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Abstract Introduction In patients with gastric cancer, 6–27% of patients are diagnosed with T4b disease that invades adjacent organs, and curative resection can improve the prognosis of these patients. Case presentation A 70-year-old Japanese man presented with an abdominal tumor and was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer (L-Circ type 3 T4b N2 M0 H0 stage IVA, based on the 15th edition of the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma) with extensive abdominal wall invasion. We performed open gastrojejunal bypass for gastric obstruction and initiated a chemotherapeutic regimen comprising S-1 (120 mg/day) and oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed after the administration of six courses of the S-1 and oxaliplatin regimen revealed a persistent primary lower gastric wall lesion; however, the diameter of the abdominal wall invasion and metastatic lymph nodes was significantly reduced, in addition to decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels. Subsequently, the patient underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy combined with transverse colon and abdominal wall resection. We performed radical en bloc resection and achieved a tumor-free resection margin. Simple abdominal wall closure was performed without mesh or musculocutaneous flap placement. Histopathological examination of the resected tumor specimen showed direct invasion of the mesocolon and rectus abdominis muscle. The patient was postoperatively diagnosed with L Gre-Ant type5 T4b (SI: rectus abdominis muscle) N2 PM0 DM0 Stage IIIA R0 Grade 2a gastric cancer based on histopathological findings and received S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy, 2 months postoperatively. No recurrence was detected 6 months postoperatively. Conclusions We report a case of advanced gastric cancer with extensive abdominal wall invasion that was successfully treated with gastrectomy combined with resection of adjacent organs showing tumor invasion after effective systemic chemotherapy. A therapeutic approach comprising curative surgery combined with perioperative chemotherapy is useful in patients with T4b gastric cancer.

Abstract Aim This study aimed to clarify the prognostic factors, the advantageous factors of R0 curative resection, and optimal extents of lymph node dissection for conversion esophagectomy after induction therapy. Methods Among 1903 patients with esophageal cancer at Toranomon Hospital between January 2006 to May 2020, 151 patients with locally advanced T4b thoracic esophageal cancer were divided into two groups according to treatment: conversion surgery group (n = 54) and non‐surgical treatment group (n = 97) for comparison. Results The patients who underwent R0 curative resection showed preferable survival comparable to the survival rate of patients with cCR in the non‐surgical treatment group (1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year survival: 96.9%, 82.1% and 76.7% vs 94.1%, 86.3%, and 86.3%; P = 0.770). Multivariate analysis revealed that the T4b tumor invasion by primary site (odds ratio (OR) = 6.100; 95% CI, 1.439‐25.865: P = 0.014) and time to conversion surgery from start of induction therapy within four months (OR = 5.229; 95% CI, 1.296‐21.102: P = 0.020) were all independent advantageous factors of R0 curative resection. Actuarial 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates in patients who underwent conversion surgery with D2‐3 lymphadenectomy were 90.9%, 48.6%, and 40.8%, respectively. Conclusions R0 resection led to improved prognosis in conversion esophagectomy for cT4b esophageal cancer. The T4b tumor invasion by primary site and time to conversion surgery from start of induction therapy within 4 months were independent advantageous factors of R0 curative resection. In addition, standard radical esophagectomy including prophylactic D2‐/3‐ lymphadenectomy should be performed if it is possible, while taking adequate care regarding the increased risk after induction therapy.

T4b carcinomas are termed as very locally advanced carcinomas of the oral cavity and are deemed borderline resectable or unresectable. The role of surgery for these patients is not well defined. We therefore aimed to relook at the role of surgery for cT4b carcinoma of the oral cavity. We evaluated 596 patients with cT4 oral cancers. A total of 218 patients were staged as cT4b based on clinicoradiological findings. These patients underwent bite composite resection either before or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Additional compartmental infratemporal fossa (ITF) clearance was done in patients with involvement of more than two of following structures: medial and lateral pterygoid muscles, pterygoid plates, temporalis at the tip of the coronoid process, high masseter, retroantral fat pad. Oncological outcomes and prognostic factors were estimated. Patients were treated between August 2013 and May 2021. Compartmental ITF clearance was done in 93 patients; the rest had standard surgical clearance. A total of 112 patients had node-positive disease. The median (range) age of the group was 50 (24-84) years. On a median follow up of 54 months (IQR: 1-111 months), 136 (62.4%) were alive and 82 (37.6%) had died. Five-year locoregional control, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 54%, 52%, and 59%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the presence of nodal disease, perineural invasion, and bone involvement were statistically significant factors affecting overall survival. Surgery for cT4b oral cancer is therefore feasible and associated with acceptable oncological outcomes., (Copyright © 2024 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Breast cancer patients with skin ulcerations, satellite nodules or Peau d'orange at presentation are classified with stage 4 breast cancer (T4b). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), followed by mastectomy, is the commonly accepted treatment in such patients for fear of adverse outcomes with breast conservation surgery (BCS) and uncertainty over sparing initially involved skin irrespective of the response to chemotherapy. Identifying patients with skin resolution post-NACT can help surgeons in decision-making. Aim: To assess skin response in T4b breast cancer patients post-NACT and find the correlation between various clinical and pathological factors associated with no skin involvement on final histology. Methodology: Records of breast cancer patients managed at the Tata Medical Center, Kolkata, with NACT for T4b breast carcinoma patients who underwent mastectomy were reviewed between January 2014 and December 2018. Final histology was checked for dermal involvement with the tumour. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables for descriptive data, and Pearson's chi-squared and Fischer's exact tests were applied for categorical data. p-value < 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: A total of 285 records mentioning skin involvement were reviewed, out of which 111 patients fulfilled the AJCC criterion. The median age at diagnosis of T4b breast cancer was 50 years. The median clinical size pre-chemotherapy was 7 cm. Residual median tumour size on final histology was reported as 1 cm. 78/111 patients showed a post-NACT response of 50% or more, and 43/111 showed a response of more than 90%. 57 (51.4%) patients showed skin involvement on final histopathology, while 54 (48.6%) patients did not. ER negative tumours were more likely to show no dermal involvement (p = 0.006). Residual tumour size of less than 1 cm on final histology (p < 0.05) and nodal stage were significant predictors of dermal response. Conclusion: Approximately half of the T4b breast cancer patients showed resolution of dermal skin involvement post-NACT. ER negative and those with residual tumour size less than 1 cm post-NACT are more likely to show dermal resolution. This can help surgeons plan a BCS or skin sparing mastectomy for such patients who usually end up having a mastectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the benefits and limitations of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in rectal cancer treatment, specifically in T4b rectal cancer. Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed 1014 consecutive patients with clinical T3/4a/T4b adenocarcinomas of the lower rectum, who underwent total mesorectal excision at the Department of Surgical Oncology of the University of Tokyo Hospital and 22 referral institutions affiliated with the Japanese Study Group for Postoperative Follow-up of Colorectal Cancer. Patients were divided into two cohorts: cohort 1 comprised 298 consecutive patients who underwent CRT followed by radical surgery and cohort 2 comprised 716 consecutive patients who underwent curative surgery without preoperative therapy. We assessed the prognostic differences between the two cohorts, focusing particularly on T stages. Results: In T3/4a patients, cohort 1 showed a significantly lower local recurrence rate than cohort 2 (4.8% vs. 9.4%, p=0.024), but not in T4b patients (23.5% vs. 16.0%, p=0.383). In contrast, no significant differences in survival were observed between T3/4a and T4b patients. T4b classification was found to be an independent predictive factor of local recurrence in cohort 1, but not in cohort 2. Conclusion: In T4b rectal cancer, preoperative CRT demonstrated a limited benefit for local control and survival. In cases of suspected T4b rectal tumors, additional therapies such as induction chemotherapy to conventional CRT may contribute to better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In patients with gastric cancer, 6-27% of patients are diagnosed with T4b disease that invades adjacent organs, and curative resection can improve the prognosis of these patients.Case Presentation: A 70-year-old Japanese man presented with an abdominal tumor and was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer (L-Circ type 3 T4b N2 M0 H0 stage IVA, based on the 15th edition of the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma) with extensive abdominal wall invasion. We performed open gastrojejunal bypass for gastric obstruction and initiated a chemotherapeutic regimen comprising S-1 (120 mg/day) and oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed after the administration of six courses of the S-1 and oxaliplatin regimen revealed a persistent primary lower gastric wall lesion; however, the diameter of the abdominal wall invasion and metastatic lymph nodes was significantly reduced, in addition to decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels. Subsequently, the patient underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy combined with transverse colon and abdominal wall resection. We performed radical en bloc resection and achieved a tumor-free resection margin. Simple abdominal wall closure was performed without mesh or musculocutaneous flap placement. Histopathological examination of the resected tumor specimen showed direct invasion of the mesocolon and rectus abdominis muscle. The patient was postoperatively diagnosed with L Gre-Ant type5 T4b (SI: rectus abdominis muscle) N2 PM0 DM0 Stage IIIA R0 Grade 2a gastric cancer based on histopathological findings and received S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy, 2 months postoperatively. No recurrence was detected 6 months postoperatively.Conclusions: We report a case of advanced gastric cancer with extensive abdominal wall invasion that was successfully treated with gastrectomy combined with resection of adjacent organs showing tumor invasion after effective systemic chemotherapy. A therapeutic approach comprising curative surgery combined with perioperative chemotherapy is useful in patients with T4b gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Satisfactory survival outcomes for T4b ESCC patients with the median OS and 3- year OS rates of 12.2 months and 29.9% was observed in a cohort including 136 patients who were treated with CRT. • One third (30.1%) of the patients developed esophageal fistula and those patients that developed fistula had a significantly shorter OS. • Tumor ulceration and bronchus/trachea invasion are the two independent risk factors for developing esophageal fistula after CRT in T4b ESCC. Despite definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) being a recommended therapeutic method for patients with T4b esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), treatment response and complications remain unclear. Esophageal fistula is a severe CRT-related complication when treating locally advanced ESCC, but data on risk factors that lead to esophageal fistula formation are limited. The aim of this analysis is to characterize the outcomes of T4b ESCC treated by CRT and investigate the risk factors of esophageal fistula. We retrospectively analyzed 136 patients with clinically unresectable T4b ESCC who were treated with CRT. Response, survival, and complication rates, particularly the rate of esophageal fistula and its associated risk factors were analyzed. The median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) of all patients were 7.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.1–9.7) and 12.2 months (95% [CI]: 8.9–15.4), respectively. The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that the 3- and 5-year OS rates were 29.9% and 20.2%, respectively. The incidence rate of esophageal fistulas was 30.1%. The median OS for patients with esophageal fistula was only 6.9 (95%[CI] = 6.0–7.8) months. The risk for developing esophageal fistulas was significantly high for ulcerative-type tumors (odds ratio [OR] = 3.202; 95%[CI] = 1.036–7.850, P = 0.011) and for those invading the bronchus/trachea (OR = 3.378; 95%[CI] = 1.223–9.332, P = 0.048). We demonstrated that CRT for T4b ESCC patients has a curative potential, despite a high incidence of esophageal fistula, which was the main cause of treatment failure. The higher risk for fistula formation were tumors with ulceration or bronchus/trachea invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to clarify the prognostic factors, the advantageous factors of R0 curative resection, and optimal extents of lymph node dissection for conversion esophagectomy after induction therapy. Methods: Among 1903 patients with esophageal cancer at Toranomon Hospital between January 2006 to May 2020, 151 patients with locally advanced T4b thoracic esophageal cancer were divided into two groups according to treatment: conversion surgery group (n = 54) and non‐surgical treatment group (n = 97) for comparison. Results: The patients who underwent R0 curative resection showed preferable survival comparable to the survival rate of patients with cCR in the non‐surgical treatment group (1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year survival: 96.9%, 82.1% and 76.7% vs 94.1%, 86.3%, and 86.3%; P = 0.770). Multivariate analysis revealed that the T4b tumor invasion by primary site (odds ratio (OR) = 6.100; 95% CI, 1.439‐25.865: P = 0.014) and time to conversion surgery from start of induction therapy within four months (OR = 5.229; 95% CI, 1.296‐21.102: P = 0.020) were all independent advantageous factors of R0 curative resection. Actuarial 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates in patients who underwent conversion surgery with D2‐3 lymphadenectomy were 90.9%, 48.6%, and 40.8%, respectively. Conclusions: R0 resection led to improved prognosis in conversion esophagectomy for cT4b esophageal cancer. The T4b tumor invasion by primary site and time to conversion surgery from start of induction therapy within 4 months were independent advantageous factors of R0 curative resection. In addition, standard radical esophagectomy including prophylactic D2‐/3‐ lymphadenectomy should be performed if it is possible, while taking adequate care regarding the increased risk after induction therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various treatment approaches in stage T4b esophageal cancer patients., Materials and Methods: Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results databases, covering patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer between 2000 and 2020. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) across different treatment patterns., Results: The study included 482 patients: 222 (46.1%) received chemoradiotherapy, 58 (12.0%) underwent radiotherapy alone, 37 (7.7%) received chemotherapy alone, 50 (10.4%) underwent surgery, and 115 (23.8%) received no treatment. Median CSS were 12, 4, 6, 18, and 1 month for chemoradiotherapy, radiotherapy alone, chemotherapy alone, surgery, and non-treatment groups. Median OS for these groups were 11, 3, 6, 17, and 1 month, respectively. Multivariable proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that patients who underwent surgery experienced significantly improved CSS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24-0.72; P = 0.002) and OS (HR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.28-0.74; P = 0.002) compared to those receiving chemoradiotherapy after propensity score matching., Conclusions: Esophagectomy, with or without radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, results in better survival outcomes than chemoradiotherapy in patients with stage T4b esophageal cancer.

Background: Only few surgeons have tried to perform laparoscopic combined resection for T4b gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of laparoscopic combined resection through a comparison of the clinical outcomes between cT4a and cT4b cases.Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy for clinically T4 gastric cancer from May 2014 and July 2018. During this period, 62 patients with serosa-positive gastric cancer underwent laparoscopic curative surgery. The patients were divided into the following groups: patients who underwent gastrectomy and combined resection for the invaded organs (combined resection group) and those who did not undergo combined organ surgery (gastrectomy only group). Clinical outcomes were compared between the gastrectomy only and combined resection groups.Results: Of 62 patients included in this study, 43 and 19 patients were included in the gastrectomy only and combined resection groups, respectively. The operation time was significantly longer in the combined resection group (364.6 ± 102.5 vs. 247.7 ± 66.1 min; p < 0.001). The incidence of grade ≥ III complications was comparable between the groups (26.3% vs. 11.6%; p = 0.147). The time from the first operation to the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy showed no statistically significant difference between the groups (48.1 ± 45.4 days vs. 31.6 ± 9.2; p = 0.134).Conclusions: Focusing on the high quality of image and new devices of laparoscopic surgery, it is necessary to re-evaluate the oncologic outcomes of combined resection for T4b gastric cancer.

Background: Locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) invading surrounding organs (T4b) is difficult to treat. In general, definitive chemoradiotherapy (d-CRT) has been chosen as treatment for such cases. However, the outcome has not been good. Recently, the effectiveness of d-CRT with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (DCF-RT) has been reported. Furthermore, surgery after d-CRT has a better prognosis than d-CRT alone in some reports, although it has a high risk of surgical complications. This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of induction DCF-RT. Methods: The subjects were EC patients who underwent induction DCF-RT in Okayama University Hospital between January 2011 and December 2017. Their background characteristics, treatment details, histopathological factors, adverse events during CRT, postoperative complications, and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Results: A total of 16 cases were performed induction DCF-RT. In 10 cases, death occurred, with 9 cancer-related deaths, and 1 death due to other disease. For all cases, OS was 37.5% at 3 years. 12 cases underwent esophagectomy after DCF-RT. Their OS was 50% at 3 years. 13 patients (81.3%) had Grade 3 febrile neutropenia. In 7 cases (62.5%), fasting for the treatment of diarrhea was needed. Three patients (25%) developed anastomotic leakage. Some recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis was observed in 6 cases (50%). Conclusion: Although the rates of adverse events and surgical complications were slightly higher than in past reports, they were acceptable. It is useful to perform induction DCF-RT for T4b EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Only few surgeons have tried to perform laparoscopic combined resection for T4b gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of laparoscopic combined resection through a comparison of the clinical outcomes between cT4a and cT4b cases. Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy for clinically T4 gastric cancer from May 2014 and July 2018. During this period, 62 patients with serosa-positive gastric cancer underwent laparoscopic curative surgery. The patients were divided into the following groups: patients who underwent gastrectomy and combined resection for the invaded organs (combined resection group) and those who did not undergo combined organ surgery (gastrectomy only group). Clinical outcomes were compared between the gastrectomy only and combined resection groups. Results: Of 62 patients included in this study, 43 and 19 patients were included in the gastrectomy only and combined resection groups, respectively. The operation time was significantly longer in the combined resection group (364.6 ± 102.5 vs. 247.7 ± 66.1 min; p < 0.001). The incidence of grade ≥ III complications was comparable between the groups (26.3% vs. 11.6%; p = 0.147). The time from the first operation to the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy showed no statistically significant difference between the groups (48.1 ± 45.4 days vs. 31.6 ± 9.2; p = 0.134). Conclusions: Focusing on the high quality of image and new devices of laparoscopic surgery, it is necessary to re-evaluate the oncologic outcomes of combined resection for T4b gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background This study aimed to compare laparoscopic multivisceral resection (LMVR) with conventional open multivisceral resection (OMVR) for primary T4b colorectal cancer (CRC) in short and long-time outcomes. Methods Patients receiving LMVR or OMVR for primary T4b CRC from January 2009 to June 2016 were enrolled. Patients' clinicopathological characteristics and survival data were collected and analyzed. Multivariable analysis was performed to find the factors related with survival. All statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 22.0. Results A total of 91 patients (LMVR 38, OMVR 53) were included in this study. Patients undergoing LMVR were associated with smaller incision length (P < 0.001), less blood loss (P = 0.01) and comparable operative time (P = 0.071). Patients in LMVR group also had less time to first flatus (P = 0.025). The results also suggested LMVR could reduce the incidence of postoperative complication. The conversion rate was 28.9%. The 3-year OS was 64.2%, 68.4% in OMVR, LMVR group respectively and the 3-year DFS was 56.6%, 52.6% in OMVR, LMVR group respectively. The Kaplan curves demonstrated that LMVR group had similar OS (P = 0.896) and DFS (P = 0.806) when compared with OMVR group. In addition, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that laparoscopic surgery was not associated with poorer survival. Conclusion Not all MVR for T4b CRC should be performed by open procedure, LMVR can be safe and feasible for primary T4b CRC in selected patients. It can faster the postoperative recovery and reduce the incidence of postoperative complication. The OS and DFS are also not inferior to open group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oral cancer with masticator‐space involvement is classified as T4b disease. The limited data suggest that the masticator space is a complex anatomic area and tumors with varying degrees of infiltration may have different oncologic outcomes. It is not advisable to group all T4b tumors as one and consider them for palliative‐intent treatment. A group of patients with limited spread (infra‐notch) has potential for good outcome. These cancers can be considered for downstaging to T4a classification based on best available data and clinical considerations. The radical surgical resection remains the mainstay of curative‐intent treatment and the ability to achieve negative margins at the skull base remains the most important prognostic factor. The alternative approaches to either increase radicality of surgery or to downsize the tumor with neoadjuvant therapies have shown encouraging trends but larger, well designed, and prospective studies will be needed to make meaningful conclusions. It is important to rationalize and form common ground for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the absence of any robust data supporting the TNM classification of T4 buccal mucosa cancers, we did this prospective study to compare the oncologic outcomes of T4a and T4b buccal mucosa cancer patients.Patients and Methods: This is a prospective study of 210 treatment naïve T4 buccal mucosa cancer patients. All patients underwent upfront radical surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT)/chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). This is the largest prospective series in the literature on T4 buccal cancers.Results: T4a disease was seen in 135(64.3%) patients and T4b in 75(35.7%) patients. On comparison between all T4a and T4b cases, a significant difference was observed with regard to 3-year local control (49.6% vs. 41.1%: p-0.025) and disease-free survival (DFS) (65.3% vs. 42%: p-0.035) with a slightly higher incidence of distant metastasis in T4b patients (17.3% vs. 9.6%). Inadequate cut margin (<5 mm) was seen only in 7.4% patients with T4a disease and 12% patients with T4b disease. When patients with adequate cut margins were considered for analysis, local recurrence rate was similar for T4a (26/135; 19.3%) and T4b (15/66; 22.7%) disease suggesting the importance of radical surgery in infra-notch T4b buccal cancers. While the 3-year survival for T4a patients who received adjuvant RT alone was 72.2%, it was only 42.1% for similar T4b patients suggesting a need to intensify adjuvant treatment for these patients.Conclusion: Surgery should be considered as the primary modality of treatment for T4b patients, where clear margins are achievable. The benefit of treatment intensification with adjuvant CCRT should be explored in T4b buccal cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To describe postoperative morbidity and mortality rates in multivisceral resections for T4b colon cancer.Material and methods: Case series of patients diagnosed of T4b colonic adenocarcinoma who underwent multivisceral resection between 2005 and 2014. There were excluded those patients who had metastases, R2 resection and incomplete clinical data. Result variables were morbidity and mortality at 30 days. It was performed descriptive statistic using percentage estimation for categories, average and median for continuous variables and standard deviation or rank as measures of statistical dispersion. It was used Kaplan-Meier method for survival and chi-square and log-Rank for subgroups analysis.Results: From a universe of 483 patients who underwent surgery for colonic adenocarcinoma, whom 71 were staged as T4b, after exclusion criteria were applied it resulted a sample of 46 patients. The small bowel, omentum, abdominal wall and other colonic segment were the more often compromised organs. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were 21.7 and 6.5% respectively. The age, history of adjuvant chemotherapy, presence of microsatellite instability and tumor differentiation had a significant impact in survival.Conclusions: Multivisceral affection in colonic cancer is not uncommon, 9.5% in our series. R0 resection is the treatment of choice. Patient outcome depends on his age, histologic and biologic characteristics of the tumor and adjuvant treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: There are several concerns about oncological contamination and technical difficulty in the laparoscopic approach for locally advanced gastric cancer. We aimed to determine the safety and usefulness of laparoscopic gastrectomy for patients with advanced gastric cancer with tumor depth greater than serosal invasion., Patients and Methods: Sixty-two laparoscopic and 82 laparotomy gastric cancer cases surgically diagnosed as serosal or other organ invasions intraoperatively between 2011 and 2021 were included. The laparoscopic and open gastrectomy results were compared by propensity score matching using stage, preoperative chemotherapy, curative resection, surgical technique, and age as explanatory variables and laparoscopy and open resection as outcome variables., Results: No difference in median operative time (341 vs. 386 minutes, p=0.24) was observed, but median blood loss (0 vs. 510 ml, p<0.001) and blood transfusion requirement (9.5 vs. 43%, p<0.001) were lower in the laparoscopic group. No difference was observed between the two groups regarding complications. Furthermore, 3-year overall survival was also similar (43 vs. 42%, p=0.74)., Conclusion: The laparoscopic surgery results are comparable to those of open surgery in treating gastric cancer with T4a or greater depth. In addition, it is minimally invasive with less blood loss, making it a standard approach., (Copyright © 2023 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None.

Background: Multivisceral resection is occasionally necessary for pT4b gastric cancer patients to achieve negative margin. The purpose of this study is to assess the short-term safety and long-term efficacy of this approach. Methods: A single-center, retrospective analysis was conducted for pT4b gastric cancer patients after curative-intent multivisceral resection from the China National Cancer Center Gastric Cancer Database (NCCGCDB) from 1998 to 2018. The postoperative complications, recurrence patterns, long-term survival, and prognostic factors were analyzed. Results: A total of 210 patients were included in the study. The most common combined resection organs were multiple organs (30.5%), pancreas (20.5%), colon (16.7%), and liver (9.0%). Seventeen patients (8.1%) developed postoperative complications and hospital death was observed in one patient (0.5%). The most common postoperative complications were anastomotic leak (4.3%) and intra-abdominal infection (5.7%). The 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates for the patients investigated were 38.0% and 33.8%, respectively, and the 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 48.2% and 39.1%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis proved that negative nerve invasion was independent risk factors for DFS (HR: 2.202, 95%CI: 1.144-4.236, P =0.018) and OS (HR: 2.219, 95%CI: 1.164-4.231, P =0.015). Conclusions: Multivisceral resection in pT4b gastric cancer patients without distant metastasis was effective and had an acceptable safety profile., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Diagnostic imaging has proven to be a beneficial tool in the screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of breast cancer. Most cancers are found early with breast screening methods, such as mammography. In some instances, breast cancer will go unidentified or untreated up to the point that the cancer becomes more advanced. This case study investigates a form of breast cancer that was diagnosed within a month after the patient’s first meeting with her physician. The breast cancer was examined with x-ray, computed tomography, and sonography. The role of sonography is discussed in detail with the aim of illustrating the usefulness of this technology in identifying cancerous breast tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Summary: According to the AJCC 2002 staging system, squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OSCC) with T4b is unresectable. Herein, we report on our surgical outcome for T4b OSCC. All patients were enrolled before 2002. From January 1996 to December 2000, 45 consecutive untreated T4b OSCC patients were included. According to the trans-axial plane of the mandibular notch on CT/MRI, seven were supra-notch T4b and 38 were infra-notch T4b tumors. Significantly higher 5-year loco-regional control and survivals were observed in patients with infra-notch T4b than with supra-notch T4b. In the infra-notch group, pN0–1 patients had a significantly higher 5-year loco-regional control and survivals than pN2 patients. Nerve invasion was the sole significant adverse factor for loco-regional control and survivals in the infra-notch T4b group with pN0–1. Our retrospective study demonstrated that OSCC patients of infra-notch T4b with pN0–1 and no nerve invasion might have a favorable surgical outcome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: This study aimed to clarify the prognostic factors, the advantageous factors of R0 curative resection, and optimal extents of lymph node dissection for conversion esophagectomy after induction therapy., Methods: Among 1903 patients with esophageal cancer at Toranomon Hospital between January 2006 to May 2020, 151 patients with locally advanced T4b thoracic esophageal cancer were divided into two groups according to treatment: conversion surgery group (n = 54) and non-surgical treatment group (n = 97) for comparison., Results: The patients who underwent R0 curative resection showed preferable survival comparable to the survival rate of patients with cCR in the non-surgical treatment group (1-, 3- and 5-year survival: 96.9%, 82.1% and 76.7% vs 94.1%, 86.3%, and 86.3%; P  = 0.770). Multivariate analysis revealed that the T4b tumor invasion by primary site (odds ratio (OR) = 6.100; 95% CI, 1.439-25.865: P  = 0.014) and time to conversion surgery from start of induction therapy within four months (OR = 5.229; 95% CI, 1.296-21.102: P  = 0.020) were all independent advantageous factors of R0 curative resection. Actuarial 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates in patients who underwent conversion surgery with D2-3 lymphadenectomy were 90.9%, 48.6%, and 40.8%, respectively., Conclusions: R0 resection led to improved prognosis in conversion esophagectomy for cT4b esophageal cancer. The T4b tumor invasion by primary site and time to conversion surgery from start of induction therapy within 4 months were independent advantageous factors of R0 curative resection. In addition, standard radical esophagectomy including prophylactic D2-/3- lymphadenectomy should be performed if it is possible, while taking adequate care regarding the increased risk after induction therapy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared. Author Contributions: Yu Ohkura, Masaki Ueno, and Harushi Udagawa designed the study, wrote the manuscript, revised it critically for important intellectual content, and gave final approval of the content. Yu Ohkura, Masaki Ueno and Harushi Udagawa created study materials or recruited patients., (© 2020 The Authors. Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery.)