Optimal treatment for Siewert type Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: A retrospective cohort study with long-term follow-up

AIM To determine the optimal treatment strategy for Siewert type Ⅱ and?Ⅲ?adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 83 patients with Siewert type?Ⅱ?and?Ⅲ?adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and calculated both an index of estimated benefit from lymph node dissection for each lymph node(LN) station and a lymph node ratio(LNR: ratio of number of positive lymph nodes to the total number of dissected lymph nodes). We used Cox proportional hazard models to clarify independent poor prognostic factors. The median duration of observation was 73 mo.RESULTS Indices of estimated benefit from LN dissection were as follows, in descending order: lymph nodes(LN) along the lesser curvature, 26.5; right paracardial LN, 22.8; left paracardial LN, 11.6; LN along the left gastric artery, 10.6. The 5-year overall survival(OS) rate was 58%. Cox regression analysis revealed that vigorous venous invasion(v2, v3)(HR = 5.99; 95%CI: 1.71-24.90) and LNR of > 0.16(HR = 4.29, 95%CI: 1.79-10.89) were independent poor prognostic factors for OS.CONCLUSION LN along the lesser curvature, right and left paracardial LN, and LN along the left gastric artery should be dissected in patients with Siewert type?Ⅱ?or?Ⅲ?adenoca rcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. Patients with vigorous venous invasion and LNR of > 0.16 should be treated with aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy to improve survival outcomes.

Laparoscopic-assisted vs open transhiatal gastrectomy for Siewert type Ⅱ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND The studies of laparoscopic-assisted transhiatal gastrectomy(LTG) in patients with Siewert type Ⅱ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG) are scarce.AIM To compare the surgical efficiency of LTG with the open transhiatal gastrectomy(OTG) for patients with Siewert type Ⅱ AEG.METHODS We retrospectively evaluated a total of 578 patients with Siewert type Ⅱ AEG who have undergone LTG or OTG at the First Medical Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019. The short-term and long-term outcomes were compared between the LTG(n = 382) and OTG(n = 196) groups.RESULTS Compared with the OTG group, the LTG group had a longer operative time but less blood loss, shorter length of abdominal incision and an increased number of harvested lymph nodes(P < 0.05). Patients in the LTG group were able to eat liquid food, ambulate, expel flatus and discharge sooner than the OTG group(P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in postoperative complications and R0 resection. The 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival performed better in the LTG group compared with that in the OTG group(88.2% vs 79.2%, P = 0.011;79.7% vs 73.0%, P = 0.002, respectively). In the stratified analysis, both overall survival and disease-free survival were better in the LTG group than those in the OTG group for stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ patients(P < 0.05) but not for stage I patients.CONCLUSION For patients with Siewert type Ⅱ AEG, LTG is associated with better short-term outcomes and similar oncology safety. In addition, patients with advanced stage AEG may benefit more from LTG in the long-term outcomes.

Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagogastric Junction:a New Topic for the Tumor Registry

Linzhou, Yangcheng, Shexian and Yangzhong counties are considered to be high-risk areas for esophageal carcinoma using traditional standards. However, based on the incidence of malignant tumors and death statistics from 1998-2002 in Chinese cities and counties, the incidence of esophageal carcinoma in these counties was not the most prominent. In these areas, the incidence of gastric cancer ranked first. So what are the differences between the above-mentioned areas and Changle in Fujina and Linqu in Shandong Province？ The authors have combined the defined norms for cardiac cancer, published by the WHO in 2000, with the epidemiological changes in high-risk areas of esophageal carcinoma. We propose to discuss the importance of cardiac cancer morbidity and death registration in tumor monitoring sites all over China, and to provide new views related to this topic of interest.

The unique phenotypes of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction in China

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction （AEG） was proposed as a distinct disease for its rapidly increasing incidence. However, most studies of AEG were based primarily on the results of western patients and the studies on Chinese patients were deficient. Recently, some retrospective studies on AEG patients from our hospital show distinct clinical and pathological features compared with American patients （1-3）. In this editorial, we will focus on the unique phenotypes of Chinese AEG patients based on our studies and other reports.

Lymph node metastasis and lymphadenectomy of resectable adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

Based on Siewert classification, adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction （AEGs） have different behaviors of perigastric-mediastinal nodal metastasis. Siewert type I AEGs have higher incidence of mediastinal nodal metastasis than those of type H or III, especially at middle-upper mediastinum. With regard to the necessity of mediastinal lymphadenectomy, theoretically, transthoracic esophagogastrectomy with complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy is suggested for Siewert type I AEGs, while transhiatal total gastrectomy with lower mediastinal and D2 perigastric lymphadenectomy is a standard surgery for type II-III AEGs. Nevertheless, the mediastinal nodal metastasis is an independent factor of poor prognosis for any type of AEG.

Model established based on blood markers predicts overall survival in patients after radical resection of types Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

BACKGROUND In recent years, the incidence of types Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG) has shown an obvious upward trend worldwide. The prognostic prediction after radical resection of AEG has not been well established.AIM To establish a prognostic model for AEG(types II and III) based on routine markers.METHODS A total of 355 patients who underwent curative AEG at The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2014 to June 2015 were retrospectively included in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors. A nomogram was constructed based on Cox proportional hazards models. The new score models was analyzed by C index and calibration curves. The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was used to compare the predictive accuracy of the scoring system and tumor-node-metastasis(TNM) stage. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier curve amongst different risk AEG patients.RESULTS Multivariate analysis showed that TNM stage(hazard ratio [HR] = 2.286, P = 0.008), neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio(HR = 2.979, P = 0.001), and body mass index(HR = 0.626, P = 0.026) were independent prognostic factors. The new scoring system had a higher concordance index(0.697),and the calibration curves of the nomogram were reliable. The area under the ROC curve of the new score model(3-year: 0.725, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.676-0.777;5-year: 0.758, 95%CI:0.708-0.807) was larger than that of TNM staging(3-year: 0.630, 95%CI: 0.585-0.684;5-year: 0.665,95%CI: 0.616-0.715).CONCLUSION Based on the serum markers and other clinical indicators, we have developed a precise model to predict the prognosis of patients with AEG(types II and III). The new prognostic nomogram could effectively enhance the predictive value of the TNM staging system. This scoring system can be advantageous and helpful for surgeons and patients.

The safety of esophagojejunostomy via a transorally inserted-anvil method vs extracorporeal anastomosis using a circular stapler during total gastrectomy for Siewert type 2 adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

Background:Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy via a transorally inserted-anvil method during laparoscopic total gastrectomy(LTG)for upper gastric cancer has been demonstrated to be feasible,but the use of this assessment exclusively for Siewert type 2 adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG)has not been reported.Methods:A total of 428 consecutive gastric-cancer patients who underwent LTG in Nanfang Hospital from January 2008 to December 2016 were reviewed.Among these patients,98 were classified as Siewert type 2 AEG.The patients underwent intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy through either a transorally inserted-anvil method(n=27)or extracorporeal anastomosis usinga circular stapler(n=71).After generating propensity scores with covariates that were associated with developing anastomotic leakage,26 patients who underwent esophagojejunostomy via the transorally inserted-anvil method(transoral group)were 1:1 matched with 26 patients who underwent the procedure via extracorporeal anastomosis using a circular stapler(extracorporeal group).The safety after 30 days post-operatively was compared between the two groups.Results:The transoral group and extracorporeal group were balanced regarding the baseline variables.The operative time,reconstruction duration,number of dissected lymph nodes,length of the proximal resectionmargins,estimated blood loss,intra-operative complication rate,and post-operative recovery course were not significantly different between the two groups.The mean anvil-insertion completion time(9.763.0 vs 13.462.0minutes,P<0.001)and the median incision length(5.5 vs 7.0 cm,P<0.001)in the transoral group were shorter than those in the extracorporeal group.The incidence of post-operative complications(26.9%vs 23.1%,P=0.749)and the classification of complication severity(P=0.939)were similar between the two groups.Conclusions:Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy through a transorally inserted-anvil method may be a potentially safe approach to simplify and optimize the procedure during LTG for Siewert type 2 AEG.

Risk factors for anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy for Siewert type Ⅱ/Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction:a retrospective case-control study

Objective:To identify risk factors for anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy in patients with Siewert type II/III adenocarcinoma(AEG)of the esophagogastric junction.Methods:This was a retrospective case-control study of 903 patients with Siewert type II/III AEG treated from January 2012 to January 2015 at the Shanxi Cancer Hospital in China.All patients underwent gastrectomy,and their clinical characteristics were analyzed to identify associations with anastomotic leakage.Independent risk factors were identified by binary logistic regression.The 2-year disease-free survival was calculated and compared between patients with anastomotic leakage and control patients.The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Shanxi Medical University(approval No.2014-09-39)on September 19,2014.Results:Out of the 903 patients were included in the study,80(8.86%,80/903)experienced anastomotic leakage.The mortality rate attributed to anastomotic leakage was 8.75%(7/80).Logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative hypoalbuminemia(odds ratio(OR)=3.249,95%confidence interval(CI):1.569-6.725,P=0.002),type of reconstruction(OR=1.795,95%CI:1.026-3.142,P=0.040),and combined organ resection(OR=1.807,95%CI:1.069-3.055,P=0.027)were independent risk factors for anastomotic leakage.Conclusion:Preoperative hypoalbuminemia,type of reconstruction,and combined organ resection were identified as risk factors for anastomotic leakage in patients undergoing gastrectomy for Siewert type Ⅱ/Ⅲ AEG.