Clinical significance and prognostic role of hypoxia-induced microRNA 382 in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Hypoxia and angiogenesis are critical components in the progression of solid cancer, including gastric cancers (GCs). miR-382 has been identified as a hypoxia-induced miR (hypoxamiR), but the clinical significance in GCs has not been identified yet. To explore the clinical and prognostic importance of miR-382 in GCs, the surgical specimens of 398 patients with GCs in KNU hospital in Korea, the total of 183 patients was randomly selected using simple sampling methods and big data with 446 GCs and 45 normal tissues from the data portal (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/) were analysed. Expression of miR-382 as well as miR-210, as a positive control hypoxamiR by qRT-PCR in histologically malignant region of GCs showed significantly positive correlation (R = 0.516, p<0.001). High miR-210 and miR-382 expression was significantly correlated with unfavorable prognosis including advanced GCs (AGC), higher T category, N category, pathologic TNM stage, lymphovascular invasion, venous invasion, and perinueral invasion, respectively (all p<0.05). In univariate analysis, high miR-210 expression was significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) (p = 0.036) but not high miR-382. In paired 60 gastric normal and cancer tissues, miR-382 expression in cancer tissues was significantly higher than normal counterpart (p = 0.003), but not miR-210 expression. However, by increasing the patient number from the big data analysis, miR-210 as well as miR-382 expression in tumor tissues was significantly higher than the normal tissues. Our results suggest that miR-382, as novel hypoxamiR, can be a prognostic marker for advanced GCs and might be correlated with metastatic potential. miR-382 might play important roles in the aggressiveness, progression and prognosis of GCs. In addition, miR-382 give a predictive marker for progression of GCs compared to the normal or preneoplastic lesion.

Impact of body mass index on quality of life after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: Few studies have evaluated changes in quality of life (QoL) in relation to changes in body mass index (BMI) after gastrectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of postoperative changes in BMI on QoL after distal gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: QoL data from the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) gathered via the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-STO22 questionnaires were obtained from 1,036 patients preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 - decreased postoperative BMI and group 2 - unchanged or increased postoperative BMI. RESULTS: There were 577 patients in group 1 and 459 in group 2. According to global health status and functional scales, emotional functioning (P = 0.035) was significantly worse in group 1 than in group 2 at 1 year postoperatively. Furthermore, there were significant decreases in QoL symptom scale scores, including fatigue (P = 0.016), nausea and vomiting (P = 0.002), and appetite loss (P = 0.001) scores, in group 1 compared with group 2. Regarding QLQ-STO22, reflux symptoms (P = 0.020), anxiety (P = 0.003), and body image (P = 0.003) were significantly worse in group 1 than in group 2 at 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSION: BMI changes after distal gastrectomy influence QoL. Focus on controlling gastrointestinal symptoms and providing psychological support is essential in patients with decreased BMI after surgery. Patients should be offered follow-up care to assist them in maintaining BMI, for example, through dietary-behavior modifications and via intensive nutritional support, to prevent QoL deterioration after distal gastrectomy.

Exon 9 Mutation of PIK3CA Associated With Poor Survival in Patients With Epstein-Barr Virus-associated Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer (GC) is known to harbor a significant enrichment of of phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-biphosphate 3- kinase catalytic subunit alpha isoform (PIK3CA). Therefore, this study investigated the clinical relevance and prognostic role of PIK3CA mutations in patients with EBV-GC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After reviewing 1,318 consecutive cases of surgically resected GC, 120 patients were identified as EBV-positive using EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization. PIK3CA mutations were identified in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded surgical specimens from 112 patients with EBV-GC with available tumor tissue samples. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate hot-spot mutations of exons 1, 4, 7, 9, and 20 of PIK3CA. RESULTS: Among the 112 patients, the frequency of PIK3CA mutations was 25.0% (n=28), and among the 28 patients harboring a PIK3CA mutation, most mutations were identified in exon 9 (n=21, 18.8%). The presence of PIK3CA mutation was also correlated with a higher T category (p<0.001) and N category (p<0.001), as well as the presence of perinueral invasion (p<0.001) and venous invasion (p<0.001). In a univariate analysis, PIK3CA mutation showed no association with overall survival (OS) (p=0.184) or disease-free survival (DFS) (p=0.150). Patients harboring exon 9 PIK3CA mutations exhibited a significantly shorter OS (p=0.023) and DFS (p=0.013) than the patients lacking an exon 9 PIK3CA mutation, yet without statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. Notably, exon 9 E542K mutation of PIK3CA was associated with the worst DFS (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: The current data show that PIK3CA mutations appear to play an important role in carcinogenesis and tumor aggressiveness in EBV-GC, and also support the concept that exon 9 mutation of PIK3CA is a prognostic indicator for predicting patient outcomes and a rationale for therapeutic targeting in EBV-GC.

Midterm body composition changes after open distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated midterm changes in body composition after open distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. METHODS: Data from 138 gastric cancer patients who underwent open distal gastrectomy at Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital between January 2011 and December 2012 were collected and reviewed. Patients with pathological stage I gastric cancer and with no comorbidities at diagnosis were enrolled. Body composition data from segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis were obtained preoperatively and at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery. RESULTS: The mean body weight losses at 1 and 3 years after surgery were 6.1 kg and 5.8 kg, respectively (P < 0.001). The protein mass, skeletal muscle mass, and fat-free mass decreased continuously until 3 years after surgery (0.5 kg, 1.6 kg, and 2.4 kg, respectively; P < 0.001). The average body fat mass and visceral fat area loss at 1 year after surgery were 4.7 kg and 20.5 cm2, respectively (P < 0.001). After 1 postoperative year, the body fat mass and visceral fat areas increased continuously, up to 12.2 kg and 74.2 cm2 at 3 years after surgery, respectively (+1.4 kg and +1.2 cm2, respectively). CONCLUSION: More intense nutritional and exercise programs may be important after gastric cancer surgery, especially during the first postoperative year.

Comparison of laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction and laparoscopic total gastrectomy in terms of nutritional status or quality of life in early gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG) reconstructed by the double-tract method in comparison to those of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG). METHODS: A retrospective review of the prospectively established database identified early gastric cancer patients who underwent LPG (n = 34) or LTG (n = 46) between January 2011 and December 2015. Baseline characteristics and surgical outcomes including postoperative complications, changes in body composition, nutritional status, and quality of life (QOL) after surgery were compared between the LPG and LTG patients. RESULTS: Operating time was significantly longer in the LTG group (240.7 ± 43.9 vs. 211.7 ± 32.8 min, p = 0.007). The incidence of grade II or more complications and the hospital stay were comparable between the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of body composition using a bioelectrical impedance method in 1 year postoperatively. Nutritional status assessed by serum hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, albumin, total protein, and total cholesterol levels and postoperative changes in quality of life up to 2 years after surgery were also similar between the groups. Vitamin B12 supplementation was required in 75.4% of the patients in the LTG group and 46.5% in the LPG group within 2 years after surgery (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: LPG with double-tract reconstruction appears superior in preventing vitamin B12 deficiency compared to LTG, particularly after 1 year after the surgery, although it offered little benefit in terms of postoperative body composition changes and QOL.

Laparoscopy-assisted versus Open D2 Distal Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: Results From a Randomized Phase II Multicenter Clinical Trial (COACT 1001).

OBJECTIVE: This randomized, phase II, multicenter clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with D2 lymph node dissection compared with open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: D2 lymph node dissection has been accepted as standard treatment for AGC. Although LADG is widely performed in early gastric cancer (EGC), the feasibility of LADG in AGC has not been proven yet. METHODS: Patients with cT2-T4a and cN0-2 (AJCC 7 staging system) distal gastric cancer were randomly but not blindingly assigned to LADG or ODG groups using fixed block sizes with a 1:1 allocation ratio. The primary endpoint was the noncompliance rate of the lymph node dissection, which was used to evaluate feasibility. Secondary endpoints included 3-year disease-free survival (DFS), 5-year overall survival, complications, and surgical stress response. RESULTS: Between June 2010 and October 2011, 204 patients enrolled and underwent either LADG (n = 105) or ODG (n = 99). Of these, 196 patients (100 in LADG and 96 in ODG) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. There were no significant differences in the overall noncompliance rate of lymph node dissection between LADG and ODG groups (47.0% and 43.2%, respectively; P = 0.648). In the subgroup analysis, the noncompliance rate in the LADG group was significantly higher than the ODG group for clinical stage III disease (52.0% vs 25.0%, P = 0.043). No difference was found in the 3-year DFS rate between the groups (LADG, 80.1%; ODG, 81.9%; P = 0.448). Differences in postoperative complication rates and surgical stress response were found to be insignificant between the 2 arms. CONCLUSIONS: LADG was feasible for AGC treatment based on the noncompliance rate of D2 lymph node dissection. Subgroups analysis data suggest that further studies are needed for stage III gastric cancer.

Impact of Body Mass Index on the Quality of Life after Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the impact of postoperative body mass index (BMI) shifts on the quality of life (QoL) following total gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: QoL data collected from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and QLQ-STO22 questionnaires were obtained from 417 patients preoperatively and 1 year after surgery. Patients were divided into two groups based on changes in BMI: group 1 comprised patientswhose BMIrange category dropped, and group 2 included patients who maintained or rose to a higher category compared to their preoperative BMI category. RESULTS: There were 276 patients in group 1 and 141 in group 2. QoLs with respect to the global health status and functional scales were not significantly different between the groups 1 year after surgery. However, there were significantly greater decreases in QoL in group 1 due to gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting (p=0.008), appetite loss (p=0.001), and constipation (p=0.038). Of the QLQ-STO22 parameters, dysphagia (p=0.013), pain (p=0.012), reflux symptoms (p=0.017), eating restrictions (p=0.007), taste (p=0.009), and body image (p=0.009) were associated with significantly worse QoL in group 1 than in group 2 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSION: Patients have significantly different QoLs depending on the BMI shift after total gastrectomy. Efforts to reduce the gap in QoL should include intensive nutritional support and restoration of dietary behaviors. Appropriate clinical and institutional approaches, plus active medical interventions, are required for maintaining patients' BMIs after surgery.

Intratumoural PD-L1 expression is associated with worse survival of patients with Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the clinical relevance and prognostic impact of the overall expression of programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death protein ligand-2 (PD-L2), in patients with Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC). METHODS: After reviewing 1318 consecutive cases of surgically resected or endoscopic submucosal dissected gastric cancers, the expression status of PD-L1 and PD-L2 in 120 patients with EBVaGC identified by EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridisation was retrospectively analysed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). For each IHC marker, positivity was separately in intraepithelial tumour cells (iTu-) and immune cells in the tumour stroma area (str-). RESULTS: Among 116 eligible patients, 57 (49.1%) and 66 patients (56.9%) were determined as iTu-PD-L1-positive and str-PD-L1-positive, respectively, whereas 23 (21.6%) and 45 patients (38.8%) were determined as iTu-PD-L2 positive and str-PD-L2 positive, respectively. Intraepithelial tumour cell PD-L1 positivity was found to be significantly associated with lymph node (LN) metastasis (P=0.012) and a poor disease-free survival (DFS) (P=0.032), yet not overall survival (P=0.482). In a multivariate analysis, iTu-PD-L1 positivity was independently associated with a poor DFS (P=0.006, hazard ratio=12.085). In contrast, str-PD-L2-positivity was related to a lower T category (P=0.003), absence of LN metastasis (P=0.032) and perineural invasion (P=0.028). Intraepithelial tumour cell and str-PD-L2 positivity showed a trend towards an improved DFS, although not significant (P=0.060 and P=0.073, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Intraepithelial tumour cells PD-L1 expression can be used to predict a poor outcome in patients with EBVaGC and can represent a rational approach for PD-1/PD-L pathway-targeted immunotherapy.

Chronological Changes in Quality of Life after Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

PURPOSE: Patient quality of life (QoL) may be severely disrupted following distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. This issue should be addressed to improve postoperative care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: QoL data from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, and its gastric cancer-specific module, were administered to 202 patients preoperatively, and 5 years postoperatively. Patients were classified into subgroups based on their answers to each questionnaire item: group I (good), answering "not at all"; group II (fair), answering "a little"; group III (poor), answering "quite a bit" or "very much." RESULTS: At 5 years post-operation, the proportion of patients in group III on the functional scales ranged from 4.3% to 5.7%. The proportions of patients in group III with fatigue, insomnia, diarrhea, and financial difficulties were 8.9%, 9.0%, 11.5%, and 9.1%, respectively. The proportions of patients in group III with anxiety, dry mouth, body image concerns, and hair loss were 12.8%, 10.5%, 9.9%, and 12.6%, respectively. These proportions were less than 5% for other QoL symptom scales/items and for the gastric cancer-specific module. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients reported good or fair QoL following surgery. However, symptom management of fatigue, insomnia, diarrhea, anxiety, dry mouth, body image, and hair loss should be specifically targeted for long-term patient care in approximately 10% of patients.

Clinical Significance of p53 Protein Expression, Beta-catenin Expression and HER2 Expression for Epstein-Barr Virus-associated Gastric Cancer.

This study assessed the expression of the p53 protein, beta-catenin, and HER2 and their prognostic implications in patients with EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC). After reviewing 1318 consecutive cases of surgically resected or endoscopic submucosal dissected gastric cancers, 117 patients were identified as EBV-positive using EBV-encoded RNA in-situ hybridization. The immunohistochemistry results were interpreted as follows: strong p53 nuclear expression in at least 50% of tumor nuclei was interpreted as a positive result, strong beta-catenin expression in at least 10% of cytoplasmic nuclei was interpreted as a positive result, and moderate or strong complete or basolateral membrane staining in 10% of tumor cells was interpreted as a positive result for HER2. Immunohistochemical staining for p53 was performed on tumor tissue from 105 patients, among whom 25 (23.8%) tested positive. Meanwhile, beta-catenin expression was positive in 10 patients (17.5%) and HER2 expression was positive in 8 patients (6.8%). The positive expression of p53 was significantly associated with a high T stage (p=0.006). More patients with lymph node metastasis were p53-positive (p=0.013). In the univariate analysis, the p53-positive patients showed significantly decreased disease-free survival (DFS) when compared with the p53-negative patients (p=0.022), although the p53 status was only marginally associated with overall survival (OS) (p=0.080). However, p53 expression showed no prognostic significance on DFS in the multivariate analysis. Moreover, beta-catenin and HER2 showed no association with DFS and OS in the survival analysis. The current study found a significant correlation between p53 expression and tumor progression and lymph node metastases in patients with EBVaGC.

Effect of Intravenous Ferric Carboxymaltose on Hemoglobin Response Among Patients With Acute Isovolemic Anemia Following Gastrectomy: The FAIRY Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Acute isovolemic anemia occurs when blood loss is replaced with fluid. It is often observed after surgery and negatively influences short-term and long-term outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ferric carboxymaltose to treat acute isovolemic anemia following gastrectomy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The FAIRY trial was a patient-blinded, randomized, phase 3, placebo-controlled, 12-week study conducted between February 4, 2013, and December 15, 2015, in 7 centers across the Republic of Korea. Patients with a serum hemoglobin level of 7 g/dL to less than 10 g/dL at 5 to 7 days following radical gastrectomy were included. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive a 1-time or 2-time injection of 500 mg or 1000 mg of ferric carboxymaltose according to body weight (ferric carboxymaltose group, 228 patients) or normal saline (placebo group, 226 patients). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary end point was the number of hemoglobin responders, defined as a hemoglobin increase of 2 g/dL or more from baseline, a hemoglobin level of 11 g/dL or more, or both at week 12. Secondary end points included changes in hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin saturation levels over time, percentage of patients requiring alternative anemia management (oral iron, transfusion, or both), and quality of life at weeks 3 and 12. RESULTS: Among 454 patients who were randomized (mean age, 61.1 years; women, 54.8%; mean baseline hemoglobin level, 9.1 g/dL), 96.3% completed the trial. At week 12, the number of hemoglobin responders was significantly greater for ferric carboxymaltose vs placebo (92.2% [200 patients] for the ferric carboxymaltose group vs 54.0% [115 patients] for the placebo group; absolute difference, 38.2% [95% CI, 33.6%-42.8%]; P = .001). Compared with the placebo group, patients in the ferric carboxymaltose group experienced significantly greater improvements in serum ferritin level (week 12: 233.3 ng/mL for the ferric carboxymaltose group vs 53.4 ng/mL for the placebo group; absolute difference, 179.9 ng/mL [95% CI, 150.2-209.5]; P = .001) and transferrin saturation level (week 12: 35.0% for the ferric carboxymaltose group vs 19.3% for the placebo group; absolute difference, 15.7% [95% CI, 13.1%-18.3%]; P = .001); but there were no significant differences in quality of life. Patients in the ferric carboxymaltose group required less alternative anemia management than patients in the placebo group (1.4% for the ferric carboxymaltose group vs 6.9% for the placebo group; absolute difference, 5.5% [95% CI, 3.3%-7.6%]; P = .006). The total rate of adverse events was higher in the ferric carboxymaltose group (15 patients [6.8%], including injection site reactions [5 patients] and urticaria [5 patients]) than the placebo group (1 patient [0.4%]), but no severe adverse events were reported in either group. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Among adults with isovolemic anemia following radical gastrectomy, the use of ferric carboxymaltose compared with placebo was more likely to result in improved hemoglobin response at 12 weeks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01725789.

High level of viral microRNA-BART20-5p expression is associated with worse survival of patients with Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer.

This study analyzed the relationship between several Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles and the clinicopathologic features of patients with EBV-associated gastric cancer. The miRNA expression was examined in 59 tumor and 39 paired normal mucosal tissues from available formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples. The expression levels of miR-BamHI fragment A rightward transcript (BART)1-5p, miR-BART4-5p, and miR-BART20-5p were determined using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of all three analyzed EBV microRNAs was significantly higher in the tumor tissue than in the paired normal tissue (P < 0.001 for each). When the median value of the EBV microRNA expression levels was used as the cutoff point, a high BART20-5p expression was associated with worse recurrence-free survival (P = 0.034) in a multivariate analysis including age and pathologic stage. In conclusion, the expression level of BART20-5p may predict recurrence-free survival for patients with EBV-associated gastric cancer. Further studies are warranted to clarify the roles of EBV BART microRNAs in the carcinogenesis, and their potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for EBV-associated gastric cancer.

Using Quality of Life Scales with Nutritional Relevance after Gastrectomy: a Challenge for Providing Personalized Treatment.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the changes in nutritional status based on quality of life (QoL) item-level analysis to determine whether individual QoL responses might facilitate personal clinical impact. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively evaluated QoL data obtained by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Stomach (QLQ-STO22) as well as metabolic-nutritional data obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis and blood tests. Patients were assessed preoperatively and at the 5-year follow-up. QoL was analyzed at the level of the constituent items. The patients were categorized into vulnerable and non-vulnerable QoL groups for each scale based on their responses to the QoL items and changes in the metabolic-nutritional indices were compared. RESULTS: Multiple shortcomings in the metabolic-nutritional indices were observed in the vulnerable groups for nausea/vomiting (waist-hip ratio, degree of obesity), dyspnea (hemoglobin, iron), constipation (body fat mass, percent body fat), dysphagia (body fat mass, percent body fat), reflux (body weight, hemoglobin), dry mouth (percent body fat, waist-hip ratio), and taste (body weight, total body water, soft lean mass, body fat mass). The shortcomings in a single index were observed in the vulnerable groups for emotional functioning and pain (EORTC QLQ-C30) and for eating restrictions (EORTC QLQ-STO22). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term postoperative QoL deterioration in emotional functioning, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, constipation, dysphagia, reflux, eating restrictions, dry mouth, and taste were associated with nutritional shortcomings. QoL item-level analysis, instead of scale-level analysis, may help to facilitate personalized treatment for individual QoL respondents.

Validation of the 7th AJCC/UICC staging system for gastric cancer and a proposal for a new TNM system based on a prognostic score: a retrospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: We validate the 7th American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) staging system for gastric cancer and propose a new staging system that reflects the prognostic significances of each of T and N category. METHODS: Data from 5,957 patients who underwent curative gastrectomies from 2000 to 2007 at 4 university hospitals in Daegu Metropolitan city in Korea were analyzed for the validation of the 7th AJCC/UICC staging system for gastric cancer. The hazard ratios of the respective T and N categories were estimated and converted to weightings and summated to make prognostic score (P-score). Homogeneity and stage grouping were determined according to the P-scores. RESULTS: In the 7th AJCC/UICC staging system for gastric cancer, poor discrimination was noted between stages IIB and IIIA (P = 0.152). In addition, heterogeneity in stage IIB (P = 0.021) and a small gap in 5-year survival rates (1.7%) between stages IA and IB were noted. A new proposed staging system was generated on the basis of P-scores and demonstrated more discrimination between stages and more homogeneity within stages. The new staging system reflects the different prognostic impacts of N3a and N3b. CONCLUSION: Several controversial issues of the 7th AJCC/UICC staging system for gastric cancer were reconfirmed in the present analysis. The TNM system based on P-score appears to be more scientifically accurate than the 7th AJCC/UICC staging system for gastric cancer.

The Korean Gastric Cancer Cohort Study: Study Protocol and Brief Results of a Large-Scale Prospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to establish a large-scale database of patients with gastric cancer to facilitate the development of a national-cancer management system and a comprehensive cancer control policy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational prospective cohort study on gastric cancer was initiated in 2010. A total of 14 cancer centers throughout the country and 152 researchers were involved in this study. Patient enrollment began in January 2011, and data regarding clinicopathological characteristics, life style-related factors, quality of life, as well as diet diaries were collected. RESULTS: In total, 4,963 patients were enrolled until December 2014, and approximately 5% of all Korean patients with gastric cancer annually were included. The mean age was 58.2±11.5 years, and 68.2% were men. The number of patients in each stage was as follows: 3,394 patients (68.4%) were in stage IA/B; 514 patients (10.4%), in stage IIA/B; 469 patients (9.5%), in stage IIIA/B/C; and 127 patients (2.6%), in stage IV. Surgical treatment was performed in 3,958 patients (79.8%), endoscopic resection was performed in 700 patients (14.1%), and 167 patients (3.4%) received palliative chemotherapy. The response rate for the questionnaire on the quality of life was 95%; however, diet diaries were only collected for 27% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: To provide comprehensive information on gastric cancer for patients, physicians, and government officials, a large-scale database of Korean patients with gastric cancer was established. Based on the findings of this cohort study, an effective cancer management system and national cancer control policy could be developed.

Taxanes in the Treatment of Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Although rapid advances in treatment options have improved the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer (AGC), it remains a major public health problem and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) are microtubule stabilizing agents that inhibit the process of cell division, and have shown antitumor activity in the treatment of AGC as a single or combination chemotherapy. Accordingly, this review focuses on the efficacy and tolerability of taxanes in the first- or second-line chemotherapy setting for AGC.

Chronological Changes of Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors after Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

PURPOSE: A few studies have prospectively evaluated changes in quality of life (QoL) after surgery in short-term survivors; however, no prospective study has evaluated the longitudinal changes in QoL in long-terms survivors. We prospectively evaluated the chronological changes in QoL after a gastrectomy over a 5-year postoperative period in a large group of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: QoL data from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-STO22 questionnaires were obtained from 254 patients who completed the entire series of QoL assessments preoperatively and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years after surgery. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant change in global health status/QoL during the 5-year postoperative period. Decreases in QoL from upper gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea (p < 0.001), dysphagia (p < 0.001), reflux symptoms (p=0.029), and eating restrictions (p < 0.001) were observed among the long-term survivors. Decreased physical functioning (p < 0.001), role functioning (p < 0.001), and cognitive functioning (p < 0.001), along with fatigue (p=0.045) and a poor body image (p=0.003), negatively impacted the patients' QoL for a long time. CONCLUSION: Management of gastrointestinal symptoms should be specifically targeted as a part of long-term patient care after a gastrectomy. Proper nutritional care will improve food intake resulting in weight gain and improved physical functioning, role functioning, and body image. In addition, patients should be encouraged to preserve self-esteem and maintain social activity.

Body composition changes after totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with delta-shaped anastomosis: a comparison with conventional Billroth I anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare body composition changes of patients undergoing totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with delta-shaped anastomosis (DSA) versus conventional laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (CLDG). METHODS: Data from gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for histologically proven gastric cancer in KNUMC from January 2013 to May 2014 were collected and reviewed. We examined 85 consecutive patients undergoing TLDG or CLDG: 41 patients underwent TLDG and 44 patients underwent CLDG. Body composition was assessed by segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. We compared the changes in nutritional parameters and body composition from preoperative status between the two groups at postoperative 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: All of the postoperative changes in the body composition and nutritional indices were similar between the two groups with the exception of visceral fat areas (VFAs) and albumin levels. VFAs increased at 6 months postoperatively in the TLDG group and a significant difference was shown at 12 months postoperatively between the TLDG and CLDG groups (86.7 ± 22.8 and 74.7 ± 21.9 cm(2), respectively, P < 0.05). Postoperative albumin levels were higher in the TLDG group with statistical significance at 6 and 12 months after surgery (6 months, P = 0.028; 12 months, P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The influence of TLDG with DSA on nutrition and body composition seemed comparable to those of CLDG. Six months postoperatively, VFAs and albumin levels were recovered in the TLDG group but not in the CLDG group. Thus, TLDG seems to be a novel surgical method.

Long-term Quality of Life After Distal Subtotal and Total Gastrectomy: Symptom- and Behavior-oriented Consequences.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed long-term quality of life (QoL) after subtotal gastrectomy (STG) and total gastrectomy (TG) by comparing groups matched by a set of patient factors at and beyond postoperative 5 years. The cause of QoL gaps based on symptomatic and behavioral consequences of surgery were investigated. BACKGROUND: Survivors after STG and TG were matched by a set of patient factors (age, sex, stage, chemotherapy, and postoperative period). QoL data were obtained from 53 and 36 pairs of survivors at and beyond postoperative 5 years, respectively. METHODS: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and QLQ-STO22 were used to assess QoL. QoL comparisons between STG and TG groups were made for 5-year survivors and long-term survivors. RESULTS: Five-year survivors after TG showed significantly worse QoL in social functioning, nausea and vomiting, eating restrictions, and taste. For long-term survivors, QoL inferiority of the TG group was observed only in eating restrictions. Among 4 items constituting eating restrictions, the TG group tended to exhibit worse QoL in 2 items (enjoyable meals and social meals). CONCLUSIONS: Although 5-year survivors after TG still suffer from QoL inferiority from symptomatic and behavioral consequences of surgery, inferiority from behavioral consequences will persist even after symptomatic inferiority to STG survivors is no longer valid. Efforts to ameliorate persistent QoL inferiority in TG survivors should be directed toward restoring dietary behaviors, where TG survivors are prevented from enjoyable meals and social meals.