Open versus minimally invasive esophagectomy: clinical outcomes for locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: We compared oncologic and surgical outcome between minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) and the Ivor Lewis-type open approach (OE) in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 284 patients undergoing surgery for EAC between 2003 and 2013, the 153 selected with locally advanced EAC were 74 MIEs and 79 OEs [median age, 66 for MIE, 63 for OE (p = 0.009)]. Neoadjuvant therapy was given to 82% of MIEs and 78% of OEs. In the OE group, 86% was male, and in the MIE group, 78%. Data assessed were oncologic, intraoperative, and postoperative. RESULTS: Mortality at 30 days was 3% for MIE and 1% for OE; and 90-day mortality was 4% for MIE and 5% for OE. The complication rate for MIE was 50%, and 60% for OE (p = 0.181). The pneumonia rate was 18% for MIE and 19% for OE; leak rate was 7% for MIE and 6% for OE; conduit necrosis was 0 for MIE and 3% for OE; and rate of airway-conduit fistula was 3% for MIE and 1 % for OE. Median blood loss (MIE 300 vs. OE 800, p < 0.0001), overall stay (MIE 13 vs. OE 14, p = 0.040), and harvested lymph nodes (MIE 20 vs. OE 22, p = 0.021) all were in favor of MIE. Median ICU stay and operative time did not differ. Neither did overall (OS) nor recurrence-free (RFS) 3-year survival differs significantly (MIE 64% vs. OS OE 49%, MIE 57% vs. RFS OE 53%). CONCLUSIONS: In our institution, MIE appears to produce oncologic and survival results similar to those of OE. Shorter length of stay and less operative blood loss may reduce costs for MIE.

Comparison of serial debulking and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in pseudomyxoma peritonei of appendiceal origin.

PURPOSE: Patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) benefit from cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Reports on this modality usually have included only patients with successful HIPEC treatment, which can potentially cause biased results. We report the survival of a PMP population treated by CRS and HIPEC, including patients who were not eligible for HIPEC. METHODS: The outcome of the whole population of 87 patients with PMP treated by CRS and HIPEC in Helsinki University Central Hospital between 2008 and 2011 was evaluated. The results of treatment were compared with 33 patients treated by serial debulking in our unit between 1984 and 2008. RESULTS: Of the 87 patients in the HIPEC-era group, 56 received HIPEC, 12 were treated non-radically in an attempt at HIPEC, 9 were debulked and 10 were referred back or transferred to palliative care without surgery. The 5-year overall survival for the debulking-era group and the HIPEC-era group were 67 and 69 %, respectively. The number of patients with no evidence of disease was higher in the HIPEC-era group (47/87) than that in the debulking-era group (8/33) at the end of the follow-up. Overall survival for patients who underwent successful CRS and HIPEC at 2 and 5 years was 95 and 93 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The improved survival from using the CRS and HIPEC was not apparent after 5-year follow-up, when the whole patient population was included in the analysis. Even so, patients successfully treated by CRS and HIPEC manage well.

[Treatment of esophageal cancer]. / Ruokatorvisyövän hoito.

Treatment of choice for esophageal cancer requires multidisciplinary collaboration and requires careful assessment of the stage of the tumor and the patient's condition. When the cancer has extended or if the patient will not tolerate burdensome treatments, the possibilities of oncological therapies must be evaluated. The ability to eat must be secured and the quality of life optimized by using palliative means. Surgery still plays a central role in striving for curative treatment. Surgical techniques and results have improved, and the five-year life expectancy of patients having undergone surgery is over 40%.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human soft-tissue sarcomas is related to epithelial differentation.

BACKGROUND: Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is expressed by several types of epithelial malignancies, i.e., carcinomas, and inhibition of Cox-2 may have a therapeutic role in chemoprevention and treatment of cancer. The role of Cox-2 in non-epithelial malignancies, however, is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated, by immuno- histochemistry, the expression of Cox-2 in 103 human soft-tissue sarcomas. RESULTS: All 10 biphasic synovial sarcomas were positive for Cox-2, but positivity was observable only in the epithelial component of these tumours. Excluding sarcomas with epithelial differentation, uniform staining of the tumour was observed in only 2 samples. In addition, positivity for Cox-2 appeared in tumour cells in only 18 samples around necrotic areas. CONCLUSION: In human soft-tissue sarcomas, Cox-2 expression seems to be associated with epithelial differentation and, in some types of sarcomas, to be expressed in otherwise negative tumours at sites of necrosis.

Soft-tissue sarcomas of the upper extremity: surgical treatment and outcome.

The objective of this retrospective follow-up study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with soft-tissue sarcoma treated by the authors' protocol, which consists of a selective combination of conservative surgery and radiotherapy. Patients who relapsed were especially evaluated to improve treatment results. The authors examined 80 patients with local soft-tissue sarcoma in the upper extremity referred to their multidisciplinary group. Fifteen patients were referred for first or subsequent local recurrence, and 65 patients were treated for primary tumor. The goal of treatment was local control and preservation of a functional limb. Wide excision was attempted. If the margin was less than 2.5 cm, postoperative radiotherapy was administered. Eighty-five percent of the patients were treated by limb salvage. Thirty patients needed reconstructive procedures such as pedicled (20 patients) or free flaps (10 patients). No free flaps were lost. The 5-year disease-specific overall survival rate was 75 percent, the local recurrence-free survival rate was 79 percent, and the metastasis-free survival rate was 68 percent. In univariate analysis, prognostic factors for local recurrence were extracompartmental site; for development of metastases, large size and extracompartmental site; and for decreased disease-specific overall survival, large size and extracompartmental site. Intramuscular, cutaneous, and subcutaneous tumors had a 5-year local control rate of 100 percent, and extracompartmental tumors had a local control rate of 69 percent. Extracompartmental tumors clearly have the worst prognosis and should be the main target for improving treatment strategies. After exclusion of patients with inadequate treatment according to the authors' protocol, the local control rate at 5 years was 90 percent. Strict adherence to treatment protocol should be practiced.