Delayed Presentation and Referral Time from General Practitioners Contribute to Increased Complicated Appendicitis during the Initial COVID-19 Pandemic Period in Japan.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the situation of acute appendicitis (AA) with respect to patients' and general practitioners' behaviors in a general community hospital in Japan. Methods: The surgical outcomes and periods from symptom onset to medical presentation besides practitioners' referral time for consecutive AA patients were compared between the control (January 2016 to March 2020) and COVID-19 periods (April 2020 to April 2021). Results: Eighty-three patients who underwent emergency surgery for AA were reviewed. Complicated appendicitis significantly increased in the COVID-19 period (63.6% vs. 31.2%, P = 0.023). In the COVID-19 period, the time from symptom onset to the medical presentation (2.2 vs. 0.9 days, P < 0.001) was significantly longer than in the control period. Among the patients who first presented to a general practitioner, the referral time from the practitioner to our hospital was significantly longer in the COVID-19 period (1.6 vs. 0.7 days, P = 0.017). Furthermore, among patients with a fever of higher than 38°C at medical presentation, the time from symptom onset to medical presentation was significantly longer in the COVID-19 period (3.0 vs. 0.7 days, P = 0.015). There was no difference in severe postoperative complications. Conclusions: Hesitation to seek surgical treatment for AA was seen in both the patients and practitioners in the COVID-19 period. The delay in surgical treatment presumably led to the increase in severe AA. In a pandemic era, timely care for emergent conditions is a crucial challenge.

Colonic gallstone ileus treated by a transanal ileus tube followed by spontaneous gallstone dislodgement: A case report.

A 71-year-old obese woman was referred to our hospital with lower left abdominal pain. Computed tomography showed a 46 mm elliptic calcification lodged in the sigmoid-descending colon junction (SDJ), which had been detected 5 years prior but was not within the gall bladder at presentation. Therefore, we diagnosed colonic gallstone ileus with obstructive colitis caused by a gallstone. Colonoscopy revealed a smooth gallstone impacted at the sigmoid-descending colon junction, which was not fixed and could be pushed proximally with the endoscope. Dislodgement of the stone was unsuccessful with both a large polypectomy snare and a retrieval basket. Considering the high risk of surgery, we chose a non-surgical treatment strategy for obstructive colitis. Accordingly, a transanal ileus tube was placed to drain the proximal portion of the gallstone. The drainage of the colon by the ileus tube was satisfactory; the proximal colon was decompressed, ameliorating the obstructive colitis. Five days after tube placement, a colonoscopy revealed spontaneous passage of the gallstone into the rectum where it was finally removed. Cholecystocolonic fistula formation was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. We decided to surgically close the cholecystocolonic fistula to prevent future retrograde biliary infections. The surgery used a surgical stapler and was successful, with an uneventful postoperative course. Since radical surgical treatment of colonic gallstones and cholecystoenteric fistulas has a risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality, this case illustrates the importance of thoroughly considering nonsurgical interventions and surgeries for the safe treatment of colonic gallstone ileus.

Proposal of a Novel Index of Abdominal Compliance and the Association With Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair.

BACKGROUND: In laparoscopic surgery, low pneumoperitoneum pressure is reported to reduce pain, which suggests that easing abdominal expansion is crucial for less postoperative pain. However, although abdominal compliance (AC) is associated with the degree of abdominal expansion, the role of AC in pain by pneumoperitoneum is unknown. In this study, we devised a novel index as a surrogate of AC to evaluate the association between AC and postoperative pain in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 83 patients who underwent elective transabdominal preperitoneal repair from 2019 to 2021 at Heisei Memorial Hospital. Insufflation pressure was set to low pressure (8 mm Hg). The abdominal compliance index [ACI; insufflated intra-abdominal volume (L)/body surface area (m2)] was utilized to evaluate the association between AC and postoperative pain. RESULTS: ACI was evaluated in 30 patients. Median ACI was 1.53 (1.00 to 2.48) L/m2. Although there was no difference in the average body constitution, the high ACI group (n=15) had significantly higher intra-abdominal volume at 8 mm Hg pressure, compared with the low ACI group (n=15) (3.1 vs. 2.1 L, P<0.0001). The high ACI group had significantly higher pain than the low ACI group on the day of surgery (2.0 vs. 1.0, P=0.006) and the day after (0.8 vs. 0.3, P=0.007). In addition, 46.7% of the patients in the high ACI group experienced pneumoperitoneum-associated pain, whereas patients in the low ACI group experienced incision pain only. Additional analgesics were administered in 53.3% of the high ACI group, compared with 33.3% in the low ACI group. CONCLUSIONS: AC was suggested to be a vital factor of postoperative pain after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Patients with high AC may be susceptible to higher pain by pneumoperitoneum, even in low-pressure settings.

Suppression of amyloid-ß secretion from neurons by cis-9, trans-11-octadecadienoic acid, an isomer of conjugated linoleic acid.

Two common conjugated linoleic acids (LAs), cis-9, trans-11 CLA (c9,t11 CLA) and trans-10, cis-12 CLA (t10,c12 CLA), exert various biological activities. However, the effect of CLA on the generation of neurotoxic amyloid-ß (Aß) protein remains unclear. We found that c9,t11 CLA significantly suppressed the generation of Aß in mouse neurons. CLA treatment did not affect the level of ß-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), a component of active γ-secretase complex presenilin 1 amino-terminal fragment, or Aß protein precursor (APP) in cultured neurons. BACE1 and γ-secretase activities were not directly affected by c9,t11 CLA. Localization of BACE1 and APP in early endosomes increased in neurons treated with c9,t11 CLA; concomitantly, the localization of both proteins was reduced in late endosomes, the predominant site of APP cleavage by BACE1. The level of CLA-containing phosphatidylcholine (CLA-PC) increased dramatically in neurons incubated with CLA. Incorporation of phospholipids containing c9,t11 CLA, but not t10,c12 CLA, into the membrane may affect the localization of some membrane-associated proteins in intracellular membrane compartments. Thus, in neurons treated with c9,t11 CLA, reduced colocalization of APP with BACE1 in late endosomes may decrease APP cleavage by BACE1 and subsequent Aß generation. Our findings suggest that the accumulation of c9,t11 CLA-PC/LPC in neuronal membranes suppresses the production of neurotoxic Aß in neurons.

Significance of umbilical trocar size and intra-abdominal pressure on postoperative pain after transabdominal preperitoneal repair for inguinal hernia.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is reported to be associated with lower postoperative pain than open repair. However, in the actual clinical setting, some patients experience relatively severe pain. This study aimed to elucidate surgical factors that affect pain after transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair. METHODS: We evaluated 199 patients who underwent elective TAPP for inguinal hernia from 2014 to 2019 in Heisei Memorial Hospital. The umbilical trocar size was changed from 12 to 5 mm from October 2017. The pneumoperitoneum intra-abdominal pressure was changed from 10 to 8 mmHg from 2019. Postoperative pain scores and analgesics were compared between patients who were grouped according to trocar size and intra-abdominal pressure, as well as 80 patients who received open repair. RESULTS: Patients with a 12 mm trocar had significantly higher pain than open repair patients (P < .0001). Patients with a 5 mm umbilical trocar and 8 mm Hg intra-abdominal pressure had significantly lower pain than a 12 mm trocar (P = .025) and did not significantly differ with pain after open repair. Analgesic use significantly decreased in patients using a 5 mm trocar than 12 mm (P = .002). CONCLUSION: Umbilical trocar size and pneumoperitoneum intra-abdominal pressure were significantly associated with post-TAPP pain. Using a 5 mm umbilical trocar and 8 mm Hg intra-abdominal pressure achieved pain levels as comparatively low as open repair.

New insight into the association between bile infection and clinically relevant pancreatic fistula in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The association between bacterial infection and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) has not been fully elucidated. METHODS: Microbiological data for intraoperative bile culture (BC) and drain culture on postoperative day 4 (DC) were collected. The study population was classified into the following three groups: P1 (positive BC and DC), P2 (positive BC and negative DC), and N (negative BC). A total of 209 patients (P1: 38, P2: 72, and N: 99) who underwent PD between May 2013 and May 2018 met the inclusion criteria of the study. RESULTS: The rate of CR-POPF was significantly higher in the P1 group (34.2%) than in the P2 (12.5%; P = .007) and N groups (14.1%; P = .008). Between P1 and P2 groups, a significant difference was observed in the proportion of Enterococcus faecalis grown in BC (42.1% vs 4.2%; P < .001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of E faecalis in bile was independently associated with CR-POPF. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of both bile and postoperative abdominal fluid infections can be more accurate in predicting CR-POPF. Furthermore, the presence of E faecalis in bile may serve as a novel surrogate marker for CR-POPF.

Sustained Elevation of Postoperative Serum Level of Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 is High-Risk Stigmata for Primary Hepatic Recurrence in Patients with Curatively Resected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Survival after surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) is poor and heterogeneous, even for curative (R0) resection. Serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 levels are important prognostic markers for resected PA. However, sustained elevation of CA19-9 in association with the patterns of recurrence has been rarely investigated. METHODS: Patients who underwent R0 resection (n = 539) were grouped according to postoperative serum CA19-9 levels (Group E: sustained elevation; Group N: no elevation). Clinicopathological factors, patterns of recurrence, and survival were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Group E (n = 159) had significantly shorter median overall survival (17.1 vs. 35.4 months, p < 0.0001) than Group N (n = 380). Postoperative CA19-9 elevation was a significant independent predictor of poor survival in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 1.98, p < 0.0001). The rate of hepatic recurrence in Group E was 2.6-fold higher than in Group N (45% vs. 17%, p < 0.0001). Postoperative CA19-9 elevation was a strongest independent predictor of primary hepatic recurrence (p < 0.0001) by a multiple regression model. Loco-regional, peritoneal, and other distant recurrence did not differ between the groups. The extent of preoperative CA19-9 elevation was correlated sustained elevation of CA19-9 after surgery (p < 0.0001) and primary hepatic recurrence (p = 0.0019). CONCLUSIONS: Sustained CA19-9 elevation was strong predictor of primary hepatic recurrence and short survival in cases of R0 resection for PA.

Factors associated with failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: The importance of completing adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer is becoming recognized. However, the clinicopathological factors associated with failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy remain unclear. METHODS: A total of 135 patients were analyzed to identify the factors associated with failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Ninety patients completed planned adjuvant chemotherapy, whereas 45 patients failed to complete adjuvant chemotherapy. Lower preoperative prognostic nutritional index, intraoperative blood transfusion, and organ and/or space surgical site infection, and advanced tumor stage were associated with failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was associated with significantly lower prognostic nutritional index, less incidence of organ and/or space surgical site infection, and earlier tumor stage, suggesting the conflicting effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on completing adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Several clinicopathological factors including patient conditions and perioperative events were associated with failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy.

Do pancrelipase delayed-release capsules have a protective role against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease after pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with pancreatic cancer? A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to investigate whether pancrelipase protects against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development after pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with pancreatic cancer better than conventional pancreatic enzyme supplementation. METHODS: A total of 57 patients were randomly assigned to the study group (n = 29; pancrelipase replacement therapy) or the control group (n = 28; conventional pancreatic enzyme supplementation). NAFLD was defined as a liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio less than 0.9 on CT. Clinical and laboratory findings were also assessed. RESULTS: NAFLD was observed in 6/29 patients (21%) in the study group, and 11/28 patients (39%) in the control group, but this was not a statistically significant difference. In the control group, crossover to pancrelipase replacement therapy upon NAFLD diagnosis produced improvement in five out of 10 patients. Multivariate analysis showed that advanced age and extended resection were independent risk factors for NAFLD development. CONCLUSION: This RCT did not show a significant protective effect of pancrelipase replacement therapy over conventional pancreatic enzyme supplementation on NAFLD development after pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer. Further studies are clearly required to investigate the etiology of and new therapeutic strategies for treatment-resistant NAFLD (UMIN 000019817).

Prognosis after surgical treatment for pancreatic cancer in patients aged 80 years or older: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal therapeutic strategy for very elderly pancreatic cancer patients remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of pancreatic resection in patients 80 years of age or older. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter analysis of 1401 patients who had undergone pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer was performed. The patients aged ≥ 80 years (n = 99) were compared with a control group <80 years of age (n = 1302). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the postoperative complications and mortality between the two groups. However, the prognosis of octogenarians was poorer than that of younger patients for both resectable and borderline resectable tumors. Importantly, there were few long-term survivors in the elderly group, especially among those with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. A multivariate analysis of the prognostic factors in the very elderly patients indicated that the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy was the only significant factor. In addition, preoperative albumin level was the only independent risk factor for a failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the postoperative prognosis in octogenarian patients was not good as that in younger patients possibly due to less frequent completion of adjuvant chemotherapy.

[A Case of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Its Disease Progression Could Be Controlled by Multimodal Treatment].

The patient was a 73-year-old man, diagnosed with advanced huge hepatocellular carcinoma with a tumor thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava and extrahepatic metastases. Radiation therapy(50 Gy)was applied for the bone metastases, primary tumor, and tumor thrombus, and the patient received a cisplatin transcatheter arterial infusion(100mg/ body, 5 courses). Sorafenib was administered orally once the local lesion was under control. The tumor showed a partial response according to the RECIST criteria, but the tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava almost disappeared. The presence of a tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava must be regarded as an oncologic emergency. Acisplatin transcatheter arterial infusion and radiation therapy may be treatment options for unresectable cases.

[Huge Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein and Inferior Vena Cava Thrombi Treated with Curative Liver Resection and Perioperative Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy - A Case Report].

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with main portal vein(MPV)and/or the inferior vena cava(IVC)tumor thrombi is dismal. The management of HCC with severe tumor thrombus is complicated. In this study, we report a case of HCC with tumor thrombi in the MPV and IVC that was successfullytreated via liver resection and perioperative hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAI). A 68-year-old man was referred to our institution to treat huge HCC lesion in the right lobe of the liver. Abdominal computed tomography(CT)revealed a tumor(12 cm in diameter)in the right hepatic lobe and tumor thrombi in the MPV and IVC. The patient was initiallytreated with HAI(cisplatin 100mg/body). After 3 courses of HAI, the tumor was dramaticallyreduced in size, and the thrombus in the IVC had disappeared; however, the thrombus in the MPV remained. Therefore, we performed right hepatectomy, wedge resection of the IVC, combined resection of the MPV, and portal vein reconstruction. The histopathological findings of the resected specimen revealed that viable cancer cells were observed onlyin an 8×8mm lesion. Subsequently, HAI was performed as adjuvant therapy for 3 courses. The patient died of other causes 2 years 3 months after surgery. There was no sign of recurrence at the time of death. This case suggested that perioperative HAI and liver resection mayrepresent an effective treatment strategyfor HCC with severe tumor thrombus.

Phase I study assessing the feasibility of the triple combination chemotherapy of SOXIRI (S-1/oxaliplatin/irinotecan) in patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the recommended dose (RD) of a biweekly S-1, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (SOXIRI) regimen in patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: This phase I study used a traditional "3+3" dose-escalation design, with four dose levels. A dose-escalation schedule consisted of two doses of S-1 (60 and 80 mg/m(2) twice daily) for 2 weeks in alternate-day administration, three doses of irinotecan (125, 150, and 180 mg/m(2)) on day 1, and a single dose of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2)) on day 1 of a 2-week cycle. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were assessed in the first four cycles to determine the maximum tolerated dose. This clinical study was registered at UMIN000014339. RESULTS: Fifteen patients received this regimen (median, eight cycles; range 4-12). At dose level 3 (S-1, 80 mg/m(2); irinotecan, 150 mg/m(2)), 2/6 patients experienced DLTs of grade 3 fatigue and grade 4 neutropenia. At dose level 4, all three patients experienced DLTs: grade 3 fatigue (n = 1) and grade 4 neutropenia (n = 2). The RD was 80, 85, and 150 mg/m(2) of S-1, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, respectively. We found the following: response rate, 47 %; disease control rate, 80%; median progression-free survival, 6.7 months; overall survival, 13.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: The SOXIRI regimen's RD is 80, 85, and 150 mg/m(2) of S-1, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, respectively.

Reappraisal of Total Pancreatectomy in 45 Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in the Modern Era Using Matched-Pairs Analysis: Multicenter Study Group of Pancreatobiliary Surgery in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to reappraise the clinical role of total pancreatectomy with curative intent in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: In 2001 to 2011 database from 7 institutions in Japan, 45 (3.1%) of 1451 patients with PDAC underwent total pancreatectomy (TP group), and 885 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD group). A matched-pairs group consisted of 45 patients matched for age, sex, year, resectability status, and neoadjuvant therapy (matched-PD group). Clinicopathological data, overall survival, and disease-free survival were compared between groups. RESULTS: Clinical features of the TP group revealed higher-stage disease, greater surgical stress, a higher frequency of lymph node metastasis, and a lower adjuvant chemotherapy completion rate compared with the PD group (P < 0.05). Overall survival and disease-free survival in the TP group were significantly worse than those in the PD group (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed resectability status, neoadjuvant therapy, blood transfusion, lymph node metastasis, and adjuvant therapy to be significant prognostic factors. No differences in mortality and morbidity rates were observed between the 2 groups. A matched-pairs analysis revealed similar surgical outcomes and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical outcome of total pancreatectomy for patients with PDAC is acceptable. When margin-negative resection is expected, total pancreatectomy should not be abandoned in the modern era.

Impact of preoperative asymptomatic renal dysfunction on clinical course after pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although recent large-scale clinical studies have shown that preoperative renal insufficiency is associated with increased risk of postoperative complications after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), it is unknown whether asymptomatic renal dysfunction has an impact on postoperative course after PD. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-four patients who underwent PD between 2007 and 2013 were enrolled. Renal function was evaluated by the preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Patients were divided into two groups according to the cutoff value of 55 of eGFR. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were classified as the low eGFR group, while 219 were classified as the normal group. There were differences between groups in age, comorbidity and pancreatic texture. The incidence of overall postoperative complication, grade B/C pancreatic fistula and severe complication in the low eGFR group was significantly higher than that in the normal group. Multivariate analysis identified low eGFR as an independent risk factor for severe postoperative complications and grade B/C pancreatic fistula after PD. However, there were no differences in mortality and survival between the low and normal eGFR groups. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated for the first time that preoperative asymptomatic renal dysfunction may be a significant risk factor for severe morbidity and clinically relevant pancreatic fistula after PD.

Impact of Smoking on Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Current Chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Smoking may affect pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutic agents and hemodynamics of the smokers, thereby influencing adverse events and efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). The aim of this study was to clarify how smoking totally affected patients with PC receiving current chemotherapy. METHODS: We evaluated the impact of smoking status on the performance of chemotherapy and survival in 262 patients with PC including 158 resectable and 104 unresectable PC. RESULTS: There were more male and younger patients in current smokers than in nonsmokers. In unresectable PC, current smokers had more metastatic tumors than locally advanced tumors compared with nonsmokers. In current smokers receiving chemotherapy, the baseline white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and hemoglobin concentration were significantly higher in current smokers than in nonsmokers. Furthermore, grades 3 to 4 neutropenia was observed more often in nonsmokers than smokers. On the other hand, the performance and efficacy of the planned adjuvant chemotherapy were similar between smokers and nonsmokers. More importantly, there was no significant difference in overall prognosis between smokers and nonsmokers receiving chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking status has no significant impact on the efficacy of current chemotherapy for both resectable and unresectable PC.

Prognostic Significance of Muscle Attenuation in Pancreatic Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidences have gradually revealed the skeletal muscle attenuation (MA) was not only reflected the accumulation of lipids in skeletal muscle but also associated with physiological and pathological states. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of MA on the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT). METHODS: Eighty-three patients with pancreatic cancer who received NACRT were enrolled. Patients were divided according to their Hounsfield units of the skeletal muscle at the third lumbar vertebra in CT. The lower quartile was defined as MA group and the remainder as control group. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in overall survival between pre-NACRT MA and control groups. In contrast, patients with post-NACRT MA had a significantly poorer prognosis than patients without. The patients in the post-NACRT MA group were significantly older than patients in the control group. There were no significant differences in most clinicopathological and perioperative factors between both groups. However, patients with post-NACRT MA had a longer hospital stay than patients without. Furthermore, the incompletion rate of the proposed adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly higher in the MA group than control. Importantly, multivariate analysis indicated that post-NACRT MA was an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle attenuation may have a significant impact in pancreatic cancer patients treated with multimodal therapy. Therefore, our data may provide new insights into perioperative patient care to improve the prognosis of resectable pancreatic cancer.

Optimal indication of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: Much attention has been paid to preoperative treatment as a new strategy especially for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC). The purpose of this study was to define the optimal indication of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We analyzed consecutive 184 patients who had undergone pancreatic resection in Nara Medical University Hospital. Resectability status was classified by NCCN guidelines. Full-dose gemcitabine with concurrent radiation was used as NACRT. We evaluated 85 patients treated with NACRT in comparison with 99 patients without NACRT as control. RESULTS: The regimen of NACRT was well tolerated and feasible. The perioperative outcomes were almost comparable. The postoperative complications were significantly less frequent in NACRT group than non-NACRT group. The pathological effects on both resectable and borderline tumors were favorable in NACRT group compared to non-NACRT group. The overall survival of resectable pancreatic cancer was significantly better than that of BRPC regardless of whether the patients were treated with or without NACRT. The prognosis of the patients with NACRT in resectable tumors was significantly better than without, while there was no significant difference in BRPC. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of various factors in the patients with NACRT identified resectability status and completion of adjuvant chemotherapy as independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: NACRT did not improve the prognosis of the patients with BRPC, although it induced substantial pathological antitumor effect. In contrast, the prognosis of resectable pancreatic cancer treated with NACRT was favorable. Therefore, resectable pancreatic cancer may be good indication for multimodal treatment including NACRT.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Resectability Status for Pancreatic Carcinoma Predicts Overall Survival.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of preoperative resectability status, as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), from the viewpoint of overall survival. METHODS: A total of consecutive 704 patients with pancreatic head carcinoma who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with upfront surgery at seven Japanese hospitals between 2001 and 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. According to the NCCN definition of preoperative resectability status, tumors were divided into resectable tumors without vascular contact (R group), resectable tumors with portal or superior mesenteric vein (PV/SMV) contact of ≦180° (R-PV group), borderline resectable(BR) tumors with PV/SMV contact of >180° (BR-PV group), and BR tumors with arterial contact (BR-A group). The relationship between the NCCN definition of preoperative resectability status and overall survival was analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 704 patients, 389, 114, 145, and 56 were classified into the R group, the R-PV group, the BR-PV group, and the BR-A group, respectively. Overall survival of the BR-PV and BR-A groups was significantly worse than that of the R group and R-PV groups (P < 0.05), although there was no significant difference in overall survival between the R group and the R-PV group (P = 0.310). Multivariate analysis revealed that PV/SMV contact of >180° (P = 0.008) and arterial contact (P < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of overall survival. CONCLUSION: From the viewpoint of overall survival, the NCCN definition of preoperative resectability status was valid.