Adjuvant and neoadjuvant approaches in gastric cancer

Development and external validation of a prognostic nomogram for patients with gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most malignant diseases and threatens the health of individuals across the globe. Hitherto, the identification of prognosis risk stratification on GC has mainly depended on the TNM staging, but owing to its inaccuracy and incompleteness, the prognostic value it offers remains controversial in the current clinical setting. Thus, an effective prognostic model for GC after radical gastrectomy is still needed.

Methods

Patients with pathologically confirmed GC who underwent radical gastrectomy from 2 different centers were retrospectively enrolled into a training and the validation cohort, respectively. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was applied to select variables among multiple factors, including clinical characteristics, pathological parameters, and surgery- and treatment-related indicators. The multivariate Cox regression method was used to establish the model to predict 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival. Both internal and external validations of the nomogram were then completed in terms of discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility. Finally, prognostic risk stratification of GC was conducted with X-tile software.

Results

A total of 1,424 patients with GC were eligible in this study, including 1,010 in the training cohort and 414 in the validation cohort. Seven indicators were selected by LASSO to develop the nomogram, including the number of positive lymph nodes, tumor size, adjacent organ invasion, vascular invasion, the level of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125), depth of invasion, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status. The nomogram demonstrated a robust predictive capacity with favorable accuracy, discrimination, and clinical utility both in the internal and external validations. Moreover, we divided the population into 3 risk groups of survival according to the cutoff points generated by X-tile, and in this way, the nomogram was further improved into a risk-stratified prognosis model.

Conclusions

We have developed a prognostic risk stratification nomogram for GC patients after radical gastrectomy with 7 available indicators that may guide clinical practice and help facilitate tailored decision-making, thus avoiding overtreatment or undertreatment and improving communication between clinicians and patients.

Primary results of a randomized two-by-two factorial phase II trial comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with two and four courses of cisplatin/S-1 and docetaxel/cisplatin/S-1 as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer

AIM

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is promising to improve the survival of resectable gastric cancer. However, suitable regimen and treatment duration for NAC have not yet been established.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized phase II trial to compare two and four courses of neoadjuvant S-1/cisplatin (SC) and S-1/cisplatin/docetaxel(DCS) using a two-by-two factorial design for locally resectable advanced gastric cancer. Patients with M0 and either T4 or T3 in case of junctional cancer or scirrhous-type cancer received two or four courses of SC or DCS. Then, patients underwent D2 gastrectomy and adjuvant S-1 chemotherapy for 1 year. The primary endpoint was 3-year overall survival. The planned sample size was 120 eligible patients.

RESULTS

Between October 2011 and September 2014, 132 patients were assigned to CS (n = 66; 33 in 2-courses and 33 in 4-courses) and DCS (n = 66; 33 in 2-courses and 33 in 4-courses). The 3-year OS was 58.1% in CS and 60.0% in DCS with hazard ratio of 0.80 (95% CI, 0.48-1.34), while it was 53.1% in the two courses and 65.0% in the four courses with hazard ratio of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.43-1.22). In the survival analysis by duration in each regimen, the 3-year OS was 58.1% for both two and four courses in CS, while it was 48.5% for two courses of DCS and 71.9% for four courses of DCS.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering high 3-year OS, four courses DCS has a value to be tested in a future phase III study to confirm superiority of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer.

Validity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 for resectable locally advanced gastric cancer

Gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy plus postoperative chemotherapy is the standard treatment for resectable locally advanced gastric cancer in Japan. However, the prognosis of patients with serosa-positive tumors remains unsatisfactory because of peritoneal recurrence. This study aimed to investigate the validity of neoadjuvant therapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 (DCS) in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. Thirty patients with locally advanced gastric cancer underwent neoadjuvant DCS therapy at Dokkyo Medical University Hospital between June 2013 and October 2015. Gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy were performed after two cycles of preoperative DCS therapy. The clinical responses of the primary gastric tumors based on endoscopic findings were partial response in 17 patients (57%) and stable disease in 13 patients (43%). Analysis of pathological response in the primary gastric lesions showed grade 1a in five patients (17%), grade 1b in nine patients (30%), grade 2 in 11 patients (37%), and grade 3 in five patients (17%). Twenty-four patients (80%) remained alive after a median follow-up period of 31 months. The 2- and 3-year overall survival rates in all patients were 89 and 70%, respectively. The 2-year overall survival rate in pathological responders (grade 1b-3) was 96%, compared with 50% in pathological non-responders (grade 1a) (P = 0.00187). Pathological responders had a significantly higher survival rate than non-responders. These results indicate that neoadjuvant DCS therapy may improve the prognosis in patients with serosa-positive locally advanced gastric cancer.

Survival results of a randomised two-by-two factorial phase II trial comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with two and four courses of S-1 plus cisplatin (SC) and paclitaxel plus cisplatin (PC) followed by D2 gastrectomy for resectable advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The prognosis for stage III gastric cancer is unsatisfactory by D2 gastrectomy and S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy. Both S-1 plus cisplatin (SC) and paclitaxel plus cisplatin (PC) are promising regimens as neoadjuvant chemotherapy; however, the optimal duration remains unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this 2×2 randomised phase II trial, stage III gastric cancer patients, those with a prognosis corresponding to stage III, and macroscopically resectable stage IV cases were randomised to two or four courses of S-1 (80 mg/m(2) for 21 d with 1 week rest)/cisplatin (60 mg/m(2) at day 8) or PC (80 and 25 mg/m(2), respectively, on days 1, 8, and 15 with 1 week rest) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The primary end-point was the 3-year overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Between October 2009 and July 2011, 83 patients received 2 courses of SC (n=21), 4 courses of SC (n=20), 2 courses of PC (n=21) and 4 courses of PC (n=21). The 3-year OS was 60.9% for SC and 64.3% for PC and 64.3% for the two courses and 61.0% for the four courses. Subset analyses demonstrated no subgroup which showed any potential survival benefit by PC in comparison to SC or by four courses as in comparison to two courses.

CONCLUSIONS

Two courses of SC as neoadjuvant chemotherapy are recommended as a test arm of a future phase III study for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

UMIN-000002595.

Adjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy in Gastric Cancer: Critically Reviewing the Past and Visualizing the Next Step Forward

Gastric cancer remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Despite the significant advances in surgical treatment and multimodality strategies, prognosis has modestly improved over the last two decades. Locoregional relapse remains one of the main issues and the combined chemoradiation treatment seems to be one of the preferred approaches. However, more than ten years after the hallmark INT-0116 trial, minimal progress has been made both in terms of effectiveness and toxicity. Moreover, new regimens added to combined therapy failed to prove favourable results. Herein, we attempt a thorough literature review comparing pros and cons of all relative studies and potential bias, targeting well-designed future approaches.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer-time for a new paradigm?

BACKGROUND

In cases of locally advanced breast cancer (labc), preoperative ("neoadjuvant") therapy was traditionally reserved to render the patient operable. More recently, neoadjuvant therapy, particularly chemotherapy, is being used in patients with operable disease to increase the opportunity for breast conservation. Despite the increasing use of preoperative chemotherapy, rates of pathologic complete response, a surrogate marker for disease-free survival, remain modest in patients with locally advanced disease and particularly so when the tumour is estrogen or progesterone receptor-positive and her2-negative. A new paradigm for labc patients is needed. In other solid tumours (for example, rectal, esophageal, and lung cancers), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (ccrt) is routinely used in neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment protocols alike.

RESULTS

The literature suggests that ccrt in labc patients with inoperable disease is associated with response rates higher than would be anticipated with systemic therapy alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Ongoing trials in this field are eagerly awaited to determine if ccrt should become the new paradigm.

Surgical outcomes in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer treated with S-1 and oxaliplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

We wished to evaluate the impact of S-1 combined with oxaliplatin (SOX regimen) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy on surgical outcomes after gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy.

METHODS

From February 2012 to September 2013, 170 patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage II-III gastric cancer were assessed retrospectively. Eighty patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical gastrectomy, and 90 patients received surgical treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients received S-1 (80 mg/m(2)/day; days 1-14) and oxaliplatin (130 mg/m(2); day 1) as neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy, and this schedule was repeated every 3 weeks. Gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy was standard therapy for each patient. Surgical outcomes between the two groups were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the total prevalence of complications between neoadjuvant and adjuvant groups (18.8% vs. 22.2%, P = 0.704). The most common postoperative complications were surgical site infection (6.5%) and gastrointestinal motility disorders (3.5%). The clinical response rate was 68.8%, and ten patients (12.5%) had a pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The SOX regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for AJCC stage II/III gastric cancer can be effective without increasing the risk of postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The SOX regimen could be a neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer worldwide in the future.

WITHDRAWN: Clinical effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer: An updated meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.

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

AIMS

To assess the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHODS

By searching electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library) and ASCO proceedings from 1990 to 2012, all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared the effect of NAC-combined surgery versus surgery alone in AGC were included. All calculations and statistical tests were performed using RevMan 5.0 software.

RESULTS

12 RCTs with a total of 1820 patients were included. All patients had locally advanced but resectable gastric cancer and received NAC. NAC can slightly improve the survival rate (OR = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-1.64, P = 0.01), with little or no significant benefits in subgroup analyses between either different population or regimens. NAC can significantly improve the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.39-2.46, p < 0.0001), tumor down-staging rate (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.33, p = 0.0006) and R0 resection rate (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.08-1.78, P = 0.01) of patients with AGC. There was no difference between the two arms, in terms of relapse rates (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.60-1.78, p = 0.92), operative complications (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.90-1.58, p = 0.21), perioperative mortality (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.64-2.05, p = 0.65) and grade 3/4 adverse effects: gastrointestinal problem (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.25-1.30, p = 0.18), leukopenia (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.41-1.91, p = 0.75), thrombocytopenia (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 0.27-5.93, p = 0.76).

CONCLUSION

NAC is effective and safe. However, further prospective multi-national and multi-center RCTs are still needed in order to investigate the long-term oncological and functional outcomes to define the clinical benefits of NAC and the most effective strategies for AGC.

Induction of a pathological complete response by four courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer: early results of the randomized phase II COMPASS trial

BACKGROUND

The prognosis for stage 3 gastric cancer is not satisfactory, even with S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy. A randomized phase II trial was conducted to compare two and four courses of neoadjuvant S-1/cisplatin (SC) and paclitaxel/cisplatin (PC) using a two-by-two factorial design for locally advanced gastric cancer. The primary endpoint was overall survival. We clarified the impact of these regimens on the secondary endpoints, including the clinical and pathological responses, chemotherapy-related toxicities, and surgical results.

METHODS

Patients received S-1 (80 mg/m(2) for 21 days with 1 week's rest)/cisplatin (60 mg/m(2) at day 8) or paclitaxel/cisplatin (80 and 25 mg/m(2), respectively, on days 1, 8, and 15 with 1 week's rest) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Eighty-three patients were assigned to arm A (two courses of SC, n = 21), arm B (four courses of SC, n = 20), arm C (two courses of PC, n = 21), and arm D (four courses of PC, n = 21). Pathological response rate was 43 % in arm A, 40 % in arm B, 29 % in arm C, and 38 % in arm D. Pathological complete response was only observed in arms B (10 %) and D (10 %). Most bone marrow toxicities, nausea, vomiting, alopecia, and fatigue were slightly higher but acceptable in arms B and D. Grade 3/4 surgical morbidities were not commonly observed in all four arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathological complete response could be induced by four courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy without a marked increase of toxicities, regardless of a SC or PC regimen.

Emergency presentation of the gastric cancer; prognosis and implications for service planning

Aims

To compare emergency and elective presentation of gastric cancer by mode of clinical presentation, initial stage, intervention and prognosis.

Methods

Data were collected prospectively for all cases of gastric cancer presenting to a tertiary referral centre between 2003 and 2010. This was stratified by emergency and elective presentation and was analysed for mode of presentation, initial stage and outcome. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t-test and Chi² test.

Results

A total of 291 patients presented: Forty-two (14.43%) were emergencies and 249 (85.57%) elective presentations. Analysis of the emergency cohort showed 25 patients presented with obstruction (59.52%), 15 presented with haematemesis (35.71%) and 2 with perforation (4.76%).

Eighteen of the emergency patients (45%) presented with stage 4 disease compared to 60 (25.42%) in the elective group (p < 0.005). Fourteen of the emergency patients were treated with curative intent (33.3%) compared with 130 (55.56%) in the elective group (p < 0.01). Over 6 years only 2 patients needed operation within 24 hours of presentation.

Overall survival at one year for emergency patients was 48.3% compared to 63.4% in elective patients (p < 0.05). There were no survivors from the emergency group after 3 years but 32.46% of the elective patients survived (p < 0.02). Elective presentation with disease stage 1A-3B had a two year survival rate of 54.95% compared to only 20% in the emergency group (p < 0.05). Of patients who underwent operative intervention 67.44% of patients who presented electively survived to 2 years. This compared to just 25% presenting as emergencies (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Emergency presentation of gastric cancer is rare; is associated with higher stage of disease at presentation and lower rates of operability. The necessity to perform emergency operation within 24 hours is exceedingly rare. Emergency presentation is a marker of poor long term outcome for equivalent cancer stage in non-advanced (stages 1A-3B) disease.

Bimonthly regimen of high-dose leucovorin, infusional 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cisplatin (modified ECF) as adjuvant chemotherapy in resected gastric adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The administration of the de Gramont regimen in combination with cisplatin and epirubicin (modified ECF) has previously been reported as a treatment for advanced gastric cancer, but here we report this regimen combination in an adjuvant setting for the first time.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients with curatively resected gastric cancer were treated. Each 2-week cycle consisted of epirubicin (50 mg/m(2)), cisplatin (50 mg/m(2)), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) IV bolus (400 mg/m(2)) and 5-FU IV (2,400 mg/m(2)) over 46 h plus leucovorin IV (400 mg/m(2)) over 2 h. Postoperative chemoradiotherapy was also administered to the patients when indicated. We retrospectively reviewed the patients who were treated with modified ECF.

RESULTS

The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 40.7 months and the 1-, 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 78.5, 55.7 and 44.6%, respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were hematological and gastrointestinal.

CONCLUSION

A modified ECF regimen may be an effective and convenient treatment with tolerable toxicities for the adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer. It may provide an alternative regimen to the standard ECF when a continuous ambulatory infusion pump is not feasible or not preferred by the patient.

Does neoadjuvant chemotherapy improve outcomes for patients with gastric cancer?

BACKGROUND

The role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer remains undefined. We compared the outcomes for patients treated with surgery alone or with the addition of adjuvant or neaodjuvant treatment.

METHODS

A single-institution, retrospective evaluation of a prospective database of gastric cancer patients treated from 2000 to 2008 was performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 173 patients with gastric cancer underwent surgical extirpation. Of the 173 patients, 43% had early-stage disease (less than stage 2) and 57% had late-stage disease (stage 2 or greater; American Joint Committee on Cancer, 2010). The median survival from the date of diagnosis for those treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) (n = 35), adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 21), adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (n = 18), both NAC and adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 11), or surgery alone (n = 88) was 26.3, 17.3, greater than 60, greater than 60, and 50.3 months, respectively. The addition of NAC to surgery was detrimental to survival in those with early-stage disease (P = 0.002) and did not improve survival in those with late-stage disease (P = 0.687). For those with late-stage disease, surgery with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy exhibited the best overall survival compared with surgery alone (P = 0.021) or surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.01). Patients treated with NAC had a greater rate of R0 resection compared with surgery alone (P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

NAC for patients with gastric cancer does not significantly improve the overall outcomes for those with late-stage disease and could be detrimental to survival for those with early-stage disease. However, treatment with NAC resulted in an improved rate of R0 resection.

Gastric adenocarcinoma surgery and adjuvant therapy

Gastric adenocarcinoma is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of therapy, offering the only chance for complete cure. Resection is based on the principles of obtaining adequate margins, with the extent of lymphadenectomy remaining controversial. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies are used to reduce local recurrence and improve long-term survival. This article reviews the literature and provides a summary of surgical management options and neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapies for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Clinicopathologic significance of ERCC1, thymidylate synthase and glutathione S-transferase P1 expression for advanced gastric cancer patients receiving adjuvant 5-FU and cisplatin chemotherapy

The objective of this study was to determine whether the expressions of the excision cross-complementing (ERCC1), thymidylate synthase (TS) and glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) are predictive of clinical outcomes in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients receiving treatment with adjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (FP) chemotherapy. One hundred forty nine patients were included in this study. ERCC1 and GSTP1 expression was correlated significantly with tumor size (p = 0.040, p = 0.018, respectively). Stage and positive lymph node ratio were associated independently with disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Both ERCC1 and GSTP1 expression had a significant impact on OS (hazard ratio = 0.069, p = 0.021). TS expression was not related to DFS and OS.

Expression of thymidylate synthase determines the response of gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy to 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy

PURPOSE

We investigated whether the intensity of thymidylate synthase (TS) staining in tissue samples obtained from gastric cancer (GC) patients undergoing gastrectomy could predict response to 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy after gastrectomy.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

Clinicopathological features of 124 patients with histologically proven GC who underwent radical gastrectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Tissue samples obtained from these patients were immunohistochemically stained for assessing TS expression. We arbitrarily classified the TS staining results as low (<20% cytoplasmic immunostaining) and high (> or =20% cytoplasmic immunostaining) TS expression.

RESULTS

The clinicopathological features of the low TS expression group patients were typically similar to those of the high TS expression group patients. However, multivariate forward stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that low TS expression was independently associated with females and responders to 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up duration for the 124 GC patients who had undergone curative resection was 41.3 months. The GC patients who showed poor tumor differentiation and high TS expression had short disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

CONCLUSIONS

Low TS expression is significantly associated with female GC patients and responders to 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy. It predicts longer DFS and OS in selected GC patients treated with 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection. The results suggest that prospective assessment of TS staining intensity in tissue samples obtained from GC patients undergoing gastrectomy would be useful to predict the patients who would be benefited from 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy after gastrectomy.

Allelic imbalance at p53 and microsatellite instability are predictive markers for resistance to chemotherapy in gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Combined treatment with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (FP chemotherapy) is an effective neoadjuvant regimen for gastric carcinoma. However, it is ineffective in half of all patients. This study tests the hypothesis that genetic markers might identify those patients with gastric cancer who would respond to neoadjuvant FP chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 23 patients with gastric carcinoma were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pretreatment biopsy specimens before neoadjuvant chemotherapy were obtained from 15 of 23 patients, and resected tumors were obtained from all 23. Genetic studies were performed to detect allelic imbalance (AI), microsatellite instability (MSI), and K-ras mutation.

RESULTS

A clinical response was observed in 13 of 23 patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that clinical responder group had a significantly higher likelihood of overall survival (P = 0.0165), compared with nonresponder group. In 23 resection specimens, 10 of 23 tumors presented AI at the p53 locus and/or MSI; 8 of the 10 tumors were nonresponders, while 12 of 13 tumors without p53 AI or MSI were responders (P = 0.0007). In 15 pretreatment biopsy specimens, 8 tumors had p53 AI and/or MSI; 7 of the 8 tumors were nonresponders, while 6 of 7 tumors without p53 AI or MSI were responders to preoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.008). Tumors with AI at the p53 locus and/or MSI were significantly more resistant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. No relationship was found between K-ras mutations and responses.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis for p53 AI and MSI might represent a clinically useful approach to predicting the response to neoadjuvant FP chemotherapy in gastric carcinoma.

Does chemoradiotherapy improve outcomes for surgically resected adenocarcinoma of the stomach or esophagus?

BACKGROUND

To use a population-based registry to evaluate the effect of chemotherapy or radiation on survival for patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or stomach.

METHODS

A linked data set between the Florida Cancer Data System and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration from 1998 to 2003 was queried.

RESULTS

Overall, 3,378 patients underwent surgical extirpation with curative intent, 636 patients had esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and 2,742 patients had gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). Outcomes were adjusted for patient comorbidities and hospital teaching status. Overall, no benefit was observed for adjuvant therapies for EAC patients. A small improvement in survival was observed with adjuvant therapies for GAC. For localized EAC or GAC there was no additional survival benefit associated with adjuvant therapies. For patients with regional EAC, chemotherapy (20.0 vs. 13.0 months, P < .001) and radiation (18.6 vs. 13.5 months, P = .007) were associated with a statistically significant survival benefit. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of improved survival for regional EAC include chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] .535, P < .001) and radiotherapy (HR .656, P = .01). For GAC, patients with regional disease showed an improved median survival with chemotherapy (21.1 vs. 11.2 months, P < .001) and radiotherapy (22.6 vs. 12.3 months, P < .001). In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of improved survival for regional GAC include chemotherapy (HR .629, P < .001) and radiation (HR .603, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with regional adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or stomach, but not those with localized disease, derive a statistically significant survival benefit from the addition of chemotherapy and radiation to surgical resection.

Combined adjuvant radiochemotherapy with IMRT/XELOX improves outcome with low renal toxicity in gastric cancer

OBJECTIVES

Adjuvant radiochemotherapy improves survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer. We assessed in two sequential cohorts whether improved radiotherapy technique (IMRT) together with intensified chemotherapy improves outcome vs. conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and standard chemotherapy in these patients while maintaining or reducing renal toxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty consecutive patients treated for gastric cancer either with 3D-CRT (n = 27) and IMRT (n = 33) were evaluated. More than 70% had undergone D2 resection. Although there was a slight imbalance in R0 status between cohorts, N+ status was balanced. Chemotherapy consisted predominantly of 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (n = 36) in the earlier cohort and mostly of oxaliplatin/capecitabine (XELOX, n = 24) in the later cohort. Primary end points were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and renal toxicity based on creatinine levels.

RESULTS

Median follow-up (FU) of all patients in the 3D-CRT group was 18 months and in the IMRT group 22 months (median FU of surviving patients 67 months in the 3D-CRT group and 25 months in the IMRT group). Overall median survival (and DFS) were 18 (13) months in the 3D-CRT group and both not reached in the IMRT group (p = 0.0492 and 0.0216). Actuarial 2-year survival was 37% and 67% in the 3D-CRT and IMRT groups, respectively. No late renal toxicity >Grade 2 (LENT-SOMA scale) was observed in either cohort.

CONCLUSION

When comparing sequentially treated patient cohorts with similar characteristics, OS and DFS improved with the use of IMRT and intensified chemotherapy without signs of increased renal toxicity.

Value of nonpalliative resection as a therapeutic and pre-emptive operation for metastatic gastric cancer

INTRODUCTION

The value of nonpalliative resection in metastatic gastric cancer has not been clearly defined.

METHODS

The survival and incidence of subsequent palliative interventions in 72 patients with metastatic gastric cancer who underwent nonpalliative resection were retrospectively compared with those of 56 patients that did not undergo resection.

RESULTS

The median survival of patients who underwent resection was greater than that of patients who did not (12.0 months versus 4.8 months; p = 0.000). However, more patients in the resection group had a good performance status, no neighboring organ invasion, and only one metastatic site, and this might have caused the survival difference. Adjuvant chemotherapy was the only independent predictor of survival after resection. Incidences of subsequent palliative procedures were not significantly different in the two study groups (43.1% in resection group versus 39.3% in the nonresection group; p = 0.668). However, the mean interval between operation and the first procedure was significantly different in the two groups (287.3 days in the resection group versus 164.1 days in the nonresection group; p = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

The survival of the patients that underwent nonpalliative resection was poor, and nonpalliative gastrectomy did not decrease requirements for subsequent palliative procedures. Only a few patients with a favorable response to adjuvant chemotherapy survived longer after resection and benefited from a longer symptom-free period until the subsequent palliative procedures were required. Nonpalliative resection should be reserved for selected patients based on performance status, resection feasibilities and metastatic tumor loads, and adjuvant chemotherapy should be combined as part of multimodality therapy.

Adjuvant radiotherapy for gastric cancer: A dosimetric comparison of 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, tomotherapy and conventional intensity modulated radiotherapy treatment plans

Some patients with gastric cancer benefit from post-operative chemo-radiotherapy, but adequately irradiating the planning target volume (PTV) whilst avoiding organs at risk (OAR) can be difficult. We evaluate 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (CRT), conventional intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and helical tomotherapy (TT). TT, 2 and 5-field (F) CRT and IMRT treatment plans with the same PTV coverage were generated for 5 patients and compared. Median values are reported. The volume of left/right kidney receiving at least 20Gy (V20) was 57/51% and 51/60% for 2 and 5F-CRT, and 28/14% for TT and 27/19% for IMRT. The volume of liver receiving at least 30Gy (V30) was 45% and 62% for 2 and 5F-CRT, and 37% for TT and 35% for IMRT. With TT, 98% of the PTV received 95-105% of the prescribed dose, compared with 45%, 34% and 28% for 2F-CRT, 5F-CRT and IMRT respectively. Using conventional metrics, conventional IMRT can achieve comparable PTV coverage and OAR sparing to TT, but at the expense of PTV dose heterogeneity. Both irradiate large volumes of normal tissue to low doses. Additional studies are needed to demonstrate the clinical impact of these technologies.

Clinical Trials of Antiangiogenesis Therapy on Gastric Cancer

Both malignant tumor growth and metastasis are dependent upon angiogenesis, a process of new blood vessel formation. Inhibition of this process by specific inhibitors might be able to control tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, antiangiogenesis thereapy is considered a promising strategy and being studied worldwide. A wide variety of angiogenesis inhibitors have been identified and some of them are under clinical trials in the advanced patients with cancer including gastric cancer. This review summarizes the development and progress of angiogenesis inhibitors in recent decades, and discusses the future direction of antiangiogenesis research, and the potential antiangiogenic agents which are most likely to be translated into standard treatment for gastrointestinal cancer patients either alone or combined with other therapies.

Prognostic role of lymphatic vessel invasion in early gastric cancer: a retrospective study of 188 cases

BACKGROUND

Lymphatic vessel invasion is an important prognostic factor for the gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis. However, the studies on early gastric cancers is still sparse. Therefore, we carried out this study to determine clinicopathological and surgical prognostic factors, especially lymphatic vessel invasion, for early gastric cancers.

METHODS

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic outcomes of 188 patients who received a gastrectomy for early gastric cancer between 1980 and 2000 were retrospectively evaluated based on the subclassification of pN category. A multivariate analysis was performed by using the Cox regression model, where lymphatic vessel invasion and other potential prognostic factors were included.

RESULTS

Of the 188 patients, 158 had T1N0M0 and 30 T1N1M0 cancers. In patients with T1N0M0 cancers, the survival rate was significantly lower in those with lymphatic vessel invasion than in those without (chi(2)=4.025, P=0.045). However, in patients with T1N1M0 cancers, the survival rates were not significantly different between those with and those without lymphatic vessel invasion (chi(2)=0.253, P=0.615). The multivariate analysis identified that age (P=0.033) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.019) were independent prognostic factors for all early gastric cancers. However, age (P=0.042), tumor location (P=0.032), and lymphatic vessel invasion (P=0.010) were the independent prognostic factors for T1N0M0 cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphatic vessel invasion was an independent prognostic factor for T1N0M0 early gastric cancers, and thus may be a potential prominent factor that should be considered to be included in the category of lymphoid metastasis (both lymph node metastasis and lymphatic vessel invasion) in patients with early gastric cancer.

Current status of chemoradiotherapy for gastric cancer in Japan

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the latest modality to be explored as a treatment for gastric cancer. Advances have been made in the United States with CRT as preoperative or postoperative adjuvant treatment. The rationale for preoperative or postoperative adjuvant CRT is to increase the curability of surgery or to prevent local recurrence, because standard surgery (D0 or D1) is not sufficient to control local relapse and improve survival where disease has become advanced. D2 is standard in Japan and D2 gastrectomy plus postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 is currently standard for stage II and III cancer. Predominant recurrence patterns associated with these advanced disease stages are peritoneal dissemination and hematogenous metastasis. Local relapse or regional nodal recurrence is infrequent. CRT has been provided at only a limited number of institutions in Japan. The response to and safety of CRT for gastric cancer, in combination with various chemotherapeutic agents, are currently being studied in patients with unresectable or recurrent disease. Considering the high response rate, CRT seems to be an attractive option. In the near future, an examination will be made to ascertain whether neoadjuvant CRT in combination with extensive surgery has survival benefits in the treatment of locally advanced disease. Prior to this, a phase I/II study should be conducted in patients with unresectable or recurrent disease.

Thymidylate synthase and thymidine phosphorylase gene expression as predictive parameters for the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer

AIM

To investigate the prognostic role of thymidylate synthase (TS) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) mRNA levels in T3 or T4 gastric cancer treated with 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients with T3 or T4 gastric cancer received systemic 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy, and intratumoral expression of TS and TP in 51 gastric cancer tissue samples was tested by real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

The median disease-free survival (DFS) time was 10.2 mo in the patients. There were no significant differences in DFS between the groups with high and low levels of TP. However, the group with low level of TS had a longer DFS (14.4 mo vs 8.3 mo, P = 0.017). The median overall survival (OS) time was 18.5 mo, and there were significant differences in OS between the groups with high and low levels of TS or TP (for TS, 17.0 mo vs 21.3 mo, P = 0.010; for TP, 16.6 mo vs 22.5 mo, P = 0.009). Moreover, the coupled low expression of these two genes was strongly associated with a longer survival time of patients as compared with that of a single gene.

CONCLUSION

Expression of TS and TP mRNA is a useful predictive parameter for the survival of postoperative gastric cancer patients after 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy.