Establishment of artificial neural network model for predicting lymph node metastasis in patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: To establish a neural network model for predicting lymph node metastasis in patients with stage II-III gastric cancer. Methods: Case inclusion criteria: (1) gastric adenocarcinoma diagnosed by pathology as stage II-III (the 8th edition of AJCC staging); (2) no distant metastasis of liver, lung and abdominal cavity in preoperative chest film, abdominal ultrasound and upper abdominal CT; (3) undergoing R0 resection. Case exclusion criteria: (1) receiving preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy; (2) incomplete clinical data; (3) gastric stump cancer.Clinicopathological data of 1231 patients with stage II-III gastric cancer who underwent radical surgery at the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from January 2010 to August 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 1035 patients with lymph node metastasis were confirmed after operation, and 196 patients had no lymph node metastasis. According to the postoperative pathologic staging. 416 patients (33.8%) were stage Ⅱ and 815 patients (66.2%) were stage III. Patients were randomly divided into training group (861/1231, 69.9%) and validation group (370/1231, 30.1%) to establish an artificial neural network model (N+-ANN) for the prediction of lymph node metastasis. Firstly, the Logistic univariate analysis method was used to retrospectively analyze the case samples of the training group, screen the variables affecting lymph node metastasis, determine the variable items of the input point of the artificial neural network, and then the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) to train N+-ANN. The input layer of N+-ANN was composed of the variables screened by Logistic univariate analysis. Artificial intelligence analyzed the status of lymph node metastasis according to the input data and compared it with the real value. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by drawing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and obtaining the area under the curve (AUC). The ability of N+-ANN was evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, and AUC values. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline data between the training group and validation group (all P>0.05). Univariate analysis of the training group showed that preoperative platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), preoperative systemic immune inflammation index (SII), tumor size, clinical N (cN) stage were closely related to postoperative lymph node metastasis. The N+-ANN was constructed based on the above variables as the input layer variables. In the training group, the accuracy of N+-ANN for predicting postoperative lymph node metastasis was 88.4% (761/861), the sensitivity was 98.9% (717/725), the specificity was 32.4% (44/136), the positive predictive value was 88.6% (717/809), the negative predictive value was 84.6% (44/52), and the AUC value was 0.748 (95%CI: 0.717-0.776). In the validation group, N+-ANN had a prediction accuracy of 88.4% (327/370) with a sensitivity of 99.7% (309/310), specificity of 30.0% (18/60), positive predictive value of 88.0% (309/351), negative predictive value of 94.7% (18/19), and an AUC of 0.717 (95%CI:0.668-0.763). According to the individualized lymph node metastasis probability output by N+-ANN, the cut-off values of 0-50%, >50%-75%, >75%-90% and >90%-100% were applied and patients were divided into N0 group, N1 group, N2 group and N3 group. The overall prediction accuracy of N+-ANN for pN staging in the training group and the validation group was 53.7% and 54.1% respectively, while the overall prediction accuracy of cN staging for pN staging in the training group and the validation group was 30.1% and 33.2% respectively, indicating that N+-ANN had a better prediction than cN stage. Conclusions: The N+-ANN constructed in this study can accurately predict postoperative lymph node metastasis in patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ gastric cancer. The N+-ANN based on individualized lymph node metastasis probability has better accurate prediction for pN staging as compared to cN staging.

Analysis of characteristics and trends of randomized controlled trials of gastric cancer between 2000 and 2019 / 中华外科杂志

Objectives: To analyze the current development status of gastric cancer (GC) randomized controlled trials (RCT) between 2000 and 2019, and to review the basic characteristics of published RCT. Methods: ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for phase 3 or 4 RCT conducted between January 2000 and December 2019 with the keyword "gastric cancer", and the development trend of different types of RCT during different time periods was described. Basic features of registered RCT such as intervention, study area, single-center or multicenter, sample size, and funding were presented. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched to judge the publication status of studies completed until June 2016. The adequacy of the report was estimated by the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist. Design flaws were evaluated by Cochrane tool and/or whether a systematic literature review was cited. The data was analyzed by χ2 test or Fisher exact test. Results: There were 262 RCT including in the present study. The number of GC-RCT registered on ClinicalTrials.gov had been on the rise from 1 case in 2000 to 30 cases in 2015. The proportion of RCT associated with targeted therapy or immunotherapy increased from 0 during 2000-2004 to 37.1% (36/97) during 2015-2019. The RCT registered in Asia was 191 cases, while that in non-Asia region was 71 cases. The proportion of multi-center RCT from non-Asia was higher than that from Asia (70.4% (50/71) vs. 50.3% (96/191), χ²=8.527, P=0.003). The proportion of RCT published was 59.1% (81/137). Among the published RCT, 65 (80.2%) studies were reported adequately, but 63 (77.8%) studies had avoidable design limitations. Conclusions: Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have become research hotspots in the treatment of GC. At present, there are inadequate multicenter RCT in Asia, and the publication rate of RCT is low. A considerable number of published RCT are reported inadequately and have avoidable design flaws.

Analysis of characteristics and trends of randomized controlled trials of gastric cancer between 2000 and 2019 / 中华外科杂志

Objectives: To analyze the current development status of gastric cancer (GC) randomized controlled trials (RCT) between 2000 and 2019, and to review the basic characteristics of published RCT. Methods: ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for phase 3 or 4 RCT conducted between January 2000 and December 2019 with the keyword "gastric cancer", and the development trend of different types of RCT during different time periods was described. Basic features of registered RCT such as intervention, study area, single-center or multicenter, sample size, and funding were presented. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched to judge the publication status of studies completed until June 2016. The adequacy of the report was estimated by the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist. Design flaws were evaluated by Cochrane tool and/or whether a systematic literature review was cited. The data was analyzed by χ2 test or Fisher exact test. Results: There were 262 RCT including in the present study. The number of GC-RCT registered on ClinicalTrials.gov had been on the rise from 1 case in 2000 to 30 cases in 2015. The proportion of RCT associated with targeted therapy or immunotherapy increased from 0 during 2000-2004 to 37.1% (36/97) during2015-2019. The RCT registered in Asia was 191 cases, while that in non-Asia region was 71 cases. The proportion of multi-center RCT from non-Asia was higher than that from Asia (70.4% (50/71) vs. 50.3% (96/191), χ²=8.527, P=0.003). The proportion of RCT published was 59.1% (81/137). Among the published RCT, 65 (80.2%) studies were reported adequately, but 63 (77.8%) studies had avoidable design limitations. Conclusions: Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have become research hotspots in the treatment of GC. At present, there are inadequate multicenter RCT in Asia, and the publication rate of RCT is low. A considerable number of published RCT are reported inadequately and have avoidable design flaws.

Effect of Preoperative Tumor Under-Staging on the Long-term Survival of Patients Undergoing Radical Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to evaluate the effect of preoperative tumor staging deviation (PTSD) on the long-term survival of patients undergoing radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer (RGGC). @*Materials and Methods@#Clinicopathological data of 2,346 patients who underwent RGGC were retrospectively analyzed. The preoperative tumor-lymph node-metastasis (TNM) under-staging group (uTNM) comprised patients who had earlier preoperative TNM than postoperative TNM, and the no preoperative under-staging group (nTNM) comprised the remaining patients. @*Results@#There were 1,031 uTNM (44.0%) and 1,315 nTNM cases (56.0%). Cox prognostic analysis revealed that PTSD independently affected the overall survival (OS) after surgery. The 5-year OS was lower in the uTNM group (41.8%) than in the nTNM group (71.6%). The patients less than 65 years old, with lower American Society of Anaesthesiologists score, 2-5 cm tumor located at the lower stomach, and cT1 or cN0 preoperative staging would more likely undergo D1+ lymph node dissection (LND) in uTNM (p 2 cm and body mass index ≤ 22.72 kg/m2 were independent risk factors of preoperative TNM tumor under-staging in patients with cT1N0M0 staging (p < 0.05). @*Conclusion@#Underestimated tumor staging is not rare, which possibly results in inadequate LND and affects the long-term survival for patients undergoing RGGC. D2 LND should be carefully performed in patients who are predisposed to this underestimation.

Application of delta-shaped anastomosis in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the technical feasibility, safety, and clinical efficacy of delta-shaped anastomosis in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 18 patients with gastric cancer who received TLDG with delta-shaped anastomosis from November 2012 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The delta-shaped anastomosis is a new method of intraabdominal Billroth I anastomosis using only linear stapler. The posterior wall of the stomach and that of the duodenum were put together using linear stapler, and the common stab incision was also closed with linear stapler. The anastomosis was finished with a delta-shaped.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TLDG with delta-shaped anastomosis was successfully carried out in all the patients. The mean operation time and mean time for anastomosis were (156.3 ± 38.5) minutes and (24.6 ± 11.2) minutes. The lengths of upper and lower segment of resection form gastric cancer were (5.8 ± 2.4) cm and (4.1 ± 2.7) cm. Blood loss was (70.7 ± 43.8) ml and number of dissected lymph nodes was 32.4 ± 12.0 per patient. The average time to ground activities, time to flatus, time to fluid diet and length of hospital stay were (1.8 ± 0.9) days, (3.1 ± 1.2) days, (3.6 ± 1.7) days, and (9.6 ± 2.5) days, respectively. Only one patient developed chylus leak with intraabdominal infection. There was no mobility related to the anastomosis in all the patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The delta-shaped anastomosis is a safe and feasible procedure for totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and provides satisfactory short-term efficacy.</p>

Clinical efficacy analysis of laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy for 1380 patients with gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the technical feasibility, safety, and clinical efficacy of laparoscopy assisted radical gastrectomy(LAG) for patients with gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 1380 patients with gastric cancer who received LAG from May 2007 to April 2012 were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LAG was successfully carried out in 1363 patients, and 17 patients(1.2%) were converted to open surgery. The mean operation time, blood loss, number of dissected lymph nodes were(196.2±59.2) minutes, (79.7±115.8) ml, and 30.1±11.0, respectively. The average time to ground activities, time to flatus, time to fluid diet, and length of hospital stay were(2.4±1.0) days, (3.3±1.2) days, (4.2±1.6) days, and (12.4±8.5) days, respectively. The postoperative morbidity was 12.1% and the mortality was 0.4%. According to Simple Scatter analysis, the number of surgical cases(surgeons' experience) was negatively related with the rate of converted to open surgery and operation time, but positively with number of dissected lymph nodes. A total of 1332 patients were followed up for 2-51 months(median 19 months), and the 3-year survival rate was 71.0%, the 3-year survival rates in stage I(, stage II(, and stage III( were 94.5%, 83.9%, and 56.7%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Laparoscopy assisted radical gastrectomy is a safe and feasible procedure with better clinical efficacy for gastric cancer. With improvement in the surgical technology, the conversion rate and operation time decrease, and the number of dissected lymph nodes will increase.</p>