Comparison between CT volumetry, technetium99m galactosyl-serum-albumin scintigraphy, and gadoxetic-acid-enhanced MRI to estimate the liver fibrosis stage in preoperative patients

OBJECTIVES

To compare the efficacy of computed tomography volumetry (CTV), technetium99m galactosyl-serum-albumin (99mTc-GSA) scintigraphy, and gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic-acid-enhanced MRI (EOB-MRI) in estimating the liver fibrosis (LF) stage in patients undergoing liver resection.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 91 consecutive patients who had undergone preoperative dynamic CT and 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy. EOB-MRI was performed in 76 patients. CTV was used to measure the total liver volume (TLV), spleen volume (SV), normalised to the body surface area (BSA), and liver-to-spleen volume ratio (TLV/SV). 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy provided LHL15, HH15, and GSA indices. The liver-to-spleen ratio (LSR) was calculated in the hepatobiliary phase of EOB-MRI. Hyaluronic acid and type 4 collagen levels were measured in 65 patients. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to identify useful parameters for estimating the LF stage and laboratory data.

RESULTS

According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis, SV/BSA (odds ratio [OR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.003-1.02; p = 0.011), LSR (OR, 0.06; 95%CI, 0.004-0.70; p = 0.026), and hyaluronic acid (OR, 1.01; 95%CI, 1.001-1.02; p = 0.024) were independent variables for severe LF (F3-4). Combined SV/BSA, LSR, and hyaluronic acid correctly estimated severe LF, with an AUC of 0.91, which was significantly larger than the AUCs of the GSA index (AUC = 0.84), SV/BSA (AUC = 0.83), or LSR (AUC = 0.75) alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined CTV, EOB-MRI, and hyaluronic acid analyses improved the estimation accuracy of severe LF compared to CTV, EOB-MRI, or 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy individually.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

The combined analysis of spleen volume on CT volumetry, liver-to-spleen ratio on gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic-acid-enhanced MRI, and hyaluronic acid can identify severe liver fibrosis associated with a high risk of liver failure after hepatectomy and recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

KEY POINTS

• Spleen volume of CT volumetry normalised to the body surface area, liver-to-spleen ratio of EOB-MRI, and hyaluronic acid were independent variables for liver fibrosis. • CT volumetry and EOB-MRI enable the detection of severe liver fibrosis, which may correlate with post-hepatectomy liver failure and complications. • Combined CT volumetry, gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic-acid-enhanced MRI (EOB-MRI), and hyaluronic acid analyses improved the estimation of severe liver fibrosis compared to technetium99m galactosyl-serum-albumin scintigraphy.

Benefit of lymph node dissection for perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma according to lymph node stations

BACKGROUND

The benefits of lymph node (LN) dissection at each station have not previously been fully investigated in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) and distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC).

METHODS

The efficacy index (EI) was calculated in patients who underwent surgery for PHCC (n = 134) and DCC (n = 135) by multiplying the frequency of metastasis to the LN station and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of patients with metastasis to that station.

RESULTS

In PHCC, the frequency of metastasis, 5-year OS rates, and the EI in para-aortic LNs (4.7%, 0%, and 0, respectively) and posterior pancreaticoduodenal LNs (8.1%, 0%, and 0, respectively) were lower than those in hepatoduodenal ligament LNs (30.1%, 24.1%, and 7.25, respectively) and LNs along the common hepatic artery (CHA) (16.2%, 15.0%, and 2.43, respectively). In DCC, these values were lower in LNs along the CHA (6.4%, 0%, and 0, respectively) than in the posterior pancreaticoduodenal LNs (31.2%, 34.5%, and 10.8, respectively), the hepatoduodenal ligament LNs (14.8%, 15.2%, and 2.25, respectively), and para-aortic (4.0%, 25.0%, and 0.99, respectively) LNs.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the EI, this study raises concerns about the effectiveness of dissection in the posterior pancreaticoduodenal LNs in PHCC and LNs along the CHA in DCC.

Correlation between pathology and quantitative ultrasonographic evaluation of pancreatic fat with ultrasonographic classification

PURPOSE

No studies of the relationship between grayscale sonographic findings and pancreatic fat content have been reported to date. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between echogenicity and fat content of resected specimens using quantitative analysis.

METHODS

Forty-two consecutive patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic tumors were enrolled in this study. Ultrasonographic images were compared with quantitative pathological analysis. Subjective evaluation of echogenicity was classified as hypoechoic, isoechoic, hyperechoic, and super hyperechoic. The total and intralobular fat areas were measured.

RESULTS

The mean, median, modal, minimum, and maximum ultrasound gray values correlated with the proportion of total fat area (r = 0.349; 0.357, 0.486, 0.466, and 0.347; p = 0.024, 0.020, 0.014, 0.019, and 0.089, respectively), but did not correlate with the proportion of intralobular fat area. Subjective classification was correlated with median gray value (p < 0.001), intralobular fat area (p = 0.118), and total fat area (p = 0.011). Cases were classified as hypoechoic (n = 3), isoechoic (n = 7), hyperechoic (n = 30), and super hyperechoic (n = 2). The subjective classification was correlated with the median gray value (p < 0.001) and total fat area (p = 0.005), and not correlated with the intralobular fat area (p = 0.118). Hyperechoic or super hyperechoic pancreatic parenchyma contains over 19.7% fat. Computed tomography values correlated with the proportion of intralobular fat area (r = - 0.479, p = 0.004) and total fat area (r = - 0.541, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Echogenicity classified based on subjective evaluation and image analysis were correlated with the proportion of fat in the pancreas.

Prognostic impact of the distance from the root of splenic artery to tumor in the patients with pancreatic body or tail cancer

BACKGROUND

The impact of the distance from the root of splenic artery to tumor (DST) on the prognosis and optimal surgical procedures in the patients with pancreatic body/tail cancer has been unclear.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 94 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy (DP) and 17 patients who underwent DP with celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) between 2008 and 2018.

RESULTS

The 111 patients were assigned by DST length (in mm) as DST = 0: n = 14, 0

CONCLUSIONS

DST did not affect prognosis in patients with pancreatic body/tail cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy followed by DP may be desirable for patients with a DST = 0 tumor. For those with a 0 Collapse

Key Words

• Distal pancreatectomy
• Distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection
• Neoadjuvant therapy
• Pancreatic cancer
• Root of splenic artery

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MESH Headings

• Humans
• Splenic Artery/surgery
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology
• Celiac Artery/surgery
• Celiac Artery/pathology
• Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
• Pancreatectomy/methods

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Extracellular volume by dual-energy CT, hepatic reserve capacity scoring, CT volumetry, and transient elastography for estimating liver fibrosis

Our purpose was to compare the efficacy of liver and splenic volumetry (LV and SV), extracellular volume (ECV) on dual-layer spectral-detector CT scoring systems for estimating liver fibrosis (LF) in 45 patients with pathologically staged LF. ECV measured on CT value (HU-ECV), iodine density (ID-ECV), atomic number (Zeff-ECV), and electron density (ED-ECV), LV or SV/body surface area (BSA), albumin bilirubin grade (ALBI), model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis index based on the four factors (FIB-4) were recorded. Transient elastography was measured in 22 patients, and compared to ECV. No correlation was found between transient elastography and all ECVs. Area under the curve (AUC) for estimating F4 on transient elastography was 0.885 (95% CI 0.745-1.000). ALBI was weakly associated with LF (p = 0.451), while MELD (p < 0.001), APRI (p = 0.010), and FIB-4 (p = 0.010) were significantly associated with LF. SV/BSA had a higher AUC than MELD, APRI, and FIB-4 for estimating F4 (AUC = 0.815, 95% CI 0.63-0.999), but MELD (AUC = 0.799, 95% CI 0.634-0.965), APRI (AUC = 0.722, 95% CI 0.561-0.883), and FIB-4 (AUC = 0.741, 95% CI 0.582-0.899) had higher AUCs than ALBI. SV/BSA significantly contributed to differentiation for estimating F4; odds ratio (OR) was 1.304-1.353 (Reader 1-2; R1-R2), whereas MELD significantly contributed to the differentiation between F0-2 and F3-4; OR was 1.528-1.509 (R1-R2). AUC for SV/BSA and MELD combined was 0.877 (95% CI 0.748-1.000). In conclusion, SV/BSA allows for a higher estimation of liver cirrhosis (F4). MELD is more suitable for assessing severe LF (≥ F3-4). The combination of SV/BSA and MELD had a higher AUC than SV/BSA alone for liver cirrhosis (F4).

[Permissibility of Stoma Closure Surgery in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Who Underwent Primary Tumor Resection Including in Cancer-Bearing Conditions]

From 2006 to 2021, 27 patients who underwent stoma construction during colorectal cancer resection followed by stoma closure were grouped into 2 groups: Group A(7 patients with cancer)and Group B(20 patients without cancer). The male- to-female ratio were 6:1 for Group A and 13:7 for Group B. The average ages were 63.7 and 65.0 years, respectively. The ratios(Group A:Group B)of the causes for stoma construction were 5:13 for bowel obstruction due to colorectal cancer, 2:2 for abdominal wall invasion/dissemination and 0:5 for covering stoma. The causes of non-curative resection for Group A were peritoneal dissemination(4 patients), liver metastasis(1 patient), bladder infiltration(1 patient), and periaortic lymph node metastasis(1 patient). For Groups A and B, Hartmann surgery was performed in 4 and 10, colectomy and stoma construction in 3 and 5, and low anterior resection and covering stoma in 0 and 5 patients, respectively. The median time to stoma closure was 10 months for Group A and 6 months for Group B(p<0.05). There was no case of anastomotic leakage and 1 case of anastomotic stenosis(case not treated with anticancer drugs). No patient died of cancer within 1 year after stoma closure(median survival time after stoma closure was >26.0 months for Group A). Although stoma closure in patients with cancer was significantly delayed compared with patients without cancer, it was performed safely.

Prevalence of preoperative asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing elective general surgery for benign disease

Background

The systemic inflammatory response following surgery as well as that of malignant disease itself is associated with a hypercoagulable state, and thromboprophylaxis is thus recommended during postoperative management of cancer patients. However, limited information is available on the prevalence of preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its risk factors in surgical candidates, especially those receiving operations for benign diseases.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study with data of all patients scheduled for elective general surgery between January 2011 and September 2020, undergoing lower extremity venous ultrasonography as preoperative screening for DVT. The prevalence of preoperative asymptomatic DVT was estimated and its associations with clinical variables were evaluated.

Results

Among 1512 patients included in the study, 161 (10.6%) had asymptomatic DVT before surgery. DVT prevalence was 13.7% in patients with malignant disease, while it was 8.6% in those with benign disease. The site of the thrombus was distal type in 141 (87.6%) patients, most commonly in the soleal vein. Advanced age (>70 years), female sex, and decreased hemoglobin level were significantly associated with preoperative asymptomatic DVT by multivariate analysis. The odds ratio for advanced age was the highest and rose as age increased. Malignant disease was not an independent risk factor for preoperative DVT.

Conclusion

This study showed the prevalence of asymptomatic DVT to be equal in patients with and without malignant disease undergoing elective general surgery. Preoperative DVT assessment is necessary regardless of the disease indicated for surgery, especially in patients with the risk factors identified in this study.

Comparison between Intravoxel Incoherent Motion and Splenic Volumetry to Predict Hepatic Fibrosis Staging in Preoperative Patients

Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and splenic volumetry (SV) for hepatic fibrosis (HF) prediction have been reported to be effective. Our purpose is to compare the HF prediction of IVIM and SV in 67 patients with pathologically staged HF. SV was divided by body surface area (BSA). IVIM indices, such as slow diffusion-coefficient related to molecular diffusion (D), fast diffusion-coefficient related to perfusion in microvessels (D*), apparent diffusion-coefficient (ADC), and perfusion related diffusion-fraction (f), were calculated by two observers (R1/R2). D (p = 0.718 for R1, p = 0.087 for R2) and D* (p = 0.513, p = 0.708, respectively) showed a poor correlation with HF. ADC (p = 0.034, p = 0.528, respectively) and f (p < 0.001, p = 0.007, respectively) decreased as HF progressed, whereas SV/BSA increased (p = 0.015 for R1). The AUCs of SV/BSA (0.649-0.698 for R1) were higher than those of f (0.575-0.683 for R1 + R2) for severe HF (≥F3-4 and ≥F4), although AUCs of f (0.705-0.790 for R1 + R2) were higher than those of SV/BSA (0.628 for R1) for mild or no HF (≤F0-1). No significant differences to identify HF were observed between IVIM and SV/BSA. SV/BSA allows a higher estimation for evaluating severe HF than IVIM. IVIM is more suitable than SV/BSA for the assessment of mild or no HF.

[Experience of Using Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Chemotherapy in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract at Our Hospital]

We investigated the gastric and esophageal cancer cases treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy at our hospital. Out of 17 gastric cancer cases, 9 were treated with nivolumab(Nivo)plus S-1/oxaliplatin(SOX), 5 with Nivo plus 5-fluorouracil/Leucovorin/oxaliplatin(FOLFOX), and 3 with Nivo plus capecitabine/oxaliplatin(CapeOX), yielding a response rate of 35.3%. We also treated 3 cases of esophageal cancer. Two of these were treated with Nivo plus cisplatin/5- fluorouracil(CF)and 1 case with pembrolizumab(Pembro)plus CF, with a response rate of 33.3%. The incidence of Grade 3 or higher adverse events was 29.4% in gastric cancer and 33.3% in esophageal cancer, and no serious immune-related adverse events were observed. Further case accumulation and long-term studies are required to evaluate efficacy and adverse events in clinical practice.

Impact of Sarcopenic Obesity on Severe Postoperative Complications in Patients with Gastric Cancer Undergoing Gastrectomy

INTRODUCTION

Several studies have indicated that sarcopenia affects the short- and long-term outcomes of cancer patients, including those with gastric cancer. In recent years, sarcopenic obesity and its effects have been reported in cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of sarcopenic obesity on postoperative complications in patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy.

METHODS

This single-center, retrospective study included 155 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer from January 2015 to July 2021. Sarcopenia was defined by the psoas muscle index (<6.36 cm2/m2 in men and <3.92 cm2/m2 in women), which measures the iliopsoas muscle area at the lumbar L3 level using computed tomography. Obesity was defined by body mass index (≥25). Patients with both sarcopenia and obesity were defined as the sarcopenic obesity group and others as the non-sarcopenic obesity group. Severe postoperative complications were defined as Clavien-Dindo classification grade IIIa or higher.

RESULTS

Of the 155 patients, 26 (16.8%) had sarcopenic obesity. The incidence of severe postoperative complications was significantly higher in the sarcopenic obesity group (30.8% vs. 10.9%; p = 0.014). Multivariate analysis indicated that sarcopenic obesity was an independent risk factor for severe postoperative complications (odds ratio, 3.950; 95% confidence interval, 1.390-11.200; p = 0.010).

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenic obesity is an independent risk factor for severe postoperative complications.

Molecular profile of poorly cohesive gastric carcinoma with special reference to survival

BACKGROUND

Patients with poorly cohesive gastric carcinoma (PCC) are known to have poor survival. However, detailed molecular biology of PCC has not been elucidated, except for mutations in CDH1 and RHOA. Additionally, the molecular profiles of signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRC) have not been fully investigated. We aimed to investigate the association between molecular profiles and survival in PCC and PCC subtypes.

METHODS

The present study included 455 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma underwent radical gastrectomy. Whole-exome sequencing and gene expression profiling were conducted. Patients were classified according to the WHO classification as PCC or non-PCC, with PCC being further classified into SRC, combined, and PCC not-otherwise-specified (NOS). Clinicopathological factors and survival were compared with molecular profiles.

RESULTS

Of the patients, 159 were classified with PCC, while 296 were classified with non-PCC. Among PCC, 44 were classified with SRC, 64 with combined, and 51 with PCC-NOS. Mutations in CDH1 and RHOA were remarkably more frequent in PCC than in non-PCC. PCC had worse overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) compared to non-PCC. For PCC, the SRC group had good OS and DSS, whereas PCC-NOS classification with CDH1 mutations was associated with extremely poor survival. In the PCC-NOS and combined groups, patients with mutations in the extracellular domain 1 of CDH1 had poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that PCC has poorer survival than non-PCC. Accumulation of CDH1 and RHOA mutations are unique profiles in PCC. Among PCC, CDH1 mutations may play a crucial role in the survival of non-SRC PCC.

Human epidermal growth factor 2 overexpressed alpha-fetoprotein-producing-gastric cancer

PURPOSE

This study aimed to elucidate the clinicopathological characteristics of α-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric carcinoma (AFP-GC) with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2 overexpression to extend the treatment strategy for AFP-GC.

METHODS

We analyzed 41 patients with AFP-GC who underwent surgical resection or chemotherapy from 1989 to 2019, and who had over 20ng/mL of serum AFP or positive immunohistochemical AFP expression. HER2 expression status was investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for all patients and by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for cases with an IHC score of 2+. AFP-GC with an IHC score of 3 + or 2 + and FISH positivity was defined as HER2 overexpressed AFP-GC. The correlation between HER2 status and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in AFP-GC was analyzed.

RESULTS

HER2 overexpression was detected in 17.1% of AFP-GC patients. The prognosis of the patients with HER2 overexpressed AFP-GC was not significantly different compared to HER2 non-overexpressed AFP-GC. HER2 overexpressed AFP-GC consisted of heterogeneous histology with a higher proportion of mixed-type tumors (p = 0.002). The clinical outcome of AFP-GC with mixed-type of histology tended to be better than other intestinal or diffuse types (p = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HER2 overexpressed AFP-GC consisted of a mixed type of histology, which showed a better prognosis. The results presented that HER2 status in AFP-GC is one of the molecular candidates to improve the prognosis.

Long-term adjuvant chemotherapy after resection for pancreatic cancer patients with positive peritoneal lavage cytology

PURPOSE

The significance of resection for pancreatic cancer with positive peritoneal lavage cytology (CY +) remains controversial, and the lack of evidence concerning adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in these patients remains an issue. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic impacts of AC and its duration on the survival outcome in patients with CY + pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

A total of 482 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreatectomy between 2006 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The overall survival (OS) was compared among the patients with CY + tumors according to the duration of AC.

RESULTS

Among the resected patients, 37 (7.7%) had CY + tumors: 13 received AC for > 6 months, 15 received AC for ≤ 6 months and 9 did not receive AC. The OS of 13 patients with resected CY + tumors who received AC for > 6 months was comparable to that of 445 patients with resected CY- tumors (median survival time 43.0 vs. 33.6 months, P = 0.791), and was significantly better than that of 15 patients with resected CY + tumors who received AC for ≤ 6 months (vs. 16.6 months, P = 0.017). The duration of AC (> 6 months) was an independent prognostic factor in patients with resected CY + tumors (hazard ratio 3.29, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Long-term AC (> 6 months) may improve postoperative survival in pancreatic cancer patients with CY + tumors.

Abstract 869: Molecular genetic positioning of small intestine and papilla of Vater carcinomas including clinicopathological classification

Purpose: Small intestine carcinoma (SIC) cases in Japan have recently been treated with chemotherapy according to colorectal carcinoma classification, while papilla of Vater carcinoma (PVC) cases according to cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) classification. However, few research reports support the molecular genetic validity of these therapeutic choices. Here, we investigated the clinicopathological and molecular genetic factors of SIC and PVC.

Patients and Methods: We used the data from the Japanese version of The Cancer Genome Atlas (JCGA). Additionally, molecular genetic data on gastric adenocarcinoma (GAD), colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRAD), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and CHC were also referred to.

Results: This study consisted of tumor specimens from 12 cases of SIC and three cases of PVC treated from January 2014 to March 2019. Among them, six cases had pancreatic invasion. t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding analysis showed that the gene expression pattern of SIC was similar not only to those of GAD and CRAD, but also to that of PDAC in the pancreatic invasion cases. In addition, PVC resembled the GAD, CRAD, and PDAC, rather than the CHC. The molecular genetic characteristics of the six patients with pancreatic invasion were: one had high microsatellite instability (MSI-High), two had a TP53 driver mutation, and three had tumor mutation burden values &lt; 1 mutation/Mb with no driver mutation.

Conclusions: The molecular genetics of SIC and PVC suggested that they may be similar to GAD, CRAD, and PDAC. In addition, the data demonstrate that pancreatic invasive cases may be classified into several subtypes using molecular genetic factors.

Citation Format: Yukiyasu Okamura, Masanori Nakamura. Molecular genetic positioning of small intestine and papilla of Vater carcinomas including clinicopathological classification [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 869.

Molecular genetic positioning of small intestine and papilla of Vater carcinomas including clinicopathological classification

BACKGROUND

Small intestine carcinoma (SIC) cases in Japan have recently been treated with chemotherapy according to colorectal carcinoma classification, while papilla of Vater carcinoma (PVC) cases according to cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) classification. However, few research reports support the molecular genetic validity of these therapeutic choices.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Here, we investigated the clinicopathological and molecular genetic factors of SIC and PVC. We used the data from the Japanese version of The Cancer Genome Atlas. Additionally, molecular genetic data on gastric adenocarcinoma (GAD), colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRAD), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and CHC were also referred to.

RESULTS

This study consisted of tumor samples from 12 patients of SIC and three patients of PVC treated from January 2014 to March 2019. Among them, six patients had pancreatic invasion. t-Distributed stochastic neighbor embedding analysis showed that the gene expression pattern of SIC was similar not only to those of GAD and CRAD, but also to that of PDAC in the pancreatic invasion patients. In addition, PVC resembled the GAD, CRAD, and PDAC, rather than the CHC. The molecular genetic characteristics of the six patients with pancreatic invasion were: one had high microsatellite instability, two had a TP53 driver mutation, and three had tumor mutation burden values <1 mutation/Mb with no driver mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the extensive gene expression profiling of organ carcinomas newly suggests that SIC or PVC may resemble GAD, CRAD, and PDAC. In addition, the data demonstrate that pancreatic invasive patients may be classified into several subtypes using molecular genetic factors.

Impact of obstructive ventilatory impairment on intraoperative bleeding during laparoscopic hepatectomy

PURPOSE

An animal model of laparoscopic hepatectomy showed that bleeding from the hepatic vein is influenced by airway pressure. However, there are little research reports on how airway pressure leads to risks in clinical practice. The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of preoperative forced expiratory volume % in 1 s (FEV1.0%) on intraoperative blood loss in laparoscopic hepatectomy.

METHODS

All patients who underwent pure laparoscopic or open hepatectomy from April 2011 to July 2020 were classified into two groups by preoperative spirometry: those with obstructive ventilatory impairment (obstructive group; FEV1.0% < 70%) and those with normal respiratory function (ormal group; FEV1.0% ≥ 70%). Massive blood loss was defined as 400 mL for laparoscopic hepatectomy.

RESULTS

In total, 247 and 445 patients underwent pure laparoscopic and open hepatectomy, respectively. Regarding laparoscopic hepatectomy group, blood loss was significantly greater in the obstructive group (122 vs. 100 mL, P = 0.042). Multivariate analysis revealed that high IWATE criteria which classify the surgical difficulty of laparoscopic hepatectomy (≥ 7, odds ratio (OR): 4.50, P = 0.004) and low preoperative FEV1.0% (< 70%, OR: 2.28, P = 0.043) were independent risk factors for blood loss during laparoscopic hepatectomy. In contrast, FEV1.0% did not affect the blood loss (522 vs. 605 mL, P = 0.113) during open hepatectomy.

CONCLUSION

Obstructive ventilatory impairment (low FEV1.0%) may affect the amount of bleeding during laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Risk factors for postoperative pneumonia after hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection

BACKGROUND

The present study investigated the incidence of postoperative pneumonia (POP) after hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection (BDR) and elucidated risk factors for POP.

METHODS

A total of 257 patients undergoing hepatectomy with BDR between 2011 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the incidence of POP, defined by the Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ II. The predictive factors for POP were identified using logistic regression analysis of the pre- and intraoperative evaluable factors.

RESULTS

Postoperative pneumonia developed in 15 patients (5.8%), diagnosed as grade IV or V in five patients. In a multivariate analysis, a vital capacity ratio (%VC) <80% (odds ratio [OR] 7.30, P = .005), age ≥ 74 years old (OR 5.39, P = .026), and future liver volume remnant (FLR) ratio ≤ 40% (OR 4.97, P = .045) were independent risk factors for POP. Among patients with performing spirometry, the incidence of developing POP was 1.0%, 8.8%, and 60% in patients with 0, 1-2, and 3 risk factors, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of POP in patients undergoing hepatectomy with BDR was 5.8%. A %VC <80%, age ≥74 years old, and FLR ratio ≤40% were identified as preoperative predictive factors of developing POP.

Molecular characterization-based multi-omics analyses in primary liver cancer using the Japanese version of the genome atlas

BACKGROUND

Primary liver cancer (PLC) is classified into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and combined hepatocellular and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CHC). We investigated the genomic landscape of PLC according to the histological classification and established a cross-histological molecular subtyping for PLC by a multi-omics analysis.

METHODS

We analyzed 265 PLC cases with whole-exome sequencing and DNA copy number analyses and 251 cases with gene expression profiling.

RESULTS

The cohort included HCC (n = 223, 84%), ICC (n = 34, 13%), and CHC (n = 8, 3%). Mutation analyses identified histological type-specific driver genes, such as CTNNB1 in HCC and KRAS, IDH1, and PIK3CA in ICC, and ARID1A and KMT2C in CHC. The tumor suppressor gene TP53 mutation was detected in 21.1% of HCC, 16.1% of ICC, and 25.0% of CHC cases. Other well-characterized tumor suppressor genes included RB1, which was mutated in 2.8% of HCC and 3.2% of ICC; and PTEN, which was mutated in 1.4% of HCC, 3.2% of ICC, and 12.5% of CHC cases. DNA copy number analyses identified focal amplifications, with NUF2 (1q23.3) the most frequently detected as an amplified gene in all 3 types (HCC, 3.8%; CHC, 12.5%, ICC, 3.2%). Molecular subtyping for PLC based on the multi-omics analysis identified three subtypes, one of which was associated with recurrence after resection and amplified genes located at chromosome 8q.

CONCLUSIONS

Our dataset serves as a fundamental resource for genomic medicine for PLC in Japan and identified amplified genes located at chromosome 8q as promising therapeutic targets for the subgroup with a poor prognosis.

The proximity of the middle hepatic vein to the hepatic hilus: a retrospective radiological study

PURPOSE

The middle hepatic vein (MHV) is an important landmark in anatomical hemihepatectomy. The proximity between the MHV and the hilar plate was suspected to be associated with tumor exposure during left hemihepatectomy for advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and is reported to facilitate a dorsal approach to the MHV during laparoscopic hemihepatectomy. However, the precise distance between these locations is unknown.

METHODS

To investigate the "accurate and normal" distance between the MHV and the hilar plate, the present study focused on patients who presented without perihilar tumor. One hundred and sixty-eight consecutive patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy were included. Retrospective radiological measurement was performed using preoperative multi-detector row CT. The optimized CT slices perpendicular to the MHV were made using the multiplanar reconstruction technique. The shortest distance between the MHV and the hilar plate was measured on the left and right sides on the perpendicular slices. The diameters of the left and right hepatic ducts were also measured.

RESULTS

The distance was 9.0 mm (1.9-20.0 mm) on the left side and 11.3 mm (2.3-21.8) on the right side (p < 0.001). The distance on the left side was < 10 mm in 60% of patients (n = 100). Only one-third of patients (n = 55) had a distance of ≥ 10 mm on both sides. As the hepatic ducts became more dilated, the distance from the MHV to the hilar plate became shorter.

CONCLUSION

The MHV was located in close proximity to the hepatic hilus, especially on the left side.

[A 10-Year Survivor with Multidisciplinary Treatment for Pancreatic Carcinoma That Recurred 17 Months after Pancreatoduodenectomy]

Postoperative recurrence of invasive pancreatic ductal carcinoma(PC)has a poor prognosis. We experienced a case of PC that relapsed 17 months after pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD)and survived for more than 10 years after PD. A 51-year-old man underwent PD in December 2011(pT3pN1bM0, pStage Ⅱb). Gemcitabine(GEM)16 cycles were performed as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and a 1 cm nodule was found in the liver on abdominal CT scan, and partial liver resection was performed. After that, adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 was performed for 12 months. Abdominal CT scan revealed abdominal lymph node metastasis, and radiation therapy(39.6 Gy)was requested from another hospital. Then, the combination therapy of 5-FU/l-LV plus L-OHP(or CPT-11)was started in September 2014. To date, a total of 131 cycles of chemotherapy have been given. 10 years and 5 months after pancreaticoduodenectomy and 9 years after hepatectomy, although recurrence around the superior mesenteric artery plexus was observed, outpatient visits are continued.

Preoperative skeletal muscle fat infiltration is a strong predictor of poorer survival in gallbladder cancer underwent surgery

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Recently, a decrease in skeletal muscle, termed sarcopenia, has been reported to be associated with poorer survival of patients in several types of cancer. However, few studies have investigated the association between sarcopenia and the survival of patients with gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

A total of 88 patients undergoing curative resection for advanced gallbladder cancer were included in this study. The quality of skeletal muscle was assessed by the intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC), and the quantity of skeletal muscle was assessed by the psoas muscle index (PMI), measured on preoperative computed tomography. The optimum cutoff values for IMAC and PMI for predicting the overall survival in each sex were determined using a minimum p value approach. Clinicopathological factors, IMAC and PMI were retrospectively analyzed to identify the predictors of overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The cutoff values for IMAC were -0.3 in males and 0.04 in females. The numbers of patients with low IMAC and high IMAC were 42 and 46, respectively. The cutoff values for PMI were 7.3 cm²/m² in males and 5.0 cm²/m² in females. The numbers of patients with low PMI and high PMI were 22 and 66, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed that pT stage (pT3/4, hazard ratio [HR] = 6.72, p = 0.004), high IMAC (HR = 4.12, p < 0.001), Bile duct infiltration (present, HR = 2.82, p = 0.046), high age (≥72 years old, HR = 2.64, p = 0.010), major hepatectomy (performed, HR = 2.50, p = 0.031) and pN1/2 (HR = 2.17, p = 0.010) as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

IMAC was independent prognostic factor for resected advanced gallbladder cancer, so the quality of skeletal muscle more strongly predicted survival than the quantity of skeletal muscle.

[Clinicopathological Examination of Resected Case of Primary Duodenal Cancer at Our Hospital]

Primary duodenal cancer is a rare disease. We examined 8 resected cases of duodenal cancer at our hospital from June 2003 to February 2022. Patients with resected duodenal cancer had an average age of 69.3 years(45-84 years), with a male-female ratio of 3 : 5. Of the 8 cases, 6 cases were adenocarcinomas and 2 were neuroendocrine carcinomas. Among those with adenocarcinomas, 3 cases were Stage Ⅰ, while Stage ⅡA, ⅢA, and ⅢB accounted for one case each(UICC 8th edition). Five patients underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD), while 1 underwent partial duodenal resection. Except for 1 case of Stage ⅢB(death from tumor recurrence in 1 year), tumor recurrence was not observed in the 5 remaining cases(survival period; >1 month to >97 months). The patient with a pT3pN1M0, Stage Ⅲ neuroendocrine carcinoma underwent a partial duodenal resection due to poor cardiac and renal function. Meanwhile, the patient with a pT4pN0M0, Stage Ⅲ neuroendocrine carcinoma underwent a PD. The survival time was 123 months for the former(death from other diseases, no tumor recurrence)and 7 months for the latter(death from recurrence).

Overview and clinical significance of multiple mutations in individual genes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Multiple mutation (MM) within a single gene has recently been reported as a mechanism involved in carcinogenesis. The present study investigated the clinical significance of MMs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Two hundred twenty-three surgically resected HCCs were subjected to gene expression profiling and whole-exome sequencing.

Results

MMs in individual genes were detected in 178 samples (MM tumors: 79.8%). The remaining samples all carried a single mutation (SM tumors: 20.2%). Recurrence-free survival in the MM group was significantly worse in comparison to the SM group (P = 0.012). A Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that MM tumor was an independent predictor for worse a prognosis (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–3.17; P = 0.045). MMs were frequently observed across in various genes, especially MUC16 (15% of samples had at least one mutation in the gene) and CTNNB1 (14%). Although the MUC16 mRNA expression of MUC16 wild-type and MUC16 SM tumors did not differ to a statistically significant extent, the expression in MUC16 MM tumors was significantly enhanced in comparison to MUC16 SM tumors (P < 0.001). In MUC16, MMs were associated with viral hepatitis, higher tumor marker levels and vascular invasion. The MUC16 MMs group showed significantly worse recurrence-free survival in comparison to the MUC16 SM group (P = 0.022), while no significant difference was observed between the MUC16 SM group and the MUC16 wild-type group (P = 0.324).

Conclusions

MM was a relatively common event that may occur selectively in specific oncogenes and is involved in aggressive malignant behavior.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-10143-z.

Histological pancreatic findings correlate with computed tomography attenuation and predict postoperative pancreatic fistula following pancreatoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Although a soft pancreas is a widely-accepted reliable risk factor for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), there is no established preoperative evaluation of pancreatic texture.

METHODS

Two hundred thirty-seven patients who underwent PD with histological pancreatic assessment were retrospectively enrolled. The degree of fibrosis and fatty infiltration was scored histologically as seven grades and five grades, respectively. Computed tomography (CT) attenuation of the pancreas was measured on preoperative unenhanced CT images. Correlations between the CT attenuation of the pancreas and the histological pancreatic findings, and the development of POPF were analyzed.

RESULTS

The fibrosis grade was significantly higher for hard pancreas than for soft pancreas (p < 0.001), whereas the fatty infiltration grade was similar between the two types (p = 0.161). CT attenuation of the pancreas was inversely correlated with both fibrosis grade (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient ([r] = -0.609, p < 0.001) and fatty infiltration grade (r = -0.382, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that body mass index ≥25 kg/m² (odds ratio [OR]: 5.64, p < 0.001) and fibrosis grade ≤2 (OR: 18.0, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for clinically significant POPF.

CONCLUSION

Histological pancreatic texture can be evaluated with CT attenuation and might be helpful in preoperatively predicting the development of POPF after PD.

The prognostic impact of ABO blood type in pancreatic cancer: Relevance to adjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of ABO blood type in resected pancreatic cancer (PC), with a focus on adjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 510 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for PC between 2006 and 2017. Survival outcomes were investigated according to blood type and adjuvant chemotherapy regimen (S-1, gemcitabine, or no adjuvant chemotherapy).

RESULTS

Among the 510 patients, the overall survival (OS) of patients with blood type O was significantly better compared to those with blood type non-O (5-year OS rate, 46.6% vs 30.5%, P = .025). In 241 patients treated with adjuvant S-1, the 5-year OS of patients with blood type O was significantly better than those with blood type non-O (70.7% vs 44.2%, P = .001). Multivariate analysis showed that blood type non-O was an independent prognostic factor for OS in the overall cohort (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.58, P = .002) and in patients treated with adjuvant S-1 (HR: 2.99, P < .001). In patients treated with adjuvant gemcitabine or no adjuvant chemotherapy, there was no significant difference in OS between patients with blood type O and those with blood type non-O.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood type O predicted favorable survival in patients with resected PC, which was associated with adjuvant S-1.

Resectability Status of Pancreatic Cancer Having Tumor Contact with an Aberrant Right Hepatic Artery: Is Upfront Surgery Justified?

BACKGROUND

The NCCN guidelines define pancreatic cancer that has contact with an aberrant right hepatic artery (A-RHA) as a borderline-resectable tumor. However, the impact of tumor contact with an A-RHA on surgical and survival outcomes has not been well discussed.

METHODS

A total of 541 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for resectable and borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer between 2002 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The presence of an A-RHA and tumor contact with an A-RHA were evaluated based on the preoperative computed tomography findings. Patients with resectable tumors and tumors with A-RHA-contact (having contact with an A-RHA without involvement of the major arteries) were generally treated by upfront surgery, whereas those with borderline-resectable tumors generally underwent neoadjuvant therapy and subsequent resection.

RESULTS

Among the 541 patients, 116 (21.4%) had an A-RHA and 15 (2.8%) had tumor with A-RHA-contact. The A-RHA was resected in 12, and arterial reconstruction was performed in 8. The rates of morbidity and R1 resection in patients with an A-RHA (32.8 and 10.3%, respectively) were comparable to those without an A-RHA (27.3 and 11.3%, respectively). The overall survival in patients with A-RHA-contact was significantly worse than that in patients with borderline-resectable tumors (median survival time, 14.6 vs. 35.3 months, p = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

Although upfront resection was safely performed and led to a high R0 resection rate in patients with A-RHA-contact, the survival outcome was dismal. A tumor with A-RHA-contact should be regarded as technically resectable but oncologically borderline-resectable. Upfront surgery may not be appropriate for patients with A-RHA-contact.

Portal vein thrombosis after right hepatectomy: impact of portal vein resection and morphological changes of the portal vein

BACKGROUND

Right hepatectomy occasionally requires portal vein resection (PVR) and causes postoperative portal vein thrombosis (PVT).

METHODS

A total of 247 patients who underwent right hepatectomy were evaluated using a three-dimensional analyzer to identify the morphologic changes in the portal vein (PV). The patients' characteristics were compared between the PVR group (n = 73) and non-PVR group (n = 174), and risk factors for PVT were investigated. The PVR group were subdivided into the wedge resection (WR) group (n = 38) and segmental resection (SR) group (n= 35).

RESULTS

Postoperative PVT occurred in 20 patients (8.1%). Multivariate analyses in all patients revealed that postoperative left PV diameter/main PV diameter (L/M ratio) <0.56 (odds ratio [OR] 4.00, p = 0.009) and PVR (OR 3.31, p = 0.031) were significant risk factors for PVT. In 73 patients who underwent PVR, PVT occurred in 14 (19%) and WR (OR 11.5, p = 0.005) and L/M ratio <0.56 (OR 5.51, p = 0.016) were significant risk factors for PVT.

CONCLUSION

PVR was one of the significant risk factors for PVT after right hepatectomy. SR rather than WR may be recommended for preventing PVT.

Early Recurrence in Resected Gallbladder Carcinoma: Clinical Impact and Its Preoperative Predictive Score

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection is the only potentially curative therapy for gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). However, the postoperative recurrence rate is high (approximately 50%), and recurrence occasionally develops early after surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 139 patients who underwent macroscopically curative resection for GBC between 2002 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Early recurrence (ER) was defined as recurrence within 6 months after surgery. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using preoperative factors that may influence early recurrence, namely patient background factors, tumor markers, imaging findings, and body composition parameters obtained preoperatively, to create a predictive score for ER.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 21.9 months (range, 6.2-195.7 months). Postoperative recurrence was observed in 55 (39.6%) patients, of whom 14 (25.5%) developed ER. The median overall survival after surgery was 104.7 months for the non-ER group and 15.7 months for the ER group. On multivariate analysis, high carbohydrate antigen 19-9, low muscle attenuation, high visceral fat attenuation, liver invasion, and other organ invasion on preoperative computed tomography were identified as independent risk factors for ER. A preoperatively predictive scoring system for ER was constructed by weighting the above five factors. The nomogram showed an area under the curve of 0.881, indicating good predictive potential for ER.

CONCLUSIONS

ER in resected GBC indicates a very poor prognosis. The present preoperative scoring system can sufficiently predict ER and may be helpful in determining the optimal treatment strategies.

The Prognostic Relevance of Preoperative CEA and CA19-9 for Ampulla of Vater Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

Increased serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA19-9) are established prognostic factors in ampulla of Vater carcinoma (AC). We determined the best cut-off values of preoperative CEA and CA19-9 and compared the prognostic power of preoperative CEA with that of preoperative CA19-9 for overall survival (OS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 116 consecutive patients without jaundice who underwent macroscopic curative resection for AC between January 2002 and August 2019 were enrolled.

RESULTS

Using the minimum p-value approach based on the OS, the optimal CEA cut-off value was found to be 6.5 ng/ml; however, the cut-off value of CA19-9 could not be determined, as no significant p value was identified. The OS of the patients with CEA >6.5 ng/ml (n=5; 3-year OS, 20.0%) was significantly worse than that with CEA ≤6.5 ng/ml (n=111; 3-year OS, 76.6%; p<0.001). A Cox proportional hazards analysis for OS revealed CEA >6.5 ng/ml (hazard ratio=4.01, p=0.019) to be an independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSION

In patients with AC, although the CA19-9 optimal cut-off value could not be determined, CEA >6.5 ng/ml independently affected long-term survival after resection.

The clinical benefits of performing staging laparoscopy for pancreatic cancer treatment

BACKGROUND

The indications and benefits derived from staging laparoscopy (SL) for pancreatic cancer (PC) remain controversial.

METHODS

This study involved PC patients in whom resection had been considered possible between 2009 and 2020. We classified the patients into before 2014 (training set) and 2014 and later (validation set) groups, as SL was introduced in 2014, in our institution. In the training set, the predictors of non-curative factors were investigated, and reproducibility was confirmed in the validation set. In addition, the outcomes were compared between the datasets.

RESULTS

A total of 802 patients were classified into the training set (n = 241) and validation set (n = 561). In the training set, pancreatic body or tail tumors (odds ratio [OR]: 2.62: P = 0.039), CA19-9 > 88 U/ml (OR: 3.21: P = 0.018) and a tumor diameter >36 mm (OR: 6.07; P < 0.001) were independent predictors of non-curative factors. The increased rate of non-curative factors was confirmed as the number of predictors increased in the validation set. The curative resection (CR) rate was significantly higher in the validation set than in the training set (P = 0.035). Although there was no significant difference in the OS in the not-resected group (P = 0.895), the OS in the CR and non-CR group was significantly better in the validation set than in the training set (CR, P < 0.001; non-CR, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest potential candidates for SL and revealed improved outcomes by the advent of treatment strategies including SL.

Prospective validation to prevent symptomatic portal vein thrombosis after liver resection

BACKGROUND

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after liver resection is rare but can lead to life-threatening liver failure. This prospective study evaluated patients using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (E-CT) on the first day after liver resection for early PVT detection and management.

AIM

To evaluate patients by E-CT on the first day after liver resection for early PVT detection and immediate management.

METHODS

Patients who underwent liver resection for primary liver cancer from January 2015 were enrolled. E-CT was performed on the first day after surgery in patients undergoing anatomical resection, multiple resections, or with postoperative bile leakage in the high-risk group for PVT. When PVT was detected, anticoagulant therapy including heparin, warfarin, and edoxaban was administered. E-CT was performed monthly until PVT resolved.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of PVT was 1.57% (8/508). E-CT was performed on the first day after surgery in 235 consecutive high-risk patients (165 anatomical resections, 74 multiple resections, and 28 bile leakages), with a PVT incidence of 3.4% (8/235). Symptomatic PVT was not observed in the excluded cohort. Multivariate analyses revealed that sectionectomy was the only independent predictor of PVT [odds ratio (OR) = 12.20; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.22-115.97; P = 0.003]. PVT was found in the umbilical portion of 75.0% (6/8) of patients, and sectionectomy on the left side showed the highest risk of PVT (OR = 14.10; 95%CI: 3.17-62.71; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Sectionectomy on the left side should be chosen with caution as it showed the highest risk of PVT. E-CT followed by anticoagulant therapy was effective in managing early-phase PVT for 2 mo without adverse events.

An International Retrospective Observational Study of Liver Functional Deterioration after Repeat Liver Resection for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary

For 657 cases of segment or less repeat liver resection with results of plasma albumin and bilirubin levels and platelet counts before and 3 months after surgery, the indicators were compared before and after surgery. There were 268 open repeat after open and 224 cases laparoscopic repeat after laparoscopic liver resection. The background factors and liver functional indicators before and after surgery, and the changes were compared between both groups. Plasma levels of albumin (p = 0.006) and total bilirubin (p = 0.01) were decreased, and ALBI score (p = 0.001) indicated worse liver function after surgery. Though laparoscopic group had poorer performance status and liver function, changes of the values and overall survivals were similar between both groups. Plasma levels of albumin and bilirubin and ALBI score could be the liver functional indicators for liver functional deterioration after liver resection. The laparoscopic group with poorer conditions showed a similar deterioration of liver function and overall survival to the open group.

Abstract

Whether albumin and bilirubin levels, platelet counts, ALBI, and ALPlat scores could be useful for the assessment of permanent liver functional deterioration after repeat liver resection was examined, and the deterioration after laparoscopic procedure was evaluated. For 657 patients with liver resection of segment or less in whom results of plasma albumin and bilirubin levels and platelet counts before and 3 months after surgery could be retrieved, liver functional indicators were compared before and after surgery. There were 268 patients who underwent open repeat after previous open liver resection, and 224 patients who underwent laparoscopic repeat after laparoscopic liver resection. The background factors, liver functional indicators before and after surgery and their changes were compared between both groups. Plasma levels of albumin (p = 0.006) and total bilirubin (p = 0.01) were decreased, and ALBI score (p = 0.001) indicated worse liver function after surgery. Laparoscopic group had poorer preoperative performance status and liver function. Changes of liver functional values before and after surgery and overall survivals were similar between laparoscopic and open groups. Plasma levels of albumin and bilirubin and ALBI score could be the indicators for permanent liver functional deterioration after liver resection. Laparoscopic group with poorer conditions showed the similar deterioration of liver function and overall survivals to open group.

The World Organisation for Animal Health - current and potential roles in safe international trade of bees and other insects

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) is the recognised intergovernmental standard-setting organisation for animal health and welfare. The WOAH mandate is to support its members in the prevention of the spread of animal diseases of concern, as listed in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code). Once a disease, infection or infestation is listed, national Veterinary Authorities have the obligation regularly to notify WOAH of the presence or absence of the listed disease. In regard to insects, the scope of the Terrestrial Code limits its recommendations to preserving the health of bees (species of the genus Apis, extended to the genus Bombus and to the stingless bees for one disease). However, it does not include standards to mitigate the potential animal health risks associated with the international trade of other insects. A description of the standard-setting process and a review of the history of the standards for bee health highlight the resources and requirements to expand the scope of the Terrestrial Code to include recommendations for animal health risk mitigation measures for the safety of international trade in insects. Any initiative to develop guidance on insect trade should include WOAH in its role as the sole global standard-setting organisation on animal health and welfare matters. This aligns with the WOAH commitment to a One Health approach.

Concordance of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 expressions between murine (10D7G2) and rabbit (SP120) antibodies and association with clinical outcomes of adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer: A collaborative study from the JASPAC 01 trial

BACKGROUND

Expression of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1) is reported to predict survival of gemcitabine (GEM)-treated patients. However, predictive values of immunohistochemical hENT1 expression may differ according to the antibodies, 10D7G2 and SP120.

AIM

We aimed to investigate the concordance of immunohistochemical hENT1 expression between the two antibodies and prognosis.

METHODS

The subjects of this study were totally 332 whose formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens and/or unstained sections were obtained. The individual H-scores and four classifications according to the staining intensity were applied for the evaluation of hENT1 expression by 10D7G2 and SP120, respectively.

RESULTS

The highest concordance rate (79.8%) was obtained when the cut-off between high and low hENT1 expression using SP120 was set between moderate and strong. There were no correlations of hENT1 mRNA level with H-score (p = .258). Although the hENT1 mRNA level was significantly different among four classifications using SP120 (p = .011), there was no linear relationship among them. Multivariate analyses showed that adjuvant GEM was a significant predictor of the patients with low hENT1 expression using either 10D7G2 (Hazard ratio [HR] 2.39, p = .001) or SP120 (HR 1.84, p < .001). In contrast, agent for adjuvant chemotherapy was not significant predictor for the patients with high hENT1 expression regardless of the kind of antibody.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that the two antibodies for evaluating hENT1 expression are equivalent depending on the cut-off point and suggests that S-1 is the first choice of adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer with low hENT1 expression, whereas either S-1 or GEM can be introduced for the pancreatic cancer with high hENT1 expression, no matter which antibody is used.

Hepatocellular carcinoma after a sustained virological response by direct-acting antivirals harbors TP53 inactivation

Introduction

The genomic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after a sustained virological response (SVR) and its differences according to whether an SVR was achieved by treatment with direct‐acting antivirals (DAA) or interferon (IFN) are still not fully understood.

Methods

Sixty‐nine surgically resected HCCs from patients with hepatitis C virus infection were analyzed by gene expression profiling and whole‐exome sequencing.

Results

Among the 69 HCC patients, 34 HCCs in which an SVR was not achieved at the time of surgery were classified as HCV‐positive, and 35 HCCs in which an SVR was achieved at the time of surgery were classified as HCV‐SVR. According to the HCV treatment, 35 HCV‐SVR HCCs were classified into two groups: eight tumors with DAA (HCV‐SVR‐DAA) and 24 tumors with interferon (HCV‐SVR‐IFN). The frequency of samples with ARID2 mutations was significantly lower in HCV‐SVR than in HCV‐positive tumors (p = 0.048). In contrast, the frequency of samples with PREX2 mutations was significantly higher in HCV‐SVR samples than in HCV‐positive samples (p = 0.048). Among the patients with HCV‐SVR, the frequency of samples with TP53 mutations was significantly higher in HCV‐SVR‐DAA tumors than in HCV‐SVR‐IFN tumors (p = 0.030). TP53 inactivation scores in HCV‐SVR‐DAA tumors were found to be significantly enhanced in comparison to HCV‐SVR‐IFN tumors (p = 0.022). In addition, chromosomal instability and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway signatures were enhanced in HCV‐SVR‐DAA tumors. HCV‐SVR‐DAA was significantly associated with portal vein invasion (p = 0.003) in comparison to HCV‐SVR‐IFN.

Conclusion

Our dataset potentially serves as a fundamental resource for the genomic characteristics of HCV‐SVR‐DAA tumors. Our comprehensive genetic profiling by WES revealed significant differences in the mutation rate of several driver genes between HCV‐positive tumors and HCV‐SVR tumors. Furthermore, it was revealed that the frequency of samples with mutations in TP53 was significantly higher in HCV‐SVR‐DAA tumors than in HCV‐SVR‐IFN tumors.

Evaluation of Safety-Related Outcomes of One-Segment and More-Than-One-Segment High-Level Hepatectomy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on the Japanese Board Certification System

Background

We evaluated the impact of the Japanese board certification system for expert surgeons (JBCSES) on complications and survival outcomes in hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods

The postoperative outcomes of 493 patients who underwent high-level liver surgery involving one-segment (OSeg) hepatectomy and more-than-one-segment (MOSeg) resection were compared before and after JBCSES establishment. After the establishment of the JBCSES, the patients’ postoperative outcomes were compared using propensity score matching (PSM) to determine the influence of expert surgeons.

Results

The establishment of the JBCSES was associated with a decrease in the overall postoperative complication rates after high-level liver surgery from 50.2 to 38.1% (P = 0.008) and a decrease in Clavien–Dindo class ≥ IIIb complications from 10.2 to 5.0% (P = 0.035). The 90-day mortality rate decreased from 5.1 to 0.7% (P = 0.003), and the 5-year survival rate increased from 51.4 to 63.9% (P = 0.009). Using PSM, a comparison of OSeg hepatectomies that involved expert surgeons (n = 48) and those that did not (n = 48) showed significantly lower intraoperative blood loss in surgeries involving an expert surgeon (mean, 340 vs. 473 mL; P = 0.033). There were no significant differences in complication rates or long-term prognosis between these groups. A comparison of MOSeg hepatectomies that involved expert surgeons (n = 26) and those that did not (n = 26) showed no significant difference in surgical factors, complications, or overall survival between the two groups.

Conclusions

After establishment of the JBCSES, postoperative complication rates and mortality rates decreased and survival rates increased following liver surgery. Expert surgeon participation significantly decreased intraoperative blood loss during OSeg hepatectomies.

Validity of the Algorithm for Liver Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Caudate Lobe

BACKGROUND

We aimed to validate our algorithm for resecting Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe based on tumor location, tumor size, and indocyanine green clearance rate.

METHODS

Patients who underwent curative resections for solitary HCC in the caudate lobe were included. The surgical outcomes of patients with HCC in the caudate lobe were compared with those of patients with HCC in other sites of the liver.

RESULTS

After one-to-one matching, the caudate-lobe group (n = 150) had longer operation time, greater amount of bleeding, lower weight of resected specimens, and shorter distance between tumor and resection line than the other-sites group (n = 150), but the complication rates were not different between the groups (38.0% vs. 34.1%, P = 0.719). After a median follow-up period of 3.0 years (range, 0.3-16.2 years), the median overall survivals were 6.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3-7.9) and 7.5 years (95% CI, 6.3-9.7) in the caudate-lobe and other-site groups, respectively (P = 0.430). Median recurrence-free survivals in the caudate-lobe group (1.9 years; 95% CI, 1.4-2.7) had a tendency to be shorter than those in the other-sites group (2.3 years; 1.7-3.4) (P = 0.052).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients' survival and complication rates in the caudate-lobe group were comparable to those in the other-sites group; therefore, our algorithm for resecting HCC in the caudate lobe is of clinical use.

Clinical implications of lymphadenectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma of the body or tail of the pancreas

Aim

The appropriate extent of lymphadenectomy for pancreatic cancer of the body/tail has not been standardized worldwide. The present study evaluated the optimal extent of harvesting lymph nodes.

Methods

Patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas between 2007 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were subclassified into three groups depending on the tumor location: pancreatic body (Pb), proximal pancreatic tail (Ptp), and distal pancreatic tail (Ptd). The pancreatic tail was further divided into even sections of Ptp and Ptd. Patterns of lymph node metastasis and the impact of lymph node metastasis on the prognosis were examined.

Results

A total of 120 patients were evaluated. Fifty‐eight patients had a tumor in the Pb, 38 in the Ptp, and 24 in the Ptd. No patients with a Ptd tumor had metastasis beyond the peripancreatic and splenic hilar lymph nodes (LN‐PSH). All patients with metastasis to the lymph nodes along the common hepatic artery (LN‐CHA) or along the left lateral superior mesenteric artery (LN‐SMA) also had metastasis to the LN‐PSH. Recurrence after surgery occurred significantly earlier in this population. In a multivariate analysis, metastasis to the LN‐CHA or LN‐SMA (hazard ratio [HR] 3.3; P = .04) was an independent risk factor for overall survival. Furthermore, high levels of preoperative serum CA19‐9 (HR 10.9; P = .013) were a predictive factor for metastasis to the LN‐CHA or LN‐SMA.

Conclusions

Metastasis to the LN‐CHA or LN‐SMA was rare but a significant prognostic factor in patients with pancreatic body/tail cancer.

Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy With Delayed Division of the Pancreatic Parenchyma: A Novel Technique for Reducing Pancreatic Fistula

Objectives

To review our novel technique of hepatopancreatoduodenectomy (HPD) with delayed division of the pancreatic parenchyma (DDPP) for reducing postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF).

Background

The high operative morbidity and mortality rates after HPD remains a major issue. One of the most troublesome complications is POPF, which might possibly be caused by peripancreatic saponification due to long interval between pancreas resection and reconstruction, as most surgeons prefer a caudocranial approach, performing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) first and then hepatectomy (conventional HPD [C-HPD]).

Methods

A review of the patients undergoing C-HPD and HPD with DDPP was performed. Postoperative outcomes were compared. Multivariable analysis was conducted to evaluate the risk factors of POPF after HPD.

Results

One-hundred two patients comprised of 50 patients undergoing C-HPD and 52 patients undergoing HPD with DDPP. The interval between pancreas resection and reconstruction was significantly shorter in HPD with DDPP group than in C-HPD group (51 vs 263 minutes; P < 0.001). The incidence of POPF was significantly lower in HPD with DDPP group than in C-HPD group (32.7% vs 77.3%; P < 0.001). The postoperative hospital stay was shorter in patients undergoing HPD with DDPP than in those undergoing C-HPD (32 vs 45 days). A multivariate analysis revealed that body mass index >24 kg/m2 and conventional (PD first) procedure were significant risk factors for POPF after HPD.

Conclusions

A novel technique of HPD with DDPP is a simple procedure and the optimal treatment choice to reduce the risk of developing POPF after this extensive surgery.

Predictive factors of survival in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to develop the prognostic score (PS) based on clinical factors to stratify the prognosis in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).

METHODS

This retrospective study included 57 BRPC patients who received NAT between April 2012 and December 2017. A score was assigned to each prognostic factor available before and after NAT, according to their β coefficients.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis identified the following six prognostic factors, and scores were assigned as follows: being a familial PC patient (HR 4.98, p = 0.029), post-NAT CA19-9 ≥37 U/ml (HR 3.08, p = 0.020), reduction rate of CA19-9 <70% (HR 3.71, p = 0.008), pre-NAT neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥2.8 (HR 4.32, p = 0.003), and non-resection (HR 3.98, p = 0.009) were scored as 1; and post-NAT albumin-to-globulin ratio <1.33 (HR 8.31, p < 0.001) was scored as 2. The PS was calculated by summing the scores assigned to each prognostic factor. Patients were then classified into three risk groups (low- [0-1 points], moderate- [2-3 points], and high-risk [4-6 points] groups). Median overall survival in the low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups were not reached, 37.5 months, and 11.8 months, respectively, and there were significant differences in survival among the three groups (p < 0.01 in each group).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the PS may be useful for predicting the prognosis of BRPC patients treated with NAT.