Extensive Dissection at No. 12 Station During D2 Lymphadenectomy Improves Survival for Advanced Lower-Third Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Study From a Single Center in Southern China

BackgroundD2 lymphadenectomy including No. 12a dissection has been accepted as a standard surgical management of advanced lower-third gastric cancer (GC). The necessity of extensive No. 12 nodes (No. 12a, 12b, and 12p) dissection remains controversial. This study aims to explore its impact on long-term survival for resectable GC.MethodsFrom 2009 to 2016, 353 advanced lower-third GC patients undergoing at least D2 lymphadenectomy during a radical surgery were included, with 179 patients receiving No. 12a, 12b, and 12p dissection as study group. A total of 174 patients with No. 12a dissection were employed as control group. Surgical and long-term outcomes including 90-day complications incidence, therapeutic value index (TVI), 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), and 5-year overall survival (OS) were compared between both groups.ResultsNo. 12 lymph node metastasis was observed in 20 (5.7%) patients, with 10 cases in each group (5.6% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.948). The metastatic rates at No. 12a, 12b, and 12p were 5.7%, 2.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. The incidence of 90-day complications was identical between both groups. Extensive No. 12 dissection was associated with increased TVI at No. 12 station (3.9 vs. 0.6), prolonged 3-year PFS rate (67.0% vs. 55.9%, p = 0.045) and 5-year OS rate (66.2% vs. 54.0%, p = 0.027). The further Cox-regression analysis showed that the 12abp dissection was an independent prognostic factor of improved survival (p = 0.026).ConclusionAdding No. 12b and 12p lymph nodes to D2 lymphadenectomy might be effective in surgical treatment of advanced lower-third GC and improve oncological outcomes compared with No. 12a-based D2 lymphadenectomy.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Total Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter, Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study in China

BackgroundGiven the great technical difficulty and procedural complexity of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG), the technical and oncologic safety of LTG versus open total gastrectomy (OTG) in the field of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is yet undetermined.ObjectiveThis multicenter cohort study aimed to compare the surgical and oncological outcomes of LTG with those of OTG in AGC patients.Patients and MethodsIn total, 588 patients from 3 centers who underwent primary total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy, by well-trained surgeons with adequate experience, for pathologically confirmed locally AGC (T2N0–3, T3N0–3, or T4N0–3) between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2015, were identified, and their clinical data were collected from three participating centers. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), 450 cases (LTG, n = 225; OTG, n = 225) were eligible and assessed.ResultsNo significant difference in the number of retrieved lymph nodes, 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates, or 5-year overall survival (OS) rates between both surgical groups were observed. Although LTG had significantly longer surgical time (262 vs. 180 min, p < 0.001), LTG was associated with fewer postoperative complications [relative risk (RR) 0.583, 95% CI 0.353–0.960, p = 0.047), less intraoperative bleeding (120 vs. 200 ml, p < 0.001), longer proximal margin resection (3 vs. 2 cm, p < 0.001), and shorter postoperative hospitalization (11 vs. 13 days, p < 0.001). The mortality rate was comparable in both groups.ConclusionsLTG was not inferior to OTG in terms of survival outcomes and was associated with shorter surgical and postoperative hospitalization time and fewer postoperative complications, suggesting LTG with D2 lymphadenectomy as an important alternative to OTG for patients with AGC, but to be carried out in highly experienced centers.

Systematic Evaluation of the Safety and Therapeutic Effects of Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: At present, there is still no definite conclusion on whether advanced gastric cancer requires additional para-aortic nodes dissection (PAND). The purpose of this study is an attempt to provide significant data to guide clinical decision-making. Methods: The literature was searched using the terms of gastric cancer, para-aortic lymphadenectomy and D2+ lymphadenectomy and D3 lymphadenectomy. The databases searched included PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and China Biology Medicine disc. RevMan 5.3 software was used for the meta-analysis.Results: In total, 20 studies were included, consisting of 6 randomized controlled trials (RCT) and 14 non-randomized controlled trials (nRCT). These studies involved 5643 patients. The meta-analysis showed the following results: (1) compared with group D2 (D2 lymphadenectomy), the operating time in group D2+ (D2+ lymphadenectomy) was longer [mean difference (MD)=99.45 min, 95% confidence interval (CI) (48.93, 149.97), P<0.001], with more intra-operative blood loss [MD=262.14 mL, 95%CI (165.21, 359.07), P<0.001]; (2) there were no significant differences in five-year overall survival [HR=1.09, 95%CI (0.95, 1.25), P=0.22] and post-operative mortality [RR=0.96, 95%CI (0.59, 1.57), P=0.88] between the two groups; (3) the rate of post-operative complication in group D2+ was higher than that in group D2 [RR=1.42, 95%CI (1.11, 1.81), P<0.001]. Conclusions: It is noteworthy that the combination of perioperative chemotherapy and D2+ surgery, particularly D2+ PAND, shows some survival advantages for specific patients. Although prophylactic D2+ surgery is not recommended as it increases postoperative complications and does not improve long-term survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Laparoscopic Splenic Hilar Lymph Node Dissection is Recommended for Pathologic Stage IIIA Middle and Upper Gastric Cancer: A Comparative Study with Standard D2 Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy

Purpose D2 lymphadenectomy is considered a standard procedure for distal gastrectomy (DG). However, whether splenic hilar (No. 10) lymph node (LN) should be included in the extent of D2 lymphadenectomy for total gastrectomy (TG) is still controversial. Therefore, we assessed the survival benefit of laparoscopic No.10 LN dissection based on the comparison of long-term survival of patients undergoing laparoscopic TG (LTG) with laparoscopic No.10 LN dissection and laparoscopic DG (LDG). Methods The clinicopathological data of 2069 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The survival of the LDG group, the LTG with dissection of No. 10 LN (LTG+No. 10) group and the LTG without dissection of No. 10 LN (LTG-No. 10) group was compared. Results After adjusting for age, pT stage, pN stage and pTNM stage by 1:1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), there were 373 patients in each group. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival analysis showed that only in the pIIIA stage, the 5-year survival overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) of the LTG+No. 10 group was significantly better than that of the LTG-No. 10 group and comparable with that of the LDG group. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that dissection of No. 10 LN was an independent favorable factor for OS and CSS in all patients and patients with pIIIA. Conclusion In patients with stage pIIIA, those undergoing LTG with No. 10 LN dissection could achieve a long-term outcome comparable to that of patients at the same pathological stage undergoing LDG.

Laparoscopic Compared with Open D2 Gastrectomy on Perioperative and Long-Term, Stage-Stratified Oncological Outcomes for Gastric Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of the IMIGASTRIC Database

Background: The laparoscopic approach in gastric cancer surgery is being increasingly adopted worldwide. However, studies focusing specifically on laparoscopic gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy are still lacking in the literature. This retrospective study aimed to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: The protocol-based, international IMIGASTRIC (International study group on Minimally Invasive surgery for Gastric Cancer) registry was queried to retrieve data on patients undergoing laparoscopic or open gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer with curative intent from January 2000 to December 2014. Eleven predefined, demographical, clinical, and pathological variables were used to conduct a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis to investigate intraoperative and recovery outcomes, complications, pathological findings, and survival data between the two groups. Predictive factors of long-term survival were also assessed. Results: A total of 3033 patients from 14 participating institutions were selected from the IMIGASTRIC database. After 1:1 PSM, a total of 1248 patients, 624 in the laparoscopic group and 624 in the open group, were matched and included in the final analysis. The total operative time (median 180 versus 240 min, p < 0.0001) and the length of the postoperative hospital stay (median 10 versus 14.8 days, p < 0.0001) were longer in the open group than in the laparoscopic group. The conversion to open rate was 1.9%. The proportion of patients with in-hospital complications was higher in the open group (21.3% versus 15.1%, p = 0.004). The median number of harvested lymph nodes was higher in the laparoscopic approach (median 32 versus 28, p < 0.0001), and the proportion of positive resection margins was higher (p = 0.021) in the open group (5.9%) than in the laparoscopic group (3.2%). There was no significant difference between the groups in five-year overall survival rates (77.4% laparoscopic versus 75.2% open, p = 0.229). Conclusion: The adoption of the laparoscopic approach for gastric resection with D2 lymphadenectomy shortened the length of hospital stay and reduced postoperative complications with respect to the open approach. The five-year overall survival rate after laparoscopy was comparable to that for patients who underwent open D2 resection. The types of surgical approaches are not independent predictive factors for five-year overall survival.

Is D2 Lymphadenectomy Alone Suitable for Gastric Cancer With Bulky N2 and/or Para-Aortic Lymph Node Metastases After Preoperative Chemotherapy?

BackgroundFor gastric cancer (GC) with extensive lymph node metastasis (bulky N2 and/or para-aortic lymph node metastases), there is no standard therapy worldwide. In Japan, preoperative chemotherapy (PCT) followed by D2 gastrectomy plus para-aortic lymph node dissection (PAND) is considered the standard treatment for these patients. However, in China, the standard operation for GC patients with only bulky N2 metastases was D2 gastrectomy. Besides, after PCT, whether doing PAND improves survival or not is debatable for GC patients with para-aortic lymph node (PAN) metastases. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate whether D2 lymphadenectomy alone is suitable for these patients after PCT.MethodsWe retrospectively collected data on patients from our electronic medical record system. GC patients with bulky N2 and/or PAN metastases who underwent D2 lymphadenectomy alone after PCT were enrolled. The survival outcomes and chemotherapy responses were analyzed and compared with the results of the JCOG0405 study.ResultsFrom May 2009 to December 2017, a total of 83 patients met all eligibility criteria and were enrolled. The median survival duration for all patients was 40.0 months. The 3-year and 5-year OS rates for all patients were 50.3% and 45.6%, respectively. For patients with only bulky N2 metastasis, the 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 77.1% and 71.6%, respectively, which were similar to the results of the JCOG0405 study (82.7% and 73.4%). For patients with only PAN metastases, the 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 50.0% and 50.0%, respectively, which seemed to be lower than those of the JCOG0405 study (64.3% and 57.1%). For patients with bulky N2 and PAN metastases, the 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 7.4% and 0.0%, respectively, which were lower than those of the JCOG0405 study (20.0% and 20.0%).ConclusionThe results of our study suggest that D2 lymphadenectomy alone is suitable for GC patients with only bulky N2 metastasis after PCT. However, D2 lymphadenectomy alone perhaps is not suitable for patients with bulky N2 and PAN metastases after PCT.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is an additional option for locally advanced gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy: a retrospective control study

Background This study compared the long-term efficacy of different durations of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. Methods We retrospectively identified 428 patients with stage II–III gastric cancer who underwent D2 gastrectomy between 2009 and 2016. Patients were divided into four groups according to the duration of adjuvant chemotherapy, including 0 week (no adjuvant, group A), 20 to 24 weeks (completed 7–8 cycles every 3 weeks or 10–12 cycles every 2 weeks, group B), and 12 to18 weeks (completed 4–6 cycles every 3 weeks or 6–9 cycles every 2 weeks, group C), and less than 12 weeks (received up to 3 cycles every 3 weeks or 5 cycles every 2 weeks, group D). The chemotherapy regimens included XELOX, SOX, and FOLFOX. 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed. Results The 5-year OS rates for groups A, B, C, and D were 52.3, 73.7, 72.0, and 53.3%, respectively, and the 5-year DFS rates were 50.0, 68.0, 65.4, and 50.0%, respectively. OS and DFS were higher in group B than in groups A and D. Similarly, patients in group C were more likely to have higher OS and DFS than those in groups A and D. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in OS and DFS between groups B and C. The multivariate analysis confirmed with high statistical significance the efficacy of complete courses of adjuvant chemotherapy, and, among them, the similar impact of 4–6/6–9 and 7–8/10–12 cycles, resulting in similar HRs vs Group A (0.52 and 0.42, respectively). Conclusions To reduce toxicity and maintain efficacy, XELOX or SOX chemotherapy regimens administered for 4–6 cycles every 3 weeks or FOLFOX regimen for 6–9 cycles every 2 weeks might be a favorable option for patients with stage II–III gastric cancer after D2 gastrectomy. Prospective multicenter clinical trials with adequate sample sizes are necessary to verify these findings.

Clinical Outcomes Following Regionalization of Gastric Cancer Care in a US Integrated Health Care System

PURPOSE In 2016, Kaiser Permanente Northern California regionalized gastric cancer care, introducing a regional comprehensive multidisciplinary care team, standardizing staging and chemotherapy, and implementing laparoscopic gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy for patients eligible for curative-intent surgery. This study evaluated the effect of regionalization on outcomes. METHODS The retrospective cohort study included gastric cancer cases diagnosed from January 2010 to May 2018. Information was obtained from the electronic medical record, cancer registry, state vital statistics, and chart review. Overall survival was compared in patients with all stages of disease, stage I-III disease, and curative-intent gastrectomy patients using annual inception cohorts. For the latter, the surgical approach and surgical outcomes were also compared. RESULTS Among 1,429 eligible patients with gastric cancer with all stages of disease, one third were treated after regionalization, 650 had stage I-III disease, and 394 underwent curative-intent surgery. Among surgical patients, neoadjuvant chemotherapy utilization increased from 35% to 66% ( P < .0001), laparoscopic gastrectomy increased from 18% to 92% ( P < .0001), and D2 lymphadenectomy increased from 2% to 80% ( P < .0001). Dissection of ≥ 15 lymph nodes increased from 61% to 95% ( P < .0001). Surgical complication rates did not appear to increase after regionalization. Length of hospitalization decreased from 7 to 3 days ( P < .001). Overall survival at 2 years was as follows: all stages, 32.8% pre and 37.3% post ( P = .20); stage I-III cases with or without surgery, 55.6% and 61.1%, respectively ( P = .25); and among surgery patients, 72.7% and 85.5%, respectively ( P < .03). CONCLUSION Regionalization of gastric cancer care within an integrated system allowed comprehensive multidisciplinary care, conversion to laparoscopic gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy, increased overall survival among surgery patients, and no increase in surgical complications.