1
|
Christodoulidis G, Koumarelas KE, Kouliou MN, Samara M, Thodou E, Zacharoulis D. The Genomic Signatures of Linitis Plastica Signal the Entrance into a New Era: Novel Approaches for Diagnosis and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14680. [PMID: 37834127 PMCID: PMC10572839 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Linitis Plastica (LP) is a rare and aggressive tumor with a distinctive development pattern, leading to the infiltration of the gastric wall, the thickening of the gastric folds and a "leather bottle appearance". LP is an extremely heterogeneous tumor caused by mutations in oncogenic and tumor suppressive genes, as well as molecular pathways, along with mutations in stromal cells and proteins related to tight junctions. Elucidating the molecular background of tumorigenesis and clarifying the correlation between cancerous cells and stromal cells are crucial steps toward discovering novel diagnostic methods, biomarkers and therapeutic targets/agents. Surgery plays a pivotal role in LP management, serving both as a palliative and curative procedure. In this comprehensive review, we aim to present all recent data on the molecular background of LP and the novel approaches to its management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grigorios Christodoulidis
- Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Biopolis Campus, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (K.E.K.); (M.N.K.); (D.Z.)
| | - Konstantinos Eleftherios Koumarelas
- Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Biopolis Campus, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (K.E.K.); (M.N.K.); (D.Z.)
| | - Marina Nektaria Kouliou
- Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Biopolis Campus, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (K.E.K.); (M.N.K.); (D.Z.)
| | - Maria Samara
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis Campus, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (M.S.); (E.T.)
| | - Eleni Thodou
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis Campus, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (M.S.); (E.T.)
| | - Dimitris Zacharoulis
- Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Biopolis Campus, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (K.E.K.); (M.N.K.); (D.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Huang JY, Zhang WL, Xing YN, Hou WB, Yin SC, Wang ZN, Tan YE, Xu YY, Zhu Z, Xu HM. Increased Expression of LIPC Is Associated with Aggressive Phenotype of Borrmann Type 4 Gastric Cancer. J Gastrointest Surg 2021; 25:900-910. [PMID: 32157605 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-020-04550-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate lipase C hepatic type (LIPC) expression in Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer and its correlation with clinical outcome. The biological roles of LIPC in Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer progression were also investigated. METHODS We determined LIPC expression in 324 primary gastric cancer tissues and 178 matched adjacent non-tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry. We explored the role of LIPC in Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer cell (OCUM-1) migration, invasion, proliferation, cell cycle, and expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes by knocking down LIPC expression. RESULTS LIPC expression was upregulated in Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer tissues compared with other types of gastric cancer and adjacent non-tumor tissues. High LIPC expression correlated with lymph node metastasis, advanced TNM stage, and poor overall survival in Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that high LIPC expression was an independent prognostic factor in patients with Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer. By reducing LIPC expression, OCUM-1 cell invasion and migration were suppressed and Snail and MMP2 expression was downregulated, while E-cadherin expression was upregulated. CONCLUSIONS High LIPC expression correlates with poor clinical outcome and plays an important role in regulating cell migration and invasion in Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Yu Huang
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei-Lan Zhang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ya-Nan Xing
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Wen-Bin Hou
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Song-Cheng Yin
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhen-Ning Wang
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu-En Tan
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying-Ying Xu
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhi Zhu
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Hui-Mian Xu
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Díaz Del Arco C, Ortega Medina L, Estrada Muñoz L, García Gómez de Las Heras S, Fernández Aceñero MJ. Is there still a place for conventional histopathology in the age of molecular medicine? Laurén classification, inflammatory infiltration and other current topics in gastric cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Histol Histopathol 2021; 36:587-613. [PMID: 33565601 DOI: 10.14670/hh-18-309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In western countries, more than half of GC patients are diagnosed at advanced stages and 5-year survival rates range between 20-30%. The only curative treatment is surgery, and despite recent advances in oncological therapies, GC prognosis is still poor. The main prognostic tool for patient categorization and treatment selection is the TNM classification, but its limitations are being increasingly recognized. Early recurrences may occur in early-stage disease, and patients at the same stage show heterogeneous outcomes. Thus, there is a need to improve GC stratification and to identify new prognostic factors, which may allow us to select drug-susceptible populations, refine patient grouping for clinical trials and discover new therapeutic targets. Molecular classifications have been developed, but they have not been translated to the clinical practice. On the other hand, histological assessment is cheap and widely available, and it is still a mainstay in the era of molecular medicine. Furthermore, histological features are acquiring new roles as reflectors of the genotype-phenotype correlation, and their potential impact on patient management is currently being analyzed. The aim of this literature review is to provide a modern overview of the histological assessment of GC. In this study, we discuss recent topics on the histological diagnosis of GC, focusing on the current role of Laurén classification and the potential value of new histological features in GC, such as inflammatory infiltration and tumor budding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Díaz Del Arco
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. .,Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Ortega Medina
- Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Surgical Pathology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Mª Jesús Fernández Aceñero
- Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Surgical Pathology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Song X, Shi Y, Shi T, Liu B, Wei J, Wang J. The efficacy of treating patients with non-metastatic gastric linitis plastica using surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:1433. [PMID: 33313178 PMCID: PMC7723551 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-2785b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background To explore the efficacy of treatment strategies for non-metastatic gastric linitis plastica (GLP). Methods Patients with non-metastatic GLP from 2004 to 2014 were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). We compared overall survival (OS) of those patients who received different treatments, including surgery alone, a combination of surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (S + C/R), chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (C/R), and no treatment. Results The cohort included 474 patients with non-metastatic GLP. Overall, the median survival was significantly different among four groups (13.90 months in S + C/R, 8.38 months in surgery alone, 8.94 months in C/R and 2.50 months in no treatment). Then, we compared the efficacy of surgery alone and surgery with postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (S + post C/R). When the tumor size was greater than 8 cm in stage III patients, S + post C/R was associated with a better survival benefit than surgery alone. S + post C/R also conferred an obvious survival advantage compared to surgery alone for R0 patients with positive lymph nodes and patients with positive margins. Conclusions Surgery plays the fundamental role in improving the OS of patients with non-metastatic GLP. S + post C/R would benefit patients in stage III with large-sized tumors (>8 cm), patients with negative margins and positive lymph nodes, and/or patients with positive margins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xueru Song
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Shi
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Shi
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Baorui Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Jia Wei
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiping Wang
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ikoma N, Agnes A, Chen HC, Wang X, Blum MM, Das P, Minsky B, Estrella JS, Mansfield P, Ajani JA, Badgwell BD. Linitis Plastica: a Distinct Type of Gastric Cancer. J Gastrointest Surg 2020; 24:1018-1025. [PMID: 31754987 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-019-04422-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognosis of patients with linitis plastica (LP) gastric cancer is reported to be poor. The purpose of our retrospective study was to characterize the clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes of patients with LP, using a univocal definition. METHODS We defined LP as gastric cancer that involves more than 1/3 of the gastric wall macroscopically. We reviewed a prospectively maintained institutional database of gastric cancer patients and summarized and compared clinicopathologic factors of patients with and without LP who had undergone gastrectomy. Patients were matched 1:1 using propensity score matching, and their overall survival (OS) rates and durations were compared. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were conducted, using gastrectomy as a time-varying covariate. RESULTS We identified 740 patients with radiographically non-metastatic gastric cancer, 157 (21.2%) of whom had LP. Most patients with LP had advanced-stage disease (75.8% had stage IV disease, mainly due to peritoneal involvement). Patients with LP had significantly shorter OS durations than did those without LP in the entire cohort (median OS, 14.0 vs. 33.5 months; p value < 0.001) and in the surgical cohort (median OS after gastrectomy, 21.8 vs. 91.0 months; p < 0.001), as well as in the propensity-matched surgical cohort. In the LP cohort, chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.594; p = 0.076), chemoradiation therapy (HR = 0.346; p = 0.001), and gastrectomy (HR = 0.425; p = 0.003) were associated with a longer OS. CONCLUSIONS LP is a phenotype of gastric cancer that often presents at an advanced stage, with a high rate of peritoneal involvement. The survival durations of patients with LP were poor in our study, even in the surgical cohort. The use of preoperative chemotherapy, chemoradiation therapy, and gastrectomy appeared to be important in carefully selected patients with localized LP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naruhiko Ikoma
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler Street, FCT17.6010, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Annamaria Agnes
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler Street, FCT17.6010, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hsiang-Chun Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xuemei Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mariela M Blum
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Prajnan Das
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bruce Minsky
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeannelyn S Estrella
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul Mansfield
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler Street, FCT17.6010, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jaffer A Ajani
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brian D Badgwell
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler Street, FCT17.6010, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Aytaç E, Aslan F, Çicek B, Erdamar S, Gürses B, Güven K, Falay O, Karahasanoğlu T, Selçukbiricik F, Selek U, Atalar B, Balık E, Tözün N, Rozanes İ, Arıcan A, Hamzaoğlu İ, Baca B, Molinas Mandel N, Saruç M, Göksel S, Demir G, Ağaoğlu F, Yakıcıer C, Özbek U, Özben V, Özyar E, Güner AL, Er Ö, Kaban K, Bölükbaşı Y, Buğra D, Group Tİ. Dealing with the gray zones in the management of gastric cancer: The consensus statement of the İstanbul Group. TURKISH JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2020; 30:584-598. [PMID: 30541724 DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2018.18737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The geographical location and differences in tumor biology significantly change the management of gastric cancer. The prevalence of gastric cancer ranks fifth and sixth among men and women, respectively, in Turkey. The international guidelines from the Eastern and Western countries fail to manage a considerable amount of inconclusive issues in the management of gastric cancer. The uncertainties lead to significant heterogeneities in clinical practice, lack of homogeneous data collection, and subsequently, diverse outcomes. The physicians who are professionally involved in the management of gastric cancer at two institutions in Istanbul, Turkey, organized a consensus meeting to address current problems and plan feasible, logical, measurable, and collective solutions in their clinical practice for this challenging disease. The evidence-based data and current guidelines were reviewed. The gray zones in the management of gastric cancer were determined in the first session of this consensus meeting. The second session was constructed to discuss, vote, and ratify the ultimate decisions. The identification of the T stage, the esophagogastric area, imaging algorithm for proper staging and follow-up, timing and patient selection for neoadjuvant treatment, and management of advanced and metastatic disease have been accepted as the major issues in the management of gastric cancer. The recommendations are presented with the percentage of supporting votes in the results section with related data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erman Aytaç
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Fatih Aslan
- Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Bahattin Çicek
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Sibel Erdamar
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Bengi Gürses
- Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Koray Güven
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Okan Falay
- Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | | | | | - Uğur Selek
- Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Banu Atalar
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Emre Balık
- Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Nurdan Tözün
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Ali Arıcan
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - İsmail Hamzaoğlu
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Bilgi Baca
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Murat Saruç
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Süha Göksel
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Gökhan Demir
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Fulya Ağaoğlu
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Cengiz Yakıcıer
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Uğur Özbek
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Volkan Özben
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Enis Özyar
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Levent Güner
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Özlem Er
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Kerim Kaban
- Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Yasemin Bölükbaşı
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Dursun Buğra
- Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - The İstanbul Group
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sanjeevaiah A, Cheedella N, Hester C, Porembka MR. Gastric Cancer: Recent Molecular Classification Advances, Racial Disparity, and Management Implications. J Oncol Pract 2019; 14:217-224. [PMID: 29641950 DOI: 10.1200/jop.17.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric adenocarcinoma remains an aggressive and poorly understood malignancy with a heterogeneous presentation and tumor biology. The current histologic and anatomic classification has been ineffective in guiding therapy, with only marginal improvement in outcome over time. Furthermore, the variation in presentation and disease among racial and ethnic groups amplifies the complexity of this cancer. An understanding of the clinical and molecular variability is important for effective treatment. Recent advances in molecular biology have better defined gastric cancer subtypes. We systematically review recent literature on the molecular classification of gastric adenocarcinoma and the associated management implications, with an emphasis on Hispanic and Native American populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Naga Cheedella
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Caitlin Hester
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Agnes A, Estrella JS, Badgwell B. The significance of a nineteenth century definition in the era of genomics: linitis plastica. World J Surg Oncol 2017; 15:123. [PMID: 28679451 PMCID: PMC5498981 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-017-1187-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Linitis plastica due to gastric adenocarcinoma is a condition with a long history, but still lacks a standardized definition and is commonly confused with Borrmann type IV, Lauren diffuse, and signet-cell type gastric cancer. The absence of a clear definition is a problem when investigating its biological characteristics and role as a possible independent factor for prognosis. Nevertheless, the biological behavior for linitis plastica, which is unique, may be valuable in risk stratification and have implications for treatment. A definition of linitis plastica based on molecular or genomic criteria could represent a useful starting point for investigating new targeted therapies. Main body This literature review of linitis plastica will focus on the current classifications for gastric cancer, illustrating how the concept of linitis plastica relates to them in most cases and identifying a clear and reproducible definition. Moreover, the review will highlight the diagnostic challenges associated with linitis plastica, its prognostic implications, and the therapeutic options available. Future perspectives for its management are also addressed. Conclusion Linitis plastica is a carcinoma with a scirrhous stroma, involving the submucosal and muscular layers of the stomach even in the absence of mucosal alteration. In most cases, the primary cancer cells are signet-ring cells or scattered cells in the context of a poorly differentiated carcinoma. Diagnosis is challenging. Staging should be thorough, including diagnostic laparoscopy in all cases due to the high incidence of peritoneal involvement. The prognostic significance of linitis plastica is still controversial. Curative-intent surgery, when feasible, should be performed, with a multimodality treatment approach. Cancer-stroma interactions are important features of this disease, and represent attaining potential target for future therapies. Future pathologic assessments of gastric cancer should report the stromal reaction in order to allow better characterization of the tumor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Agnes
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 1484, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jeannelyn S Estrella
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brian Badgwell
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 1484, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|