Is recovery enhancement after gastric cancer surgery really a safe approach for elderly patients?

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the safety of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)in elderly patients with gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the safety of ERAS in elderly patients with GC.METHODS The PubMed,EMBASE,and Cochrane Library databases were used to search for eligible studies from inception to April 1,2023.The mean difference(MD),odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(95%CI)were pooled for analysis.The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scores.We used Stata(V.16.0)software for data analysis.RESULTS This study consists of six studies involving 878 elderly patients.By analyzing the clinical outcomes,we found that the ERAS group had shorter postoperative hospital stays(MD=-0.51,I2=0.00%,95%CI=-0.72 to-0.30,P=0.00);earlier times to first flatus(defecation;MD=-0.30,I²=0.00%,95%CI=-0.55 to-0.06,P=0.02);less intestinal obstruction(OR=3.24,I2=0.00%,95%CI=1.07 to 9.78,P=0.04);less nausea and vomiting(OR=4.07,I2=0.00%,95%CI=1.29 to 12.84,P=0.02);and less gastric retention(OR=5.69,I2=2.46%,95%CI=2.00 to 16.20,P=0.00).Our results showed that the conventional group had a greater mortality rate than the ERAS group(OR=0.24,I2=0.00%,95%CI=0.07 to 0.84,P=0.03).However,there was no statistically significant difference in major complications between the ERAS group and the conventional group(OR=0.67,I2=0.00%,95%CI=0.38 to 1.18,P=0.16).CONCLUSION Compared to those with conventional recovery,elderly GC patients who received the ERAS protocol after surgery had a lower risk of mortality.

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.

Current clinical trials on gastric cancer surgery in China

Gastric cancer(GC)is the leading diagnosed malignancy worldwide,especially in China.Radical surgery is the cornerstone of GC treatment.We reviewed previous clinical trials and aimed to provide an update on the factors related to the surgical treatment of GC.The number of registered clinical trials in the field of GC surgery is rapidly increasing.With the development and popularization of endoscopic,laparoscopic,and robotic techniques,GC surgery has gradually entered a new era of precise minimally invasive surgery.Postoperative quality of life has become a major issue in addition to surgical oncological safety.Although great progress has been made in clinical research on GC in China,there are still deficiencies.Many studies enrolled large numbers of patients,but the research data were not of high quality.The characteristics of GC in China include a high incidence,large population,and large proportion of patients with advanced GC,which provides sufficient reason for studying this disease.There is still a need for well-designed,large,randomized clinical trials to improve our knowledge of the surgical treatment of GC.

Impact of minimally invasive surgery on immune function and stress response in gastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally.Traditional open surgery for gastric cancer is often associated with significant morbidity and prolonged recovery.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery as an alternative to traditional open surgery for gastric cancer,focusing on its potential to reduce trauma,accelerate recovery,and achieve comparable oncological out-comes.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed 203 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery at the Shanghai Health Medical College Affiliated Chongming Hospital from January 2020 to December 2023.The patients were divided into two groups:Minimally invasive surgery group(n=102),who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy,and open surgery group(n=101),who underwent traditional open gastrectomy.We compared surgical indicators(surgical incision size,intraop-erative blood loss,surgical duration,and number of lymph nodes dissected),recovery parameters(time to first flatus,time to start eating,time to ambulation,and length of hospital stay),immune function(levels of IgA,IgG,and IgM),intestinal barrier function(levels of D-lactic acid and diamine oxidase),and stress response(levels of C-reactive protein,interleukin-6,and procalcitonin).RESULTS The minimally invasive surgery group demonstrated significantly better outcomes in terms of surgical indicators,including smaller incisions,less blood loss,shorter surgery time,and more lymph nodes dissected(P<0.05 for all).Recovery was also faster in the minimally invasive surgery group,with earlier return of bowel function,earlier initiation of diet,quicker mobilization,and shorter hospital stays(P<0.05 for all).Furthermore,patients in the minimally invasive surgery group had better preserved immune function,superior intestinal barrier function,and a less pronounced stress response postoperatively(P<0.05 for all).CONCLUSION Laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer not only provides superior surgical indicators and faster recovery but also offers advantages in preserving immune function,protecting intestinal barrier function,and mitigating the stress response compared to traditional open surgery.These findings support the broader adoption of laparoscopic techniques in the management of gastric cancer.

Estimating prognosis of gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms using machine learning:A step towards precision medicine

Survival rates following radical surgery for gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms(g-NENs)are low,with high recurrence rates.This fact impacts patient prognosis and complicates postoperative management.Traditional prognostic models,including the Cox proportional hazards(CoxPH)model,have shown limited predictive power for postoperative survival in gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor patients.Machine learning methods offer a unique opportunity to analyze complex relationships within datasets,providing tools and methodologies to assess large volumes of high-dimensional,multimodal data generated by biological sciences.These methods show promise in predicting outcomes across various medical disciplines.In the context of g-NENs,utilizing machine learning to predict survival outcomes holds potential for personalized postoperative management strategies.This editorial reviews a study exploring the advantages and effectiveness of the random survival forest(RSF)model,using the lymph node ratio(LNR),in predicting disease-specific survival(DSS)in postoperative g-NEN patients stratified into low-risk and high-risk groups.The findings demonstrate that the RSF model,incorporating LNR,outperformed the CoxPH model in predicting DSS and constitutes an important step towards precision medicine.

Laparoscopic vs open surgery for gastric cancer: Assessing time, recovery, complications, and markers

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the most common cancers worldwide.Morbidity and mortality have increased in recent years,making it an urgent issue to address.La-paroscopic radical surgery(LRS)is a crucial method for treating patients with GC;However,its influence on tumor markers is still under investigation.The data of 194 patients treated at Chongqing University Cancer Hospital bet-ween January 2018 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients who underwent traditional open surgery and LRS were assigned to the control(n=90)and observation groups(n=104),respectively.Independent sample t-tests andχ2 tests were used to compare the two groups based on clinical efficacy,changes in tumor marker levels after treatment,clinical data,and the incidence of posto-perative complications.To investigate the association between tumor marker levels and clinical efficacy in patients with GC,three-year recurrence rates in the two groups were compared.RESULTS Patients in the observation group had a shorter duration of operation,less in-traoperative blood loss,an earlier postoperative eating time,and a shorter hospital stay than those in the control group(P<0.05).No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the number of lymph node dissections(P>0.05).After treatment,the overall response rate in the control group was significantly lower than that in the observation group(P=0.001).Furthermore,after treatment,the levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9,cancer antigen 72-4,carcinoembryonic antigen,and cancer antigen 125 decreased significantly.The observation group also exhibited a significantly lower incidence rate of postoperative complications compared to the control group(P<0.001).Additionally,the two groups did not significantly differ in terms of three-year survival and recurrence rates(P>0.05).CONCLUSION LRS effectively treats early gastric cancer by reducing intraoperative bleeding,length of hospital stays,and postoperative complications.It also significantly lowers tumor marker levels,thus improving the short-term prognosis of the disease.

Pain and immune function in patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery following stellate ganglion block with total intravenous anesthesia

BACKGROUND Stellate ganglion block is a commonly used sympathetic nerve block technique that restores the balance of the sympathetic and vagal nervous systems of the body and inhibits sympathetic nerve activity.AIM To analyze the effect of a stellate ganglion block combined with total diploma intravenous anesthesia on postoperative pain and immune function in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastric cancer(GC)surgery to provide a refe-rence basis for the formulation of anesthesia protocols for radical GC surgery.METHODS This study included 112 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical surgery for GC between January 2022 and March 2024.There was no restriction on sex.The patient grouping method used was a digital random table method,and the num-ber of cases in each group was 56.The control group was administered total intravenous anesthesia,and the observation group compounded the stellate gan-glion block according to the total intravenous anesthesia protocol.Postoperative hemodynamics,pain levels,and immune indices were compared between the groups.RESULTS The heart rate and mean arterial pressure in the observation group after in-tubation were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Pain levels were compared between the two groups at 2 hours,12 hours,24 hours,and 48 hours after surgery(P>0.05).The number of CD3+,CD4+,and CD4+/CD8+cells at the end of surgery was higher in the observation group than in the control group,and the number of CD8+cells was lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of propofol dosage,awakening time,extubation time,or postoperative adverse reactions(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The application of a stellate ganglion block combined with total intravenous anesthesia had no significant effect on postoperative pain levels in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical GC surgery.However,it can safely reduce the effect of surgery on the immune function of patients and is worth applying in clinical practice.

Clinical significance of peripheral blood immune cells in patients with gastric cancer after surgery

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide,and surgical resection is one of the main ways to treat gastric cancer.However,the immune status of postoperative patients is crucial for prognosis and survival,and immune cells play an important role in this process.Therefore,it is helpful to understand the immune status of postoperative patients by evaluating the levels of peripheral blood immune cells,especially total T cells(CD3+),helper T cells(CD3+CD4+),and suppressor T cells(CD3+CD8+),and its relationship to sur-vival.AIM To analyzed the immune cells in peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer after surgery,detect the levels of total T cells,helper T cells and suppressor T cells.METHODS A total of 58 patients with gastric cancer who received surgical treatment were included in the retrospective study.Flow cytometry was used to detect the level of peripheral blood immune cells and analyze the correlation between total T cells,helper T cells and inhibitory T cells.To explore the relationship between these immune markers and patient survival.RESULTS The results showed that the levels of total T cells,helper T cells,and suppressor T cells changed in patients after gastric cancer surgery.There was a significant positive correlation between total T cells,helper T cells and suppressor T cells(r=0.35,P<0.01;r=0.56,P<0.01).However,there was a negative correlation between helper T cells and suppressor T cells(r=-0.63,P<0.01).Follow-up showed that the survival rate of patients in the high-level total T cell group was significantly higher than that in the low-level group(28.87±24.98 months vs 18.42±16.21 months).The survival curve shows that the curve of patients in the high-level group is shifted to the upper right,and that of the low-level group is shifted downward.There was no significant difference between the levels of helper T cells and suppressor T cells and patient survival time.CONCLUSION By detecting peripheral blood immune cells with flow cytometry,we can initially evaluate the immune status of patients after gastric cancer surgery and initially explore its relationship with patient survival.

Advances,breakthroughs,and challenges in gastric cancer surgery

Gastric cancer(GC)remains a substantial health burden worldwide,ranking fifth in incidence and third in mortality among all cancer types.Surgeons have persistently attempted to address this growing burden through surgical management of GC encompassing various aspects of surgery,including advances in surgical techniques and tools for minimally invasive surgery,novel technology for real-time image-guided surgery,and function-preserving and oncometabolic surgeries,aimed at improving patients’quality of life.The current perspective discusses the five most critical dimensions of the recent technical improvements and conceptual changes in GC surgery.We recommend further exploration of long-term benefits of these advancements,identification of breakthrough solutions to address current challenges,and delivery of the best quality of care.

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.

Effect of ultrasound-guided lumbar square muscle block on stress response in patients undergoing radical gastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND Radical surgery is a common treatment for patients with gastric cancer;however,it can lead to postoperative complications and intestinal barrier dysfunction.Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block is often used for postoperative analgesia,but its effects on stress response and intestinal barrier function are not well understood.AIM To investigate the effects of an ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block on stress response and intestinal barrier function in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer.METHODS A total of 100 patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer were randomly categorized into observation and control groups.Plasma adrenaline and cortisol levels,intestinal mucosal barrier indexes,and complication rates were compared between the two groups before,during,and 1 day after surgery.RESULTS The observation group had significantly lower plasma adrenaline and cortisol levels during surgery and at 1 day postoperatively than that of the control group(P<0.05).Additionally,intestinal barrier indexes(endotoxin and D-dimer)at 1 day postoperatively were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block could reduce stress response,protect intestinal barrier function,and decrease the incidence of complications in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer.This technique has the potential for clinical applications.

Novel combined endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery for advanced T2 gastric cancer:Two case reports

BACKGROUND The standard treatment for advanced T2 gastric cancer(GC)is laparoscopic or surgical gastrectomy(either partial or total)and D2 lymphadenectomy.A novel combined endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery(NCELS)has recently been proposed as a better option for T2 GC.Here we describe two case studies demonstrating the efficacy and safety of NCELS.CASE SUMMARY Two T2 GC cases were both resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection and full-thickness resection and laparoscopic lymph nodes dissection.This method has the advantage of being more precise and minimally invasive compared to current methods.The treatment of these 2 patients was safe and effective with no complications.These cases were followed up for nearly 4 years without recurrence or metastasis.CONCLUSION This novel method provides a minimally invasive treatment option for T2 GC,and its potential indications,effectiveness and safety needs to be further evaluated in controlled studies.

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.

Gastric cancer surgery in South Korea: Past, present, and future

Gastric cancer remains a significant global health concern and its surgical management approaches have undergone significant changes in South Korea and worldwide. Subtotal or total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection is well established as a standard surgical procedure for gastric cancer. With the active implementation of cancer screening in South Korea, the proportion of early gastric cancer cases has significantly increased over the past few decades, leading to a steady increase in the survival rate among patients. Furthermore, recent advances in surgical instruments and techniques have made minimally invasive surgery increasingly prevalent, not only for early but also for advanced gastric cancer. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution and current status of gastric cancer surgery in South Korea.

Is gastric cancer after bariatric surgery on the rise?Will history repeat itself?

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide(1).Despite its decreasing incidence during the last decades,a major concern has been raised in patients submitted to bariatric surgery(2).Morbid obesity incidence has increased worldwide leading to low quality of life expectancy in children。

Exploring ideal operative time for best outcomes in gastric cancer surgery:A multi-institutional study based on KLASS-07 database

Objective:While a rushed operation can omit essential procedures,prolonged operative time results in higher morbidity.Nevertheless,the optimal operative time range remains uncertain.This study aimed to estimate the ideal operative time range and evaluate its applicability in laparoscopic cancer surgery.Methods:A prospectively collected multicenter database of 397 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy were retrospectively reviewed.The ideal operative time range was statistically calculated by separately analyzing the operative time of uneventful surgeries.Finally,intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared among the shorter,ideal,and longer operative time groups.Results:The statistically calculated ideal operative time was 135.4-165.4 min.The longer operative time(LOT)group had a lower rate of uneventful,perfect surgery than the ideal or shorter operative time(IOT/SOT)group(2.8%vs.8.8%and 2.2%vs.13.4%,all P<0.05).Longer operative time increased bleeding,postoperative morbidities,and delayed diet and discharge(all P<0.05).Particularly,an uneventful,perfect surgery could not be achieved when the operative time exceeded 240 min.Regardless of ideal time range,SOT group achieved the highest percentage of uneventful surgery(13.4%),which was possible by surgeon's ability to retrieve a higher number of lymph nodes and perform≥150 gastrectomies annually.Conclusions:Operative time longer than the ideal time range(especially≥240 min)should be avoided.If the essential operative procedure were faithfully conducted without compromising oncological safety,an operative time shorter than the ideal range leaded to a better prognosis.Efforts to minimize operative time should be attempted with sufficient surgical experience.

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.

Comparison between upfront surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is a major health concern worldwide.Surgical resection and chemotherapy is the mainstay treatment for gastric carcinoma,however,the optimal approach remains unclear and should be different in each individual.Chemotherapy can be administered both pre-and postoperatively,but a multidisciplinary approach is preferred when possible.This is particularly relevant for locally advanced GC(LAGC),as neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAT)could potentially lead to tumor downsizing thus allowing for a complete resection with curative intent.Even though the recent progress has been impressive,European and International guidelines are still controversial,thus attenuating the need for a more standardized approach in the management of locally advanced cancer.AIM To investigate the effects of NAT on the overall survival(OS),the disease-free survival(DFS),the morbidity and the mortality of patients with LAGC in comparison to upfront surgery(US).METHODS For this systematic review,a literature search was conducted between November and February 2023 in PubMed,Cochrane Library and clinicaltrials.gov for studies including patients with LAGC.Two independent reviewers conducted the research and extracted the data according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria.The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was used to form the search strategy and the study protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.RESULTS Eighteen studies with 4839 patients with LAGC in total were included in our systematic review.Patients were separated into two groups;one receiving NAT before the gastrectomy(NAT group)and the other undergoing upfront surgery(US group).The OS ranged from 41.6%to 74.2%in the NAT group and from 30.9%to 74%in the US group.The DFS was also longer in the NAT group and reached up to 80%in certain patients.The complications related to the chemotherapy or the surgery ranged from 6.4%to 38.1%in the NAT group and from 5%to 40.5%in the US group.Even though in most of the studies the morbidity was lower in the NAT group,a general conclusion could not be drawn as it seems to depend on multiple factors.Finally,regarding the mortality,the reported rate was higher and up to 5.3%in the US group.CONCLUSION NAT could be beneficial for patients with LAGC as it leads to better OS and DFS than the US approach with the same or even lower complication rates.However,patients with different clinicopathological features respond differently to chemotherapy,therefore currently the treatment plan should be individualized in order to achieve optimal results.

Implementation and achievements of enhanced recovery after surgery program in perioperative management of gastric cancer patients

Objective:The enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)program is less implemented in gastric cancer patients.The purpose of this survey is to investigate the implementation status of ERAS in perioperative period in gastric cancer.Methods:This clinical observational study enrolled 329 patients between January 2020 and August 2020 in a single gastric cancer center.The questionnaire consisted of 4 par ts:basic information,preoperative status,intraoperative status,and postoperative status of ERAS implementation in gastric cancer surgery.Results:In the preoperative period,patients'education and counseling(100%)were well adopted.Smoking cessation(34.6%),drinking cessation(36.9%),avoidance of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation(24.3%),respiratory function training(11.2%),and administration of carbohydrate-rich drink before surgery(0.6%)were relatively not well adopted.During the operation,maintenance of intraoperative normothermia and fluid management(100%),as well as epidural analgesia(81.5%),were well adopted.Thromboprophylaxis was performed in 133(40.4%)patients.In the postoperative period,early active mobilization was implemented about 9.5 h,and early ambulation was implemented about 39.5 h,after surgery.A total of 140(42.5%)patients received prolonged prophylactic antibiotics;268(81.5%)patients were provided diet upon gas passage;and 320(97.3%)patients received intravenous fluid administration more than 5 d after surgery.The practice rate of early removal of urinary catheter(0%)and nasogastric tube(15.5%)was relatively low.A total of 11(3.3%)patients experienced postoperative complication,and 1(0.3%)patient received unplanned reoperation.The average costs were￥59,500,and the average hospital stay was 12(5,36)d.Conclusions:Standard perioperative management of ERAS program in gastric cancer surgery in China still requires improvement.

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.