Abdominopelvic Cancer Research Articles

Prehabilitation Consultation on Self-Care and Physical Exercise in Patients Diagnosed with Abdominopelvic Cancer: Protocol of the Study.

Introduction: Prehabilitation in the field of oncology has been defined as "the process in the continuum of care that occurs between diagnosis and the start of treatment involving physical and psychological measures that determine the patient's baseline functional status." To determine the effectiveness of a Prehabilitation consultation on self-care and targeted physical exercise for patients diagnosed with abdominopelvic cancer. An observational study that will evaluate the pre-post efficacy of an ad-hoc designed Prehabilitation intervention. The study population consists of patients diagnosed with colon or gynecological cancer with a surgical indication as part of their therapeutic plan from the General Surgery Services. It is configured around four key interventions: (a) health education and self-care, (b) specific nutritional counseling, (c) initial psychological assessment, and (d) directed physical exercise intervention. Health education, self-care interventions, and physical exercise will be carried out weekly from diagnosis to the scheduled surgery day. Aspects such as self-care capacity or agency, perioperative anxiety, aerobic capacity, strength and flexibility, postoperative complications, and recovery time to adjuvant treatment will be measured using tools such as Appraisal of self-care agency scale (ASA), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), walking test, sit and Reach, Hand Grip or Squad Jump. Utilizing validated tools for analyzing selected variables will contribute to refining and expanding care guidelines, ultimately enhancing support for both patients and their caregivers.

Extended Pharmacologic Prophylaxis for Venous Thromboembolism After Colon Cancer Surgery Is Associated With Improved Long-term Survival: A Natural Experiment in the Chemotherapeutic Benefit of Heparin Derivatives.

This large database study assessed whether extended pharmacologic prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism after colon cancer resection was associated with improved oncologic survival. Heparin derivatives may confer an antineoplastic effect via a variety of mechanisms (eg, inhibiting angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment). Studies evaluating the oncologic benefit of heparin and its derivatives have been limited in postsurgical patients. Multiple society guidelines recommend consideration of 30-day treatment with low molecular weight heparin to reduce venous thromboembolism risk after abdominopelvic cancer surgery. However, utilization of extended prophylaxis remains low. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data were used to identify patients (age 65+) undergoing resection for nonmetastatic colon cancer from 2016 to 2017. The primary outcomes were overall and cancer-specific survival. Log-rank testing and multivariable Cox regression compared survival in patients who received extended prophylaxis versus those who did not in an inverse propensity treatment weighted cohort. A total of 20,102 patients were included in propensity-weighting and analyzed. Eight hundred (3.98%) received extended pharmacologic prophylaxis. Overall survival and cancer-specific survival were significantly higher in patients receiving prophylaxis on log-rank tests ( P =0.0017 overall, P =0.0200 cancer-specific). Multivariable Cox regression showed improved overall survival [adjusted hazard ratio 0.66 (0.56-0.78)] and cancer-specific survival [adjusted hazard ratio 0.56 (0.39-0.81)] with prophylaxis after controlling for patient, treatment, and hospital factors. Extended pharmacologic prophylaxis after colon cancer resection was independently associated with improved overall and cancer-specific survival. These results suggest a potential antineoplastic effect from heparin derivatives when used in the context of preventing postsurgical venous thromboembolism.

Sympathetic nerve blocks for persistent pain in adults with inoperable abdominopelvic cancer.

Sympathetic nerve blocks for persistent pain in adults with inoperable abdominopelvic cancer.

Smartphone-based inertial measurements during Chester step test as a predictor of length of hospital stay in abdominopelvic cancer postoperative period: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundObjective assessment of pre-operative functional capacity in cancer patients using the smartphone gyroscope during the Chester step (CST) test may allow greater sensitivity of test results. This study has investigated whether the CST is a postoperative hospital permanence predictor in cancer patients undergoing abdominopelvic surgery through work, VO2MAX and gyroscopic movement analysis.MethodsProspective, quantitative, descriptive and inferential observational cohort study. Fifty-one patients were evaluated using CST in conjunction with a smartphone gyroscope. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to examine the predictive value of the CST.ResultsThe duration of hospital permanence 30 days after surgery was longer when patients who performed stage 1 showed lower RMS amplitude and higher peak power. The work increased as the test progressed in stage 3. High VO2MAX seemed to be a predictor of hospital permanence in those who completed levels 3 and 4 of the test.ConclusionThe use of the gyroscope was more accurate in detecting mobility changes, which predicted a less favorable result for those who met at level 1 of the CST. VO2MAX was a predictor of prolonged hospitalization from level 3 of the test. The work was less accurate to determine the patient's true functional capacity.

Testing of a risk-stratified patient decision aid to facilitate shared decision-making for extended postoperative thromboprophylaxis after major abdominal surgery for cancer.

Use of extended pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis after major abdominopelvic cancer surgery should depend on best-available scientific evidence and patients' informed preferences. We developed a risk-stratified patient decision aid to facilitate shared decision-making and sought to evaluate its effect on decision-making quality regarding use of extended thromboprophylaxis. We enrolled patients undergoing major abdominopelvic cancer surgery at an academic tertiary care centre in this pre-post study. We evaluated change in decisional conflict, readiness to decide, decision-making confidence, and change in patient knowledge. Participants were provided the appropriate risk-stratified decision aid (according to their Caprini score) in either the preoperative or postoperative setting. A sample size calculation determined that we required 17 patients to demonstrate whether the decision aid meaningfully reduced decisional conflict. We used the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks test for interval scaled measures. We included 17 participants. The decision aid significantly reduced decisional conflict (median decisional conflict score 2.37 [range 1.00-3.81] v. 1.3 [range 1.00-3.25], p < 0.01). With the decision aid, participants had high confidence (median 86.4 [range 15.91-100]) and felt highly prepared to make a decision (median 90 [range 55-100]). Median knowledge scores increased from 50% (range 0%-100%) to 75% (range 25%-100%). Our risk-stratified, evidence-based decision aid on extended thromboprophylaxis after major abdominopelvic surgery significantly improved decision-making quality. Further research is needed to evaluate the usability and feasibility of this decision aid in the perioperative setting.

Sister Marie-Joseph’s nodule reveals gynaecological cancer

The Sister Mary Joseph nodule is a rare umbilical metastasis of abdominopelvic cancer, easily accessible on clinical examination, and often correlated with a poor prognosis. Its recognition as a secondary lesion allows early diagnosis and treatment.

Von Willebrand factor promotes radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII) development and its cleavage enzyme rhADAMTS13 protects against RIII by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress

Patients with abdominopelvic cancer undergoing radiotherapy commonly develop radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII); however, its underlying pathogenesis remains elusive. The von Willebrand factor (vWF)/a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13) axis has been implicated in thrombosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, its role in RIII remains unclear. In this study, the effect of radiation on vWF and ADAMTS13 expression was firstly evaluated in patients with cervical cancer undergoing radiotherapy and C57BL/6J mice exposed to different doses of total abdominal irradiation. Then, mice with the specific deletion of vWF in the platelets and endothelium were established to demonstrate the contribution of vWF to RIII. Additionally, the radioprotective effect of recombinant human (rh) ADAMTS13 against RIII was assessed. Results showed that both the patients with cervical cancer undergoing radiotherapy and RIII mouse model exhibited increased vWF levels and decreased ADAMTS13 levels. The knockout of platelet- and endothelium-derived vWF rectified the vWF/ADAMTS13 axis imbalance; improved intestinal structural damage; increased crypt epithelial cell proliferation; and reduced radiation-induced apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, thereby alleviating RIII. Administration of rhADAMTS13 could equally alleviate RIII. Our results demonstrated that abdominal irradiation affected the balance of the vWF/ADAMTS13 axis. vWF exerted a deleterious role and ADAMTS13 exhibited a protective role in RIII progression. rhADAMTS13 has the potential to be developed into a radioprotective agent.

Efficacy and Safety of Sufentanil Infusion for Postoperative Analgesia in Cancer Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Opioids have long been the cornerstone of drugs used for perioperative analgesia. Sufentanil has an advantageous pharmacological profile for its use in continuous intravenous (IV) infusion, yet remains poorly described. Our institution has implemented analgesia protocols with IV sufentanil infusions for cancer surgery with appropriate monitoring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IV sufentanil infusion. Methods A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted through the analysis of patients' records and the acute pain service database. Inclusion criteria were adult patients admitted for elective cancer surgery and with postoperative IV sufentanil infusion during one year period. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed by using Software SPSS Statistics (IBM Corp., Armonk USA): Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Fisher tests; Bonferroni chi-square residual analysis, binary logistic regression; p<0.05. Results The study population of 304 patients had a median age of 66 years (22-91) and 229 (75.3%) were men. 38 (12.5%) were chronic opioid users. Head and neck/otorhinolaryngology (ORL) surgery was performed in 155 (51.0%) and abdominopelvic surgery in 123 (40.5%). The median days of IV sufentanil infusion were 2 (1-13). At rest and with movement, analgesia was considered good, i.e., over 90% of patients with visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score ≤ 3. We found that patients submitted to musculoskeletal surgery had higher VAS pain scores; this group also presented older patients with higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification and more chronic opioid users (p<0.05). 144 patients (47.4%) had at least one adverse effect related to IV sufentanil infusion, notably transient and not requiring any specific treatment. These patients were older and had longer infusion periods (p<0.05).237 (98.3%) of the adverse effects occurred during the first 3 days and the most common were: sedation (n=104, 42.8%), hypotension (n=32, 13.2%), hypoxemia (n=31, 12.8%) and nausea/vomiting (n=25, 10.3%). The reported incidence of respiratory depression was 2.9% (n=9), with three patients (1%) requiring advanced treatment. Conclusion Multimodal analgesic protocols with IV sufentanil infusions provided good postoperative analgesia for head and neck/ORL and abdominopelvic cancer surgeries. The adverse effects associated with the IV sufentanil infusions were mild and mainly managed with opioid dose reductions. Our study showed that this approach can be a safe option for postoperative multimodal analgesia in cancer surgery with appropriate monitoring in high-dependency units.

Implementation and Assessment of No Opioid Prescription Strategy at Discharge After Major Urologic Cancer Surgery

Postoperative opioid prescriptions are associated with delayed recovery, perioperative complications, opioid use disorder, and diversion of overprescribed opioids, which places the community at risk of opioid misuse or addiction. To assess a protocol for eliminating postdischarge opioid prescriptions after major urologic cancer surgery. This cohort study of the no opioid prescriptions at discharge after surgery (NOPIOIDS) protocol was conducted between May 2017 and June 2021 at a tertiary referral center. Patients undergoing open or minimally invasive radical cystectomy, radical or partial nephrectomy, and radical prostatectomy were sorted into the control group (usual opioids), the lead-in group (reduced opioids), and the NOPIOIDS group (no opioid prescriptions). The NOPIOIDS group received a preadmission educational handout, postdischarge instructions for using nonopioid analgesics, and no routine opioid prescriptions. The lead-in group received a postdischarge instruction sheet and reduced opioid prescriptions at prescribers' discretion. The control group received opioid prescriptions at prescribers' discretion. Primary outcome measures included rate and dose of opioid prescriptions at discharge and for 30 days postdischarge. Additional outcome measures included patient-reported pain and satisfaction level, unplanned health care utilization, and postoperative complications. Of 647 opioid-naive patients (mean [SD] age, 63.6 [10.0] years; 478 [73.9%] male; 586 [90.6%] White), the rate of opioid prescriptions at discharge for the control, the lead-in, and the NOPIOIDS groups was 80.9% (157 of 194), 57.9% (55 of 95), and 2.2% (8 of 358) (Kruskal-Wallis test of medians: P < .001), and the overall median (IQR) tablets prescribed was 14 (10-20), 4 (0-5.3), and 0 (0-0) per patient in the control, lead-in, and NOPIOIDS groups, respectively (Kruskal-Wallis test of medians: P < .001). In the NOPIOIDS group, median and mean opioid dose was 0 tablets for all procedure types, with the exception of kidney procedures (mean [SD], 0.5 [1.7] tablets). Patient-reported pain surveys were received from 358 patients (72.6%) in the NOPIOIDS group, demonstrating low pain scores (mean [SD], 2.5 [0.86]) and high satisfaction scores (mean [SD], 86.6 [3.8]). There was no increase in postoperative complications in the group with no opioid prescriptions. This perioperative protocol, with emphasis on nonopioid alternatives and patient instructions, may be safe and effective in nearly eliminating the need for opioid prescriptions after major abdominopelvic cancer surgery without adversely affecting pain control, complications, or recovery.

Sympathetic nerve blocks for persistent pain in adults with inoperable abdominopelvic cancer

Sympathetic nerve blocks for persistent pain in adults with inoperable abdominopelvic cancer

Prophylaxis extension for venous thromboembolism after major abdominal and pelvic surgery for cancer (prevent): Quality improvement transitioned into a cohort study

BackgroundExtended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after abdominopelvic cancer surgery has not been widely adopted. We compared outcomes of patients pre- and postimplementation of extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin. MethodsProspectively collected data from a quality initiative project aimed at prescribing extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after abdominopelvic cancer surgery was compared with previously published data from a prospective cohort without extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. The primary outcome was 6-month postoperative symptomatic venous thromboembolism incidence. Secondary outcomes: differences in 1- and 3-month venous thromboembolism incidence and factors associated with venous thromboembolism using Cox-proportional hazard models. Cumulative incidence of venous thromboembolism was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and expressed as proportions with 95% confidence interval. ResultsThere were 241 patients in the venous thromboembolism-prophylaxis cohort and 284 patients in the no venous thromboembolism prophylaxis cohort. Patients in the venous thromboembolism-prophylaxis cohort were more likely to be female (69% vs 60%, P = .018), have metastatic disease (49% vs 29%, P < .001), have longer operative times (236 min vs 197 min, P < .001), and to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (27% vs 23%, P = .006). Respectively, the 1- (0.5% [95% confidence interval, 0.1–2.5] vs 0.4% [95% confidence interval, 0.1–2.5]), 3- (2.6% [95% confidence interval, 1.2–5.6] vs 2.5% [95% confidence interval, 1.2–5.2]), and 6-month (7.5% [95% confidence interval, 4.8–11.5] vs 7.2% [95% confidence interval, 4.7–11.0]) venous thromboembolism incidence were similar. By multivariable analysis, history of venous thromboembolism (hazard ratio 3.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–12.05; P = .045) and longer duration of hospital stay (hazard ratio 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.12; P = .016) demonstrated increased risk of venous thromboembolism. ConclusionThis study failed to demonstrate a decreased 1-, 3-, and 6-month postoperative venous thromboembolism incidence after the implementation of extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis.

Prophylaxis Extension for VENous Thromboembolism Following Major Abdominal and Pelvic Surgery for Cancer (PREVENT): Quality Improvement Transitioned into a Cohort Study

Introduction: Extended venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis following abdominopelvic cancer surgery has not been widely adopted. We compared outcomes of patients pre- and post-implementation of extended VTE prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin.

Evaluating compliance of extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis following abdominopelvic surgery for cancer: A multidisciplinary quality improvement project.

Despite quality evidence supporting postoperative extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (eVTEp) following abdominopelvic cancer surgery, baseline use of eVTEp at our institution was 3%. Our project aim was to improve the proportion of patients prescribed eVTEp following surgery for gynecologic, hepatobiliary, and colorectal cancers by a 30% absolute increase. We performed an interrupted time series study using quality improvement methodology. Postoperative order sets, pre-printed prescriptions, process checklists, and multimodal education were introduced. Process and outcome data were collected and analyzed on statistical process control charts. We included 324 patients with gynecologic and hepatobiliary cancers. Despite efforts to include them, the colorectal team did not participate. The monthly mean order set-use was 58% (SD = 14%), by specialty: gynecology 79%, hepatobiliary 47%. The proportion of patients prescribed eVTEp increased from 3% to 70% (SD = 14%). The target goal was surpassed and sustained by both cohorts. Patient compliance was 73% (n = 117/160, SD = 16%). Of those who stopped eVTEp early, 45% (n = 14/31) objected because of the injectable nature. Bleeding events were infrequent (0.6%, n = 2/324). Three process changes and multimodal education resulted in a significant increase in eVTEp use. Failure to identify improvement champions limited project expansion to colorectal patients. Patient compliance was largely limited by the injectable nature of the medication.

Deciphering the diagnostic dilemma of abdominopelvic tuberculosis and advanced ovarian cancer

Abdominopelvic tuberculosis often poses a diagnostic challenge due to its bizarre clinical features and inconclusive imaging features. Most such patients were categorized under advanced ovarian cancer and undergo radical cytoreductive surgery with its associated morbidity, which would otherwise resolve spontaneously with medical management. This is a retrospective study of ten patients referred to the Department of Surgical Oncology between November 2015 to October 2018 in a tertiary care centre at south Tamil Nadu, India as advanced ovarian cancer and later diagnosed to have tuberculosis.In 10 patients, the mean age was 34 years; mean CA125 was 496.6 IU/ml. abdominal pain and distension, loss of weight were seen in 70% of cases, respectively.Only one patient had a prior history of tuberculosis. The imaging findings were complex adnexal mass in 9 patients (90%), ascites in 6 patients (60%) and omental stranding in 6 patients (60%). Abdominal paracentesis was done in 6 patients (60%) and all had lymphocyte rich effusion. The diagnosis is established by laparotomy and biopsy in seven patients (70%), diagnostic laparoscopy in two patients (20%) and image-guided trucut biopsy in one patient (10%) with histopathology revealing caseating granulomas. With our patients' experience, a high index of suspicion is always needed whenever we encounter young women presenting with ascites, adnexal mass and elevated serum CA125 even when the routine investigations for tuberculosis reveal negative findings. The biopsy is the gold standard for establishing the diagnosis and to commence therapy.

Extended thromboprophylaxis following major abdominal/pelvic cancer-related surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature

BackgroundPostoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients undergoing major abdominopelvic surgery. Many guidelines recommend the use of extended duration postoperative low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) thromboprophylaxis, although the evidence for its overall safety and efficacy is unclear. AimsWe sought to assess the 30-day postoperative rates of VTE and bleeding complications following major abdominopelvic cancer surgery and to explore the potential risks and benefits of extended duration thromboprophylaxis with LMWH in such setting. MethodsA systematic search of the literature was conducted. Observational studies and RCTs of adult patients that underwent abdominopelvic cancer surgery were included. Pooled proportions for the outcome measures and pooled relative risks for the extended duration thromboprophylaxis analyses were generated. ResultsA total of 68 studies (1,631,118 patients) were included in the analysis. The 30-day postoperative rate of VTE was 1.7% (95%CI: 1.5 to 1.9, I2 = 98%). The postoperative rate of clinically-relevant bleeding complications was 3.5% (95%CI: 1.6 to 6.1, I2 = 99%). Extended duration thromboprophylaxis was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of clinical VTE (1.0% vs 2.1%; Risk ratio (RR) 0.48, 95%CI: 0.31 to 0.74; I2 = 0), without a significant increase in clinically-relevant bleeding (4.0% vs. 4.9%; RR 1.0, 95%CI: 0.66 to 1.5, I2 = 0). ConclusionsThe overall risk of symptomatic VTE within 30 days of surgery was relatively low. Extended LMWH thromboprophylaxis following major abdominopelvic cancer surgery was associated with a reduced incidence of clinical VTE without an increase in clinically-relevant bleeding.

Ureteric injuries during cancer surgery presentation and management over a 20-year

Background: Iatrogenic ureteral injury rare 0.3-1.5%. complication of abdominopelvic cancer surgery. We aimed to study the risk and management of ureteral injury among cancer patients. Methods: Diagnosis can be achieved retrograde pyelography, ureteroscopy, CT, or intravenous urography. Results: Years 2000 to 2020, 2904 patients in the Department of Surgical oncology, Assuit University, and 47 ureteral injury cases were identified. (1.62), 4/231 cervical cancer, 9/611 ovarian cancer and 7/462 endometrial cancer.,11/818 colon cancer,12/620 rectal cancer, 1/11 prostatic cancer, 3/151 retroperitoneal sarcoma. 34% (radical abdominal hysterectomy 8.5% Wertheim hysterectomies 4%), colorectal surgery colectomy 25.5%, low anterior resection2.1% in radical prostatectomy and 6.4% in retroperitoneal tumor, intraoperative diagnosis 48.9%, 8.5% in laparoscopic surgeries, the distal third (53.2%),23.4% catheterization, complete transection 31.9%; partial 14.9%, ligation 8.5%, laceration in 19.1%, resection. 8.5%; and devascularization in 17%. Fever in 14.9%, abdominal or flank pain in 38.5%. Oligura in 6.4%, ileus in 19.3%, urinary leakage (vaginally or via abdominal wound) in 10.6% rise creatinine in 10.6%, hydronephrosis in 6.4%, urinoma in 27.7%, extravasation in 8.5% asymptomatic in 4.3%, 40.4% percutaneous nephrostomy. 19.1%primary repair Ureteroneocystostomy in (17%) Boari flap in 12.7%, Psoas hitch in 23.4% stenting in 14.9%, 8.5% ileum interposition, anastomosis to contralateral ureter in 4.3%, ureteral stricture 6.4%, ureterovaginal fistulas in 10.6%, acute renal failure 2.1%, peritonitis 4.3, urinary tract infection in 14.9%.Conclusions: The recognition and immediate repair of ureteral injuries early during the same procedure was highly desirable and to avoid a second operation.

Thromboprophylaxis practice patterns and beliefs among physicians treating patients with abdominopelvic cancers at a Canadian centre.

There is inadequate high-quality evidence on thromboprophylaxis for patients undergoing surgery for abdominopelvic cancer. We surveyed physicians who treat patients with abdominopelvic cancer to determine current thromboprophylaxis practice patterns and to determine where research is needed. We created an online survey with questions on thromboprophylaxis topics, including type of thromboprophylaxis used, timing of initial thromboprophylaxis dose, use of thromboprophylaxis during chemotherapy, use of extended-duration thromboprophylaxis and areas for future research. The survey questions were reviewed by external content experts to ensure they were appropriate and relevant. Surgeons, thrombosis experts and medical oncologists who manage patients with abdominopelvic cancers at 1 large Canadian academic centre were invited to complete the survey between January and April 2019. Of the 57 physicians invited, 42 (74%) completed the survey, including 27 surgeons (response rate 79%), 9 thrombosis experts (response rate 75%) and 6 medical oncologists (response rate 55%). Most surgeons (22 [82%]) reported using mechanical thromboprophylaxis, whereas only 1 thrombosis expert (11%) recommended mechanical thromboprophylaxis. There was substantial variability in the timing of the initial dose of thromboprophylaxis, with 9/10 urologists (90%) and all 7 general surgeons giving the first dose intraoperatively, and three-quarters of thoracic surgeons (3/4 [75%]), gynecologists (3/4 [75%]) and thrombosis experts (7/9 [78%]) starting thromboprophylaxis after surgery. All medical oncologists believed chemotherapy increases the risk of venous thromboembolism, but 4 (67%) reported that they do not routinely prescribe thromboprophylaxis owing to bleeding concerns. Most respondents (35/38 [92%]) felt there was a need for more research on thromboprophylaxis and indicated willingness to participate in future clinical trials. Variability exists in contemporary thromboprophylaxis practice patterns among physicians treating patients with abdominopelvic cancer. Future research is needed to standardize care and improve outcomes for patients.

Risk of secondary sarcoma after abdominopelvic cancer treatment: Results from a contemporary cohort.

317 Background: Our objective was to explore the risk of sarcoma in a large cohort of patients with localized abdominopelvic cancer treated with radiotherapy (RT) compared to surgery. The risk of other secondary non-sarcoma solid organ tumors was also explored. Methods: This is a population-based retrospective cohort study examining the risk of sarcoma in patients with localized prostate, bladder, colorectal, cervical, uterine, and testis cancer between January 1, 2002-December 31, 2016. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to compare time from primary treatment (radical surgery or RT) to second cancer, adjusting for age, comorbidity, income quintile, and rurality, accounting for death as a competing risk. The standardized incidence rate (SIR) was calculated as the ratio of the observed divided by the age- and sex-stratified expected number of sarcoma cases from the Ontario population. Results: 173,580 patients were included (79,662 underwent surgery and 93,918 underwent RT). Most patients had genitourinary (51.4%) or colorectal cancer (39.9%) and 24.4% received chemotherapy. Overall, 332 sarcomas developed over a median 5.7 years (IQR: 2.2-8.9) and were more common in the RT group (239/93918 [0.3%]) compared to the surgery group (93/79662 [0.1%], p&lt;0.001). RT exposure (unadjusted HR=2.67, 95%CI:2.10-3.40, p&lt;0.001, adjusted HR=2.59, 95%CI:2.03-3.31, p&lt;0.001) and perioperative chemotherapy use (HR=1.31, 95%CI:1.03-1.69, p=0.038) were associated with an increased relative rate of sarcoma. Patients who received RT had an increased risk of sarcoma compared to the general population (SIR=1.46, 95%CI:1.12-1.90, p=0.005). For our secondary outcome, patients who received RT had an increased hazard of developing a second non-sarcoma solid malignancy compared to patients who underwent surgery (HR=1.16, 95%CI:1.10-1.22, p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: This is the largest cohort investigating sarcoma in patients with abdominopelvic cancer. Patients treated with RT have a markedly increased risk of sarcoma compared to the general population. RT was an independent risk factor for sarcoma and non-sarcoma second malignancy.

AUTHOR REPLY

We appreciate the Reviewer's thoughtful commentary, and completely agree that an update to the American Urological Association 2008 Best Practice Statement specifically to address the role of extended-duration pharmacologic prophylaxis (EDPP) should be considered. 1 Forrest JB Clemens JQ Finamore P et al. AUA best practice statement for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing urologic surgery. J Urol. 2009; 181: 1170-1177 Crossref PubMed Scopus (89) Google Scholar Indeed, 3 randomized trials have shown a benefit of EDPP following abdominopelvic cancer surgery (refs. 10-12 in article), and these data have been corroborated by multiple retrospective series of patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) (refs. 13-16 in article). On the basis of these data, use of EDPP for 4 weeks following RC is currently endorsed by the European Association of Urology guidelines. 2 Tikkinen KAO, Cartwright R, Gould MK, et al. Thromboprophylaxis guideline panel. EAU Guidelines of thromboprophylaxis in urological surgery. Retrieved from: https://uroweb.org/guideline/thromboprophylaxis/. Accessed date 28 October 2019. Google Scholar While we acknowledge that a randomized trial exclusively comprised of RC patients would be ideal to inform this issue, clinical equipoise suggests that given the state of the existing data, as well as the potential morbidity and increased costs known to be associated with postoperative venous thromboembolism, adoption of this practice is warranted, particularly in light of the time and expense likely required to complete such a trial.

An allied health rehabilitation program for patients following surgery for abdomino-pelvic cancer: a feasibility and pilot clinical study

To investigate the feasibility of conducting a rehabilitation program for patients following surgery for abdomino-pelvic cancer. A non-randomised controlled before-and-after study. Patients who had undergone surgery for stage I-III abdomino-pelvic cancer (colorectal, gynaecological or prostate cancer) were recruited. The rehabilitation group (n = 84) received an 8-week, bi-weekly education and exercise program conducted by a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, health psychologist and dietician, supplemented by exercise diaries and telephone coaching sessions. The comparator group (n = 104) completed postal questionnaires only. Feasibility measures, functional exercise capacity, muscle strength, physical activity levels, pelvic floor symptoms, anxiety and depression, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-efficacy were measured at baseline (time 1), immediately post-intervention (time 2) and at 6months post-baseline (time 3) and compared within- and between-groups. The consent rate to the rehabilitation program was 24%. Eighty-one percent of the rehabilitation group attended 85-100% of 16 scheduled sessions. Overall satisfaction with the program was 96%. Functional exercise capacity, handgrip strength in males, bowel symptoms, physical activity levels, depression and HRQoL were significantly improved in the rehabilitation group (p < 0.05) at time 2. The improvements in all these outcomes were sustained at time 3. The rehabilitation group had significantly improved physical activity levels, depression and HRQoL compared with the comparator group at times 2 and 3 (p < 0.05). Recruitment to this oncology rehabilitation program was more difficult than expected; however, attendance and patient satisfaction were high. This program had positive effects on several important clinical outcomes in patients following abdomino-pelvic cancer treatment. ANZCTR 12614000580673.