Defining minimal invasive surgical therapy for benign prostatic obstruction surgery: Perspectives from a global knowledge, attitude, and practice survey

Objective:To scrutinize the definitions of minimal invasive surgical therapy(MIST)and to investigate urologists’knowledge,attitudes,and practices for benign prostatic obstruction surgeries.Methods:A 36-item survey was developed with a Delphi method.Questions on definitions of MIST and attitudes and practices of benign prostatic obstruction surgeries were included.Urologists were invited globally to complete the online survey.Consensus was achieved when more than or equal to 70%responses were“agree or strongly agree”and less than or equal to 15%responses were“disagree or strongly disagree”(consensus agree),or when more than or equal to 70%responses were“disagree or strongly disagree”and less than or equal to 15%responses were“agree or strongly agree”(consensus disagree).Results:The top three qualities for defining MIST were minimal blood loss(n=466,80.3%),fast post-operative recovery(n=431,74.3%),and short hospital stay(n=425,73.3%).The top three surgeries that were regarded as MIST were Urolift®(n=361,62.2%),Rezum®(n=351,60.5%),and endoscopic enucleation of the prostate(EEP)(n=332,57.2%).Consensus in the knowledge section was achieved for the superiority of Urolift®,Rezum®,and iTIND®over transurethral resection of the prostate with regard to blood loss,recovery,day surgery feasibility,and post-operative continence.Consensus in the attitudes section was achieved for the superiority of Urolift®,Rezum®,and iTIND®over transurethral resection of the prostate with regard to blood loss,recovery,and day surgery feasibility.Consensus on both sections was achieved for EEP as the option with the better symptoms and flow improvement,lower retreatment rate,and better suitable for prostate more than 80 mL.Conclusion:Minimal blood loss,fast post-operative recovery,and short hospital stay were the most important qualities for defining MIST.Urolift®,Rezum®,and EEP were regarded as MIST by most urologists.

The effect of intraoperative goal-directed fluid therapy in patients under anesthesia for gastrointestinal surgery

BACKGROUND Intraoperative fluid management is an important aspect of anesthesia mana-gement in gastrointestinal surgery.Intraoperative goal-directed fluid therapy(GDFT)is a method for optimizing a patient's physiological state by monitoring and regulating fluid input in real-time.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative GDFT in patients under anesthesia for gastrointestinal surgery.METHODS This study utilized a retrospective comparative study design and included 60 patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery at a hospital.The experimental group(GDFT group)and the control group,each comprising 30 patients,received intraoperative GDFT and traditional fluid management strategies,respectively.The effect of GDFT was evaluated by comparing postoperative recovery,com-plication rates,hospitalization time,and other indicators between the two patient groups.RESULTS Intraoperative blood loss in the experimental and control groups was 296.64±46.71 mL and 470.05±73.26 mL(P<0.001),and urine volume was 415.13±96.72 mL and 239.15±94.69 mL(P<0.001),respectively.The postoperative recovery time was 5.44±1.1 days for the experimental group compared to 7.59±1.45 days(P<0.001)for the control group.Hospitalization time for the experimental group was 10.87±2.36 days vs 13.65±3 days for the control group(P<0.001).The visual analogue scale scores of the experimental and control groups at 24 h and 48 h INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal surgery is one of the most common procedures in the field of general surgery[1],involving the stomach,intestines,liver,pancreas,spleen,and other internal abdominal organs[2,3].With advancements in surgical technology and anesthesia methods,the safety and success rates of surgery have significantly improved[4,5].However,intraop-erative fluid management remains a critical challenge[6].Traditional fluid management strategies often rely on experience and basic physiological parameters,which may lead to excessive or insufficient fluid input,thereby affecting postoperative recovery and complication rates.Intraoperative goal-directed fluid therapy(GDFT)is an emerging fluid management strategy that dynamically adjusts fluid input volume by monitoring the patient's hemodynamic parameters in real-time to optimize the patient's physiological state[7,8].GDFT has shown superiority in many surgical fields;however,its application in gastrointestinal surgery requires further research and verification[9,10].The application of intraoperative GDFT in clinical settings has gradually increased in recent years[11,12].Studies have demonstrated that GDFT can optimize tissue perfusion and oxygenation by precisely controlling fluid input and reducing the occurrence of postoperative complications[13,14].For example,in cardiac and major vascular surgeries,GDFT significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury and cardiovascular events[15,16].Similarly,in abdominal surgery,GDFT effectively reduced postoperative infections and expedited recovery[17].However,studies on the utilization of GDFT in gastrointestinal surgery are relatively limited and they are confounded by contradictory findings[18].Traditional fluid management strategies typically rely on estimating fluid input volume based on the patient's weight,preoperative status,and basic physiological parameters[19].However,this method lacks real-time dynamic adjustment,which may result in either insufficient or excessive fluid input,consequently affecting postoperative recovery.Insufficient fluid input can lead to hypovolemia and inadequate tissue perfusion,whereas excessive fluid input can cause tissue edema and postoperative complications,such as pulmonary edema and heart failure.GDFT involves dynamically adjusting fluid input volume by monitoring the patient's hemodynamic parameters in real-time,such as cardiac output,pulse pressure variability,and central venous pressure.Commonly used monitoring equipment include esophageal Doppler and pulse wave profile analyzers[20].These devices provide real-time hemo-dynamic data to assist anesthesiologists in tailoring fluid therapy to a patient's specific condition.Firstly,the patient's volume responsiveness is assessed by preloading fluid;secondly,fluid input volume is dynamically adjusted based on real-time monitoring data;finally,vasoactive and inotropic drugs are administered in combination to further optimize the patient’s hemodynamic status.Through personalized fluid management,GDFT can more accurately maintain intraop-erative hemodynamic stability and reduce complications[21].Gastrointestinal surgery involves procedures on multiple organs,often requiring prolonged operative times and extensive tissue trauma,which presents challenges for intraop-erative fluid management.Surgical procedures can lead to significant bleeding and fluid loss,requiring prompt and effective fluid replenishment.In addition,the slow recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery and susceptibility to complications such as intestinal obstruction and delayed gastric emptying elevate the necessity for postoperative fluid management.

Comparative efficacy and safety between endoscopic submucosal dissection,surgery and definitive chemoradiotherapy in patients with cT1N0M0 esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)and surgical resection are the standard of care for cT1N0M0 esophageal cancer(EC),whereas definitive chemoradiotherapy(d-CRT)is a treatment option.Nevertheless,the comparative efficiency and safety of ESD,surgery and d-CRT for cT1N0M0 EC remain unclear.AIM To compare the efficiency and safety of ESD,surgery and d-CRT for cT1N0M0 EC.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the hospitalized data of a total of 472 consecutive patients with cT1N0M0 EC treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer center between 2017-2019 and followed up until October 30th,2022.We analyzed demographic,medical recorded,histopathologic characteristics,imaging and endoscopic,and follow-up data.The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to analyze the difference of survival outcome by treatments.Inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW)was used to minimize potential confounding factors.RESULTS We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent ESD(n=99)or surgery(n=220)or d-CRT(n=16)at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from 2017 to 2019.The median follow-up time for the ESD group,the surgery group,and the d-CRT group was 42.0 mo(95%CI:35.0-60.2),45.0 mo(95%CI:34.0-61.75)and 32.5 mo(95%CI:28.3-40.0),respectively.After adjusting for background factors using IPTW,the highest 3-year overall survival(OS)rate and 3-year recurrence-free survival(RFS)rate were observed in the ESD group(3-year OS:99.7% and 94.7% and 79.1%;and 3-year RFS:98.3%,87.4% and 79.1%,in the ESD,surgical,and d-CRT groups,respectively).There was no difference of severe complications occurring between the three groups(P≥0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that treatment method,histology and depth of infiltration were independently associated with OS and RFS.CONCLUSION For cT1N0M0 EC,ESD had better long-term survival and lower hospitalization costs than those who underwent d-CRT and surgery,with a similar rate of severe complications occurring.

Prognostic factors of early recurrence after complete cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

BACKGROUND Although cytoreductive surgery(CRS)and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC)offer the potential for long-term survival in peritoneal carcinomatosis,outcomes following CRS/HIPEC vary significantly.AIM To identify the clinical factors associated with progression-free survival(PFS)after complete CRS/HIPEC in patients with colorectal/high-grade appendiceal,ovarian,and gastric cancers.METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the risk of recurrence within 1 year after CRS/HIPEC and its impact on overall survival(OS)in patients recruited between 2015 and 2020.Logistic regression models were used to assess the prognostic factors for the risk of recurrence within 1 year.Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between recurrence and OS.RESULTS Of the 80 enrolled patients,39 had an unfavorable PFS(<1 year)and 41 had a favorable PFS(≥1 year).Simple logistic models revealed that the patients with a completeness of cytoreduction score of 0(CC-0)or length of CRS≤6 h had a favorable PFS[odds ratio(OR)=0.141,P=0.004;and OR=0.361,P=0.027,respectively].In multiple logistic regression,achieving CC-0 was the strongest prognostic factor for a favorable PFS(OR=0.131,P=0.005).A peritoneal cancer index score>12 was associated with a lower rate of achieving CC-0(P=0.027).The favorable PFS group had a significantly longer OS(median 81.7 mo vs 17.0 mo,P<0.001).CONCLUSION Achieving CC-0 was associated with a lower early recurrence rate and improved long-term survival.This study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate candidates for CRS/HIPEC to manage peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Gold Standard for Skin Cancer Treatment: Surgery (Mohs) or Microscopic Molecular-Cellular Therapy (Curaderm)?

Non-melanoma skin cancers or keratinocyte cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma make up approximately 80% and 20% respectively, of skin cancers with the 6 million people that are treated annually in the United States. 1 in 5 Americans and 2 in 3 Australians develop skin cancer by the age of 70 years and in Australia it is the most expensive, amassing $1.5 billion, to treat cancers. Non-melanoma skin cancers are often self-detected and are usually removed by various means in doctors’ surgeries. Mohs micrographic surgery is acclaimed to be the gold standard for the treatment of skin cancer. However, a novel microscopic molecular-cellular non-invasive topical therapy described in this article, challenges the status of Mohs procedure for being the acclaimed gold standard.

Therapeutic effects of Buzhong Yiqi decoction in patients with spleen and stomach qi deficiency after routine surgery and chemotherapy for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),the spleen and stomach are the basis of acquired nature and the source of qi and blood biochemistry.After surgery and chemotherapy,patients with colorectal cancer often develop spleen and stomach qi deficiency syndrome,leading to decreased immune function.Buzhong Yiqi decoction,a classic TCM prescription,has the effect of tonifying middle-jiao and invigorating qi,boosting Yang,and suppressing immune-related inflammation.Moreover,it is widely used in the treatment of spleen and stomach qi deficiency syndrome.AIM To investigate the effect of Buzhong Yiqi decoction on spleen and stomach qi deficiency in patients with colorectal cancer.METHODS One hundred patients with colorectal cancer who underwent preoperative chemotherapy and laparoscopy at The First TCM Hospital of Changde from January 2022 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided equally into control and observation groups.Both groups underwent conventional rehabilitation surgery,and the observation group was supplemented with Buzhong Yiqi decoction.SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analyses.Theχ2 test was used for univariate analysis;independent sample t-tests were used in all cases.RESULTS No significant differences were observed preoperatively in the general characteristics of the two groups.Fourteen days post-surgery,the abdominal distension,emaciation,loose stool,loss of appetite,and vomiting scores were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).Immune function and interleukin(IL)-10 levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group,whereas IL-6,tumor necrosis factor-α,and C-reactive protein levels,tumor biological indexes,and adverse reactions in the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).One month after surgery,the patients’quality of life in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the patients in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Buzhong Yiqi decoction can regulate inflammatory responses and metabolic processes by enhancing immune function,thereby promoting overall immune nutrition and restoring the body’s balance.

Reassessment of palliative surgery in conversion therapy of previously unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Two case reports and review of literature

BACKGROUND Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)have lost the opportunity for direct surgery at the time of diagnosis.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors or tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKI)can partially transform some unresectable HCC and improve the prognosis ef-fectively.However,based on the promising prospects of combined targeted and immunotherapy for the effective treatment of HCC,the positive role of palliative surgery in the conversion treatment of advanced HCC urgently needs further in-tensive re-assessment.CASE SUMMARY In this study,we describe two successful cases of"conversion therapy for un-resectable HCC"achieved mainly by palliative surgery combined with TACE plus immunotherapy and TKIs.A 48-year-old patient with newly diagnosed HCC,presenting with a 6-cm mass in the segment VII/VIII of the right liver with mul-tiple intrahepatic metastases,could not undergo one-stage radical surgical resection.He underwent palliative surgery with radiofrequency of metastatic lesions and the palliative resection of the primary mass,and received subsequent TACE treatments twice in the early postoperative period(2 weeks and 6 weeks),in addition to targeted and immune combination therapy with sintilimab injection and oral lenvatinib.No evidence of recurrence was observed during the 11-month follow-up period after surgery.The other patient was a 47-year-old patient with massive HCC(18 cm×15 cm×4.5 cm)in the left liver with severe cirrhosis.The left portal branch was occluded and a tumor thrombus formed,and the tumor partly involved the middle hepatic vein.The patient underwent palliative surgery of left hemihepatectomy(including resection of the middle hepatic vein)for HCC,followed by three TACE procedures and oral TKIs 2 weeks after surgery.Six months later,the re-examination via computed tomography revealed no tumour activity in the remaining right liver,while magnetic resonance imaging revealed slight local tumor enhancement in the caudate lobe of the liver considered,TACE was performed once again,and during the next follow-up of 10 months did not reveal new intrahepatic lesions or distant metastases.CONCLUSION These cases demonstrate that the addition of palliative surgery to conversion therapy in a selected population with a high tumor burden could benefit patients with initially unresectable HCC.

Evaluating the clinical application and effect of acupuncture therapy in anal function rehabilitation after low-tension rectal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND According to the indexes of serum and anal function,acupuncture therapy was applied to patients with low rectal cancer in order to avoid the occurrence of anal incontinence and reduce complications.AIM To explore the clinical application and evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy for anal function rehabilitation after low-tension rectal cancer surgery.METHODS From the anorectal surgery cases,we selected 120 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery between January 2020 and December 2022 and randomly divided them into a control group(n=60),observation group(n=60),and control group after surgery for lifestyle intervention(including smoking cessation and exercise),dietary factor adjustment,anal movement,and oral loperamide treatment.The serum levels of motilin,5-hydroxytryptamine,and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP),Wexner score for anal incontinence,and incidence of complications were compared between groups.RESULTS After treatment,the VIP and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The motilin level was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).Postoperative anal incontinence was better in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of complications in the observation group was 6.67%,which was significantly lower than that in the control group(21.67%;P<0.05).CONCLUSION Acupuncture therapy has a positive effect on the rehabilitation of anal function after low-tension rectal cancer surgery;it can effectively help to improve the serum indices of patients,avoid the occurrence of anal incontinence,and reduce the incidence of complications.Popularizing and applying it will be valuable.

Treatment of spinal cord injury with biomaterials and stem cell therapy in non-human primates and humans

Spinal cord injury results in the loss of sensory,motor,and autonomic functions,which almost always produces permanent physical disability.Thus,in the search for more effective treatments than those already applied for years,which are not entirely efficient,researches have been able to demonstrate the potential of biological strategies using biomaterials to tissue manufacturing through bioengineering and stem cell therapy as a neuroregenerative approach,seeking to promote neuronal recovery after spinal cord injury.Each of these strategies has been developed and meticulously evaluated in several animal models with the aim of analyzing the potential of interventions for neuronal repair and,consequently,boosting functional recovery.Although the majority of experimental research has been conducted in rodents,there is increasing recognition of the importance,and need,of evaluating the safety and efficacy of these interventions in non-human primates before moving to clinical trials involving therapies potentially promising in humans.This article is a literature review from databases(PubMed,Science Direct,Elsevier,Scielo,Redalyc,Cochrane,and NCBI)from 10 years ago to date,using keywords(spinal cord injury,cell therapy,non-human primates,humans,and bioengineering in spinal cord injury).From 110 retrieved articles,after two selection rounds based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,21 articles were analyzed.Thus,this review arises from the need to recognize the experimental therapeutic advances applied in non-human primates and even humans,aimed at deepening these strategies and identifying the advantages and influence of the results on extrapolation for clinical applicability in humans.

Optimizing care for gastric cancer with overt bleeding:Is systemic therapy a valid option?

Gastric cancer(GC)and gastroesophageal junction cancer(GEJC)represent a significant burden globally,with complications such as overt bleeding(OB)further exacerbating patient outcomes.A recent study by Yao et al evaluated the effectiveness and safety of systematic treatment in GC/GEJC patients presenting with OB.Using propensity score matching,the study balanced the comparison groups to investigate overall survival and treatment-related adverse events.The study's findings emphasize that systematic therapy can be safe and effective and contribute to the ongoing debate about the management of advanced GC/GEJC with OB,highlighting the complexities of treatment decisions in these high-risk patients.

Effect of TSH Suppression Therapy on Sex Hormone Levels after Thyroid Cancer Surgery

Objective:To analyze the effect of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH)suppression therapy on sex hormone levels in patients undergoing postoperative treatment for thyroid cancer.Methods:A total of 40 patients undergoing postoperative thyroid cancer treatment were selected for data analysis.TSH suppression therapy was implemented during the postoperative period.Patients were grouped according to the TSH level:TSH<0.1,0.1≤TSH<0.5,and TSH≥0.5.Results:Among male patients,there were no significant differences in sex hormone levels at different dosing times and TSH levels(P>0.05).For female patients,testosterone levels at different dosing times showed no significant differences under the same circumstances(P>0.05).The comparison of testosterone levels at different TSH levels over 5 years of TSH suppression therapy did not yield significant differences(P>0.05).However,the comparison of testosterone levels within 5 years of TSH suppression therapy yielded significant differences(P<0.05),with the lowest levels observed at 0.1≤TSH<0.5.Conclusion:The use of TSH suppression therapy in postoperative thyroid cancer treatment minimally affects sex hormone levels in male patients.However,it has a significant impact on female patients.Therefore,preoperative sex hormone testing is recommended,and postoperative monitoring should include regular sex hormone testing.

Pulmonary embolism after shoulder surgery:Is it a real threat?

Pulmonary embolism(PE)is a rare but devastating complication of shoulder surgery.Apart from increased morbidity and mortality rates,it may significantly impair postoperative recovery and functional outcome.Its frequency accounts for up to 5.7%of all shoulder surgery procedures with a higher occurrence in women and patients older than 70 years.It is most commonly associated with thrombophilia,diabetes mellitus,obesity,smoking,hypertension,and a history of malignancy.PE usually occurs secondary to upper or lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis(DVT).However,in rare cases,the source of the thrombi cannot be determined.Prophylaxis for PE following shoulder surgery remains a topic of debate,and the standard of care does not routinely require prophylactic medication for DVT prophylaxis.Early ambulation and elastic stockings are important preventative measures for DVT of the lower extremity and medical agents such as aspirin,low-molecular-weight heparin,and vitamin K antagonists are indicated for high-risk patients,long-lasting operations,or concomitant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.The most common symptoms of PE include chest pain and shortness of breath,but PE can also be asymptomatic in patients with intrinsic tolerance of hypoxia.Patients with DVT may also present with swelling and pain of the respective extremity.The treatment of PE includes inpatient or outpatient anticoagulant therapy if the patient is hemodynamically unstable or stable,respectively.Hemodynamic instability may require transfer to the intensive care unit,and cardiovascular arrest can be implicated in fatal events.An important issue for patients with PE in the postoperative period after shoulder surgery is residual stiffness due to a delay in rehabilitation and a prolonged hospital stay.Early physiotherapy and range-of-motion exercises do not adversely affect the prognosis of PE and are highly recommended to preserve shoulder mobility and function.

Conversion therapy and suitable timing for subsequent salvage surgery for initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: What is new?

AIM To review the conversion therapy for initially unre-sectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients and the suitable timing for subsequent salvage surgery. METHODS A Pub Med search was undertaken from 1987 to 2017 to identify articles using the keywords including "unresectable" "hepatocellular carcinoma", "hepate-ctomy", "conversion therapy", "resection", "salvage surgery" and "downstaging". Additional studies were investigated through a manual search of the references from the articles. The exclusion criteria were duplicates, case reports, case series, videos, contents unrelated to the topic, comments, and editorial essays. The main and widely used conversion therapies and the suitable timing for subsequent salvage surgery were discussed in detail. Two members of our group independently performed the literature search and data extraction. RESULTS Liver volume measurements [future liver remnant(FLR)/total liver volume or residual liver volume/bodyweight ratio] and function tests(scoring systems and liver stiffness) were often performed in order to justify whether patients were suitable candidates for surgery. Successful conversion therapy was usually defined as downstaging the tumor, increasing FLR and providing subsequent salvage surgery, without increasing com-plications, morbidity or mortality. The requirementsfor performing salvage surgery after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization were the achievement of a partial remission in radiology, the disappearance of the portal vein thrombosis, and the lack of extrahepatic metastasis. Patients with a standardized FLR(sF LR) > 20% were good candidates for surgery after portal vein embolization, while other predictive parameters like growth rate, kinetic growth rate were treated as an effective supplementary. There was probably not enough evidence to provide a standard operation time after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy or yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolization. The indications of any combinations of conversion therapies and the subsequent salvage surgery time still need to be carefully and comprehen-sively evaluated. CONCLUSION Conversion therapy is recommended for the treatment of initially unresectable HCC, and the suitable subse-quent salvage surgery time should be reappraised and is closely related to its previous therapeutic effect.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitonealchemotherapy in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer associated peritoneal carcinomatosis(GCPC) has a poor prognosis with a median survival of less than one year. Systemic chemotherapy including targeted agents has not been found to significantly increase the survival in GCPC. Since recurrent gastric cancer remains confined to the abdominal cavity in many patients, regional therapies like aggressive cytoreductive surgery( CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC) have been investigated for GCPC. HIPEC has been used for three indications in GC- as an adjuvant therapy after a curative surgery, HIPEC has been shown to improve survival and reduce peritoneal recurrences in many randomised trials in Asian countries; as a definitive treatment in established PC, HIPEC along with CRS is the only therapeutic modality that has resulted in longterm survival in select groups of patients; as a palliative treatment in advanced PC with intractable ascites, HIPEC has been shown to control ascites and reduce the need for frequent paracentesis. While the results of randomised trials of adjuvant HIPEC from western centres are awaited, the role of HIPEC in the treatment of GCPC is still evolving and needs larger studies before it is accepted as a standard of care.

Timing of surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer: Impact on outcomes

AIM To evaluate whether the neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAc T)-surgery interval time significantly impacts the pathological complete response(pc R) rate and longterm survival.METHODS One hundred and seventy-six patients with gastric cancer undergoing NAc T and a planned gastrectomy at the chinese p LA General hospital were selected from January 2011 to January 2017. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to investigate the impact of NAc T-surgery interval time(< 4 wk, 4-6 wk, and > 6 wk) on pc R rate and overall survival(OS).RESULTS The NAc T-surgery interval time and clinician T stage were independent predictors of pc R. The interval time > 6 wk was associated with a 74% higher odds of pc R as compared with an interval time of 4-6 wk(p = 0.044), while the odds ratio(OR) of clinical T3 vs clinical T4 stage for pc R was 2.90(95%c I: 1.04-8.01, p = 0.041). In cox regression analysis of long-term survival, postneoadjuvant therapy pathological N(yp N) stage significantly impacted OS(N0 vs N3: h R = 0.16, 95%c I: 0.37-0.70, p = 0.015; N1 vs N3: h R = 0.14, 95%c I: 0.02-0.81, p = 0.029) and disease-free survival(DFS)(N0 vs N3: h R = 0.11, 95%c I: 0.24-0.52, p = 0.005; N1 vs N3: h R = 0.17, 95%c I: 0.02-0.71, p = 0.020). The surgical procedure also had a positive impact on OS and DFS. The hazard ratio of distal gastrectomy vs total gastrectomy was 0.12(95%c I: 0.33-0.42, p = 0.001) for OS, and 0.13(95%c I: 0.36-0.44, p = 0.001) for DFS.CONCLUSION The NAc T-surgery interval time is associated with pc R but has no impact on survival, and an interval time > 6 wk has a relatively high odds of pc R.

Chinese expert consensus on cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal malignancies

Locoregional spread of abdominopelvic malignant tumors frequently results in peritoneal carcinomatosis(PC). The prognosis of PC patients treated by conventional systemic chemotherapy is poor, with a median survival of < 6 mo. However, over the past three decades, an integrated treatment strategy of cytoreductive surgery(CRS) + hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC) has been developed by the pioneering oncologists, with proved efficacy and safety in selected patients. Supported by several lines of clinical evidence from phases Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ clinical trials, CRS + HIPEC has been regarded as the standard treatment for selected patients with PC in many established cancer centers worldwide. In China, an expert consensus on CRS + HIPEC has been reached by the leading surgical and medical oncologists, under the framework of the China Anti-Cancer Association. This expert consensus has summarized the progress in PC clinical studies and systematically evaluated the CRS + HIPEC procedures in China as well as across the world, so as to lay the foundation for formulating PC treatment guidelines specific to the national conditions of China.

Impact of interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery in rectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND Epidemiologically,in China,locally advanced rectal cancer is a more common form of rectal cancer.Preoperative neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy can effectively reduce the size of locally invasive tumors and improve disease-free survival(DFS)and pathologic response after surgery.At present,this modality has become the standard protocol for the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer in many centers,but the optimal time for surgery after neoadjuvant therapy is still controversial.AIM To investigate the impact of time interval between neoadjuvant therapy and surgery on DFS and pathologic response in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.METHODS A total of 231 patients who were classified as having clinical stage II or III advanced rectal cancer and underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery at the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College from November 2014 to August 2017 were involved in this retrospective cohort study.The patients were divided into two groups based on the different time intervals between neoadjuvant therapy and surgery:139(60.2%)patients were in group A(≤9 wk),and 92(39.2%)patients were in group B(>9 wk).DFS and pathologic response were analyzed as the primary endpoints.The secondary endpoints were postoperative complications and sphincter preservation.RESULTS For the 231 patients included,surgery was performed at≤9 wk in 139(60.2%)patients and at>9 wk in 92(39.8%).The patients’clinical characteristics,surgical results,and tumor outcomes were analyzed through univariate analysis combined with multivariate regression analysis.The overall pathologic complete response(pCR)rate was 27.2%(n=25)in the longer time interval group(>9 wk)and 10.8%(n=15)in the shorter time interval group(≤9 wk,P=0.001).The postoperative complications did not differ between the groups(group A,5%vs group B,5.4%;P=0.894).Surgical procedures for sphincter preservation were performed in 113(48.9%)patients,which were not significantly different between the groups(group A,52.5%vs group B,43.5%;P=0.179).The pCR rate was an independent factor affected by time interval(P=0.009;odds ratio[OR]=2.668;95%CI:1.276-5.578).Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis showed that the longer time interval(>9 wk)was a significant independent prognostic factor for DFS(P=0.032;OR=2.295;95%CI:1.074-4.905),but the time interval was not an independent prognostic factor for overall survival(P>0.05).CONCLUSION A longer time interval to surgery after neoadjuvant therapy may improve the pCR rate and DFS but has little impact on postoperative complications and sphincter preservation.

MicroRNA-218 is upregulated in gastric cancer after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and increases chemosensitivity to cisplatin

AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of miRNA in advanced gastric cancers (AGCs) before and after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) + hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Primary debulking surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery for patients with advanced ovarian cancer

Objectives： To compare the survival and perioperafive morbidity between primary debulking surgery （PDS） and neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery （NAC/IDS） in treating patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer （EOC）. Methods： We retrospectively reviewed 67 patients with stage IIIC or iV EOC treated at Peking University Cancer Hospital from January 2006 to June 2009. VVherein, 37 and 30 patients underwent PDS and NAC/ IDS, respectively. Results： No difference in overall survival （OS） or progression-free survival （PFS） was observed between NAC/IDS group and PDS group （OS： 41.2 vs. 39.1 months, P=0.23; PFS： 27.1 vs. 24.3 months, P=0.37）. The optimal debulking rate was 60% in the NAC/IDS group, which was significantly higher than that in the PDS group （32.4%） （P=0.024）. The NAC/IDS group had significantly less intraoperative estimated blood loss and transfusion, lower nasogastric intubation rate, and earlier ambulation and recovery of intestinal function than the PDS group （P〈0.05）. Conclusions： NAC/IDS is less invasive than PDS, and offers the advantages regarding optimal cytoreduction rate, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative recovery, without significantly impairing the survival compared with PDS in treating patients with stage IIIC or IV EOC. Therefore, NAC/IDS may be a valuable treatment alternative for EOC patients.

Neoadjuvant therapy for pancreas cancer: Past lessons and future therapies

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains a most deadly malignancy, with an overall 5-year survival of 5%. A subset of patients will be diagnosed with potentially resectable disease, and while complete surgical resection provides the only chance at cure, data from trials of postoperative chemoradiation and/or chemotherapy demonstrate a modest survival advantage over those patients who undergo resection alone. As such, most practitioners believe that completion of multimodality therapy is the optimal treatment. However, the sequence of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is frequently debated, as patients may benefit from a neoadjuvant approach by initiating chemotherapy and/or chemoradiation prior to resection. Here we review the rationale for neoadjuvant therapy, which includes a higher rate of completion of multimodality therapy, minimizing the risk of unnecessary surgical resection for patients who develop early metastatic disease, improved surgical outcomes and the potential for longer overall survival. However, there are no prospective, randomized studies of the neoadjuvant approach compared to a surgeryfirst strategy; the established and ongoing investigations of neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer are discussed in detail. Lastly, as the future of therapeutic regimens is likely to entail patient-specific genetic and molecular analyses, and the treatment that is best applied based on those data, a review of clinically relevant biomarkers in pancreatic cancer is also presented.