Information needs in patients with potentially curable gastro-esophageal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Gastro-esophageal cancer patients' information needs remain understudied, despite their complex treatment trajectories. METHODS: This study examined the (i) information needs of patients with or without postoperative complications, (ii) information needs of male and female patients, and (iii) the association between information needs and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) following gastro-esophageal cancer surgery. Patients completed the EORTC-QLQ-INFO25, QLQ-C30, and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires before and after curative surgery. Five information-needs domains were investigated: information about the disease, about treatments, about medical tests, about things patients can do to help themselves, and overall helpfulness. Additionally, HR-QoL domains global health status, eating restrictions, and anxiety were explored. RESULTS: 132 patients completed the questionnaires at baseline, 216 patients at 6-12 months, 184 patients at 18-24 months, and 163 patients at 3-5 years post-operation. There were no significant differences in information needs between patients with or without complications or between male and female patients. Patients with a higher global health status found the information more helpful at 6-12 months (p<0.001), 18-24 months (p<0.001), and 3-5 years (p<0.001) postoperatively, as did patients who experienced more anxiety at 18-24 months (p=0.009) and 3-5 years (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Gastro-esophageal cancer patients, regardless of sex or postoperative complications, have consistent information needs; yet, those with higher global health status and elevated anxiety levels find the information particularly helpful, emphasizing the importance of tailored communication strategies.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in older patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgery: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In trials evaluating perioperative chemotherapy for gastric cancer, which serve as the basis for treatment guidelines, patients are selected. The generalizability of these trial findings to older patients is uncertain. METHODS: This population-based retrospective cohort study compared the survival outcomes of patients ≥ 75 years with gastric adenocarcinoma treated with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2015 and 2019. Additionally, the percentage of patients < 75 years and ≥ 75 years who did not proceeded to surgery after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy were examined. RESULTS: A total of 1995 patients, of whom 1249 aged < 75 years and 746 aged ≥ 75 years, were included. In the group of patients ≥ 75 years, 275 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 471 patients were directly scheduled for gastrectomy. Patients ≥ 75 years treated with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy differed significantly from one and another in characteristics. Overall survival of patients ≥ 75 years treated with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy was not significantly different (median 34.9 vs. 32.3 months; P = 0.506), also after adjusting for potential confounders (HR 0.87; P = 0.263). Of patients ≥ 75 years who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 43 (15.6%) did not proceed to surgery compared to 111 (8.9%) patients < 75 years (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients ≥ 75 years treated with or without chemotherapy were highly selected, and overall survival was not significantly different between both groups. Nonetheless, the proportion of patients who did not proceed to surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy was higher in patients ≥ 75 years compared to patients < 75 years. Therefore, neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be considered with more caution in patients ≥ 75 years, while identifying those who may benefit.

Omentectomy as Part of Radical Surgery for Gastric Cancer: 5-Year Follow-Up Results of a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Curative therapy for gastric cancer usually consists of perioperative chemotherapy combined with a radical (R0) gastrectomy. In addition to a modified D2 lymphadenectomy, a complete omentectomy is recommended. However, there is little evidence for a survival benefit of omentectomy. This study presents the follow-up data of the OMEGA study. METHODS: This multicenter prospective cohort study included 100 consecutive patients with gastric cancer undergoing (sub)total gastrectomy with complete en bloc omentectomy and modified D2 lymphadenectomy. Primary outcome of the current study was 5-year overall survival. Patients with or without omental metastases were compared. Pathological factors associated with locoregional recurrence and/or metastases were tested with multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 100 included patients, five had metastases in the greater omentum. Five-year overall survival was 0.0% in patients with omental metastases and 44.2% in patients without omental metastases (p = 0.001). Median overall survival time for patients with or without omental metastases was 7 months and 53 months. A (y)pT3-4 stage tumor and vasoinvasive growth were associated with locoregional recurrence and/or metastases in patients without omental metastases. CONCLUSION: The presence of omental metastases in gastric cancer patients who underwent potentially curative surgery was associated with impaired overall survival. Omentectomy as part of radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer might not contribute to a survival benefit in case of undetected omental metastases.

Staging laparoscopy in patients with advanced gastric cancer: A single center cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Most studies exploring the role of staging laparoscopy in gastric cancer are limited by low sample size and are predominantly conducted in Asian countries. This study sets out to determine the value of staging laparoscopy in patients with advanced gastric cancer in a Western population. METHODS: All patients with gastric cancer from a tertiary referral center without definite evidence of non-curable disease after initial staging, and who underwent staging laparoscopy between 2013 and 2020, were identified from a prospectively maintained database. The proportion of patients in whom metastases or locoregional non-resectability was detected during staging laparoscopy was established. Secondary outcomes included the avoidable surgery rate (detection of non-curable disease during gastrectomy with curative intent) and diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative and positive predictive value). RESULTS: A total of 216 patients were included. Staging laparoscopy revealed metastatic disease in 46 (21.3 %) patients and a non-resectable tumor in three (1.4 %) patients. During intended gastrectomy, non-curable disease was revealed in 13 (8.6 %) patients. Overall sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 76.6 %, 100 % and 92.6 %, respectively. The positive predictive value was 100 % and the negative predictive value was 90.3 %. CONCLUSION: Staging laparoscopy is valuable in the staging process of gastric cancer with a high accuracy in detecting non-curable disease, thereby preventing futile treatment and its associated burden.

Yield of Screening for COVID-19 in Asymptomatic Patients Before Elective or Emergency Surgery Using Chest CT and RT-PCR (SCOUT): Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the yield of preoperative screening for COVID-19 with chest CT and RT-PCR in patients without COVID-19 symptoms. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Many centers are currently screening surgical patients for COVID-19 using either chest CT, RT-PCR or both, due to the risk for worsened surgical outcomes and nosocomial spread. The optimal design and yield of such a strategy are currently unknown. METHODS: This multicenter study included consecutive adult patients without COVID-19 symptoms who underwent preoperative screening using chest CT and RT-PCR before elective or emergency surgery under general anesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 2093 patients without COVID-19 symptoms were included in 14 participating centers; 1224 were screened by CT and RT-PCR and 869 by chest CT only. The positive yield of screening using a combination of chest CT and RT-PCR was 1.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8-2.1]. Individual yields were 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2-1.1) for chest CT and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.6-1.7) for RT-PCR; the incremental yield of chest CT was 0.4%. In relation to COVID-19 community prevalence, up to ∼6% positive RT-PCR was found for a daily hospital admission rate >1.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, and around 1.0% for lower prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: One in every 100 patients without COVID-19 symptoms tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 with RT-PCR; this yield increased in conjunction with community prevalence. The added value of chest CT was limited. Preoperative screening allowed us to take adequate precautions for SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in a surgical population, whereas negative patients needed only routine procedures.