Optimizing care for gastric cancer with overt bleeding:Is systemic therapy a valid option?

Gastric cancer(GC)and gastroesophageal junction cancer(GEJC)represent a significant burden globally,with complications such as overt bleeding(OB)further exacerbating patient outcomes.A recent study by Yao et al evaluated the effectiveness and safety of systematic treatment in GC/GEJC patients presenting with OB.Using propensity score matching,the study balanced the comparison groups to investigate overall survival and treatment-related adverse events.The study's findings emphasize that systematic therapy can be safe and effective and contribute to the ongoing debate about the management of advanced GC/GEJC with OB,highlighting the complexities of treatment decisions in these high-risk patients.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for undifferentiated type early gastric cancer over 2 cm with R0 resection

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for over 2 cm in size undifferentiated type(UD type)early gastric cancer(EGC)confined to the mucosa is not only challenging,but also long-term outcomes are not well known.AIM To evaluate the long-term outcomes of ESD done for UD type EGCs confined to the mucosa over 2 cm in size and compare the results with those where the lesions were less than 2 cm.METHODS 143 patients with UD type EGC confirmed on histology after ESD at a tertiary hospital were reviewed.Cases with synchronous and metachronous lesions and a case with emergency surgery after ESD were excluded.A total of 137 cases were enrolled.79 cases who underwent R0 resection were divided into 2 cm or less(group A)and over 2 cm(group B)in size.RESULTS Among 79 patients who underwent R0 resection,the number in group A and B were 51 and 28,respectively.The mean follow-up period(SD)was 79.71±45.42 months.There was a local recurrence in group A(1/51,2%)and group B(1/28,3.6%)respectively.This patient in group A underwent surgery while the patient in group B underwent repeated ESD with no further recurrences in both patients.There was no regional lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,and deaths in both groups.With R0 resection strategy for ESD on lesions over 2 cm,20.4%(28/137)of patients were able to avoid surgery compared with expanded indication.CONCLUSION If R0 resection is achieved by ESD,UD type EGCs over 2 cm also showed good and similar clinical outcomes as compared to lesions less than 2 cm when followed for over 5 years.With R0 resection strategy,several patients can avoid surgery.

Impact of propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia on cognition and emotion in gastric cancer patients undergoing radical resection

BACKGROUND Propofol and sevoflurane are commonly used anesthetic agents for maintenance anesthesia during radical resection of gastric cancer.However,there is a debate concerning their differential effects on cognitive function,anxiety,and depression in patients undergoing this procedure.AIM To compare the effects of propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia on postoperative cognitive function,anxiety,depression,and organ function in patients undergoing radical resection of gastric cancer.METHODS A total of 80 patients were involved in this research.The subjects were divided into two groups:Propofol group and sevoflurane group.The evaluation scale for cognitive function was the Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment(LOTCA),and anxiety and depression were assessed with the aid of the self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)and self-rating depression scale(SDS).Hemodynamic indicators,oxidative stress levels,and pulmonary function were also measured.RESULTS The LOTCA score at 1 d after surgery was significantly lower in the propofol group than in the sevoflurane group.Additionally,the SAS and SDS scores of the sevoflurane group were significantly lower than those of the propofol group.The sevoflurane group showed greater stability in heart rate as well as the mean arterial pressure compared to the propofol group.Moreover,the sevoflurane group displayed better pulmonary function and less lung injury than the propofol group.CONCLUSION Both propofol and sevoflurane could be utilized as maintenance anesthesia during radical resection of gastric cancer.Propofol anesthesia has a minimal effect on patients'pulmonary function,consequently enhancing their postoperative recovery.Sevoflurane anesthesia causes less impairment on patients'cognitive function and mitigates negative emotions,leading to an improved postoperative mental state.Therefore,the selection of anesthetic agents should be based on the individual patient's specific circumstances.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in elderly patients

BACKGROUND With advancements in the development of endoscopic technologies,the endo-scopic submucosal dissection(ESD)has been one of the gold-standard therapies for early gastric cancer.AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety ESD in the treatment of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in the elderly patients.METHODS Seventy-eight elderly patients with early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University were se-lected and classified into two groups according to the different surgical therapies they received between January 2021 and June 2022.Among them,39 patients treated with ESD were included in an experimental group,and 39 patients treated with endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)were included in a control group.We compared the basic intraoperative conditions,postoperative short-term recovery,long-term recovery effects and functional status of gastric mucosa between the two groups;the basic intraoperative conditions included lesion resection,intra-operative bleeding and operation time;the postoperative short-term recovery assessment indexes were length of hospital stay and incidence of surgical complic-ations;and the long-term recovery assessment indexes were the recurrence rate at 1 year postoperatively and the survival situation at 1 year and 3 years postoper-atively;and we compared the preoperative and predischarge serum pepsinogen I(PG I)and PG II levels and PG I/PG II ratio in the two groups before surgery and discharge.RESULTS The curative resection rate and the rate of en bloc resection were higher in the experimental group than in the control group.The intraoperative bleeding volume was higher in the experimental group than in the control group.The operation time was longer in the experimental group than that in the control group,and the rate for base residual focus was lower in the experimental group than that of the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).The length of hospital stay was longer in the experi-mental group than in the control group,and the incidence of surgical complications,1-year postoperative recu-rrence rate and 3-year postoperative survival rate were lower in the experimental group than in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).However,the difference in the 1-year postoperative survival rate was not statistically significant between the two groups(P>0.05).Before discharge,PG I and PG I/PG II ratio were elevated in both groups compared with the preoperative period,and the above indexes were higher in the experimental group than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(both P<0.05).Moreover,before discharge,PG II level was lower in both groups compared with the preoperative period,and the level was lower in the experimental group than in the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with EMR,ESD surgery is more thorough.It reduces the rate of base residual focus,recurrence rate,surgical complications,and promotes the recovery of gastric cells and glandular function.It is safe and suitable for clinical application.

Double role of depression in gastric cancer:As a causative factor and as consequence

In this editorial we comment on the article“Hotspots and frontiers of the rela-tionship between gastric cancer and depression:A bibliometric study”.Gastric cancer(GC)is a common malignancy in the digestive system with increased mortality and morbidity rates globally.Standard treatments,such as gastrectomy,negatively impact patients'quality of life and beyond the physical strain,GC patients face psychological challenges,including anxiety and depression.The prevalence of depression can be as high as 57%,among gastrointestinal cancer patients.Due to the advancements in treatment effectiveness and increased 5-year overall survival rates,attention has shifted to managing psychological effects.However,the significance of managing the depression doesn’t lie solely in the need for a better psychological status.Depression leads to chronic stress acti-vating the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis,leading release of catecholamines inducing tumor proliferation,migration,and metastasis,contributing to GC progression.The dysregulation of neurotrans-mitters and the involvement of various signaling pathways underscore the complex interplay between depression and GC.Comprehensive strategies are required to address the psychological aspects of GC,including region-specific interventions and increased monitoring for depression.Understanding the intricate relationship between depression and GC progression is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies and improving overall outcomes for patients facing this complex disease.In this Editorial we delve into double role of depression in the pathogenesis of GC and as a complication of it.

Streptococcus anginosus in the development and treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer

The microbiota is strongly association with cancer.Studies have shown significant differences in the gastric microbiota between patients with gastric cancer(GC)patients and noncancer patients,suggesting that the microbiota may play a role in the development of GC.Although Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is widely recognized as a primary risk factor for GC,recent studies based on microbiota sequencing technology have revealed that non-H.pylori microbes also have a significant impact on GC.A recent study discovered that Streptococcus anginosus(S.anginosus)is more prevalent in the gastric mucosa of patients with GC than in that of those without GC.S.anginosus infection can spontaneously induce chronic gastritis,mural cell atrophy,mucoid chemotaxis,and heterotrophic hyperplasia,which promote the development of precancerous lesions of GC(PLGC).S.anginosus also disrupts the gastric barrier function,promotes the proliferation of GC cells,and inhibits apoptosis.However,S.anginosus is underrepresented in the literature.Recent reports suggest that it may cause precancerous lesions,indicating its emerging pathogenicity.Modern novel molecular diagnostic techniques,such as polymerase chain reaction,genetic testing,and Ultrasensitive Chromosomal Aneuploidy Detection,can be used to gastric precancerous lesions via microbial markers.Therefore,we present a concise summary of the relationship between S.anginosus and PLGC.Our aim was to further investigate new methods of preventing and treating PLGC by exploring the pathogenicity of S.anginosus on PLGC.

A pilot clinical study to evaluate feasibility of using single patient classifier as a prognostic test in stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ gastric cancer patients

Objective:Precision medicine approaches emphasize the importance of reliable prognostic tools for guiding individualized therapy decisions.In this study,we evaluated the clinical feasibility of the single patient classifier(SPC)test,a new clinical-grade prognostic assay,in stageⅡ-Ⅲgastric cancer patients.Methods:A prospective multicenter study was conducted,involving 237 patients who underwent gastrectomy between September 2019 and August 2020 across nine hospitals.The SPC test was employed to stratify patients into risk groups,and its feasibility and performance were evaluated.The primary endpoint was the proportion of the cases in which the test results were timely delivered before selecting postoperative treatment.Furthermore,3-year disease-free survivals of risk groups were analyzed.Results:The SPC test met the primary endpoint criteria.The 99.5%of SPC tests were timely delivered to hospitals before the postoperative treatment started.In a clinical setting,the median time from the specimen transfer to laboratory to the result delivery to hospital was 4 d.Furthermore,3-year disease-free survivals were significantly different between risk groups classified with SPC tests.Conclusions:This study highlights the SPC test's feasibility in offering crucial information timely delivered for making informed decisions regarding postoperative treatment strategies.It also provides evidence to support the implementation of a future prospective clinical trial aimed at evaluating the clinical utility of the SPC test in guiding personalized treatment decisions for gastric cancer patients.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer:A major challenge for the west

Gastric cancer(GC)is the 5th most common cancer and the 3rd most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide.Two main endoscopic resective techniques exist for early GC(EGC):Endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)and endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD).ESD has been widely embraced in the last decade because it allows radical en bloc resections and is associated with better outcomes,as compared to EMR.However,the lack of training opportunities and flat learning curve due to low volume of EGC cases represent major obstacles to obtain proficiency on ESD in the West.As this procedure is highly efficient for the treatment of EGC,dedicated training programs with a stepwise approach and updated guidelines for ESD embracement are needed in Western countries.

Early gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection:Not to be ignored!

This editorial comments on the article“Efficacy of multi-slice spiral computed tomography in evaluating gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection”.We focus on the importance of paying more attention to postendoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)gastric cancer recurrence in patients with early gastric cancer(EGC)and how to manage it effectively.ESD has been a wellknown treatment and the mainstay for EGC,with the advantages of less invasion and fewer complications when compared with traditional surgical procedures.Despite a lower local recurrence rate after ESD,the problem of postoperative recurrence in patients with EGC has become increasingly non-ignorable with the global popularization of ESD technology and the increasing number of post-ESD patients.

Prognostic analysis of related factors of adverse reactions to immunotherapy in advanced gastric cancer and establishment of a nomogram model

BACKGROUND Immunotherapy for advanced gastric cancer has attracted widespread attention in recent years.However,the adverse reactions of immunotherapy and its relationship with patient prognosis still need further study.In order to determine the association between adverse reaction factors and prognosis,the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic prognostic analysis.By comprehensively evaluating the clinical data of patients with advanced gastric cancer treated by immunotherapy,a nomogram model will be established to predict the survival status of patients more accurately.AIM To explore the characteristics and predictors of immune-related adverse reactions(irAEs)in advanced gastric cancer patients receiving immunotherapy with programmed death protein-1(PD-1)inhibitors and to analyze the correlation between irAEs and patient prognosis.METHODS A total of 140 patients with advanced gastric cancer who were treated with PD-1 inhibitors in our hospital from June 2021 to October 2023 were selected.Patients were divided into the irAEs group and the non-irAEs group according to whether or not irAEs occurred.Clinical features,manifestations,and prognosis of irAEs in the two groups were collected and analyzed.A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors affecting the occurrence of irAEs,and the prediction model of irAEs was established.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the ability of different indicators to predict irAEs.A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the correlation between irAEs and prognosis.The Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the related factors affecting the prognosis of patients.RESULTS A total of 132 patients were followed up,of whom 63(47.7%)developed irAEs.We looked at the two groups’clinical features and found that the two groups were statistically different in age≥65 years,Ki-67 index,white blood cell count,neutrophil count,and regulatory T cell(Treg)count(all P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Treg count was a protective factor affecting irAEs occurrence(P=0.030).The ROC curve indicated that Treg+Ki-67+age(≥65 years)combined could predict irAEs well(area under the curve=0.753,95%confidence interval:0.623-0.848,P=0.001).Results of the Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that progressionfree survival(PFS)was longer in the irAEs group than in the non-irAEs group(P=0.001).Cox proportional hazard regression analysis suggested that the occurrence of irAEs was an independent factor for PFS(P=0.006).CONCLUSION The number of Treg cells is a separate factor that affects irAEs in advanced gastric cancer patients receiving PD-1 inhibitor immunotherapy.irAEs can affect the patients’PFS and result in longer PFS.Treg+Ki-67+age(≥65 years old)combined can better predict the occurrence of adverse reactions.

Prospects in the application of ultrasensitive chromosomal aneuploidy detection in precancerous lesions of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer(GC)is a prevalent malignant tumor within the digestive system,with over 40%of new cases and deaths related to GC globally occurring in China.Despite advancements in treatment modalities,such as surgery supplemented by adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapeutic agents,the prognosis for GC remains poor.New targeted therapies and immunotherapies are currently under invest-igation,but no significant breakthroughs have been achieved.Studies have indicated that GC is a heterogeneous disease,encompassing multiple subtypes with distinct biological characteristics and roles.Consequently,personalized treatment based on clinical features,pathologic typing,and molecular typing is crucial for the diagnosis and management of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer(PLGC).Current research has categorized GC into four subtypes:Epstein-Barr virus-positive,microsatellite instability,genome stability,and chromosome instability(CIN).Technologies such as multi-omics analysis and gene sequencing are being employed to identify more suitable novel testing methods in these areas.Among these,ultrasensitive chromosomal aneuploidy detection(UCAD)can detect CIN at a genome-wide level in subjects using low-depth whole genome sequencing technology,in conjunction with bioinformatics analysis,to achieve qualitative and quantitative detection of chromosomal stability.This editorial reviews recent research advancements in UCAD technology for the diagnosis and management of PLGC.

Nomogram model including LATS2 expression was constructed to predict the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer after surgery

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Prognostic assessments are typically based on the tumor-node-metastasis(TNM)staging system,which does not account for the molecular heterogeneity of this disease.LATS2,a tumor suppressor gene involved in the Hippo signaling pathway,has been identified as a potential prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer.AIM To construct and validate a nomogram model that includes LATS2 expression to predict the survival prognosis of advanced gastric cancer patients following ra-dical surgery,and compare its predictive performance with traditional TNM staging.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 245 advanced gastric cancer patients from the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University was conducted.The patients were divided into a training group(171 patients)and a validation group(74 patients)to deve-lop and test our prognostic model.The performance of the model was determined using C-indices,receiver operating characteristic curves,calibration plots,and decision curves.RESULTS The model demonstrated a high predictive accuracy with C-indices of 0.829 in the training set and 0.862 in the validation set.Area under the curve values for three-year and five-year survival prediction were significantly robust,suggesting an excellent discrimination ability.Calibration plots confirmed the high concordance between the predictions and actual survival outcomes.CONCLUSION We developed a nomogram model incorporating LATS2 expression,which significantly outperformed conven-tional TNM staging in predicting the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer patients postsurgery.This model may serve as a valuable tool for individualized patient management,allowing for more accurate stratification and im-proved clinical outcomes.Further validation in larger patient cohorts will be necessary to establish its generaliza-bility and clinical utility.

Role of immunotherapy in gastric cancer with liver metastasis

Gastric cancer continues to be a significant issue for public health,marked by its widespread occurrence and high mortality rates,even as the incidence of the disease shows a declining trend.The liver is the primary site for metastatic spread,with the peritoneum,lungs,and bones also being common targets.With the advent of biologic treatments and the introduction of immunotherapy for patients with metastatic conditions,the options to treat metastatic gastric cancer have expanded.This diversified therapeutic approach is designed to enhance patient quality of life and prolong survival,showcasing the progress in treatment modalities for individuals with gastric cancer and liver metastases.

Inetetamab combined with S-1 and oxaliplatin as first-line treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-positive advanced gastric cancer have poor outcomes.Trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy is the first-line standard treatment for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer.Inetetamab is a novel anti-HER2 drug,and its efficacy and safety in gastric cancer have not yet been reported.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the S-1 plus oxaliplatin(SOX)regimen combined with inetetamab as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer.METHODS Thirty-eight patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer or gastroeso-phageal junction adenocarcinoma were randomly divided into two groups:One group received inetetamab combined with the SOX regimen,and the other group received trastuzumab combined with the SOX regimen.After 4-6 cycles,patients with stable disease received maintenance therapy.The primary endpoints were progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS),and the secondary endpoints were the objective response rate,disease control rate,and adverse events(AEs).RESULTS Thirty-seven patients completed the trial,with 18 patients in the inetetamab group and 19 patients in the trastuzumab group.In the inetetamab group,the median PFS was 8.5 months,whereas it was 7.3 months in the trastuzumab group(P=0.046);this difference was significant.The median OS in the inetetamab group vs the trastuzumab group was 15.4 months vs 14.3 months(P=0.33),and the objective response rate was 50%vs 42%(P=0.63),respectively;these differences were not significant.Common AEs included leukopenia,thrombocytopenia,nausea,and vomiting.The incidence rates of grade≥3 AEs were 56%in the inetetamab group and 47%in the trastuzumab group(P=0.63),with no significant difference.CONCLUSION In the first-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer,inetetamab and trastuzumab showed comparable efficacy.The inetetamab group showed superior PFS,and both groups had good safety.

Editorial article to:Animal experimental study on magnetic anchor technique-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection of early gastric cancer

In this editorial we comment on the article published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2023;15(11):634-680.Gastric cancer(GC)remains the fifth most common malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.The overall prevalence of GC has declined,although that of proximal GC has increased over time.Thus,a significant proportion of GC cases and deaths can be avoided if preventive interventions are taken.Early GC(EGC)is defined as GC confined to the mucosa or submucosa.Endoscopic resection is considered the most appropriate treatment for precancerous gastrointestinal lesions improving patient quality of life,with reduced rates of complications,shorter hospitalization period,and lower costs when compared to surgical resection.Endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)and endoscopic sub-mucosal dissection(ESD)are representative endoscopic treatments for EGC and precancerous gastric lesions.Standard EMR implies injection of a saline solution into the sub-mucosal space,followed by excision of the lesion using a snare.Complete resection rates vary depending on the size and severity of the lesion.When using conventional EMR methods for lesions less than 1 cm in size,the complete resection rate is approximately 60%,whereas for lesions larger than 2 cm,the complete resection rate is low(20%-30%).ESD can be used to remove tumors exceeding 2 cm in diameter and lesions associated with ulcers or submucosal fibrosis.Compared with EMR,ESD has higher en bloc resection rates(90.2%vs 51.7%),higher complete resection rates(82.1 vs 42.2%),and lower recurrence rates(0.65%vs 6.05%).Thus,innovative techniques have been introduced.

Celecoxib enhances the response of tumor cells to cisplatin through upregulating PUMA in non–small cell lung cancer carrying wild-type p53

Celecoxib,a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor,can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy;however,its effect seems inconsistent.In this study,we investigated whether celecoxib would increase the antiproliferative effects of cisplatin in human lung cancer cells.Our data demonstrated the synergistic effects of celecoxib with cisplatin in wild-type p53 cells and their antagonistic effects inmutated or deleted p53 cells.Combination indices of 0.82 to 0.93 reflected a synergistic effect between celecoxib and cisplatin in lung cancer cells with wild-type p53.Combination indices of 1.63 to 3.00 reflected antagonism between celecoxib and cisplatin in lung cancer cells with mutated or deleted p53.Compared with that in cells with mutated or deleted p53,apoptosis significantly increased with the addition of celecoxib and cisplatin in wild-type p53 cells(P<0.05).Moreover,the results in vivo were similar to those in vitro:celecoxib combinedwith cisplatin slowed tumor growth in wild-type p53 groups and not in mutated or deleted p53 groups.In addition,celecoxib promoted p53 translocation into the nucleus and upregulated active p53 expression in wild-type p53 cells.Celecoxib combined with cisplatin upregulated PUMA(PUMA is a downstream gene of p53)after active p53 increased in wild-type p53 cells.In summary,the combination of celecoxib and cisplatin demonstrates clear synergistic effects in wild-type p53 cells and antagonistic effects inmutated or deleted p53 cells.The synergistic effect was achieved by apoptosis,induced by upregulating PUMA.Our results will provide a new treatment strategy for patients carrying wild-type p53,insensitive to cisplatin.

Impact of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy on tumor markers and T lymphocyte subsets for advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Advanced gastric cancer(AGC)remains a challenging malignancy with poor prognosis.The combination of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab has shown promising results in AGC treatment.This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy on serum tumor markers and T lymphocyte subsets in patients with AGC and to explore their potential as predictive biomarkers for treatment response.AIM To investigate the impact of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy on serum markers and T cell subsets in patients with AGC.METHODS This prospective study enrolled 60 patients with AGC.All patients received oxaliplatin(130 mg/m^(2),every 3 weeks)and trastuzumab(8 mg/kg loading dose,followed by 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks)for six cycles.Serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),cancer antigen 19-9(CA19-9),and cancer antigen 72-4(CA72-4)were measured before and after treatment.T-lymphocyte subsets,including CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,and CD4+/CD8+ratios,were also evaluated.The clinical response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1.RESULTS After six cycles of treatment,the CEA,CA19-9,and CA72-4 serum levels significantly decreased compared to baseline levels(P<0.001).The percentages of CD3+and CD4+T lymphocytes increased significantly(P<0.05),whereas the percentage of CD8+T lymphocytes decreased(P<0.05).The CD4+/CD8+ratio also significantly increased after treatment(P<0.05).Patients with a higher decrease in serum tumor markers(≥50%reduction)and a higher increase in CD4+/CD8+ratio(≥1.5-fold)showed better clinical response rates(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy effectively reduced serum tumor marker levels and modulated T lymphocyte subsets in patients with AGC.Combination therapy not only has a direct antitumor effect,but also enhances the immune response in patients with AGC.Serum tumor markers and T lymphocyte subsets may serve as potential predictive biomarkers for treatment response in patients with AGC receiving combination therapy.

Inflammation-related markers and prognosis of alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Inflammation-related markers including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR),monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio(MLR),systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),systemic inflammation response index(SIRI)and prognostic nutritional index(PNI)could reflect tumor immune microenvironment and predict prognosis of cancers.However,it had not been explored in alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)producing gastric cancer(GC).AIM To determine the predictive value of inflammation-related peripheral blood markers including as NLR,PLR,MLR,SII,SIRI and PNI in the prognosis of AFPproducing GC(AFPGC).Besides,this study would also compare the differences in tumor immune microenvironment,clinical characteristics and prognosis between AFPGC and AFP-GC patients to improve the understanding of this disease.METHODS 573 patients enrolled were retrospectively studied.They were divided into AFP+group(AFP≥20 ng/mL)and AFP-group(AFP<20 ng/mL),comparing the levels of NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI/PNI and prognosis.In AFP+group,the impact of NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI/PNI and their dynamic changes on prognosis were further explored.RESULTS Compared with AFP-patients,AFP+patients had higher NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/-SIRI and lower PNI levels and poorer overall survival(OS).In the AFP+group,mortality was significantly lower in the lower NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI group and higher PNI group.Moreover,the dynamic increase(NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/-SIRI)or decrease(PNI)was associated with the rise of mortality within 1 year of follow-up.CONCLUSION Compared with AFP-patients,the level of inflammation-related peripheral blood markers significantly increased in AFP+patients,which was correlated with OS of AFP+patients.Also,the gradual increase of SII and SIRI was associated with the risk of death within one year in AFP+patients.AFPGC should be considered as a separate type and distinguished from AFP-GC because of the difference in tumor immune microenvironment.It requires basic experiments and large clinical samples in the future.

Endoscopic detection and diagnostic strategies for minute gastric cancer:A real-world observational study

BACKGROUND Minute gastric cancers(MGCs)have a favorable prognosis,but they are too small to be detected by endoscopy,with a maximum diameter≤5 mm.AIM To explore endoscopic detection and diagnostic strategies for MGCs.METHODS This was a real-world observational study.The endoscopic and clinicopathological parameters of 191 MGCs between January 2015 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Endoscopic discoverable opportunity and typical neoplastic features were emphatically reviewed.RESULTS All MGCs in our study were of a single pathological type,97.38%(186/191)of which were differentiated-type tumors.White light endoscopy(WLE)detected 84.29%(161/191)of MGCs,and the most common morphology of MGCs found by WLE was protruding.Narrow-band imaging(NBI)secondary observation detected 14.14%(27/191)of MGCs,and the most common morphology of MGCs found by NBI was flat.Another three MGCs were detected by indigo carmine third observation.If a well-demarcated border lesion exhibited a typical neoplastic color,such as yellowish-red or whitish under WLE and brownish under NBI,MGCs should be diagnosed.The proportion with high diagnostic confidence by magnifying endoscopy with NBI(ME-NBI)was significantly higher than the proportion with low diagnostic confidence and the only visible groups(94.19%>56.92%>32.50%,P<0.001).CONCLUSION WLE combined with NBI and indigo carmine are helpful for detection of MGCs.A clear demarcation line combined with a typical neoplastic color using nonmagnifying observation is sufficient for diagnosis of MGCs.MENBI improves the endoscopic diagnostic confidence of MGCs.

Development of a clinical nomogram for prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)in advanced gastric cancer(GC)is still a controversial issue.AIM To find factors associated with chemosensitivity to NAC treatment and to provide the optimal therapeutic strategies for GC patients receiving NAC.METHODS The clinical information was collected from 230 GC patients who received NAC treatment at the Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine Affiliated Haikou Hospital from January 2016 to December 2020.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression analysis was used to find the possible predictors.A nomogram model was employed to predict the response to NAC.RESULTS In total 230 patients were finally included in this study,including 154 males(67.0%)and 76 females(33.0%).The mean age was(59.37±10.60)years,ranging from 24 years to 80 years.According to the tumor regression grade standard,there were 95 cases in the obvious response group(grade 0 or grade 1)and 135 cases in the poor response group(grade 2 or grade 3).The obvious response rate was 41.3%.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis showed that four risk factors significantly related to the efficacy of NAC were tumor location(P<0.001),histological differentiation(P=0.001),clinical T stage(P=0.008),and carbohydrate antigen 724(P=0.008).The C-index for the prediction nomogram was 0.806.The calibration curve revealed that the predicted value exhibited good agreement with the actual value.Decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram had a good value in clinical application.CONCLUSION A nomogram combining tumor location,histological differentiation,clinical T stage,and carbohydrate antigen 724 showed satisfactory predictive power to the response of NAC and can be used by gastrointestinal surgeons to determine the optimal treatment strategies for advanced GC patients.