Perioperative Systemic Chemotherapy for Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Recent Updates

The liver is the most common site of metastases for colorectal cancer. Complete resection in some patients with resectable liver metastases (LM) can lead to long-term survival and cure. Adjuvant systemic chemotherapy after complete resection of LM improves recurrence-free survival; however, the overall survival benefit is not clear. In selected patients, preoperative systemic treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer can convert unresectable to resectable cancer. This review will focus on patient selection, and integration of perioperative and postoperative systemic treatment to surgery in resectable and initially unresectable LM. Additionally, new drugs and biomarkers will be discussed.

142 A RANDOMIZED TRIAL: THREE-FILED LYMPHADENECTOMY COMPARED WITH TWO-FIELD LYMPHADENECTOMY FOR MIDDLE AND LOWER THORACIC ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Esophagectomy combined with radical lymphadenectomy is widely accepted, but the role of three-field lymphadenectomy (3-FLD) remains unclear. Methods We performed an open-label, randomized, controlled trial involving patients with resectable cancer of the middle or lower third of the esophagus. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo esophagectomy with either 3-FLD (cervical-thoracic-abdominal lymphadenectomy) or two-field lymphadenectomy (thoracic-abdominal lymphadenectomy, 2-FLD) at a 1:1 ratio. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Analysis were done according to the intent-to-treat principle. Results Postoperative complications were similar in the two arms. More lymph nodes were resected in 3-field arm (Median, 37 vs. 24 [2-FLD], P < 0.001), 43 (21.5%) patients had cervical LNM. More pN3 patients were identified in the 3-FLD arm (10.5%, 21/200 vs. 5.0%, 10/200 [2-FLD], P = 0.040). The cumulative probability of disease-free survival (DFS) was comparable between the two arms (HR, 1.021, 95%CI, 0.735–1.417, P = 0.903), as well as the OS (HR, 1.026, 95%CI, 0.694–1.515, P = 0.899). The cumulative 5-year DFS was 52% in the 3-FLD arm, as compared with 53% in the 2-FLD arm; 5-year OS rates were 64% and 62%. Conclusion Three-field lymphadenectomy offered more accurate nodal staging without increasing the surgical complications. Comparing with radical 2-FLD, there was no improvement in OS or DFS after 3-FLD for patients with middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer. .

Lung cancer screening by single-shot dual-energy subtraction using flat-panel detector

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of single-shot dual-energy subtraction (DES) method using a flat-panel detector for lung cancer screening Materials and methods The subjects were 13,315 residents (5801 males and 7514 females) aged 50 years or older (50–97 years, with an intermediate value of 68 years) who underwent lung cancer screening for a period of 1 year and 6 months from January 2019 to June 2020. We investigated whether the number of lung cancers detected, the detection rate, and the rate of required scrutiny changed, when DES images were added to the judgment based on conventional chest radiography. Results When DES images were added, the number and percentage of cancer detection increased from 16 (0.12%) to 23 (0.17%) (P < 0.05). Five of the newly detected 7 lung cancers were in the early stages of resectable cancer. The rate of participants requiring scrutiny increased slightly from 1.1 to 1.3%. Conclusion DES method improved the detection of lung cancer in screening. The increase in the percentage of participants requiring scrutiny was negligible.

Deep Learning Improves Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis Using RNA-Based Variants

For optimal pancreatic cancer treatment, early and accurate diagnosis is vital. Blood-derived biomarkers and genetic predispositions can contribute to early diagnosis, but they often have limited accuracy or applicability. Here, we seek to exploit the synergy between them by combining the biomarker CA19-9 with RNA-based variants. We use deep sequencing and deep learning to improve differentiating pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. We obtained samples of nucleated cells found in peripheral blood from 268 patients suffering from resectable, non-resectable pancreatic cancer, and chronic pancreatitis. We sequenced RNA with high coverage and obtained millions of variants. The high-quality variants served as input together with CA19-9 values to deep learning models. Our model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 96% in differentiating resectable cancer from pancreatitis using a test cohort. Moreover, we identified variants to estimate survival in resectable cancer. We show that the blood transcriptome harbours variants, which can substantially improve noninvasive clinical diagnosis.

Clinical Benefits of Conversion Surgery for Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Single-Institution, Retrospective Analysis

Background: Unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (UR-PDAC) has a poor prognosis. Conversion surgery is considered a promising strategy for improving the prognosis of UR-PDAC. This study aimed to investigate the clinical benefits of conversion surgery in patients with UR-PDAC. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with PDAC who were referred to our department for possible surgical resection between January 2006 and December 2019. Conversion surgery was performed only in patients with UR-PDAC who could expect R0 resection. We analyzed the prognostic factors for overall survival among patients who underwent conversion surgery. Results: Overall, 638 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study. According to resectability, resectable cancer (R) was present in 180 patients, borderline resectable cancer (BR) was present in 60 patients, unresectable locally advanced cancer (UR-LA) was present in 252 patients, and unresectable cancer with distant metastasis (UR-M) was present in 146 patients. Conversion surgery was performed in 20 of the 398 UR cases (5.1%). The median period between the initial therapy and conversion surgery was 15.5 months. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) evaluation, the treatment response was CR in one patient, PR in 13, SD in five, and PD in one. Downstaging was pathologically determined in all cases. According to the Evans grading system, grade I was observed in four patients (20%), grade IIb was observed in seven (35%), III was observed in seven (35%), and IV was observed in two (10%). We compared the overall survival period from initial treatment among patients undergoing conversion surgery; the median overall survival durations in the conversion surgery, R, BR, UR-LA, and UR-M groups were 73.7, 32.7, 22.7, 15.7, and 8.8 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence or absence of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and the RECIST partial response (PR)/complete response (CR) for the main tumor were statistically significant prognostic factors for overall survival among patients undergoing conversion surgery (p = 0.004 and 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: In UR-PDAC, it is important to perform multidisciplinary treatment, including CRT with conversion surgery.

Clinical Benefits of Conversion Surgery for Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Single-Institution, Retrospective Analysis

BackgroundUnresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (UR-PDAC) has a poor prognosis. Conversion surgery is considered a promising strategy for improving the prognosis of UR-PDAC. This study aimed to investigate the clinical benefits of conversion surgery in patients with UR-PDAC.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with PDAC who were referred to our department for possible surgical resection between January 2006 and December 2019. Conversion surgery was performed only in patients with UR-PDAC who could expect R0 resection. We analyzed the prognostic factors for overall survival among patients who underwent conversion surgery. Results: Overall, 638 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study. According to resectability, resectable cancer (R) was present in 180 patients, borderline resectable cancer (BR) in 60, unresectable locally advanced cancer (UR-LA) in 252, and unresectable cancer with distant metastasis (UR-M) in 146. Conversion surgery was performed in 20 of the 398 UR cases (5.1%). The median period between the initial therapy and conversion surgery was 15.5 months. According to the RECIST evaluation, the treatment response was CR in one patient, PR in 13, SD in five, and PD in one. Downstaging was pathologically determined in all cases. According to the Evans grading system, grade I was observed in four patients (20%), grade IIb in seven (35%), III in seven (35%), and IV in two (10%). We compared the overall survival period from initial treatment among patients undergoing conversion surgery; the median overall survival durations in the conversion surgery, R, BR, UR-LA, and UR-M groups were 73.7, 32.7, 22.7, 15.7, and 8.8 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence or absence of CRT and the RECIST PR/CR for the main tumor were statistically significant prognostic factors for overall survival among patients undergoing conversion surgery (p = 0.004 and 0.03, respectively).Conclusion: In UR-PDAC, it is important to perform multidisciplinary treatment, including CRT with conversion surgery.

Clinical Benefits of Conversion Surgery for Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Single-Institution, Retrospective Analysis

BackgroundUnresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (UR-PDAC) has a poor prognosis. Conversion surgery is considered a promising strategy for improving the prognosis of UR-PDAC. This study aimed to investigate the clinical benefits of conversion surgery in patients with UR-PDAC.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with PDAC who were referred to our department for possible surgical resection between January 2006 and December 2019. Conversion surgery was performed only in patients with UR-PDAC who could expect R0 resection. We analyzed the prognostic factors for overall survival among patients who underwent conversion surgery. Results: Overall, 638 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study. According to resectability, resectable cancer (R) was present in 180 patients, borderline resectable cancer (BR) in 60, unresectable locally advanced cancer (UR-LA) in 252, and unresectable cancer with distant metastasis (UR-M) in 146. Conversion surgery was performed in 20 of the 398 UR cases (5.1%). The median period between the initial therapy and conversion surgery was 15.5 months. According to the RECIST evaluation, the treatment response was CR in one patient, PR in 13, SD in five, and PD in one. Downstaging was pathologically determined in all cases. According to the Evans grading system, grade I was observed in four patients (20%), grade IIb in seven (35%), III in seven (35%), and IV in two (10%). We compared the overall survival period from initial treatment among patients undergoing conversion surgery; the median overall survival durations in the conversion surgery, R, BR, UR-LA, and UR-M groups were 73.7, 32.7, 22.7, 15.7, and 8.8 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence or absence of CRT and the RECIST PR/CR for the main tumor were statistically significant prognostic factors for overall survival among patients undergoing conversion surgery (p = 0.004 and 0.03, respectively).Conclusion: In UR-PDAC, it is important to perform multidisciplinary treatment, including CRT with conversion surgery.

Single institutional analysis of resectable pancreatic cancer.

706 Background: In recent years, there has been a shift towards neo-adjuvant treatment (NAT) of non-metastatic pancreas cancer in the hopes of improving negative margin rate, lymph node negativity, recurrence and survival. Even patients deemed resectable based on NCCN criteria are receiving NAT but data for these patients remains limited. This current study evaluated the outcomes of patients diagnosed with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: Patients were retrospectively identified through the Mayo Clinic, Rochester SPORE pancreatic cancer registry as well as search of the electronic medical record via Advanced Cohort Explorer from May 2011 to 2016. Baseline demographics, tumor characteristics, treatments rendered, and outcomes were collected. Variables were analyzed for association with recurrence from time of surgery and survival from time of diagnosis using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: A total of 520 patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma were identified. 72 patients received upfront chemotherapy with 44 (61.1%) proceeding to surgical resection. 62 patients received upfront chemotherapy followed by radiation with 33 (53.2%) proceeding to surgical resection. 12 patients received upfront radiation alone with 7 (58.3%) proceeding to surgical resection. 374 patients did not receive any NAT with 293 (78.3%) proceeding to surgical resection. In total, 377 (72.5%) went to resection. Median time to recurrence from surgery was 27.7 months vs. 21.7 months for NAT and upfront resection, respectively (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.60-1.72, p = 0.48). Median overall survival from diagnosis for those receiving NAT was 40.6 months vs. 24.7 months for those receiving upfront resection (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41-0.92, p = 0.02). Conclusions: This study shows an approximate 16 month improvement in overall survival of patients receiving upfront NAT for resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This might be due to a better selection of patients. It also highlights that not all patients with resectable cancer undergo resection. Further studies are warranted to identify why resectable patients are not proceeding to resection and which specific NAT approaches benefit patients the most.

Two Case Reports of Resectable Cancer in the Remnant Pancreas after Pancreatectomy for Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Pancreas

Pancreatic cancer has an extremely poor prognosis. There are several reports on resectable cancer in the remnant pancreas after pancreatectomy; however, few have compared K-ras mutation patterns to clarify recurrent or second primary cancers. Here, we report on 2 cases of cancer in the remnant pancreas after total pancreatectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma. Case 1 is a 56-year-old man who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for cancer of the pancreatic head. However, serum carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9) was again elevated 23 months later. A tumor in the pancreatic tail was detected on abdominal computed tomography (CT), and total pancreatectomy was performed. Histologic examination of the tumors from both operations revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, and the surgical margins of both resected specimens were free of cancerous cells. The K-ras gene mutation was detected at codon 12V of exon 1 in both cancers. Case 2 is a 72-year-old woman who underwent distal pancreatectomy for cancer of the pancreatic body. However, serum CA19-9 was again elevated 4 years postoperatively. A tumor of the pancreatic head was detected on abdominal CT, and total pancreatectomy was performed. Histologic examination of the first and second tumors revealed poorly and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas, respectively. The surgical margins of both resected specimens were free of cancerous cells. The K-ras gene mutation was detected at codon 12D of exon 1 in both cancers. These patients with rare pancreatic cancers both had metachronous carcinogenesis in the remnant pancreas.