Resection Rate Research Articles

Endoscopic papillectomy versus surgical ampullectomy for adenomas and early cancers of the papilla: a retrospective Pancreas2000/European Pancreatic Club analysis

ObjectiveAmpullary neoplastic lesions can be resected by endoscopic papillectomy (EP) or transduodenal surgical ampullectomy (TSA) while pancreaticoduodenectomy is reserved for more advanced lesions. We present the largest retrospective comparative study...

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of perioperative immunochemotherapeutic strategies for locally advanced esophageal cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BackgroundThe aim of this network meta-analysis was to clarify the efficacy and safety of different immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in combination with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant phase for the treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer.MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI and WanFang databases from January 2000 until May 2024. The primary endpoints were pathological complete response (pCR), major pathological response (MPR), R0 resection rate, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs) of any grade and TRAEs of grade 3 or higher. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool were used to evaluate risk of bias. To analyze the data, Review Manager 5.3 and Stata16.0 were applied.ResultsFourteen eligible studies (six randomized controlled trials) and 8 retrospective cohort studies) enrolling 1139 patients were included for this network meta-analysis. All studies originated from China. For patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer, neoadjuvant immunochemotherapeutic strategies showed significant advantages over traditional neoadjuvant therapy in terms of pCR, MPR, ORR and DCR. Among the analyzed regimens, camrelizumab plus chemotherapy demonstrated the most pronounced improvements in pCR and MPR, while pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy achieved the best outcomes in terms of ORR and DCR. There were no significant differences observed among the various neoadjuvant treatment strategies regarding R0 resection rate, any grade TRAEs, or grade≥3 TRAEs. The most common TRAEs in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus immunotherapy group were myelosuppression and gastrointestinal damage, with most grade 3 or higher TRAEs being hematologic adverse events. The most frequent immune-related adverse events(irAEs) included rash (4.2-21.7%), thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, 6.3-17.4%), and pneumonia (4.2-6.3%), with the majority being mild to moderate (grade 1 or 2).ConclusionsNeoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy regimens demonstrate relatively high efficacy and tolerable safety profiles. Among the evaluated regimens, the combination chemotherapy with camrelizumab had relatively high pCR and MPR, whereas the combination chemotherapy with pembrolizumab had relatively high ORR and DCR. There were no significant differences in safety among the various regimens. Our study suggests that evaluating the efficacy and safety of different ICIs may be helpful in clinical decision-making.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42024583548.

From tumor microenvironment to emerging biomarkers: the reshaping of the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tumor microenvironment by neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer with high morbidity and mortality. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors has significantly increased complete response rates and postoperative R0 resection rates after neoadjuvant therapy. These drugs can largely reverse the suppression of the immune system caused by the tumor microenvironment, allowing the reactivation of anti-tumor immune infiltrating cells, significantly improving the patient’s tumor microenvironment, and thus preventing tumor development. However, there are still some patients who respond poorly to neoadjuvant combined immunotherapy and cannot achieve the expected results. It is now found that exploring changes in the tumor microenvironment not only elucidates patient responsiveness to immunotherapy and identifies more reliable biomarkers, but also addresses the limitations of prediction with imaging examination such as CT and the instability of existing biomarkers. In light of these considerations, this review aims to delve into the alterations within the tumor microenvironment and identify potential predictive biomarkers ensuing from neoadjuvant immunotherapy in the context of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

A randomized phase 3 trial of total neoadjuvant therapy (induction chemotherapy, neoadjuvant chemoradiation, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and surgery) vs. standard long-term chemoradiation therapy (neoadjuvant chemoradiation, surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy) in locally advanced rectal cancer

PurposeThe management of rectal adenocarcinoma has evolved during the last decade, shifting from a conventional neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy in all cases to a total neoadjuvant approach, especially in locally advanced tumors when a sphincter-sparing surgery has been planned. However, the exact indications and the neoadjuvant regimen with the highest response remain unresolved. We aimed to assess whether administering neoadjuvant chemotherapy before and after preoperative chemoradiotherapy could increase the pathological complete response (pCR) rates.MethodsWe conducted a phase 3, multicenter, randomized trial at four hospitals in Iran. Adult patients with a newly diagnosed, biopsy-proven, locally advanced non-metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma with an ECOG performance status of 0–2 were randomly assigned (2:2) to either the total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) or the standard-of-care groups using a block randomized design. Investigators and participants were not masked to treatment allocation and groups. The TNT group received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX6 (intravenous 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin and 400 mg/m2 leucovorin, followed by intravenous 400 mg/m2 fluorouracil bolus and then continuous infusion at a dose of 2,400 mg/m2 over 46 h every 14 days for four cycles before and four cycles after chemoradiotherapy), chemoradiotherapy (50.4 Gy during 28 fractions and 800 mg/m2 concurrent oral capecitabine twice daily 5 days per week), and total mesorectal excision. The standard-of-care group received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, total mesorectal excision, and adjuvant chemotherapy (eight cycles). The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response. Safety analyses were conducted on treated patients.ResultsOverall, 25 and 27 patients were enrolled in the TNT and standard-of-care groups, respectively. Both groups were similar in terms of gender, age, and tumor differentiation. The tumors in the standard-of-care group were significantly located closer to the anal verge compared with those in the TNT group (9.4 ± 3.7 cm in TNT vs. 6.8 ± 4 cm in standard, p = 0.02). A pCR was reached in 48% (12/25) and 25.9% (7/27) of patients in the TNT and standard-of-care groups, respectively (p = 0.4). The R0 resection rates were identical between the two groups (92% vs. 88.9%, p = 0.3). Moreover, the toxicity rates were similar between the two groups.ConclusionOur results showed that TNT is a safe and feasible treatment approach in patients with rectal cancer and may improve the overall pCR rate compared with standard treatment.Clinical trial registrationhttps://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/65666, identifier IRCT20220723055527N1.

Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection is superior to conventional endoscopic mucosal resection for medium-sized colorectal sessile polyps: a randomized controlled trial

The comparison of underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) and conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (CEMR) in the treatment of medium-sized (10 mm ≤ diameter ≤ 20 mm) colorectal sessile polyps is unknown. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of UEMR and CEMR in the treatment of medium-sized colorectal sessile polyps. 200 patients with medium-sized colorectal sessile polyps were randomly divided into UEMR group and CEMR group equally. The resection rates, patient tolerance and complications of the two groups were evaluated. The R0 resection rate (73.3% vs. 56.3%, P = 0.011) and the En bloc resection rate (91.1% vs. 80.6%, P = 0.032) of the UEMR group were significantly higher than those of the CEMR group; The mean abdominal pain score of the UEMR group was significantly lower than that of the CEMR group [(3.2 ± 1.9) vs. (4.1 ± 2.1), P = 0.006]; There was no significant difference in the intraoperative bleeding rate between the two groups (4.0% vs. 6.1%, P = 0.516). There was no delayed bleeding and perforation in both groups. UEMR was effective in the treatment of medium-sized sessile colorectal polyps with few complications, and patient tolerance was good, which is worthy of clinical promotion.The study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2400082051) on 19/03/2024 and can be accessed at www.chictr.org.cn.

Impact of Tumor Size on Endoluminal Resection of Subepithelial Tumors of the Esophagus

Subepithelial tumors arise from gastrointestinal wall layers outside of the mucosa. These lesions in the esophagus are mostly benign, but some tumors arising from the muscularis propria have malignant potential. Management includes surveillance or resection, which was conventionally performed with surgery; contemporary resection techniques include endoscopic resection or thoracoscopic resection. Increasing data suggests high rates of complete and en-bloc resection with endoscopic approach with a low adverse event profile. Candidacy for endoscopic resection of esophageal subepithelial tumors should be determined based on size, morphology, location, etiology, and a shared decision-making approach with the patient in the context of available endoscopic expertise.

Robotic versus open pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary neoplasm: a propensity matched analysis of peri-operative and oncologic outcomes.

Though open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) is the gold standard, robotic pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) is on the rise due to its technical ease with robotic armamentarium and claim to decrease morbidity in the perioperative period. This study compares the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of RPD performed for periampullary neoplasms (PANs) with OPD. This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2018 to December 2023 for all the patients who underwent either OPD or RPD for PANs. Demographic, peri-operative outcomes and oncological parameters [disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS)] were analysed and compared. The two groups were matched using 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) to reduce the risk of confounding. A hundred patients were analysed (30 in RPD and 70 in OPD), and both groups were similar in demographic characteristics. Post-operative morbidity in terms of clinically relevant pancreatic fistula, post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage, delayed gastric emptying and overall Clavien-Dindo ≥ Grade 3 complications were similar in both groups. Surgical site infection (SSI) was significantly higher in the OPD group compared to RPD (31.4% vs. 6.7, p = 0.008); however, the median postoperative hospital stay was similar in both groups. After PSM (26 patients in each group), the RPD group had significantly more operative time (480min vs. 360min, p = 0.007) less blood loss (250ml vs. 400ml, p = 0.004), and similar SSI [2(7.7%) vs. 6(23.1%), p = 0.178). The R0 resection rate, lymph nodal yield, lymph nodal positivity, DFS and OS were similar in both groups. The robotic approach for PD is technically safe and feasible with equivalent resection quality and oncological outcomes compared to the open approach. RPD has equivalent postoperative morbidity, DFS and OS.

The Effect of Health Insurance on Racial Disparities in Patients With Isolated Colorectal Liver Metastases.

Although resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) improves survival, factors including race and health insurance are associated with disparities in care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of health insurance on racial disparities in CRLM resection. A retrospective study of patients with CRC with synchronous CRLM was performed using the National Cancer Database (2004-2020). The primary outcome was resection liver resection. Multivariable logistic regression (MVR) was performed to evaluate the association of race and insurance with the odds of resection. Forty-four thousand and six hundred sixteen patients were included. Resection rates were lower among Blacks compared to White patients (12.9% vs. 17.3%). By MVR, Black patients (OR 0.76 vs. White), uninsured and Medicaid-insured patients (OR 0.49 and OR 0.71 vs. private insurance) were less likely to undergo resection. On MVR of race stratified by insurance, Black patients with private and Medicare insurance had decreased odds of resection compared to White (OR 0.71 and OR 0.64). Although Black patients with CRLM have lower odds of hepatic resection compared to White, when stratified by insurance, this was only present among private- and Medicare-insured. Further investigation is warranted to understand other factors associated with racial disparities in this population.

Robotic versus laparoscopic liver resection for difficult posterosuperior segments: a systematic review with a meta-analysis of propensity-score matched studies.

The outcomes of minimally invasive liver surgery for posterosuperior segments (PS) are still debated. Since the results of ongoing trials focusing on the results of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and robotic liver resection (RLR) in this setting are still awaited, the best evidence currently comes from retrospective propensity-score matched (PSM) studies. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the outcomes of RLR for difficult located lesions and to provide evidence for its use in clinical practice. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LLR and RLR for PS segments. The Medline, Embase and Web of Science Library electronic databases were searched to identify available research published up to June 2024. Five studies with a total of 2907 patients (RLR: n = 1084; LLR: n = 1823) were included in the meta-analysis. The RLR group had less estimated blood loss (EBL) (MD: -88.3, 95% CI -144.2--32.3; p = 0.012), fewer blood transfusions (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.39-0.80, p = 0.033), and a shorter operative time (MD -27.3, 95% CI -49.4--5.1; p = 0.027). No differences in postoperative morbidity, mortality and R1 resection rates were observed. RLR for lesions in the PS segments are safe and effective, and may have superior surgical outcomes than LLR.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection of colorectal pedunculated polyps.

Background and study aims For pedunculated colon polyps, en bloc resection with inclusion of the polyp stalk is necessary to yield an accurate histologic staging. This can be challenging in cases of a large polyp and/or broad stalk using conventional snare resection. We evaluated the feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for large pedunculated polyps with broad stalks. Patients and methods Between February 2019 and November 2021 all patients with large pedunculated polyps defined as polyp diameter ≥ 20 mm and or a broad stalk > 5 mm were enrolled in the study. All polyps were resected in ESD technique with dissection of the polyp stalk at the base after injection. Results Twenty-five patients (male = 18, age mean: 67 years) were included. En bloc resection was achieved in 100% of the patients (25/25 polyps). Polyps were mainly located in the sigmoid (n = 19) and rectum (n = 3). Median polyp size was 30×25×17 mm. Histologic examination revealed the following results: adenoma low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LG-IEN): nine; high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-IEN): seven; pTis: three; adenoarcinoma: five (G1, pT1, L0, V0, Haggitt 3: 2/G2, pT1, L0, V0, Haggitt 3:2/G3, pT1, Bd3, V1, Haggitt 4: 1); other: 1. R0 resection rate was 100% and the curative resection rate yielded 96% (24/25) without severe adverse events. Conclusions ESD achieved high en bloc and R0 resection rates for large pedunculated polyps. In our collective, up to 32% of polyps already had adenocarcinoma, resulting in a high curative resection rate due to complete resection and subsequently accurate risk classification.

Resection of colorectal liver metastases with second-line aflibercept plus FOLFIRI: Results from the RESECTION prospective French cohort

AimTo evaluate R0/R1 resection rate in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) treated with aflibercept plus FOLFIRI after failure of a prior oxaliplatin-based regimen in daily clinical practice. MethodsThis French, multicentre, prospective, observational cohort (NCT05178745) included patients with CLM (alone or predominant; up to 5 lung nodules <2 cm allowed) initiating aflibercept/FOLFIRI every 2 weeks per physician choice. Primary endpoint was R0/R1 resection rate. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), radiological and pathological responses, and safety. ResultsA total of 137 patients (median age 65 years, RAS/BRAF mutant 57%/9%) were enrolled at 22 French sites. CLM (median 4) were synchronous in 82%, bilobar in 71% and located in liver only in 54%. Overall, 17% of patients had R0/R1 resection (21% for patients with liver-only disease). A major pathological response per Blazer score was observed in 55% of resected patients, along with significantly longer OS (median 34.8 vs 9.1 months, p<0.0001) and PFS (median 11.4 vs 4.9 months, p<0.0001) compared to non-resected patients. Post-operative complications occurred in 17% of patients (all Dindo-Clavien grade I-II) with no post-operative deaths. Overall, 34% had grade ≥3 adverse events, mainly general health deterioration and diarrhea. ConclusionsResults suggest that aflibercept plus FOLFIRI, after failure of a prior oxaliplatin-based regimen, allows R0/R1 resection of CLM in almost 20% of patients with a major pathological response in most cases and a median OS prolonged by more than 3-fold versus non-resected patients.

Clinical analysis of endoscopic transnasal resection of skull base chondrosarcoma

Objective:To explore the surgical techniques and clinical outcomes of endoscopic transnasal approaches in the treatment of skull base chondrosarcomas. Methods:Data from patients diagnosed with skull base chondrosarcomas and treated via endoscopic transnasal surgery at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, from 2013 to 2022 were collected. This retrospective study analyzed the patients' clinical presentations, histopathological grading, involved sites and extents, and complications following the endoscopic transnasal surgery. Disease-free survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results:Complete data from 31 patients showed that the primary tumor site was in the petroclival region in 27 cases（87%）, and the anterior skull base in 4 cases（13%）. Pathological grades were Grade Ⅰ（12 cases）, Grade Ⅱ（16 cases）, and Grade Ⅲ（3 cases）. Total resection was achieved in 25 cases, with residual disease post-surgery in 6 cases. The average follow-up duration was 35.7 months（ranging from 6 to 120 months）. Among those who achieved complete resection, recurrence occurred in 5 cases（5/25）, with a five-year disease-free survival rate of 80%. Postoperative complications included transient abducens nerve palsy in 6 patients and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in 4 patients. There were no cases of death or permanent cranial nerve palsy. Total resection rate（P=0.001） and involvement of the cerebellopontine angle and jugular foramen（P=0.037） were identified as independent risk factors for residual disease and recurrence of chondrosarcoma. Conclusion:The endoscopic transnasal approach is a safe and feasible treatment option for skull base chondrosarcomas.

Resectability and survival outcome in real world practice of 720 cholangiocarcinoma patients: intrahepatic, perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma.

BackgroundCholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an adenocarcinoma of the hepatobiliary system, which can be classified into intrahepatic (iCCA), perihilar (pCCA) and distal (dCCA). Surgical resection is the curative treatment for all subtypes of CCA. This study evaluates patients with CCA who underwent surgery and determines factors that impact their survival.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 720 patients diagnosed with CCA from October 2013 to December 2018. Patients were categorized into iCCA (n = 398), pCCA (n = 237), and dCCA (n = 85) based on tumor location. Data including demographic information, clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and survival statistics were collected and analyzed.ResultsThe overall resectability rate was 78.3%, with resectability highest in pCCA patients (83.5%). Overall median survival time (MST) was 11.6 months and varied among subtypes: iCCA 10.9 months, pCCA 11.2 months, and dCCA 15.4 months. Patients underwent curative-intent resection significantly improved survival compared to those with palliative resection or unresectable disease in all subtypes. R0 resection patients had better overall survival (OS) than R1 resection patients: 5-year survival rate of 20.2% vs. 4.3% in all CCA (p < 0.001), 21.4% vs. 7% in iCCA (p < 0.001), 17.2% vs. 0% in pCCA (p < 0.001), and 23.1% vs. 0% in dCCA (p = 0.105), respectively. Positive resection margin was an independent prognostic factor for OS in pCCA and iCCA.ConclusionSurgical resection is the only cure for CCA. Curative-intent resection is more effective than palliative resection in improving survival rates. When performing curative-intent resection, the goal is R0 resection. This is because it improves overall survival over R1 resection.

Avoiding prostate bed radiation for the PSMA-PET detected nodal recurrence patient post prostatectomy

BackgroundNodal only recurrence post radical prostatectomy (RP) is increasingly recognised in the PSMA scan era. Management is controversial with a curative approach usually incorporating prostate bed and nodal irradiation (PB + NRT) in combination with long-term hormonal therapy. It is unknown whether omitting prostate-bed irradiation (PBRT) is safe in a subgroup of these patients. PurposeTo document the outcomes for pelvic nodal only salvage radiation therapy (NRT) plus concurrent androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for patients with PSMA PET documented nodal relapses. Methods and materialsEligible patients included PSMA PET documented nodal only relapses post RP who received NRT with or without PBRT at Royal North Shore Hospital (NSCC), Gosford Hospital (CCCC) or Genesis Care (GC) between January 2015 and December 2021. Baseline demographics, surgical pathology, radiation details, ADT use and outcomes were documented. ResultsForty-six patients were identified, 22 in the PB + NRT cohort and 24 in the NRT cohort. Compared to the PBRT + NRT group, the NRT cohort had lower stage disease (pT2 = 7 (29 %), pT3a = 15 (63 %), pT3b = 1 (4 %) vs pT2 = 0, pT3a = 10 (45 %), pT3b = 12 (55 %)) (p=<0.001) and lower rates of R1 resection (0 % vs 63.6 % (n = 14)) (p < 0.001) respectively. The median follow-up from radiotherapy was 3.9 years.Four-year biochemical failure- free survival (BFFS) was 64 % in the NRT group vs 67 % in the PB + NRT group. Of the ten (41.6 %) failures in the NRT group, 1 (4 %) was a biochemical failure only, 2 (8 %) recurred in the PB and received further salvage treatment, 4 (17 %) had nodal failure outside the pelvis and 3 (13 %) had distant metastases.One patient (4 %) in the NRT group recorded late grade ≥2 GU toxicity compared with 7 (32 %) in the PB + NRT. No patients in the NRT group recorded late grade ≥2 GI toxicity compared with 2 (9 %) in the PB + NRT cohort. ConclusionThis study provides early evidence for the feasibility of PBRT sparing to avoid local toxicity. Most patients in this cohort failed distantly. This data suggests that for selected men PB-avoidance may be considered given informed consent.

Orthodontic rubber band traction improves trainees' learning curve of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection: a prospective randomized study.

Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a technically demanding operation with a long learning curve. This study aimed to determine whether orthodontic rubber band (ORB)-assisted colorectal ESD could improve the trainees' learning curve as it was shown to shorten colorectal ESD procedure time in trainees and experts. This prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study involved 178 patients who underwent colorectal ESD, randomly divided into trainee ORB-assisted ESD (Trainee ORB-ESD; n=60), trainee conventional ESD (Trainee C-ESD; n=57), and expert conventional ESD (Expert C-ESD; n=61) groups. The main outcome was procedure time. Per Protocol analysis showed a similar operative time in the Trainee ORB-ESD and Expert C-ESD groups, which was shorter than in the Trainee C-ESD group [28.0 (21.0-35.0) and 25.0 (15.0-35.0) vs. 41.0 (31.0-52.5) min; (P < 0.001)]. The Trainee ORB-ESD, Trainee C-ESD, and Expert C-ESD groups differed significantly in resection speed (11.35, 9.07, and 12.56 mm2/min, respectively), good visual field exposure rate (96.7, 80.7, and 93.4%), and muscle injury rate (5.0, 17.5, and 6.6%). However, the Trainee ORB-ESD and Expert C-ESD groups were similar in these measures, and all three groups were similar in adverse events, en-bloc resection, R0 resection, and pathology rates. The cumulative sum suggested that the learning inflection point of the Trainee ORB-ESD group was earlier than that of the Trainee C-ESD group. ORB-ESD shortened colorectal ESD procedure time and improved efficiency in trainees to an expert level. ORB-ESD could shorten the learning curve, justifying its widespread application.

Modified FOLFOXIRI plus cetuximab versus bevacizumab in RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer: a randomized phase II DEEPER trial

The clinical significance of FOLFOXIRI (5-FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) plus anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody using cetuximab for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remains controversial. We report results from a randomized phase 2 DEEPER trial (UMIN000018217, jRCTs061180022) to test the superiority of modified (m)-FOLFOXIRI plus weekly cetuximab over bevacizumab in patients with RAS wild-type (wt) mCRC. Primary endpoint was depth of response (DpR). Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), early tumor shrinkage (ETS) at week 8, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), time to tumor growth (TTG), time to treatment failure (TTF), association between tumor shrinkage and prognosis, association between TTG and prognosis, R0 resection rate, and safety. In 359 enrolled patients with RAS wt mCRC, median DpR was significantly better in cetuximab (57.3% vs 46.0%, p = 0.0029); however, ORR, ETS, R0 resection rate, TTG, TTF, PFS and OS were similar between 2 treatments. There was a weak association between DpR and survival time in both treatments. The correlation between TTG and OS was slightly stronger in cetuximab. The post-hoc exploratory analysis showed that cetuximab produced greater PFS (15.3 vs 11.7 months; HR 0.68) and OS (53.6 vs 40.2 months; HR 0.54) in patients with left-sided and RAS/BRAF wt tumors. m-FOLFOXIRI plus cetuximab has clinical benefit for tumor shrinkage in RAS wt mCRC. The survival benefit for RAS/BRAF wt and left-sided mCRC needs further investigation.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy (nCIT) for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: Clinical data of patients who received nCRT or nCIT followed by esophagectomy for locally advanced ESCC between January 2010 and December 2022 were retrospectively collected from Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, with 155 patients in the nCRT group and 470 patients in the nCIT group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed in the two groups. After PSM, 120 patients were allocated to the nCRT group and 192 patients to the nCIT group. The pathological response and disease recurrence were compared between the two groups after PSM. Log rank test were used to compare the survival outcomes before and after PSM. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the prognostic factors for locally advanced ESCC. Results: After PSM, the R0 resection rate in the nCRT group and the nCIT group was 93.3% (112/120) and 93.8% (180/192), respectively, with no statistical significance (P=0.884). However, the pathological complete response rate in the nCRT group [36.7% (44/120)] was higher than that in the nCIT group [21.4% (41/192), P=0.003]. For patients with R0 resection, the major recurrence pattern was distant metastasis [18.8% (21/112)] in the nCRT group, while the pattern was locoregional recurrence [12.2% (22/180)] in the nCIT group. The 3-year disease-free survival rates were 52.7% and 66.1% (P=0.022) and the 3-year overall survival rates were 59.2% and 75.5% (P=0.002) in the nCRT and nCIT groups, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis also revealed that the neoadjuvant therapy mode was an independent prognostic factor for patients with locally advanced ESCC. Compared with nCRT, nCIT could significantly prolong disease-free survival (HR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.40-0.86) and overall survival (HR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.35-0.79). Conclusion: These results suggest that nCIT could significantly improve disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate over nCRT in locally advanced ESCC, even with lower pathological complete response rate.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between conventional and underwater endoscopic mucosal resection for duodenal neuroendocrine tumors

Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors are relatively rare subepithelial tumors that arise from cells of the neuroendocrine system. Small duodenal neuroendocrine tumors can be treated endoscopically because of their low potential for metastasis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of conventional and underwater endoscopic mucosal resection for duodenal neuroendocrine tumors. Between March 2009 and March 2023, 15 patients with duodenal neuroendocrine tumors resected using conventional (n = 7) and underwater (n = 8) endoscopic mucosal resections were retrospectively enrolled. The median specimen size and median tumor size were 1.0 cm (interquartile range: 0.8–1.2 cm) and 0.6 cm (interquartile range: 0.4–0.6 cm), respectively. More than half of duodenal neuroendocrine tumors were located in the duodenal bulb (9/15, 60%). The en bloc and complete resection rates of both conventional and underwater endoscopic mucosal resections were 100%. Only one perforation event occurred in the conventional endoscopic mucosal resection group (14.3%). The patient with the perforation was treated with endoscopic clipping. The median follow-up period was 39.5 months (interquartile range: 19.5–57.3 months). There was no local recurrence or distant metastasis during the follow-up period. Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection is a safe and effective treatment option for small duodenal neuroendocrine tumors and is the preferred treatment option for flat-type duodenal neuroendocrine tumors.

Usefulness of participation of endoscopic surgical skill qualification system-qualified surgeons in laparoscopic high anterior resection.

A technical qualification system was established by the Japanese Society of Endoscopic Surgery in 2004, and its effectiveness in low anterior resection (LAR) has been reported. We herein performed a subgroup analysis of the effectiveness of the participation of technically qualified surgeons in laparoscopy-assisted high anterior resection (HAR), a procedure used for the technical qualification of surgeons. The EnSSURE study enrolled 3188 patients who underwent laparoscopic rectal resection for rectal cancer between January 2014 and December 2016 at 56 Japanese hospitals. The outcomes of HAR were compared between groups with and without the participation of technically qualified surgeons. The background of the two groups were equalized by propensity score matching. In the group with the participation of qualified surgeons, the operative time was significantly shorter (p = .0427), more lymph nodes were dissected (p = .0207), and the conversion rate to open surgery was lower (p = .0016); however, no significant difference was observed in blood loss (p = .0616), the R0 resection rate (p = 1.00), intraoperative complication rate (p = .160), postoperative complication rate (p = 1.00), or reoperation rate (p = .6999) between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant difference was noted in long-term outcomes (recurrence-free survival (p = .275) or overall survival (p = .941)). In HAR, the technical benefits of the participation of qualified surgeons was limited to a shorter operative time and lower conversion rate. Nevertheless, the qualification is unique in that it predicts the usefulness of reducing complications in more technically challenging procedures when its effectiveness in LAR is considered.

Surgical Site Infections in Simultaneous Colorectal and Liver Resections for Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major driver of morbidity after combined liver and colorectal surgery for metastatic colorectal cancer. Available literature is inadequate to characterize risk factors and benchmarks for quality improvement. Consecutive cases of simultaneous liver and colorectal surgery for colorectal adenocarcinoma from November 2013 through September 2022 were reviewed for SSIs per National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) criteria. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations with NSQIP 30-day organ-space SSIs. In 580 procedures, the rate of 30-day organ-space SSIs was 16% (n=94) using NSQIP criteria and 11% (n=64) using NHSN criteria; 4% (n=24) had incisional SSIs by both criteria. Most organ-space SSIs were perihepatic, and a minority were associated with bile (26%) or anastomotic (15%) leak. Independent risk factors for organ-space SSIs included major liver resection, upper abdominal (compared with lower abdominal/pelvic) colorectal procedure, and ostomy reversal. Organ-space SSI rates increased over time by approximately 16% per calendar year (p=0.02) despite a declining rate of major liver resection; incisional SSI rates remained low. Overall, major morbidity was 22%, with 7-day median length of stay (interquartile range 6-9) and 0.3% 90-day mortality. Organ-space SSIs are a significant driver of postoperative morbidity in simultaneous liver and colorectal resections for metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma. Our findings confirm simultaneous resection remains safe and interventions to mitigate the risk of perihepatic organ-space SSIs in high-risk patients are warranted.