Metastatic stomach lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma(PLELC)is a rare type of nonsmall-cell lung cancer.Stomach lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma(LELC)metastasis secondary to PLELC has not been reported recently.CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for a regular gastroscopy examination with a 6-year history of surgical resection for left PLELC.Positron emission tomography/computed tomography suggested high accumulation of 18F-fludeoxyglucose in the gastric cardia region.Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed a large mass at the stomach fundus.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)of the biopsy suggested metastatic stomach LELC.Proximal gastrectomy showed that this 6.5 cm×5.0 cm mass was located in the stomach fundus near the cardia.Histopathological examination showed a poorly differentiated carcinoma with prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltration.IHC demonstrated that the tumor was positive for CK(AE1/AE3),p63,p40,p53,Ki-67(70%),and EGFR(3+)and negative for CK7,CK20,Her2,and CD10.In situ hybridization analysis showed positive staining Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA.Tumor programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1)expression score was 98%,and the combined positive score was 100,with no evidence of microsatellite instability.Thus,the patient was unequivocally diagnosed with metastatic stomach LELC secondary to pulmonary LELC.After discharge,this patient underwent PD-1 inhibitor treatment(toripalimab,240 mg)every 3 wk for ten cycles,and she has had no tumor recurrence.CONCLUSION For gastric LELC metastasis,PD-1 inhibitor therapy could become a new therapeutic approach,though there is still no evidence from large data sets to support this.

Azacitidine maintenance therapy for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm allograft: A case report

BACKGROUND Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm(BPDCN)is a rare,highly invasive malignant neoplasm.There is no universally accepted standard of care because of its rarity and the dearth of prospective research.It is still challenging for some patients to achieve persistent clinical remission or cure,despite the success of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT),indicating that there is still a significant recurrence rate.We report a case of prevention of BPDCN allograft recurrence by azacitidine maintenance therapy and review the relevant literature.CASE SUMMARY We report a 41-year-old man with BPDCN who was admitted to hospital due to skin sclerosis for>5 mo’duration.BPDCN was diagnosed by combined clinical assessment and laboratory examinations.Following diagnosis,the patients underwent induction consolidation chemotherapy to achieve the first complete remission,followed by bridging allo-HSCT.Post-transplantation,azacitidine(75 mg/m2 for 7 d)was administered as maintenance therapy,with repeat administration every 4–6 wk and appropriate extension of the chemotherapy cycle.After 10 cycles,the patient has been disease free for 26 mo after transplantation.Regular assessments of bone marrow morphology,minimal residual disease,full donor chimerism,Epstein–Barr virus,and cytomegalovirus all yielded normal results with no abnormalities detected.CONCLUSION Azacitidine may be a safe and effective maintenance treatment for BPDCN following transplantation because there were no overt adverse events during the course of treatment.

Experimental study on effect of recombinant human growth hormone combined with chemotherapy on stomach neoplasms implanted in nude mice

Objective: To investigate the effect of different doses of recombined growth hormone (rhGH) on stomach neo- plasms implanted in nude mice, and its efficacy in combining with chemotherapy (flurouracil, 5-FU). Methods: Human stom- ach neoplasms model was established in nude mice. The nude mice were divided into control group, moderate-dose of rhGH group, low-dose rhGH group, 5-FU group, moderate-dose rhGH/5-FU group, and low-dose rhGH/5-FU group. The results of each group were observed after ten days. Results: After therapy, the body mass of rhGH groups was significantly increased compared with control group (P<0.05), the body mass of rhGH/5-FU groups was significantly increased compared with 5-FU group (P<0.05), but it was no significant difference between rhGH/5-FU groups and control group (P>0.05). The average tumor mass and volume of rhGH groups were not significantly increased compared with control group (P>0.05), but they were significantly reduced in 5-FU group and rhGH/5-FU groups (P<0.05). They were no significant difference between rhGH/5- FU groups and 5-FU group (P>0.05). After treatment, the percentages of S, G0/G1 and G2/M phases and proliferation index (PI) were not significantly changed in rhGH groups compared with control group (P>0.05), and the same with rhGH/5-FU groups compared with 5-FU group (P>0.05). The difference caused by dose of rhGH was not significant. Conclusion: rhGH enhances body mass, does not stimulate tumor growth, and has no adverse effects on tumor bearing nude mice. Combined with flurouracil, rhGH does not influence the efficacy of chemotherapy, and has no effect on tumor cell cycle kinetics.

Systematic review of ablative therapy for the treatment of renal allograft neoplasms

BACKGROUND To date,there are no guidelines on the treatment of solid neoplasms in the transplanted kidney.Historically,allograft nephrectomy has been considered the only reasonable option.More recently,nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) and ablative therapy (AT) have been proposed as alternative procedures in selected cases.AIM To review outcomes of AT for the treatment of renal allograft tumours.METHODS We conducted a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2009 Checklist.PubMed was searched in March 2019 without time restrictions for all papers reporting on radiofrequency ablation (RFA),cryoablation (CA),microwave ablation (MWA),high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU),and irreversible electroporation (IRE) of solid tumours of the kidney allograft.Only original manuscripts describing actual cases and edited in English were considered.All relevant articles were accessed in full text.Additional searches included all pertinent references.Selected studies were also assessed for methodological quality using a tool based on a modification of the Newcastle Ottawa scale.Data on recipient characteristics,transplant characteristics,disease characteristics,treatment protocols,and treatment outcomes were extracted and analysed.Given the nature and the quality of the studies available (mostly retrospective case reports and small retrospective uncontrolled case series),a descriptive summary was provided.RESULTS Twenty-eight relevant studies were selected describing a total of 100 AT procedures in 92 patients.Recipient age at diagnosis ranged from 21 to 71 years whereas time from transplant to diagnosis ranged from 0.1 to 312 mo.Most of the neoplasms were asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during imaging carried out for screening purposes or for other clinical reasons.Preferred diagnostic modality was Doppler-ultrasound scan followed by computed tomography scan,and magnetic resonance imaging.Main tumour types were: papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and clear cell RCC.Maximal tumour diameter ranged from 5 to 55 mm.The vast majority of neoplasms were T1a N0 M0 with only 2 lesions staged T1b N0 M0.Neoplasms were managed by RFA (n = 78),CA (n = 15),MWA (n = 3),HIFU (n = 3),and IRE (n = 1).Overall,3 episodes of primary treatment failure were reported.A single case of recurrence was identified.Follow-up ranged from 1 to 81 mo.No cancer-related deaths were observed.Complication rate was extremely low (mostly < 10%).Graft function remained stable in the majority of recipients.Due to the limited sample size,no clear benefit of a single procedure over the other ones could be demonstrated.CONCLUSION AT for renal allograft neoplasms represents a promising alternative to radical nephrectomy and NSS in carefully selected patients.Properly designed clinical trials are needed to validate this therapeutic approach.

Stomach perforation-induced general occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy effect

BACKGROUND Using rat stomach perforation as a prototypic direct lesion applied in cytoprotection research,we focused on the first demonstration of the severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome induced by stomach perforation.The revealed stomachinduced occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome corresponds to the previously described occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes in rats suffering multicausal pathology and shared severe vascular and multiorgan failure.This general point was particularly reviewed.As in all the described occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes with permanent occlusion of major vessels,peripheral and central,and other similar noxious procedures that severely affect endothelium function,the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 was resolving therapy.AIM To reveal the stomach perforation-induced general occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome and BPC 157 therapy effect.METHODS The procedure included deeply anesthetized rats,complete calvariectomy,laparotomy at 15 min thereafter,and stomach perforation to rapidly induce vascular and multiorgan failure occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome.At 5 min post-perforation time,rats received therapy[BPC 157(10μg or 10 ng/kg)or saline(5 mL/kg,1 mL/rat)(controls)]into the perforated defect in the stomach).Sacrifice was at 15 min or 60 min post-perforation time.Assessment(gross and microscopy;volume)included:Brain swelling,peripheral vessels(azygos vein,superior mesenteric vein,portal vein,inferior caval vein)and heart,other organs lesions(i.e.,stomach,defect closing or widening);superior sagittal sinus,and peripherally the portal vein,inferior caval vein,and abdominal aorta blood pressures and clots;electrocardiograms;and bleeding time from the perforation(s).RESULTS BPC 157 beneficial effects accord with those noted before in the healing of the perforated defect(raised vessel presentation;less bleeding,defect contraction)and occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes counteraction.BPC 157 therapy(into the perforated defect),induced immediate shrinking and contraction of the whole stomach(unlike considerable enlargement by saline application).Accordingly,BPC 157 therapy induced direct blood delivery via the azygos vein,and attenuated/eliminated the intracranial(superior sagittal sinus),portal and caval hypertension,and aortal hypotension.Thrombosis,peripherally(inferior caval vein,portal vein,abdominal aorta)and centrally(superior sagittal sinus)BPC 157 therapy markedly reduced/annihilated.Severe lesions in the brain(swelling,hemorrhage),heart(congestion and arrhythmias),lung(hemorrhage and congestion),and marked congestion in the liver,kidney,and gastrointestinal tract were markedly reduced.CONCLUSION We revealed stomach perforation as a severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome,peripherally and centrally,and rapid counteraction by BPC 157 therapy.Thereby,further BPC 157 therapy may be warranted.

Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection for neoplasms in the pyloric ring of the stomach: Four case reports

BACKGROUND Tumors located in the pylorus are technically more complex to resect by endoscopic resection,as the anatomical characteristics of this region can affect the adequate assessment of margins and performance of the procedure.We reported the results of underwater endoscopic mucosal resection(UEMR)of benign mucosal neoplasms located in the pyloric ring.CASE SUMMARY This case series describes 4 patients with 4 mucosal neoplasms located in the pyloric ring.The diameter of each neoplasm was less than 15 mm.We performed UEMR for the lesions.Water immersion enabled slight floating of the lesions,resulting in easy identification.We achieved en bloc resection with a snare and electrosurgical unit.All procedure were performed within 3 min without adverse events.Pathologic examination showed low-grade dysplasia with clear resection margins in one case and hyperplastic polyps in three cases.CONCLUSION UEMR can be an effective and safe treatment method for neoplasms in the gastric pyloric ring.

Liver-directed therapies for liver metastases from neuroendocrine neoplasms:Can laser ablation play any role?

Aggressive cytoreduction can prolong survival in patients with unresectable liver metastases(LM)from neuroendocrine neoplasms(NEN),and minimally invasive,liver-directed therapies are gaining increasing interest.Catheter-based treatments are used in disseminated disease,whereas ablation techniques are usually indicated when the number of LM is limited.Although radiofrequency ablation(RFA)is by far the most used ablative technique,the goal of this opinion review is to explore the potential role of laser ablation(LA)in the treatment of LM from NEN.LA uses thinner needles than RFA,and this is an advantage when the tumors are in at-risk locations.Moreover,the multi-fiber technique enables the use of one to four laser fibers at once,and each fiber provides an almost spherical thermal lesion of 12-15 mm in diameter.Such a characteristic enables to tailor the size of each thermal lesion to the size of each tumor,sparing the liver parenchyma more than any other liver-directed therapy,and allowing for repeated treatments with low risk of liver failure.A recent retrospective study reporting the largest series of LM treated with LA documents both safety and effectiveness of LA,that can play a useful role in the multimodality approach to LM from NEN.

Gastric leiomyoma presenting as an endophytic growth of cardia of the stomach: A case report

Gastric leiomyomas are rare submucosal neoplasms arising from smooth muscle cells.It accounts for approximately 2.5%of all gastric tumours,is slow growing and rarely causes symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort and dyspepsia.1 On imaging,they appear similar to gastrointestinal stromal tumours(GISTs)and can be intraluminal or extraluminal.Diagnosis is mostly confirmed by histopathological examination of the tumour.Surgical resection of the tumour is the main treatment option.Here,we present a case of laparoscopic resection of an endophytic gastric tumour that turned out to be a leiomyoma.

Favorable response after radiation therapy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms manifesting as acute recurrent pancreatitis:A case report

BACKGROUND There has been an increasing number of elderly patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm(IPMN),who are surgically intolerant and require less invasive treatment options,which are limited.In the present study,we report a case of IPMN presenting with acute recurrent pancreatitis(ARP),in which radiation therapy effectively prevented further attacks of ARP and reduced tumor volume.CASE SUMMARY An 83-year-old man was referred to our hospital with an asymptomatic incidental pancreatic cyst.Endoscopic ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a multiloculated tumor in the head of the pancreas,with dilated pancreatic ducts and mural nodules.The patient was diagnosed with mixed-type IPMN,and five years later,he developed ARP.Several endoscopic pancreatic ductal balloon dilatations failed to prevent further ARP attacks.Surgery was considered clinically inappropriate because of his old age and comorbidities.He was referred to our department for radiation therapy targeted at those lesions causing intraductal hypertension and radiation was administered at a dose of 50 Gy.An magnetic resonance imaging scan taken ten weeks after treatment revealed a decrease in tumor size and improvement of pancreatic duct dilatation.Fourteen months later,he remains symptom-free from ARP.CONCLUSION This case highlights the important role of radiation therapy in mitigating the signs and symptoms of ARP in patients with inoperable IPMN.

Current gene therapy for stomach carcinoma

Gastric cancer is common in China [1-42],and its early diagnosis and treatment in advanced stage are difficult [31-50].In recent years ,gene study in cancer is a hotspot ,and great progress has been achieved [41-80] .Cancer gene therapy has shifted from the imagination into the laboratory and clinical trials.

Intensify standardized therapy for esophageal and stomach cancer in tumor hospitals

INTRODUCTIONCancer treatment situation in tumor hospitals inChina has its own unique characteristics which arenot found in other parts of the world. Because ofthe huge population and high incidence rates ofesophageal and stomach cancer[1-5], the number ofcancer patients waiting for admission isinconceivably large.

A new breakthrough:ESD using a newly developed grasping type scissor forceps for early gastrointestinal tract neoplasms

Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) has allowed the achievement of histologically curative en bloc resection of gastrointestinal neoplasms regardless of size,permitting the resection of previously non-resectable tumors.The ESD technique for treatment of early gastric cancer has spread rapidly in Japan and a few other Asian countries due to its excellent eradication rate compared to endoscopic mucosal resection.Although numerous electrosurgical knives have been developed for ESD,technical difficulties and high complication rates(bleeding and perforation) have limited their use worldwide.We developed the grasping type scissor forceps(GSF) to resolve such ESD-related problems.Our animal and preliminary clinical studies showed that ESD using GSF is a safe(no intraoperative complication) and technically efficient(curative en bloc resection rate 92%) method for dissection of early gastrointestinal tumors.The use of GSF is a promising option for performing ESD on early stage GI tract tumors both safely and effectively.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms:A clinical snapshot

Our understanding about the epidemiological aspects,pathogenesis,molecular diagnosis,and targeted therapies of neuroendocrine neoplasms(NENs)have drastically advanced in the past decade.Gastroenteropancreatic(GEP)NENs originate from the enteroendocrine cells of the embryonic gut which share common endocrine and neural differentiation factors.Most NENs are welldifferentiated,and slow growing.Specific neuroendocrine biomarkers that are used in the diagnosis of functional NENs include insulin,glucagon,vasoactive intestinal polypeptide,gastrin,somatostatin,adrenocorticotropin,growth hormone releasing hormone,parathyroid hormone-related peptide,serotonin,histamine,and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid(5-HIAA).Biomarkers such as pancreatic polypeptide,human chorionic gonadotrophin subunits,neurotensin,ghrelin,and calcitonin are used in the diagnosis of non-functional NENs.5-HIAA levels correlate with tumour burden,prognosis and development of carcinoid heart disease and mesenteric fibrosis,however several diseases,medications and edible products can falsely elevate the 5-HIAA levels.Organ-specific transcription factors are useful in the differential diagnosis of metastasis from an unknown primary of well-differentiated NENs.Emerging novel biomarkers include circulating tumour cells,circulating tumour DNA,circulating micro-RNAs,and neuroendocrine neoplasms test(NETest)(simultaneous measurement of 51 neuroendocrine-specific marker genes in the peripheral blood).NETest has high sensitivity(85%-98%)and specificity(93%-97%)for the detection of gastrointestinal NENs,and is useful for monitoring treatment response,recurrence,and prognosis.In terms of management,surgery,radiofrequency ablation,symptom control with medications,chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapies are all considered as options.Surgery is the mainstay of treatment,but depends on factors including age of the individual,location,stage,grade,functional status,and the heredity of the tumour(sporadic vs inherited).Medical management is helpful to alleviate the symptoms,manage inoperable lesions,suppress postoperative tumour growth,and manage recurrences.Several molecular-targeted therapies are considered second line to somatostatin analogues.This review is a clinical update on the pathophysiological aspects,diagnostic algorithm,and management of GEP NENs.

Advances in medical treatment for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms(PanNENs)are rare neoplasms with strong heterogeneity that have experienced an increasing incidence rate in recent years.For patients with locally advanced or distant metastatic PanNENs,systemic treatment options vary due to the different differentiations,grades and stages.The available options for systemic therapy include somatostatin analogs,molecularly targeted agents,cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents,immune checkpoint inhibitors,and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.In addition,the development of novel molecularly targeted agents is currently in progress.The sequence of selection between different chemotherapy regimens has been of great interest,and resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is the major limitation in their clinical application.Novel agents and high-level clinical evidence continue to emerge in the field of antiangiogenic agents.Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy is increasingly employed for the treatment of advanced neuroendocrine tumors,and greater therapeutic efficacy may be achieved by emerging radiolabeled peptides.Since immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapies for PanNENs appear to have limited antitumor activity,dual immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies or combinations of antiangiogenic therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been applied in the clinic to improve clinical efficacy.Combining the use of a variety of agents with different mechanisms of action provides new possibilities for clinical treatments.In the future,the study of systemic therapies will continue to focus on the screening of the optimal benefit population and the selection of the best treatment sequence strategy with the aim of truly achieving individualized precise treatment of PanNENs.

Endoscopic techniques for diagnosis and treatment of gastroentero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms:Where we are

BACKGROUND The correct localization of the primary tumor site and a complete histological diagnosis represent the milestones for the proper management of gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms(GEP-NENs).AIM To analyze current evidence on the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis/treatment of GEP-NENs.METHODS An extensive bibliographical search was performed in PubMed to identify guidelines and primary literature(retrospective and prospective studies,systematic reviews,case series)published in the last 15 years,using both medical subject heading(MeSH)terms and free-language keywords:gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms;endoscopy;ultrasound endoscopy;capsule endoscopy;double-balloon enteroscopy;diagnosis;therapy;staging.RESULTS In the diagnostic setting,endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)represents the diagnostic gold standard for pancreatic NENs and the technique of choice for the locoregional staging of gastric,duodenal and rectal NENs.The diagnosis of small bowel NENs(sbNENs)has been improved with the advent of video capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy,which allow for direct visualization of the entire small bowel;however,data regarding the efficacy/safety of these techniques in the detection of sbNENs are scanty and often inconclusive.From a therapeutic point of view,endoscopic removal is the treatment of choice for the majority of gastric NENs(type 1/2),for well-differentiated localized nonmetastatic duodenal NENs<1 cm,confined to the submucosa layer and for<10 mm,stage T1–T2,rectal NENs.EUS-guided pancreatic locoregional ablative treatments have been proposed in recent studies with promising results in order to control symptoms or reduce tumor burden in selected patients.CONCLUSION Standard axial endoscopy and EUS still play a pivotal role in several GEP-NENs.Advanced techniques for increasing the rate of R0 resection should be reserved for high-volume referral centers.

Comprehensive treatment of advanced primary live cancer with intraperitoneal chemotherapy or in combination with other therapies:therapeutic observation of 72 cases

Objective： To evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal chemotherapy or in combination with other therapies in patients with advanced primary liver cancer. Methods： 72 patients with advanced primary liver cancer with no indication for surgery received intraperitoneal chemotherapy in combination with other therapies including transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE）, radiofrequency catheter ablation （RFA）, percutaneous ethanol injection therapy （PELT） and radiotherapy. Of them, 29 cases were complicated with hilar or retroperitoneal multiple lymph node metastases, 14 with portal vein embolus, 15 with intrapedtoneal and diaphragmatic metastases, 6 with chylous ascites, one with cancerous ascites, and 7 with suspected cancerous ascites （referring to large amounts of ascites without hypoproteinemia while exfoliative cytology of the ascites was positive）. The mean maximum tumor size was 8.2 cm in diameter. Liver function at the initial treatment was Child A in 53 cases, and Child B in 19 cases. I ntrapedtoneal chemotherapy was performed in all these patients. The intraperitoneal chemotherapy protocols included： 5-FU 0.5-0.75 g/d for 10-15 consecutive days, with a total dosage of 5-12.5 g, and at the last day of chemotherapy 10 mg mitomycin （MMC） or 100 mg carboplatin was injected. For 7 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, Gemzar 800-1000 mg was administered additionally. A majority of all these patients received another one or two therapy methods followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy. TACE was performed in the patients with multiple tumors or nodule more than 5 cm in diameter in the liver, RFA or PElT with nodule fewer than 4 in number and 5 cm or less than 5 cm in diameter and radiotherapy, only for metastases, with metastatic lymph nodes, localized metastasis within the abdominal cavity or portal vein embolus. Interval time between two methods was one month or so. Two months after the sequential therapy, repeated treatment would be given if general medical condition and liver function were perfect at that time. Results： The median survival time of the group was 13.97 ± 6.27 months. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 59.7% and 30.6% respectively. The mean survival time of the patients with liver function Child A was 15.91 ± 5.49 months, and that of the patients with Child B was 8.55 ± 5.09 months. The difference was statistically significant （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： Intraperitoneal chemotherapy or in combination with other therapies in patients with advanced primary liver cancer with metastases to abdominal cavity is an effective method. It can prolong the survival time and improve life quality for a certain percentage of patients with advanced pnmary liver cancer.

Prevention and management of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with hematological malignancies in the targeted therapy era

Hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus(HBV)reactivation can be serious and potentially fatal,but is preventable.HBV reactivation is most commonly reported in patients receiving chemotherapy,especially rituximab-containing therapy for hematological malignancies and those receiving stem cell transplantation.Patients with inactive and even resolved HBV infection still have persistence of HBV genomes in the liver.The expression of these silent genomes is controlled by the immune system.Suppression or ablation of immune cells,most importantly B cells,may lead to reactivation of seemingly resolved HBV infection.Thus,all patients with hematological malignancies receiving anticancer therapy should be screened for active or resolved HBV infection by blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen.Patients found to be positive for HBsAg should be given prophylactic antiviral therapy.For patients with resolved HBV infection,there are two approaches.The first is pre-emptive therapy guided by serial HBV DNA monitoring,and treatment with antiviral therapy as soon as HBV DNA becomes detectable.The second approach is prophy-lactic antiviral therapy,particularly for patients receiving high-risk therapy,especially anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Entecavir and tenofovir are the preferred antiviral choices.Many new effective therapies for hematological malignancies have been introduced in the past decade,for example,chimeric antigen receptor(CAR)-T cell therapy,novel monoclonal antibodies,bispecific antibody drug conjugates,and small molecule inhibitors,which may be associated with HBV reactivation.Although there is limited evidence to guide the optimal preventive measures,we recommend antivi-ral prophylaxis in HBsAg-positive patients receiving novel treatments,including Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors,B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitors,and CAR-T cell therapy.Further studies are needed to determine the risk of HBV reactivation with these agents and the best prophylactic strategy.

Prolonged hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy duration with 90 minutes cisplatin might increase overall survival in gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastases

BACKGROUND Advanced gastric cancer with synchronous peritoneal metastases(GC-PM)is associated with a poor prognosis.Although cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(CRS-HIPEC)is a promising approach,only a limited number of Western studies exist.AIM To investigate the clinicopathological outcomes of patients who underwent CRSHIPEC for GC-PM.METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients with GC-PM was conducted.All patients were seen at the Department of General and Visceral Surgery,Hospital Barmherzige Brüder,Regensburg,Germany between January 2011 and July 2021 and underwent CRS-HIPEC.Preoperative laboratory results,the use of neoadjuvant trastuzumab,and the details of CRS-HIPEC,including peritoneal carcinomatosis index,completeness of cytoreduction,and surgical procedures were recorded.Disease-specific(DSS),and overall survival(OS)of patients were calculated.RESULTS A total of 73 patients were included in the study.Patients treated with neoadjuvant trastuzumab(n=5)showed longer DSS(P=0.0482).Higher white blood cell counts(DSS:P=0.0433)and carcinoembryonic antigen levels(OS and DSS:P<0.01),and lower hemoglobin(OS and DSS:P<0.05)and serum total protein(OS:P=0.0368)levels were associated with shorter survival.Longer HIPEC duration was associated with more advantageous median survival times[60-min(n=59):12.86 mo;90-min(n=14):27.30 mo],but without statistical difference.To obtain additional data from this observation,further separation of the study population was performed.First,propensity score-matched patient pairs(n=14 in each group)were created.Statistically different DSS was found between patient pairs(hazard ratio=0.2843;95%confidence interval:0.1119-0.7222;P=0.0082).Second,those patients who were treated with trastuzumab and/or had human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positivity(median survival:12.68 mo vs 24.02 mo),or had to undergo the procedure before 2016(median survival:12.68 mo vs 27.30 mo;P=0.0493)were removed from the original study population.CONCLUSION Based on our experience,CRS-HIPEC is a safe and secure method to improve the survival of advanced GC-PM patients.Prolonged HIPEC duration may serve as a good therapy for these patients.

Proton pump inhibitors and stomach neoplasm

This study aimed to explore the relationship between proton pump inhibitors(PPIs)and gastric tumors and determine the reasons behind these connections.We reviewed studies on PPIs and stomach tumors.We explored the relationship between PPIs and different types of gastric neoplasms according to the classification of gastric neoplasms.Long-term use of PPIs is associated with stomach infection,high gastrin levels,and rebound acid hypersecretion,which are directly or indirectly related to the development of gastric neoplasms.PPIs can increase the risk of gastric fundal polyps.Further evidence is needed to prove that it can increase the risk of gastric cancer.

Immunotherapy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is presented frequently in late stages that are not amenable for curative treatment.Even for patients who can undergo resection for curative treatment of HCC,up to 50%recur.For patients who were not exposed to systemic therapy prior to recurrence,recurrence frequently cannot be subjected to curative therapy or local treatments.Such patients have several options of immunotherapy(IO).This includes programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 treatment,combination of PD-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor or single agent PD-1 therapy when all other options are deemed inappropriate.There are also investigational therapies in this area that explore either PD-1 and tyrosine kinase inhibitors or a novel agent in addition to PD-1 with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors.This minireview explored IO options for patients with recurrent HCC who were not exposed to systemic therapy at the initial diagnosis.We also discussed potential IO options for patients with recurrent HCC who were exposed to first-line therapy with curative intent at diagnosis.