Twenty-five years of experience with patient-reported outcome measures in soft-tissue sarcoma patients: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: As the importance of the patient's perspective on treatment outcome is becoming increasingly clear, the availability of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) has grown accordingly. There remains insufficient information regarding the quality of PROMs in patients with soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs). The objectives of this systematic review were (1) to identify all PROMs used in STS patients and (2) to critically appraise the methodological quality of these PROMs. METHODS: Literature searches were performed in MEDLINE and Embase on April 22, 2024. PROMs were identified by including all studies that evaluate (an aspect of) health-related quality of life in STS patients by using a PROM. Second, studies that assessed measurement properties of the PROMs utilized in STS patients were included. Quality of PROMs was evaluated by performing a COSMIN analysis. RESULTS: In 59 studies, 39 PROMs were identified, with the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) being the most frequently utilized. Three studies evaluated methodological quality of PROMs in the STS population. Measurement properties of the TESS, Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) and European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30) were reported. None of the PROMs utilized in the STS population can be recommended for use based on the current evidence and COSMIN analysis. CONCLUSION: To ensure collection of reliable outcomes, PROMs require methodological evaluation prior to utilization in the STS population. Research should prioritize on determining relevant content and subsequently selecting the most suitable PROM for assessment.

Survival after resection of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: Introducing and validating a novel type-specific prognostic model.

Background: This study aimed to assess the performance of currently available risk calculators in a cohort of patients with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) and to create an MPNST-specific prognostic model including type-specific predictors for overall survival (OS). Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients with MPNST from 11 secondary or tertiary centers in The Netherlands, Italy and the United States of America. All patients diagnosed with primary MPNST who underwent macroscopically complete surgical resection from 2000 to 2019 were included in this study. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model for OS was estimated with prespecified predictors (age, grade, size, NF-1 status, triton status, depth, tumor location, and surgical margin). Model performance was assessed for the Sarculator and PERSARC calculators by examining discrimination (C-index) and calibration (calibration plots and observed-expected statistic; O/E-statistic). Internal-external cross-validation by different regions was performed to evaluate the generalizability of the model. Results: A total of 507 patients with primary MPNSTs were included from 11 centers in 7 regions. During follow-up (median 8.7 years), 211 patients died. The C-index was 0.60 (95% CI 0.53-0.67) for both Sarculator and PERSARC. The MPNST-specific model had a pooled C-index of 0.69 (95%CI 0.65-0.73) at validation, with adequate discrimination and calibration across regions. Conclusions: The MPNST-specific MONACO model can be used to predict 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS in patients with primary MPNST who underwent macroscopically complete surgical resection. Further validation may refine the model to inform patients and physicians on prognosis and support them in shared decision-making.

Calculating Tumor Volume Using Three-Dimensional Models in Preoperative Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Surgical Planning: Does Size Matter?

This feasibility study aims to explore the use of three-dimensional virtual surgical planning to preoperatively determine the need for reconstructive surgery following resection of an extremity soft-tissue sarcoma. As flap reconstruction is performed more often in advanced disease, we hypothesized that tumor volume would be larger in the group of patients that had undergone flap reconstruction. All patients that were treated by surgical resection for an extremity soft-tissue sarcoma between 1 January 2016 and 1 October 2019 in the University Medical Center Groningen were included retrospectively. Three-dimensional models were created using the diagnostic magnetic resonance scan. Tumor volume was calculated for all patients. Three-dimensional tumor volume was 107.8 (349.1) mL in the group of patients that had undergone primary closure and 29.4 (47.4) mL in the group of patients in which a flap reconstruction was performed, p = 0.004. Three-dimensional tumor volume was 76.1 (295.3) mL in the group of patients with a complication following ESTS treatment, versus 57.0 (132.4) mL in patients with an uncomplicated course following ESTS treatment, p = 0.311. Patients who had undergone flap reconstruction had smaller tumor volumes compared to those in the group of patients treated by primary closure. Furthermore, a larger tumor volume did not result in complications for patients undergoing ESTS treatment. Therefore, tumor volume does not seem to influence the need for reconstruction. Despite the capability of three-dimensional virtual surgical planning to measure tumor volume, we do not recommend its utilization in the multidisciplinary extremity soft-tissue sarcoma treatment, considering the findings of the study.

Local treatment in metastatic GIST patients: A multicentre analysis from the Dutch GIST Registry.

BACKGROUND: The added value of local treatment in selected metastatic GIST patients is unclear. This study aims to provide insight into the usefulness of local treatment in metastatic GIST by use of a survey study and retrospective analyses in a clinical database. METHODS: A survey study was conducted among clinical specialists to select most relevant characteristics of metastatic GIST patients considered for local treatment, defined as elective surgery or ablation. Patients were selected from the Dutch GIST Registry. A multivariate Cox-regression model for overall survival since time of diagnosis of metastatic disease was estimated with local treatment as a time-dependent variable. An additional model was estimated to assess prognostic factors since local treatment. RESULTS: The survey's response rate was 14/16. Performance status, response to TKIs, location of active disease, number of lesions, mutation status, and time between primary diagnosis and metastases, were regarded the 6 most important characteristics. Of 457 included patients, 123 underwent local treatment, which was associated with better survival after diagnosis of metastases (HR = 0.558, 95%CI = 0.336-0.928). Progressive disease during systemic treatment (HR = 3.885, 95%CI = 1.195-12.627) and disease confined to the liver (HR = 0.269, 95%CI = 0.082-0.880) were associated with worse and better survival after local treatment, respectively. CONCLUSION: Local treatment is associated with better survival in selected patients with metastatic GIST. Locally treated patients with response to TKIs and disease confined to the liver have good clinical outcome. These results might be considered for tailoring treatment, but should be interpreted with care because only specific patients are provided with local treatment in this retrospective study.

Impact of cumulative complications on 1-year treatment-related healthcare costs in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of all minor and major complications on treatment-related healthcare costs in patients who undergo cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the treatment of colorectal peritoneal metastases (PMs). METHOD: Patients with histologically proven colorectal PMs who underwent CRS + HIPEC from March 2006 to October 2019 in a tertiary referral centre were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were divided into six subgroups according to the severity of the complications, which were scored using the comprehensive complication index (CCI) (CCI 0-9.9, CCI 10-19.9, CCI 20-29.9, CCI 30-39.9, CCI 40-49.9, and CCI 50 or higher). Treatment-related healthcare costs up to 1 year after CRS + HIPEC were obtained from the financial department. Differences in costs and survival outcomes were compared using the chi-squared test and Kruskal-Wallis H test. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients were included (CCI 0-9.9, 53 patients; CCI 10-19.9, 0 patients; CCI 20-29.9, 45 patients; CCI 30-39.9, 14 patients; CCI 40-49, 9 patients; and CCI 50 or higher, 21 patients). Median (interquartile range) treatment-related healthcare costs increased significantly and exponentially for the CCI 30-39, CCI 40-49, and CCI 50 or higher groups (€48 993 (€44 262-€84 805); €57 167 (€43 047-€67 591); and €82 219 (€55 487-€145 314) respectively) compared with those for the CCI 0-9.9 and CCI 20-29.9 groups (€33 856 (€24 433-€40 779) and €40 621 (€31 501-€58 761) respectively, P < 0.010). CONCLUSION: Treatment-related healthcare costs increase exponentially as more complications develop among patients who undergo CRS + HIPEC for the treatment of colorectal PMs. Anastomotic leakages after CRS + HIPEC lead to an increase of 295 per cent of treatment-related healthcare costs.

Postoperative radiotherapy in stage I-III Merkel cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) is currently recommended for the treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma. Nevertheless, deviations occur frequently due to the generally elderly and frail patient population. We aimed to evaluate the influence of PORT on survival in stage I-III MCC patients treated in the Netherlands. METHODS: Patients were included retrospectively between 2013 and 2018. Fine-Gray method was used for cumulative incidence of recurrence and MCC-related death, cox regression was performed for overall mortality. Analyses were performed in patients with clinical (sentinel node biopsy [SN] not performed) stage I/II (c-I/II-MCC), pathologic (SN negative) stage I/II (p-I/II-MCC) and stage III MCC (III-MCC), separately. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to assess confounding by indication. RESULTS: In total 182 patients were included, 35 had p-I/II-MCC, 69 had c-I/II-MCC and 78 had III-MCC. Median follow up time was 53.5 (IQR 33.4-67.4), 30.5 (13.0-43.6) and 29.3 (19.3-51.0) months, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed PORT to be associated with less recurrences and reduced overall mortality, but not with MCC-related mortality. In stage III-MCC, extracapsular extension (sub-distribution hazard [SDH] 4.09, p = 0.012) and PORT (SDH 0.45, p = 0.044) were associated with recurrence, and ≥ 4 positive lymph nodes (SDH 3.24, p = 0.024) were associated with MCC-related mortality. CONCLUSIONS: PORT was associated with less recurrences and reduced overall mortality in patients with stage I-III MCC, but not with MCC-related mortality. Trends in overall survival benefit are likely to be caused by selection bias suggesting further refinement of criteria for PORT is warranted, for instance by taking life expectancy into account.

Incidence of unplanned excisions of soft tissue sarcomas in the Netherlands: A population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Timely recognition of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) remains challenging, potentially leading to unplanned excisions (also known as 'whoops procedures'). This population-based study charted the occurrence of unplanned excisions and identified associated patient, tumour, and treatment-related characteristics. Furthermore, it presents an overview of the outcomes and clinical management following an unplanned excision. METHODS: From the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) database, information was obtained on 2187 adult patients diagnosed with STS in 2016-2019 who underwent surgery. Tumours located in the mediastinum, heart or retroperitoneum were excluded, as well as incidental findings. Differences between patients with planned and unplanned excisions were assessed with chi-square tests and a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: Overall, unplanned excisions comprise 18.2% of all first operations for STS, with a quarter of them occurring outside a hospital. Within hospitals, the unplanned excision rate was 14.4%. Unplanned excisions were more often performed on younger patients, and tumours unsuspected of being STS prior to surgery were generally smaller (≤5 cm) and superficially located. Preoperative imaging was omitted more frequently in these cases. An unplanned excision more often resulted in positive margins, requiring re-excision. Patients who had an unplanned excision outside of a sarcoma centre were more often discussed at or referred to a sarcoma centre, particularly in case of residual tumour. DISCUSSION: Potential improvement in preventing unplanned excisions may be achieved by better compliance to preoperative imaging and referral guidelines, and stimulating continuous awareness of STS among general surgeons, general practitioners and private practices.

Health-related quality of life after isolated limb perfusion compared to extended resection, or amputation for locally advanced extremity sarcoma: Is a limb salvage strategy worth the effort?

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare long-term patient reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with locally advanced extremity soft tissue sarcoma (eSTS) after isolated limb perfusion followed by resection (IR), compared to extended resection (ER), primary amputation (A) or secondary amputation after IR (IR-A). METHODS: Patients were selected from the respondents of a multi-institutional cross-sectional cohort survivorship study (SURVSARC) conducted among sarcoma survivors registered in the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR), 2-10 years after diagnosis. Used PROs were the EORTC QLQ-C30, the Cancer worry scale (CWS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS). RESULTS: We identified 97 eSTS survivors: IR = 20, ER = 49, A = 20, IR-A = 8. While there were no differences in PROs between IR and ER, results showed better functioning and functionality in both groups versus the amputation groups. The amputation groups scored significantly lower on physical functioning (A = 62.7, IR-A = 65.7 versus IR = 78.0, ER = 82.7, p = 0.001) and role functioning (A = 67.5, IR-A = 52.8 versus IR = 79.2, ER = 80.6, p = 0.039), both EORTC QLQ-C30 scales. Also for the TESS, the scores were significantly lower for the amputation groups compared to the limb sparing groups (upper extremity p = 0.007 with A = 68.9, IR-A = 71.6 versus IR = 93.3, ER = 91.1; lower extremity p < 0.001 with A = 72.2, IR-A50.9 versus IR = 84.5 and ER = 85.5). There were no significant differences between the groups on cancer worry, anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: HRQoL in eSTS survivors treated with IR or ER is equal; for maintenance of physical functioning and functionality IR and ER outperform an amputation.

False positive FDG uptake in melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC).

Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is a genetically modified herpes simplex virus-1-based oncolytic immunotherapy and has been approved for the local treatment of unresectable (stage IIIB/C and IVM1a) cutaneous melanoma. During T-VEC treatment, tumor response is often evaluated using [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy- d-glucose(FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). In a Dutch cohort (n = 173), almost one-third of patients developed new-onset FDG uptake in uninjected locoregional lymph nodes during T-VEC. In 36 out of 53 (68%) patients with new nodal FDG uptake, nuclear medicine physicians classified this FDG uptake as "suspected metastases" without clinical or pathological confirmation in the majority of patients. These false positive results indicate that new-onset FDG uptake in locoregional lymph nodes during T-VEC treatment does not necessarily reflect progressive disease, but may be associated with immune infiltration. In current clinical practice, physicians should be aware of the high false positive rate of FDG uptake during treatment with T-VEC in patients with melanoma. Therefore, pathological examination of lymph node lesions with new FDG uptake is recommended to differentiate between progressive disease and immune infiltration after treatment with T-VEC.

One-Year Morbidity Following Videoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy for Stage III Melanoma.

PURPOSE: We aimed to elucidate morbidity following videoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy for stage III melanoma. METHODS: Melanoma patients who underwent a videoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy between November 2015 and May 2019 were included. The measured outcomes were lymphedema and quality of life. Patients were reviewed one day prior to surgery and postoperatively every 3 months for one year. RESULTS: A total number of 34 patients were included for participation; 19 (55.9%) patients underwent a concomitant iliac lymphadenectomy. Lymphedema incidence was 40% at 3 months and 50% at 12 months after surgery. Mean interlimb volume difference increased steadily from 1.8% at baseline to 6.9% at 12 months (p = 0.041). Median Lymph-ICF-LL total score increased from 0.0 at baseline to 12.0 at 3 months, and declined to 8.5 at 12 months (p = 0.007). Twelve months after surgery, Lymph-ICF-LL scores were higher for females (p = 0.021) and patients that received adjuvant radiotherapy (p = 0.013). The Median Distress Thermometer and EORTC QLQ-C30 summary score recovered to baseline at 12 months postoperatively (p = 0.747 and p = 0.203, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The onset of lymphedema is rapid and continues to increase up to one year after videoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy. Quality of life recovers to the baseline value.

MRI after Whoops procedure: diagnostic value for residual sarcoma and predictive value for an incomplete second resection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of MRI for the detection and assessment of the anatomic extent of residual sarcoma after a Whoops procedure (unplanned sarcoma resection) and its utility for the prediction of an incomplete second resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included consecutive patients who underwent a Whoops procedure, successively followed by gadolinium chelate-enhanced MRI and second surgery at a tertiary care sarcoma center. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included, of whom 19 with residual tumor at the second surgery and 8 with an incomplete second resection (R1: n = 6 and R2: n = 2). Interobserver agreement for residual tumor at MRI after a Whoops procedure was perfect (κ value: 1.000). MRI achieved a sensitivity of 47.4% (9/19), a specificity of 100% (7/7), a positive predictive value of 100% (9/9), and a negative predictive value of 70.0% (7/17) for the detection of residual tumor. MRI correctly classified 2 of 19 residual sarcomas as deep-seated (i.e., extending beyond the superficial muscle fascia) but failed to correctly classify 3 of 19 residual sarcomas as deep-seated. There were no significant associations between MRI findings (presence of residual tumor, maximum tumor diameter, anatomic tumor extent, tumor margins, tumor spiculae, and tumor tail on the superficial fascia) with an incomplete (R1 or R2) second resection. CONCLUSION: Gadolinium chelate-enhanced MRI is a reproducible method to rule in residual sarcoma, but it is insufficiently accurate to rule out and assess the anatomic extent or residual sarcoma after a Whoops procedure. Furthermore, MRI has no utility in predicting an incomplete second resection.

Fluorescence-Guided Visualization of Soft-Tissue Sarcomas by Targeting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A: A Phase 1 Single-Center Clinical Trial.

Resection of soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) is accompanied by a high rate of tumor-positive surgical margins (14%-34%), which potentially lead to decreased disease-free survival. Vascular endothelial growth factor A is overexpressed in malignant tumors, including STS, and can be targeted with bevacizumab-800CW during fluorescence-guided surgery for real-time tumor detection. In this phase 1 clinical trial, we determined the feasibility, safety, and optimal dose of bevacizumab-800CW for fluorescence-guided surgery in STS for in vivo and ex vivo tumor detection. Methods: Patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of STS were included. In the dose-escalation phase, patients received bevacizumab-800CW intravenously 3 d before surgery (10, 25, and 50 mg; n = 8). In the subsequent dose-expansion phase, 7 additional patients received bevacizumab-800CW at the optimal dose. Fluorescence images were obtained in vivo and ex vivo during all stages of standard care. The optimal dose was determined by calculating in vivo and ex vivo tumor-to-background ratios (TBR) and correlating these results with histopathology. Results: Fifteen patients with STS completed this study. All tumors could be visualized during in vivo and ex vivo imaging. The optimal bevacizumab-800CW dose proved to be 10 mg, with a median in vivo TBR of 2.0 (±0.58) and a median ex vivo TBR of 2.67 (±1.6). All 7 tumor-positive margins could be observed in real time after surgical resection. Conclusion: GS using 10 mg of bevacizumab-800CW is feasible and safe for intraoperative imaging of STS, potentially allowing tumor detection and margin assessment during surgery. An additional follow-up phase 2 study is needed to confirm the diagnostic accuracy.

Avelumab for advanced Merkel cell carcinoma in the Netherlands: a real-world cohort.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is associated with high recurrence rates and poor survival when metastatic disease is present. The immune checkpoint inhibitor avelumab has shown high response rates (RRs) and durable responses in patients with advanced MCC (aMCC) in clinical trials. To date, only results from clinical trials, patients treated in an expanded access program and very small numbers of patients have been reported. In this study, detailed real-world efficacy and toxicity data of avelumab in patients with aMCC are reported. METHODS: Patients with aMCC treated in four dedicated referral centers in the Netherlands were analyzed from February 2017 until December 2019. Patients were included if they had received at least one administration of avelumab, regardless of previous lines of therapy. Patient data were collected retrospectively from patient records. Primary endpoints were response rate (RR) and duration of response (DOR). Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients received avelumab. Eight (15%) patients had locally advanced disease (laMCC). In 40 (74%) patients, avelumab was first-line treatment, these included all patients with laMCC. The median follow-up was 8.9 (range 0.5-35.9) months. RR was 57% (n=31) with 24% (n=13) of patients achieving a complete response. The median DOR was 8.4 (range 1.3-22.1) months and 23 (43%) patients had an ongoing response at the end of the study. The median PFS was 8.6 (95% CI 1.6-15.5) months, and the median OS was 25.8 (95% CI 9.1-42.4) months. Six (11%) patients experienced grade 3 toxicity. No grade 4-5 toxicity was seen. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world cohort, clinical efficacy and toxicity outcomes in clinical practice were in line with results from clinical trials and showed relatively high RRs and durable responses in patients with aMCC.

Adding diagnostic laparoscopy to computed tomography for the evaluation of peritoneal metastases in patients with colorectal cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Despite its widespread use, computed tomography (CT) is not perfect for evaluating peritoneal metastases of colorectal origin before cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC). We therefore evaluated the value of adding diagnostic laparoscopy to CT when assessing patient eligibility for CRS + HIPEC. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of a consecutive series of 112 patients evaluated systematically by diagnostic laparoscopy and CT between January 2012 and January 2018. Patient eligibility for CRS + HIPEC was assessed by the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) both at the time of initial diagnostic laparoscopy and during the retrospective review of CT images. Two experienced radiologists who were blinded to the PCI result at laparoscopy then independently estimated the PCI based on CT imaging. The primary outcome was the number of patients eligible for CRS + HIPEC by each method. RESULTS: We identified 112 patients, of whom 95 (85%) were eligible for CRS + HIPEC based on diagnostic laparoscopy and 84 underwent CRS + HIPEC. Overall, 14 patients (17%) experienced an "open-and-close" procedure. In contrast to diagnostic laparoscopy, 100 patients (89%) were identified as being eligible for CRS + HIPEC by CT (p = 0.13), which would have resulted in an additional five open-and-close procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Adding diagnostic laparoscopy to CT produced a clinically relevant, but statistically non-significant, reduction in the number of patients eligible for CRS + HIPEC. We conclude that diagnostic laparoscopy may be of use in preoperative assessments when systematic analysis by CT scores the PCI as greater than ten. Future research should focus on the cost-effectiveness of this approach.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation-induced tissue injury following sarcoma treatment: A retrospective analysis of a Dutch cohort.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sarcomas are commonly managed by surgical resection combined with radiotherapy. Sarcoma treatment is frequently complicated by chronic wounds and late radiation tissue injury (LRTI). This study aims to gain insight in the use and results of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for radiation-induced complications following sarcoma treatment. METHODS: All sarcoma patients treated between 2006 and 2017 in one of the five centers of the Institute for Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Netherlands were included for retrospective analysis. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included, 18 (60.0%) patients were treated for chronic wounds and 12 (40.0%) for LRTI. Two patients with chronic wounds were excluded from analysis as HBOT was discontinued within five sessions. In 11 of 16 (68.8%) patients treated for chronic wounds, improved wound healing was seen. Nine of 12 (75.0%) patients treated for LRTI reported a decline in pain. Reduction of fibrosis was seen in five of eight patients (62.5%) treated for LRTI. CONCLUSIONS: HBOT is safe and beneficial for treating chronic wounds and LRTI in the sarcoma population. Awaiting further prospective results, we recommend referring to HBOT centers more actively in patients experiencing impaired wound healing or symptoms of delayed radiation-induced tissue injury following multimodality sarcoma treatment.

Systematic Review of Factors Affecting Quality of Life After Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that, overall, quality of life (QoL) decreases within the first 3-6 months after cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC), returning to baseline levels by 6-12 months. This systematic review aims to evaluate the factors affecting QoL after CRS + HIPEC within 12 months of surgery. METHODS: Electronic databases were investigated searching for articles reporting QoL with validated questionnaires up to September 2019. Risk of bias was assessed with the methodological index for non-randomized studies tool. The primary outcomes were short-term (< 6 months after surgery) and medium-term (6-12 months after surgery) determinants of QoL after CRS + HIPEC. Secondary outcomes were QoL and reported symptoms over time. RESULTS: We included 14 studies that used 12 different questionnaires. The reported data were collected prospectively or retrospectively for 1556 patients (dropout < 50% in four studies). Overall, studies showed diminished QoL within 3 months after surgery and a recovery to baseline or greater by 12 months. QoL was negatively influenced by higher age, female sex, prolonged operation time, extensive disease, residual disease, adjuvant chemotherapy, complications, stoma placement, and recurrent disease. QoL results were comparable between studies, with dropout rates above and below 50%. CONCLUSIONS: QoL returns to baseline levels within 12 months after CRS + HIPEC provided the disease does not recur, and this recovery process is influenced by several factors.

Surgeons' Ability to Predict the Extent of Surgery Prior to Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The extent of surgery (ES) during cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC) is a well-known risk factor for major postoperative morbidity. Interestingly, the reliability of surgeons to predict the ES prior to CRS + HIPEC is unknown. METHODS: In this prospective, observational cohort study, five surgeons predicted the ES prior to surgery in all consecutive patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) who were scheduled for CRS + HIPEC between March 2018 and May 2019. After the preoperative work-up for CRS + HIPEC was completed, all surgeons independently predicted, for each individual patient, the resection or preservation of 22 different anatomical structures and the presence of a stoma post-HIPEC according to a standardized ES form. The actual ES during CRS + HIPEC was extracted from the surgical procedure report and compared with the predicted ES. Overall and individual positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) for each anatomical structure were calculated. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-one ES forms were collected from 32 patients who successfully underwent CRS + HIPEC. The number of resections was predicted correctly 24 times (18.3%), overestimated 57 times (43.5%), and underestimated 50 times (38.2%). Overall PPVs for the different anatomical structures ranged between 33.3 and 87.8%. Overall, NPVs ranged between 54.9 and 100%, and an NPV > 90% was observed for 12 anatomical structures. CONCLUSIONS: Experienced surgeons seem to be able to better predict the anatomical structures that remain in situ after CRS + HIPEC, rather than predict the resections that were necessary to achieve a complete cytoreduction.

Diagnostic Laparoscopy as a Selection Tool for Patients with Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases to Prevent a Non-therapeutic Laparotomy During Cytoreductive Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the introduction of diagnostic laparoscopy (DLS) in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (PM) to prevent non-therapeutic laparotomies during cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC). METHODS: Patients with histologically proven colorectal PM who underwent a laparotomy for potential CRS + HIPEC from January 2006 to January 2019 were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database. In 2012, DLS was introduced in the preoperative work-up for CRS + HIPEC in our academic center. The rates of non-therapeutic laparotomies, major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher), and survival outcomes were investigated for patients who underwent a laparotomy before (cohort A) and after (cohort B) the introduction of DLS. In cohort B, the reasons to refrain from DLS were retrospectively explored from medical records. RESULTS: Overall, 172 patients were included [cohort A: 48 patients (27.9%); cohort B: 124 patients (72.1%)]. A significant drop in the rate of non-therapeutic laparotomies occurred in cohort B compared with cohort A (21.0 vs. 35.4%: p = 0.044), despite only 85 patients (68.5%) from cohort B undergoing DLS in our academic center. The most important reason to refrain from DLS was a recently performed DLS or laparotomy in the referring hospital (48.7%). Major postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality, and survival outcomes were similar for both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Performing DLS during the preoperative work-up for CRS + HIPEC prevents non-therapeutic laparotomies in patients with colorectal PM. We recommend performing this laparoscopic screening in an experienced HIPEC center.

Delta peritoneal cancer index (ΔPCI): A new dynamic prognostic parameter for survival in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases.

BACKGROUND: The peritoneal cancer index (PCI) calculated during exploratory laparotomy is a strong prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (PM) who undergo cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC). Progression of the PCI between diagnostic laparoscopy (DLS) and potential CRS + HIPEC (ΔPCI) might be a more dynamic prognostic factor for OS after CRS + HIPEC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2012 and 2018, all colorectal PM patients who underwent an exploratory laparotomy for potential CRS + HIPEC after DLS were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were divided into stable disease (ΔPCI 0-3), mild progression (ΔPCI 4-9), or severe progression (ΔPCI ≥10). Kaplan-Meier analysis and a multivariate Cox regression were performed. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients (ΔPCI 0-3, n = 35; ΔPCI 4-9, n = 34; and ΔPCI ≥10, n = 15) were analysed. Median OS after CRS + HIPEC was significantly decreased in patients with a ΔPCI of 4-9 (35.1 [95% CI 25.5-44.6]) or ΔPCI ≥10 (24.1 [95% CI 11.7-36.5]) compared to patients with a ΔPCI of 0-3 (47.9 [95% CI 40.0-55.7], p = 0.004). In multivariate regression analysis, ΔPCI remained an independent risk factor for OS: ΔPCI 4-9 HR 3.1 (95% CI 1.4-7.2, p = 0.007) and ΔPCI ≥10 HR 4.4 (95% CI 1.5-13.1, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: A high ΔPCI is an independent dynamic prognostic factor for OS and might reflect a more aggressive tumour biology in patients with colorectal PM. HIPEC surgeons should be aware of a high-ΔPCI-associated diminished prognosis and should reconsider CRS + HIPEC when confronted with a ΔPCI ≥10.

Laparoscopic Resection of Residual Retroperitoneal Tumor Mass in Advanced Nonseminomatous Testicular Germ Cell Tumors; a Feasible and Safe Oncological Procedure.

Ten-year oncological experience of the University Medical Center Groningen with conventional laparotomy (C-RRRTM) and laparoscopy (L-RRRTM) is described concerning resection of residual retroperitoneal tumor masses (RRTM) in a large series of patients with advanced nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSTGCT). 150 consecutive patients with disseminated NSTGCT required adjunctive surgery after combination chemotherapy. L-RRRTM was scheduled in 89 and C-RRRTM in 61 patients. Median residual tumor diameter was 20 mm in the L-RRRTM versus 42 mm in the C-RRRTM group (p < 0.001). Conversion rate was 15% in the L-RRRTM group. Perioperative complications occurred in 5 patients (6%) in the L-RRRTM and 7 (12%, NS) in the C-RRRTM group. Median duration of L-RRRTM was 156 minutes vs. 221 minutes for C-RRRTM (p < 0.001). 17/89 patients in the L-RRRTM group had postoperative complications versus 18/61 patients in the C-RRRTM group (NS). Median postoperative stay in the L-RRRTM group was 2 vs. 6 days in the C-RRRTM group (p < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 79 months, 27 patients had recurrences: 8 (9%) in the L-RRRTM group and 19 (31%) in the C-RRRTM group (p < 0.001). Laparoscopic resection of RRTM for advanced NSTGCT is feasible and an oncologically safe option in appropriately selected patients.