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Introduction: We sought to determine whether preoperative chemoradiation therapy or chemotherapy increases the risk of anastomotic leak after gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients without gastroesophageal junction involvement., Methods: We reviewed data from a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent gastrectomy at our institution between 2001 and 2016. The incidence of anastomotic leak and symptomatic intra-abdominal fluid collection was determined and tested for associations with the type of preoperative therapy. Risk factors for these adverse events were identified by univariate and multivariable logistic regression models., Results: Of 346 included patients, 35% had upfront surgery, 44% had preoperative chemoradiation therapy, and 21% had preoperative chemotherapy. Anastomotic leak and intra-abdominal fluid collection were diagnosed in 3.5% and 7.5% of patients, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that concomitant organ resection was the only significant risk factor for anastomotic leak or intra-abdominal fluid collection (P=.014). The type of preoperative therapy was not a risk factor for anastomotic leak or intra-abdominal fluid collection., Conclusions: Anastomotic leak and intra-abdominal fluid collection were rare after gastrectomy, and neither type of preoperative therapy increased the risk of these adverse events. Our results add to the existing literature that preoperative therapy, including preoperative chemoradiation therapy, is safe for patients with gastric cancer., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate how many patients could have undergone partial nephrectomy (PN) rather than radical nephrectomy (RN) before and after neoadjuvant axitinib therapy, as assessed by five independent urological oncologists, and to study the variability of inter-observer agreement., Patients and Methods: Pre- and post-systemic treatment computed tomography scans from 22 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in a phase II neoadjuvant axitinib trial were reviewed by five independent urological oncologists. R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score and κ statistics were calculated., Results: The median R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score changed from 11 before treatment to 10 after treatment (P = 0.002). Five tumours with moderate complexity before axitinib treatment remained moderate complexity after treatment. Of 17 tumours with high complexity before axitinib treatment, three became moderate complexity after treatment. The overall κ statistic was 0.611. Moderate-complexity κ was 0.611 vs a high-complexity κ of 0.428. Before axitinib treatment the κ was 0.550 vs 0.609 after treatment. After treatment with axitinib, all five reviewers agreed that only five patients required RN (instead of eight before treatment) and that 10 patients could now undergo PN (instead of three before treatment). The odds of PN feasibility were 22.8-times higher after treatment with axitinib., Conclusions: There is considerable variability in inter-observer agreement on the feasibility of PN in patients treated with neoadjuvant targeted therapy. Although more patients were candidates for PN after neoadjuvant axitinib therapy, it remains difficult to identify these patients a priori., (© 2015 The Authors BJU International © 2015 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Previous studies have shown a modest impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on primary renal tumors. Those studies were mostly retrospective or heterogeneous in their eligibility criteria with regard to histology, disease stage, duration of therapy, and time off therapy prior to surgery., Objective: To prospectively investigate the safety and efficacy of axitinib in downsizing tumors in patients with nonmetastatic biopsy-proven clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a single-institution, single-arm phase 2 clinical trial. Patients with locally advanced nonmetastatic biopsy-proven ccRCC were eligible., Intervention: Patients received axitinib 5mg for up to 12 wk. Axitinib was continued until 36h prior to surgery. Patients underwent partial or radical nephrectomy after axitinib therapy., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: The primary outcome was objective response rate prior to surgery. Secondary outcomes included safety, tolerability, and quality of life. A dedicated radiologist independently reviewed all computed tomography scans to evaluate for response using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST)., Results and Limitations: A total of 24 patients were treated. Twenty-two patients continued axitinib for 12 wk; 1 patient continued axitinib for 11 wk and underwent surgery as planned. One patient stopped treatment at 7 wk due to adverse events (AEs). Median reduction of primary renal tumor diameter was 28.3%. Eleven patients experienced a partial response per RECIST; 13 had stable disease. There was no progression of disease while on axitinib. The most common AEs were hypertension, fatigue, oral mucositis, hypothyroidism, and hand-foot syndrome. Postoperatively, 2 grade 3 and 13 grade 2 complications were noted. No grade 4 or 5 complications occurred. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Kidney Specific Index-15 changed over time, with quality of life worsening while on therapy, but by week 19, it was not statistically different from screening. Limitations include single-arm design and small patient numbers., Conclusions: Axitinib was clinically active and reasonably well tolerated in the neoadjuvant setting in patients with locally advanced nonmetastatic ccRCC., Patient Summary: In this prospective clinical trial, we found that axitinib, when given prior to surgery, results in significant shrinking of kidney cancers. Larger studies are needed prior to further clinical use., Trial Registration: This clinical trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01263769)., (Copyright © 2014 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)