Preoperative neutrophil-to-platelet ratio as a potential prognostic factor for gastric cancer with positive peritoneal lavage cytology in the absence of other non-curative factors: a multi-institutional dataset analysis.

PURPOSE: Peritoneal dissemination is the key to the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) and can be detected early with peritoneal lavage cytology. No studies have examined preoperative prognostic factors in GC patients who have positive cytology but no other non-curative factors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis using a multicenter database of 3575 patients who underwent gastrectomy between 2010 and 2014. Patients with positive peritoneal lavage cytology as a sole non-curative factor were retrieved, and correlations between parameters and the prognosis were compared. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were identified as eligible. In the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the neutrophil-to-platelet ratio (NPR) had the greatest area under the curve value and was selected. We divided the NPR into two groups based on the optimal cutoff value of the NPR (2.000), as determined by the ROC curve analysis. A high preoperative NPR was the only prognostic factor. The NPR-high group had shorter overall survival than the NPR-low group (hazard ratio 1.85, 95% confidence interval 1.05-3.28, P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Our analysis indicated that the preoperative NPR serves as a prognostic factor in GC patients with positive peritoneal lavage cytology in the absence of other non-curative factors.

[A Case of Effective Chemoradiotherapy for the Treatment of Distant Recurrence of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Anal Canal].

A 75-year-old woman diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal was treated using chemoradiotherapy and revealed a complete response to the tumor. After 6 months of treatment, swollen para-aortic lymph nodes were found to develop. The patient received the same regimen of chemoradiotherapy again, resulting in lymph node disappearance. However, 2 months later, PET-CT revealed accumulation of FDG in the axillary and cervical lymph nodes. Chemoradiotherapy was performed for the third time. Swollen lymph nodes were found to disappear. After 12 months, para-aortic, axillary, and cervical lymph nodes developed, following which she received BSC; subsequently, she died after 38 months of the carcinoma diagnosis.

[A Case of Isolated ACTH Deficiency Induced by Nivolumab in a Patient with Gastric Cancer Metastasis of the Peritoneum].

Nivolumab induces several immune-related adverse events. Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)deficiency has low frequency. A 73-year-old woman with gastric cancer metastasis of the peritoneum was treated with nivolumab as the third-line chemotherapy. After 5 courses of nivolumab, she developed hypothyroidism. After completing 12 courses, peritoneal metastasis increased. We evaluated the metastasis as progression of disease, so treatment with nivolumab was discontinued. Two weeks after the last dosage of nivolumab, she developed general fatigue and appetite loss. At first, we considered that these symptoms were caused by peritoneal metastasis, but progression was not indicated in the CT. Blood levels of cortisol and ACTH were very low. We suspected secondary adrenocortical insufficiency induced by nivolumab. Endocrinological examinations and the results of brain MRIsuggested isolated ACTH deficiency. This is the first report of isolated ACTH deficiency induced by nivolumab in a patient with gastric cancer metastasis of the peritoneum. The symptoms of adrenocortical insufficiency induced by nivolumab overlap with those of peritoneal metastasis, and thus, it may be difficult to confirm a differential diagnosis. When adrenocortical insufficiency is suspected, we should check the blood levels of cortisol and ACTH.