 0.001). For sm1, this rate was 13%, for sm2 19% and for sm3 56%. The 5-year survival rate (5Y-SR) was 82% for pN0 and 45% for pN+ patients (P < 0.001). There was no significant prognostic difference between AC and SCC (5Y-SR: 74% vs 71%). The 5Y-SR of the pT1a group was 87% compared with 66% for pT1b (P = 0.046). The 5-year survival rate for sm1 and sm2 were similar; sm1 + sm2 were together significantly better (80%) than sm3 (46%) (P = 0.008). In multivariate analysis, only sm3 was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

After esophagectomy, the prognosis of patients with sm1/sm2 infiltration is as good as for patients with mucosal carcinoma. Sm3 infiltration is the worst prognostic factor in pT1 esophageal cancer.

Management of esophageal adenocarcinoma

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is increasing in Western countries with a tendency to exceed that of squamous-cell carcinoma. Prognosis is unfavorable with 5-year survival less than 15%, irrespective of treatment and the stage. At the time of diagnosis, more than two thirds of patients have a non-operable cancer because of extension or associated co-morbidities. Most studies have included different tumoral locations (esophagus and stomach) and different histological types (adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma), making it difficult to interpret results. Surgery is currently the standard treatment for small tumors. Surgery should be preceded by neo-adjuvant treatment for patients with locally advanced resectable tumors, either preoperative chemotherapy or preoperative chemoradiation therapy. The therapeutic choice should be decided during multidisciplinary meetings according to patient and tumor characteristics and the expertise of the center. For patients with contraindications to surgery, exclusive chemoradiation therapy is recommended. Herein we reviewed and synthesized the different therapeutic strategies for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Presence and persistence of nutrition-related symptoms during the first year following esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction in clinically disease-free patients

BACKGROUND

Esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction results in a variety of postoperative nutrition-related symptoms that may influence the patient's nutritional status.

METHODS

We developed a 15-item questionnaire, focusing on the nutrition-related complaints the first year after an esophagectomy. The questionnaire was filled out the first week after discharge and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The use of enteral nutrition, meal size and frequency, social aspects related to eating, defecation pattern, and body weight were recorded at the same time points. We analyzed the relationship between the baseline characteristics and the number of nutrition-related symptoms, as well as the relationship between those symptoms and body weight with linear mixed models.

RESULTS

We found no significant within-patient change for the total number of nutrition-related symptoms (P = 0.67). None of the baseline factors were identified as predictors of the complaint scores. The most frequently experienced complaints were early satiety, postprandial dumping syndrome, inhibited passage due to high viscosity, reflux, and absence of hunger. One year after surgery, meal sizes were still smaller, the social aspects of eating were influenced negatively, and patients experienced an altered stool frequency. Directly after the surgical procedure 78% of the patients lost weight, and the entire postoperative year the mean body weight remained lower (P = 0.47). We observed no association between the complaint scores and body weight (P = 0.15).

CONCLUSIONS

After an esophagectomy, most patients struggle with nutrition-related symptoms, are confronted with nutrition-related adjustments and a reduced body weight.

Surgery within multimodal therapy concepts for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): the MRI approach and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Radical esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy remains the only curative therapy for patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC), however, combined treatment modalities may improve survival. Based upon more than 1300 consecutive esophageal resections, we present our current multidisciplinary ESCC approach with analysis in the context of recently published RCTs.

METHODS

Subject to tumor staging, patients with resectable ESCC receive either a neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (uT3N+) or are referred to primary surgery (uT1/2N0). By Medline searches (1997-2009), all published RCTs containing multimodal ESCC therapy concepts were identified and a systematic review was generated.

RESULTS

From July 2007 to June 2009, 62 patients with ESCC were treated in our department (40 multimodal treatment concept, 21 primary surgery, 1 definite radiochemotherapy). The R0 resection rate was 78%, in hospital mortality 4.8%. 60% of patients showed a good response to neoadjuvant treatment. 18-month follow-up data revealed absence of tumor recurrence in 7 patients (18%). Our approach is aligned to the current published literature including 12 studies in this review. In line with our institutional experience, neodjuvant radiochemotherapy tends to improve overall survival and increases the likelihood of R0 resection. However, postoperative morbidity and mortality rates are increased. Adjuvant treatment failed to demonstrate any improvement in prognosis. For palliation, concurrent radiochemotherapy is the treatment of choice.

CONCLUSION

The MRI approach can be aligned to the most recent published data. Surgical resection remains the principle treatment for patients with resectable ESCC. Although multimodal therapy concepts tend to improve survival rates, postoperative morbidity and mortality rates are increased.

Impact of number and site of lymph node invasion on survival of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction

Lymph node involvement in adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is similar to that of gastric cancer. The impact on survival of the number and site of lymph nodes involved in a subgroup of patients undergone surgery for adenocarcinoma of EGJ is reported. Sixty-four patients undergone transthoracic esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the EGJ were retrospectively assessed. Five-year survival according to AJCC gastric cancer nodal classification and central node invasion was evaluated. In N0 patients survival was assessed in relation to the number of lymph nodes removed. Five-year survival was 72% in N0, 46% in N1 and 0% in N2 and N3 group. Intergroup differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) except between N2 and N3 groups. Overall survival was different depending on the infiltration of distal or proximal site nodes, 23% vs. 58% (P<0.05); in N0 patients it was related to the number of lymph nodes removed (83% >15 vs. 57% <15, P<0.05). Classification of lymph node involvement in adenocarcinoma of the EGJ by gastric cancer criteria is adequate for prognostic purposes. The involvement of distal nodes in all cases and the removal of <15 nodes in N0 group resulted as independent negative predictive factors.

Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy

Over the past decade, our technique of MIE has evolved considerably. In the incipient phase of our experience, we used a totally laparoscopic approach similar to that described in the initial reports from DePaula and colleagues and Swanstrom and Hansen. However, it was soon apparent that there were several critical disadvantages to a purely laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopic transhiatal mobilization of the esophagus offers suboptimal visualization of important periesophageal structures, including the inferior pulmonary vein and the left mainstem bronchus. Moreover, decreased visibility hindered hemostatic division of periesophageal vessels and negatively impacted the completeness of the mediastinal lymph node dissection. These problems are further exacerbated in taller patients. In light of these considerations, we soon transitioned to a laparoscopic-thoracoscopic McKeown approach (thoracoscopic mobilization of the intrathoracic esophagus, laparoscopic gastric tube creation, cervical anastomosis). To this date, the great majority of our minimally invasive esophagectomies (>500 cases) have been performed with this 3-field technique. Indeed, the procedure has been the mainstay of our experience in the past 10 years with reduced perioperative morbidity and mortality compared with many other open series. In our experience, perhaps the most significant technical concern with this operation is the cervical dissection. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries, perturbations in pharyngeal transit, and swallowing dysfunction even in the absence of recurrent nerve injury are not infrequent. Moreover, as described in open series using a cervical anastomosis, anastomotic stricture and leak have been shown to occur with increased frequency [35]. In short, there is a significant learning curve with the cervical dissection. Out of these concerns emerged our more recent experience with completely thoracoscopic-laparoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. However, we did first evolve through a transition phase whereby a mini-thoracotomy (hybrid approach) was performed for creation of the intrathoracic anastomosis. We believe that the experience with totally thoracoscopic-laparoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy will ultimately reproduce the low morbidity and mortality we have previously published with our established MIE technique. The omission of a cervical dissection has reduced our recurrent nerve injury rate to zero. From a theoretical standpoint, one would presume that pharyngeal transit problems and oropharyngeal swallowing dysfunction should be reduced as well with a chest anastomosis. It should be emphasized that there is a steep operator learning curve associated with this approach. Indeed, thoracoscopic port placement is critical, as poorly positioned trocars can result in difficulty maneuvering instruments through the rigid chest wall. Additionally, both blood and lung can obscure visualization of the esophagus, which lies at the dependent aspect of the operative field. Prone positioning has been described as an alternative approach that may facilitate operative exposure and address such technical concerns. Low rates of anastomotic leak (3%), low mortality (1.5%), and equivalent stage-specific survival compared with open series have been shown with this thoracoscopic prone approach [36]. In conclusion, our technique of MIE has evolved such that laparoscopic-thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy has become our preferred approach. Although somewhat early in our experience, we are convinced that this operative technique is feasible with reproducible results. Perioperative morbidity and mortality are comparable with our previously established MIE with cervical anastomosis while essentially eliminating recurrent nerve injury, limiting the length of the gastric conduit required, and allowing a more aggressive gastric resection margin. Recent data from other publications also suggests that lymph node yields may be improved, although insufficient data exist at this time to comment on oncologic results or outcomes with this technique.

Ivor Lewis subtotal esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus

AIM: To evaluate the clinical outcome of Ivor Lewis subtotal esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus.

METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2001, 73 patients with lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma underwent Ivor-Lewis subtotal esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy. Clinicopathological information, postoperative complications, mortality and long term survival of all these patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS: The operative morbidity and mortality was 15.1% and the mortality was 2.7%. Lymph node metastases were found in 52 patients (71.2%). Nodal metastases to the upper, middle, lower mediastini and upper abdomen were found in 13 (17.8%), 15 (20.5%), 30 (41.1%), and 25 (34.2%) patients, respectively. Postoperative staging was as follows: stageI in 5 patients, stage II in 34 patients, stage III in 32 patients, and stage IV in 2 patients, respectively. The overall 5-year survival rate was 23.3%. For N0 and N1 patients, the 5-year survival rate was 38.1% and 17.3%, respectively (χ² = 22.65, P < 0.01). The 5-year survival rate for patients in stages IIa, IIb and III was 31.2%, 27.8% and 12.5%, respectively (χ² = 29.18, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Ivor Lewis subtotal esophagectomy with two-field (total mediastinum) lymphadenectomy is a safe and appropriate operation for squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus.

Refining esophageal cancer staging after neoadjuvant therapy: importance of treatment response

OBJECTIVE

Accurate staging is vital for esophageal cancer management. The utility of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system 6th edition for esophageal cancer has been questioned for resected patients who receive neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). This study was undertaken to assess the AJCC staging system for patients with esophageal cancer that have received neoadjuvant CRT and to identify clinicopathological variables that predict survival.

METHODS

Review of a prospective esophageal cancer database was undertaken for patients that received neoadjuvant CRT and resection. Primary tumor response was defined as major (</=10% residual tumor cells) or minor (>10% residual tumor cells). Cox regression and concordance analyses were used to determine prognostic factors. Median follow-up was 61 months.

RESULTS

Of 131 patients with invasive cancer, there were 40/131 (31%) with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 88/131 (65%) with adenocarcinoma. The procedure-related mortality rate was 3.8%. Median survival was 33 months. A major response was demonstrated by 79/131 (60%) patients. Survival analyses found that the AJCC 6th edition was unable to discriminate between stages 0, I, and IIa or stages IIb and III. Multivariate survival analyses found age, pretreatment tumor length >6 cm, positive lymph nodes, and a major tumor response were independent prognostic factors. These data were used to derive a new staging system that had improved discrimination of stage groups over the current AJCC system.

CONCLUSION

The current AJCC staging system for esophageal cancer is inadequate for patients that receive neoadjuvant CRT. Refinement of the AJCC staging system should include primary tumor response for patients receiving neoadjuvant CRT.

En bloc esophagectomy reduces local recurrence and improves survival compared with transhiatal resection after neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Neoadjuvant therapy is commonly used for esophageal adenocarcinoma. We have reported reduced local recurrence rates and improved survival after an en bloc esophagectomy compared with a transhiatal resection as primary therapy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The aim of this study was to determine whether the benefits of an en bloc resection would extend to patients after neoadjuvant therapy.

METHODS

The charts of all patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma that had neoadjuvant therapy and en bloc or transhiatal esophagectomy from 1992-2005 were reviewed. Patients found to have systemic metastatic disease at the time of the operation or who had an incomplete resection were excluded.

RESULTS

There were 58 patients: 40 had an en bloc resection and 18 had a transhiatal esophagectomy. A complete pathologic response occurred in 17 (29.3%) of 58 patients. Median follow-up was 34.1 months after en bloc resection and 18.3 months after transhiatal resection (P = .18). Overall survival at 5 years and survival in patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant therapy was significantly better with an en bloc resection (overall survival: 51% for en bloc resection and 22% for transhiatal resection [P = .04]; survival with residual disease: 48% for en bloc resection and 9% for transhiatal resection [P = .02]). Survival in patients with complete pathologic response tended to be better after an en bloc resection (en bloc, 70%; transhiatal, 43%; P = .3).

CONCLUSION

An en bloc resection provides a survival advantage to patients after neoadjuvant therapy compared with a transhiatal resection, particularly for those with residual disease. Similar to patients treated with primary resection, an en bloc esophagectomy is the procedure of choice after neoadjuvant therapy.

The multidisciplinary management of gastrointestinal cancer. Multimodal treatment of oesophageal cancer

Treatment of oesophageal cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach. Single modality treatment, especially surgical excision, is only indicated in small tumours or in patients unable to support multimodal treatment. In Stage I-II adenocarcinoma, multimodal treatment using neoadjuvant therapy is indicated in the absence of contra-indications. However, this statement is not universally accepted. The choice between radio-chemotherapy and chemotherapy depends on patients' characteristics and the preferences of the treatment centre. In selected Stage III adenocarcinomas, especially from the lower oesophagus, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (with post-operative chemotherapy when feasible) may induce tumour regression, which may facilitate surgical resection and improve survival rates, as has been demonstrated for cancers of the oesophagogastric junction.

High dose N-acetylcysteine to prevent pulmonary complications in partial or total transthoracic esophagectomy: results of a prospective observational study

Cancer of the esophagus has a poor long-term prognosis and a high peri-operative morbidity in which pulmonary complications play a major role. The combination of the surgical approach, pre-existing pulmonary disorders, poor nutritional status and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines may be contributing factors. N-acetylcysteine ((NAC) has been shown to have oxygen scavenging abilities. In severe sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, positive effects of NAC on morbidity and mortality were discovered. In this observational study peri-operative high dose NAC was administered in 22 patients. The effects of this treatment on respiratory function, morbidity and survival were studied. These prospectively collected data were compared with data of a matched, retrospective group without NAC treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of socio-demographic data, preoperative pulmonary function, intra-operative course and oncologic characteristics. The oxygenation indices at the postoperative hours 2 (P = 0.019), 4 (P < 0.001), 8 (P = 0.035), 12 (P = 0.035) and 24 (P = 0.046) were significantly higher in the NAC group. After 36 h, the difference between groups was no longer significant (P = 0.064). NAC-treated patients showed significant lower overall pulmonary morbidity, 45.5% versus 81.8% (P = 0.027). Surgical morbidity, intensive care unit and hospital stay were not significantly different between groups, mortality was zero. Kaplan-Meier curves showed no significant difference in survival 12 months postoperatively. These data indicate that postoperative oxygenation can be improved and rate of overall pulmonary complications is reduced using peri-operative high dose NAC in transthoracic esophagectomy.

Lymph node involvement in advanced gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The prognosis of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma is unquestionably related to the extent of nodal involvement; nonetheless, few studies deal with the pattern of lymph node spread and specifically analyze the prognostic value of the site of metastasis. The present study was aimed at evaluating these key aspects in advanced gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Of 219 patients consecutively operated on for gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma at the Department of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, University of Siena, and at the Department of General Surgery, University of Verona, 143 pT2-4 tumors not submitted to prior chemoradiation were analyzed according to the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association pN staging system.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were given diagnoses of nodal metastases (77.6%). The mean number (P = .076) and the percentage of patients with pN+ disease (P = .022) progressively increased from Siewert type I to type III tumors. Abdominal nodes were involved in all but 1 of the patients with pN+ disease; conversely, nodal metastases into the chest were 46.2% for type I, 29.5% for type II, and 9.3% for type III tumors. Survival analysis showed virtually no chance of recovery for patients with more than 6 metastatic nodes or lymph nodes located beyond the first tier.

CONCLUSIONS

In advanced gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, the high frequency of nodal metastases and the related unfavorable long-term outcome achieved by means of surgical intervention alone are indicative of the need for aggressive multimodal treatment along with surgical intervention to improve long-term results.

Prognostic nomogram for patients undergoing oesophagectomy for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus or gastro-oesophageal junction

Background

Tumour node metastasis (TNM) staging predicts survival on the basis of the pathological extent of a tumour. The aim of this study was to develop a prognostic model with improved survival prediction after oesophagectomy.

Methods

Consecutive patients who had potentially curative oesophagectomy for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus or gastro-oesophageal junction were included. Cox regression analyses were performed to examine the association between risk factors and time to death from oesophageal cancer. The concordance index, calculated after bootstrapping, was used to measure accuracy. A nomogram was designed for use in clinical practice.

Results

Oesophageal cancer-specific survival rates for the 364 included patients who underwent oesophagectomy between 1993 and 2003 were 75·8, 54·9 and 39·2 per cent at 1, 2 and 5 years respectively. A prognostic model using all prognostic variables outperformed TNM staging (concordance index 0·79 versus 0·68 respectively; P &lt; 0·001). A reduced model derived after backward elimination, containing only T stage, lymph node ratio and extracapsular lymph node involvement, also outperformed TNM staging (concordance index 0·77; P &lt; 0·001).

Conclusion

A prognostic model developed to predict disease-specific survival after oesophagectomy was superior to TNM staging. More reliable prognostic information might lead to different approaches to patient follow-up.

The prognostic importance of the number of involved lymph nodes in esophageal cancer: implications for revisions of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system

OBJECTIVE

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for esophageal cancer is controversial because it relies on arbitrary definitions of the anatomic location of lymph nodes to establish N and M status. It has been proposed that the number of involved lymph nodes may better predict survival. We reviewed our experience to determine the prognostic impact of the number of involved nodes and the extent of lymphadenectomy on the current staging system.

METHODS

Records of all patients who underwent resection of previously untreated adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction were reviewed. Overall survival according to the AJCC staging system and the number of involved lymph nodes was analyzed by the method of Kaplan and Meier and by recursive partitioning methods.

RESULTS

Data were available on 336 patients operated on between January 1996 and September 2003. Recursive partitioning analysis using AJCC staging variables reproduced the AJCC staging system. When the number of involved lymph nodes is added, patients with more than 4 involved lymph nodes have survival similar to that of patients with M1 disease, and patients with no involved lymph nodes have the best prognosis. Recursive partitioning analysis identified 18 lymph nodes as the minimal number required for accurate staging. In patients who have 18 or more lymph nodes removed, survival is only predicted by the presence of nodal involvement and M1 disease.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis suggests that revisions of the current AJCC staging system for esophageal cancer should include N staging based on the number of involved lymph nodes and minimal requirements for the extent of lymphadenectomy.

Lymphadenectomy for Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ): Impact of Adequate Staging on Outcome

INTRODUCTION

Adequate staging of gastric cancer requires examination of at least 15 lymph nodes. Most resected patients are inadequately staged potentially confounding the interpretation of clinical data. The aim of this study was to determine whether adequate staging revealed different prognostic factors or improved survival compared with patients with <15 nodes examined after R0 resection for GEJ cancer.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained database identified 366 patients with Siewert types II and III adenocarcinoma of the GEJ who underwent R0 resection without neoadjuvant therapy at a single institution. Patients were grouped into adequately (>or=15 nodes examined) or inadequately staged (<15 nodes examined). Median follow up was 51 months.

RESULTS

From 1985 through 2003, 250/366 (68%) patients were adequately staged and 116/366 (32%) were inadequately staged. There was no difference in operative mortality between adequately staged (5.2%) and inadequately staged patients (4.3%, P = NS). Adequately staged patients had more positive lymph nodes (median 2) compared with inadequately staged patients (median 1, P < 0.01). Multivariable analysis of adequately staged patients found the number of positive lymph nodes, T stage, and lymphovascular invasion to be independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). For inadequately staged patients only the number of positive lymph nodes and T stage were independent prognostic factors. Adequate staging was an independent prognostic factor for patients with advanced (T >or= 2 Nany) tumors. For T1 tumors adequate staging was not associated with improved survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with GEJ cancer should undergo adequate lymphadenectomy to permit examination of >or=15 lymph nodes allowing the accurate identification of prognostic variables. Removal of >or=15 lymph nodes is associated with more accurate survival estimates for patients with advanced disease.

Staging of esophageal carcinoma: length of tumor and number of involved regional lymph nodes. Are these independent prognostic factors?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

New potential prognostic indicators aside from the TNM classification have been proposed. The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic relevance of tumor length as well as number of involved regional lymph nodes (LNM) in patients with esophageal carcinoma.

METHODS

Two hundred thirteen patients with esophageal carcinoma (116 squamous cell- and 97 adenocarcinoma) were included in this study. Treatment of choice was subtotal en bloc esophagectomy including "2-field" lymphadenectomy. The median number of examined lymph nodes (LNs) was 28. Eighty patients (38%) received preoperative radio-chemotherapy according to a standardized protocol. Histopathology consisted of tumor stage, residual tumor, grading, and number of examined and involved LN. Univariate and multivariate prognostic values were calculated.

RESULTS

Length of tumor correlated with pT/ypT-category (P<0.01). Univariate but not multivariate analysis showed better survival for tumors<or=3 cm (P<0.05). Patients with 1-5 LNM had significantly better prognoses than those with more than 5 LNM (Hazard ratio 2.7, 95% CI=1.7-4.2) (P<0.01). Patients without LNM and more than 15 examined LN showed significantly better prognosis than those with fewer examined LN (Hazard ratio=0.3, 95% CI=0.1-0.6) (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

A revision of the TNM classification for esophageal carcinoma should subdivide the pN1-category according to the number of LNM.

Prognostic factors in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction

The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is rising rapidly in Western Europe and North America. It is an aggressive disease with early lymphatic and hematogenous dissemination. TNM cancer staging systems predict survival on the basis of the anatomic extent of the tumor. However, the adequacy of the current TNM staging system for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) is questioned repeatedly. Numerous prognostic factors have been described, but are not included in the TNM system. This review describes clinical parameters, aspects of operative technique, response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy therapy, complications and established pathologic determinants found in the resection specimen that have a prognostic impact. Furthermore, their potential application in the clinical setting in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or GEJ is discussed. Future directions to improve staging systems are given.

First experience with robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagolymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Transthoracic esophagectomy with extended lymph node dissection is associated with higher morbidity rates than transhiatal esophagectomy. This morbidity rate could be reduced by the use of minimally invasive techniques. The feasibility of robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy (RTE) with mediastinal lymphadenectomy was assessed prospectively.

METHODS

This study investigated 21 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer who underwent RTE using the Da Vinci robotic system. Continuity was restored with a gastric conduit and a cervical anastomosis.

RESULTS

A total of 18 (86%) procedures were completed thoracoscopically. The operating time for the thoracoscopic phase was 180 min (range, 120-240 min), and the median blood loss was 400 ml (range, 150-700 ml). A median of 20 (range, 9-30) lymph nodes were retrieved. The median intensive care unit stay was 4 days (range, 1-129 days), and the hospital stay was 18 days (range, 11-182 days). Pulmonary complications occurred in 10 patients (48%), and one patient (5%) died of a tracheoneoesophageal fistula.

CONCLUSIONS

In this initial experience, robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy was found to be feasible, providing an effective lymphadenectomy with low blood loss. Standardization of the technique and increased experience should reduce the complication rate, which is in the range of the rate for open transthoracic dissection.

Comparison of positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and endoscopic ultrasound in the initial staging of patients with esophageal cancer

INTRODUCTION

Improvement in esophageal cancer staging is needed. Positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the staging of esophageal carcinoma were compared.

METHODS

PET, CT, and EUS were performed and interpreted prospectively in 75 patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer. Either tissue confirmation or fine needle aspiration (FNA) was used as the gold standard of disease. Sensitivity and specificity for tumor, nodal, and metastatic (TNM) disease for each test were determined. TNM categorizations from each test were used to assign patients to subgroups corresponding to the three treatment plans that patients could theoretically receive, and these were then compared.

RESULTS

Local tumor staging (T) was done correctly by CT and PET in 42% and by EUS in 71% of patients (P value > 0.14). The sensitivity and specificity for nodal involvement (N) by modality were 84% and 67% for CT, 86% and 67% for EUS, and 82% and 60% for PET (P value > 0.38). The sensitivity and specificity for distant metastasis were 81% and 82% for CT, 73% and 86% for EUS, and 81% and 91% for PET (P value > 0.25). Treatment assignment was done correctly by CT in 65%, by EUS in 75%, and by PET in 70% of patients (P value > 0.34).

CONCLUSIONS

EUS had superior T staging ability over PET and CT in our study group. The tests showed similar performance in nodal staging and there was a trend toward improved distant disease staging with CT or PET over EUS. Assignment to treatment groups in relation to TNM staging tended to be better by EUS. Each test contributed unique patient staging information on an individual basis.

Pre-tracheal lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus

AIMS

To clarify the incidence of pre-tracheal lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, and their impact on survival.

METHODS

A cohort of 101 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus who underwent esophagectomy together with 2-field lymphadenectomy including the pre-tracheal region was analysed, retrospectively. The p-TNM staging included stage I in 9, stage IIa in 33, stage IIb in 4, stage III in 43, and stage IV in 12 cases.

RESULTS

Nodal metastases were identified in 56 patients (55.4%). Subcarinal lymph node and pre-tracheal lymph-node metastases were found in 24 patients (23.8%) and 15 patients (14.9%), respectively. The 5-year cumulative survival rates were 26.5 and 2.5% in nodal negative and nodal positive patients, respectively. Patients with pre-tracheal nodal metastasis all died within 2 years. Cox proportional hazards model in patients with nodal involvement revealed T-factor (p=0.0017), pre-tracheal nodal involvement (p=0.0055) and distant metastasis (p=0.0024) as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that pre-tracheal lymph node metastasis indicates a dismal prognosis. Its occurrence is not unusual, especially in tumour of upper or middle thoracic esophagus. The subcarinal node cannot be regarded as a sentinel node of the pre-tracheal nodal station. Complete lymphadenectomy excluding the pre-tracheal lymph nodes in treating esophageal cancers is only a myth.