Prognostic factors in T4b gastric cancer after surgery: A more balanced and sequential therapy for patients?

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors in T4b gastric cancer (GC) in order to improve future therapeutic strategies. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 43 patients with advanced GC who underwent surgery and were surgically or pathologically diagnosed with T4b GC. The overall survival (OS) rate of patients with T4b GC was analyzed, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify clinicopathological factors that were independently associated with OS. In addition, we assessed the relationship between postoperative chemotherapy and laboratory parameters 4 weeks post-surgery. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with invasion of cancer in organs, including the pancreas, transverse colon, and liver, were 58.1%, 18.6%, and 14.0%, respectively. The proportion of patients who exhibited distant metastases was 44.2%, and R0 resection was achieved in 30.2% of patients. A total of 69.8% of patients underwent postoperative chemotherapy. The median survival rate was 12.3 months. Upon multivariate analysis, the presence of distant metastases (P = 0.01, HR; 3.48), the use of postoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.0004, HR; 0.12), and R0 resection (P < 0.0001, HR; 0.14) were significantly correlated with OS. Patients who did not undergo postoperative chemotherapy showed significantly higher levels of inflammatory parameters and lower levels of nutritional parameters 4 weeks after surgery than those who did. CONCLUSIONS: We evaluated that the presence of distant metastases was significantly associated with a poor prognosis, and the use of postoperative chemotherapy and R0 resection was significantly associated with a better prognosis in patients with T4b GC. It would be more important for a T4b GC treatment to balance between therapeutic tolerance for postoperative chemotherapy and surgical therapeutic effect.

Long­term survival prognosis of function­preserving curative gastrectomy for early gastric cancer.

Segmental gastrectomy, mini-distal gastrectomy and local resection of the stomach are function-preserving curative gastrectomies (FPGs), which are used to treat gastric cancer in specialized centers. These surgical options are less invasive and can alleviate postgastrectomy symptoms more than standard gastrectomy; however, their association with prognosis remains to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to compare the survival prognosis of patients diagnosed as node-negative by sentinel node biopsy (SNB) treated via FPG with reduced lymph node dissection with that of patients who underwent guideline gastrectomy (GL). This retrospective study was conducted between April 1999 and March 2016. The inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of gastric cancer type 0, of ≤5 cm, located in L or M areas, and pT1N0. Patients who underwent distal gastrectomy and pylorus-preserving gastrectomy were included as controls in the GL group. Among the 146 and 300 patients in the FPG and GL groups, respectively, only 1 patient in the GL group experienced recurrence. The overall survival (OS) of the FPG group was 96.6% at 5 years and 92.5% at 10 years, which was significantly higher than that of the GL group (P<0.05). In addition, the cumulative incidence of non-cancer-related deaths, especially pulmonary diseases, was lower in the FPG group than that in the GL group (P<0.05). Notably, the OS and non-cancer death rate in the FPG group remained significantly better after propensity score-matching analysis. In conclusion, for early gastric cancer located in M or L areas, patients treated via FPG guided by SNB have a better prognosis and fewer deaths caused by respiratory disease than those treated via GL. The present clinical trial was registered under the following trial registration numbers: UMIN000010154 (2013/3/4), UMIN000023828 (2016/8/29), jRCTs041180006 (2018/10/9).

Multidisciplinary treatment of advanced cervical esophageal adenocarcinoma derived from a gastric inlet patch: A case report.

A gastric inlet patch (GIP) is an ectopic gastric mucosal lesion usually arising at the cervical esophagus that may rarely cause esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a GIP-derived EAC that was successfully treated using a multidisciplinary treatment approach. A 64-year-old man was referred to the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Kanazawa University Hospital (Kanazawa, Japan) for surgical treatment of refractory recurrent cervical EAC derived from GIP who had previously been treated with induction chemotherapy, definitive chemoradiotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a stenotic tumor at the GIP site in the cervical esophagus and submucosal tumors with suspected multiple intramural metastases in the anal side of the thoracic esophagus. The patient underwent robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy with laryngopharyngectomy and cervical lymphadenectomy as radical salvage surgery 4 months after the last PDT procedure. After postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using oral administration of tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (oral 5-fluorouracil prodrug) for 1 year; at present, the patient is alive without recurrence 3 years after the operation.

Intra-tumoral FGFR2 Expression Predicts Prognosis and Chemotherapy Response in Advanced HER2-positive Gastric Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between clinical outcomes and intra-tumoral fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) expression in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive gastric cancer (GC) patients who had undergone HER2-targeted chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 22 patients with HER2-positive GC, who had undergone systemic chemotherapy. We performed immunohistochemistry staining of FGFR2 expression using surgically resected specimens or biopsied samples and evaluated clinicopathological characteristic and overall survival (OS) in the FGFR2-negative and -positive GC groups. RESULTS: A total of 8 and 14 patients were placed in the FGFR2-negative and -positive group, respectively. The median OS rates were 56.2 and 16.0 months in the FGFR2-negative and -positive groups, respectively. The FGFR2-negative group had a significantly better prognosis after HER2-targeted chemotherapy [p=0.027 (log-rank test)]. The univariate analysis revealed that performing gastrectomy, response to combination chemotherapy with trastuzumab, and FGFR2 positivity were significantly correlated with OS. In a multivariate analysis, the response to combination chemotherapy with trastuzumab (p=0.008) was significantly correlated with OS. In addition, the proportions of patients who showed CR or PR in response to chemotherapy were 87.5 and 42.9% in the FGFR2-negative and -positive groups, respectively (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: HER2-positive GC patients, without overexpression of FGFR2, exhibited an improved prognosis and response rate to trastuzumab combination chemotherapy. Assessment of intra-tumoral FGFR2 expression could be helpful in predicting the prognosis and response to trastuzumab in HER2-positive GC patients.

Evaluation of postgastrectomy symptoms and daily lives of small remnant distal gastrectomy for upper-third gastric cancer using a large-scale questionnaire survey.

Aim: Total gastrectomy (TG) is often performed for proximal gastric cancer. Small remnant distal gastrectomy (SRDG) can also be used in cases where surgical margins can be secured. The impact of preserving proximal small remnant stomach on postoperative quality of life (QOL) has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we compared postgastrectomy symptoms and daily lives between patients undergoing SRDG and those undergoing TG for proximal gastric cancer using the developed Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale (PGSAS)-45. Methods: Of the 1909 patients enrolled in the PGSAS NEXT study, univariate analysis of 19 main outcomes measures (MOMs) of PGSAS-45 was performed in patients undergoing TG (n = 1020) or SRDG (n = 54). Multiple regression analysis was performed with several clinical factors as explanatory variables. Results: There was no difference in age and sex between TG and SRDG groups. In SRDG group, postoperative period was shorter, the rates of laparoscopic approach and preservation of the celiac branch of the vagus nerve were higher, and the rates of clinical stage III/IV disease, ≥D2 dissection, and combined resection with other organs were lower than in the TG group significantly (P < .05). SRDG was associated with significantly lower symptoms and better daily lives than TG in 12 and 13 of 19 MOMs in PGSAS-45 by univariate and multiple regression analyses, respectively (P < .05). Several other clinical factors were also associated with certain MOMs. Conclusion: The PGSAS-45 revealed that SRDG was associated with better postgastrectomy symptoms and daily lives than TG.

Optimal Procedures for Double Tract Reconstruction After Proximal Gastrectomy Assessed by Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale-45.

BACKGROUND: Although double tract reconstruction after proximal gastrectomy (PGDT) is commonly performed for proximal gastric or esophagogastric junction cancer, the impact of the procedure on postoperative quality of life (QOL) has not been clarified. We aimed to clarify the optimal PGDT procedure in terms of postoperative QOL. METHODS: Postoperative QOL was analyzed in 172 patients who underwent PGDT for proximal gastric cancer and were enrolled in the PGSAS-NEXT study, a multicenter cross-sectional study in Japan (UMIN000032221), in relation to the remnant stomach size, length of interposed jejunum between the esophagojejunostomy (E-J) and jejunogastrostomy (J-G), and size of the J-G. RESULTS: The remnant stomach size was approximately one-third in 13, half in 97, and two-thirds in 60 patients. Dissatisfaction scores for symptoms, diet, work, and daily life subscales were lower in patients with a larger stomach (p < 0.05). These patients also scored better in terms of weight loss (- 13.5%, - 14.0%, and - 11.2%, respectively) and amount of food ingested per meal (52%, 62%, and 66%). The length of the interposed jejunum was ≤ 10 cm in 62 and ≥ 11 cm in 97 patients. Weight loss (- 11.3% and - 13.8%) and dissatisfaction scores were better in the ≤ 10 cm group (p < 0.05). J-G size was ≤ 5 cm in 27 and ≥ 6 cm in 135 patients. The amount of food ingested (56%, 64%) and dissatisfaction scores were better in the > 6 cm group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Larger remnant stomach, shorter length of interposed jejunum, and longer J-G might contribute to better postoperative QOL after PGDT.

Time interval after various types of gastrectomy until metachronous multiple gastric cancer: Analysis of data from a nationwide Japanese survey.

The factors influencing the time interval from the initial surgery for gastric cancer to the detection of metachronous multiple gastric cancer (MMGC) remain to be elucidated. The present study was performed to evaluate the association between the type of initial gastrectomy or reconstruction procedure and the time interval from initial gastrectomy to the detection of MMGC. A questionnaire survey on remnant stomach cancer was performed by the Japanese Society for Gastro-Surgical Pathophysiology in 2018. Participating facilities were requested to indicate the number of patients who underwent surgery for MMGC between 2003 and 2017, in association with the time interval from the initial gastrectomy until treatment for MMGC by type of initial gastrectomy or reconstruction procedure. Analyses were performed using data from 45 facilities. Gastrectomy for MMGC was performed on 1,234 patients during this period. Pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) accounted for only 3.6% (20/557) of the patients who underwent surgery for MMGC ≥10 years from initial gastrectomy, while PPG accounted for 10.1% (40/396) of patients who underwent surgery for MMGC within 5 years after initial gastrectomy. Billroth-II and Roux-en Y reconstruction accounted for 22.3% (103/462) and 1.3% (6/462), respectively, of patients who underwent surgery for MMGC ≥10 years from initial distal gastrectomy (DG), while such patients accounted for 8.0% (23/286) and 21.7% (65/286), respectively, of patients who underwent surgery for MMGC within 5 years after initial DG. Similarly, the proportion of each reconstruction procedure differed according to the time interval from initial proximal gastrectomy to treatment for MMGC. The types of gastrectomy or reconstruction procedure for initial gastrectomy differed significantly according to the time interval between the initial gastrectomy and treatment for MMGC, and the fact that PPG and R-Y reconstruction in DG is a relatively new method were assumed to be a major cause of these differences.

Confusion and prospects for carcinogenesis of gastric adenoma and dysplasia: What is the correct answer currently?

There are differences in the diagnoses of superficial gastric lesions between Japan and other countries. In Japan, superficial gastric lesions are classified as adenoma or cancer. Conversely, outside Japan, the same lesion is classified as low-grade dysplasia (LGD), high-grade dysplasia, or invasive neoplasia. Gastric carcinogenesis occurs mostly de novo, and the adenoma-carcinoma sequence does not appear to be the main pathway of carcinogenesis. Superficial gastric tumors can be roughly divided into the APC mutation type and the TP53 mutation type, which are mutually exclusive. APC-type tumors have low malignancy and develop into LGD, whereas TP53-type tumors have high malignancy and are considered cancerous even if small. For lesions diagnosed as category 3 or 4 in the Vienna classification, it is desirable to perform complete en bloc resection by endoscopic submucosal dissection followed by staging. If there is lymphovascular or submucosal invasion after mucosal resection, additional surgical treatment of gastrectomy with lymph node dissection is required. In such cases, function-preserving curative gastrectomy guided by sentinel lymph node biopsy may be a good alternative.

Defecation disorders are crucial sequelae that impairs the quality of life of patients after conventional gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Defecation disorders are obscure sequelae that occurs after gastrectomy, and its implication on daily lives of patients have not been sufficiently investigated. AIM: To examine the features of defecation disorders after gastrectomy and to explore its implication on daily lives of patients in a large cohort using the Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale (PGSAS)-45. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide multi-institutional study using PGSAS-45 to examine the prevalence of postgastrectomy syndrome and its impact on daily lives of patients after various types of gastrectomy. Data were obtained from 2368 eligible patients at 52 institutions in Japan. Of these, 1777 patients who underwent total gastrectomy (TG; n = 393) or distal gastrectomy (DG; n = 1384) were examined. The severity of defecation disorder symptoms, such as diarrhea and constipation, and their correlation with other postgastrectomy symptoms were examined. The importance of defecation disorder symptoms on the living states and quality of life (QOL) of postgastrectomy patients, and those clinical factors that affect the severity of defecation disorder symptoms were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Among seven symptom subscales of PGSAS-45, the ranking of diarrhea was 4th in TG and 2nd in DG. The ranking of constipation was 5th in TG and 1st in DG. The symptoms that correlated well with diarrhea were dumping and indigestion in both TG and DG; while those with constipation were abdominal pain and meal-related distress in TG, and were meal-related distress and indigestion in DG. Among five main outcome measures (MOMs) of living status domain, constipation significantly impaired four MOMs, while diarrhea had no effect in TG. Both diarrhea and constipation impaired most of five MOMs in DG. Among six MOMs of QOL domain, diarrhea impaired one MOM, whereas constipation impaired all six MOMs in TG. Both diarrhea and constipation equally impaired all MOMs in DG. Male sex, younger age, division of the celiac branch of vagus nerve, and TG, independently worsened diarrhea, while female sex worsened constipation. CONCLUSION: Defecation disorder symptoms, particularly constipation, impair the living status and QOL of patients after gastrectomy; therefore, we should pay attention and adequately treat these relatively modest symptoms to improve postoperative QOL.

nPTD classification: an updated classification of gastric cancer location for function preserving gastrectomy based on physiological lymphatic flow.

BACKGROUND: The correlation between tumor location and lymphatic flow distribution in gastric cancer has been previously reported, and PTD (Proximal - Transitional - Distal) classification was proposed. Our group updated and developed the nPTD classification. METHOD: We retrospectively studied gastric cancer patients who underwent the dye method sentinel node biopsy from 1993 to 2020. The inclusion criteria were a single lesion type 0 cancer of ≤5 cm in the long axis, clinically node-negative, and invasion within the proper muscle layer pathologically. In this study, the distribution of dyed lymphatic flow was evaluated for each occupied area of the tumor. RESULTS: We included 416 patients in this study. The tumors located in the watershed of the right and left gastroepiploic arteries near greater curvature had extensive lymphatic flow; therefore, a newly circular region with a diameter of 5 cm is set on the watershed of the greater curvature between P and T zone as the 'n' zone. In addition, for cancers located in the lesser P curvature, lymphatic flow to the greater curvature was not observed. Therefore, the P zone was divided into two: the lesser curvature side (PL) and the greater curvature side (PG). CONCLUSIONS: The advantage of the nPTD classification is that it provides not only proper nodal dissection but also adequate function-preserving gastrectomy. If the tumor is localized within the PL, the proximal gastrectomy resection area can be further reduced. In contrast, for cancers located in the 'n' zone, near-total gastrectomy is required because of the extensive lymphatic flow.

Relationship between fatty liver change and nutritional status after total gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between chronological nutritional changes and development of fatty liver after total gastrectomy (TG) in gastric cancer (GC) patients is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate relationship between development of fatty liver and chronological changes of nutritional parameters during 12 months after TG. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 59 patients with GC who underwent TG at the Kanazawa Medical University Hospital between January 2009 and December 2017. We defined fatty liver change as a mean liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio (L/S ratio) of less than 1.2 in the computed tomography images at 12 months after TG and divided the patients into fatty liver (FL) and non-FL groups from the L/S ratio. We analyzed serum levels of total protein and albumin, and psoas muscle index (PMI) before TG and at 6 and 12 months after TG in the non-FL and FL groups. RESULTS: Six patients showed an L/S ratio of less than 1.2 at 12 months after TG and were included into FL group. There was no significant difference between the groups in serum parameters, L/S ratio, and PMI before TG. In the FL group, the mean levels of total protein and albumin decreased after TG and were significant lower at 6 months, compared with the non-FL group. And then, these levels in the FL group recovered at 12 months. In contrast, the mean levels of total protein and albumin in the non-FL group did not decrease below the preoperative levels throughout the year after surgery. As with laboratory parameters, all patients in the FL group showed decrease of PMI at 6 months after TG. This proportion was significantly higher than that in the non-FL group (100% vs. 40.8%, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: We evaluated that the patients with fatty liver occurring after TG had significantly lower levels of serum nutritional parameters and skeletal muscle index at 6 months, not but 12 months, after TG.

Risk Factors for Overall Complications and Remote Infection After Gastrectomy in Elderly Gastric Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: A significant predictive factor for the occurrence of complications after gastrectomy in elderly gastric cancer patients is yet to be determined. We aimed to evaluate the clinical factors associated with overall complications including remote infection after gastrectomy in elderly gastric cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 101 patients aged over 80 years, who underwent curative gastrectomy. We analyzed the clinicopathological factors that were independently associated with the occurrence of overall complications or remote infection by a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 24.8%. We identified pneumonia as a remote infection, and the occurrence rate of remote infections was 5.9%. On multivariate analysis, hemoglobin (<11 g/dl) and operation time (>240 min) were significantly correlated with the occurrence of overall complications. Regarding the occurrence of remote infection, performing total gastrectomy and a hemoglobin level <11 g/dl were identified as significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: Preoperative anemia and intraoperative factors, including the surgical procedure, could affect the occurrence of postoperative complications in elderly patients.

Comparison of effects of six main gastrectomy procedures on patients' quality of life assessed by Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale-45.

BACKGROUND: The effects of various gastrectomy procedures on the patient's quality of life (QOL) are not well understood. Thus, this nationwide multi-institutional cross-sectional study using the Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale-45 (PGSAS-45), a well-established questionnaire designed to clarify the severity and characteristics of the postgastrectomy syndrome, was conducted. AIM: To compare the effects of six main gastrectomy procedures on the postoperative QOL. METHODS: Eligible questionnaires retrieved from 2368 patients who underwent either of six gastrectomy procedures [total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (TGRY; n = 393), proximal gastrectomy (PG; n = 193), distal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (DGRY; n = 475), distal gastrectomy with Billroth-I reconstruction (DGBI; n = 909), pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG; n = 313), and local resection of the stomach (LR; n = 85)] were analyzed. Among the 19 main outcome measures of PGSAS-45, the severity and characteristics of postgastrectomy syndrome were compared for the aforementioned six gastrectomy procedures using analysis of means. RESULTS: TGRY and PG significantly impaired the QOL of postoperative patients. Postoperative QOL was excellent in LR (cardia and pylorus were preserved with minimal resection). In procedures removing the distal stomach, diarrhea subscale (SS) and dumping SS were less frequent in PPG than in DGBI and DGRY. However, there was no difference in the postoperative QOL between DGBI and DGRY. The most noticeable adverse effects caused by gastrectomy were meal-related distress SS, dissatisfaction at the meal, and weight loss, with significant differences among the surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: Postoperative QOL greatly differed among six gastrectomy procedures. The severity and characteristics of postgastrectomy syndrome should be considered to select gastrectomy procedures, overcome surgical shortcomings, and enhance postoperative care.

Advanced gastric cancer with abdominal wall invasion treated with curative resection after chemotherapy: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with gastric cancer, 6-27% of patients are diagnosed with T4b disease that invades adjacent organs, and curative resection can improve the prognosis of these patients. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old Japanese man presented with an abdominal tumor and was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer (L-Circ type 3 T4b N2 M0 H0 stage IVA, based on the 15th edition of the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma) with extensive abdominal wall invasion. We performed open gastrojejunal bypass for gastric obstruction and initiated a chemotherapeutic regimen comprising S-1 (120 mg/day) and oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed after the administration of six courses of the S-1 and oxaliplatin regimen revealed a persistent primary lower gastric wall lesion; however, the diameter of the abdominal wall invasion and metastatic lymph nodes was significantly reduced, in addition to decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels. Subsequently, the patient underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy combined with transverse colon and abdominal wall resection. We performed radical en bloc resection and achieved a tumor-free resection margin. Simple abdominal wall closure was performed without mesh or musculocutaneous flap placement. Histopathological examination of the resected tumor specimen showed direct invasion of the mesocolon and rectus abdominis muscle. The patient was postoperatively diagnosed with L Gre-Ant type5 T4b (SI: rectus abdominis muscle) N2 PM0 DM0 Stage IIIA R0 Grade 2a gastric cancer based on histopathological findings and received S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy, 2 months postoperatively. No recurrence was detected 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of advanced gastric cancer with extensive abdominal wall invasion that was successfully treated with gastrectomy combined with resection of adjacent organs showing tumor invasion after effective systemic chemotherapy. A therapeutic approach comprising curative surgery combined with perioperative chemotherapy is useful in patients with T4b gastric cancer.

Significance of Lymph Node Metastasis in the Treatment of Gastric Cancer and Current Challenges in Determining the Extent of Metastasis.

The stomach exhibits abundant lymphatic flow, and metastasis to lymph nodes is common. In the case of gastric cancer, there is a regularity to the spread of lymph node metastasis, and it does not easily metastasize outside the regional nodes. Furthermore, when its extent is limited, nodal metastasis of gastric cancer can be cured by appropriate lymph node dissection. Therefore, identifying and determining the extent of lymph node metastasis is important for ensuring accurate diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment in patients with gastric cancer. However, precise detection of lymph node metastasis remains difficult. Most nodal metastases in gastric cancer are microscopic metastases, which often occur in small-sized lymph nodes, and are thus difficult to diagnose both preoperatively and intraoperatively. Preoperative nodal diagnoses are mainly made using computed tomography, although the specificity of this method is low because it is mainly based on the size of the lymph node. Furthermore, peripheral nodal metastases cannot be palpated intraoperatively, nodal harvesting of resected specimens remains difficult, and the number of lymph nodes detected vary greatly depending on the skill of the technician. Based on these findings, gastrectomy with prophylactic lymph node dissection is considered the standard surgical procedure for gastric cancer. In contrast, several groups have examined the value of sentinel node biopsy for accurately evaluating nodal metastasis in patients with early gastric cancer, reporting high sensitivity and accuracy. Sentinel node biopsy is also important for individualizing and optimizing the extent of uniform prophylactic lymph node dissection and determining whether patients are indicated for function-preserving curative gastrectomy, which is superior in preventing post-gastrectomy symptoms and maintaining dietary habits. Notably, advancements in surgical treatment for early gastric cancer are expected to result in individualized surgical strategies with sentinel node biopsy. Chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer has also progressed, and conversion gastrectomy can now be performed after downstaging, even in cases previously regarded as inoperable. In this review, we discuss the importance of determining lymph node metastasis in the treatment of gastric cancer, the associated difficulties, and the need to investigate strategies that can improve the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis.

Life prognosis of sentinel node navigation surgery for early-stage gastric cancer: Outcome of lymphatic basin dissection.

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic basin dissection is a sentinel node biopsy method that is specific for gastric cancer. In this method, the dyed lymphatic system is dissected en bloc, and sentinel nodes are identified at the back table (ex vivo). Even with lymphatic basin dissection, blood flow to the residual stomach can be preserved, and function-preserving curative gastrectomy can be performed. The oncological safety of function-preserving curative gastrectomy combined with lymphatic basin dissection has not yet been fully investigated. We hypothesized that the oncological safety of sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) is not inferior to that of the guidelines. AIM: To investigate the life prognosis of SNNS for gastric cancer in comparison with guidelines surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients were selected from gastric cancer patients who underwent sentinel node biopsy from April 1999 to March 2016. Patients from April 1999 to August 2008 were from the Department of Surgery II, Kanazawa University Hospital, and patients from August 2009 to March 2016 were from the Department of Surgical Oncology, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital. Patients who were diagnosed with gastric cancer, which was preoperatively diagnosed as superficial type (type 0), 5 cm or less in length, clinical T1-2 and node negative, and underwent various gastrectomies guided by sentinel node navigation were retrospectively collected. The overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) of these patients (SNNS group) were investigated. Patients with gastric cancer of the same stage and who underwent guidelines gastrectomy with standard nodal dissection were also selected as the control group. RESULTS: A total of 239 patients in the SNNS group and 423 patients in the control group were included. Pathological nodal metastasis was observed in 10.5% and 10.4% of the SNNS and control groups, respectively. The diagnostic abilities of sentinel node biopsy were 84% and 98.6% for sensitivity and accuracy, respectively. In the SNNS group, 81.6% of patients underwent modified gastrectomy or function-preserving curative gastrectomy with lymphatic basin dissection, in which the extent of nodal dissection was further reduced compared to the guidelines. The OS rate in the SNNS group was 96.8% at 5 years and was significantly better than 91.3% in the control group (P = 0.0014). The RFS rates were equal in both groups. After propensity score matching, there were 231 patients in both groups, and the cumulative recurrence rate was 0.43% at 5 years in the SNNS group and 1.30% in the control group, which was not statistically different. CONCLUSION: The oncological safety of patients who undergo gastrectomy guided by sentinel node navigation is not inferior to that of the guidelines surgery.

The incidences of metachronous multiple gastric cancer after various types of gastrectomy: analysis of data from a nationwide Japanese survey.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of metachronous multiple gastric cancer (MMGC) after gastrectomy remains unclear. This study evaluated the incidences of MMGC according to specific gastrectomy types, including pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG), proximal gastrectomy (PG), and function-preserving gastrectomy (FPG), which was categorized as segmental gastrectomy and local resection. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey of the Japanese Society for Gastro-Surgical Pathophysiology members, who were asked to report their institutional numbers of radical gastrectomy cases for cancer between 2003 and 2012. The cases were categorized according to whether the remnant stomach's status was followed for > 5 years, confirmation of MMGC, time to diagnosis, and treatment for MMGC. We calculated the "precise incidence" of MMGC by dividing the number of MMGC cases by the number of cases in which the status of remnant stomach was followed up for > 5 years. RESULTS: The responses identified 33,731 cases of gastrectomy. The precise incidences of MMGC were 2.35% after distal gastrectomy (DG), 3.01% after PPG, 6.28% after PG (p < 0.001), and 8.21% after FPG (p < 0.001). A substantial proportion of MMGCs (36.4%) was found at 5 years after the initial surgery. The rates of MMGC treatment using endoscopic submucosal dissection were 31% after DG, 28.6% after PPG, 50.8% after PG (p < 0.001), and 67.9% after FPG (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of MMGC was 2.4% after DG, and higher incidences were observed for larger stomach remnants. However, the proportion of cases in which MMGC could be treated using endoscopic submucosal dissection was significantly higher after PG and FPG than after DG.

A multicenter non-randomized phase III study of sentinel node navigation surgery for early gastric cancer.

This prospective multicenter non-randomized phase III study aims to evaluate the long-term outcome of sentinel node navigation surgery for early gastric cancer compared with conventional distal or total gastrectomy. Clinically diagnosed primary T1N0M0 gastric cancer patients with a single lesion (≤40 mm) and without previous endoscopic treatment will be enrolled in this study. Sentinel nodes are identified by dye and radioisotope tracers and are subjected to intraoperative rapid pathology. For patients with negative sentinel node metastasis, individualized surgery consisting of limited stomach resection and sentinel node basin dissection is performed, while standard gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection is employed for the positive sentinel node patients. A total of 225 patients will be accrued from 13 hospitals that have experience in sentinel node mapping. The primary endpoint is 5-year relapse-free survival. The secondary endpoints are overall survival, sentinel node detection rate, diagnostic accuracy for sentinel node, distribution of sentinel nodes and metastatic sentinel node/non-sentinel node, and postoperative quality of life.

Abdominal compartment syndrome due to extremely elongated sigmoid colon and rectum plus fecal impaction caused by disuse syndrome and diabetic neuropathy: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is defined as a sustained raised level of intra-abdominal pressure more than 20 mmHg with or without abdominal perfusion pressure less than 60 mmHg and the development of new end-organ failure. Abdominal surgery, major trauma, volvulus, ileus, distended abdomen, fecal impaction, acute pancreatitis, liver dysfunction, sepsis, shock, obesity, and age have all been reported as risk factors. Herein, we report the severest known case of ACS due to extremely elongated sigmoid colon and rectum plus fecal impaction caused by disuse syndrome and diabetic neuropathy, together with a brief review of the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old Asian man suffering from shock was transported by ambulance to our hospital. His medical history included hypoglycemic encephalopathy sequelae, disuse syndrome, type 2 diabetic neuropathy, and constipation. He recovered consciousness in the ambulance, and his physical examination as well as laboratory findings were normal. X-ray and dynamic computed tomography revealed a thickened gut wall, and an extremely dilated sigmoid colon and rectum filled with a massive amount of stool as well as gas, compressing other intra-abdominal organs. We diagnosed the patient with transient vasovagal syncope, together with ACS, due to extremely elongated sigmoid colon and rectum plus fecal impaction, caused by anorectal disturbance derived from disuse syndrome and diabetic neuropathy. We first repeated stool extraction for bowel decompression and he subsequently became symptom-free, after which we performed a colostomy on the 28th hospital day. The postoperative course was uncomplicated, and he was discharged on the 44th hospital day. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians need to keep ACS in mind as a differential diagnosis and perform careful and detailed examination when encountering patients presenting with symptoms or risk factors of ACS. In addition, they need to precisely diagnose ACS and perform optimal treatment without delay.

Chronological Changes in Neutrophil/lymphocyte Ratio in Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients Treated with Nivolumab: a Report of Nine Cases.

BACKGROUND: Nivolumab has been approved for use in advanced gastric cancer (GC) after third-line chemotherapy in Japan. However, it remains difficult to predict favorable nivolumab response before treatment. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical course with a focus on the chronological changes in neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) throughout the chemotherapy and assessed the relationship between nivolumab response and chronological changes in NLR before nivolumab administration. RESULTS: We experienced nine cases who received nivolumab monotherapy for unresectable advanced or postoperative recurrent GC. Nivolumab was used as third-line chemotherapy in all patients, and partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) were observed in two patients each. Nivolumab treatment resulted in progressive disease (PD) in five patients. In patients with PR or SD, changes in the NLR tended to correspond to the response of target metastatic lymph nodes to first- and second-line chemotherapy. In the four cases with PR or SD following nivolumab, ∆NLRresponses that was the difference in the degree of decline during the most effective pretreatment chemotherapy were 1.39, 0.73, 1.62, and 1.22. However, the patients with PD showed lower ∆NLRresponses, at 0.66, 0.66, 0.25, 0.13, and -0.05 in the five cases. Mean ∆NLRresponses in the patients with PR or SD and patients with PD were 1.17 and 0.33, respectively (P = 0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: We experienced nine GC cases treated with nivolumab and assessed the association between chronological NLR changes throughout chemotherapy and tumor response to nivolumab. Changes in NLR during pretreatment chemotherapy might predict tumor response to nivolumab monotherapy in patients with advanced GC.
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