A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial of Prehabilitation During Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Women with Breast Cancer: A Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist regarding the role of multimodal prehabilitation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for breast cancer. Determining large trial feasibility and identifying signals of prehabilitation benefit are needed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled feasibility trial of multimodal prehabilitation versus usual care during NACT among women diagnosed with non-metastatic breast cancer. Intervention participants received an individualized exercise program, dietetic support, and stress management counseling during NACT. The trial assessed feasibility via rates of recruitment, attrition, adherence, and study-related adverse events. Physical fitness (Six Minute Walk Test, grip strength, anthropometrics) and patient-reported outcomes were assessed at baseline, after NACT completion, and 6 months after surgery as exploratory outcomes, and analyzed using linear mixed effects models. Qualitative data were collected from a subsample to understand feasibility and acceptability of prehabilitation. RESULTS: A total of 72 participants were enrolled from the 123 eligible patients (recruitment rate of 53%). There was a 13% attrition rate and no intervention-related adverse events. Participants in the prehabilitation group had better 6-min walk distance at the post-chemotherapy timepoint [between group difference of 49.43 m, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 118.1, 19.2] and at the post-surgery timepoint (27.3, 95% CI -96.8, 42.2) compared with the control group. Prehabilitation participants reported better quality of life, less fatigue, and improved physical activity levels compared with usual care participants. Interviews revealed that the intervention had a positive impact on the treatment experience. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated feasibility and improvement in physical and psychosocial outcomes. Larger trials assessing intervention efficacy to confirm indications of prehabilitation benefit are warranted.

Survival of Patients With Head and Neck Merkel Cell Cancer: Findings From the Pan-Canadian Merkel Cell Cancer Collaborative.

Importance: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. Due to its relatively low incidence and limited prospective trials, current recommendations are guided by historical single-institution retrospective studies. Objective: To evaluate the overall survival (OS) of patients in Canada with head and neck MCC (HNMCC) according to American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition staging and treatment modalities. Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective cohort study of 400 patients with a diagnosis of HNMCC between July 1, 2000, and June 31, 2018, was conducted using the Pan-Canadian Merkel Cell Cancer Collaborative, a multicenter national registry of patients with MCC. Statistical analyses were performed from January to December 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was 5-year OS. Multivariable analysis using a Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to identify factors associated with survival. Results: Between 2000 and 2018, 400 patients (234 men [58.5%]; mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 78.4 [10.5] years) with malignant neoplasms found in the face, scalp, neck, ear, eyelid, or lip received a diagnosis of HNMCC. At diagnosis, 188 patients (47.0%) had stage I disease. The most common treatment overall was surgery followed by radiotherapy (161 [40.3%]), although radiotherapy alone was most common for stage IV disease (15 of 23 [52.2%]). Five-year OS was 49.8% (95% CI, 40.7%-58.2%), 39.8% (95% CI, 26.2%-53.1%), 36.2% (95% CI, 25.2%-47.4%), and 18.5% (95% CI, 3.9%-41.5%) for stage I, II, III, and IV disease, respectively, and was highest among patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy (49.9% [95% CI, 39.9%-59.1%]). On multivariable analysis, patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy had greater OS compared with those treated with surgery alone (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.46-1.25]); however, this was not statistically significant. In comparison, patients who received no treatment had significantly worse OS (HR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.26-2.96)]. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of the largest Canada-wide evaluation of HNMCC survival outcomes, stage and treatment modality were associated with survival. Multimodal treatment was associated with greater OS across all disease stages.

Surgical trainees achieving the CanMEDS roles in the COVID-19 era: What have we learned and where do we go?

SummaryThe COVID-19 pandemic has substantially changed the practice of medicine with a shift to virtual clinical encounters, alternative management of surgical diseases owing to restrictions on elective operations, and physician redeployment to other medical services requiring coverage. These changes may limit opportunities for trainees to gain surgical expertise and have the potential to drastically affect postgraduate surgical education. However, the pandemic has also created a number of opportunities to navigate these challenges and enhance how surgical education is delivered. For example, there are now more learning opportunities available to trainees because of virtual educational sessions. We highlight some considerations in adapting postgraduate surgical training to achieve competency in the CanMEDS roles in the COVID-19 era.

Early and Late Complications of Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsy of Retroperitoneal Tumors at Two Tertiary Sarcoma Centers.

BACKGROUND: Concern persists regarding percutaneous core needle biopsy (CNB) of a potentially malignant lesion of the retroperitoneum due to the perceived risk of immediate complications and adverse oncologic outcomes, including needle tract seeding (NTS). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of (1) early complications and (2) NTS following CNB of suspected retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). METHODS: Patients who underwent CNB of an RP mass with pre-biopsy suspicion of sarcoma were identified from a prospective database at two centers: (1) Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto (2009-2015); and (2) The Ottawa Hospital (1999-2015). Early complications, including bleeding, pain, infection, and organ injury, were recorded. Instances of NTS were identified from long-term follow-up of patients who underwent resection of primary RPS at these two centers after initial CNB (1996-2013). RESULTS: Of 358 percutaneous CNBs of suspected RPS performed over the study period, 7 (2.0%) resulted in minor bleeding with no transfusion, 3 (0.8%) resulted in significant pain, 1 (0.3%) resulted in unplanned admission to hospital for observation, and 1 (0.3%) resulted in a pneumothorax. There were no infections. In 203 patients who underwent resection of RPS following CNB, crude cumulative local recurrence was 24% at 5 years. At a median follow-up of 44 months, there was one case of NTS (approximately 0.5%). CONCLUSION: This large bi-institutional experience with CNB of an RP mass demonstrates that both the early complication rate and the incidence of NTS are very low. Physicians and patients can be reassured that the benefits of CNB in diagnosing sarcoma and determining its histologic subtype and grade far outweigh the risks.

Trends in port-site metastasis after laparoscopic resection of incidental gallbladder cancer: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The risk of port-site metastasis after laparoscopic removal of incidental gallbladder cancer was previously estimated to be 14-30%. The present study was designed to determine the incidence of port-site metastasis in incidental gallbladder cancer in the modern era (2000-2014) versus the historic era (1991-1999). We also investigated the site of port-site metastasis. METHODS: Using PRISMA, a systematic review was conducted to identify papers that addressed the development of port-site metastasis after laparoscopic resection of incidental gallbladder cancer. Studies that described cancer-specific outcomes in ≥5 patients were included. A validated quality appraisal tool was used, and a weighted estimate of the incidence of port-site metastasis was calculated. RESULTS: Based on data extracted from 27 papers that met inclusion criteria, the incidence of port-site metastasis in incidental gallbladder cancer has decreased from 18.6% prior to 2000 (95% confidence interval 15.3-21.9%, n = 7) to 10.3% since then (95% confidence interval 7.9-12.7%, n = 20) (P < .001). The extraction site is at significantly higher risk than nonextraction sites. CONCLUSION: The incidence of port-site metastasis in incidental gallbladder cancer has decreased but remains high relative to other primary tumors. Any preoperative finding that raises the suspicion of gallbladder cancer should prompt further investigation and referral to a hepato-pancreato-biliary specialist.

Needle tract seeding after percutaneous biopsy of sarcoma: Risk/benefit considerations.

To evaluate histologic subtype and grade, which in turn guide the decision making for multimodality therapy, the workup of suspected sarcoma requires more material than can be obtained from a fine-needle aspiration. Either open or percutaneous core needle biopsy is indicated before a management decision is made. Percutaneous biopsy of a potentially malignant lesion is controversial, given the perceived potential for tumor seeding along the needle tract. However, the evidence that the latter is a significant risk is weak at best. To the authors' knowledge, among cases of patients with extremity sarcoma who have undergone core needle biopsy, only a few cases of needle tract seeding have been reported to date. Although en bloc excision of the needle tract with the primary tumor is often performed, this practice is not associated with improved oncologic outcomes; the evidence for excision of the needle tract is poor. For patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, there is a theoretical risk of peritoneal dissemination after percutaneous biopsy, but to the authors' knowledge this remains unproven. Although endoscopic ultrasound is the preferred route for biopsy among patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, percutaneous biopsy is indicated if endoscopic ultrasound is unsuitable or unavailable. In the setting of retroperitoneal sarcoma, a review of pooled data from 4 large tertiary care referral centers demonstrated a risk of needle tract seeding of 0.37%. The authors concluded that the benefits of pretreatment biopsy in patients with mesenchymal tumors outweigh the potential risks of needle tract seeding. Cancer 2017;123:560-567. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Description and Preliminary Evaluation of a Low-Cost Simulator for Training and Evaluation of Flexible Endoscopic Skills.

BACKGROUND: The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons developed the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) to test the knowledge and skills required to perform flexible endoscopy. The program includes online didactic material to complement the written component, but does not have a practice component for the skills portion. The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot test low-cost models to train for the hands-on component of the FES examination. METHODS: Based on the deconstructed skills tested in FES, a low-cost simulator and metrics that model retroflexion, instrumentation and targeting, loop reduction, and mucosal evaluation were developed. The model is reuseable and requires a real endoscope and tower. Validity evidence was obtained by comparing performance between novice endoscopists (NEs) and experienced endoscopists (EEs). RESULTS: Six NEs and 6 EEs participated. In retroflexion, EEs and NEs scored (median [interquartile range]) 72.9 (67.1; 78.6) and 37.9 (25.7; 50.0; P = .004), respectively. In targeting, EEs scored 102.0 (75.0; 110.0) and NEs scored 50.0 (25.0; 50.0; P = .089). In navigation and loop reduction, EEs scored 189.0 (108.0; 267.0) and NEs scored 0.0 (0.0; 0.0; P = .004). In mucosal evaluation, EEs scored 133.3 (103.3; 150.0) and NEs scored 66.7 (50.0; 103.3; P = .015). The median global scores were 116.6 (109.6; 135.8) for EEs and 39.1 (29.1; 40.6; P = .004) for NEs. CONCLUSION: This pilot study provides preliminary validity evidence to support using these tasks to measure basic flexible endoscopic skills. Subsequent studies will examine the implementation of a proficiency curriculum using this model and its value as a training tool for flexible endoscopy, or to prepare for the FES exam.