The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on physical fitness and survival in patients undergoing oesophagogastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery for resectable oesophageal or gastric cancer improves outcome when compared with surgery alone. However NAC has adverse effects. We assess here whether NAC adversely affects physical fitness and whether such an effect is associated with impaired survival following surgery.

METHODS

We prospectively studied 116 patients with oesophageal or gastric cancer to assess the effect of NAC on physical fitness, of whom 89 underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) before NAC and proceeded to surgery. 39 patients were tested after all cycles of NAC but prior to surgery. Physical fitness was assessed by measuring oxygen uptake (VO₂ in ml kg(-1) min(-1)) at the estimated lactate threshold (θL) and at peak exercise (VO₂ peak in ml kg(-1) min(-1)).

RESULTS

VO₂ at θL and at peak were significantly lower after NAC compared to pre-NAC values: VO₂ at θL 14.5 ± 3.8 (baseline) vs. 12.3 ± 3.0 (post-NAC) ml kg(-1) min(-1); p ≤ 0.001; VO₂ peak 20.8 ± 6.0 vs. 18.3 ± 5.1 ml kg(-1) min(-1); p ≤ 0.001; absolute VO₂ (ml min(-1)) at θL and peak were also lower post-NAC; p ≤ 0.001. Decreased baseline VO₂ at θL and peak were associated with increased one year mortality in patients who completed a full course of NAC and had surgery; p = 0.014.

CONCLUSION

NAC before cancer surgery significantly reduced physical fitness in the overall cohort. Lower baseline fitness was associated with reduced one-year-survival in patients completing NAC and surgery, but not in patients who did not complete NAC. It is possible that in some patients the harms of NAC may outweigh the benefits. Trials Registry Number: NCT01335555.

The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on physical fitness and survival in patients undergoing oesophagogastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery for resectable oesophageal or gastric cancer improves outcome when compared with surgery alone. However NAC has adverse effects. We assess here whether NAC adversely affects physical fitness and whether such an effect is associated with impaired survival following surgery.

METHODS

We prospectively studied 116 patients with oesophageal or gastric cancer to assess the effect of NAC on physical fitness, of whom 89 underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) before NAC and proceeded to surgery. 39 patients were tested after all cycles of NAC but prior to surgery. Physical fitness was assessed by measuring oxygen uptake (VO₂ in ml kg(-1) min(-1)) at the estimated lactate threshold (θL) and at peak exercise (VO₂ peak in ml kg(-1) min(-1)).

RESULTS

VO₂ at θL and at peak were significantly lower after NAC compared to pre-NAC values: VO₂ at θL 14.5 ± 3.8 (baseline) vs. 12.3 ± 3.0 (post-NAC) ml kg(-1) min(-1); p ≤ 0.001; VO₂ peak 20.8 ± 6.0 vs. 18.3 ± 5.1 ml kg(-1) min(-1); p ≤ 0.001; absolute VO₂ (ml min(-1)) at θL and peak were also lower post-NAC; p ≤ 0.001. Decreased baseline VO₂ at θL and peak were associated with increased one year mortality in patients who completed a full course of NAC and had surgery; p = 0.014.

CONCLUSION

NAC before cancer surgery significantly reduced physical fitness in the overall cohort. Lower baseline fitness was associated with reduced one-year-survival in patients completing NAC and surgery, but not in patients who did not complete NAC. It is possible that in some patients the harms of NAC may outweigh the benefits. Trials Registry Number: NCT01335555.

The steroid vitamin D3 reduces cell proliferation in human duodenal epithelium

1. The active metabolite of vitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, controls calcium absorption in the human duodenum, an effect that is mediated by mucosal vitamin D receptor expression. Functional vitamin D receptor signalling in the human colon is suggested by the reduced colonic mucosal cell proliferation seen in response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Thus 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 might be expected to reduce cell proliferation in the small-bowel epithelium. 2. We have used an organ-culture system combined with the metaphase arrest technique to study the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on human duodenal mucosal proliferation. To validate our technique, multiple human mucosal explants were established in organ culture and vincristine (0.6 micrograms/ml) was added at 10 h. Explants were removed sequentially from 10 to 15 h and metaphase arrest figures were demonstrated by using the Feulgen reaction. The mean number of metaphase arrest figures was plotted against time in culture to show a linear accumulation of metaphases between 11 and 15 h (correlation coefficient = 0.93, r2 = 0.87, P < 0.0001). The mean crypt cell production rate was 2.01 (0.27) cells/h per crypt. 3. Paired normal duodenal mucosal biopsies from six patients were then established in organ culture with or without 10(-10) mol/l (100 pmol/l) 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The crypt cell production rate was determined between 12 and 15 h after vincristine-induced metaphase arrest. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 reduced the median crypt cell production rate from 2.42 (1.15-4.82) to 1.41 (0.03-2.05) cells/h per crypt (P < 0.05). Thus, vitamin D3 reduces human duodenal epithelial cell proliferation.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: evaluation of insertion by an endoscopy nurse practitioner

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the success rate and complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) insertion performed with an endoscopy nurse practitioner, rather than a second doctor, carrying out percutaneous gastric puncture.

DESIGN

A prospective evaluation of one nurse'e performance.

SETTING

The endoscopy unit in a district general hospital.

METHODS

An experienced endoscopy nurse, who had undergone a specific training course in PEG insertion, participated in PEG placement in 50 unselected patients over a one year period. The outcome and complications were compared with 50 PEGs inserted over the same period by medical personnel. A standard 'pull' technique was used to insert a 15Fr tube under sedation and local anaesthetic.

RESULTS

The nurse was successful in PEG placement in all patients. Immediate complications from the procedure occurred in two cases in both the nurse-assisted and doctor-assisted groups. These were directly related to the gastric puncture in only one patient in each group; the others were respiratory complications related to the gastroscopy (resulting in the death of one patient). Thirty-day mortality was 8% in the nurse-assisted group and 12% following doctor-assisted PEG (mainly due to progression of the underlying condition). Outcome at 3 months was similar in the two groups, except for a slightly lower incidence of stomal infection in the nurse-assisted group.

CONCLUSION

The participation of an endoscopy nurse practitioner in the gastric puncture for PEG insertion appeared to be safe and effective and offered advantages in terms of the efficient provision of a PEG placement service, increased continuity of care for the patients and an enhanced professional role for the nurse involved.

Cytokine mRNA expression in the mucosa of treated coeliac patients after wheat peptide challenge

This study investigated the presence of mRNA coding for interferon gamma (IFN gamma), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), and interleukins 2 (IL2) and 6 (IL6), in the mucosa of four coeliac patients in remission who had been challenged with either gliadin or synthetic gliadin oligopeptides. Jejunal biopsy specimens from these patients, taken before and at two, four, and six hours after challenge, were hybridised with specific 35S-labelled DNA oligonucleotide probes. The lamina propria of all the patients contained significantly increased numbers of cytokine mRNA expressing cells four hours after challenge with gliadin or an oligopeptide corresponding to amino acids 31-49 of A-gliadin (peptide A). No significant changes were seen with the peptides corresponding to aminoacids 202-220 (peptide B) or 3-21 (peptide C) of A-gliadin, with the exception of one patient who showed a significant increase in the number of TNF alpha mRNA expressing cells four hours after challenge with peptide B. In vivo studies in coeliac disease have shown that significant histological changes occur in the mucosa of treated coeliac patients four hours after challenge with either gliadin or peptide A. These findings suggest that the histological changes seen previously in the mucosa of coeliac patients after wheat peptide challenge may be caused by increased expression of cytokines within the mucosa.

Expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-2 mRNA in the jejunum of patients with coeliac disease

BACKGROUND

A T-cell-mediated immune response may be responsible for the enteropathy seen in coeliac disease (CD), but it is unclear whether this is initiated in the epithelium or the lamina propria. We studied the site and number of cells expressing mRNA encoding the cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in jejunal biopsy specimens from patients with untreated or treated CD and normal controls.

METHODS

Tissue sections were hybridized with 35S-labelled DNA oligonucleotide probes specific for each cytokine RNA sequence. Positive cells were counted in the lamina propria and epithelial compartments.

RESULTS

For each cytokine significantly greater numbers of positive cells were found in the lamina propria of untreated CD patients. Few positive cells were detected in the epithelium of all three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the immune response to gliadin appears to occur in the lamina propria and supports cell-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease.

Detection of interferon gamma mRNA in the mucosa of patients with coeliac disease by in situ hybridisation

In situ hybridisation has been used to study interferon gamma (IFN gamma) mRNA expression in the small intestine of patients with coeliac disease. Sections of jejunal biopsies were obtained from five patients with treated and five with untreated coeliac disease and five disease controls. These sections were hybridised with radiolabelled specific DNA oligonucleotide probes. The lamina propria of untreated coeliac disease patients contained a significantly increased number of IFN gamma producing cells compared with controls but there was no significant difference between the coeliac patients treated with a gluten free diet and controls. The results suggest that IFN gamma may play a part in the immunopathogenesis of coeliac disease.

Measurement of gluten using a monoclonal antibody to a sequenced peptide of alpha-gliadin from the coeliac-activating domain I

A monoclonal antibody, raised against a sequenced 54 amino-acid peptide from the coeliac-activating N-terminal region of alpha-gliadin, was used in an assay for the measurement of gluten in foods. A double-sandwich ELISA using a polyclonal capture antibody produced standard curves for unfractionated gliadin and its alpha, beta, gamma and omega subfractions, and for rye, barley and oat prolamins. The sensitivity of the assay for unfractionated gliadin and rye prolamins was 15 ng/ml, for barley and oat prolamins 125 and 250 ng/ml, respectively. Prolamins from coeliac non-toxic rice, maize, millet and sorghum did not cross-react in the assay.

Rectal epithelial gamma/delta T-lymphocyte responses to local gluten challenge in coeliac disease

The proportion of intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) that utilize the gamma/delta form of the T-cell receptor (TCR) is increased in coeliac disease, but their function remains unexplained. The response of intra-epithelial lymphocytes to rectal gluten challenge in coeliac and control subjects was studied after a rectal challenge of 2 g of Frazer's fraction III. A marked rise in CD3+ IEL occurred after challenge in the coeliac patients, peaking at 6 h and returning to normal by 48 h, with no significant changes in the gamma/delta TCR+ IEL. The IEL did not significantly change after gluten challenge in the controls. Acute gluten challenge induces infiltration of the rectal mucosa by T cells in coeliac patients, which is not accompanied acutely by increased numbers of gamma/delta TCR+ IEL. This study supports the hypothesis that alpha/beta TCR+ T cells may be of importance in the early response of coeliac patients to local gluten challenge.

Specificities of monoclonal antibodies to domain I of alpha-gliadins

Eight monoclonal antibodies were raised against a sequenced 54-amino-acid peptide of alpha-gliadin, which is thought to exacerbate coeliac disease. Five of the antibodies cross-reacted with coeliac non-toxic cereals. Two of eight of the antibodies bound specifically to coeliac toxic prolamins. These two antibodies cross-reacted with high molecular weight gliadins, which are closely related to alpha-gliadins and whose toxicity to patients with coeliac disease is unclear. The antibodies were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against three amino-acid-sequenced peptides of alpha-gliadin with single amino-acid differences. Differential binding of antibody WC2 suggested that this antibody binds in the region of amino-acid residue 36, a proline residue, where there may be an antigenic beta-reverse turn. This proline residue forms part of a tetrapeptide motif, QQQP, which is thought to be present in all coeliac-active peptides.

Coeliac disease: characterisation of monoclonal antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acid residues 206-217 of A-gliadin

A dodecapeptide of A-gliadin, which shares amino acid homologies with the E1b protein of adenovirus 12, was used to produce murine monoclonal antibodies. Five monoclonal antibodies were produced and were screened by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay, immunodot assay, and immunoblotting. The antibodies were tested against whole wheat gliadin and its alpha, beta, gamma, and omega subfractions, and the prolamins of rye, barley, oats, maize, millet, rice, and sorghum. Four of the five antibodies cross reacted with one or more of the coeliac non-toxic cereals--maize, millet, sorghum, and rice. The monoclonal antibody that did not cross react with these non-toxic cereals, did not recognize Frazer's fraction III, a peptic-tryptic digest of wheat gluten which is known to be toxic. The results suggest that the A-gliadin dodecapeptide shares a region of homology with cereals that do not exacerbate coeliac disease. This study does not support the hypothesis that prior infection with adenovirus 12 is a precipitating factor in coeliac disease.

Effects of interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha on epithelial HLA class-II expression on jejunal mucosal biopsy specimens cultured in vitro

HLA class-II molecules present antigen to the immune system and are expressed by normal villous enterocytes. Increased expression occurs in inflammatory bowel and coeliac disease, and it is suggested that cytokines may mediate such increased expression. The effects of the cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha on epithelial HLA class-II expressions have been studied in adult human jejunal mucosal biopsy specimens cultured in vitro. Specimens from nine patients with normal jejunal histology were cultured for 24 h with IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, or both. Six of nine patients showed increased HLA-DR and HLA-DP expression after culture with the cytokines. We have demonstrated that these cytokines induce increased epithelial HLA class-II expression in adult jejunal mucosal specimens cultured in vitro, a model that most closely resembles the in vivo state. This provides further evidence that such increased expression occurs secondarily to the products of immunologic activation.

Differential upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in coeliac disease

The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was studied on peroral jejunal biopsies from patients with coeliac disease. The biopsies from untreated patients exhibited greater staining of the superficial lamina propria cells compared with treated patients and controls. A gluten challenge in treated patients produced an altered staining pattern within 2 h. The results demonstrate the role of ICAM-1 expression in coeliac disease, providing further evidence for the role of lamina propria cells in the pathogenesis of this condition.

Ground-glass hepatocytes with Lafora body like inclusions--histochemical, immunohistochemical and electronmicroscopic characterization

We report two adult patients whose liver biopsy specimens revealed numerous ground-glass hepatocytes due to inclusions resembling Lafora bodies. The inclusions were large, intracytoplasmic, pale, eosinophilic and kidney-shaped and were periodic acid-Schiff positive and HBsAg negative. Immunoperoxidase studies showed that the inclusions were positive for cytokeratins and alpha 1-antitrypsin. In case 1, the inclusions were not membrane-bound and consisted of secondary lysosomes and degenerate organelles including rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In case 2, electronmicroscopy showed the inclusions were not membrane-bound, but consisted of dense granules, fibrils and vacuoles, with appearances very similar to Lafora bodies. Neither patient had myoclonus or epilepsy. Electronmicroscopy is important in differentiating the type of Lafora body like inclusions found in liver biopsies.