Clinical observation of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy and traditional open radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. Methods: 116 patients with advanced gastric cancer in our hospital were randomly selected, including 55 cases in the experimental group and 61 cases in the control group. The clinical effects, CEA, CA-199, AFP and postoperative complications of the two groups were compared. Results: The indexes of operation and post-operation (average operation time, incision length, exhaust time, intraoperative bleeding volume, hospital stay, enteral nutrition time), and the total number of lymph nodes dissected in the experimental group was less than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in CEA, CA-199 and AFP before operation and 1 month after operation. The incidence of complications in laparoscopic group was 9.1% lower than that in control group (27.9%). Conclusion: Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy has many advantages in the treatment of gastric cancer, which can effectively reduce complications and is worth promoting.

Machine learning identifies the risk of complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy is widely used,and perioperative complications have become a highly concerned issue.AIM To develop a predictive model for complications in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer to better predict the likelihood of complications in gastric cancer patients within 30 days after surgery,guide perioperative treatment strategies for gastric cancer patients,and prevent serious complications.METHODS In total,998 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at 16 Chinese medical centers were included in the training group for the complication model,and 398 patients were included in the validation group.The clinicopathological data and 30-d postoperative complications of gastric cancer patients were collected.Three machine learning methods,lasso regression,random forest,and artificial neural networks,were used to construct postoperative complication prediction models for laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and laparoscopic total gastrectomy,and their prediction efficacy and accuracy were evaluated.RESULTS The constructed complication model,particularly the random forest model,could better predict serious complications in gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.It exhibited stable performance in external validation and is worthy of further promotion in more centers.CONCLUSION Using the risk factors identified in multicenter datasets,highly sensitive risk prediction models for complications following laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were established.We hope to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of preoperative and postoperative decision-making by using these models.

Clinical significance of preoperative nutritional status in elderly gastric cancer patients undergoing radical gastrectomy:A singlecenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND The population of elderly patients with gastric cancer is increasing,which is a major public health issue in China.Malnutrition is one of the greatest risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes in elderly patients with gastric cancer.AIM To investigate the preoperative nutritional status and its association with delayed discharge of elderly gastric cancer patients following radical gastrectomy.METHODS A total of 783 patients aged 65 years and older harboring gastric adenocarcinoma and following radical gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed from the prospectively collected database of Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University between January 2018 and May 2020.RESULTS The overall rate of malnutrition was 31.8%.The incidence of postoperative complications was significantly higher in the malnourished group compared to the well-nourished group(P<0.001).Nutritional characteristics in the malnourished group,including body mass index,prognostic nutritional index(PNI),albumin,prealbumin,and hemoglobin,were all significantly lower than those in the well-nourished group.The percentage of patients who received postoperative total nutrient admixture was lower in the malnourished group compared to the wellnourished group(22.1%vs 33.5%,P=0.001).Age≥70 years(HR=1.216,95%CI:1.048-1.411),PNI<44.5(HR=1.792,95%CI:1.058-3.032),operation time≥160 minutes(HR=1.431,95%CI:1.237-1.656),and postoperative complications grade III or higher(HR=2.191,95%CI:1.604-2.991)were all recognized as independent risk factors associated with delayed discharge.CONCLUSION Malnutrition is relatively common in elderly patients undergoing gastrectomy.Low PNI is an independent risk factor associated with delay discharge.More strategies are needed to improve the clinical outcome of these patients.

Tumor recurrence and survival prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer after radical resection with radiotherapy and chemotherapy

BACKGROUND Advanced gastric cancer is a common malignancy that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and is still at risk of recurrence after radical surgical treatment.Chemoradiotherapy,as one of the important treatment methods for gastric cancer,is of great significance for improving the survival rate of patients.However,the tumor recurrence and survival prognosis of gastric cancer patients after radio-therapy and chemotherapy are still uncertain.AIM To analyze the tumor recurrence after radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer and provide more in-depth guidance for clinicians.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 171 patients with gastric cancer who received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in our hospital from 2021 to 2023.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the recurrence rate and survival rate;the log-rank method was used to analyze the single-factor prognosis;and the Cox model was used to analyze the prognosis associated with multiple factors.RESULTS The median follow-up time of the whole group was 63 months,and the follow-up rate was 93.6%.Stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients accounted for 31.0%and 66.7%,respec-tively.The incidences of Grade 3 and above acute gastrointestinal reactions and hematological adverse reactions were 8.8%and 9.9%,respectively.A total of 166 patients completed the entire chemoradiotherapy regimen,during which no adverse reaction-related deaths occurred.In terms of the recurrence pattern,17 patients had local recurrence,29 patients had distant metastasis,and 12 patients had peritoneal implantation metastasis.The 1-year,3-year,and 5-year overall survival(OS)rates were 83.7%,66.3%,and 60.0%,respectively.The 1-year,3-year,and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 75.5%,62.7%,and 56.5%,respectively.Multivariate analysis revealed that T stage,peripheral nerve invasion,and the lymph node metastasis rate(LNR)were independent prognostic factors for OS.CONCLUSION Postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for gastric cancer treatment is well tolerated and has acceptable adverse effects,which is beneficial for local tumor control and can improve the long-term survival of patients.The LNR was an independent prognostic factor for OS.For patients with a high risk of local recurrence,postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation should be considered.

Preoperative malnutrition in elderly gastric cancer patients and adverse postoperative outcomes of radical gastrectomy

Malnutrition is not only a prevalent condition among the elderly but also a common comorbidity in elderly people with gastric cancer(GC).Malnutrition is closely linked to high rates of postoperative complications and poor wound healing in elderly GC patients,which may lead to a higher incidence and mor-tality rate of GC.Malnutrition decreases the physical function of elderly GC patients after surgery,severely affecting their postoperative life quality and hindering subsequent treatments.This retrospective study was conducted by Zhao et al,focusing on the clinical baseline data,postoperative complications,and hospitalization times of elderly GC patients who underwent curative gastrectomy.Additionally,the underlying causes of poor outcomes for patients were discussed.This study may provide a solid basis for the clinical treatment of elderly GC patients in the future.Therefore,malnutrition can serve as a negative prognostic factor for curative surgery in GC patients.Addressing malnutrition and its adverse effects can benefit elderly GC patients from surgical treatment.

Utilization of deep neuromuscular blockade combined with reduced abdominal pressure in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer:An academic perspective

BACKGROUND Few studies have examined the specific efficacy of deep neuromuscular blockade(NMB)combined with pneumoperitoneal pressure reduction in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy(LRG)in the elderly.AIM To investigate the application effect of deep neuromuscular blockade(NMB)combined with reduced pneumoperitoneum pressure in LRG for gastric cancer(GC)in elderly patients and its influence on inflammation.METHODS Totally 103 elderly patients with GC treated in our hospital between January 2020 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,45 patients treated with surgery based on deep NMB and conventional pneumoperitoneum pressure were assigned to the control group,while the rest of the 58 patients who underwent surgery based on deep NMB and reduced pneumoperitoneum pressure were assigned to the observation group.The two groups were compared in the changes of the Leiden-surgical rating scale score,serum tumor necrosis fact-α(TNF-α)and interleukin 6(IL-6)before and after therapy.The visual analogue scale(VAS)was adopted for evaluating the shoulder pain of patients at 8 h,24 h and 48 h after the operation.The driving pressure of the two groups at different time points was also compared.Additionally,the operation time,pneumoperitoneum time,infusion volume,blood loss,extubation time after surgery,residence time in the resuscitation room,TOF%=90%time and post-anesthetic recovery room(PACU)stay time were all recorded,and adverse PACU-associated respiratory events were also recorded.The postoperative hospitalization time and postoperative expenses of the two groups were counted and compared.RESULTS No significant difference was found between the two groups at the time of skin incision,60 minutes since the operation and abdominal closure after surgery(P>0.05).The observation group exhibited significantly lower VAS scores than the control group at 24 and 48h after surgery(P<0.05).Additionally,the observation group had significantly lower driving pressure than the control group at 5 min and 60 min after the establishment of pneumoperitoneum(P<0.05).Additionally,the two groups were similar in terms of the operation time,pneumoperitoneum time,infusion volume,blood loss,extubation time after surgery,residence time in the resuscitation room and TOF%=90%time(P>0.05),and the observation group showed significantly lower TNF-αand IL-6 Levels than the control group at 24 h after therapy(P<0.05).Moreover,the incidence of adverse events was not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05),and the observation group experienced significantly less hospitalization time and postoperative expenses than the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Deep NMB combined with reduced pneumoperitoneum pressure can decrease the VAS score of shoulder pain and inflammatory reaction,without hindering the surgical vision and increasing adverse PACU-associated respiratory events,and can thus shorten the hospitalization time and treatment cost for patient.

Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer patients with situs inversus totalis: Two case reports and review of literature

BACKGROUND Situs inversus totalis(SIT)is a rare condition in which the positions of abdominal and thoracic organs present a“mirror image”of the normal ones in the median sagittal plane.Although minimally invasive surgery has evolved to achieve laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer(GC)patients with SIT,it is difficult to perform lymphadenectomy(LND)in such a transposed anatomical condition.Herein,we report the cases of two patients with SIT who successfully underwent laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy(LAG)with D2 LND.CASE SUMMARY Case 1:A 65-year-old man was admitted for intermittent abdominal pain and distension,occasional belching,and acid reflux for 4 mo.He was diagnosed with GC(cT3N1-2M0)with SIT.Before surgery,he had undergone four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy.Then,the patient was evaluated as having a partial response,and laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with D2 LND and Billroth II reconstruction were performed.The operation was performed successfully within 240 min with an estimated blood loss of 50 mL and no severe complications.The patient was discharged on postoperative day(POD)9.Case 2:A 55-year-old man was admitted for upper abdominal distension with pain and discomfort after eating for 3 mo.He was diagnosed with GC(cT3N1M0)with SIT.He had a history of hypertension for more than 10 years;however,his blood pressure was well-controlled via regular medication.We performed laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy with D2 LND and Roux-en-Y reconstruction.The operation was performed successfully within 168 min with an estimated blood loss of 50 mL and no severe complications.The patient was discharged on POD 10.CONCLUSION LAG with D2 LND could be considered an accessible,safe,and curative procedure for advanced GC patients with SIT.

Efficacy and safety of laparoscopic vs open gastrectomy after neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic gastrectomy(LG)is widely accepted as a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of early gastric cancer.However,its role in locally advanced gastric cancer(LAGC)after neoadjuvant therapy(NAT)remains controversial.This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of LG vs open gastrectomy(OG)after NAT for the treatment of LAGC.AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of LG vs OG after NAT for LAGC.METHODS We conducted a prospective study of 76 patients with LAGC who underwent NAT followed by LG(n=38)or OG(n=38)between 2021 and 2023.The primary endpoint was overall survival(OS),and the secondary endpoints were diseasefree survival(DFS),surgical complications,and quality of life(QOL).RESULTS The two groups had comparable baseline characteristics,with a median follow-up period of 24 mo.The 3-year OS rates in the LG and OG groups were 68.4%and 60.5%,respectively(P=0.42).The 3-year DFS rates in the LG and OG groups were 57.9%and 50.0%,respectively(P=0.51).The LG group had significantly less blood loss(P<0.001),a shorter hospital stay(P<0.001),and a lower incidence of surgical site infection(P=0.04)than the OG group.There were no significant differences in other surgical complications between the groups,including anastomotic leakage,intra-abdominal abscess,or wound dehiscence.The LG group had significantly better QOL scores than the OG group regarding physical functioning,role functioning,global health status,fatigue,pain,appetite loss,and body image at 6 months postoperatively(P<0.05).CONCLUSION LG after NAT is a viable and safe alternative to OG for the treatment of LAGC,with similar survival outcomes and superior short-term recovery and QOL.LG patients had less blood loss,shorter hospitalizations,and a lower incidence of surgical site infections than OG patients.Moreover,the LG group had better QOL scores in multiple domains 6 mo postoperatively.Therefore,LG should be considered a valid option for patients with LAGC who undergo NAT,particularly for those who prioritize postoperative recovery and QOL.

Efficacy evaluation and survival analysis of the combination of oxaliplatin plus Teysuno (SOX) with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the conversion therapy of locally advanced gastric cancer

Background:The efficacy of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)with chemotherapy in neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer has been explored.However,limited research exists on its effectiveness in conversion therapy,and its superiority over standalone chemotherapy remains to be elucidated.This study aims to investigate the efficacy and survival outcomes of patients treated with ICIs in combination with conversion therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer.Methods:Retrospective data from patients with locally advanced gastric cancer treated with either oxaliplatin+S-1(SOX)alone or in combination with ICIs in conversion therapywere collected.Clinical andpathological characteristics,disease-free survival,andefficacy assessments in nonoperable patients were compared between the 2 treatment groups.Efficacy was further evaluated through dynamic changes in serum markers,and patients’quality of life was assessed using the QLQ-STO22(Gastric Cancer–Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire)quality-of-life measurement scale.Results:A total of 140 patients underwent conversion therapy:80 in the SOX alone group and 60 in the SOX combined with the ICIs group.There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups.Compared with the SOX alone group,the SOX combined with ICIs group exhibited a higher conversion rate(83.3%vs 75%,P=0.23),R0 resection rate(90.0%vs 83.3%,P=0.31),pathological complete response(pCR)rate(18%vs 5%,P=0.02),median disease-free survival(21.4 vs 16.9 months,P=0.007),the objective response rate in nonoperable patients(60%vs 40%,P=0.301),and median progression-free survival time(7.9 vs 5.7 months,P=0.009).The QLQ-STO22 quality-of-life assessment revealed statistically significant improvements in pain,swallowing difficulties,and dietary restrictions in the combination therapy group compared with those in the monotherapy group.The enhanced efficacy of immune combination with SOX is evident,as demonstrated by the significantly prolonged surgical duration in operated patients(206.6±26.6 min vs 197.8±19.8 min,P=0.35)and intraoperative blood loss(158.9±21.2 mL vs 148.9±25.1 mL,P=0.59).No significant differences were observed in postoperative complications.Conclusions:Compared with the SOX conversion therapy regimen,SOX combined with ICIs demonstrated higher conversion rates,R0 resection rates,pathological response rates,and disease-free survival without increasing surgical difficulty or complications.Nonoperable patients also experienced longer progression-free survival and objective response rates.

Optimal choice of stapler and digestive tract reconstruction method after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer:A prospective case–control study

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths,and is classified according to its location in the proximal,middle,or distal stomach.Surgical resection is the primary approach for treating gastric cancer.This prospective study aimed to determine the best reconstruction method after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.AIM To explore the efficacy of different staplers and digestive tract reconstruction(DTR)methods after radical gastrectomy and their influence on prognosis.METHODS Eighty-seven patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for distal gastric cancer at our institution between April 2017 and April 2020 were included in this study,with a follow-up period of 12-26 mo.The patients were assigned to four groups based on the stapler and DTR plan as follows:BillrothⅠ(B-I)reconstruction+linear stapler group(group A,22 cases),B-I reconstruction+circular stapler group(group B,22 cases),Billroth II(B-II)reconstruction+linear stapler group(group C,22 cases),and B-II reconstruction+circular stapler group(group D,21 cases).The pathological parameters,postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery,postoperative complications,and quality of life(QOL)were compared among the four groups.RESULTS No significant differences in the maximum diameter of the gastric tumors,total number of lymph nodes dissected,drainage tube removal time,QLQ(QOL questionnaire)-C30 and QLQ-STO22 scores at 1 year postoperatively,and incidence of complications were observed among the four groups(P>0.05).However,groups A and C(linear stapler)had significantly lower intraoperative blood loss and significantly shorter anastomosis time,operation time,first fluid diet intake time,first exhaust time,and length of postoperative hospital stay(P<0.05)than groups B and D(circular stapler).CONCLUSION Linear staplers offer several advantages for postoperative recovery.B-I and B-II reconstruction methods had similar effects on QOL.The optimal solution can be selected according to individual conditions and postoperative convenience.

Emergency exploratory laparotomy and radical gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer combined with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is a prevalent malignant tumor worldwide and ranks as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality.Upper gastrointestinal bleeding(UGIB)is a frequent complication of GC.Radical gastrectomy and palliative therapy are widely used surgical procedures in the clinical management of GC.This study intends to probe the clinical efficacy and safety of radical gastrectomy and palliative therapy on the basis of exploratory laparotomy in patients with GC combined with UGIB,hoping to provide valuable information to aid patients in selecting the appropriate surgical intervention.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of exploratory laparotomy^(+)radical gastrectomy and palliative therapy in patients with GC and UGIB combined.METHODS A total of 89 GC patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China between July 2018 and July 2020 were selected as participants for this study.The 89 patients were divided into two groups:radical resection group(n=46)treated with exploratory laparotomy^(+)radical gastrectomy and Palliative group(n=43)treated with palliative therapy.The study compared several variables between the two groups,including surgical duration,intraoperative blood transfusion volume,postoperative anal exhaust time,off-bed activity time,length of hospitalization,and incidence of complications such as duodenal stump rupture,anastomotic obstruction,and postoperative incision.Additionally,postoperative immune function indicators(including CD3^(+),CD4^(+),CD8^(+),CD4^(+)/CD8^(+),and CD3^(+)/HLADR^(+)),immunoglobulin(IgG and IgM),tumor markers(CEA,CA199,and CA125),and inflammatory factors(IL-6,IL-17,and TNF-α)were assessed.The surgical efficacy and postoperative quality of life recovery were also evaluated.The patients were monitored for survival and tumor recurrence at 6 mo,1 year,and 2 years post-surgery.RESULTS The results indicated that the duration of operation time and postoperative hospitalization did not differ between the two surgical procedures.However,patients in the radical resection group exhibited shorter intraoperative blood loss,anus exhaust time,off-bed activity time,and inpatient activity time than those in the Palliative group.Although there was no substantial difference in the occurrence of postoperative complications,such as duodenal stump rupture and anastomotic obstruction,between the radical resection group and Palliative group(P>0.05),the radical resection group exhibited higher postoperative immune function indicators(including CD3^(+),CD4^(+),CD8^(+),etc.)and immunoglobulin levels(IgG,IgM)than the Palliative group,while tumor markers and inflammatory factors levels were lower than those in the radical resection group.Additionally,surgical efficacy,postoperative quality of life,and postoperative survival rates were higher in patients who underwent radical gastrectomy than in those who underwent palliative therapy.Moreover,the probability of postoperative tumor recurrence was lower in the radical gastrectomy group compared to the palliative therapy group,and these differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared to palliative therapy,exploratory laparotomy^(+)radical gastrectomy can improve immune function,reduce the levels of tumor markers and inflammatory factors,improve surgical efficacy,promote postoperative quality of life recovery,enhance survival rates,and attenuate the probability of tumor recurrence.

Radical gastrectomy for D2 distal gastric cancer

Patient＇s information The patient is a 56-year-old man who visited our hospital for ＂repeated epigastric pain for more than two months.＂ Physical examination showed nearly pale appearance; abdomen was soft and no mass palpable; left supraclavicular lymph node （-）; and digital rectal examination （-）.

Effect on changes of blood coagulation function, cytokines and immune function in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Objective:To explore the changes of coagulation function, cytokines and T lymphocyte in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer and its clinical significance.Methods: 40 cases of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients and 40 cases of open radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients in our hospital were selected to detect and investigate the perioperative coagulation function [APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time), FIB (fibrinogen), and PLT (platelet)], cytokines [CRP (C reactive protein), IL-6 (IL-6) and TNF-alpha (Tumor necrosis factor-alpha)] and T lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+) changes and clinical meaning of patients in the two groups.Results: The coagulation function related indicators, cytokines and T lymphocytes of the two groups before treatment did not change significantly (P>0.05). 1 d after operation, blood coagulation, TNF-alpha, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ levels were significantly lower than that before operation in two groups of patients (P<0.05), while IL-6, CRP and CD8+ were significantly higher than that before the operation (P<0.05), and the index change in open group was more obvious. 3 d after surgery, the APTT, IL-6, CRP, CD4+, CD8+ and PLT levels in two group patients were significantly lower than that 1 d after surgery, while FIB, TNF-alpha and CD4+/CD8+ were significantly higher than that 1 d after surgery;blood coagulation index, TNF-alpha and CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ were significantly lower in the laparotomy group patients than in laparoscopic group, while IL-6, CRP and CD8+ were significantly higher than the laparoscopic group (P<0.05). 5 d after operation, the APTT, TNF-alpha, FIB, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ and PLT in two groups were significantly higher than that 3 d after surgery (P<0.05), while IL-6, CRP and CD8+ levels were significantly lower than that of 3 d after surgery (P<0.05);blood coagulation index, TNF-alpha and CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in the laparotomy group patients were significantly lower than laparoscopic group (P<0.05), while IL-6, CRP and CD8+ were significantly higher than the laparoscopic group (P<0.05).Conclusions: Radical resection of gastric cancer can cause coagulation disorder, inhibit the immune function and inflammatory reaction, and gradually recover with the passage of time;Compared with open surgery, laparoscopic radical gastrectomy have smaller impact on patients and recovery faster.

Totally Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy with D2 Lymphadenectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer

Introductions: Gastrectomy, which is the standard surgical procedure for gastric cancer, has gradually come to be performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) has been adopted gradually and performed for advanced gastric cancer. However, laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) has not been as widely accepted as LDG due to technical difficulties, especially with reconstruction and proper D2 lymphadenectomy. The purpose of the current study was to determine the utility of TLTG with concomitant splenectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy (TLTGS) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Materials and Methods: Between January 2006 and May 2014, 10 consecutive patients who underwent TLTGS for AGC and 76 patients who underwent TLTG with D1 lymphadenectomy were included in this study. These two groups were compared in terms of perioperative results, with assessment of intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. Results: There were no significant differences in patients’ characteristics between the two groups. Operative time was longer in the TLTGS group than in the TLTG group. However, the rate of patients with postoperative complications including major complications was not different between the groups, and no patient in the TLTGS group had anastomotic leakage or pancreatic fistula. Conclusions: In the short-term, TLTGS had good postoperative outcomes and was useful and acceptable for AGC.

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.

Large gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp accompanied by advanced gastric cancer:A case report

BACKGROUND Gastric hamartomatous inverted polyps(GHIPs)are benign polyps of the gastric submucosal layer.Currently there are 52 reported cases in the English literature.According to a literature review,approximately 27%of GHIPs show a coexisting carcinoma.CASE SUMMARY A 66-year-old man was referred to our institution with ulcerative lesions detected on esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)during a regular check-up.Other medical findings were nonspecific.The lesions had borderline histologic features that could not exclude malignancy and were followed up with three EGDs and biopsies at intervals of 3 mo.The latest biopsy was revealed as an adenocarcinoma.A total gastrectomy was performed to remove the tumor.The surgical specimen revealed a 6.9 cm×4.5 cm sized GHIP with a coexisting 1.6 cm sized well-differentiated adenocarcinoma which extended to the muscularis propria.The malignancy did not originate from the GHIP but showed an overlap.CONCLUSION A large GHIP,which was unusually presented as an ulcerative lesion,was surgically removed,and was accompanied by advanced gastric cancer.Regular follow-up and thorough examinations of ulcerative lesions with equivocal biopsy have resulted in appropriate diagnosis and treatment.Therefore,aggressive intervention may be beneficial if GHIP is suspected.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by D2 gastrectomy in locally advanced gastric cancer

AIM:To investigate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(NACRT) for resectability of locally advanced gastric cancer(LAGC).METHODS:Between November 2007 and January 2014,29 patients with LAGC(clinically T3 with distal esophagus invasion/T4 or bulky regional node metastasis) that were treated with NACRT followed by D2 gastrectomy were included in this study.Resectability was evaluated with radiologic and endoscopic exams before and after NACRT.Using threedimensional conformal radiotherapy,patients received 45 Gy,with a daily dose of 1.8 Gy.The entire tumor extent and the regional metastatic lymph nodes were included in the gross tumor volume.Patients presenting with a resectable tumor after NACRT received a total or subtotal gastrectomy with D2 dissection.The pathologic tumor response was evaluated using Japanese Gastric Cancer Association histologic evaluation criteria.Postoperative morbidity was evaluated using the National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0.Overall survival(OS) and progression-free survival(PFS) rates were estimated using a Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared using the log-rank test.RESULTS:All patients were assessed as unresectable cases.Twenty-four patients(24/29; 82.8%) showed LAGC on positron emission tomography-computed tomography(CT) and contrast-enhanced CT,whereas four patients(4/29; 13.8%) with vague invasion orabutment to an adjacent organ underwent diagnostic laparoscopy.One patient(1/29; 3.4%),initially assessed as a resectable case,underwent an "open and closure" after the tumor was found to be unresectable.Abutment to an adjacent organ(34.5%) was the most common reason for NACRT.The clinical response rate one month after NACRT was 44.8%.After NACRT,69%(20/29) of patients had a resectable tumor.Of the 20 patients with a resectable tumor,18 patients(62.1%) underwent a D2 gastrectomy.The R0 resection rate was 94.4% and two patients(2/18; 11.1%) showed a complete response.The median follow-up duration was 13.5 mo.The one-year OS and PFS rates were 72.4 and 48.9%,respectively.The one-year OS,PFS,local failure-free survival,and distant metastasis-free survival were higher in patients with a resectable tumor after NACRT(P < 0.001,P < 0.001,P < 0.001,and P =0.078,respectively).No grade 3-4 late treatment-related toxicities or postoperative mortalities were observed.CONCLUSION:NACRT with D2 gastrectomy showed a high rate of R0 resection and promising local control,which may increase the R0 resection opportunity resulting in survival benefit.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer with bulky lymph node metastasis:Five case reports

BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(NACRT)has not been accepted as a general therapy for gastric cancer because of its localized effect and toxicity for radiosensitive organs.However,if radiation therapy could compensate for the limited or inadequate treatment choices available for elderly patients and/or those at high risk,the available therapeutic options for advanced gastric cancer might increase.From this perspective,we present our experiences of five patients with advanced gastric cancer in whom we used NACRT therapy with interesting results.CASE SUMMARY We admitted five patients with clinical Stage III gastric cancer and bulky lymph node metastasis or adjacent organ invasion at the time of diagnosis.A total of 50 Gy of preoperative intensity modulated radiation therapy was delivered to the patients in doses of 2.0 Gy/d,together with a regimen of concomitant chemotherapy comprising two courses of oral tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil(S-1;65 mg/m2 per day)for three consecutive weeks followed by two weeks of rest,starting at the same time as radiotherapy.All patients underwent no residual tumor resection and a pathological complete response of the primary tumors was achieved in two patients.The incidence of hematological toxicity was low,although the digestive toxicities of anorexia and diarrhea developed in three of the five patients,necessitating termination of radiation therapy at 30 Gy and S-1 at three weeks.However,even 30 Gy of irradiation and half the dose of S-1 resulted in sufficient downstaging,indicating that even a reduced amount of NACRT could confer considerable effects.CONCLUSION Slightly reduced NACRT might be useful and safe for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

Harnessing interventions during the immediate perioperative period to improve the long-term survival of patients following radical gastrectomy

Although the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer(GC)have been decreasing steadily worldwide,especially in East Asia,the disease burden of this malignancy is still very heavy.Except for tremendous progress in the management of GC by multidisciplinary treatment,surgical excision of the primary tumor is still the cornerstone intervention in the curative-intent treatment of GC.During the relatively short perioperative period,patients undergoing radical gastrectomy will suffer from at least part of the following perioperative events:Surgery,anesthesia,pain,intraoperative blood loss,allogeneic blood transfusion,postoperative complications,and their related anxiety,depression and stress response,which have been shown to affect long-term outcomes.Therefore,in recent years,studies have been carried out to find and test interventions during the perioperative period to improve the long-term survival of patients following radical gastrectomy,which will be the aim of this review.

Roux-en-Y reconstruction does not require gastric decompression after radical distal gastrectomy

AIM: To determine whether routine nasogastric (NG) decompression benefitted patients undergoing radical gastric surgery. METHODS: Between January 1998 and December 2008, 519 patients who underwent distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer were retrospectively divided into 2 time-period cohorts; those treated with Billroth Ⅱ (BⅡ) reconstruction in the first 6 years and those with Roux-en-Y (RY) reconstruction in the last 5 years. In the latter group, the patients were further divided into 2 subgroups; with and without nasogastric decompression.RESULTS: Postoperatively, there were no significant differences in the number of anastomotic leaks between the 3 groups. In the tubeless RY group, time to semiliquid diet was significantly shorter than in the other 2 groups (4.4 d ± 1.4 d vs 7.2 d ± 1.3 d and 5.9 d ± 1.2 d, P = 0.005). The length of postoperative stay was significantly increased in patients with BⅡ reconstruction compared with patients with RY reconstruction with/without NG decompression (15.4 d ± 4.3 d in BⅡ group vs 12.6 d ± 3.1 d in decompressed RY and 11.4 d ± 3.4 d in the tubeless RY group, P = 0.035). The postoperative pneumonia rate was lowest in the tubeless group and highest in the BⅡ group (1.4% vs 4.6%, P = 0.01). Severe sore throat was noted in 59 (20.7%) members of the BⅡ group, 18 (17.4%) members of the decompressed RY group and 6 (4.2%) members of the tubeless RY group. Fewer patients in the tubeless group complained of severe sore throat (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study provides support for abandoning routine NG decompression in patients undergoing subtotal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy.