Durable Complete Response of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis after Biochemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Resection of the metastatic site is indicated but not always possible in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who achieve a partial or complete response (CR) to induction systemic treatment. CR after systemic treatment alone is uncommon, and even patients with radiologic CR after induction chemotherapy harbour persistent macroscopic or microscopic residual disease in more than 80% of cases. Occasionally, some metastatic lesions disappear radiologically but others persist after induction systemic treatment. The indication and extent of metastasectomy in these situations is controversial, especially regarding sites with completely regressed metastases.

CASE

This case report describes a patient with mCRC who achieved a long-term response after biochemotherapy and incomplete metastasectomy. One of the known liver lesions could not be removed due to its disappearance after induction biochemotherapy with FOLFOX and bevacizumab. Further adjuvant chemotherapy using the FOLFOX regimen was administered postoperatively. The patient has been meticulously followed by radiology including repeated positron emission tomography/computed tomography and magnetic resonance scans, clinical examination and tumour markers. No recurrence of cancer has been detected after a follow-up of 5 years.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

CR to systemic treatment is uncommon, but this case report demonstrates that it can be durable in patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastases. This case report indicates that some patients with mCRC can be cured with systemic therapy only, challenging the prevailing paradigm of mCRC therapy.Key words: colorectal cancer - metastasis - chemotherapy - molecular targeted therapy - diagnostic imaging.

[Total pelvic exenteration - strategy and extent of surgery]

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic exenteration is an essential part of complex treatment of advanced tumours of the small pelvis. The strategy of surgery is well known and consensual. However, the optimal extent of lymphadenectomy is still under discussion. The aim of this paper is to summarize the strategy of surgery and the extent of lymphadenectomy.

METHODS

Review of the literature and retrospective analysis of 63 patients of our cohort, operated on at the Department of Surgery of the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Thomayer Hospital between 1999-2015.

CONCLUSION

The paper describes indications for pelvic exenteration, the strategy of surgery and the necessary extent of lymphadenectomy.

[Quality of life after extensive pelvic surgery]

INTRODUCTION

Multiorgan resections in the small pelvis are standard procedures in oncosurgery and some indications have no alternative. In advanced pelvic cancer, pelvic exenteration with en bloc resection of the involved organs and structures, including portions of the bony pelvis, is indicated. The 5-year survival rate is fairly good, around 50%, but little is known about the long-term quality of life. The aim was to describe the quality of life of long-term total pelvic exenteration survivors.

METHOD

In total, 63 pelvic exenterations were performed between 2000 to 2015 at the Department of Surgery, Thomayer Hospital, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, mostly for primary or relapsed rectal cancer. In this retrospective cohort study, the quality of life was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) and the EORTC QLQ-CR29 questionnaires. The completed questionnaires were scored according to EORTC instructions.

RESULTS

At the time of this survey, 24 patients after TPE were surviving longer than one year after the surgery. The five-year survival of all patients was 49%, median survival 4.6 years, and median follow-up 15 months. Most of our patients reported a good level of their physical, emotional, cognitive and social functions. Some patients reported a worse body image, and of course a worsening in their sexual life. Regarding symptom-oriented questions, some patients evaluated the necessity of more frequent care of the stomia as slightly problematic; most patients reported impotence (men) or painful sexual intercourse (women).

CONCLUSION

Long-term quality of life in survivors of pelvic exenteration for rectal cancer is comparable with reported results following primary rectal cancer resection with the exception of the sexual function. The quality of life gradually improves in the course of weeks to months from the surgery.

KEY WORDS

pelvic exenteration quality of life.

[Pelvic exenteration in the treatment of advanced tumours of the small pelvis]

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic exenteration is the essential part of complex treatment of advanced urologic, gynaecologic and colorectal tumours of the small pelvis. The aim of this work is to summarize the individual types of pelvic exenteration, their indications, contraindications and long-term results.

METHODS

Overview of the current literature and retrospective analysis of our cohort of 37 patients operated on at the Department of Surgery of the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and Thomayer Hospital during the period 1999-2012.

CONCLUSION

This work summarizes the classification, indications and types of pelvic exenteration.

[Total pelvic exenteration - strategy of the surgery]

INTRODUCTION

Total pelvic exenteration (TPE) has a key role in the complex treatment of advanced T4 tumours of the small pelvis, which cannot be radically removed by a less invasive procedure. The aim of this work is to summarize the strategy of TPE, perioperative care of the patients, complications of the intervention and their management.

METHODS

Overview of the current literature and the authors experience, based on our own group of 37 patients after TPE performed during the period 1999-2012.

CONCLUSION

This article aims to summarize the strategy of TPE, complications and the authors own experience.

[Treatment outcomes of colon cancer surgery combined with radical lymphadenectomy]

The authors analyzed a group of 1281 subjects with colorectal cancer operated and followed up in a single institution from I/1992 to VIII/2007. Colon carcinoma patients were assessed separately (C18). Patients with rectal and rectosigmoid tumors are not included in the presentation. A total of 846 patients were operated for colon carcinomas. In 546 subjects, radical R0 resections were achieved. In the R0 group, the male/female ratio is 315/231, age 29-94 years, the mean age of 69 years. The R0 group stratification by TNM classification was: I 17.8%, II 49.6%, III 24.0%, IV 8.1%, TNMx 0.5%. Irrespective of the TNM staging, three-year, five-year and ten-year survival rates were 80%, 71%, and 51%, resp. The median survival time was 9.85 years. Postoperative morality was 5.5%, morbidity 29.8%, anastomic leak occured in 5.7%. Systematic lymph node dissection up to the apical level, had been gradually introduced as an integral part of the R0 surgery. The aim of the study is to analyze outcomes of the colon carcinoma surgical management, combined with radical lymphadenectomy. Furthermore, effects of the extensive procedure on the postoperative morbidity and moratility rates are analyzed as well.

[Colorectal carcinoma as a cause of acute abdominal illness]

Colorectal carcinoma (KCR) is the commonest malignancy in male patients and the second commonest in female patients in the Czech Republic. During 1990-2006, 1162 patients with colorectal carcinomas were operated in the FTNsP (Faculty Thomayer Hospital) Surgical Clinic. 212 patients aged between 39 to 94 y.o.a.(the median of 70 y.o.a) were managed urgently for acute abdominal illness. In this group of urgently managed patients, the mortality rate was 17% and the morbidity rate was 38%. Future prospects of any colorectal carcinoma patient with acute abdominal illness depend on the procedure's radicality, which is limited by the overall patient's condition. The preoperative care aims to improve the patient's overall condition to such a degree, to allow for surgery fulfilling principles of oncosurgical radicality. According to this report's data, such urgent surgical procedures do not result in increased mortality or morbidity rates, compared to these in planned procedures, and show the best results in this patient group.

[Surgical management of intrahepatic cholelithiasis--two case reviews]

INTRODUCTION

Intrahepatic lithiasis (IHL) has a low incidence rate in countries with high social-economical level, with mostly secondary ethiology. The commonest signs include: cholangoitis, obstruction icterus, liver absces and secondary biliary cirrhosis. Although a wide range of treatment methods is available, in some cases, surgical management is the only alternative.

METHODS

The authors present two case reviews of IHL patients. The first case includes a 56-year old male, unsuccessfuly operated in another clinic. The patient was referred to the author's clinic for a relaps of septic complications. He underwent extensive revision of his bile ducts up to the segmental bile duct level with a mechanical removal of concrements, introduction of the T-drain and postoperative cholangiography for secondary IHL of the left hepatic duct. A resection procedure was not indicated due to absence of the liver parenchyma impairment. The other patient, a 77-year old male, underwent left lateral bisegmentectomy for a primary IHL of the SII and SIII liver segments with signs of irreversible bile duct impairment, which could not be managed endoscopically.

RESULTS

No complications during the first patient's postoperative course were recorded. A postoperative Day 7 cholangiographic examination detected free intrahepatic bile ducts. The patient has not shown any signs of a IHL relaps. The second patient's postoperative course was complicated by biliary secretion from the drain, which was managed endoscopically. A histological examination confirmed the preoperative diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

IHL which cannot be managed by endoscopy or other procedures, is indicated for surgery. The type of the surgical procedure depends on the extent of the intrahepatic bile duct and liver parenchyma impairment.

[Re-laparotomy for complications of urgent abdominal disorders]

Urgent abdominal disorders are a daily work routine at surgical departments. Therefore, all surgeons are familiar with the problematics, including all its pitfalls, e.g. high morbidity rates and mortality rates of the patients managed. The authors record urgent abdominal disorders mortality rates as well as rates of serious surgical complications requiring re-operations and their effect on the patients' prognosis. The trial group includes 1861 patients urgently operated during 2001-2004. 36 patients (1.9%) underwent re-laparotomies. Peritonitis in some form (50%), dehiscence of the laparotomy (31.2%), necrosis of the intestine, ileus, bleeding and some less frequent complications, were the most frequent indications for re-laparotomies. The thirty-day mortality rate in patients, operated for urgent abdominal disorders, was 4.8%. In the re-operated group, the mortality rate reached 19.4%.

[Gastrointestinal tract cancer and diabetes mellitus]

Risk of development of some gastrointestinal tract cancers (colorectal cancer, pancreas cancer and liver cancer) is higher in type II diabetics. Another important risk factor is obesity (for gall bladder cancer in women and in men also for stomach and esophageal cancer). Pathogenetic factors have been explored especially in colorectal cancer (diet, hyperinsulinaemia, metabolic receptors activation, absence of physical activity). Our Czech study also proved up to 4 times increased risk of colorectal cancer in diabetics and, in accordance with literature, probable influence of persistent diabetes on tumour development. Type II diabetes mellitus should be considered as a risk factor especially for colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and pancreas cancer. In type I diabetics no risk of gastrointestinal tract cancers was proved.