Preoperative inflammation is an independent factor of worse prognosis after colorectal cancer surgery

Effects of the Strength, Assistance in walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls score on postoperative clinical outcomes following colorectal cancer surgery: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Sarcopenia has known negative effects on clinical and oncological outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The use of the Strength, Assistance in walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire to determine the effects of sarcopenia on postoperative complications of CRC has not been reported to date. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship of SARC-F score with clinicopathologic outcomes after CRC surgery.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

We retrospectively included 285 patients who completed SARC-F questionnaires before CRC surgery between July 2019 and March 2022. Patients with an SARC-F score ≥4 (total score: 10) were classified in the high SARC-F group.

RESULTS

Overall, 34 (11.9%) patients had high SARC-F scores. These patients were older (76.9 ± 8.5 vs. 64.5 ± 11.4 years, p < 0.001) and had a higher preoperative CRP (2.5 ± 3.9 vs. 0.8 ± 1.6 mg/L, p = 0.019), lower body mass index (21.7 ± 3.4 vs. 24.0 ± 3.8 kg/m2, p = 0.001), and higher pan-immune-inflammation value (632.3 ± 615.5 vs. 388.9 ± 413.8, p = 0.031). More postoperative complications were noted in the high SARC-F group than in the low SARC-F group (58.8% vs. 35.6%, p = 0.009). High SARC-F scores were significantly associated with higher nodal stage, higher number of harvested lymph nodes, and larger tumor size. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed high SARC-F score and operation time as independent risk factors associated with postoperative complications (odds ratio, 2.212/1.922; 95% confidence interval, 1.021-4.792/1.163-3.175; p = 0.044/0.011, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative SARC-F score was an independent risk factor associated with postoperative complications following colorectal cancer surgery.

C-reactive protein and digestive pathologies: A narrative review for daily clinical use

The aim of this narrative review is to familiarize clinicians, especially digestive surgeons, to adequately use of serum C-reactive protein as a reliable noninvasive biomarker in diverse practical clinical situations. We hope that the review will help clinicians for their decision-making when facing various digestive diseases including operative and nonoperative pathologies such as anastomotic leakage, pancreatitis, emergency situation, and digestive cancer management and prognosis.

Prognostic value of preoperative serum C-reactive protein level for survival in mucinous appendix cancer treated with complete CRS/HIPEC

BACKGROUND

The role of systemic inflammation, a significant prognostic factor in various malignancies, is underexplored in mucinous appendix cancer (MAC). We assessed how inflammation, expressed by preoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP), correlates with survival across MAC histopathologies managed with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included MAC patients with peritoneal dissemination, who had complete CRS/HIPEC (CC-0/1) (1998-2023). Preoperative serum CRP cut-off was defined with the minimum p-value approach and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression.

RESULTS

Of 273 patients, 163 had low-grade and 110 had high-grade MAC. CRP cut-off was 2.00 mg/dL. Among low-grade, 132 patients had CRP<2 and 31 had CRP≥2. In high-grade, 87 patients had CRP<2 and 23 had CRP≥2. Median follow-up was 86 (95%CI: 48-124) months. In low-grade MAC, 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 88.5 % in CRP<2 and 53.9 % in CRP≥2 (p < 0.001), while 5-year overall survival (OS) was 89.2 % and 85.4 %, respectively (p = 0.018). In high-grade tumors, 5-year PFS was 46.5 % in CRP<2 and 19.3 % in CRP≥2 (p = 0.011), while 5-year OS was 56.5 % and 45.3 %, respectively (p = 0.291). Multivariate Cox regression showed a strong association of CRP≥2 with worse PFS (HR 5.10; 95%CI: 2.46-10.58) and OS (HR 3.18; 95%CI: 1.22-8.28) in low-grade MAC only.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated pre-CRS/HIPEC serum CRP was associated with worse PFS and OS in low-grade, but not in high-grade MAC. These findings highlight CRP's utility in prognosis assessment and can be useful in identifying target MAC subgroups for studying anti-inflammatory agents.

Using preoperative C-reactive protein levels to predict anastomotic leaks and other complications after elective colorectal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

While postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) is used routinely as an early indicator of anastomotic leak (AL), preoperative CRP remains to be established as a potential predictor of AL for elective colorectal surgery. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the association between preoperative CRP and postoperative complications including AL.

METHOD

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library and CINAHL databases were searched. Studies with reported preoperative CRP values and short-term surgical outcomes after elective colorectal surgery were included. An inverse variance random effects meta-analysis was performed for all meta-analysed outcomes to determine if patients with or without complications and AL differed in their preoperative CRP levels. Risk of bias was assessed with MINORS and certainty of evidence with GRADE.

RESULTS

From 1945 citations, 23 studies evaluating 7147 patients were included. Patients experiencing postoperative infective complications had significantly greater preoperative CRP values [eight studies, n = 2421 patients, mean difference (MD) 8.0, 95% CI 3.77-12.23, p < 0.01]. A significant interaction was observed with subgroup analysis based on whether patients were undergoing surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (X2 = 8.99, p < 0.01). Preoperative CRP values were not significantly different between patients experiencing and not experiencing AL (seven studies, n = 3317, MD 2.15, 95% CI -2.35 to 6.66, p = 0.35), nor were they different between patients experiencing and not experiencing overall postoperative morbidity (nine studies, n = 2958, MD 4.54, 95% CI -2.55 to 11.62, p = 0.31) after elective colorectal surgery.

CONCLUSION

Higher preoperative CRP levels are associated with increased rates of overall infective complications, but not with AL alone or with overall morbidity in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.

Preoperative Frailty and Malnutrition in Surgical Oncology Patients Predicts Higher Postoperative Adverse Events and Worse Survival: Results of a Blinded, Prospective Trial

BACKGROUND

Frailty, a multidimensional state leading to reduced physiologic reserve, is associated with worse postoperative outcomes. Despite the availability of various frailty tools, surgeons often make subjective assessments of patients' ability to tolerate surgery. The Risk Analysis Index (RAI) is a validated preoperative frailty assessment tool that has not been studied in cancer patients with plans for curative-intent surgery.

METHODS

In this prospective, surgeon-blinded study, patients who had abdominal malignancy with plans for resection underwent preoperative frailty assessment with the RAI and nutrition assessment by measurement of albumin, prealbumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Postoperative outcomes and survival were assessed.

RESULTS

The study included 220 patients, 158 (72%) of whom were considered frail (RAI ≥21). Frail patients were more likely to be readmitted within 30 and 90 days, (16% vs. 3% [P = 0.006] and 16% vs. 5% [P = 0.025], respectively). Patients with abnormal CRP, prealbumin, and albumin experienced higher rates of unplanned intensive care unit admission (CRP [27% vs. 8%; P < 0.001], albumin [30% vs. 10%; P < 0.001], prealbumin [29% vs. 9%; P < 0.001]) and increased postoperative mortality at 90 and 180 days. Survival was similar for frail and non-frail patients. In the multivariate analysis, frailty remained an independent risk factor for readmission (hazard ratio, 5.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-22.15; P = 0.015). In the post hoc analysis using the pre-cancer RAI score, the postoperative outcomes did not differ between the frail and non-frail patients.

CONCLUSION

In conjunction with preoperative markers of nutrition, the RAI may be used to identify patients who may benefit from additional preoperative risk stratification and increased postoperative follow-up evaluation.

Textbook outcome contributes to long-term prognosis in elderly colorectal cancer patients

PURPOSE

Textbook outcome (TO) has been used to define achievement of multiple "ideal" or "optimal" surgical and postoperative quality measures from the patient's perspective. However, TO has not been reported for their impact on survival in elderly, including CRC surgery. This study determined whether TO is associated with long-term outcomes after curative colorectomy in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

Patient who underwent curative surgery over 75 years old for CRC between March 2005 and December 2016. TO included five separate parameters: surgery within 6 weeks, radical resection, Lymph node (LN) yield ≥ 12, no stoma, and no adverse outcome. When all 5 short-term quality of care parameters were realized, TO was achieved (TO). If any one of the 5 parameters was not met, the treatment was not considered TO (nTO).

RESULTS

TO was realized in 80 patients (43.0%). Differences in surgical-related characteristics and pathological characteristics according to TO had no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics, except for Lymph node dissection. The Kaplan-Meier curves for OS and RFS association between TO and nTO had significantly poor 5-year OS and 5-year RFS compared with the TO groups (OS, 77.8% vs. 60.8%, P < 0.01; RFS, 69.6% vs. 50.8%, P = 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, nTO was an independent predictive factor for worse OS (HR, 2.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.175-3.557; P = 0.01) and RFS (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.043-2.842; P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

TO can be a useful predictor for postoperative morbidity and prognosis after curative colorectomy for CRC.

Early detection of anastomotic leak with C-reactive protein increases the chances of anastomotic salvage

AIM

Anastomotic leak results in increased morbidity and affects functional and oncological outcomes after colectomy. Measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) allows early detection of anastomotic leaks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit to the patient of earlier diagnosis and management of anastomotic leaks, namely avoiding takedown of the anastomosis.

METHOD

Patients with an anastomotic fistula after elective colorectal surgery from 2010 to 2020 were included. Three periods were defined according to progressive adherence to the CRP protocol in our department. A comparison was made between the periods 'before' (2010-2013) and 'after' (2016-2020) in terms of morbidity, mortality, anastomotic salvage, days spent in hospital within the first postoperative month, timely adjuvant chemotherapy and anastomotic stenosis.

RESULTS

Out of 2655 elective colorectal operations, 171 patients presented with an anastomotic leak and 123 patients were included in the study. In univariate analysis, patients in the 'after' group had fewer severe complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade III to IV, 66.7% vs. 56.9; p = 0.017); the difference did not reach significance regarding timely postoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.058) and anastomotic stenosis (p = 0.682). In both, univariate and multivariate analysis, the 'after' period increased the chances of preserving the anastomosis (OR = 2.37 [1.08-5.17]) and increased the number of days out of hospital (p = 0.0002).

CONCLUSION

A CRP-based protocol for the screening of anastomotic leaks after colorectal surgery was related to increased anastomotic conservation, a decreased impact and severity of the leak and a shorter length of hospital stay.

Benefit of a flash dose of corticosteroids in digestive surgical oncology: a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial (CORTIFRENCH)

Background

The modulation of perioperative inflammation seems crucial to improve postoperative morbidity and cancer-related outcomes in patients undergoing oncological surgery. Data from the literature suggest that perioperative corticosteroids decrease inflammatory markers and might be associated with fewer complications in esophageal, liver, pancreatic and colorectal surgery. Their benefit on cancer-related outcomes has not been assessed.

Methods

The CORTIFRENCH trial is a phase III multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to assess the impact of a flash dose of preoperative corticosteroids versus placebo on postoperative morbidity and cancer-related outcomes after elective curative-intent surgery for digestive cancer. The primary endpoint is the frequency of patients with postoperative major complications occurring within 30 days after surgery (defined as all complications with Clavien-Dindo grade > 2). The secondary endpoints are the overall survival at 3 years, the disease-free survival at 3 years, the frequency of patients with intraabdominal infections and postoperative infections within 30 days after surgery and the hospital length of stay. We hypothesize a reduced risk of major complications and a better disease-survival at 3 years in the experimental group. Allowing for 5% of drop-out, 1 200 patients (600 per arm) should be included.

Discussion

This will be the first trial focusing on the impact of perioperative corticosteroids on cancer related outcomes. If significant, it might be a strong improvement on oncological outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for digestive cancers.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03875690, Registered on March 15, 2019, URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03875690.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09998-z.

Relationship of Immunonutritional factor with Changes in Liver Volume after Portal Vein Embolization

Background

To identify predictors of changes in hepatic volumes after portal vein embolization, we examined the relationship with preoperative nutritional and immunological parameters.

Patients and Methods

Ninety-three patients who underwent portal vein embolization were included. The control group comprised 13 patients who underwent right hepatectomy without portal vein embolization. Computed tomographic volumetric parameter was measured for changes in embolized and nonembolized liver. Correlation with various candidates of immunonutritional parameters was examined.

Results

Difference in increased liver ratio was 9.1%. C-reactive protein levels significantly increased after portal vein embolization (P < .01), whereas albumin and total cholesterol levels significantly decreased, respectively (P < .01). The C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, prognostic nutritional index, Controlling Nutritional Status score, and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score were significantly different, respectively (P < .01). Prothrombin activity and total cholesterol level significantly correlated with the increased change in nonembolized liver (P < .05). The C-reactive protein and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio after portal vein embolization negatively correlated with hypertrophic ratio (P < .05). By comparing posthepatectomy outcomes between 64 patients undergoing portal vein embolization and 13 who did not, the prevalence of severe complications and mortality in the portal vein embolization group was not different from that in the non–portal vein embolization group. Liver activity at 15 minutes > 0.92 and increased liver volume ≥ 10% tended to correlate with lower prevalence of severe complications. Only increased intraoperative blood loss ≥ 1,500 mL was significantly associated with morbidity and mortality (P < .05).

Conclusion

Contrary to our hypothesis, immunonutritional parameters, except C-reactive protein and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, did not reflect hypertrophy after portal vein embolization. Although it is difficult to predict the hypertrophic degree, the strategy of scheduled hepatectomy should be switched in case of impaired inflammatory status after portal vein embolization.