Colonoscopy plays an important role in detecting colorectal neoplasms in patients with gastric neoplasms

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)and colorectal cancer(CRC)are the fifth and third most common cancer worldwide,respectively.Nowadays,GC is reported to have a potential predictive value for CRC,especially for advanced CRC.AIM To evaluate the necessity of colonoscopy for gastric neoplasm(GN)patients.METHODS Four databases,including PubMed,EMBASE,the Cochrane Library,and Ovid,were used to perform the search strategy on May 2,2023.The prevalence of colorectal neoplasms(CRN)and baseline characteristics were compared between the neoplasm group and the control group.Continuous variables are expressed as the mean difference and standard deviation.Relationships of categorical variables in the two groups are expressed as odds ratios(OR)and 95%confidence intervals(95%CIs).Subgroup analysis according to different kinds of GNs was conducted for more in-depth analysis.The results of this study are represented by forest plots.Publication bias was evaluated by a funnel plot.All data analyses were performed by STATA SE 16.0 software.RESULTS A total of 3018 patients with GNs and 3905 healthy controls(age and sex matched)were enrolled for analysis.After comparing the prevalence of CRNs between the two groups,CRNs were detected significantly more frequently in GN patients than in controls(OR=1.69,95%CI=1.28 to 2.23,I^(2)=85.12%,P=0.00),especially in patients with GC(OR=1.80,95%CI=1.49 to 2.18,I^(2)=25.55%,P<0.1).Moreover,other risk factors including age(OR=1.08,95%CI=1.00 to 1.17,I^(2)=90.13%,P=0.00)and male sex(OR=2.31,95%CI=1.26 to 4.22,I^(2)=87.35%,P=0.00),were related to the prevalence of CRNs.For patients in the GN group,body mass index(BMI,OR=0.88,95%CI=0.80 to 0.98,I^(2)=0.00%,P=0.92)and smoking(OR=1.03,95%CI=1.01 to 1.05,I^(2)=0.00%,P=0.57)were protective and risk factors for CRNs,respectively.CONCLUSION Patients are recommended to undergo colonoscopy when diagnosed with GNs,especially GC patients with a low BMI and a history of smoking.

Recent advances in endoscopic management of gastric neoplasms

The development and clinical application of new diagnostic endoscopic technologies such as endoscopic ultrasonography with biopsy,magnification endoscopy,and narrow-band imaging,more recently supplemented by artificial intelligence,have enabled wider recognition and detection of various gastric neoplasms including early gastric cancer(EGC)and subepithelial tumors,such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors and neuroendocrine tumors.Over the last decade,the evolution of novel advanced therapeutic endoscopic techniques,such as endoscopic mucosal resection,endoscopic submucosal dissection,endoscopic fullthickness resection,and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection,along with the advent of a broad array of endoscopic accessories,has provided a promising and yet less invasive strategy for treating gastric neoplasms with the advantage of a reduced need for gastric surgery.Thus,the management algorithms of various gastric tumors in a defined subset of the patient population at low risk of lymph node metastasis and amenable to endoscopic resection,may require revision considering upcoming data given the high success rate of en bloc resection by experienced endoscopists.Moreover,endoscopic surveillance protocols for precancerous gastric lesions will continue to be refined by systematic reviews and meta-analyses of further research.However,the lack of familiarity with subtle endoscopic changes associated with EGC,as well as longer procedural time,evolving resection techniques and tools,a steep learning curve of such high-risk procedures,and lack of coding are issues that do not appeal to many gastroenterologists in the field.This review summarizes recent advances in the endoscopic management of gastric neoplasms,with special emphasis on diagnostic and therapeutic methods and their future prospects.

Usefulness of artificial intelligence in gastric neoplasms

Recently,studies in many medical fields have reported that image analysis based on artificial intelligence(AI)can be used to analyze structures or features that are difficult to identify with human eyes.To diagnose early gastric cancer,related efforts such as narrow-band imaging technology are on-going.However,diagnosis is often difficult.Therefore,a diagnostic method based on AI for endoscopic imaging was developed and its effectiveness was confirmed in many studies.The gastric cancer diagnostic program based on AI showed relatively high diagnostic accuracy and could differentially diagnose non-neoplastic lesions including benign gastric ulcers and dysplasia.An AI system has also been developed that helps to predict the invasion depth of gastric cancer through endoscopic images and observe the stomach during endoscopy without blind spots.Therefore,if AI is used in the field of endoscopy,it is expected to aid in the diagnosis of gastric neoplasms and determine the application of endoscopic therapy by predicting the invasion depth.

Gastric metastasis of small cell lung carcinoma:Three case reports and review of literature

BACKGROUND Small cell lung carcinoma(SCLC)is highly susceptible to metastasis in the early stages of the disease.However,the stomach is an uncommon site of metastasis in SCLC,and only a few cases of this type of metastasis have been reported.Therefore,SCLC gastric metastases have not been systematically characterized and are easily missed and misdiagnosed.CASE SUMMARY We report three cases of gastric metastasis from SCLC in this article.The first patient presented primarily with cough,hemoptysis,and epigastric fullness.The other two patients presented primarily with abdominal discomfort,epigastric distension,and pain.All patients underwent gastroscopy and imaging examinations.Meanwhile,the immunohistochemical results of the lesions in three patients were suggestive of small cell carcinoma.Finally,the three patients were diagnosed with gastric metastasis of SCLC through a comprehensive analysis.The three patients did not receive appropriate treatment and died within a short time.CONCLUSION Here,we focused on summarizing the characteristics of gastric metastasis of SCLC to enhance clinicians'understanding of this disease.

Construction of a predictive model for gastric cancer neuroaggression and clinical validation analysis: A single-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND This study investigated the construction and clinical validation of a predictive model for neuroaggression in patients with gastric cancer.Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world,and neuroinvasion is the key factor affecting the prognosis of patients.However,there is a lack of systematic analysis on the construction and clinical application of its prediction model.This study adopted a single-center retrospective study method,collected a large amo-unt of clinical data,and applied statistics and machine learning technology to build and verify an effective prediction model for neuroaggression,with a view to providing scientific basis for clinical treatment decisions and improving the tr-eatment effect and survival rate of patients with gastric cancer.AIM To investigate the value of a model based on clinical data,spectral computed to-mography(CT)parameters and image omics characteristics for the preoperative prediction of nerve invasion in patients with gastric cancer.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 80 gastric cancer patients who under-went preoperative energy spectrum CT at our hospital between January 2022 and August 2023,these patients were divided into a positive group and a negative group according to their pathological results.Clinicopathological data were collected,the energy spectrum parameters of primary gastric cancer lesions were measured,and single factor analysis was performed.A total of 214 image omics features were extracted from two-phase mixed energy images,and the features were screened by single factor analysis and a support vector machine.The variables with statist-ically significant differences were included in logistic regression analysis to construct a prediction model,and the performance of the model was evaluated using the subject working characteristic curve.There were statistically significant differences in sex,carbohydrate antigen 199 expression,tumor thickness,Lauren classification and Borrmann classification between the two groups(all P<0.05).Among the energy spectrum parameters,there were statistically significant differences in the single energy values(CT60-CT110 keV)at the arterial stage between the two groups(all P<0.05)and statistically significant differences in CT values,iodide group values,standardized iodide group values and single energy values except CT80 keV at the portal vein stage between the two groups(all P<0.05).The support vector machine model with the largest area under the curve was selected by image omics analysis,and its area under the curve,sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,P value and pa-rameters were 0.843,0.923,0.714,0.925,<0.001,and c:g 2.64:10.56,respectively.Finally,based on the logistic regression algorithm,a clinical model,an energy spectrum CT model,an imaging model,a clinical+energy spe-ctrum model,a clinical+imaging model,an energy spectrum+imaging model,and a clinical+energy spectrum+imaging model were established,among which the clinical+energy spectrum+imaging model had the best efficacy in diagnosing gastric cancer nerve invasion.The area under the curve,optimal threshold,Youden index,sensitivity and specificity were 0.927(95%CI:0.850-1.000),0.879,0.778,0.778,and 1.000,respectively.CONCLUSION The combined model based on clinical features,spectral CT parameters and imaging data has good value for the preoperative prediction of gastric cancer neuroinvasion.

Application value of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging in guiding sentinel lymph node biopsy diagnosis of gastric cancer: Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system worldwide,and its early diagnosis is crucial to improve the survival rate of patients.Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging(ICG-FI),as a new imaging technology,has shown potential application prospects in oncology surgery.The meta-analysis to study the application value of ICG-FI in the diagnosis of gastric cancer sentinel lymph node biopsy is helpful to comprehensively evaluate the clinical effect of this technology and provide more reliable guidance for clinical practice.AIM To assess the diagnostic efficacy of optical imaging in conjunction with indocya-nine green(ICG)-guided sentinel lymph node(SLN)biopsy for gastric cancer.METHODS Electronic databases such as PubMed,Embase,Medline,Web of Science,and the Cochrane Library were searched for prospective diagnostic tests of optical imaging combined with ICG-guided SLN biopsy.Stata 12.0 software was used for analysis by combining the"bivariable mixed effect model"with the"midas"command.The true positive value,false positive value,false negative value,true negative value,and other information from the included literature were extracted.A literature quality assessment map was drawn to describe the overall quality of the included literature.A forest plot was used for heterogeneity analysis,and P<0.01 was considered to indicate statistical significance.A funnel plot was used to assess publication bias,and P<0.1 was considered to indicate statistical significance.The summary receiver operating characteristic(SROC)curve was used to calculate the area under the curve(AUC)to determine the diagnostic accuracy.If there was interstudy heterogeneity(I2>50%),meta-regression analysis and subgroup analysis were performed.analysis were performed.RESULTS Optical imaging involves two methods:Near-infrared(NIR)imaging and fluorescence imaging.A combination of optical imaging and ICG-guided SLN biopsy was useful for diagnosis.The positive likelihood ratio was 30.39(95%CI:0.92-1.00),the sensitivity was 0.95(95%CI:0.82-0.99),and the specificity was 1.00(95%CI:0.92-1.00).The negative likelihood ratio was 0.05(95%CI:0.01-0.20),the diagnostic odds ratio was 225.54(95%CI:88.81-572.77),and the SROC AUC was 1.00(95%CI:The crucial values were sensitivity=0.95(95%CI:0.82-0.99)and specificity=1.00(95%CI:0.92-1.00).The Deeks method revealed that the"diagnostic odds ratio"funnel plot of SLN biopsy for gastric cancer was significantly asymmetrical(P=0.01),suggesting significant publication bias.Further meta-subgroup analysis revealed that,compared with fluorescence imaging,NIR imaging had greater sensitivity(0.98 vs 0.73).Compared with optical imaging immediately after ICG injection,optical imaging after 20 minutes obtained greater sensitivity(0.98 vs 0.70).Compared with that of patients with an average SLN detection number<4,the sensitivity of patients with a SLN detection number≥4 was greater(0.96 vs 0.68).Compared with hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,immunohistochemical(+HE)staining showed greater sensitivity(0.99 vs 0.84).Compared with subserous injection of ICG,submucosal injection achieved greater sensitivity(0.98 vs 0.40).Compared with 5 g/L ICG,0.5 and 0.05 g/L ICG had greater sensitivity(0.98 vs 0.83),and cT1 stage had greater sensitivity(0.96 vs 0.72)than cT2 to cT3 clinical stage.Compared with that of patients≤26,the sensitivity of patients>26 was greater(0.96 vs 0.65).Compared with the literature published before 2010,the sensitivity of the literature published after 2010 was greater(0.97 vs 0.81),and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION For the diagnosis of stomach cancer,optical imaging in conjunction with ICG-guided SLN biopsy is a therapeut-ically viable approach,especially for early gastric cancer.The concentration of ICG used in the SLN biopsy of gastric cancer may be too high.Moreover,NIR imaging is better than fluorescence imaging and may obtain higher sensitivity.

Analysis of lymph node metastasis and survival prognosis in early gastric cancer patients: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Early gastric cancer(EGC)is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system,and its lymph node metastasis and survival prognosis have been concerning.By retrospectively analyzing the clinical data of EGC patients,we can better under-stand the status of lymph node metastasis and its impact on survival and prog-nosis.AIM To evaluate the prognosis of EGC patients and the factors that affect lymph node METHODS The clinicopathological data of 1011 patients with EGC admitted to our hospital between January 2015 and December 2023 were collected in a retrospective cohort study.There were 561 males and 450 females.The mean age was 58±11 years.The patient underwent radical gastrectomy.The status of lymph node metastasis in each group was determined according to the pathological examination results of surgical specimens.The outcomes were as follows:(1)Lymph node metastasis in EGC patients;(2)Analysis of influencing factors of lymph node metastasis in EGC;and(3)Analysis of prognostic factors in patients with EGC.Normally distributed measurement data are expressed as mean±SD,and a t test was used for comparisons between groups.The data are expressed as absolute numbers or percentages,and the chi-square test was used for comparisons between groups.Rank data were compared using a nonparametric rank sum test.A log-rank test and a logistic regression model were used for univariate analysis.A logistic stepwise regression model and a Cox stepwise regression model were used for multivariate analysis.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate and construct survival curves.A log-rank test was used for survival analysis.RESULTS Analysis of influencing factors of lymph node metastasis in EGC.The results of the multifactor analysis showed that tumor length and diameter,tumor site,tumor invasion depth,vascular thrombus,and tumor differentiation degree were independent influencing factors for lymph node metastasis in patients with EGC(odds ratios=1.80,1.49,2.65,5.76,and 0.60;95%CI:1.29–2.50,1.11–2.00,1.81–3.88,3.87-8.59,and 0.48-0.76,respectively;P<0.05).Analysis of prognostic factors in patients with EGC.All 1011 patients with EGC were followed up for 43(0–13)months.The 3-year overall survival rate was 97.32%.Multivariate analysis revealed that age>60 years and lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for prognosis in patients with EGC(hazard ratio=9.50,2.20;95%CI:3.31-27.29,1.00-4.87;P<0.05).Further analysis revealed that the 3-year overall survival rates of gastric cancer patients aged>60 years and≤60 years were 99.37%and 94.66%,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The 3-year overall survival rates of patients with and without lymph node metastasis were 95.42%and 97.92%,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The lymph node metastasis rate of EGC patients was 23.64%.Tumor length,tumor site,tumor infiltration depth,vascular cancer thrombin,and tumor differentiation degree were found to be independent factors affecting lymph node metastasis in EGC patients.Age>60 years and lymph node metastasis are independent risk factors for EGC prognosis.

Survival prognostic analysis of laparoscopic D2 radical resection for locally advanced gastric cancer: A multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND With the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques,the use of laparoscopic D2 radical surgery for the treatment of locally advanced gastric cancer(GC)has gradually increased.However,the effect of this procedure on survival and prognosis remains controversial.This study evaluated the survival and prognosis of patients receiving laparoscopic D2 radical resection for the treatment of locally advanced GC to provide more reliable clinical evidence,guide clinical decision-making,optimize treatment strategies,and improve the survival rate and quality of life of patients.METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed.Clinicopathological data from 652 patients with locally advanced GC in our hospitals from December 2013 to December 2023 were collected.There were 442 males and 210 females.The mean age was 57±12 years.All patients underwent a laparoscopic D2 radical operation for distal GC.The patients were followed up in the outpatient department and by telephone to determine their tumor recurrence,metastasis,and survival.The follow-up period ended in December 2023.Normally distributed data are expressed as the mean±SD,and normally distributed data are expressed as M(Q1,Q3)or M(range).Statistical data are expressed as absolute numbers or percentages;theχ^(2) test was used for comparisons between groups,and the Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test was used for comparisons of rank data.The life table method was used to calculate the survival rate,the Kaplan-Meier method was used to construct survival curves,the log rank test was used for survival analysis,and the Cox risk regression model was used for univariate and multifactor analysis.RESULTS The median overall survival(OS)time for the 652 patients was 81 months,with a 10-year OS rate of 46.1%.Patients with TNM stages II and III had 10-year OS rates of 59.6%and 37.5%,respectively,which were significantly different(P<0.05).Univariate analysis indicated that factors such as age,maximum tumor diameter,tumor diffe-rentiation grade(low to undifferentiated),pathological TNM stage,pathological T stage,pathological N stage(N2,N3),and postoperative chemotherapy significantly influenced the 10-year OS rate for patients with locally advanced GC following laparoscopic D2 radical resection for distal stomach cancer[hazard ratio(HR):1.45,1.64,1.45,1.64,1.37,2.05,1.30,1.68,3.08,and 0.56 with confidence intervals(CIs)of 1.15-1.84,1.32-2.03,1.05-1.77,1.62-2.59,1.05-1.61,1.17-2.42,2.15-4.41,and 0.44-0.70,respectively;P<0.05].Multifactor analysis revealed that a tumor diameter greater than 4 cm,low tumor differentiation,and pathological TNM stage III were independent risk factors for the 10-year OS rate in these patients(HR:1.48,1.44,1.81 with a 95%CI:1.19-1.84).Additionally,postoperative chemotherapy emerged as an independent protective factor for the 10-year OS rate(HR:0.57,95%CI:0.45-0.73;P<0.05).CONCLUSION A maximum tumor diameter exceeding 4 cm,low tumor differentiation,and pathological TNM stage III were identified as independent risk factors for the 10-year OS rate in patients with locally advanced GC following laparoscopic D2 radical resection for distal GC.Conversely,postoperative chemotherapy was found to be an independent protective factor for the 10-year OS rate in these patients.

Combining lymph node ratio to develop prognostic models for postoperative gastric neuroendocrine neoplasm patients

BACKGROUND Lymph node ratio(LNR)was demonstrated to play a crucial role in the prognosis of many tumors.However,research concerning the prognostic value of LNR in postoperative gastric neuroendocrine neoplasm(NEN)patients was limited.AIM To explore the prognostic value of LNR in postoperative gastric NEN patients and to combine LNR to develop prognostic models.METHODS A total of 286 patients from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database were divided into the training set and validation set at a ratio of 8:2.92 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in China were designated as a test set.Cox regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between LNR and disease-specific survival(DSS)of gastric NEN patients.Random survival forest(RSF)algorithm and Cox proportional hazards(CoxPH)analysis were applied to develop models to predict DSS respectively,and compared with the 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)tumornode-metastasis(TNM)staging.RESULTS Multivariate analyses indicated that LNR was an independent prognostic factor for postoperative gastric NEN patients and a higher LNR was accompanied by a higher risk of death.The RSF model exhibited the best performance in predicting DSS,with the C-index in the test set being 0.769[95%confidence interval(CI):0.691-0.846]outperforming the CoxPH model(0.744,95%CI:0.665-0.822)and the 8th edition AJCC TNM staging(0.723,95%CI:0.613-0.833).The calibration curves and decision curve analysis(DCA)demonstrated the RSF model had good calibration and clinical benefits.Furthermore,the RSF model could perform risk stratification and individual prognosis prediction effectively.CONCLUSION A higher LNR indicated a lower DSS in postoperative gastric NEN patients.The RSF model outperformed the CoxPH model and the 8th edition AJCC TNM staging in the test set,showing potential in clinical practice.

Characteristics of metachronous gastric neoplasms after curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric neoplasms

Background:With the wide application of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for early gastric neoplasms,metachronous gastric neoplasms(MGN)have gradually become a concern.This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of MGN and evaluate the treatment and follow-up outcomes of MGN patients.Methods:A total of 814 patients were retrospectively enrolled.All these patients were treated by ESD for early gastric cancer or gastric dysplasia between November 2006 and September 2019 at The First Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital.The risk factors for MGN were analyzed using Cox hazard proportional model.Moreover,the cumulative incidence,the correlation of initial lesions and MGN lesions,and the treatment and follow-up outcomes of MGN patients were analyzed.Results:A total of 4.5%(37/814)of patients had MGN after curative ESD.The 3-,5-,and 7-year cumulative incidences of MGN were 3.5%,5.1%,and 6.9%,respectively,and ultimately reaching a plateau of 11.3%at 99 months after ESD.There was no significant correlation between initial lesions and MGN lesions in terms of gross type(P=0.178),location(long axis:P=0.470;short axis:P=0.125),and histological type(P=0.832).Cox multivariable analysis found that initial multiplicity was the only independent risk factor of MGN(hazard ratio:4.3,95%confidence interval:2.0-9.4,P<0.001).Seventy-three percent of patients with MGN were treated by endoscopic resection.During follow-up,two patients with MGN died of gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis.The disease-specific survival rate was significantly lower in patients with MGN than that in patients without MGN(94.6%vs.99.6%,P=0.006).Conclusions:The MGN rate gradually increased with follow-up time within 99 months after curative gastric ESD.Thus,regular and long-term surveillance endoscopy may be helpful,especially for patients with initial multiple neoplasms.

Risk factors of major intraoperative bleeding and postoperative bleeding associated with endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric neoplasms

Background:Endoscopic resection bleeding(ERB)classification was proposed by the authors’team to evaluate the severity of intraoperative bleeding(IB)during endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD).This study aimed to evaluate the application of ERB classification and to analyze the risk factors of major IB(MIB)and postoperative bleeding(PB)associated with ESD for gastric neoplastic lesions.Methods:We retrospectively enrolled a total of 1334 patients who underwent ESD between November 2006 and September 2019 at The First Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital.All patients were divided into the non-MIB group(including ERB-0,ERB-controlled 1[ERB-c1],and ERB-c2)and the MIB group(including ERB-c3 and ERB-uncontrolled[ERB-unc])according to the ERB classification.Risk factors of major MIB and risk factors of PB were analyzed using a logistic regression model.Results:Among the 1334 patients,773(57.95%)had ERB-0,477(35.76%)had ERB-c1,77(5.77%)had ERB-c2,7(0.52%)had ERB-c3,and no patients had ERB-unc.The rate of PB in patients with IB classifications of ERB-0,ERB-c1,ERB-c2,and ERB-c3 were 2.20%(17/773),3.35%(16/477),9.09%(7/77),and 2/7,respectively.In multivariate analysis,proximal location(odds ratio[OR]:1.488;95%confidence interval[CI]:1.045-3.645;P=0.047)was the only significant risk factor of MIB.Chronic kidney disease(CKD)(OR:7.844;95%CI:1.637-37.583;P=0.010)and MIB(ERB-c3)(OR:13.932;95%CI:2.585-74.794;P=0.002)were independent risk factors of PB.Conclusions:Proximal location of lesions was a significant risk factor of MIB.Additionally,CKD and MIB(ERB-c3)were independent risk factors of PB.More attention should be paid to these high-risk patients for MIB and PB.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of 232 patients with poorly differentiated gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms

BACKGROUND Poorly differentiated gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms(PDGNENs)include gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC)and mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma,which are highly malignant and rare tumors,and their incidence has increased over the past few decades.However,the clinicopathological features and outcomes of patients with PDGNENs have not been completely elucidated.AIM To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with PDGNENs.METHODS The data from seven centers in China from March 2007 to November 2019 were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS Among the 232 patients with PDGNENs,191(82.3%)were male,with an average age of 62.83±9.11 years.One hundred and thirteen(49.34%)of 229 patients had a stage III disease and 86(37.55%)had stage IV disease.Three(1.58%)of 190 patients had no clinical symptoms,while 187(98.42%)patients presented clinical symptoms.The tumors were mainly(89.17%)solitary and located in the upper third of the stomach(cardia and fundus of stomach:115/215,53.49%).Most lesions were ulcers(157/232,67.67%),with an average diameter of 4.66±2.77 cm.In terms of tumor invasion,the majority of tumors invaded the serosa(116/198,58.58%).The median survival time of the 232 patients was 13.50 mo(7,31 mo),and the overall 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival rates were 49%,19%,and 5%,respectively.According to univariate analysis,tumor number,tumor diameter,gastric invasion status,American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)stage,and distant metastasis status were prognostic factors for patients with PDGNENs.Multivariate analysis showed that tumor number,tumor diameter,AJCC stage,and distant metastasis status were independent prognostic factors for patients with PDGNENs.CONCLUSION The overall prognosis of patients with PDGNENs is poor.The outcomes of patients with a tumor diameter>5 cm,multiple tumors,and stage IV tumors are worse than those of other patients.

Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms: A review

Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms(g-NENs)or neuroendocrine tumors are generally slow-growing tumors with increasing incidence.They arise from enterochromaffin like cells and are divided into four types according to clinical characteristic features.Type 1 and 2 are gastrin dependent,whereas type 3 and 4 are sporadic.The reason for hypergastrinemia is atrophic gastritis in type 1,and gastrin releasing tumor(gastrinoma)in type 2 g-NEN.The diagnosis of g-NENs needs histopathological investigation taken by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.g-NENs are positively stained with chomogranin A and synaptophysin.Grading is made with mitotic index and ki-67 proliferation index on histopathological analysis.It is crucial to discriminate between types of g-NENs,because the management,treatment and prognosis differ significantly between subtypes.Treatment options for g-NENs include endoscopic resection,surgical resection with or without antrectomy,medical treatment with somatostatin analogues,netazepide or chemotherapy regimens.Follow-up without excision is another option in appropriate cases.The prognosis of type 1 and 2 g-NENs are good,whereas the prognosis of type 3 and 4 g-NENs are close to the prognosis of gastric adenocancer.

Nomogram based on tumor-associated neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio to predict survival of patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms

AIM To assess the predictive value of the tumor-associated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in terms of the clinical outcomes of patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms after radical surgery.METHODS Data were retrospectively collected from 142 patients who were diagnosed with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms and who underwent radical gastrectomy at our department from March 2006 to March 2015. These data were retrospectively analyzed, and a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify the optimal value of the tumorassociated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were used to identify prognostic factors. A nomogram was then applied to predict clinical outcomes after surgery.RESULTS The tumor-associated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly associated with tumor recurrence, especially with liver metastasis and lymph node metastasis(P < 0.05 for both), but not with clinical characteristics(P > 0.05 for all). A multivariate Cox regression analysis identified the tumor-associatedneutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as an independent prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival and overall survival(P < 0.05 for both). The concordance index of the nomograms, which included the tumorassociated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, Ki-67 index, and lymph node ratio, was 0.788(0.759) for recurrence-free survival(overall survival) and was higher than the concordance index of the traditional TNM staging system [0.672(0.663)].CONCLUSION The tumor-associated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms. Nomograms that include the tumor-associated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, Ki-67 index, and lymph node ratio have a superior ability to predict clinical outcomes of postoperative patients.

Clinical efficacy and safety of double-channel anastomosis and tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis in gastrectomy

BACKGROUND With the continuous progress of surgical technology and improvements in medical standards,the treatment of gastric cancer surgery is also evolving.Proximal gastrectomy is a common treatment,but double-channel anastomosis and tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis have attracted much attention in terms of surgical options.Each of these two surgical methods has advantages and disadvantages,so it is particularly important to compare and analyze their clinical efficacy and safety.AIM To compare the surgical safety,clinical efficacy,and safety of double-channel anastomosis and tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis in proximal gastrectomy.METHODS The clinical and follow-up data of 99 patients with proximal gastric cancer who underwent proximal gastrectomy and were admitted to our hospital between January 2018 and September 2023 were included in this retrospective cohort study.According to the different anastomosis methods used,the patients were divided into a double-channel anastomosis group(50 patients)and a tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis group(49 patients).In the double-channel anastomosis,Roux-en-Y anastomosis of the esophagus and jejunum was performed after proximal gastric dissection,and then side-to-side anastomosis was performed between the residual stomach and jejunum to establish an antireflux barrier and reduce postoperative gastroesophageal reflux.In the tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis group,after the proximal end of the stomach was cut,tubular gastroplasty was performed on the distal stump of the stomach and a linear stapler was used to anastomose the posterior wall of the esophagus and the anterior wall of the stomach tube.The main outcome measure was quality of life 1 year after surgery in both groups,and the evaluation criteria were based on the postgastrectomy syndrome assessment scale.The greater the changes in body mass,food intake per meal,meal quality subscale score,and total measures of physical and mental health score,the better the condition;the greater the other indicators,the worse the condition.The secondary outcome measures were intraoperative and postoperative conditions,the incidence of postoperative long-term complications,and changes in nutritional status at 1,3,6,and 12 months after surgery.RESULTS In the double-channel anastomosis cohort,there were 35 males(70%)and 15 females(30%),33(66.0%)were under 65 years of age,and 37(74.0%)had a body mass index ranging from 18 to 25 kg/m2.In the group undergoing tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis,there were eight females(16.3%),21(42.9%)individuals were under the age of 65 years,and 34(69.4%)had a body mass index ranging from 18 to 25 kg/m2.The baseline data did not significantly differ between the two groups(P>0.05 for all),with the exception of age(P=0.021).The duration of hospitalization,number of lymph nodes dissected,intraoperative blood loss,and perioperative complication rate did not differ significantly between the two groups(P>0.05 for all).Patients in the dual-channel anastomosis group scored better on quality of life measures than did those in the tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis group.Specifically,they had lower scores for esophageal reflux[2.8(2.3,4.0)vs 4.8(3.8,5.0),Z=3.489,P<0.001],eating discomfort[2.7(1.7,3.0)vs 3.3(2.7,4.0),Z=3.393,P=0.001],total symptoms[2.3(1.7,2.7)vs 2.5(2.2,2.9),Z=2.243,P=0.025],and other aspects of quality of life.The postoperative symptoms[2.0(1.0,3.0)vs 2.0(2.0,3.0),Z=2.127,P=0.033],meals[2.0(1.0,2.0)vs 2.0(2.0,3.0),Z=3.976,P<0.001],work[1.0(1.0,2.0)vs 2.0(1.0,2.0),Z=2.279,P=0.023],and daily life[1.7(1.3,2.0)vs 2.0(2.0,2.3),Z=3.950,P<0.001]were all better than those of the tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis group.The group that underwent tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis had a superior anal exhaust score[3.0(2.0,4.0)vs 3.5(2.0,5.0),Z=2.345,P=0.019]compared to the dual-channel anastomosis group.Hemoglobin,serum albumin,total serum protein,and the rate at which body mass decreased one year following surgery did not differ significantly between the two groups(P>0.05 for all).CONCLUSION The safety of double-channel anastomosis in proximal gastric cancer surgery is equivalent to that of tubular gastric surgery.Compared with tubular gastric surgery,double-channel anastomosis is a preferred surgical technique for proximal gastric cancer.It offers advantages such as less esophageal reflux and improved quality of life.

Clinicopathological significance of LRP16 protein in 336 gastric carcinoma patients

AIM： To investigate the expression of leukemia related protein 16 （LRP16）, and the possible relationship between LRP16 expression and clinicopathological indices in 336 gastric carcinoma patients. METHODS： Immunohistochemistry was used to detect LRP16 expression in 336 cases of paraffin-embedded gastric carcinoma tissues and 60 cases of distal normal mucosa. The relationships between LRP16 expression and patients＇ age, tumor size, histological grade, clinical stage, metastatic status and prognosis were analysed. RESULTS： The expression of LRP16 was 58.6% （197/336） in gastric carcinoma and 31.7% （19/60） in distal normal gastric mucosa. The expression of LRP16 in carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal mucosa tissues （x^2 = 14.929, P = 0.001）. LRP16 protein expression was found in 44.1% （63/143） carcinomas at stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ, and 69.4% （134/193） carcinomas at stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ （Z2 = 21.804, P = 0.001）, and in 56.9% （182/320） of cancers without metastasis but 93.8% （15/16） of those with metastasis （2 = 8.543, P = 0.003）. The expression of LRP16 was correlated with tumor size, infiltrative depth, clinical stage, lymphatic invasion and distant metastasis （all P 〈 0.05）. Follow-up data showed that there was a significant difference in median survival time between cancer patients with expression of LRP16 （27.0 mo） and those without （48.0 mo, Log rank =31.644, P = 0.001）. CONCLUSION： The expression of LRP16 may be associated with invasion, metastasis and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of 63 gastric cancer patients with metachronous ovarian metastasis

Objective： This study aims to explore the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of gastric cancer patients with metachronous ovarian metastasis. Methods： Clinicopathologic data were collected from 63 post-operative gastric cancer patients with metachronous ovarian metastasis. The patients were admitted to the Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College between January 1999 and December 2011. A log-rank test was conducted for survival analysis. Possible prognostic factors that affect survival were examined by univariate analysis. A Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results： The incidence of ovarian metastasis was 3.4% with a mean age of 45 years. Up to 65.1% of the patients were pre- menopausal. The mean interval between ovarian metastasis and primary cancer was 16 months. Lowly differentiated carcinoma ranked first in the primary gastric cancers. The majority of lesions occurred in the serous membrane （87.3%）. The metastatic sites included Nz.3 lymph nodes （68.3%）, bilateral ovaries （85.7%）, and peritoneal membrane （73%）. Total resection of metastatic sites was performed （31.7%）. The overall median survival was 13.6 months, whereas the overall 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 52.5%, 22.0%, and 9.8%, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was zero. Univariate analysis showed that the patient prognosis was correlated with metastatic peritoneal seeding, vascular tumor embolus, range of lesion excision, and mode of comprehensive treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy （P〈0.05）. Multivariate analysis indicated that metastatic peritoneal seeding was an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients with ovarian metastasis （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Effective control of peritoneal seeding--induced metastasis is important for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer patients with ovarian metastasis.

Management of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in patients with extra copies of the MALT1 gene

AIM To identify the clinical features of gastric mucosaassociated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma with extra copies of MALT1.METHODS This is a multi-centered,retrospective study. We reviewed 146 patients with MALT lymphoma in the stomach who underwent fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for t(11;18) translocation. Patients were subdivided into patients without t(11;18) translocation or extra copies of MALT1(Group A,n = 88),patients with t(11;18) translocation(Group B,n = 27),and patients with extra copies of MALT1(Group C,n = 31). The clinical background,treatment,and outcomes of each group were investigated.RESULTS Groups A and C showed slight female predominance,whereas Group B showed slight male predominance. Mean ages and clinical stages at lymphoma diagnosis were not different between groups. Complete response was obtained in 61 patients in Group A(69.3%),22 in Group B(81.5%),and 21 in Group C(67.7%). Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) eradication alone resulted in complete remission in 44 patients in Group A and 13 in Group C. In Group B,14 patients underwent radiotherapy alone,which resulted in lymphoma disappearance. Although the difference was not statistically significant,event-free survival in Group C tended to be inferior to that in Group A(P = 0.10).CONCLUSION Patients with t(11;18) translocation should be treated differently from others. Patients with extra copies of MALT1 could be initially treated with H. pylori eradication,similar to patients without t(11;18) translocation or extra copies of MALT1.

Relationship between clinicopathological features and mucin phenotypes of advanced gastric adenocarcinoma

AIM: To investigate a relationship between the clinicopathological features and mucin phenotypes in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (AGA). METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the mucin phenotypes in 38 patients with differentiated adenocarcinomas (DACs), 9 with signet-ring cell carcinomas (SIGs), and 48 with other diffuse-type adenocarcinomas (non-SIGs) of AGA. The mucin phenotypes were classified into 4 types: gastric (G), gastrointestinal (GI), intestinal, and unclassified. RESULTS: The G-related mucin phenotypes were highly expressed in all the histological subtypes of AGA. The expression of the GI phenotype in SIG patients was lower than that in DAC patients (P = 0.02), and this phenotype was observed in 56% of the non-SIG patients in the intramucosal layer. Among non-SIG cases, the expression of the GI phenotype was significantly higherin patients with extended adenocarcinomas and those with positive rates of lymph node metastasis. There was no difference between the expressions of the G and other GI phenotypes factors. Among DAC and non-SIG patients, there were no differences between the survival rates of the corresponding patient groups. CONCLUSION: The GI phenotype might possess more invasive characteristics than the G phenotype in nonSIG. Neither of the phenotypes indicated a poor prognosis of DAC and non-SIG.

SOME PROBLEMS IN THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF GASTRIC CANCER

Radical resections were performed in 177 cases of gastric cancer ( early cancer 31 cases and advanced cancer 146 cases). R1+ operation was performed in 10 cases and R2 or R3 was in 167. All patients were followed up to the end of the study with the 5-year survival rate of 57. 6%. In the patients with normal serosa, cancer was often located in the mucosa. In such situation, R1 or R1+ operation was advisiable. In the patients of reactive serosal types, the extent of operation should not be reduced. The serosa were often penetrated by cancer cells in diffusely infiltrated cancer, with a poor prognosis. If measures were not taken to destroy free cancer cells, the 5-year survival rate was very low inspite of radical operations. The number of lymph nodes metastasis was closely related to the biological behavior of primary cancer. Prognosis was good after R2 or R3 operation when the cancer was still within the gastric wall, Borrmann type 1,2,3 massive or nest growth patterns, and the number of lymph node metastasis was below 5 and within first station (n1) .If the number of lymph nodes metastasis was above 10, metastasis to the second (n2) or third station (n3), the cancer infiltrated to the serosa, Borrmann type 4, diffused growth pattern theprognosis was poor even R2 or R3 operations were performed.