Adjuvant Treatment Group Research Articles

Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus radical surgery after transanal endoscopic microsurgery for intermediate pathological risk early rectal cancer: A single-center experience with long-term surveillance

BackgroundThe choice of subsequent treatment for intermediate-risk rectal tumors after transanal endoscopic microsurgery between adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision is controversial. The present study aimed to compare survival and functional outcome between these 2 strategies. MethodsThis retrospective study included intermediate-risk patients with early rectal cancer after transanal endoscopic microsurgery in our center between 2010 and 2017. Patients were divided into adjuvant treatment and total mesorectal excision groups. Intermediate risk was defined as pT1 with lymphovascular invasion, poor differentiation, or large diameter (3–5 cm) or pT2 with small diameter (<3 cm). The study was based on follow-up data on survival and results from distributed validated scales for functional outcome. ResultsPostoperative overall survival and disease-free survival were comparable between the groups (P = .619 and P = .712, respectively). Pathological T stage was an independent risk factor for disease-free survival (hazard ratio 3.09, 95% confidence interval 1.66–4.18, P = .044). Anorectal symptoms, such as buttock pain, were significantly prevalent in the total mesorectal excision group (P = .030). In addition, the total mesorectal excision group presented with poorer bowel function, including stool urgency (P < .001), bowel frequency (P = .016), severity of low anterior resection syndrome (P = .039) and total low anterior resection syndrome score (P = .040). Except for a lower score of vaginal lubrication in the total mesorectal excision versus the adjuvant treatment group, sexual function was similar between the groups. ConclusionSimilar to total mesorectal excision, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy is an alternative option for intermediate-risk early rectal cancer after transanal endoscopic microsurgery and is associated with similar survival outcomes and better bowel function.

The role of lymph node dissection in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study

BackgroundLymph node dissection (LND) is of great significance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Although the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend routine LND in ICC, the effects of LND remains controversial. This study aimed to explore the role of LND and some related issues and of in ICC.MethodsPatients were identified in two Chinese academic centers. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to reduce bias. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).ResultsOf 232 patients, 177 (76.3%) underwent LND, and 71 (40.1%) had metastatic lymph nodes. A minimum of 6 lymph nodes were dissected in 66 patients (37.3%). LND did not improve the prognosis of ICC. LNM > 3 may have worse OS and DFS than LNM 1–3, especially in the LND > = 6 group. For patients who did not underwent LND, the adjuvant treatment group had better OS and DFS.ConclusionsThe proportions of patients who underwent LND and removed > = 6 lymph nodes were not high enough. LND has no definite predictive effect on prognosis. Patients with 4 or more LNMs may have a worse prognosis than patients with 1–3 LNMs. Adjuvant therapy may benefit patients of nLND.

Adjuvant Treatment Following Irradical Resection of Stage I-III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Population-based Study

Irradical (R1-2) resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with a dismal prognosis. Adjuvant treatment attempts to improve survival outcomes, but evidence on the optimal strategy is limited. The purpose of this study was to compare overall survival (OS) between different adjuvant treatment strategies in these patients.Out of 8,528 patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC from 2015-2018, those with an R1-2 resection were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. First, OS was compared between adjuvant treatment groups ‘no therapy’, ‘radiotherapy (RT) only’, ‘chemotherapy only’, and ‘chemo- and radiotherapy (CRT)’ using multinomial propensity score-weighted Cox regression analysis. Second, three 1:1 propensity score-matched sets were created for chemotherapy vs no chemotherapy, RT only vs no therapy, and CRT vs chemotherapy only. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses for OS were performed in each set.With a median follow-up of 23 months, 427 patients were selected. In the weighted regression analysis, compared to no adjuvant therapy, chemotherapy and CRT were associated with improved OS (HR 0.41, 95%CI: 0.22-0.76; and HR 0.55, 95%CI: 0.37-0.81, respectively), whereas RT was not (HR 1.04, 95%CI: 0.73-1.50). In the matched sets, OS was improved after chemotherapy (+/- RT) compared to no chemotherapy (HR 0.47, 95%CI: 0.32-0.69). No OS difference was observed between matched groups of RT only vs no adjuvant therapy (HR 1.13, 95%CI: 0.74-1.72), nor for CRT vs chemotherapy only (HR 1.37, 95%CI: 0.70-2.71). Adjuvant chemotherapy, but not radiotherapy, improves survival after an R1-2 resection in stage I-III NSCLC.

Factors associated with sleep disturbances in women undergoing treatment for early-stage breast cancer.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with sleep disturbance in women receiving adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional design using data collected at 3 months post-surgery from an ongoing longitudinal parent study. Participant data were divided into adjuvant treatment groups (chemotherapy, radiation, and aromatase inhibitors) and no adjuvant treatment groups. Symptoms were measured using patient self-report measures. Analysis of variance was used to assess between adjuvant treatment group differences in sleep disturbance. Regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between sleep disturbance and other symptoms within adjuvant treatment groups.ResultsThe sample included 156 women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. There were significant differences in levels of reported sleep disturbance between treatment groups (p = 0.049), with significantly higher levels of sleep disturbances in those receiving radiation compared to those receiving no adjuvant treatment (p = 0.038) and in those receiving chemotherapy and those receiving no adjuvant treatment (p = 0.027). Increased sleep disturbance was found to be a significant predictor for increased pain severity, nausea severity, anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, decreased physical function, and decreased ability to participate in social roles and activities. Co-occurring symptoms with sleep disturbance differed between adjuvant treatment groups. Sleep disturbance was also associated with younger age (p = 0.008).ConclusionsPatients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation for breast cancer report higher levels of sleep disturbance than those not receiving adjuvant therapy. Sleep disturbance is associated with other symptoms experienced by patients with cancer and thus requires continual assessment and future research into effective interventions.

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With HR+/HER2– Early Breast Cancer

The goal of this study was to characterize health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients diagnosed with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer. A multinational (United States, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom) study of patients diagnosed with stage I to III HR+/HER2- breast cancer, either receiving adjuvant treatment or under postadjuvant surveillance, was conducted between June and October 2019. Patients were identified by their consulting physician and invited to complete the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) and the EQ-5D-5L pen and paper questionnaires. EQ-5D-5L index scores were derived by using available country-specific health state value sets, where available, and numerically compared with general population scores derived from published normative and population data. Descriptive summary statistics were reported for FACT-B, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) (total and specific subscales), the EQ-5D index scores, and the EQ-VAS scores for each country. Results were stratified according to disease-free treatment status (active adjuvant treatment or postadjuvant surveillance), age (25-44, 45-54, 55-64, or ≥65 years), stage (I, II, or III), and menopausal status at the time of questionnaire completion (pre-/peri-menopausal or postmenopausal). Overall, 1110 patients completed the HRQOL questionnaires (mean age, 59 years; 79% active adjuvant treatment, and 21% under surveillance postadjuvant treatment at time of questionnaire administration; 31% stage I, 48% stage II, and 20% stage III at diagnosis). Of these, 1102 completed the FACT-B and 1083 completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaires. The mean (SD) FACT-B total score was 99.0 (21.9). The mean FACT-G total score was 72.5 (17.8), which was comparable to the published normative score. The mean EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS scores for each country were similar to corresponding population means; EQ-5D index scores ranged from 0.842 (0.098) in Japan to 0.916 (0.109) in France, and EQ-VAS scores from 68.0 (18.4) in Germany to 78.6 (16.4) in the United States. In addition, mean scores were comparable between the active adjuvant treatment and postadjuvant surveillance groups for the FACT-B total (99.4 [22.5] and 97.7 [19.7], respectively), FACT-G total (72.8 [18.3] and 71.3 [16.0]), EQ-5D index score (0.868 [0.135] and 0.869 [0.142]), and EQ-VAS (74.9 [17.2] and 74.4 [16.1]). Patient-reported HRQOL among patients with HR+/HER2- early breast cancer who were disease-free was high, with reported scores comparable to normative scores. These results improve our understanding of HRQOL among patients with early disease and may facilitate future studies examining the potential impact of adjuvant treatment and disease recurrence, including metastasis.

Long term outcomes between adjuvant radiotherapy and combined radiotherapy with hormonal treatment after radical prostatectomy in high risk prostate cancer

Objective: To determine the oncological outcome of adjuvant treatment between radiotherapy (RT) alone and combined radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in high risk prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy (RP). Materials and Methods: All medical records of high risk-prostate cancer patients (including PSA &gt; 20 ng/ml, pT3-pT4 or Gleason score 8-10) who underwent RP in Siriraj Hospital between 2000 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Demo-graphic data, pathological staging, types of adjuvant treatment, time to follow up and time to biochemical recurrence (BCR) were analyzed. Results: Undetectable PSA after RP was achieved in 1009 out of 1221 high risk prostate cancer patients who had been followed up at least 6 months after surgery. Pathological staging pT2, pT3, pT4 and N1 was 23.8%, 73%, 0.8% and 4.7%, respectively. Forty one percent received adjuvant treatment (41 adjuvant RT alone, 74 combined adjuvant RT and ADT, 303 ADT alone). Median follow up time in the adjuvant RT group and combined treatment group was 63.8 months (8.9 - 210.7). BCR rates were 22% (9 of 41) for adjuvant RT and 12.2% (9 of 74) for adjuvant combined treatment. 10-year BCR-free survival in the two groups was 70.2% and 83.8%, respectively. There was no statistical difference between adjuvant RT and adjuvant combined treatment in terms of survival benefit (Hazard Ratio 0.40; p = 0.057). Conclusion: Adjuvant radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy increases long term survival outcomes for high risk prostate cancer patients. This study shows that combined adjuvant RT and ADT may improve BCR-free survival.

Efficacy of adjuvant intrastromal and combination of intrastromal and intracameral voriconazole in &lt;em&gt;Aspergillus fumigatus&lt;/em&gt;-induced moderate fungal keratitis in rabbits

BACKGROUND There is no in vivo evidence for the effectiveness of adjuvant intrastromal and combination of intrastromal and intracameral voriconazole (VCZ) for treating Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of both agents against it. &#x0D; METHODS A randomized, masked, controlled experimental study was conducted on 11 albino New Zealand white rabbits in which moderate fungal keratitis was induced by inoculating spores of A. fumigatus to the cornea. The rabbits were allocated into 3 groups: 50 μg/0.1 ml intrastromal VCZ injection, 50 μg/0.1 ml intrastromal VCZ and intracameral VCZ injections, and topical VCZ (control). The treatment was given 5 days after inoculation. Epithelial defect, infiltrate size, corneal ulcer depth, and hypopyon were evaluated clinically. Histopathological and mycological examinations were also done 14 days after treatment. &#x0D; RESULTS All rabbits in the adjuvant treatment groups demonstrated a tendency of a better clinical response with decreasing size of epithelial defect (p = 0.679) and infiltrate (p = 0.755) than in the control group. Direct microscopy, corneal culture, and chop corneal tissue culture were still positive in most of the rabbits from all groups. Histopathological examination showed an increase of inflammatory cells after treatment in all groups, especially in rabbits which were inoculated with A. fumigatus spores in both eyes. &#x0D; CONCLUSIONS An adjuvant combination of intrastromal and intracameral VCZ showed a tendency of better clinical response for A. fumigatus-induced moderate fungal keratitis in rabbits.

Artificial Intelligence in Decision-Making for Colorectal Cancer Treatment Strategy: An Observational Study of Implementing Watson for Oncology in a 250-Case Cohort.

BackgroundPersonalized and novel evidence-based clinical treatment strategy consulting for colorectal cancer has been available through various artificial intelligence (AI) supporting systems such as Watson for Oncology (WFO) from IBM. However, the potential effects of this supporting tool in cancer care have not been thoroughly explored in real-world studies. This research aims to investigate the concordance between treatment recommendations for colorectal cancer patients made by WFO and a multidisciplinary team (MDT) at a major comprehensive gastrointestinal cancer center.MethodsIn this prospective study, both WFO and the blinded MDT’s treatment recommendations were provided concurrently for enrolled colorectal cancers of stages II to IV between March 2017 and January 2018 at Shanghai Minimally Invasive Surgery Center. Concordance was achieved if the cancer team’s decisions were listed in the “recommended” or “for consideration” classification in WFO. A review was carried out after 100 cases for all non-concordant patients to explain the inconsistency, and corresponding feedback was given to WFO’s database. The concordance of the subsequent cases was analyzed to evaluate both the performance and learning ability of WFO.ResultsOverall, 250 patients met the inclusion criteria and were recruited in the study. Eighty-one were diagnosed with colon cancer and 189 with rectal cancer. The concordances for colon cancer, rectal cancer, or overall were all 91%. The overall rates were 83, 94, and 88% in subgroups of stages II, III, and IV. When categorized by treatment strategy, concordances were 97, 93, 89, 87, and 100% for neoadjuvant, surgery, adjuvant, first line, and second line treatment groups, respectively. After analyzing the main factors causing discordance, relative updates were made in the database accordingly, which led to the concordance curve rising in most groups compared with the initial rates.ConclusionClinical recommendations made by WFO and the cancer team were highly matched for colorectal cancer. Patient age, cancer stage, and the consideration of previous therapy details had a significant influence on concordance. Addressing these perspectives will facilitate the use of the cancer decision-support systems to help oncologists achieve the promise of precision medicine.

Survival impact of optimal treatment for elderly patients with colorectal cancer: A real world study.

In this real-life practice study, we aimed to find whether elderly colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in our center were treated optimally and also if this has an effect on overall survival (OS) or not. We have retrospectively screened 150 CRC patients older than 65 years, diagnosed in our institution between 2010 and 2018. As study variables, patient characteristics, tumor location, tumor, nodes, metastases stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), comorbidities, adjuvant or metastatic chemotherapy regimens, and treatment toxicity were recorded, and the OS rate of patients was assessed. The median age was 72 (range 65 - 89) years and 48 (32%) patients had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. The median OS (mOS) in the suboptimal adjuvant treatment group was 31.5 (range 20.7-42.3) months, whereas mOS was not reached during the median follow-up time in the optimal treatment group (P = 0.036). The addition of oxaliplatin to chemotherapy had no benefit on mOS (P = 0.318). In the metastatic setting, the mOS in the optimal and suboptimal treatment group was 27.2 (range 10.7-43.7) months and 13.4 (range 7.5-18.8) months respectively, and was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Our study revealed that optimal treatment had a significant effect on the mOS of elderly CRC patients and it was well tolerated. Advanced age alone is not a sufficient parameter for precluding effective therapy in elderly patients with CRC.

Medical Adjuvant Therapy in Reducing Thrombosis With Arteriovenous Grafts and Fistulae Use: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Hemodialysis is required for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) that require arteriovenous (AV) grafts or fistulas for vascular access. These access points are prone to thrombosis. To determine the effect of medical adjuvant therapy on AV graft/fistula patency among patients with ESRD on hemodialysis. Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 statement, a systematic search was conducted until August 20, 2021, with keywords including arteriovenous graft, fistula, patency, thrombosis, hemodialysis, adjuvant treatment. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus, and Cochrane. A random-effects model was employed using Review Manager 5.4 for data analysis. The meta-analysis pooled in 1985 participants with 1000 (50.4%) in the medical adjuvant treatment group. At a snapshot, medical adjuvant therapy reduced the risk for graft thrombosis (RR = 0.64, P = .02). Notable medications included aspirin for graft thrombosis (RR = 0.36, P = .006) and ticlopidine for fistula thrombosis (RR = 0.53, P = .01). Certain antiplatelet therapies (aspirin and ticlopidine) reduced the number of patients with AV fistula/graft thrombosis among patients with high heterogeneity among the trials. Other therapies (fish oil, sulfinpyrazone, clopidogrel, and aspirin/dipyridamole) did not demonstrate significant improvement but may be promising once concrete evidence is available. Potential benefits of anti-platelet therapies may be explored to maintain the potency of AV grafts/fistulas through well-designed placebo-controlled trials and long-term follow-up.

Role of adjuvant therapy after radical hysterectomy in intermediate-risk, early-stage cervical cancer

ObjectiveAdjuvant treatment remains a controversial issue for intermediate-risk cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the prognosis of patients who underwent no adjuvant treatment, pelvic radiotherapy alone,...

NCOG-56. THE NATURAL COURSE OF ATYPICAL MENINGIOMA AFTER GROSS TOTAL RESECTION WITHOUT ADJUVANT TREATMENT

Abstract Atypical meningioma represent more aggressive clinical behaviors than WHO grade I meningiomas. In this study, We research natural course of atypical meningioma after gross total resection without adjuvant treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with histopathologically diagnosed atypical meningiomas between June 1990 and December 2015 at Asan Medical Center, Korea. Patients treated with Simpson grade I, II resection were included. Patients variably underwent adjuvant radiation therapy according to each surgeon’s preferences. RESULTS: In this study, 117 patients were enrolled and the average follow-up was 43 months (range 3~228 months). In Simpson grade I tumor resection group, recurrence was confirmed in 10 out of 63 patients without adjuvant treatment, and 1 out of 13 patients with adjuvant radiation treatment. There were 12 recurrence cases in Simpson grade II tumor resection and no adjuvant treatment group, of the total 32 cases. There was 4 recurrence case of total 8 cases of Simpson grade II tumor resection with adjuvant radiation treatment group. In groups with no adjuvant treatment, Simpson grade I resection group had a better prognosis on 5-year PFS (82.9% vs 54.9%, p=0.005) compared to Simpson grade II resection group. DISCUSSION: The results of this study show that there is a significant difference in 5-year PFS between the Simpson grade I and II groups without adjuvant treatment, commonly referred to as the gross total resection group. Although this study report adjuvant RT is not superior to observation, more intensive post-operative imaging surveillance protocols would be considered in Simpson grade II resection group without adjuvant treatment. CONCLUSION: The natural course of atypical meningioma after gross total resection without adjuvant treatment signified Simpson grade I and II resection show significant different prognosis.

Breast Conservation among Older, Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients: Locoregional Recurrence Following Adjuvant Radiation or Hormone Therapy

Following breast-conserving surgery (BCS), both radiation therapy (RT) and hormone therapy (HT) reduce the risk of locoregional recurrence (LRR) among favorable subgroups of breast cancer. Several studies have evaluated HT +/- RT, though local outcomes of HT versus RT monotherapy remain unclear. Indeed, many patients do not complete the full multi-year course of HT, yet little is known about LRR rates in absence of HT. Here, we evaluate rates of adjuvant HT and RT use in a cohort of favorable-risk patients over 65 years of age, and report LRR in the setting of adjuvant RT alone, HT alone, neither, or both. We analyzed a cohort of breast cancer patients ≥65 years of age with estrogen receptor positive (ER+), HER2/neu negative (HER2-) T1N0 breast cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 and treated with BCS. Clinicopathologic features were collected including type of axillary surgery, RT modality, use of RT boost, duration of HT, chemotherapy, and OncotypeDx Recurrence Scores (RS). Cox regression analysis was conducted using time to LRR as the primary endpoint. A total of 1,016 women were included with a median age of 70 (IQR 67-75) and median follow-up of 4.9 years (range 0.4-7.7). Overall, 36 (4%) LRR events were observed and 16 (2%) patients had a distant recurrence. The 5-year overall survival rate for the cohort was 96%. A total of 624 (61%) patients received RT. While 894 (88%) were started on HT, 725 (72%) completed a full course or remain adherent at last follow-up. Evaluated by treatment group (with HT defined as fully compliant to date), 481 (48%) patients received both HT and RT (5-year LRR 2%, 95%CI 1-4%), 244 (24%) received HT alone (5-year LRR 4%, 95% CI 2-8%), 143 (14%) received RT alone (5-year LRR 5%, 95%CI 2-11%), and 142 (14%) received neither HT nor RT (LRR 11%, 95%CI 6-19%). LRR rates were significantly different between these four treatment groups (Log rank p<0.001). On Cox regression, accounting for clinicopathologic variables, lymphovascular invasion (HR 6.37, 95%CI 2.17-18.7; p<0.001) and adjuvant treatment group were significant predictors of LRR. Compared to neither HT nor RT, combination HT and RT was significantly associated with the greatest reduction in LRR (HR 0.11, 95%CI 0.04-0.29; p<0.001). HT or RT monotherapy each yielded similar reductions in LRR: HT alone (HR 0.28, 95%CI 0.11-0.71; p = 0.008) and RT alone (HR 0.29, 95%CI 0.10-0.84; p = 0.023). The risk of LRR following BCS is low among women ≥65 years of age with T1N0, ER+/HER2- breast cancer. RT and HT monotherapy each significantly reduce this risk to a similar extent. While the combination of RT and HT further reduces the risk of LRR in a statistically significant manner, the absolute benefit of this dual-approach is modest. Further study will elucidate whether appropriate patients may feasibly receive RT monotherapy rather than the current standards of HT monotherapy or dual RT and HT therapy.

Treatment modality and outcomes among early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients with COPD: a cohort study.

BackgroundWhile there is an increasing number of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there are no specific clinical guidelines for treating them. This study aims to evaluate different treatment modalities and corresponding clinical outcomes among early-stage NSCLC patients with COPD.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 692 patients with stage I and II NSCLC and COPD from January 2012 to June 2014. Patients were categorized into four groups according to primary treatment modality: surgery only group (n=442), surgery with adjuvant treatment group (n=157), radiotherapy (RT) group (n=48), and supportive care (SC)-only group (n=45).ResultsOverall, mortality rate was the highest in the SC-only group (35.7 deaths per 100 person-years), followed by RT group (21.5 deaths per 100 person-years), surgery with adjuvant treatment group (8.9 deaths per 100 person-years) and surgery only group (7.2 deaths per 100 person-years). The adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality compared to the surgery only group were 1.18 (95% CI, 0.84–1.67) in surgery with adjuvant treatment group, 1.61 (95% CI, 1.01–2.57) in RT group and 3.23 (95% CI, 1.99–5.23) in SC-only group.ConclusionsSurgical resection should be considered as the first choice for early-stage NSCLC with COPD. Despite poor lung function or general patient condition, RT rather than SC can be an alternative option if surgery is not feasible. A multi-disciplinary approach and active communication between patients and physicians might be helpful for adequate decision-making regarding treatment for patients with early-stage NSCLC and COPD.

Effects of postoperative medical treatment and expectant treatment on dysmenorrhea after conservative laparoscopic surgery for deep-infiltrating endometriosis accompanied by dysmenorrhea.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant treatment (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists [GnRHas] and oral contraceptives [OCs]) and expectant treatment in preventing recurrent dysmenorrhea following conservative laparoscopic surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) with dysmenorrhea.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted in Shanghai, China. In total, 147 patients with dysmenorrhea who underwent conservative laparoscopic surgery for DIE were enrolled. Following surgery, patients received either postoperative adjuvant therapy (GnRHa or OCs) for 6 months or expectant treatment according to a shared medical decision-making approach. The primary outcome was the postoperative recurrence of dysmenorrhea. The secondary outcomes included reproductive outcomes and drug-induced side effects.ResultsThe generalized estimating equation analysis illustrated that the visual analog scale for dysmenorrhea was significantly higher in the adjuvant treatment group than in the expectant treatment group. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log-rank test demonstrated that the cumulative recurrence rate was higher in the expectant treatment group than in the adjuvant treatment group, but no difference was noted between the two hormonal treatments. Similar cumulative 24-month clinical pregnancy rates were observed among the three groups.ConclusionsCompared with expectant management, postoperative medical treatment more effectively relieved symptoms and prevented the recurrence of dysmenorrhea.

Effectiveness of adjuvant treatment for morcellated, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma: A Korean multicenter study

To evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant treatment for morcellated, uterus-confined leiomyosarcoma in a multicenter setting. We identified patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma primarily treated with surgery between 2003 and 2016. Among them, patients who underwent one of the following morcellation methods were included: (i) power morcellation; (ii) intracorporeal morcellation using scalpels or electrocautery; and (iii) vaginal morcellation. Patients' survival outcomes were compared according to the implementation of adjuvant treatment. From 13 institutions, 55 patients were included; 31 for adjuvant treatment group and 24 for surgery only group. The clinicopathological characteristics including the mass size, morcellation methods, extent of surgery, and mitotic count were similar between the groups. In the adjuvant treatment group, 67.7%, 19.4% and 12.9% of patients received chemotherapy, chemoradiation and radiation, respectively. After a median follow-up of 50.5 months, the adjuvant treatment and surgery only groups showed similar overall survival (5-year rate, 92.0% vs 90.4%; P = 0.959). No significant difference in progression-free survival was observed between the two groups (3-year rate, 46.1% vs 78.2%; P = 0.069). On multivariate analyses, adjuvant treatment did not affect progression-free survival (adjusted HR, 2.138; 95% CI, 0.550-8.305; P = 0.273). The adjuvant treatment group showed a trend towards more common distant metastasis, compared to the surgery only group (25.8% vs 4.2%; P = 0.062). The incidences of pelvic, retroperitoneal, and abdominal recurrences were not different between the groups. Despite its frequent use in clinical practice, adjuvant treatment did not improve the survival outcomes of patients with morcellated, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Effect of postoperative adjuvant treatment in the therapeutic management of stage I, morcellated uterine leiomyosarcoma: A Korean multicenter study.

e17106 Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative adjuvant treatment for morcellated, uterus-limited leiomyosarcoma in a multicenter setting. Methods: We included primary FIGO stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma patients treated between 2003 and 2016. All received one of the following morcellation methods: (1) intracorporeal morcellation using motorized device; (2) intracorporeal morcellation using surgical knife or electrocautery; and (3) vaginal morcellation. Patients’ survival outcomes were compared according to the implementation of postoperative adjuvant treatment. Results: In total, 55 patients were enrolled from 13 institutions, and 24 and 31 patients were assigned to surgery alone group and adjuvant treatment group, respectively. Characteristics including age, mass size, morcellation methods, and extent of surgery were similar between the two groups. On pathologic examination, there were no differences in degree of nuclear pleomorphism, necrosis, and lymphovascular space invasion. In adjuvant treatment group, 67.7%, 19.4%, and 12.9% received chemotherapy, concurrent chemoradiation therapy, and radiation, respectively. While the two groups showed similar overall survival ( P= 0.959) after a median follow up of 50.5 months, adjuvant treatment group showed a trend towards worse progression-free survival (PFS; 3-year survival rate, 78.2% vs. 46.1%; P= 0.060). However, in multivariate analyses, adjuvant treatment did not influence PFS (adjusted HR, 3.478; 95% CI, 0.659–18.367; P= 0.142). Confined to 17 cases where motorized morcellation device was used, surgery only and adjuvant treatment groups also showed similar PFS (3-year survival rate, 57.1% vs. 44.4%; P= 0.874). Conclusions: In FIGO stage I, morcellated uterine leiomyosarcoma, post-operative adjuvant treatment did not improve patients’ survival outcomes. Further prospective cohort studies are warranted.

Selective arterial embolization as neoadjuvant treatment in hip pseudotumors.

This study aims to investigate the significance of selective arterial embolization (SAE) as neoadjuvant for the treatment of pseudotumor (PT) associated with hip arthroplasty and present our case series including all the known bearing techniques. This retrospective study included 16 patients (9 males, 7 females; mean age 75.5 years; range, 55 to 87 years) affected by hip PT. Seven patients were treated only surgically without any adjuvant treatment (group A), while nine patients were performed preoperative SAE (group B). Pseudotumors were grouped according to magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography (CT) classifications. Durations of all operations and number of blood units given intra- and postoperatively were recorded. Although embolization did not change the amount of intraoperative bleeding (p=0.619), a common vascular network leading to PT was observed in all patients in angiography. Group A's mean duration of operation was shorter than group B (p=0.03); however, this condition was attributed to larger and more complex lesions of patients who underwent embolization. According to CT classification, blood loss was more and duration of operation was longer in severe stages (p=0.046 and p=0.035, respectively). Successful demonstration of vascular network in patients with PT strengthens the idea that SAE technique may be used particularly in severe cases according to CT classification. Our findings suggest that PT may develop in all commonly used bearings.

The imortant role of adjuvant treatment in advanced gallblader cancer

Background: The role of adjuvant treatment has been well established in cholangiocarcinoma, Gallbladder cancer (GC) is a rare and less studied tumor. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients with gallbladder malignancy that underwent surgical removal of the gallbladder in our health system from 2007 to 2017. We compared clinical and oncological outcomes for two groups of patients: a group that received adjuvant treatment and a group that did not receive adjuvant treatment. The adjuvant treatment group was composed of patients who received either chemotherapy alone (19 patients) or chemo-radiation (21 patients). Results: Overall 69 patients with advanced (TNM stage III/IVa) gallbladder cancer (GBC) underwent resection for curative purposes. Among them, 40 patients (58%) were in the adjuvant treatment group and 29 patients (42%) were in the NO adjuvant treatment group. Gender (female, 58% vs 60%), ASA score (%) (I – 22 vs. 24, II - 39 vs. 37, III- 32 vs. 39, IV, 7 vs. 0), TNM stage IV (%, 17 vs. 10), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy administration (10% vs. 12%) were comparable (p = NS). The patients in theadjuvant treatment group were significantly younger (mean, years, 63 vs. 70, p = 0.03). Intraoperatively, surgical approach (laparoscopic, %, 28 vs. 25), incidental finding (%, 52 vs. 48), and tumor max dimension (mean, mm, 44 vs. 45) were all similar. Significantly more patients in the adjuvant treatment group underwent radical cholecystectomy (%, 69 vs. 98, p = 0.01). At median follow-up of 20 months, 43 patients recurred. Patients in adjuvant treatment group had significantly better survival (months, 25 vs. 10, p = 0.01). Similarly, the median disease-free survival was improved for patients in adjuvant treatment group (months, 18 vs. 8), although this didn’t reach statistical significance (p = 0.16). Conclusion: Adjuvant treatment has significant survival benefits for patients with advanced GBC and should be offered to patients with acceptable performance status. Despite these data, the application of adjuvant therapy after resection is not universally applied.

Systematic review of case reports of Japanese esophageal neuroendocrine cell carcinoma in the Japanese literature.

Esophageal neuroendocrine cell carcinoma (NEC) is extremely rare, and its treatment strategy has not been established. Systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to assess the treatment and prognosis of patients with esophageal NEC in Japan. The Ichushi-Web database was searched from January 1964 to May 2018. In total, 141 cases of esophageal NEC were included in the analysis. The survival of the chemotherapy group with stage II/III esophageal NEC was better than that of the surgery group. Meanwhile, the survival of the adjuvant treatment group with stage II/III esophageal NEC was significantly better than that of the surgery alone group. In patients with stage IV esophageal NEC, no significant differences were observed in terms of treatment response from the three regimens: irinotecan/platinum and etoposide/platinum compared with 5-fluorouracil/platinum. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the survival of patients who received the chemotherapy regimens. However, the 2-year survival rates of the irinotecan/platinum (26%) group and etoposide/platinum (27%) group were higher than that of the 5-fluorouracil/platinum (0%) group. In esophageal NEC, chemotherapy may be used as the first-line treatment. Irinotecan/platinum or etoposide/platinum can be the first-line regimen for chemotherapy. However, the additive effects of surgery remain unclear.