Treatment outcomes and survival study of gastric cancer patients: a retrospective analysis in an endemic region

Predictors of survival outcomes among patients with gastric cancer in a leading tertiary, teaching and referral hospital in Kenya

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of gastrointestinal malignancies in Kenya is increasing, although there is a paucity of data on survival outcomes among gastric cancer patients. Hence, this study aimed to assess survival outcomes among adult gastric cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study design was used to assess the survival outcomes among 247 gastric cancer patients. All medical records of adult (≥18 years) gastric cancer patients with complete medical records of diagnosis, stage of cancer, and treatment regimen in the study setting in the last 5 years (2016-2020) were included. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Data were collected using a data abstraction tool composed of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Survival outcomes were reported as the percentage of mortality, mean survival estimate, and mean cancer-specific survival. The data were entered and analyzed using version 20.0 SPSS statistical software. The mean survival estimates and predictors of mortality were computed using the Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

The study showed that 33.3% (64) had new distant metastasis, and 42.1% (104) had disease progression. Besides, the mortality rate was high (33.6%), and 14.6% and 7.7% of patients had complete and partial responses, respectively. The five-year survival was 32.7% among gastric cancer patients. Comorbidity (p = 0.014), advanced-stage diseases (p = 0.03), chemotherapy (p = 0.008), and gastrectomy (p = 0.016) were significant determinants of mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of patients had distant metastasis, disease progression, and a low five-year survival rate. Hence, early cancer-screening programs are indispensable to circumvent disease progression and improve survival outcomes.

Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Gastric Carcinoma Patients with Curative Surgery Followed by Adjuvant Treatment: Real-World Scenario

BACKGROUND

A wide range of adjuvant treatment regimens exist in gastric carcinoma patients which include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or both either sequential or concurrent. The study aimed to assess the benefit of adjuvant sequential chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy for operable gastric cancers and evaluate the prognostic factors associated with clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Patients of stage IB-III gastric carcinoma who underwent radical surgery followed by adjuvant treatment from January 2013 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Survival was computed using Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors were analyzed in multivariate analysis using Cox progression hazard model. A P value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 108 patients were identified with a median follow-up of 31.7 months (range: 6-96). Seventy-two percent of the patients received adjuvant sequential chemoradiation (N = 77) and 28% of patients received chemotherapy alone. The median survival was 26 months (95% CI: 23.09-28.90). Overall survival (OS) rates for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 88.9%, 57.4%, 40.7%, 28.8%, and 20.4%, respectively. Five-year OS for stage-IB, II, and III was 75%, 45%, and 8.3%, respectively (p = 0.023). Surgical margin positivity (9.5% vs. 26.9%, p = 0.042), signet-ring cell histology (6.5% vs. 25.8%, p = 0.00), and adjuvant sequential chemoradiation (p = 0.002) showed a significant impact on survival outcomes and proved as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that survival in gastric carcinoma is influenced by the stage of disease and surgical margins. In locally advanced patients, radical surgery followed by sequential chemoradiation based on a doublet/triplet regimen was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Majority of patients in our set-up presented in locally advanced stage, curative resection followed by adjuvant sequential chemoradiation was an independent prognostic factor for survival.

Comparison of East and West Survival Nomograms in Turkish Gastric Cancer Patients Who Underwent Radical Surgery

BACKGROUND AND AIM:

The clinicopathological demonstrations of gastric cancer vary widely between Eastern and Western countries. Turkey is situated in Europe and Middle East which acts as a bridge between east and west. We aimed to validate the two popular nomograms of east and west origin by means of patients who underwent curative surgery for gastric cancer in our country.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Of the 202 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer between the years 2006 and 2013, 145 of these patients whose data were sufficient were included in the study. For all patients, demographic, laboratory, operative, and pathologic findings were documented. For each patient, prognostic factors were incorporated into the nomograms for estimating 5-year survival probability.

RESULTS:

For a Turkish cohort, the western nomogram showed a better discriminative capacity (AUC = 0.721, 95% confidence interval 0.637-0.806) and was better calibrated (the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test p = 0.323), as compared to the eastern nomogram with AUC = 0.615, 95% confidence interval 0.522-0.708, and p = 0.077, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

Western nomogram was found to be more effective than eastern nomogram in prediction of estimating 5-year survival probability in patients with resectable gastric cancer in Turkish population.

Recent trends of gastric cancer treatment in Turkey

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer and is the fourth most common death due to cancer in Turkey. Incidence and mortality rates are one of the highest among European countries. Despite the high rates, management of gastric cancer is still an issue of debate in Turkey and national guidelines have yet to be established. While the treatment plan following the diagnosis of gastric cancer is determined by a multidisciplinary meeting at high-volume centers, the plan in the majority of cases in Turkey is decided based on the decision of an individual physician. The primary goal of the treatment strategy is to obtain the best oncological outcomes and quality of life within the acceptable treatment-related morbidity. Therefore, R0 resection is intended by using standardized surgery with an individualized approach, while avoiding surgery if a curative resection is not possible. In this review, presenting on the recent trends of gastric cancer treatment including surgical, endoscopic, adjuvant/neoadjuvant and conversion treatment options in Turkey are aimed by exploring the institutional approach.

Relationship of Amplification and Expression of the C-MYC Gene with Survival among Gastric Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

During the past decades, the incidence and mortality rate of stomach cancer has demonstrated a great decrease in the world, but it is still one of the most common and fatal cancers especially among men worldwide, including Iran. The MYC proto-oncogene, which is located at 8q24.1, regulates 15% of genes and is activated in 20% of all human tumors. MYC amplification and overexpression of its protein product has been reported in 15-30% of gastric neoplasias. The aim of this investigation was to find the relative efficacy of CISH (chromogenic in situ hybridization) or IHC (immunohistochemistry) in diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer, as well as the relationship of amplification and expression of C-MYC gene with patient survival.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 102 samples of gastric cancer were collected from patients who had undergone primary surgical resection at the Cancer Institute Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, from July 2009 to March 2014. All samples were randomly selected from those who were diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinomas. CISH and IHC methods were performed on all of them.

RESULTS

Patients were classified into two groups. The first consisted of stage I and II cases, and the second of stage III and IV. Survival tests for both groups was carried out with referrnce to CISH test reults. Group II (stage III and IV) with CISH+ featured lower survival than those with CISH- (p=0.233), but group I (stage I and II) patients demonstrated no significant variation with CISH+ or CISH- (p=0.630). Kaplan-Meier for both groups was carried out with IHC test findings and showed similar results. This data revealed that both diffuse and intestinal types of gastric cancer occurred significantly more in men than women. Our data also showed that CISH+ patients (43%) were more frequent in comparison with IHC+ patients (14.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

For planning treatment of gastric cancer patients, by focusing on expanding tumors, which is the greatest concern of the surgeons and patients, CISH is a better and more feasible test than IHC, in regard to sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, CISH can be used as a feasible test for tumor growth and prognosis in stage III and IV lesions. This study also indicated that C-MYC amplification in gastric cancer is correlated with survival in advanced stages.

How does epidemiological and clinicopathological features affect survival after gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients-single Egyptian center experience

AIM: To investigate the clinicopathological features and the significance of different prognostic factors which predict surgical overall survival in patients with gastric carcinoma.

METHODS: This retrospective study includes 80 patients diagnosed and treated at gastroenterology surgical center, Mansoura University, Egypt between February 2009 to February 2013. Prognostic factors were assessed by cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS: There were 57 male and 23 female. The median age was 57 years (24-83). One, 3 and 5 years survival rates were 71%, 69% and 46% respectively. The median survival was 69.96 mo. During the follow-up period, 13 patients died (16%). Hospital morbidity was reported in 10 patients (12.5%). The median number of lymph nodes removed was 22 (4-41). Lymph node (LN) involvement was found in 91% of cases. After R0 resection, depth of wall invasion, LN involvement and the number (> 15) of retrieved LN, LN ratio and tumor differentiation predict survival. In multivariable analysis, tumor differentiation, curability of resection and a number of resected LN superior to 15 were found to be independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION: Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment. Tumor differentiation, curability of resection and a number of resected LN superior to 15 were found to be independent prognostic factors. Extended LN dissection does not increase the morbidity or mortality rate but markedly improves long term survival.

Individualized Chemotherapy for Metastatic Gastric Cancer: Retrospective Data from a University Hospital in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Despite the decreased incidence, gastric cancer is still a frequent cause of cancer related death. The 1st line 2 or 3 drugs regimen is still a debatable issue. HER2 targeted therapy has emerged as the standard of care, but it is unavailable in the Brazilian Public Health System. The end-point of this trial was overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic gastric cancer treated in a public university hospital in Brazil. The secondary end-points were efficacy and safety of regimens with 2 (F+P) or 3 (EOX) drugs to develop an institutional guideline to facilitate optimal treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, 1st line regimens were evaluated for OS and PFS stratified by age and ECOG using Cox regression.

RESULTS

47 patients were treated over the last 3 years. In 1st line, 29 were treated with F+P (mean 59.3 years, 34.5% ECOG 2 and a mean of 5.69 cycles) and 16 with EOX (mean 47 years, 18.8% ECOG 2 and a mean of 5.44 cycles). The median OS was 13.8 months (95%CI 10.7-16.9). Response was evaluated in 40 cases and was 64.3% for EOX and 37.5% for F+P (p=0.25). The median PFS was 9.5 months for EOX and 5.6 months for F+P (HR 0.85, 95%CI 0.41-1.74). However, among patients with ECOG 2 mPFS was 3.70 vs 5.40 months, respectively (p=0.86). Regimens showed similar manageable adverse events. A total of 34 patients suffered progression and 14 received 2nd line therapy. Diffuse histology (HR 1.89, 95%CI 1.22-2.88), achieving 2nd line (HR: 0.25, 95%CI 0.11-0.58) and treatment response (HR 0.23, 95%CI 0.12-0.47) were OS prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated in our hospital had outcomes compatible with the literature. The regimen choice should be related to patient features. Second line treatment should be considered.

Sensitivity of gastric cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs in elderly patients and its correlation with cyclooxygenase-2 expression

OBJECTIVE

To explore the sensitivity of gastric cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs in elderly patients and its correlation with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in cancer tissue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-three elderly patients with gastric cancer (observation group) and 31 young patients with gastrointestinal tumors (control group) who were all diagnosed by pathology and underwent surgery in the 89th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army were selected. Drug sensitivity testing of tumor cells in primary culture was carried out in both groups using a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method, and the expression of COX-2 and the factors related to multi-drug resistance (MDR) in cancer tissue were assessed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The inhibition rates (IR) of vincristine (VCR), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin (L-OHP), mitomycin (MMC) and epirubicin (eADM) on tumor cells in the observation group were dramatically lower than in the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The positive rates of COX-2, glutathione s-transferase-π (GST-π) and P glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in cancer tissue in the observation group were all higher than in control group (P<0.05), while that of DNA topoisomerase IIα (TopoIIα) expression lower than in the control group (P<0.01). In the observation group, COX-2 expression in cancer tissue had a significantly-positive correlation with GST-π and P-gp (r=0.855, P=0.000; r=0.240, P=0.026), but a negative correlation with TopoIIα (r=-0.328, P=0.002). In the control group, COX-2 expression in cancer tissue was only correlated with P-gp positively (r=0.320, P=0.011). Bivariate correlation analysis displayed that COX-2 expression in cancer tissue in the observation group had a significantly-negative correlation with the IRs of 5-FU, L-OHP, paclitaxel (PTX) and eADM in tumor cells (r=-0.723, P=0.000; r=-0.570, P=0.000; r=-0.919, P=0.000; r=-0.781, P=0.000), but with hydroxycamptothecine (HCPT), VCR and 5-FU in the control group (r=-0.915, P=0.000; r=-0.890, P=0.000; r=-0.949, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONS

Gastric cancer cells in elderly patients feature stronger MDR, which may be related to high COX-2 expression.

Overall Survival Is Impacted by Birthplace and Not Extent of Surgery in Asian Americans with Resectable Gastric Cancer

Survival from gastric cancer in the USA still lags behind Asia. Genetic, environmental, and tumor biology differences, along with extent of surgery have been implicated. Our aim was to evaluate survival outcomes in Asian-American gastric cancer patients undergoing surgical resection by comparing place of birth and clinicopathologic characteristics (including evaluation of 15 lymph nodes).The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried to identify patients treated surgically for gastric cancer with curative intent in the USA (2000-2010). US-born versus foreign-born Asian-American patients were analyzed for survival. Secondary comparison was made to non-Asian patients. Stage IV and non-surgical patients were excluded. Of 10,089 patients identified, 1467 patients were Asian: 271 were born in the USA, and 1196 were born outside the USA. Median survival was 32 months for non-Asians and 29 months for US-born Asians versus 61 months for Asian immigrants (p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis of overall survival in Asian patients, only US birthplace, older age, and higher stage yielded a significantly poorer outcome. Asian-American patients have a worse prognosis if born in the USA. Anatomic and surgical differences do not explain this disparity; environmental factors may be responsible.

Role of Enteral Immunonutrition in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common upper gastrointestinal malignancies. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of curative treatment for GC. Enteral immunonutrition (EIN) has been increasingly used to enhance host immunity and relieve inflammatory response of patients undergoing surgery for GC; however, conclusions across studies still remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effects of EIN for such patients.We searched some electronic databases including PubMed, EBSCO-Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and EMBASE to identify any latent studies which investigated the effects of EIN compared with standard EN on GC patients who undergoing surgery until the end of December 30, 2014. Relative risk (RR), mean difference (MD), or standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated and we also assessed heterogeneity by using Cochrane Q and I statistic combined with corresponding P-value.We included 9 eligible studies which included 785 patients eventually. The meta-analysis results shown that EIN increased level of IgA (MD, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.12-0.51), IgG (MD, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.73-2.28), IgM (MD, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.06-0.39), CD4 (SMD, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.53-1.09), CD3 (SMD, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.21-1.15), CD4/CD8 ratio (MD, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.12-1.01), and NK cell (MD, 2.35; 95% CI, 0.66-4.05); decreased IL-6 (MD, -98.22; 95% CI, -156.16 to -40.28) and TNF-α (MD, -118.29; 95% CI, -162.00 to -74.58), but not improve remained outcomes of interest involving postoperative complications, length of hospitalization, serum total protein, and CD8. Descriptive analysis suggested that EIN also increased the concentration of IL-2 but not CRP. Impact on lymphocytes remains inconsistent.EIN is effective for enhancing host immunity and relieving the inflammatory response in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy, but clinical outcomes cannot be benefit from it. Heterogeneity caused by different compositions and timing of administration of EIN regimes and not enough sample size and number of eligible studies in most of sensitive analyses with subgroup analysis may impaired the power of our study, and thus some large-scale and well-designed studies are warranted to further establish effects.