[A Case of Laparoscopic Hepatectomy and Combined Resection of Lymph Nodes and Ureter for Liver Metastasis after Colorectal Cancer Surgery, with Local Lymph Node Recurrence and Bilateral Hydronephrosis]

A 65-year-old man with sigmoid colon cancer underwent sigmoidectomy, followed by 8 courses of oral S-1 as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Three years and 3 months after surgery, the patient developed liver metastasis, lymphadenopathy at the root of the inferior mesenteric artery, and bilateral hydronephrosis. The left hydronephrosis was believed to be due to invasion by lymph node metastasis at the root ofthe inferior mesenteric artery. The patient underwent laparoscopic partial resection ofsegment 5 ofthe liver, excision ofthe lymph nodes at the root ofthe inferior mesenteric artery(combined resection ofthe left ureter), bilateral ureteral stent placement, and left ureteral reconstruction. The postoperative course was without complications, and he was discharged 12 days after surgery. Follow-up observation without postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was planned, according to the patient's wishes.

Double- and Triple-Positive Tumor Markers Predict Early Recurrence and Poor Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma within the Milan Criteria and Child-Pugh Class A

The prognostic implications of the expression patterns of three tumor markers, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), have been evaluated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). From January 1994 to December 2014, 1182 consecutive patients underwent hepatic resection and surgical microwave ablation for HCC at our institution. This study analyzed 475 patients within the Milan criteria and Child-Pugh class A. Cumulative overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were analyzed relative to the number of positive tumor markers. OS and DFS at 5 years postoperatively were 85.3 and 44.2% in triple-negative patients, 79.4 and 48.0% in single-positive patients, 56.2 and 32.9% in double-positive patients, and 61.7 and 35.7% in triple-positive patients with statistical significance. OS in triple-negative or single-positive patients was 85.3%, and that in all double- or triple-positive patients was 58.0% (P < 0.0001); DFS at 5 years postoperatively in these two groups was 45.9 and 34.0%, respectively (P < 0.0013). Both double- and triple-positive tumor markers are associated with early recurrence and poor survival in HCC patients within the Milan criteria and Child-Pugh class A.

Efficacy of surgical treatment using microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy for unresectable multiple colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND

Five or more colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) are considered marginally resectable and cannot be treated solely by hepatic resection (Hr). This study investigated the long-term effectiveness of surgical treatment using microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy (MCN) and/or Hr for marginally resectable or unresectable multiple CRLM.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed 82 consecutive CRLM patients with ≥5 CRLM who underwent MCN, Hr, or both, at our institution from 1994 to 2012. Presuming all CRLM were resected curatively, virtual remnant liver volume was calculated using preoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Virtual remnant liver volume <30% was defined as unresectable. Patients were divided into marginally resectable (Group Y; n=29) and unresectable (Group N; n=53). Overall and recurrence-free survival were assessed.

RESULTS

Mean maximum tumor diameter and tumor number were 3.1 and 6.0 cm in Group Y and 3.3 and 11.3 cm in Group N. Surgical methods included MCN (n=16), MCN+Hr (n=9), and Hr (n=4) in Group Y, and MCN (n=28) and MCN+Hr (n=25) in Group N. One- and 2-year recurrence-free survival rates were 38.0% and 22.8% in Group Y, and 18.9% and 3.8% in Group N (P=0.01). However, 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of Group N (86.8%, 44.6%, and 33.7%, respectively) were similar to those of Group Y (82.8%, 51.4%, and 33.3%, respectively; P= not significant each).

CONCLUSION

MCN may improve survival for patients with unresectable multiple CRLM, similar to that in patients with marginally resectable multiple CRLM.

The Efficacy of Continued Sorafenib Treatment after Radiologic Confirmation of Progressive Disease in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Whether radiologically detected progressive disease (PD) is an accurate metric for discontinuing sorafenib treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. We investigated the efficacy of sorafenib treatment after radiologic confirmation of PD in patients with advanced HCC.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed HCC patients treated with sorafenib at Kyushu Medical Center. Six of the 92 patients with radiologically confirmed PD were excluded because they were classified as Child-Pugh C or had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) ≥3; 86 patients were ultimately enrolled.

RESULTS

Among the 86 patients, 47 continued sorafenib treatment after radiologic confirmation of PD (the continuous group), whereas 39 did not (the discontinuous group). The median survival time (MST) in the continuous group after confirmation was 12.9 months compared with 4.5 months in the discontinuous group (p <0.01). The time to progression in the continuous group after confirmation was 2.6 months compared with 1.4 months in the discontinuous group (p <0.01); it was 4.2 months and 2.1 months in patients who had received sorafenib ≥4 months and <4 months, respectively, before confirmation (p = 0.03). In these subgroups, the post-PD MST was 16.7 months and 9.6 months, respectively (p < 0.01). Independent predictors of overall survival after radiologic detection of PD were (hazard ratio, confidence interval): ECOG PS <2 (0.290, 0.107-0.880), Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer stage B (0.146, 0.047-0.457), serum α-fetoprotein level ≥400 ng/mL (2.801, 1.355-5.691), and post-PD sorafenib administration (0.279, 0.150-0.510).

CONCLUSION

Continuing sorafenib treatment after radiologic confirmation of PD increased survival in patients with advanced HCC. Therefore, radiologically detected PD is not a metric for discontinuation of sorafenib treatment in such patients.

Impact of more detailed categorization of shrinkage or progression ratio at initial imaging response after sorafenib treatment in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Background

Sorafenib therapy improves survival in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients without an objective response. The present study investigated whether the initial imaging response might be a prognostic indicator after administration of sorafenib therapy in HCC patients.

Patients and methods

This retrospective study reviewed unresectable HCC patients undergoing sorafenib therapy. Patients evaluated without complete response, partial response (PR), or progressive disease (PD) at the initial imaging response evaluation by modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors were divided into three groups according to more detailed categorization of the shrinkage/progression ratio in initial imaging response. A comparison of progression-free and overall survival among these groups was performed.

Results

Of the 43 non-PR non-PD patients with target lesions, ten (23.3%) exhibited mild response (MR; −30% to −5%), 14 (32.6%) exhibited no change (NC; −5% to +5%), and 19 (44.2%) exhibited mild-PD (MPD; +5% to +20%). There was no statistical difference in progression-free or overall survival between MR and NC patients. The median progression-free survivals in NC+MR and mild-PD patients were 15.0 and 5.3 months, respectively (P<0.01), and the median survival times were 31.9 and 17.1 months, respectively (P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, etiology (hepatitis C virus) and initial imaging response (MR+NC) was identified as an independently good prognostic factor.

Conclusion

More detailed categorization of shrinkage or progression at the initial imaging response evaluation may be a useful marker for predicting sorafenib treatment outcomes in HCC patients. If the initial imaging response is not progression but stability, sorafenib may have a survival benefit.

Long-Term Maintenance of Complete Response after Sorafenib Treatment for Multiple Lung Metastases from Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Sorafenib is an effective treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) characterized by disease stabilization. However, the response rates are very low (<9%percnt;), and a complete response is rarely achieved. We report an extremely rare case of a HCC patient with multiple lung metastases treated with sorafenib who achieved a complete response for a long period. A 77-year-old woman was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C in 1990. In 2007, a HCC detected in the liver was treated with percutaneous ethanol injection therapy. Subsequently, recurrence of HCC in the liver was treated with microwave coagulonecrotic therapy in 2010. In April 2011, a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed innumerable multiple metastases spread diffusely in both lungs. Tumor marker levels were extremely high [α-fetoprotein (AFP) 76,170 ng/ml, lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP 7.5%percnt;, des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) 63,400 mAU/ml]. Sorafenib was administered at a reduced dose of 400 mg/day because of old age. Four months after sorafenib treatment, AFP and DCP had decreased to within normal levels, and the multiple lung metastases had disappeared. Currently, sorafenib is administered at a reduced dose of 400 mg/day, and the complete response has been maintained for 48 months.

Potential usefulness of mucin immunohistochemical staining of preoperative pancreatic biopsy or juice cytology specimens in the determination of treatment strategies for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm

We classified resected intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) into four subtypes (gastric, intestinal, pancreatobiliary and oncocytic) according to their morphological features and mucin expression, determined their clinicopathological characteristics and investigated the possibility of preoperatively diagnosing these subtypes. Sixty resected tumors, 4 preoperative tumor biopsies and 10 preoperative pancreatic juice cytology specimens were analyzed. The gastric and intestinal types accounted for the majority of IPMNs. Non-gastric type IPMNs were of high-grade malignancy. Many of the pancreatobiliary-type IPMNs were in an advanced stage and were associated with a poor prognosis. The results of mucin immunohistochemical staining of preoperative biopsy and surgically resected specimens were in agreement with each other, and in close agreement with those for pancreatic juice cytology specimens obtained from 10 patients during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The immunostaining of preoperative biopsy specimens and ERCP-obtained pancreatic juice cytology specimens may be useful in the differential diagnosis of gastric and intestinal types of IPMN. If such techniques enable the preoperative diagnosis of IPMN subtypes, their use in combination with conventional preoperative imaging modalities may lead to surgical treatment best suited for the biological characteristics of the four subtypes.

A case of cancer of the ampulla of Vater accompanied by malrotation

Intestinal malrotation is caused by a developmental anomaly of the embryonic intestine. Most cases develop in neonates, and development in adulthood is rare and difficult to diagnose before surgery. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed for cancer of the ampulla of Vater accompanied by incomplete fixation in a 63-year-old male patient. A branch of the superior mesenteric artery was present on the resection line and was deemed likely to cause circulatory disorder in the small intestine, and the duodenum and jejunum were covered with a membranous structure making dissection, anatomical identification, and jejunectomy difficult. Herein, we report the case with a review of the literature.

[Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage for the liver metastases from colorectal cancer and obstructive jaundice]

The success of biliary drainage in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer and obstructive jaundice influences its prognosis greatly. In this study, we report a retrospective evaluation of endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer and obstructive jaundice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From April 2004 to December 2011, 9 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer and obstructive jaundice who underwent endoscopic biliary drainage were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

The mean serum levels of total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase improved significantly after biliary drainage. The median survival time after biliary drainage was 133 days. Only 4 cases were able to resume chemotherapy after biliary drainage, and their prognosis was significantly better than patients who were not able to resume chemotherapy(p=0.014).

DISCUSSION

Endoscopic biliary drainage in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer and obstructive jaundice was effective, led to the resumption of chemotherapy, and improved prognosis. However, sufficient consideration of the patient's prognosis and performance status is required in order to perform biliary drainage.

Metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma 13 years after curative resection for pancreatic cancer: report of a case and review of Japanese literature

CONTEXT

For the majority of patients, ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas remains a lethal disease. Currently, surgical extirpation for localized disease offers the only chance for long-term survival.

CASE REPORT

We report a patient who underwent successful resection of isolated lung metastasis occurring 13 years after pancreatic cancer resection. A 59-year-old woman underwent distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer 13 years previously, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, and was followed-up at the outpatient clinic of a local hospital. From around June 2010, she noticed bloody sputum, so she visited a local hospital. Since her chest X-ray and CT revealed a 1.5 cm mass shadow in the segment 10 of her right lung and she was referred to the Respiratory Disease Center of our hospital. As a result of through examinations, she was strongly suspected of having lung metastasis of pancreatic cancer, and underwent partial pneumonectomy. Postoperative histopathological examination of the resected specimen was consistent with lung metastasis of pancreatic cancer. She is still alive and currently receives third line of chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Patients who have achieved long-term survival after pancreatic cancer resection and can tolerate surgery may benefit from resection of a lung metastasis of pancreatic cancer in terms of survival, if it controls the metastasis.

Effect of preoperative immunonutrition in patients undergoing hepatectomy; a randomized controlled trial

No consensus has been reached concerning the effects of preoperative immunonutrition in patients undergoing hepatectomy. We evaluated the effects of immunonutrition before hepatectomy on perioperative management. This study was performed as a randomized controlled trial. Patients expected to undergo segmentectomy or more extensive hepatectomy for liver tumors were randomized to immunonutrition (IM) and control (C) groups each consisting of 13 patients. The IM group was given 750 ml of IMPACT in addition to half-size hospital meals orally from 5 days before to the day before surgery, and the C group was given conventional hospital meals. The blood level of eicosapentaenoic acid was elevated preoperatively in all patients of the IM group. The white blood cell count and interleukin 6 levels, which are indices of postoperative inflammation, were significantly lower in the IM group. As regards liver function, postoperative increases in the aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransaminase levels were slightly suppressed in the IM group. No significant difference was noted in postoperative complications or duration of postoperative hospital stay. In patients undergoing hepatectomy, preoperative immunonutrition reduced inflammation and protected against liver dysfunction.

[An example case that chemoradiotherapy was succeeded for unresectable pancreas cancer]

Prognosis of pancreas cancer is extremely poor. For unresectable pancreas cancer, there has not been an effective method of treating. In our institution, the mean survival time was 13 . 6 months for a chemoradiotherapy case that used gemcitabine (GEM), but was 7.3 months for a non-treatment case in locally advanced and metastatic pancreas cancer. This time, we experienced a good case for unresectable pancreas cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy using GEM/S-1 that clearly exhibited a decrease in tumor size by tumor marker.

[A pilot study of intraperitoneal gemcitabine for reduction of peritoneal dissemination in advanced pancreatic cancer]

We schemed intraperitoneal gemcitabine (ipGEM) for reduction of peritoneal dissemination to three patients with unresectable and one patient with recurrent pancreatic cancer, followed by intraperitoneal catheter and subcutaneous port placement. Two locally advanced cases were performed for intra-operative radiotherapy, and one of 2 locally advanced cases was performed for gastrojejunostomy. And another locally advanced case had ileostomy. The recurrent case was resected for metastatic tumor of abdominal wall. In one of locally advanced cases, we couldn't perform ipGEM for progression of disease. In two remaining locally advanced cases, we could keep on doing ipGEM, and the patients did not experience with abdominal discomfort or hematological toxicity.

[A case of peritoneal recurrence of invasive carcinoma derived from IPMN after distal pancreatectomy]

The patient was a 62-year-old man who underwent distal pancreatectomy and partial resection of transverse colon with diagnosis of cystic tumor of pancreas tail in July 2006. In histology, the tumor was an invasive carcinoma derived from intraductal tumor. So, Chemotherapy using gemcitabine (GEM) was administered. Eleven months after the operation, abdominal contrast-enhanced CT showed a cystic tumor in the subdiaphragm and CEA increased to 15 .2 ng/mL. Combination chemotherapy using GEM and S-1 was administered under the diagnosis of peritoneal recurrence. CEA decreased to a normal level, but 19 months after the operation, CA19-9 increased to 187 .7 U/mL. Then, radiotherapy (a total of 40 Gy) was performed. Twenty two months after the radiotherapy, though chemotherapy using S-1 was continued, CA19-9 re- increased to 134 .2 U/mL. Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT and PET detected no other recurrent lesion. A tumor resection was performed in January 2010. In immunostaining MUC1(+), MUC2(-), MUC5AC(+), MUC6(+) and mucus expression forms as well as with previous specimen, and was diagnosed as recurrence of the invasive carcinoma derived from intraductal tumor.

Accuracy of differential diagnosis for pancreatic cancer is improved in the combination of RCAS1 and CEA measurements and cytology in pancreatic juice

Improvement of diagnostic accuracy for pancreatic cancer in pancreatic disease patients was investigated by examining the combination of three diagnostic methods, i.e., measurements of RCAS1 and CEA levels in pancreatic juice and pancreatic juice cytology. Pancreatic juice was collected from 12 pancreatic cancer (PC) and 26 non-PC patients. RCAS1 and CEA levels were measured by using ELISA. RCAS1 expression on surgically resected tissue was immunohistochemically examined for 2 PC patients. By setting the cutoff level of RCAS1 at 10 U/ml and that of CEA at 18.5 μg/ml, sensitivity of RCAS1 was 42% and that of CEA was 50%. On the other hand, sensitivity and specificity increased from 42% and 85% of RCAS1 alone to 75% and 85% in the examination of RCAS1 + CEA + cytology, and the false-negative rate was also reduced to 25% in this combination. Immunohistochemically, a patient with a high RCAS1 level in pancreatic juice had numerous RCAS1-positive tumor cells in the pancreatic juice. We concluded that RCAS1 and CEA measurements together with cytology in pancreatic juice would be a useful combination method for making a differential diagnosis of PC from non-PC.

[Liver histology and surgical outcomes after preoperative chemotherapy in colorectal cancer liver metastases]

We aimed to assess hepatic histopathological responses to preoperative chemotherapy in patients with colorectal liver metastasis. We selected all patients(n=34)with colorectal liver metastases between September 2006 and March 2009. The preoperative chemotherapy group was significantly associated with tumor regression, inflammatory response, sinusoidal dilatation compared with non-chemotherapy group. There was no difference in the rate of postoperative complications and hospital stay. Prolonged preoperative systemic chemotherapy alters liver parenchyma, but it does not increase postoperative complications. This should be taken into consideration before deciding a major liver resection in patients who have received preoperative chemotherapy.

Perioperative challenges associated with a pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer in patients with situs inversus totalis: report of two cases

Situs inversus totalis is a rare anatomic variant of a complete mirror-image transposition of the thoracic and abdominal viscera. The performance of a pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy in patients with situs inversus totalis is both rare and challenging. We herein present two cases of pancreatic cancer with situs inversus totalis. The abdominal anatomy was preoperatively assessed by multidetectorrow computed tomography, three-dimensional reconstruction, and angiography. We herein report that a pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy with standard regional lymphadenectomy are feasible in patients with situs inversus totalis. Due to the transposition of the viscera and major blood vessels in such cases, preoperative knowledge of the exact anatomy, mapping of anomalies, and meticulous forward planning are essential for performing these technically difficult and complex hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgeries.