Gastrectomy plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced gastric cancer with a single non-curable factor (REGATTA): a phase 3, randomised controlled trial

Intraoperative assessment of the curative potential to predict survival after gastric cancer resection: A national cohort study

BACKGROUND

The surgeon's intraoperative assessment of the curative potential of tumor resection following gastrectomy adds new information that could help clinicians and patients by predicting survival.

METHODS

All patients in Sweden undergoing gastric cancer resection between 2006 and 2018 were grouped according to a prospectively registered variable; the surgeon's intraoperative assessment of the curative potential of surgery: curative, borderline curative, or palliative. Factors affecting group allocation were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression, while survival was analyzed using multivariable Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method. Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.

RESULTS

Of 2341 patients undergoing gastric cancer resection, 1547 (71%) were deemed curative, 340 (15%) borderline curative, and 314 (14%) palliative (140 missing assessments). Advanced stage increased the risk of borderline curative resection (Stage III, odds ratio (OR) = 6.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.92-9.31), as did emergency surgery OR = 3.31 (1.74-6.31) and blood loss >500 mL; OR = 1.63 (1.06-2.49). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion both decreased the risk of borderline curative resection, OR = 0.58 (0.39-0.87) and 0.57 (0.40-0.80), respectively. In multivariable Cox regression, the surgeon's assessment independently predicted worse survival for borderline curative (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.29-1.83) and palliative resections (HR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.45-2.19), compared to curative resections. The sensitivity of the surgeon's assessment of long-term survival was 96.7%. The PPV was 50.7% and the NPV was 92.1%.

CONCLUSION

The surgeon's intraoperative assessment of the curative potential of gastric cancer surgery may independently aid survival prediction and is analogous to prognostication by pathologic Staging. Advanced disease, emergency surgery, and a high intraoperative blood loss, increases the risk of a borderline curative or palliative resection. Conversely, neoadjuvant treatment and MDT discussion reduce the risk of borderline curative or palliative resection.

European clinical practice guidelines for the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of oligometastatic esophagogastric cancer (OMEC-4)

INTRODUCTION

The OligoMetastatic Esophagogastric Cancer (OMEC) project aims to provide clinical practice guidelines for the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of esophagogastric oligometastatic disease (OMD).

METHODS

Guidelines were developed according to AGREE II and GRADE principles. Guidelines were based on a systematic review (OMEC-1), clinical case discussions (OMEC-2), and a Delphi consensus study (OMEC-3) by 49 European expert centers for esophagogastric cancer. OMEC identified patients for whom the term OMD is considered or could be considered. Disease-free interval (DFI) was defined as the time between primary tumor treatment and detection of OMD.

RESULTS

Moderate to high quality of evidence was found (i.e. 1 randomized and 4 non-randomized phase II trials) resulting in moderate recommendations. OMD is considered in esophagogastric cancer patients with 1 organ with ≤ 3 metastases or 1 involved extra-regional lymph node station. In addition, OMD continues to be considered in patients with OMD without progression in number of metastases after systemic therapy. 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging is recommended for baseline staging and for restaging after systemic therapy when local treatment is considered. For patients with synchronous OMD or metachronous OMD and a DFI ≤ 2 years, recommended treatment consists of systemic therapy followed by restaging to assess suitability for local treatment. For patients with metachronous OMD and DFI > 2 years, upfront local treatment is additionally recommended.

DISCUSSION

These multidisciplinary European clinical practice guidelines for the uniform definition, diagnosis and treatment of esophagogastric OMD can be used to standardize inclusion criteria in future clinical trials and to reduce variation in treatment.

Current trends in the management of Gastro-oEsophageal cancers: Updates to the ESSO core curriculum (ESSO-ETC-UGI-WG initiative)

Gastro-oEsophageal Cancers (GECs) are severe diseases whose management is rapidly evolving. The European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO) is committed to the generation and spread of knowledge, and promotes the multidisciplinary management of cancer patients through its core curriculum. The present work discusses the approach to GECs, including the management of oligometastatic oesophagogastric cancers (OMEC), the diagnosis and management of peritoneal metastases from gastric cancer (GC), the management of Siewert Type II tumors, the importance of mesogastric excision, the role of robotic surgery, textbook outcomes, organ preserving options, the use of molecular markers and immune check-point inhibitors in the management of patients with GECs, as well as the improvement of current clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with GECs. The aim of the present review is to provide a concise overview of the state-of-the-art on the management of patients with GECs and, at the same time, to share the latest advancements in the field and to foster the debate between surgical oncologists treating GECs worldwide. We are sure that our work will, at the same time, give an update to the advanced surgical oncologists and help the training surgical oncologists to settle down the foundations for their future practice.

Perioperative intraperitoneal plus systemic chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for gastric cancer: Phase Ib/II single-arm prospective study

BACKGROUND

In gastric cancer, peritoneal metastasis is the most common form of metastasis and leads to dismal prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining perioperative intraperitoneal (IP) plus systemic chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for patients with gastric cancer with limited peritoneal metastasis, or even after reducing peritoneal tumor burden by upfront IP chemotherapy.

METHOD

Phase Ib enrolled patients in a 3+3 dose-escalation of IP paclitaxel plus a fixed dose of IP cisplatin and oral S-1. In Phase II, patients were managed according to the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) by diagnostic laparoscopy. For patients with a PCI of >12, upfront IP and systemic chemotherapy were given. Patients with a PCI of ≤12 or reduced to ≤12 after upfront chemotherapy underwent CRS with HIPEC. The primary endpoints were safety and the recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) confirmation for Phase Ib and the one-year overall survival rate for Phase II.

RESULTS

The RP2D was defined as IP 175mg/m2 paclitaxel and 60mg/m2 cisplatin and oral 70mg/m2/day S-1 for 14 days. A total of 22 patients were included. After CRS with HIPEC, there were no grade 3 or higher complications. The median hospital stay was 7 days (range, 6-11). The median overall and progression-free survival were 27.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.4-not estimable) and 12.6 months (95% CI, 7.7-14.5), respectively. One-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 81.0% (95% CI, 65.8-99.6) and 54.5% (95% CI, 37.2-79.9), respectively.

CONCLUSION

A combination of IP plus systemic chemotherapy, CRS, and HIPEC was safe and resulted in good survival outcomes.

Primary Tumor Resection Before Systemic Therapy in Patients With Colon Cancer and Unresectable Metastases: Combined Results of the SYNCHRONOUS and CCRe-IV Trials

PURPOSE

Chemotherapy is established as primary treatment in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer and unresectable metastases. Data from nonrandomized clinical trials have fueled persistent uncertainty if primary tumor resection (PTR) before chemotherapy prolongs survival. We investigated the prognostic value of PTR in patients with newly diagnosed stage IV colon cancer who were not amenable to curative treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients enrolled in the multicenter, randomized SYNCHRONOUS and CCRe-IV trials were included in the analysis. Patients with colon cancer with synchronous unresectable metastases were randomly assigned at 100 sites in Austria, Germany, and Spain to undergo PTR or up-front chemotherapy (No PTR group). The chemotherapy regimen was left at discretion of the local team. Patients with tumor-related symptoms, inability to tolerate surgery and/or systemic chemotherapy, and history of another cancer were excluded. The primary end point was overall survival (OS), and the analyses were performed with intention-to-treat.

RESULTS

A total of 393 patients were randomly assigned to undergo PTR (n = 187) or no PTR (n = 206) between November 2011 and March 2017. Chemotherapy was not administered to 6.4% in the No PTR group and 24.1% in the PTR group. The median follow-up time was 36.7 months (95% CI, 36.6 to 37.3). The median OS was 16.7 months (95% CI, 13.2 to 19.2) in the PTR group and 18.6 months (95% CI, 16.2 to 22.3) in the No PTR group (P = .191). Comparable OS between the study groups was further confirmed on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 0.944 [95% CI, 0.738 to 1.209], P = .65) and across all subgroups. Patients with serious adverse events were more common in the No PTR group (10.2% v 18.0%; P = .027).

CONCLUSION

Among patients with colon cancer and synchronous unresectable metastases, PTR before systemic chemotherapy was not associated with prolonged OS.

Prognostic factors of conversion surgery for stage IV gastric cancer: A multi-institutional retrospective analysis

Background

Conversion surgery (CS) is a highly anticipated strategy for stage IV advanced gastric cancer (AGC) with a good response to chemotherapy. However, prognostic factors limiting R0 resection remain unclear. In this multi-institutional study, we investigated the clinical outcomes of CS for stage IV AGC and the prognostic factors of CS-limiting R0 resection and analyzed them according to metastatic patterns.

Methods

Clinical data on 210 patients who underwent CS for stage IV AGC at six institutions between 2007 and 2017 were retrospectively retrieved. The patient background, preoperative treatment, operative outcomes, and survival times were recorded. Prognostic factors for overall and recurrence-free survival were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses for patients who underwent R0 resection.

Results

R0 resection was achieved in 146 (70%) patients. The median survival time was 32 months, and the 3-year survival rate was 45%. Patients who achieved R0 resection had significantly longer survival than those with R1/2 resection (median survival time: 41.5 months vs. 20.7 months). Multivariate analysis identified pathological N positivity for overall and relapse-free survival and pathological T4 for relapse-free survival as significant independent poor prognostic factors of R0 resected patients. There was no significant difference in survival among the peritoneum, liver, and lymph node groups regarding the initial metastatic sites.

Conclusions

CS with R0 resection for patients with stage IV AGC can lead to longer survival. Patients with pathological T4 and pathological N positivity were eligible for intensive adjuvant therapy after CS with R0 resection.

Adjuvant treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer: an Asian perspective

Standard adjuvant treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) is regionally different. Whereas perioperative chemotherapy is the standard in Western populations, D2 gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy has been the standard in East Asia. Recently, the pivotal phase 3 PRODIGY and RESOLVE studies have demonstrated survival benefits of adding neoadjuvant chemotherapy to surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy over up-front surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy in Asian patients. Based on these results, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is considered one of the viable options for patients with LAGC. In this review, various aspects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy will be discussed for its optimal application in Asia. Candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be carefully chosen in consideration of the inaccurate aspects of radiological clinical staging and its potential benefit over up-front surgery followed by a decision on adjuvant chemotherapy according to the pathological stage. Efforts should continuously be made to optimally apply neoadjuvant chemotherapy to patients with LAGC, considering various factors, including a more accurate radiological assessment of the tumor burden and the optimization of post-operative chemotherapy. Future neoadjuvant trials involving novel agents for Asian patients should be designed based on proven Asian regimens rather than adopting Western regimens.

Pathological Complete Response Achieved with XELOX Chemotherapy, HIPEC, and Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy in Stage IV Gastric Adenocarcinoma with Peritoneal Metastasis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

The detection rates of early gastric cancer (GC) in China are approximately 20%; upon diagnosis, the majority of patients with GC are identified as having advanced stage disease, and in some cases, even metastatic advanced GC. Currently, the optimal treatment strategy for peritoneal metastasis (PM) in GC remains uncertain, and pathological complete response (pCR) is rare following conversion therapy.

CASE PRESENTATION

This case report details the management of a 66-year-old patient diagnosed with advanced stage IVB (T4N2M1c) adenocarcinomas of the gastric cardia with PM who received multimodal therapy comprised of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), XELOX chemotherapy, and anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) therapy followed by radical gastrectomy. Through the multimodal management, the patient attained PCR and experienced long-term survival.

CONCLUSION

The conversion therapy protocol combined with HIPEC, XELOX chemotherapy, and anti-PD-1 therapy and our scientific, accurate, full-course management strategy may be propagable for potentially curing patients with advanced GC with PM.

International consensus on the management of metastatic gastric cancer: step by step in the foggy landscape : Bertinoro Workshop, November 2022

BACKGROUND

Many gastric cancer patients in Western countries are diagnosed as metastatic with a median overall survival of less than twelve months using standard chemotherapy. Innovative treatments, like targeted therapy or immunotherapy, have recently proved to ameliorate prognosis, but a general agreement on managing oligometastatic disease has yet to be achieved. An international multi-disciplinary workshop was held in Bertinoro, Italy, in November 2022 to verify whether achieving a consensus on at least some topics was possible.

METHODS

A two-round Delphi process was carried out, where participants were asked to answer 32 multiple-choice questions about CT, laparoscopic staging and biomarkers, systemic treatment for different localization, role and indication of palliative care. Consensus was established with at least a 67% agreement.

RESULTS

The assembly agreed to define oligometastases as a "dynamic" disease which either regresses or remains stable in response to systemic treatment. In addition, the definition of oligometastases was restricted to the following sites: para-aortic nodal stations, liver, lung, and peritoneum, excluding bones. In detail, the following conditions should be considered as oligometastases: involvement of para-aortic stations, in particular 16a2 or 16b1; up to three technically resectable liver metastases; three unilateral or two bilateral lung metastases; peritoneal carcinomatosis with PCI ≤ 6. No consensus was achieved on how to classify positive cytology, which was considered as oligometastatic by 55% of participants only if converted to negative after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

As assessed at the time of diagnosis, surgical treatment of oligometastases should aim at R0 curativity on the entire disease volume, including both the primary tumor and its metastases. Conversion surgery was defined as surgery on the residual volume of disease, which was initially not resectable for technical and/or oncological reasons but nevertheless responded to first-line treatment.

Survival in esophageal cancer with nonregional lymphadenopathy: a propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Survival among patients with esophageal cancer with stage IV nonregional lymphadenopathy treated with neoadjuvant therapy and surgical resection is not well described. This study aimed to compare the survival outcomes of patients with nonregional lymphadenopathy with a propensity-matched cohort of patients with locoregional disease.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort analysis of a prospectively maintained database from a regional upper gastrointestinal cancer network in Quebec, Canada. From January 2010 to December 2022, patients with radiologically suspicious nonregional retroperitoneal or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy were identified. Using 1:1 propensity score matching, a control group without nonregional disease was created.

RESULTS

Of the 1235 patients identified, 39 met the inclusion criteria and were allocated to the study group of whom 35 of 39 (89%) had adenocarcinoma. Retroperitoneal and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy occurred in 26 of 39 patients (67%) and 13 of 39 patients (33%). Of the 39 patients, 34 (87%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 5 (13%) received chemoradiotherapy. After resection, ypN0 of nonregional lymph node stations occurred in 21 of 39 patients (54%). When comparing the study group with a matched non-stage IV control group, the median overall survival was similar in patients with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy (21.0 months [95% CI, 8.0-21.0] vs 27.0 months [95% CI, 13.0-41.0]; P = .262) but not with supraclavicular disease (13.0 months; 95% CI, 8.0-18.0; P = .039). The median follow-up intervals were 40.1 months (95% CI, 1.0-83.0) for the study group and 70.0 (95% CI, 33.0-106.0) for the control groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared with a matched cohort of patients with similar disease burden but not stage IV disease, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy did not negatively affect survival outcomes. Multimodal curative intent therapy may be appropriate in select cases.

State of the scientific evidence and recommendations for the management of older patients with gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent and deadly tumours worldwide. However, the evidence that currently exists for the treatment of older adults is limited and is derived mainly from clinical trials in which older patients are poorly represented. In this article, a group of experts selected from the Oncogeriatrics Section of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the Spanish Group for the Treatment of Digestive Tumours (TTD), and the Spanish Multidisciplinary Group on Digestive Cancer (GEMCAD) reviews the existing scientific evidence for older patients (≥65 years old) with gastric cancer and establishes a series of recommendations that allow optimization of management during all phases of the disease. Geriatric assessment (GA) and a multidisciplinary approach should be fundamental parts of the process. In early stages, endoscopic submucosal resection or laparoscopic gastrectomy is recommended depending on the stage. In locally advanced stage, the tolerability of triplet regimens has been established; however, as in the metastatic stage, platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based regimens with the possibility of lower dose intensity are recommended resulting in similar efficacy. Likewise, the administration of trastuzumab, ramucirumab and immunotherapy for unresectable metastatic or locally advanced disease is safe. Supportive treatment acquires special importance in a population with different life expectancies than at a younger age. It is essential to consider the general state of the patient and the psychosocial dimension.

Survival impact of gastrectomy and chemotherapy on gastric signet ring-cell carcinoma with different metastatic lesions: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

A comprehensive understanding of gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is limited. The aim of our study was to analyze metastatic patterns of gastric SRCC and evaluate impacts of gastrectomy and chemotherapy for metastatic gastric SRCC.

METHODS

We obtained data of gastric cancer patients between 2010 and 2017 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Chi-square tests were used to compare data significance. Kaplan-Meier, Cox proportional hazards regression and Fine-Gray competing risk analysis were used to analyze the difference in the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Propensity-score matching was used to adjust numerical difference.

RESULTS

Among 36,459 eligible gastric cancer patients, 6264 (17.2 %) were SRCC patients. Bone metastasis was more common in SRCC patients than in non-SRCC patients. The multivariate analysis showed that chemotherapy (HR = 0.30, 95 %CI = 0.27-0.33, p < 0.01) and gastrectomy (HR = 0.51, 95 %CI = 0.45-0.59, p < 0.01) were protective prognostic factors in certain stage Ⅳ SRCC patients. For the effect of gastrectomy, survival benefits could be found in patients with liver metastasis. The gastrectomy was not associated with improved OS in patients with lung or multiple metastases. In subgroup analysis, SRCC patients with metastasis who received gastrectomy and chemotherapy (HR = 0.17, p < 0.01; HR = 0.03, p < 0.01) had a better OS and CSS than those who had chemotherapy only (HR = 0.30, p < 0.01; HR = 0.18, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our study analyzed the unique metastatic patterns of gastric SRCC and recommended chemotherapy as the first choice in metastatic SRCC. For patients with liver metastasis, gastrectomy plus chemotherapy can be considered.

The yield of diagnostic laparoscopy with peritoneal lavage in gastric adenocarcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) with peritoneal lavage has been adopted as a standard staging procedure for patients with gastric cancer (GC). Evaluation of the value of DL is important given ongoing improvements in diagnostic imaging and treatment. As contemporary data from European centres are sparse, this retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the yield of DL in patients with potentially curable gastric cancer, and to identify predictive factors for peritoneal metastases.

METHODS

Patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach, treated between January 2016 and December 2018, were identified from institutional databases of two high volume European Upper-GI centres. Patients who underwent a DL with peritoneal lavage for potentially curable disease after clinical staging with imaging (cT1-4N0-3M0) were included. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a positive DL, defined as macroscopic metastatic disease, positive peritoneal cytology washings (PC+) or locally irresectable disease.

RESULTS

Some 80 of 327 included patients (24.5%) had a positive DL, excluding these patients from neoadjuvant treatment (66 of 327; 20.2%) and/or surgical resection (76 of 327; 23.2%). In 34 of 327 patients (10.3%), macroscopic metastatic disease was seen, with peritoneal deposits in 30 of these patients. Only 16 of 30 patients with peritoneal disease had positive cytology. Some 41 of 327 patients (12.5%) that underwent DL had PC+ in the absence of macroscopic metastases and five patients (1.5%) had an irresectable primary tumour. Diffuse type carcinoma had the highest risk of peritoneal dissemination, irrespective of cT and cN categories.

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic yield of staging laparoscopy is high, changing the management in approximately one quarter of patients. DL should be considered in patients with diffuse type carcinoma irrespective of cT and cN categories.

First-line camrelizumab (a PD-1 inhibitor) plus apatinib (an VEGFR-2 inhibitor) and chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer (SPACE): a phase 1 study

Patients with advanced gastric cancer typically face a grim prognosis. This phase 1a (dose escalation) and phase 1b (dose expansion) study investigated safety and efficacy of first-line camrelizumab plus apatinib and chemotherapy for advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. The primary endpoints included maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in phase 1a and objective response rate (ORR) across phase 1a and 1b. Phase 1a tested three dose regimens of camrelizumab, apatinib, oxaliplatin, and S-1. Dose regimen 1: camrelizumab 200 mg on day 1, apatinib 250 mg every other day, oxaliplatin 100 mg/m² on day 1, and S-1 40 mg twice a day on days 1-14. Dose regimen 2: same as dose regimen 1, but oxaliplatin 130 mg/m². Dose regimen 3: same as dose regimen 2, but apatinib 250 mg daily. Thirty-four patients were included (9 in phase 1a, 25 in phase 1b). No dose-limiting toxicities occurred so no MTD was identified. Dose 3 was set for the recommended phase 2 doses and administered in phase 1b. The confirmed ORR was 76.5% (95% CI 58.8-89.3). The median progression-free survival was 8.4 months (95% CI 5.9-not evaluable [NE]), and the median overall survival (OS) was not mature (11.6-NE). Ten patients underwent surgery after treatment and the multidisciplinary team evaluation. Among 24 patients without surgery, the median OS was 19.6 months (7.8-NE). Eighteen patients (52.9%) developed grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events. Camrelizumab plus apatinib and chemotherapy showed favorable clinical outcomes and manageable safety for untreated advanced gastric cancer (ChiCTR2000034109).

Prediction of all-cause death and specific causes of death in patients with gastric cancer with liver metastasis: a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-based study

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC), considered the fifth most prevalent malignancy, is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. This cancer is heterogeneous and invasive and often metastasizes to the liver. The survival of patients with GC, especially cancer-specific survival (CSS), is a matter of concern to their families and medical workers in clinical practice. However, efficient tools for early risk prediction are lacking. Thus, this study aimed to develop a nomogram for forecasting the overall survival (OS) and CSS of patients with GC with liver metastasis (GCLM) based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

METHODS

Information on individuals with GCLM was acquired from the SEER database from January 2000 to December 2015. Patients' data were randomized into the train cohort and the test cohort. The independent factors for CSS and OS were determined by univariate and multivariate competing risk analyses and Cox proportional hazards analysis, and the nomograms for predicting CSS and OS were constructed. The receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration curve were used to measure the accuracy and calibration of nomograms.

RESULTS

Our study included 4372 patients with GCLM, with 3060 patients in the train set and 1312 in the test set. The mean follow-up period was 12.31 months. The independent factors influencing the OS of patients with GCLM were age, bone metastasis, chemotherapy, grade, lung metastasis, stage, primary site, radiotherapy, surgical primary site, T stage, and tumor size. The concordance Index (C-index) of the constructed nomogram for OS were 0.718 (SE, 0.004) in the train set and 0.0.680 (SE, 0.006) in the test set. The independent factors affecting the CSS of patients with GCLM were age, chemotherapy, grade, lung metastasis, stage, radiotherapy, regional lymph node positive, surgical primary site, and total number of tumors. The C-index for the constructed nomogram for CSS were 0.696 (SE, 0.005) in the train set and 0.696 (SE, 0.008) in the test set.

CONCLUSION

The constructed nomograms showed satisfactory performance in predicting the OS and CSS of patients with GCLM, which can help clinicians formulate follow-up and rehabilitation strategies conducive to survival. At the same time, it can provide more family and social support for high-risk groups.

Peritoneal Metastatic Gastric Cancer: Local Treatment Options and Recommendations

Peritoneal metastasis is a common finding in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Beyond systemic chemotherapy, additive local treatments such as cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy are considered an inherent part of different multimodal treatment concepts for selected patients with peritoneal metastatic gastric cancer. This review article discusses the role of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy, including HIPEC, NIPS, and PIPAC, as additive therapeutic options with curative and palliative intent.

Tumor-positive peritoneal cytology in patients with gastric cancer is associated with poor outcome: A nationwide study

BACKGROUND

The clinical significance of tumor-positive peritoneal cytology (CYT+) in gastric cancer (GC) patients is unclear. This nationwide cohort study aimed to i) assess the frequency of cytological analysis at staging laparoscopy; ii) determine the prevalence of CYT+GC; and iii) compare overall survival (OS) in CYT+ patients versus those with (PM+) and those without (PM-) macroscopic peritoneal disease.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with cT1-4, cN0-2 and M0 or synchronous PM GC between 2016-2021 were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry database and linked to the nationwide pathology database.

RESULTS

A total of 4397 patients was included, of which 40 % underwent cytological assessment following staging laparoscopy (863/1745). The prevalence of CYT+ was 8 %. A total of 69 patients had CYT+(1.6 %), 789 (17.9 %) had PM+ and 3539 (80.5 %) had PM- disease. Hazard ratio for OS in CYT+ versus PM+ was 0.86 (95 %CI 0.64-1.17, p-value=0.338), and in PM- versus PM+0.43 (95 %CI 0.38-0.49, p-value<0.001). No survival difference was found between systemic chemotherapy versus surgical resection in CYT+ patients.

DISCUSSION

In this nationwide study, OS for gastric cancer patients with CYT+ was equally unfavorable as for those with PM+ and significantly worse as compared to those with PM-. The optimal treatment strategy has yet to be established.

Clinical impact of very early recurrence after conversion surgery for stage IV gastric cancer

Background

The development and improved response to chemotherapy has resulted in a survival benefit of conversion surgery (CS) for advanced gastric cancer (GC). However, this benefit is limited in some cases, such as in those with very early recurrence (VER). This study investigated the relationship between outcome and clinicopathological characteristics after CS for stage IV GC, and the risk factors for VER after CS.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 184 patients with stage IV GC who initially underwent chemotherapy, including 36 patients who underwent CS between May 2007 and January 2022. We evaluated the long-term outcome after CS for stage IV GC and the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients who underwent CS.

Results

Median survival times (MSTs) in the chemotherapy alone and CS groups were 13.4 and 36.5 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). Of the 27 patients who underwent R0 resection, 22 remained free of early recurrence and five experienced VER. MSTs in the VER and free of early recurrence groups were 15.2 and 44.1 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). Significantly more patients had liver metastasis before initial treatment in the VER group than in the FER group (p = 0.016). There were more patients with preoperative PNI <40 in the VER group (p = 0.046).

Conclusion

CS is an effective treatment for stage IV GC, but VER is associated with poor prognosis. We need to carefully consider the indications for CS, especially for patients with poor nutritional status and liver metastases.

Oncological outcomes of conversion therapy in gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis: a large-scale retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Data on the long-term oncological outcomes of patients who undergo conversion surgery (CS) in gastric cancer (GC) patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) are limited.

METHODS

GC patients with PM who received intraperitoneal (ip) and systemic chemotherapy between April 2015 and January 2021 were enrolled. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with survival. Clinicopathological and survival outcomes were compared between those with CS and those without CS (NCS). The paclitaxel (PTX) plus tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil potassium capsules (S-1) (PS) + ip PTX and oxaliplatin plus S-1 (SOX) + ip PTX groups were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching. Oncological and survival data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 540 patients who received ip chemotherapy via subcutaneous port and systemic chemotherapy were analyzed and 268 patients were enrolled, including 113 who underwent CS and 155 who did not. Overall survival (OS) were 27.0 months and 11.8 months in the CS and NCS groups (P < 0.0001), respectively. R0 resection was an independent prognostic factor for patients who underwent CS. The OS of patients with or without ovariectomy was 21.3 or 12.0 months (P < 0.0001). No difference of clinicopathological and survival outcomes was found between the PS + ip PTX and SOX + ip PTX groups.

CONCLUSION

Conversion therapy is safe and adverse events were manageable. CS improves the survival of GC patients with PM after ip and systemic chemotherapy. R0 is an important prognostic factor. Furthermore, outcomes are comparable between the PS + ip PTX and SOX + ip PTX groups.

Laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for gastric cancer with intraoperative detection of limited peritoneal metastasis: a Phase II study of CLASS-05 trial

Background

Systemic chemotherapy for gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis has limited clinical benefit; for those with intraoperative detection of occult peritoneal metastasis, cytoreductive surgery followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an alternative treatment. However, the feasibility and effects of this modality and criteria for selecting suitable groups remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery (L-CRS) followed by HIPEC in gastric cancer with limited peritoneal metastasis, and this study also aimed to determine the optimized cut-off of the peritoneal cancer index.

Methods

Between March 2017 and November 2019, patients diagnosed with gastric cancer peritoneal metastases by using laparoscopy and the Sugarbaker peritoneal cancer index of ≤12 were eligible for inclusion. All patients received L-CRS (including gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection) and resection of visible peritoneal metastasis, followed by post-operative HIPEC, and systemic chemotherapy. The primary end points were median progression-free survival and median survival time, and the secondary outcomes were morbidity and mortality within 30 days after surgery.

Results

Thirty patients were eligible for analysis, of whom 19 (63.3%) were female, and the overall mean age was 53.0 years. The post-operative morbidity was 20% and the severe complication rate was 10%. The median survival time was 27.0 months with a 2-year overall survival rate of 52.3% and median progression-free survival was 14.0 months with a 2-year progression-free survival of 30.4%.

Conclusions

L-CRS followed by HIPEC can be safely performed for gastric cancer with limited peritoneal metastasis and potential survival benefits.

Outcomes after Surgical Treatment of Oesophagogastric Cancer with Synchronous Liver Metastases: A Multicentre Retrospective Cohort Study

Approximately 10-12% of patients with oesophageal or gastric cancer (OGC) present with oligometastatic disease at diagnosis. It remains unclear if there is a role for radical surgery in these patients. We aimed to assess the outcomes of OGC patients who underwent simultaneous treatment for the primary tumour and synchronous liver metastases. Patients with OGC who underwent surgical treatment between 2008 and 2020 for the primary tumour and up to five synchronous liver metastases aiming for complete tumour removal or ablation (i.e., no residual tumour) were identified from four institutional databases. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Secondary outcomes were disease-free survival and postoperative outcomes. Thirty-one patients were included, with complete follow-up data for 30 patients. Twenty-six patients (84%) received neoadjuvant therapy followed by response evaluation. Median OS was 21 months [IQR 9-36] with 2- and 5-year survival rates of 43% and 30%, respectively. While disease recurred in 80% of patients (20 of 25 patients) after radical resection, patients with a solitary liver metastasis had a median OS of 34 months. The number of liver metastases was a prognostic factor for OS (solitary metastasis aHR 0.330; p-value = 0.025). Thirty-day mortality was zero and complications occurred in 55% of patients. Long-term survival can be achieved in well-selected patients who undergo surgical resection of the primary tumour and local treatment of synchronous liver metastases. In particular, patients with a solitary liver metastasis seem to have a favourable prognosis.

PALLIATIVE GASTRECTOMY VERSUS GASTRIC BYPASS FOR SYMPTOMATIC CLINICAL STAGE IV GASTRIC CANCER: A PROPENSITY SCORE MATCHING ANALYSIS

BACKGROUND

Patients with clinical stage IV gastric cancer may require palliative procedures to manage complications such as obstruction. However, there is no consensus on whether performing palliative gastrectomy compared to gastric bypass brings benefits in terms of survival.

AIMS

To compare the overall survival of patients with distal obstructive gastric cancer undergoing palliative surgical treatment, using propensity score matching analysis.

METHODS

Patients who underwent palliative bypass surgery (gastrojejunostomy or partitioning) and resection between the years 2009 and 2023 were retrospectively selected. Initial and postoperative clinicopathological variables were collected.

RESULTS

150 patients were initially included. The derived group (n=91) presented more locally invasive disease (p<0.01), greater degree of obstruction (p<0.01), and worse clinical status (p<0.01), while the resected ones (n= 59) presented more distant metastasis (p<0.01). After matching, 35 patients remained in each group. There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications, but the derived group had higher 90-day mortality (p<0.01). Overall survival was 16.9 and 4.5 months for the resected and derived groups, respectively (p<0.01). After multivariate analysis, hypoalbuminemia (hazard ratio - HR=2.02, 95% confidence interval - 95%CI 1.17-3.48; p=0.01), absence of adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=5.97; 95%CI 3.03-11.7; p<0.01), and gastric bypass (HR=3,28; 95%CI 1.8-5.95; p<0.01) were associated with worse survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative gastrectomy was associated with greater survival and lower postoperative morbidity compared to gastric bypass. This may be due to better local control of the disease, with lower risks of complications and better effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Oligometastasis of Gastric Cancer: A Review

The concept of oligometastasis is not yet fully established in the field of gastric cancer. However, metastatic lesions that are localized, technically resectable at diagnosis, present a certain response to preoperative chemotherapy, and present favorable survival outcomes with local treatments, sometimes in combination with chemotherapy, are recognized as oligometastasis in the field of gastric cancer. Oligometastasis is noted in European Society for Medical Oncology guidelines and Japanese gastric cancer treatment guidelines, and local treatment is mentioned as one of the pivotal treatment options for oligometastasis. Solitary liver metastasis or a small number of liver metastases; retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis, especially localized para-aortic lymph node metastasis; localized peritoneal dissemination; and Krukenberg tumor are representative types of oligometastasis in gastric cancer. The AIO-FLOT3 trial prospectively evaluated the efficacy of multimodal treatments for gastric cancer with oligometastasis, including surgical resection of primary and metastatic lesions combined with chemotherapy, confirming favorable survival outcomes. Two phase 3 studies are ongoing to investigate the efficacy of surgical resection combined with perioperative chemotherapy compared with palliative chemotherapy. Thus far, the evidence suggests that multimodal treatment for oligometastasis of gastric cancer is promising.

Radiation therapy of the primary tumour and/or metastases of digestive metastatic cancers

Metastatic gastrointestinal cancer is not an uncommon situation, especially for pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancers. In this setting, few data are available on the impact of the treatment of the primary tumour. Oligometastatic disease is associated with longer survival in comparison with more advanced disease. Metastasis-directed therapy, such as stereotactic body radiotherapy, seems related to better outcomes, but the level of evidence is low. In most tumour locations, prospective data are very scarce and inclusion in ongoing trials is strongly recommended.

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with gastric cancer

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with gastric cancer (GC), published in late 2022 and the updated ESMO Gastric Cancer Living Guideline published in July 2023, were adapted in August 2023, according to previously established standard methodology, to produce the Pan-Asian adapted (PAGA) ESMO consensus guidelines for the management of Asian patients with GC. The adapted guidelines presented in this manuscript represent the consensus opinions reached by a panel of Asian experts in the treatment of patients with GC representing the oncological societies of China (CSCO), Indonesia (ISHMO), India (ISMPO), Japan (JSMO), Korea (KSMO), Malaysia (MOS), the Philippines (PSMO), Singapore (SSO), Taiwan (TOS) and Thailand (TSCO), coordinated by ESMO and the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO). The voting was based on scientific evidence and was independent of the current treatment practices, drug access restrictions and reimbursement decisions in the different Asian regions represented by the 10 oncological societies. The latter are discussed separately in the manuscript. The aim is to provide guidance for the optimisation and harmonisation of the management of patients with GC across the different regions of Asia, drawing on the evidence provided by both Western and Asian trials, whilst respecting the differences in screening practices, molecular profiling and age and stage at presentation. Attention is drawn to the disparity in the drug approvals and reimbursement strategies, between the different regions of Asia.

Treatment strategy for successful conversion surgery in clinical stage IVB gastric cancer

INTRODUCTION

Recent advances in chemotherapy have resulted in successful conversion surgery (CS) for clinical stage (cStage) IVB gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to evaluate the success rate of CS in clinical practice and determine optimal treatment strategies.

METHODS

Totally, 166 patients with cStage IVB gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, who underwent chemotherapy at Hyogo Medical University Hospital between January 2017 and June 2022, were included. CS was performed after confirming tumor to be M0 based on imaging and/or staging laparoscopy, except for resectable liver metastases. Preoperative chemotherapy was continued for at least 6 months provided that adverse events were manageable.

RESULTS

Of 125 eligible patients, 23 were treated with CS, achieving a conversion rate of 18.4% and an R0 resection rate of 91.3%. The median duration of preoperative chemotherapy was 8.5 months; the median number of cycles was eight. The highest conversion rate was observed in patients receiving first-line treatment (14.4%), followed by those receiving second and third lines (5.8% and 2.3%, respectively). The median survival time in patients who received CS was significantly longer than that in patients who continued chemotherapy alone (56.7 versus 16 months, respectively, P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the 3-year overall survival between the patients who achieved CS after first-line treatment (63.2%, n = 18) and those who achieved CS after second- or third-line treatment (66.7%, n = 5).

CONCLUSION

Consistent chemotherapy strategies could lead to successful CS and improved prognosis in a greater number of patients with cStage IVB GC, regardless of line of treatment.

Who are optimal candidates for primary tumor resection in patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma? A population-based study

BACKGROUND

The research aimed to construct a novel predictive nomogram to identify specific metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma (mGAC) populations who could benefit from primary tumor resection (PTR).

METHOD

Patients with mGAC were included in the SEER database and divided into PTR and non-PTR groups. The Kaplan-Meier analysis, propensity score matching (PSM), least absolute shrink and selection operator (LASSO) regression, multivariable logistic regression, and multivariate Cox regression methods were then used. Finally, the prediction nomograms were built and tested.

RESULTS

3185 patients with mGAC were enrolled. Among the patients, 679 cases underwent PTR while the other 2506 patients didn't receive PTR. After PSM, the patients in the PTR group presented longer median overall survival (15.0 vs. 7.0 months, p < 0.001). Among the PTR group, 307 (72.9%) patients obtained longer overall survival than seven months (beneficial group). Then the LASSO logistic regression was performed, and gender, grade, T stage, N stage, pathology, and chemotherapy were included to construct the nomogram. In both the training and validation cohorts, the nomogram exhibited good discrimination (AUC: 0.761 and 0.753, respectively). Furthermore, the other nomogram was constructed to predict 3-, 6-, and 12-month cancer-specific survival based on the variables from the multivariate Cox analysis. The 3-, 6-, and 12-month AUC values were 0.794, 0.739, and 0.698 in the training cohort, and 0.805, 0.759, and 0.695 in the validation cohorts. The calibration curves demonstrated relatively good consistency between the predicted and observed probabilities of survival in two nomograms. The models' clinical utility was revealed through decision curve analysis.

CONCLUSION

The benefit nomogram could guide surgeons in decision-making and selecting optimal candidates for PTR among mGAC patients. And the prognostic nomogram presented great prediction ability for these patients.

Long-term treatment outcomes in gastric cancer with oligometastasis

Aim

While surgery is essential for curative treatment of gastric cancer with oligometastasis, its target, timing, and possibility of combination with other treatments are unclear. We herein investigated the clinical course and long-term outcomes of gastric cancer with oligometastasis in the real world setting to determine the optimal therapeutic strategy.

Methods

The present study retrospectively analyzed 992 patients who received any treatment for metastatic or recurrent gastric adenocarcinoma at Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital between 2007 and 2019. Oligometastasis was defined as any one of the following: liver metastases (HEP) <3; lung metastases (PUL) <3; unilateral adrenal gland metastasis (ADR); para-aortic lymph node metastasis (PALN); or one, distant, lymph node metastasis, excluding the regional lymph nodes (LYM). Overall survival was compared by the characteristics and treatments for the oligometastasis, and univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the prognostic factors of overall survival.

Results

Ninety-seven patients (9.8%) with the following metastasis sites were enrolled: HEP (n = 27), PUL (n = 2), ADR (n = 3), PALN (n = 55), and LYM (n = 10). The median survival time of the cohort was 22.8 months, and the five-year overall survival rate was 28.4%. On multivariate analysis, chemotherapy for the initial treatment (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.438; p = 0.048), distal gastrectomy and/or metastasectomy (HR: 0.290; p = 0.001), and R0 resection (HR: 0.373; p = 0.005) were identified as independent, positive factors of overall survival.

Conclusion

The long-term outcomes of gastric cancer in patients with oligometastasis may improve if treatment is begun with chemotherapy rather than surgery.

German, Austrian, and Swiss guidelines for systemic treatment of gastric cancer

The updated edition of the German, Austrian and Swiss Guidelines for Systemic Treatment of Gastric Cancer was completed in August 2023, incorporating new evidence that emerged after publication of the previous edition. It consists of a text-based "Diagnosis" part and a "Therapy" part including recommendations and treatment algorithms. The treatment part includes a comprehensive description regarding perioperative and palliative systemic therapy for gastric cancer and summarizes recommended standard of care for surgery and endoscopic resection. The guidelines are based on a literature search and evaluation by a multidisciplinary panel of experts nominated by the hematology and oncology scientific societies of the three involved countries.

Efficacy and safety of chemotherapy in young patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: data from the Spanish AGAMENON-SEOM registry

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma in young adults (GCYA) counts for 10-15% of diagnoses. Previous studies have mainly focused on surgical outcomes in patients with resectable tumors; however, systemic therapy for advanced GCYA remains under-evaluated. This study aims to assess the efficacy-related outcomes and safety of first-line chemotherapy (CT) in younger versus older patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma from the AGAMENON-SEOM registry treated with first-line polychemotherapy between January 2008 and October 2022 were included. We compared clinicopathological features, therapies received, efficacy-related outcomes, and toxicity between individuals aged < and ≥ 45 years.

RESULTS

Out of 3386 patients, 263 (7.8%) were < 45 years. Young patients exhibited a higher proportion of females affected, lower ECOG-PS ≥ 2, fewer comorbidities, and more aggressive disease-related features, such as higher proportion of diffuse subtype, signet-ring cells, plastic linitis, grade 3, peritoneal metastases and metastatic disease at diagnosis. They received more triple-agent combinations and underwent more surgeries in metastatic setting. No significant differences were observed between groups in overall response rate (53.1% vs. 52.3% in < and ≥ 45 years, respectively, p = 0.579), progression-free survival (6.1 vs. 6.83 months, p = 0.158) and overall survival (11.07 vs. 10.81 months, p = 0.82), even after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Grade 3-4 adverse events were comparable in both groups, although toxicity leading to treatment discontinuation was more frequent in older patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In the AGAMENON-SEOM registry, younger patients with GCYA exhibited more aggressive clinicopathological features, and despite receiving more aggressive treatments, similar efficacy outcomes and toxicity profiles were achieved compared to their older counterparts. In the AGAMENON-SEOM registry, GEAC in < 45 years showed more aggressive clinicopathological features and, although treated with more intense first-line CT regimens, similar efficacy outcomes and toxicity were achieved compared to older patients.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), Oncological Outcomes and Long-Term Survival among Patients with Gastric Cancer and Limited Peritoneal Disease Progression after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

INTRODUCTION

The role of surgery in stage IV gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis (PM) remains unclear. The objective of the current single-center study was to define the impact of gastrectomy with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on outcomes among Central European GC patients with limited peritoneal disease progression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

METHODS

Patients with histologically confirmed GC who underwent curative-intent multimodal treatment between 2013 and 2023 were included. Patients without adenocarcinoma, who did not undergo gastrectomy, had early (cT1) or metastatic GC at the time of initial diagnosis, who underwent multivisceral resection, incomplete cytoreduction or palliative care, died before planned curative-intent treatment, or had incomplete clinical or pathological missing information were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 74 patients who underwent curative-intent treatment for GC with PM were included in the final analytic cohort. Patients who underwent gastrectomy with CRS+HIPEC were less likely to achieve TOO (CRS+HIPEC: 28% vs. CRS: 57.1%, p = 0.033) compared with individuals after CRS alone. Specifically, patients who underwent gastrectomy with CRS+HIPEC had a higher likelihood of postoperative complications (CRS+HIPEC: 48% vs. CRS: 20.4%, p = 0.018) and longer hospital LOS (median, CRS+HIPEC: 12 vs. CRS: 10, p = 0.019). While administration of HIPEC did not impact long-term survival (median OS, CRS+HIPEC: 16 months vs. CRS: 12 months, p = 0.55), postoperative complications (median OS, CCI < 30:16 months vs. CCI > 30:5 months, p = 0.024) and ICU stay (median OS, no ICU stay: 16 months vs. ICU stay: 5 months, p = 0.008) were associated with worsened long-term survival among GC patients with PM.

CONCLUSIONS

Data from the current study demonstrated a lack of survival benefit among advanced GC patients with PM undergoing gastrectomy with CRS+HIPEC when compared with individuals after gastrectomy with CRS alone. Administration of perioperative chemotherapy and achievement of TO failed to withstand the peritoneal disease progression during NAC.

Impact of robotic and open surgery on patient wound complications in gastric cancer surgery: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis is intended to evaluate the effect of both robotic and open-cut operations on postoperative complications of stomach carcinoma. From the earliest date until June 2023, a full and systemic search has been carried out on four main databases with keywords extracted from 'Robot', 'Gastr' and 'Opene'. The ROBINS-I instrument has been applied to evaluate the risk of bias in nonrandomized controlled trials. In these 11 trials, a total of 16 095 patients had received surgical treatment for stomach cancer and all 11 trials were nonrandomized, controlled trials. Abdominal abscesses were reported in 5 trials, wound infections in 8 trials, haemorrhage in 7 trials, wound dehiscence in 2 trials and total postoperative complications in 4 trials. Meta-analyses revealed no statistically significantly different rates of postoperative abdominal abscesses among patients who had received robotic operations than in those who had received open surgical procedures (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.25, 3.36; p = 0.89). The incidence of bleeding after surgery was not significantly different from that in both groups (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.69, 2.75; p = 0.37). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the two groups (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.52, 1.18; p = 0.24). No significant difference was found between the two groups (OR, 1. 28; 95% CI, 0.75, 2.21; p = 0.36). No significant difference was found between the two groups of patients who had received the robotic operation and those who had received the surgery after the operation (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.78, 1.66; p = 0.49). Generally speaking, this meta-analysis suggests that the use of robotics does not result in a reduction in certain postsurgical complications, including wound infections and abdominal abscesses. Thus, the use of a microinvasive robot for stomach carcinoma operation might not be better than that performed on the surgical site after the operation. This is a valuable guide for the surgeon to select the operative method.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the lineage of malignant epithelial cells and upregulation of TAGLN2 promotes peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is an important factor contributing to poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Transcriptomic sequencing has been used to explore the molecular changes in metastatic cancers, but comparing the bulk RNA-sequencing data between primary tumors and metastases in PM studies is unreasonable due to the small proportion of tumor cells in PM tissues.

METHODS

We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis on four gastric adenocarcinoma specimens, including one primary tumor sample (PT), one adjacent nontumoral sample (PN), one peritoneal metastatic sample (MT) and one normal peritoneum sample (MN), from the same patient. Pseudotime trajectory analysis was used to display the process by which nonmalignant epithelial cells transform into tumor cells and then metastasize to the peritoneum. Finally, in vitro and in vivo assays were used to validate one of the selected genes that promote peritoneal metastasis.

RESULTS

Single-cell RNA sequencing showed that a development curve was found from normal mucosa to tumor tissues and then into metastatic sites on peritoneum. TAGLN2 was found to trigger this metastasis process. The migration and invasion capability of GC cells were changed by downregulating and upregulating TAGLN2 expression. Mechanistically, TAGLN2 might modulate tumor metastasis via alterations in cell morphology and several signaling pathways, thus promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we identified and validated TAGLN2 as a novel gene involved in GC peritoneal metastasis. This study provided valuable insight into the mechanisms of GC metastasis and developed a potential therapeutic target to prevent GC cell dissemination.

Efficacy of conversion surgery on stage IV gastric cancer and its prognosis analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of conversion surgery in the treatment of stage IV gastric cancer, and to analyze the influencing factors for the prognosis of patients.

METHODS

The clinical data of 84 patients with stage IV gastric cancer treated in our hospital from September 2014 to March 2016 were collected. All patients were treated with S-1 + oxaliplatin or S-1 + docetaxel chemotherapy, among which 42 patients had surgical indications after chemotherapy and received gastrectomy (R0 resection or R1 resection) (conversion surgery group); the remaining 42 patients had no surgical indications after chemotherapy (simple chemotherapy group). The patients in both groups were followed-up to record the survival status; moreover, the possible influencing factors for the prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTS

In the conversion surgery group, the median chemotherapy cycle was 4.3, and the objective response rate (ORR) was 73.8% (31/42). During chemotherapy in the two groups, there were 22 cases (52.3%) and 24 cases (57.1%) of hematological toxicity, and 28 cases (66.7%) and 32 cases (76.2%) of non-hematological toxicity, mainly in grade I-II, which could be relieved after symptomatic treatment, and chemotherapy was successfully completed. After chemotherapy, 42 out of 84 patients met the surgical indications. All patients were followed-up for 6-36 months. The 3-year overall survival was 35.7% (15/42) and 9.5% (4/42), respectively, in the two groups, and the difference was statistically significant according to the log-rank test (P<0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed that whether the surgical margin was R0 was an independent influencing factor for the prognosis of patients (HR=8.012, 95% CI: 2.522-14.384, P=0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Radical surgery after conversion therapy can raise the survival rate of patients, with tolerable adverse reactions. Whether the surgical margin is R0 in conversion therapy it is an independent influencing factor for the prognosis of patients with stage IV gastric cancer.

Isoliquiritigenin inhibits gastric cancer growth through suppressing GLUT4 mediated glucose uptake and inducing PDHK1/PGC-1α mediated energy metabolic collapse

BACKGROUND

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a natural flavonoid, has anti-tumor activity. But, the understanding of the impact and molecular mechanism of ISL on the growth of gastric cancer (GC) remains limited.

PURPOSE

The study was to explore the tumor suppressive effect of ISL on GC growth both in vitro and in vivo, meanwhile, clarify its molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Apoptotic cells in vitro were monitored by Hoechst 33,342 solution. Protein expression was assessed by Western blot. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was evaluated by utilizing 2',7'- dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). Lactic acid level was detected with L-lactate assay kit. Glucose uptake was monitored with fluorescently tagged glucose 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diaxol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG). Glycolytic proton efflux rate (GlycoPER) was evaluated by glycolytic rate assay kit. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was conducted by mito stress test kit. A nude mouse model of gastric cancer cell xenograft was established by subcutaneous injection with MGC803 cells. Pathological changes were evaluated by using H&E staining. Cell apoptosis in vivo was evaluated by terminal deoxy-nucleotide transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay.

RESULTS

ISL remarkably suppressed GC growth and increased cell apoptosis. It regulated apoptosis-related and metabolism-related protein expression both in vitro and in vivo. ISL blocked glucose uptake and suppressed production and secretion of lactic acid, which was accompanied with suppressed mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and glycolysis but increased ROS accumulation. Overexpression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α), cellular-myelocytomatosis viral oncogene (c-Myc), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) or pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDHK1), could abolish ISL-induced inhibition of cell viability in GC cells.

CONCLUSION

These findings implicated that ISL inhibits GC growth by decreasing GLUT4 mediated glucose uptake and inducing PDHK1/PGC-1α-mediated energy metabolic collapse through depressing protein expression of c-Myc and HIF-1α in GC, suggesting its potential application for GC treatment.

Clinical outcomes of conversion surgery following immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy in stage IV gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The clinical benefit of conversion surgery following immunochemotherapy in patients with stage IV gastric cancer (GC) remains uncertain. This study aims to clarify the clinical outcomes of conversion surgery for such patients.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study enroled consecutive patients with stage IV GC treated with a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy and/or anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 targeted therapy as first-line therapy. Cumulative survival curves were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. Logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with conversion surgery and survival, respectively.

RESULTS

Among the 136 patients included in the study. The disease control rate was 72.1% (98/136), with objective response rate in 58.8% (80/136) and complete response rate in 5.9% (8/136). Among 98 patients with disease control, 56 patients underwent palliative immunochemotherapy with median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival at 9.2 and 16.2 months, respectively; the remaining 42 patients underwent conversion surgery, yielding an unreached median PFS over a 19.0-month median follow-up, accompanied by 1-year overall survival and PFS rates of 96.6% and 89.1%, respectively. The R0 resection rate reached 90.5% (38/42). 7 out of 42 patients achieved pathological complete response, of whom three patients demonstrated human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positivity. No serious complications leading to death were observed during the perioperative period. Multivariate analysis indicated that programmed death ligand 1 combined positive score greater than or equal to 5 (odds ratio, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.08-0.57; P =0.002) favored successful conversion surgery, while signet ring cell carcinoma (hazard ratio, 6.29; 95% CI, 1.56-25.36; P =0.010) was the poor prognostic factor associated with survival in patients who underwent conversion surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Conversion surgery holds the potential for significant survival benefits in stage IV GC patients who have achieved a favourable clinical response to immunochemotherapy. Individuals with signet ring cell carcinoma may experience increased post-conversion surgery recurrence.

Survival benefits of palliative gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients with liver metastasis: a population-based propensity score-matched cohort analysis

Background and aims

Palliative primary tumor resection (pPTR) can benefit colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis. Whether pPTR benefiting gastric cancer (GC) patients with liver metastasis is still controversial.

Methods

Data on patients with metastatic GC diagnosed between 2010 to 2019 was extracted from SEER database. Propensity score analysis with 1:1 matching was performed. The univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore prognostic factors. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze survival outcomes.

Results

Of 5691 GC patients with liver metastasis, 468 were included in the matched cohorts. The results showed that the median survival time was 6 months in the non-surgery groups and 14.5 months in the surgery groups (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that surgery was a protective prognostic factor for overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.416] as well as cancer-specific survival (HR = 0.417). Also, pPTR was only recommended for GC patients with isolated liver metastasis. Moreover, pPTR combined with chemotherapy brought the greatest therapeutic effect.

Conclusion

pPTR benefits GC patients with isolated liver metastasis, and GC patients with liver metastasis receiving pPTR combined with chemotherapy had the best survival outcomes than any other therapeutic model.

China special issue on gastrointestinal tumors-Improved survival after multidisciplinary team decision for patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer: A multicenter, noninterventional, controlled study

Formal multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions in clinical practice require time and space but have unclear survival benefits for advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients. Our study aimed to investigate the long-term survival of patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer after MDT decision. From June 2017 to June 2019, continuous MDT discussions on advanced gastrointestinal cancer were conducted in 13 medical centers in China. MDT decisions and actual treatment received by patients were prospectively recorded. The primary endpoint was the difference in overall survival (OS) between patients in the MDT decision implementation and nonimplementation groups. The secondary endpoints included the implementation rate of MDT decisions and subgroup survival analysis. A total of 461 MDT decisions of 455 patients were included in our study. The implementation rate of MDT decisions was 85.7%. Previous treatment had an impact on MDT decision-making. The OS was 24.0 months and 17.0 months in the implementation and nonimplementation groups, respectively. The implementation of MDT decisions significantly reduced the risk of death in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio = 0.518; 95% confidence interval: 0.304-0.884, P = .016). Subgroup analysis showed a significant difference in survival of patients with colorectal cancer, but not in survival of patients with gastric cancer. The rate of secondary MDT discussion was only 5.6% among patients who the MDT decisions were discontinued due to changes in their condition. MDT discussion can prolong the OS of patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer, especially those with colorectal cancer. Timely scheduling of the subsequent MDT discussion is necessary when the disease condition changes.

Multimodality Therapy, Followed by Laparoscopic Gastrectomy, for Unresectable Gastric Cancer With Outlet Obstruction and Bulky N2 Metastases

BACKGROUND

Patients who have gastric cancer with outlet obstruction (GCOO) and bulky N2 metastases cannot undergo curative resection and tolerate chemotherapy poorly, which may be improved by multimodality therapy (MMT) combined with laparoscopic gastrectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The records of patients with GCOO and bulky N2 metastases who received MMT including nasojejunal feeding combined with preoperative chemotherapy (PCT), followed by laparoscopic exploration [enteral nutritional (EN) group] in sequence or laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy (LGJ) before PCT plus laparoscopic gastrectomy (LGJ group) were retrospectively reviewed. Prognostic Nutritional Index, gastric outlet obstruction scoring system grade, quality of life, response to PCT, surgical outcomes, and long-term survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fifty-four consecutive patients with GCOO and bulky N2 metastases were identified. The Prognostic Nutritional Index and Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 score of patients were significantly improved as a result of multimodal therapy, but no superiority was demonstrated between the EN group and the LGJ group. The quality of life (52.6 ± 11.4 vs 68.2 ± 13.5, P = 0.036) and gastric outlet obstruction scoring system (P < 0.05) of patients in the LGJ group were better compared with the EN group. The rate of laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy (94.3% vs 92.9%, P = 0.64) and R0 resection (91.4% vs 92.9%, P = 0.53) in the EN group was similar to the LGJ group. There were no significant differences for the 5-year overall survival rate (63.2% vs 57.1, P = 0.86) and the 5-year relapse-free survival rate (42.9% vs 53.8%, P = 0.54) of patients in the EN group compared with the LGJ group.

CONCLUSIONS

MMT including EN support or laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy followed by laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy is a feasible and effective treatment for patients with GCOO and bulky N2 metastases.

Optimizing the Continuum of Care in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) still ranks as the fifth most common malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite the recent progress in the therapeutic algorithm of the advanced disease with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and next-generation HER2-directed therapies, survival rates remain poor, with a median survival hardly exceeding 12 months. Furthermore, only 40% of patients remain eligible for second- and later-line treatments due to the aggressiveness of the disease and the rapid deterioration of performance status (PS). Thus, current research is focusing either on the identification of novel treatment options or the development of personalized strategies to optimize the continuum of care and ultimately improve patients' outcome. In this article, we provide an overview of the current treatment landscape for advanced GC with a particular emphasis on later-line treatments and outline novel perspectives on the horizon.

The Clinical Implication of Conversion Surgery in Patients with Stage IV Gastric Cancer Who Received Systemic Chemotherapy

With the advances in chemotherapy and immunotherapy, a small subset of patients may be eligible for conversion surgery after achieving tumor regression with chemotherapy. This is a retrospective cohort study of 118 patients with stage IV gastric cancer who received palliative chemotherapy and conversion surgery with a negative resection margin at Samsung Medical Center. Baseline features included comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, primary tumor size, biopsy histology, distant metastatic sites, and molecular markers-HER2, MSI/MMR, PD-L1, and EBV. Post-chemotherapy features included BMI, CEA level, chemotherapy regimen, objective response to chemotherapy, and number of preoperative chemotherapy cycles. Post-operational features included tumor size, histologic differentiation and Lauren's classification, pathologic tumor and nodal stages, invasion of lymphatics/vessels/nerves, peritoneal cytology, and the receipt of postoperative chemotherapy. Of 118 patients, 60 patients received total gastrectomy and 58 patients received subtotal gastrectomy. In all, 21 patients achieved a pathologic complete response, and 97 patients achieved downstaging to yp stage I, II, or III. Before conversion surgery, patients received first-line capecitabine/oxaliplatin (62%), HER2 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy (18%), immune checkpoint inhibitors (15%), and inhibitors of MET or VEGFR2 (5%). In the multivariable analysis, BMI at the time of diagnosis, either HER2 positive, high MSI, or deficient MMR, and the use of targeted agents were significant prognostic factors. Conversion surgery could be considered in patients with stage IV gastric cancer regardless of the initial disease burden. BMI and molecular markers are important prognostic factors that can be used to select candidates.

A radiomics nomogram based on 18 F-FDG PET/CT and clinical risk factors for the prediction of peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer

PURPOSE

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is usually considered an incurable factor of gastric cancer (GC) and not fit for surgery. The aim of this study is to develop and validate an 18 F-FDG PET/CT-derived radiomics model combining with clinical risk factors for predicting PM of GC.

METHOD

In this retrospective study, 410 GC patients (PM - = 281, PM + = 129) who underwent preoperative 18 F-FDG PET/CT images from January 2015 to October 2021 were analyzed. The patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 288) and a validation cohort (n = 122). The maximum relevance and minimum redundancy (mRMR) and the least shrinkage and selection operator method were applied to select feature. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was preformed to develop the predicting model. Discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram.

RESULT

Fourteen radiomics feature parameters were selected to construct radiomics model. The area under the curve (AUC) of the radiomics model were 0.86 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.81-0.90] in the training cohort and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.78-0.92) in the validation cohort. After multivariable logistic regression, peritoneal effusion, mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and radiomics signature showed statistically significant differences between different PM status patients( P  < 0.05). They were chosen to construct the comprehensive predicting model which showed a performance with an AUC of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.89-0.95) in the training cohort and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.86-0.98) in the validation cohort, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The nomogram based on 18 F-FDG PET/CT radiomics features and clinical risk factors can be potentially applied in individualized treatment strategy-making for GC patients before the surgery.

Efficacy and long-term prognosis of gastrojejunostomy for malignant gastric outlet obstruction: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Gastrojejunostomy (GJ) is becoming a standard surgical treatment for ameliorating malignant gastric outlet obstruction (MGOO). However, data on the long-term outcomes of MGOO treatment are lacking. This network meta-analysis aimed to compare overall survival (OS) rates and subsequent anticancer treatment outcomes of GJwith other therapies in MGOO.

METHODS

We searched four electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from inception to August 1, 2022. Studies reporting OS associated with GJ versus other treatments for MGOO were selected. The study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The primary outcome assessed was OS, whereas the secondary outcome was subsequent anticancer treatment. We performed a Bayesian network meta-analysis to produce hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR) with 95% credible intervals (CrIs).

RESULTS

We identified 24 retrospective studies that included 2473 patients. The studies assessed the outcomes of six treatments to alleviate MGOO. Results showed that GJ (hazard ratio: 0.83, 95% CrI: 0.78-0.88) was the most effective treatment for patients with MGOO, with the greatest surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values (79.9%) versus non-resection, palliative chemotherapy (13.9%) in terms of OS. Similarly, GJ (SUCRA: 46.5%) improved subsequent anticancer treatment requirements, ranking second only to jejunostomy/gastrostomy (JT/GT) (SUCRA: 95.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that GJ improves OS and follow-up treatments versus other non-resection treatments in patients with MGOO. These findings may serve for selecting appropriate therapy for MGOO.

Low Expectancy of Conversion Surgery with R0 Resection in Patients with CEA > 5.0 ng/mL at the Initial RECIST Evaluation for Metastatic Gastric Cancer

This retrospective study examined early the predictive factors for successful conversion surgery (CS) with R0 resection in patients with metastatic gastric cancer (MGC) who underwent systemic chemotherapy. This study included 204 patients diagnosed with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, who received chemotherapy between 2009 and 2019. Of these patients, 31 (15%) underwent CS with R0 resection. The incidence of CS with R0 resection was not affected by the volume of metastatic lesions or the presence of peritoneal metastasis. The overall survival time of the CS with R0 resection group was significantly longer than that of the non-CS group (hazard ratio, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.23; p < 0.0001), with a 5 year overall survival rate of 50.2%. Multivariate analysis of 150 patients, excluding those with disease progression until the initial Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) evaluation, showed that carcinoembryonic antigen > 5.0 ng/mL at the initial RECIST evaluation was an independent, significant, and unfavorable predictor of CS with R0 resection (odds ratio, 0.21; p = 0.0108), whereas systemic chemotherapy with trastuzumab for HER2-positive cancer was a favorable factor (odds ratio, 4.20; p = 0.0119). Monitoring serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels during chemotherapy may be a useful predictor of the CS implementation in patients with MGC.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, stage, and treatment of esophagogastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire global healthcare system, including oncological care. This study investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, stage, and treatment of esophagogastric cancer in the Netherlands.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed in 2020 were divided into 5 periods, based on the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands, and compared to patients diagnosed in the same period in the years 2017-2019. Patient characteristics and treatments were evaluated for esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cancer (GC) separately.

RESULTS

The number of esophagogastric cancer diagnoses decreased prominently during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, a significantly higher percentage of GC patients was diagnosed with incurable disease (52.5% in 2017-2019 and 67.7% in 2020, p = 0.011). We observed a significant reduction in the percentage of patients with potentially curable EC treated with resection and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (from 35.0% in 2017-2019 to 27.3% in 2020, p < 0.001). Also, patients diagnosed with incurable GC were treated less frequently with a resection (from 4.6% in 2017-2019 to 1.5% in 2020, p = 0.009) in the second half of 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to previous years, the number of esophagogastric cancer diagnoses decreased in the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, while an increased percentage of patients was diagnosed with incurable disease. Both in the curative and palliative setting, patients were less likely to be treated with a surgical resection.

Study protocol of a phase II clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant intraperitoneal and systemic albumin-bound paclitaxel combined with camrelizumab and S-1 in the treatment of patients with exfoliative cell-positive gastric cancer

Background

Currently, gastric cancer with positive lavage cytology without gross peritoneal dissemination (GC-CY1) is a special type of metastatic form with poor prognosis. Consensus guidelines on treatment strategies for patients with GC-CY1 have not been established. This study involves a single-arm, prospective, phase II clinical trial to examine the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant intraperitoneal and systemic (NIPS) albumin-bound paclitaxel combined with Camrelizumab and S-1 in the treatment of GC-CY1 patients.

Methods/design

This is a prospective single-center exploratory study, and the primary endpoints of the trial are R0 resection rate and conversion rate of abdominal free cancer cells (FCCs), with secondary endpoints of 3-year progression-free survival (PFS); 3-year overall survival (OS); objective remission rate (ORR); disease control rate (DCR); safety and TRG classification.

Discussion

This study is the first to apply NIPS albumin-bound paclitaxel combined with Camrelizumab and S-1 to the conversion therapy of GC-CY1 patients. It is speculated that this combination of regimens will increase the negative conversion rate of FCCs by 20%, which will provide innovative insights into conversion treatment ideas for GC-CY1 patients to be managed in a more comprehensive and optimized manner.

Clinical trial registration

http://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT05410847.

Splenic hilar lymph node dissection enhances survival in Bormann type 4 gastric cancer

Splenic hilar (no.10) lymph node dissection during total gastrectomy is no longer recommended for advanced proximal gastric cancer. However, the treatment efficacy of no.10 lymph node dissection in Borrmann type 4 tumors remains unclear. We enrolled 539 patients who underwent total gastrectomy for Borrmann type 4 tumors between 2006 and 2016 in four major institutions in Korea. We compared the long-term survival of the no.10 lymph node dissection (n = 309) and no-dissection groups (n = 230) using the propensity score (inverse probability of treatment weighting). The treatment effects of no.10 lymph node dissection were estimated in the weighted sample using the Cox proportional hazards regression model with a robust sandwich-type variance estimator. After inverse probability of treatment weighting, there were 540.4 patients in the no.10 lymph node dissection group and 532.7 in the no-dissection group. The two groups showed well-balanced baseline characteristics, including tumor node metastasis stage. The 5-year survival rates in the no.10 lymph node dissection and no-dissection groups were 45.7% and 38.6%, respectively (log-rank p = 0.036, hazard ratio 0.786, 95% confidence interval 0.630-0.982). Multivariate analysis revealed that no.10 lymph node dissection was an independent favorable prognostic factor (adjusted hazard ratio 0.747, 95% confidence interval 0.593-0.940) after adjusting for other prognostic factors. Sensitivity analyses in other inverse probability of treatment weighting models and the propensity score matching model showed similar results. Patients undergoing no.10 lymph node dissection showed improved survival compared to those without. No.10 lymph node dissection is recommended during total gastrectomy for patients with Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer.

OLIGOMETASTASIS IN GASTRIC CANCER TREATMENT: IS THERE A PLACE FOR THE SURGEON?

Metastatic gastric cancer traditionally hinders surgical treatment options, confining them to palliative procedures. The presence of metastases in these tumors is classified as M1, irrespective of their characteristics, quantity, or location. However, oligometastatic disease emerged as an intermediate state between localized and widely disseminated cancer. It exhibits diverse patterns based on metastatic disease extent, type, and location. Adequately addressing this distinctive metastatic state necessitates tailored strategies that surpass the realm of palliative care. Differentprimary tumor types present discernible scenarios of oligometastatic disease, including preferred sites of occurrence and chronological progression. Due to the novelty of this theme and the heterogeneity of the disease, uncertainties still exist, and the ability to provide confident guidelines is challenging. Currently, there are no effective predictors to determine the response and provide clear indications for surgical interventions and systemic treatments in oligometastatic disease. Treatment decisions are commonly based on apparent disease control by systemic therapies, with a short observation period and imaging assessments. Nonetheless, the inherent risk of misinterpretation remains a constant concern. The emergence of novel technologies and therapeutic modalities, such as immunotherapy, cellular therapy, and adoptive therapies, holds the potential to reshape the landscape of surgical treatment for the oligometastatic disease in gastric cancer, expanding the surgeon's role in this multidisciplinary approach. Prospective tools for patient selection in oligometastatic gastric cancer are being explored. Using non-invasive, cost-effective, widely available imaging techniques that provide real-time information may revolutionize medical practice, ensuring precision medicine accessibility, even in resource-constrained small healthcare facilities. Incorporating molecular classifications, liquid biopsies, and radiomic analysis in a complementary protocol will augment patient selection precision for surgical intervention in oligometastasis. Hopefully, these advancements will render surgeries unnecessary in many cases by providing highly effective alternative treatments.

Prognostic impacts of participation in prospective surgical clinical trials on surgical outcomes in gastric cancer patients

Various prospective surgical trials have been conducted on treating patients with gastric cancer. In clinical practice, patients and surgeons may hesitate to participate in prospective surgical trials due to trial-related complications. In this study, we evaluated the effects of participation in prospective surgical trials on surgical outcomes after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. This study included 1689 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 2016 and 2020. The propensity score weighting (PSW) method was used to adjust for differences in baseline clinicopathological characteristics between patients who participated and those who did not participate in prospective surgical clinical trials. Perioperative outcomes and overall survival were compared between groups. Of the 1689 patients, 309 (18.3%) participated in surgical clinical trials (SCT group). Before PSW, the SCT group had a similar operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, major complications, and hospital stay as the non-SCT group but had superior overall survival. After PSW, overall survival and perioperative outcomes were not significantly different between the groups. The present study suggests that participation in prospective surgical trials was not associated with surgical outcomes. Patients and surgeons may participate in prospective surgical trials without fearing adverse effects on surgical outcomes.