Promising Oncological Outcomes Research Articles

Salvage High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer after Radiation Failure: A Narrative Review.

For patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, there are multiple treatment options available. The traditional treatment modalities include radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy. Nevertheless, focal therapy, including high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and cryotherapy, has emerged as a less-invasive method in this setting. Some patients undergoing primary radiation therapy experience recurrence, but there is currently no consensus on the optimal approach for salvage treatment in such cases. The lack of robust data and randomized controlled trials comparing different whole-gland and focal salvage therapies presents a challenge in determining the ideal treatment strategy. This narrative review examines the prospective and retrospective data available on salvage HIFU following radiation therapy. Based on the literature, salvage HIFU for radio-recurrent prostate cancer has promising oncological outcomes, with an overall 5-year survival rate of around 85%, as well as incontinence rates of about 30% based on the patient's risk group, follow-up times, definitions used, and other aspects of the study. Salvage HIFU for prostate cancer proves to be an effective treatment modality for select patients with biochemical recurrence following radiotherapy.

Focal Minimally Invasive Treatment in Localized Prostate Cancer: Comprehensive Review of Different Possible Strategies.

Focal therapy is a promising, minimally invasive method for the treatment of patients with localized prostate cancer. According to the existing literature, there is growing evidence for positive functional outcomes and oncological effectiveness. The aim of this review is to evaluate the technical efficacy of three minimally invasive techniques (cryoablation, electroporation, and microwave ablation) and their impact on quality of life in patients with prostate cancer. Studies between January 2020 and July 2023 were selected using PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library and analyzed following PRISMA guidelines; they have not been registered. Twenty-three studies investigating three different sources of energy to deliver focal therapy were found. Thirteen studies evaluated the performance of the cryoablation therapy, seven studies of the irreversible electroporation, and three studies of microwave ablation option. The majority of studies were retrospective cohort studies. Cryoablation showed excellent oncological outcomes for low-grade prostate cancer, whether performed on the lesion, on the hemigland, or on the entire gland, with the best results obtained for patients with intermediate risk. Irreversible electroporation showed promising oncological outcomes with no significant changes in functional outcomes. Microwave ablation showed great early functional outcomes. The oncological effectiveness of minimally invasive treatment in comparison to standard of care is still under investigation, despite encouraging results in terms of functional outcomes improvement and adverse events reduction. More comprehensive research is needed to fully understand the function of minimally invasive treatment in patients with localized PCa.

Novel laser therapies and new technologies in the endoscopic management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a narrative review.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare disease. The gold standard treatment is radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Endoscopic management of UTUC has emerged as an alternative therapy that aims to preserve kidney function while providing effective oncologic control. Over the years, this has become an increasingly important alternative to RNU for treating UTUC in patients with localized disease. Advancements in lasers and endoscopic technology have continued to expand the applications of endoscopic nephron-sparing treatment. This review aims to provide an overview of the available lasers and ureteroscopic technologies used in treating UTUC with a focus on their clinical applications and outcomes. A comprehensive literature review was completed using PubMed to create this narrative mini review. Publications from peer-reviewed journals written in English between 1987 to 2022 were evaluated by the authors for inclusion. Improvements in ureteroscopic technology have led to improved visualization and tumor detection. Laser ablation using different laser energies including the holmium/yttrium-aluminum-garnet, neodymium/YAG, and thulium/YAG has demonstrated promising oncologic outcomes. However, accurate staging and risk-stratification remain limitations to the role of laser ablation for the treatment of UTUC. This review also highlights appropriate patient selection as a critical component of successful endoscopic management. The continued evolution of endoscopic management will rely on the development of new technologies to improve risk stratification and oncologic outcomes. Overall, this review provides insights into the available laser therapies and ureteroscopic technologies for the endoscopic management of UTUC.

Stereotactic reirradiation with CyberknifeR for locally recurrent prostate cancer, long-term toxicity and clinical outcomes from a monocentric cohort.

Up to 47% of patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) treated with radiotherapy (EBRT) eventually develop local recurrence. To date, no clear consensus exists on optimal management. A growing body of interest supports the use of stereotaxic re-irradiation (rSBRT), with promising oncological outcomes and low toxicity profile. We collected a single-center case series of locally recurrent PCa who underwent re-irradiation after a previous course of postoperative or definitive radiotherapy. Data from 101 patients treated at our institution for locally recurrent PCa from June 2012 to June 2021 were retrospectively collected. Patients underwent rSBRT with CyberKnife system (Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA), delivered to intraprostatic or macroscopic recurrences within the prostate bed, for a total dose of 30Gy in 5 fractions. All patients received prior EBRT. The median EQD2 total dose was 75.0Gy (range, 60-80Gy). Thirty-two (32%) patients were receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) after prior biochemical recurrence. After a median follow-up of 57.8months, BR occurred in 55 patients (54.5%), with a median BR-free survival (BRFS) of 40.4months (95% C.I. 34.3-58.3). Thirty-two patients (31.7%) developed metastatic disease, with a median metastasis-free survival (MFS) not reached. PSA ≥ 2.5ng/ml and ADT were associated with worst BRFS (26.06 vs. 39.3months, p = 0.03 and 22.7 vs. 27months, p = 0.01, respectively). Castration-resistant status and ADT were found to be predictive of worst MFS (34.1 vs. 50.5months, p = 0.02 and 33.5 vs. 53.1months, p = 0.002, respectively). Concomitant ADT was confirmed as an independent factor for MFS (HR 4.8, 95% CI 1.5-10.6, p = 0.007). No grade > /2 adverse were recorded. After almost 5years of follow-up, with a median BRFS of 40.4months and no grade ≥ 2 AEs, CyberknifeR rSBRT proved effective and safe in a cohort of 101 patients affected by locally recurrent PCa.

Oncologic Outcomes of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Highly Selected Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Peritoneal metastases (PM) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are currently treated with palliative systemic chemotherapy alone, with unsatisfactory results. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may provide an oncologic benefit for highly selected patients. Patients with PDAC and isolated PM who completed ≥ 6 months of systemic chemotherapy with objective response between 2017 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients met the inclusion/exclusion criteria as per our previously published PDAC CRS/HIPEC protocol. Patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC were compared with matched patients who underwent systemic therapy alone. Overall survival (OS) from diagnosis of PM and progression-free survival (PFS) from CRS/HIPEC was evaluated. In total, 61 patients met the inclusion criteria: 38 underwent systemic therapy alone and 23 CRS/HIPEC. There were no differences in baseline prognostic factors, including age, sex, tumor size, tumor location, anatomic resectability, or serum cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 (p > 0.05). Median OS from PM diagnosis in patients who underwent systemic therapy alone was 19 months with 1, 2, and 3 year OS of 81%, 31%, and 8%, respectively. In contrast, median OS from PM diagnosis in patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC was 41 months with improved 1, 2, and 3 year OS of 91%, 66%, and 59%, respectively (p = 0.002). In the 21 patients who achieved complete cytoreduction (CC-0), no adjuvant therapy was administered and the median PFS was 17 months. CRS/HIPEC in highly selected patients with PDAC and PM results in promising oncologic outcomes that are unlikely to be achieved with systemic chemotherapy alone. Further investigation is warranted and ongoing (NCT04858009).

Long-term Oncologic Outcomes of Endoscopic Management of High-risk Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: The Fundació Puigvert's Experience.

Many patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) outside of the low-risk criteria may possess low absolute risks of distant progression. Herein, we hypothesized that careful selection of high-risk patients undergoing an endoscopic approach could result in acceptable oncological outcomes. Patients with high-risk UTUC managed endoscopically between 2015 and 2021 were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained single academic institution database. Elective and imperative indications for endoscopic treatment were considered. Regarding elective indications, the decision to perform endoscopic treatment was systematically proposed to high-risk patients in whom macroscopically complete ablation was deemed feasible, excluding invasive appearance on CT-scan, and without histological variant. A total of 60 patients with high-risk UTUC met our inclusion criteria (29 imperative and 31 elective indications). The median follow-up in patients without any event was 36 months. At 5 years, the estimated overall survival, cancer-specific survival, metastasis-free survival, UTUC recurrence-free survival, radical nephroureterectomy-free survival and bladder recurrence-free survival was 57% (41-79), 75% (57-99), 86% (71-100), 56% (40-76), 81% (70-93), and 69% (54-88), respectively. All oncological outcomes were similar between patients with elective and imperative indications (all log rank p>0.05). In conclusion, we report the first large series of endoscopic treatment in patients with high-risk UTUC, arguing that promising oncologic outcomes can be achieved in properly selected candidates. We encourage multi-institutional collaborative work as a large cohort of high-risk patients treated endoscopically may allow subgroup analyses to define the best candidates.

Long-term outcomes of vulvar or vaginal cancer patients undergoing laparoendoscopic single-site inguinal lymphadenectomy.

Laparoendoscopic single-site inguinal lymphadenectomy (LESS-IL), a minimally invasive technique, has been reported in patients with vulvar or vaginal cancer regarding its safety and feasibility. However, the long-term outcomes, especially oncologic outcomes, are still lacking. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of LESS-IL to confirm its safety further. Data were prospectively collected from patients with vulvar or vaginal cancer who underwent LESS-IL at our institution between July 2018 and June 2021. The patients were followed up for at least 12 months. All procedures were performed according to treatment standards. Short- and long-term complications and oncologic outcomes were analysed. A total of 16 patients undergoing 28 LESS-IL procedures were identified, amongst whom 4 underwent unilateral LESS-IL. The median numbers of excised groin lymph nodes were 9.0 (6.5-11.8) and 10.5 (8.3-12.0) in each left and right groin, respectively. Short-term complications occurred in 4 (25%) patients, including 18.7% lymphocele and 6.3% wound infection. Long-term complications regarding lower-limb lymphoedema appeared in 6 (37.5%) patients. Most short- and long-term complications were Clavien-Dindo 1 or 2, accounting for 90% of all post-operative issues. After a median follow-up of 27 (21.3-35.8) months, only 1 (6.3%) patient had isolated inguinal recurrence at 13 months postoperatively. No local or distant recurrence occurred. Our results suggest that LESS-IL is associated with little incidence of complications and promising oncologic outcomes, further demonstrating the safety and feasibility of the LESS-IL technique in patients requiring IL.

Distal Pancreatectomy With En Bloc Celiac Axis Resection (DP-CAR) for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Safe and Effective Procedure.

To determine perioperative and oncologic outcomes after distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac axis (DP-CAR). DP-CAR can be used in a selective group of patients to resect locally advanced pancreatic cancer involving the celiac axis or common hepatic artery without arterial reconstruction by preserving retrograde blood flow via the gastroduodenal artery to the liver and stomach. We analyzed all consecutive patients who had undergone DP-CAR between May 2003 and April 2022 at a tertiary hospital specialized in pancreatic surgery and present one of the largest single-center studies. A total of 71 patients underwent DP-CAR. Additional venous resection (VR) of the mesenterico-portal axis was performed in 31 patients (44%) and multivisceral resection (MVR) in 42 patients (59%). Margin-free (R0) resection was achieved in 40 patients (56%). The overall 90-day mortality rate was 8.4% for the entire patient cohort. After a cumulated experience of 16 cases, the 90-day mortality dropped to 3.6% in the following 55 patients. Extended procedures with (+) additional MVR with or without (+/-) VR resulted in higher major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo ≥IIIB; standard DP-CAR: 19%; DP-CAR + MVR +/- VR: 36%) and higher 90-day mortality (standard DP-CAR: 0%; DP-CAR + MVR +/- VR: 11%). Median overall survival after DP-CAR was 28 months. DP-CAR is a safe and effective procedure but requires experience. Frequently, surgical resection has to be extended with MVR and VR to accomplish tumor resection, which results in promising oncologic outcomes. However, extended resections were associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Emerging systemic treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a review of recent randomized controlled trials.

The landscape of therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has seen an unprecedented transformation with the emergence of combination therapies. This review summarizes the current findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the oncologic outcomes of mCRPC. In the first-line, treatment-naïve setting, recent RCTs demonstrated the oncologic benefit of adding AKT inhibitors or poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors to abiraterone in terms of radiographical progression-free survival. Although this is a strong surrogate endpoint, these agents have not yet shown overall survival (OS) improvement. In the second- or later-line settings, olaparib improved OS in patients with at least one alteration in BRCA1 , BRCA2 , or ATM gene and lutetium-177-prostate-specific membrane antigen-617 [177-Lu-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-617] were superior to repeat androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI) therapy. In addition, 177-Lu-PSMA-617 had better progression-free survival compared with cabazitaxel but failed to result in an OS benefit. To date, there is no evidence for effective immune checkpoint inhibitor regimens/combinations for mCRPC. According to recent RCTs, several novel agents and/or combinations exhibit promising oncologic outcomes. In the first-line setting, OS benefits compared with currently available regimens are still missing. Results from ongoing/well-designed phase 3 RCTs and real-world data regarding the sequential impact of currently available agents on outcomes of mCRPC patients after ARSI-based combination therapy for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer are awaited. Such data will improve clinical decision-making in the ever-intensifying treatment era.

Role of Image-Guided Focal Cryoablation in Localized Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy in men, with the majority of newly diagnosed clinical scenarios eligible for active surveillance. However, there may be psychological ramifications associated with living with an untreated malignancy. Furthermore, recent reports show long-term progression exceeds 50% even for low-risk disease. Given the morbidity of traditional whole-gland prostate cancer therapies further advancements are necessary to maximize cure and minimize treatment side effects. Advances in multiparametric MRI has enabled a paradigm shift not only in the detection of clinically significant disease, but also toward more specific disease localization. While traditional treatments for prostate cancer involve whole-gland treatment, contemporary MRI technology allows for consideration of focal ablation via various technologies. This review details focal cryoablation for primary and salvage prostate cancer treatments and compares its efficacy to other treatment methods, including brachytherapy, external beam radiation, and high intensity focused ultrasound. The use of focal cryoablation as a primary treatment has shown promising oncologic outcomes, similar to that of whole-gland cryoablation, but with better functional outcomes. Focal cryotherapy as a salvage treatment has mixed results regarding efficacy and warrants further study. When compared to other focal treatments, cryotherapy leads to similar, or better, oncologic control outcomes. In addition, the review details the considerations for adjunct therapies and future applications to enhance the precision accuracy of current focal cryoablation techniques.

Intensity modulated proton therapy for early-stage glottic cancer: high-precision approach to laryngeal function preservation with exceptional treatment tolerability

BackgroundDue to the increasing expertise in transoral laser surgery and image-guided radiation therapy, treatment outcomes have recently improved in patients with early-stage glottic cancer. The objective of the current study was to evaluate intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) as novel treatment option.MethodsA total of 15 patients with T1-2N0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma, treated between 2017 and 2020, were evaluated. Toxicity was recorded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03.ResultsThe majority were T1a/b tumors (66.7%) and no patient had lymph node or distant metastases. The median total dose was 70 Gy relative biological effectiveness (RBE) (range 66–70 Gy RBE). The one- and two-year OS and metastases-free survival were 100%. One patient developed local failure and received salvage laryngectomy. No higher-grade acute or late toxicity was reported. The mean number of CTCAE grade I and II overall toxicity events per patient was 4.1 (95%-[confidence interval] CI 3.1–5.3) and 1.0 (95%-CI 0.5–1.5).ConclusionHigh-precision proton therapy of T1-2N0 glottic cancer resulted in exceptional treatment tolerability with high rates of laryngeal function preservation and promising oncological outcome. IMPT has the potential to become a standard treatment option for patients with early-stage laryngeal cancer.

Oncological Outcomes of Delayed Nephrectomy After Optimal Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

BackgroundIn the current era of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), the role and optimal timing of a nephrectomy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) remain unknown. ObjectiveTo assess the oncological outcomes of patients who responded to ICI-based treatments and were subsequently treated with a delayed nephrectomy. Design, setting, and participantsThis national retrospective evaluation included 30 patients with mRCC who underwent a nephrectomy after a complete response (CR) or a major partial response (>80%) to ICI treatment at metastatic sites. InterventionPartial or radical nephrectomy after a favorable response to ICI treatment. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisDisease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and potential discontinuation of systemic treatment were assessed. Results and limitationsICI-based treatments included ipilimumab-nivolumab (40%), ICI + tyrosine kinase inhibitor (10%), and nivolumab (50%). A delayed nephrectomy was performed after a median ICI treatment duration of 10 mo. In 19 cases (63.3%), surgeons faced difficulties due to adhesions or inflammatory changes. A complete pathological response was observed in 16.7% of patients. After a median follow-up of 19.5 mo after nephrectomy, 76.7% of patients achieved DFS. At 1 yr, 66.7% of patients were free from systemic treatment. The PFS and OS rates were, respectively, 96.7% and 100% at 1 yr, and 78.3% and 86.1% at 2 yr. Patients with a CR at metastatic sites had a better prognosis than those with a major partial response, in terms of DFS (p = 0.022) and PFS (p = 0.014). ConclusionsDespite potentially challenging surgery, a delayed nephrectomy for patients who responded to ICI treatment provided promising oncological outcomes, and the majority of patients could discontinue systemic treatment. Patient summaryIn this study, we evaluated the clinical outcome in patients who responded well to immunotherapy, and subsequently underwent kidney ablation surgery. Three-quarters of patients experienced no recurrence, and in most cases, medical treatment could be discontinued.

Single vocal cord irradiation for early-stage glottic cancer: Excellent local control and favorable toxicity profile

ObjectiveTo validate the earlier reported promising oncologic outcomes and favorable toxicity profile following single vocal cord irradiation (SVCI) in an expanded cohort of patients with early-stage glottic cancer treated at our institute with longer follow-up time. Materials and methodsBetween February 2011 and January 2020, 111 consecutive patients with early-stage glottic cancer were treated with SVCI to the whole involved vocal cord (58.08 Gy, given in 16 fractions of 3.63 Gy). Setup verification was done using cone-beam CT, prior to each fraction. The endpoints were local control (LC), overall survival (OS), grade ≥ 3 toxicity and voice quality assessment using voice-handicap index (VHI) questionnaires. ResultsMedian follow-up was 41 months (range; 8–84). Two patients developed in-field local failure (LF). The 3- and 5-year LC rates were 99.1% and 97.1%, respectively. As both patients with LF were successfully salvaged with total laryngectomy, the 5-year ultimate LC-rates was 99%. The 5-years OS was 80.6%. All patients finished treatment without any interruption. No patients developed acute grade ≥ 3 toxicity. Late grade 3 toxicity was reported in 7 patients (6.5%) out of 108 patients evaluable for late toxicity; 2 because of severe hoarseness and 5 because of laryngeal radionecrosis (4.5%). The 5-years laryngectomy-free survival was 98.1%. The VHI-scores improved over time, only 22% of patients had VHI > 30 at 3-years post-radiotherapy, compared to 38% at baseline. ConclusionsLocal control rate and laryngectomy-free survival of SVCI are excellent with favorable toxicity profile and good VHI-score. These results validate our early results.

Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) for diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is associated with promising oncological outcomes

Background: Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a novel intraperitoneal drug delivery method, implemented for peritoneal metastasis (PM) of various origins, particularly in the absence of disease control with systemic chemotherapy. Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) is associated with high survival rates if cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is feasible but has ominous prognosis if the disease is unresectable. We aimed to analyse oncological outcomes after PIPAC for DMPM.

A narrative review of intraperitoneal chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal metastases in gastric cancer.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastric origin is an aggressive tumor entity. Historically it has been considered a terminal disease with no long-term survival, due to limited therapeutic options. However, as a better understanding of tumor biology has evolved in recent years, novel multimodal treatment strategies incorporating intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy-hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC), neoadjuvant intraperitoneal-systemic chemotherapy protocol (NIPS)-and cytoreductive surgery (CRS) have demonstrated promising oncologic outcomes and even long-term survival in selected patients. Most of the studies published to date are retrospective in nature. These studies involve heterogenous patient populations, a wide variety of chemotherapeutic drugs, and show wide variation in outcomes between institutions. Thus, it is difficult to evaluate the results. This review summarizes our current knowledge regarding IP chemotherapy and CRS for peritoneal metastases (PM) in gastric cancer (GC). We describe our institutional treatment regimens. We also provide a brief overview of new, targeted therapies that may show promise in the future.

179 FEASIBILITY AND ONCOLOGICAL OUTCOME OF CHEMORADIATION WITH INTENSIFIED IMRT IN LOCALLY ADVANCED ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Abstract To assess safety, feasibility and efficacy of an intensified preoperative IMRT and concomitant carboplatin and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy (Carbo/Tax CT) in patients (pts) with locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC) treated at our Institution. Methods a retrospective analysis of toxicity (CTCAE 4.03), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of pts affected by LAEC, treated with preoperative intensified radiotherapy (IMRT) and weekly concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy (CT) according to the CROSS trial, between February 2016 and October 2019, at the Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano (CRO). Results Sixty-nine consecutive pts, 57(82.6%) males, were treated. The median age was 69 yrs (38–85), the ECOG PS 0–2. All pts underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy, IMRT technique, 45 Gy/25 to PTV1 (primary tumor volume + regional nodes), a simultaneous boost from 52.5Gy to 54Gy to PTV2 (gross tumor volume) and weekly concurrent carboplatin (AUC2) and paclitaxel (50 mg/m2). Induction CT was administered to 17 pts. All pts completed RT with median 4 (1–5) CT cycles. Median follow-up was 8 months (4–17); 2-yr PFS and OS were 49.0% and 80.3%, respectively. At 2 yrs, local recurrence rate was 8.4% (CI 95%: 2.6%–18.8%). Conclusion Preoperative intensified IMRT with concomitant Carbo/Tax CT in pts with LAEC appears safe and feasible with promising oncological outcome and needs to be confirmed in a larger series of pts.

Evaluation of Cytoreductive Surgery With or Without Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Stage III Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Interval cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) showed promising oncologic outcomes for patients with advanced ovarian cancer, but a large-scale, multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy of HIPEC combined with primary cytoreductive surgery (PCS) has yet to be conducted. To compare survival outcomes between PCS with HIPEC vs PCS alone for patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer. This cohort study was conducted from January 2010 to May 2017 at 5 high-volume institutions in China. A total of 584 patients with stage III primary epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with either PCS alone or PCS with HIPEC. The median (interquartile range) follow-up period was 42.2 (33.3-51.0) months. Data analysis was conducted from August to December 2019. PCS with HIPEC vs PCS alone. Primary outcomes were median survival time and 3-year overall survival. The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method, based on propensity score, was used to control for confounding factors. From a total of 789 patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer, 584 patients (74.0%; mean [SD] age, 55.0 [10.5] years) were ultimately included for IPTW in this study. Of the 584 patients, 425 (72.8%) underwent PCS with HIPEC and 159 (27.2%) underwent PCS alone. After IPTW adjustment, the median survival time was 49.8 (95% CI, 45.2-60.2) months for patients undergoing PCS with HIPEC and 34.0 (95% CI, 28.9-41.5) months for patients undergoing PCS alone, and the 3-year overall survival rate was 60.3% (95% CI, 55.3%-65.0%) for patients undergoing PCS with HIPEC and 49.5% (95% CI, 41.0%-57.4%) for patients undergoing PCS alone (weighted hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.82; P < .001). Further stratified into complete and incomplete surgery subgroups, patients in the PCS with HIPEC group had significantly better survival than those in the PCS group, except for the 3-year overall survival rate in the incomplete subgroup. Among those who underwent complete surgical procedures and comparing those who received PCS with HIPEC vs those who received PCS alone, the median survival time was 53.9 (95% CI, 46.6-63.7) months vs 42.3 (95% CI, 31.1-59.3) months (P = .02), and the 3-year overall survival rate was 65.9% (95% CI, 60.1%-71.2%) vs 55.4% (95% CI, 44.7%-64.8%) (P = .04); meanwhile, among patients who underwent incomplete surgical procedures and comparing those who received PCS with HIPEC vs those who received PCS alone, the median survival time was 29.2 (95% CI, 22.3-45.5) months vs 19.9 (95% CI, 11.6-39.1) months (P = .03), and the 3-year OS rate was 44.3% (95% CI, 34.6%-53.4%) vs 36.7% (95% CI, 23.4%-50.1%) (P = .19). The treatment was well tolerated in both groups. In this study, the PCS with HIPEC treatment approach was associated with better long-term survival. When complete PCS is possible, this approach could be a valuable therapy for patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer.

Surgery for Mesothelioma After Radiation Therapy (SMART); A Single Institution Experience.

Background: The optimal treatment sequence for localized malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is controversial. We aimed to assess outcomes and toxicities of treating localized MPM with neoadjuvant radiation therapy (RT) followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).Methods: Patients were enrolled on an institutional protocol of surgery for mesothelioma after radiation therapy (SMART) between June 2016 and May 2017. Eligible patients were adults with MPM localized to the ipsilateral pleura. Patients underwent staging with PET/CT, pleuroscopy, bronchoscopy/EBUS, mediastinoscopy, and laparoscopy. Five fractions of RT were delivered using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), with 30 Gy delivered to gross disease and 25 Gy to the entire pleura. EPP was performed 4–10 days following completion of RT.Results: Five patients were treated on protocol. Median age was 62 years (range 36–66). Histology was epithelioid on initial biopsy in all patients, but one was found to have biphasic histology after surgery. Three patients had surgeon-assessed gross total resection, and two had gross residual disease. While all patients were clinically node negative by pretreatment staging, three had positive nodal disease at surgery. Patients were hospitalized for a median 24 days (range 5–69) following surgery. Two patients developed empyema, one of whom developed respiratory failure and subsequently renal failure requiring dialysis, while the other required multiple surgical debridements. Two patients developed atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response after surgery, one of whom developed acute respiratory distress requiring intubation and tracheostomy. At last follow-up, one patient died at 1.4 years after local and distant progression, two were alive with local and distant progression, and the remaining two were alive without evidence of disease at 0.1 and 2.7 years. Median time to progression was 9 months. Three patients received salvage chemotherapy.Conclusions: SMART provided promising oncologic outcomes at the cost of significant treatment related morbidity. Due to the significant treatment associated morbidity and favorable treatment alternatives, we have not broadly adopted SMART at our institution.

Contralateral Liver Hypertrophy and Oncological Outcome Following Radioembolization with 90Y-Microspheres: A Systematic Review.

Radioembolization with 90Y-microspheres has been reported to induce contralateral liver hypertrophy with simultaneous ipsilateral control of tumor growth. The aim of the present systematic review was to summarize the evidence of contralateral liver hypertrophy and oncological outcome following unilateral treatment with radioembolization. A systematic literature search using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries for studies published between 2008 and 2020 was performed. A total of 16 studies, comprising 602 patients, were included. The median kinetic growth rate per week of the contralateral liver lobe was 0.7% and declined slightly over time. The local tumor control was 84%. Surgical resection after radioembolization was carried out in 109 out of 362 patients (30%). Although the available data suggest that radioembolization prior to major hepatectomy is safe with a promising oncological outcome, the definitive role of radioembolization requires assessment within controlled clinical trials.

Complete mesocolic excision for colon cancer: is it worth it?

Total mesorectal excision (TME) has been the miracle surgical technique which has since allowed the outcomes of rectal cancer to surpass that of colon cancer. Complete mesocolic excision (CME) attempts to adopt the same principles as that of TME and apply it to colon cancer surgery. Initial retrospective case series and comparative studies have shown promising oncological outcomes. CME entails the en bloc removal of a sufficient length of colonic specimen within an intact peritoneal envelop with extended lymphadenectomy through a high central ligation of vessels. This technique, standardizing the method for resection of right sided colon cancer, has witness promising perioperative and oncological data for both open and laparoscopic methods. However, most data available are mostly retrospective with a glaring lack of level 1 evidence. Despite the technique showing similar outcomes to that of conventional colectomy, parts of the procedure put the patient (and surgeon) at risk of potentially catastrophic complications. As promising as the initial results of CME has been, more well-designed randomized control trials are necessary to justify the increased risks taken and effort to mount the learning curve for CME.