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PURPOSE: [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is potentially useful in predicting pathological complete response (pCR), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of breast cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 77 breast cancer patients (mean age ± SD: 52.6 ± 11.2 years) with clinical Stage I III between January 2006 and December 2011, were prospectively evaluated (median follow up period:26.5 months). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of an anthracycline-based regimen and taxane was performed, and patients underwent a whole-body FDG PET/CT before and after chemotherapy. The maximal value of the baseline standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were assessed for predicting pCR, DFS and OS. For the evaluation of relationship between SUVmax values and prognosticators such as hormone receptors, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), nuclear grade, lymph node metastasis and tumor size, statistical analyses were performed using Student t test and log-rank test, and p values of less than 0.05 were considered to indicate statistically significant differences. RESULTS: Clinical Stage included were I (n = 2, 2.6%), II (n = 62, 80.5%) and III (n = 12, 15.6%). Tumors with estrogen receptor positive were 52 (67.5%) and negative were 24 (31.2%). Therapeutic response by neoadjuvant chemotherapy was obtained in 15 patients (19.5%) with pCR and 60 (77.9%) without pCR. Patients were divided into two groups according to cut-off SUVmax established on the basis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis (<6.0 vs. ≥6.0, AUC=0.721). When related to the biologic parameters, estrogen receptor (OR:3.75, 95%Cl:1.36-10.35, p = 0.02), but not progesterone receptor (OR:2.31, 95%Cl:0.89-6.00, p = 0.08) nor HER2 status (OR:1.51, 95%Cl:0.47-4.85, p = 0.70) were found strong relation to SUVmax values. There was a significant difference in OS between two groups (p = 0.05), but, pCR (OR:1.07, 95%Cl:0.34-3.40, p = 0.86) and DFS (p = 0.07) did not show strong relationship with SUVmax values. CONCLUSION: SUVmax on FDG PET/CT before neoadjuvant chemotherapy have a predictive value for high-grade malignancy and prognosis in clinical Stage I III breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The oncological efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) has been evaluated by several randomized trials. However, the inclusion of earlier-stage disease was a limitation in previous studies., Methods: Patients with cT3-4 gastric cancer, determined by surgical staging to minimize migration of earlier stages, treated at a tertiary cancer center from 2009 to 2018 were included. Based on the surgical approach, the patients were divided into two groups: the laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) and the open gastrectomy (OG) and matched for age, sex, macroscopic appearance (type 4 or non-type 4), body mass index, estimated tumor size, clinical stage T3'T4, clinical N stage, pathologic T stage (T3 or T4), and type of surgery (total or distal gastrectomy)., Results: 588 patients (221 LG, 367 OG) were included in the analysis. After 1:1 propensity-score matching, 386 patients (193 LG, 193 OG) were assigned for analysis. In the LG group, operation time was longer with lower blood loss. The incidence of postoperative complications (≥ grade III) did not differ significantly between the groups (OG: 8.3%, vs. LG: 9.3%). Overall survival (OS) was longer in the LG group (5-year OS: 79.3 vs. 73% HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.44-0.99, P = 0.0497). Relapse-free survival (RFS) did not show a statistical difference (5-year RFS: 69.5 vs. 68.7 HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.62-1.26, P = 0.487). Subgroup analysis for OS also demonstrated equivalent outcomes., Conclusion: LG demonstrates comparable safety and efficacy to OG for advanced gastric cancer at surgical staging, with similar rates of severe complications and long-term oncological outcomes. Further research is needed to validate these findings, particularly for total gastrectomy and for patients from Western populations., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Transcervical mediastinoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal and esophagogastric junction cancer is indicated in select institutions because of the complex surgical technique required and the unfamiliar surgical view compared with the standard transthoracic esophagectomy approach. This study was performed to compare the feasibility and efficacy of bilateral transcervical mediastinoscopic-assisted transhiatal laparoscopic esophagectomy (BTC-MATLE) with thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy (TLE) for esophageal cancer., Methods: This study involved 392 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer who underwent curative minimally invasive esophagectomy with R0 resection (excluding salvage, conversion, and two-stage operations and open thoracotomy) at the National Cancer Center Hospital from 2017 to 2022. The patients underwent either BTC-MATLE or TE (32 and 360 consecutive patients, respectively). Propensity score-matching analysis was used to balance the baseline differences by covariates of age, performance status, and clinical stage., Results: There were statistically significant differences in age, performance status, cT factor, cN factor, cStage, preoperative treatment, and surgical history for respiratory disease. After propensity score-matching, these significant differences (excluding a surgical history of respiratory disease) were no longer statistically significant, and 27 patients were assigned to each group. The total operation time and the postoperative intensive care unit stay were significantly shorter in the BTC-MATLE than TLE group. There were no significant differences in overall postoperative complications or the three major postoperative complications of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, anastomotic leakage, and pneumonia, even for patients whose preoperative pulmonary function indices (vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s) were significantly lower in the BTC-MATLE than TLE group. The numbers of total and thoracic harvested lymph nodes were significantly higher in the TLE than BTC-MATLE group; however, there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups., Conclusion: BTC-MATLE may provide the same feasibility and oncological outcomes as TLE even for patients with significantly lower pulmonary function., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Laparoscopic surgery for early gastric cancer is regarded as a standard of care because of robust evidences obtained by several phase-III trials. Furthermore, the efficacy of laparoscopic radical surgery for advanced gastric cancer has been also reported. Meanwhile, the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for Bormann type 4 gastric cancer, special type with unfavorable prognosis, remains unclear since excluded from eligibility of these trials., Methods: This study included 100 patients with type 4 gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic/robot-assisted (minimally invasive surgery (MIS) group; n = 32) or open (Open group; n = 68) curative surgery between 2008 and 2021. After propensity score matching, 30 patients in each group were extracted for analysis. Clinical data, including surgical and midterm survival outcomes, were retrospectively compared between the two groups., Results: Incidences of postoperative complication (≥ Clavien-Dindo grade III) were recorded in 23.3% in the MIS group and 13.3% in the Open group, but no statistical significance was demonstrated (P = 0.50). The 3-year overall survival rate in the MIS group was better than that in the Open group (80.2% vs. 53.5%, log-rank, P = 0.03). The trend of recurrence site was similar. Multivariate analysis showed that adjuvant chemotherapy was an independent favorable prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.11-0.93) for overall survival. MIS was indicated as a favorable prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.39-1.07), but without statistical difference., Conclusion: While multidisciplinary treatment is mainstay of treatment because of the poor prognosis of this disease, minimally invasive surgery may play an important role in treatment if appropriate patient selection is done. Further analyses with larger sample size are necessary to reach a final conclusion regarding oncological efficacy., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Complete mesogastric excision (CME) has been advocated to allow for a more extensive retrieval of lymph nodes, as well as lowering loco-regional recurrence rates. This study aims to analyze the short-term outcomes of D2 radical gastrectomy with CME compared to standard D2 gastrectomy. A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the Cochrane recommendations until 2 July 2023 (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023443361). The primary outcome, expressed as mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), was the number of harvested lymph nodes (LNs). Meta-analyses of means and binary outcomes were developed using random effects models to assess heterogeneity. The risk of bias in included studies was assessed with the RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. There were 13 studies involving 2009 patients that were included, revealing a significantly higher mean number of harvested LNs in the CME group (MD: 2.55; 95% CI: 0.25-4.86; 95%; p = 0.033). The CME group also experienced significantly lower intraoperative blood loss, a lower length of stay, and a shorter operative time. Three studies showed a serious risk of bias, and between-study heterogeneity was mostly moderate or high. Radical gastrectomy with CME may offer a safe and more radical lymphadenectomy, but long-term outcomes and the applicability of this technique in the West are still to be proven.

Purpose: A high body mass index (BMI) generally increases the risk of postoperative complications because of the intraperitoneal adipose tissue. Robotic gastrectomy (RG) decreases the surgical difficulty of conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for these patients. We conducted the present study to identify the advantages of RG over LG for overweight patients., Methods: We reviewed clinical data on patients who underwent either LG or RG at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between January, 2014 and May, 2022., Results: The 1298 patients eligible patients were divided into a non-overweight cohort (n = 996) (LG, n = 818; RG, n = 178) and an overweight cohort (n = 302) (LG, n = 250; RG, n = 52) according to a BMI cut-off of 25 kg/m 2 . In the overweight cohort, the RG group had a lower incidence of grade ≥ III postoperative complications (0.0 vs. 8.8%, p = 0.01) and grade ≥ II postoperative complications (11.5 vs. 22.0%, p = 0.12) than the LG group. Multivariate analysis identified that RG was significantly associated with a lower incidence of grade ≥ II postoperative complications in the overweight cohort (odds ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.87; p = 0.02)., Conclusions: RG may reduce the risk of postoperative complications, compared with conventional LG, in overweight patients., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.)

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of mismatch repair (MMR) status, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status in stage II/III gastric cancer after surgery., Methods: This study included 679 patients diagnosed with pathological stage II/III gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) or observation between 2007 and 2015. Clinical outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and compared with stratification by AC and other clinicopathological factors., Results: Patients were divided into AC (n = 484) or surgery alone (SA; n = 195) groups and were further stratified by MMR and EBV status: MMR-deficient (DMMR) and MMR-proficient (PMMR) groups. Comparing the AC-DMMR group versus the AC-PMMR group, 5-year overall survival was 92.0% versus 74.0% (log-rank p < 0.01), and comparing the SA-DMMR group versus the SA-PMMR group, 5-year overall survival was 71.1% versus 73.7% (log-rank p = 0.89). DMMR (hazard ratio 0.25, 95% confidence interval 0.07-0.81) was identified as an independent prognostic factor in the AC group but not in the SA group. In the subgroup analysis, PD-L1-negative patients among the EBV-positive patients or in the DMMR group had a poor prognosis in both the AC and SA groups. The prognosis of the PMMR and EBV-negative patients was similar regardless of PD-L1 expression., Conclusions: DMMR was associated with a favorable prognosis in stage II/III gastric cancer after surgery and adjuvant therapy. PD-L1 expression may affect the prognosis of DMMR and EBV-positive gastric cancer., (© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Background: Postoperative intra-abdominal infection is known to adversely affect survival outcomes in patients with gastric cancer; however, previous reports have investigated this complication only in open surgery. This adverse effect is expected to be weakened by less invasive surgery, such as a laparoscopic approach, by way of maintaining immune function., Methods: This study included 1223 patients with gastric cancer who underwent open (n = 439) or laparoscopic (n = 784) curative surgery between 2010 and 2015. For each approach, patients were divided into two groups based on presence or absence of postoperative intra-abdominal infection of Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher (C-group and NC-group, respectively). Survival outcomes were compared in propensity-matched cohorts to evaluate the impact of the complication., Results: The incidences of Clavien-Dindo ≥ grade II postoperative intra-abdominal infectious complications were 9.7% (43/439) in open surgery and 9.8% (70/714) in laparoscopic surgery. After propensity score matching, 86 patients in open surgery and 138 in laparoscopic surgery were extracted for analysis. The 5-year overall survival rate in the open C-group (n = 43) was worse than that in the open NC-group (n = 43) but with no significant difference (70.9% vs. 82.8%, log-rank P = 0.18). The 5-year overall survival rates were equivalent between the laparoscopic C-group (n = 69) and the laparoscopic NC-group (n = 69) (90.5% vs. 90.4%, log-rank P = 0.99)., Conclusion: In general, postoperative intra-abdominal infection adversely affects survival outcomes; however, its impact may be weakened by less invasive surgery. Further evaluation using larger datasets is necessary before reaching definitive conclusions., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Influenza spreads from schools to the rest of society. Thus, we conducted questionnaire surveys of influenza vaccination in elementary and middle schools in a district for 10 years to determine immunization rates and infection conditions among students who were potential sources of infection at home., Methods: The questionnaire-based survey on influenza vaccine administration, influenza infection, and influenza types contracted, as well as influenza immunization history, was conducted in 10 seasons over a period of 10 years., Results: In elementary schools, vaccination was associated with lower morbidity in most years, whereas in middle schools, morbidity increased among students who were vaccinated every year. Our study did not find consistent trends among faculty and staff. In addition, we found that morbidity was significantly higher among elementary (P < 0.001) and middle (P < 0.05) school students who had been vaccinated since infancy than among those who had not been vaccinated since infancy., Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that vaccinating infants for influenza may increase the risk of contracting influenza later in life., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background/aim: Gastric cancer with gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is generally found at an advanced stage and with an unfavorable prognosis. This study was performed to examine the prevalence of radiologically occult peritoneal carcinomatosis in GOO and determine the optimal treatment strategy., Patients and Methods: This single-center study was a retrospective review of the clinical data of 186 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer at the distal stomach who underwent surgery from 2008 to 2016. These patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of GOO due to cancer progression: With GOO (n=71) and without GOO (n=115)., Results: The incidence of peritoneal carcinomatosis [with macroscopic peritoneal deposits (P1)/positive peritoneal cytology (CY1)] detected at laparotomy/laparoscopy was significantly higher in the group with GOO than in the group without (32.4% vs. 9.6%, p<0.01). The R0 resection rate was lower in the group with GOO (62.0% vs. 87.0%, p<0.01). The 5-year overall survival rate was also lower in the group with GOO (43.9% vs. 68.5%, p<0.01). However, in the subset of patients who underwent R0 surgery, the 5-year rates were similar for the two groups (67.4% vs. 73.1%, p=0.91). The multivariable analysis showed that a type 3 tumor appearance (odds ratio=3.66) and presence of GOO (odds ratio=2.87) were predictors of peritoneal carcinomatosis., Conclusion: The prevalence of radiologically occult peritoneal carcinomatosis in gastric cancer with GOO exceeded 30%. Staging laparoscopy (gastrojejunal bypass, if needed) should be performed to determine the optimal treatment plan., (Copyright © 2022 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Aim: To compare the survival outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) with those of open total gastrectomy (OTG) in gastric cancer., Methods: Using an in-house database, this single-center study reviewed clinical data for patients who underwent surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma in 2008-2018. The patients were divided into an LTG group and an OTG group., Results: Data for 638 patients were screened. After exclusions, 580 patients (LTG, n = 212; OTG, n = 368) were enrolled. Noting that the OTG group included more advanced tumors, 1:1 propensity score matching was implemented to reduce any selection bias, leaving 326 patients (LTG, n = 163; OTG, n = 163; pStage I/II/III = 147/87/92) for further analysis. The operation time was longer and blood loss was less in the LTG group. The postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the LTG group than in the OTG group (9 d vs 10 d； P  = .040). There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade III or worse postoperative complications (8.9% vs 11.0%). Five-year overall survival was better in the LTG group (84.9% vs 73.5%; P  = .0010, log-rank test), but there was no significant difference in overall survival according to pStage (I, 93.0% vs 89.0%; II, 85.8% vs 77.5%; III, 64.1% vs 52.5%). There was a similar trend in relapse-free survival. Distribution of recurrence sites was comparable., Conclusion: LTG may provide survival outcomes similar to those of OTG when performed by an experienced surgical team. Further evidence is required for final conclusions, especially regarding its efficacy for stage II/III., (© 2022 The Authors. Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

Background: Robotic gastrectomy (RG) is being increasingly performed globally; it is considered an evolved type of conventional laparoscopic surgery with excellent dexterity and precision, but higher costs and longer operation time. Thus, there is a need to identify the benefits from RG and its specific candidates., Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from a prospectively collected clinical database at our center. Data of patients with primary gastric cancer undergoing either robotic or laparoscopic radical gastrectomy from June 2014 to June 2020 were reviewed. Surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups, and multivariable analyses were performed to elucidate the relevant factors for postoperative complications in several subgroups., Results: A total of 1172 patients were divided into those who underwent RG (n = 152) and those who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) (n = 1020). Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups, except the RG group included more patients undergoing total/proximal gastrectomy (TG/PG) and patients at clinical stage III. Compared with the LG group, the RG group had lower incidences of postoperative complications ≥ Clavien-Dindo grade III (2/152 (1.3%) versus 72/1020 (7.1%); P = 0.004), and intraabdominal complications ≥ grade II (6/152 (3.9%) versus 119/1020 (11.7%); P = 0.004). Multivariable analysis revealed that RG was a significant relevant factor for reducing overall postoperative complications (≥ grade III) (odds ratio (OR) 0.16, P = 0.013), and intraabdominal complications (≥ grade II) (OR 0.29, P = 0.002). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that this tendency was enhanced in patients undergoing TG/PG (OR 0.29, P = 0.021) or at clinical stage II/III (OR 0.10, P = 0.027)., Conclusions: RG reduces the incidence of postoperative complications compared with conventional LG and this tendency may be enhanced in technically complicated procedures with demanding anastomosis or D2 lymphadenectomy. Patients requiring such procedures would most benefit from RG., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Aim: A hiatal hernia (HH) complicates the diagnosis and surgical treatment of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. This study aimed to investigate the effect of HH on the survival outcomes of GEJ cancer patients., Methods: This single-center study reviewed clinical data of 78 patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma who underwent R0 resection from 2008 to 2017. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they presented with or without HH: the HH (+) group (n = 46) and the HH (-) group (n = 32)., Results: Patients in the HH (+) group were older than those in the HH (-) group (69.0 vs 67.5 years, P  = .018). Regarding surgical outcomes, intra-abdominal infectious complications was more common in the HH (+) group than in the HH (-) group (23.9% vs 9.4%, respectively; P  = .089), particularly abscess formation (17.4% vs 3.1%, respectively; P  = .036). Neither overall survival (OS) nor relapse-free survival (RFS) differed between the two groups. However, survival rates were significantly worse in a subset of patients with T3-4 disease (OS: log-rank, P  = .036) (RFS: log-rank, P  = .040) in the HH (+) group. In a multivariate analysis for OS in this cohort, HH was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 3.60; 95% confidence interval 1.06-11.9, P  = .032)., Conclusion: Hiatal hernia may adversely affect surgical and survival outcomes in patients with GEJ cancer. Thus, surgical strategy must be carefully considered in these patients., (© 2021 The Authors. Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

Background: Delta-shaped anastomosis (DA) has been widely accepted as a standard procedure for intracorporeal Billroth-I reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. We introduced DA in 2010 at our hospital and later developed a modified DA method in which a stapled corner of the duodenal stump was removed simultaneously with closure of an entry hole to reduce postoperative complications., Methods: The clinical data of 507 patients undergoing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with DA from October 2010 through December 2018 were retrospectively collected from our in-house database. On the basis of the reviewed data, patients were divided into two groups: the original DA group (org-DA, n = 392) and the modified DA group (mod-DA, n = 115). Surgical outcomes, postoperative nutritional parameters, and endoscopic findings 1 year after surgery were compared between the two groups., Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. Anastomotic stricture occurred in three patients (0.8%) in the org-DA group and one patient (0.9%) in the mod-DA group (P = 0.911). Anastomotic leakage was recorded in five patients (1.3%) in the org-DA group and none of the patients (0%) in the mod-DA group (P = 0.593). One year after surgery, the change in body weight in the org-DA group/mod-DA group was - 8.1%/- 7.0% (P = 0.285), and the change in hemoglobin level was - 5.0%/- 3.9% (P = 0.012). Endoscopic examination at the 1-year follow-up in the mod-DA group showed smaller amounts of food residue (P = 0.008) as well as less residual gastritis (P < 0.001) than in the org-DA group., Conclusions: The modified DA method can be performed safely with a complication rate comparable with the original DA method. Furthermore, better postoperative function is expected because of its more natural anatomy and physiology resulting from the modified method.

Introduction: Total gastrectomy with splenectomy (TGS) is sometimes performed for treatment of locally advanced gastric cancer invading the greater curvature because metastasis to splenic hilar nodes is expected. Despite the widespread use of laparoscopic procedures, the feasibility of laparoscopic TGS (LTGS) has been scarcely reported because of its technical difficulties., Methods: This retrospective single-institutional study included 93 consecutive patients with proximal advanced gastric cancer who underwent either LTGS or open TGS (OTGS) from 2010 to 2018. The patients who underwent LTGS (n = 12) were compared with a 1:2 ratio propensity score-matched cohort of patients who underwent OTGS (n = 20). Clinical outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the two groups., Results: The patients' baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. The operating time was longer (332.5 vs 222.5 minutes, P < .01) but the blood loss volume was smaller (34.5 vs 426 mL, P < .01) in the LTGS than OTGS group. The incidence of postoperative morbidity (≥ Clavien-Dindo grade III) was much lower (0.0% vs 36.8%, P = .02) and the median postoperative hospital stay was shorter (9 vs 11 days, P < .01) in the LTGS than OTGS group. The median number of harvested No. 10 or 11 days lymph nodes was equivalent between the two groups., Conclusions: Although TGS is not a common procedure, LTGS may be safely performed in selected patients when carried out by an experienced surgical team. The oncological safety remains unclear and needs to be further examined in future trials., (© 2020 Asia Endosurgery Task Force and Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background and Objectives: Proximal advanced gastric cancer that invades the greater curvature is often treated by prophylactic splenectomy because of a risk for metastasis to the splenic hilar lymph node (station No.10). We evaluated whether laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar dissection (SPSHD) could be a better approach., Methods: We reviewed records of patients with proximal gastric cancer who underwent total gastrectomy with No.10 dissection between 2012 and 2018 using our in-house database set. We divided patients by whether they had received SPSHD or splenectomy, first to compare surgical outcomes, and subsequently to analyze survival outcomes among patients with tumors invading the greater curvature., Results: Of 145 patients enrolled in this study, 82 had SPSHDs and 63 had splenectomies. All SPSHDs were laparoscopic; 80% of splenectomies were laparotomic. Morbidity ≥ grade III was seen in 8.5% of the SPSHD group and 11.1% of the splenectomy group. The median number of retrieved No. 10 nodes was three in each group. In multivariable analysis, SPSHD was not an independent prognostic factor among patients whose tumors invaded the greater curvature (n = 73). Among propensity-matched cohorts (n = 25 each), 5-year relapse-free survival rates were 77.6% in the SPSHD group and 49.9% in the splenectomy group., Conclusion: Laparoscopic SPSHD can potentially replace prophylactic splenectomy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: As the frequency of cancer in the proximal stomach or around the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) increases worldwide, the use of laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG) has expanded. This study evaluated the safety of LPG with double-tract reconstruction (LPG-DT) and the resulting quality of life (QOL) of patients., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the data of patients who underwent LPG-DT via linear-stapled esophagojejunostomy for gastric or EGJ cancer between 2013 and 2019, and outcomes were compared with those of laparoscopic total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (LTG-RY) peMME000372rformed over the same period. Surgical outcomes, changes of nutritional parameters, and chronological QOL as evaluated using the Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale (PGSAS-37) questionnaire were compared in the propensity-matched cohorts., Results: In total, 289 patients (99 LPG-DT and 190 LTG-RY) were eligible and the outcomes were evaluated in the propensity-matched cohorts (n = 75 each). Operative time and the incidence of complications (≥ grade III) were comparable. Reflux esophagitis was more frequent in the LPG-DT group (8.0% vs. 0%), whereas the incidence of anastomotic stricture did not differ. The percentage rates of body weight loss and hemoglobin reduction were lower in the LPG-DT group at any time point within postoperative 2 years but show no statistical differences. In PGSAS-37 (n = 26, n = 23), the diarrhea and quality of ingestion scores were slightly better in the LPG-DT group., Conclusions: The present study suggested that our LPG-DT is feasible and safe in appropriately selected patients, and it may provide slightly better outcomes in nutrition and QOL compared with LTG-RY.

Background: Breast cancer can be assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). We prospectively analyzed the maximum baseline standardized uptake value (SUVmax) derived from FDG PET/CT to predict the outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer., Patients and Methods: We assessed 130 consecutive female patients with primary breast cancer (mean age, 53.9 years) using PET/CT before and after NAC. The SUVmax before (pre-SUVmax) and after (post-SUVmax) NAC and the SUVmax reduction rates (ΔSUVmax) after NAC with sequential anthracyclines and a taxane were assessed to predict the pathologic complete response (pCR) and prognosis., Results: Of the 130 patients, 30 (23.1%) achieved a pCR. The pCR rate of the patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2 + ) and triple-negative (TN) breast cancer was 52.8% and 40.0%, respectively. In contrast, only 1.4% of those with estrogen receptor-positive and HER2 - cancer achieved a pCR. The post-SUVmax correlated closely with the pCR (area under the curve, 0.700) but not with the pre-SUVmax and ΔSUVmax (area under the curve, 0.414 and 0.589, respectively) in patients with HER2 + and TN breast cancer. The post-SUVmax was associated with the pCR (P = .019), and multivariate analysis selected post-SUVmax as a significant prognostic factor (P = .014). The post-SUVmax correlated significantly with recurrence-free survival and recurrence (P = .026, log-rank test)., Conclusion: The SUVmax determined after NAC using FDG PET/CT can predict for the pCR and the prognosis of patients with operable HER2 + and TN breast cancer. In the future, additional chemotherapy will be applied according to the post-SUVmax after standard NAC to achieve a pCR or omit surgery., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the significance of lung biopsy for the modification of the treatment strategy in breast cancer patients who develop lung nodules during follow-up after breast surgery. Of 53 consecutive patients who underwent lung biopsies in two institutions (Hiroshima University Hospital and Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan) between 1997 and 2014, 45 underwent lung surgery and 8 underwent percutaneous or transbronchial tumor biopsy for lung nodules developing after curative surgery for breast cancer. The indications for lung biopsy included lung nodules for which a definitive diagnosis was difficult to achieve, and those for which the treatment strategy depended on the pathological diagnosis. The lung nodules were pathologically diagnosed as primary breast cancer metastases to the lungs in 25 (47%), primary malignant lung tumors in 21 (40%) and benign disease in 7 (13%) patients. Among the 25 metastatic patients confirmed by lung biopsy, phenotype discordance was observed in 6 patients (24%). A total of 3 patients with lung metastasis proven to have estrogen or progesterone receptor upregulation by lung biopsy received endocrine therapy. Univariate analysis revealed that patients with metastatic breast cancer confirmed by lung biopsy were significantly younger and had more locally advanced primary cancers diagnosed via clinical and pathological assessment compared with patients with other diseases. Therefore, mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection were performed more frequently in the metastasis group compared with the others group. Multivariate analysis revealed that mastectomy (P<0.001) and axillary dissection (P<0.001) were independent factors predicting that the lung nodules would be metastases from breast cancer. Lung biopsy in breast cancer patients who developed lung nodules during the follow-up period after breast cancer surgery was crucial for making a definitive diagnosis and modifying the treatment strategy, which may improve the prognosis of breast cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of the Ki67 labeling index and p53 status as prognostic and predictive indicators of operable estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer. Among 697 consecutive patients with primary breast cancer who underwent curative surgery between 2002 and 2013, 308 patients with ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer were assessed. The results of the multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that a high Ki67 labeling index was significantly associated with a short recurrence-free interval (RFI) (p=0.004) and was marginally associated with a worse overall survival (p=0.074). A positive p53 status was not associated with worse outcomes. To validate the cut-off values of the Ki67 labeling index for identifying patients who may benefit from additional chemotherapy, prognostic factors were investigated in breast cancer patients treated postoperatively with endocrine therapy alone. Analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated that a Ki67 labeling index cut-off of 20.0% was optimal for predicting recurrence among patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. The 5-year RFIs for patients with Ki67 <20 and ≥20% were 97.2 and 86.6%, respectively (p=0.0244). A high Ki67 labeling index (≥20%) was significantly associated with large tumors (p<0.01), lymph node metastasis (p=0.0236) and positive p53 status (p<0.001). The univariate analysis demonstrated that Ki67 labeling index ≥20%, lymph node metastasis and progesterone receptor negativity were significant worse prognostic factors for RFI (p=0.0333, 0.0116 and 0.0573, respectively). The Ki67 labeling index was found to be a useful prognostic factor in patients with ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer and the cut-off values of the Ki67 labeling index for making a decision regarding adjuvant treatment were validated.

Aromatase inhibitors have played a central role in endocrine therapy for the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal patients. However, prognostic factors for recurrence following such treatment have not been identified. The current study aimed to validate the prognostic value of endocrine-related progesterone receptor (PgR) status combined with body mass index (BMI). Among 659 consecutive patients with primary breast cancer who underwent curative surgery between 2002 and 2012, 184 postmenopausal patients with ER-positive (ER+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer who were treated with adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy were assessed. The patients were assigned to groups based on BMI, according to the WHO cut-off value: ≥25 kg/m 2 (high, H) or <25 kg/m 2 (low, L). Positive nodal status, negative PgR status, BMI-H and a high Ki-67 labeling index (≥20%) were found to be significantly associated with a short recurrence-free interval (RFI) upon univariate analysis (P=0.048, 0.007, 0.027, and 0.012, respectively). The patients were further grouped based on their combined PgR/BMI status. The RFI was significantly shorter in the PgR- and/or BMI-H group compared with that of the PgR+/BMI-L group (P=0.012). Multivariate analysis revealed PgR- tumors and/or BMI-H and positive nodal status to be independent prognostic factors (P=0.012 and 0.020, respectively). The present findings indicate that PgR/BMI status may serve as a practical tool in the management of ER+ and HER2- breast cancer in patients treated with adjuvant aromatase inhibitors.

Duplication of the alimentary tract is a rare congenital malformation that occurs most often in the abdominal region, whereas esophageal duplication cyst develops typically in the thoracic region but occasionally in the neck and abdominal regions. Esophageal duplication cyst is usually diagnosed in early childhood because of symptoms related to bleeding, infection, and displacement of tissue surrounding the lesion. We recently encountered a rare adult case of esophageal duplication cyst in the abdominal esophagus. A 50-year-old man underwent gastroscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging to investigate epigastric pain and dysphagia that started 3 months earlier. Imaging findings suggested esophageal duplication cyst, and the patient underwent laparoscopic resection followed by intraoperative esophagoscopy to reconstruct the esophagus safely and effectively. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed two layers of smooth muscle in the cystic wall, confirming the diagnosis of esophageal duplication cyst.

The patient was a 62-year-old woman who had undergone modified radical mastectomy for right breast cancer 19 years before. She was examined at our hospital for cough and hoarseness. After PET-CT and bronchoscopy, she was diagnosed with stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. Radiation therapy and cisplatin plus pemetrexed therapy were effective, and she made a recovery from a life-threatening conditon. During observation, a skin nodule was noticed on her right chest wall, and excisional biopsy revealed a skin metastasis from breast cancer. A transbronchial lung biopsy(TBLB)specimen was reexamined, and the lung lesion was shown to be metastasis from breast cancer. By changing to endocrine therapy, the disease has been effectively controlled.

A 52-year-old woman underwent the surgical treatment for osteosarcoma of the left mandible in 2003 and was followed up afterward. She suffered from dry cough and bloody sputum, and was admitted to our hospital in April 2007. Computed tomography (CT) revealed several nodules in bilateral lung, and bronchofiberscopy showed the endobronchial tumor obstructing in the right main bronchus. The metastatic tumor progressed in the right main bronchus from the right S6 lung segment. The tumor rapidly progressed in the right bronchus in comparison with the CT findings in about 2 weeks, and the possibility of the tracheal obstruction was considered. She underwent the right middle and lower lobectomy, and the endobronchial tumor was pulled through the right main bronchus. The postoperative course was uneventful, the patient was discharged on 14th postoperative day, and the chemotherapy using cisplatin (CDDP) and adriamycin (ADR) is on-going.

Adenocarcinoma of the thymus is a very rare malignant tumor. The standard treatment for advanced thymic carcinoma has not yet been established, and the prognosis is poor. We report a case of thymic carcinoma that involving the aortic arch and the innominate vein. A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of hoarseness in April 2007. The computed tomography (CT) scan showed an anterior mediastinal tumor contiguous to the aortic arch and the innominate vein with swelling lymphnodes. Microspcopic examinations of specimens obtained by CT-guided needle biopsy revealed poorly differenciated adenocarcinoma. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level of serum elevated at 54.9 ng/ml. Thymic carcinoma was diagnosed. The chemoradiotherapy [concurrent, carboplatin (CBDCA) + paclitaxel(TXL)-->vinorelbine (NVB), 60 Gy] was performed, but the effect of the therapy was limited. The resection of the tumor with a part of aortic arch and other peripheral tissues was performed in Augast 2007. The postoperative course was uneventful and the CEA level of serum lowered to the normal. She was discharged 30 days after surgery.

An abnormal shadow was detected on chest X-ray mass screening in an asymptomatic 63-year-old man. The further examinations revealed the shadow to be primary lung cancer (Rt. S6. adenocarcinoma, cT2N0M0, c-stage IB) with right aortic arch. We used 3 dimentional-computed tomography (3D-CT) to assess an anatomical feature of vessels in detail. The right lower lobectomy and the dissection of medi astinal lymph nodes was performed. We confirmed no abnormal anatomy of pulmonary artery and vein at surgery, and it was possible to perform right lower lobectomy with the common procedure. Since lymph node was found by intraopetrative pathological examination, since no metastasis from interlobar to subcarinal lymph node was found, we did not perform dissection of upper mediastinal dissection, which was equivalent to ND2a lymph nodes dissection of the left lung cancer in General Rule for Clinical and Pathological Record of Lung Cancer. The patient with right aortic arch is known to have variant anatomy of other intrathoracic vessels occasionally. 3D-CT was quite useful in assessing anatomical feature, and enabled us to perform safe operation.