World Journal of Surgical Oncology最新文献

Background: There is ongoing debate surrounding the optimal therapeutic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients achieving complete response (CR) after conversion therapy. This meta-analysis compares the prognostic outcomes of non-surgery strategies with hepatectomy.

Methods: The systematic searches were conducted up to April 11, 2024, across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, analyzing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Subgroup analyses were conducted based on whether patients achieved a clinical CR or a radiologic CR, as well as the regimen of non-surgery strategy employed.

Results: Six studies with 481 patients were identified. Non-surgery strategy was linked to significantly worse PFS compared to hepatectomy (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60 to 2.90). However, there was not a notable difference in OS between the two groups (HR = 1.35; 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.96). Subgroup analysis showed that for patients with clinical CR, there were no notable differences in both PFS and OS. Conversely, patients with radiologic CR experienced significantly worse PFS and OS when treated with non-surgery strategy.

Conclusions: Non-surgery strategy might provide comparable outcomes to hepatectomy for HCC patients with clinical CR, as opposed to those with radiologic CR. Further research is needed to confirm these results.

Introduction: Although the Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging system is widely used for staging lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), the TNM system primarily emphasizes tumor size and metastasis, without adequately considering lymph node involvement. Consequently, incorporating lymph node metastasis as an additional prognostic factor is essential for predicting outcomes in LSCC patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with LSCC between 2004 and 2018 and was based on data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of the National Cancer Institute. The primary endpoint of the study was cancer-specific survival (CSS), and demographic characteristics, tumor characteristics, and treatment regimens were incorporated into the predictive model. The study focused on the value of indicators related to pathological lymph node testing, including the lymph node ratio (LNR), regional node positivity (RNP), and lymph node examination count (RNE), in the prediction of cancer-specific survival in LSCC. A prognostic model was established using a multivariate Cox regression model, and the model was evaluated using the C index, Kaplan-Meier, the Akaike information criterion (AIC), decision curve analysis (DCA), continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and the predictive efficacy of different models was compared.

Results: A total of 14,200 LSCC patients (2004-2018) were divided into training and validation cohorts. The 10-year CSS rate was approximately 50%, with no significant survival differences between cohorts (p = 0.8). The prognostic analysis revealed that models incorporating LNR, RNP, and RNE demonstrated superior performance over the TNM model. The LNR and RNP models demonstrated better model fit, discrimination, and reclassification, with AUC values of 0.695 (training) and 0.665 (validation). The RNP and LNR models showed similar predictive performance, significantly outperforming the TNM and RNE models. Calibration curves and decision curve analysis confirmed the clinical utility and net benefit of the LNR and RNP models in predicting long-term CSS for LSCC patients, highlighting their value in clinical decision-making.

Conclusion: This study confirms that RNP status is an independent prognostic factor for CSS in LSCC, with predictive efficacy comparable to LNR, with both models enhancing survival prediction beyond TNM staging.

Background: The equivalence between left upper lobectomy (LUL) and left upper tri-segmentectomy (LUTS) for stage I left upper non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. This study compares the perioperative and oncological outcomes of LUL and LUTS in this patient population.

Methods: This study included patients who underwent LUL or LUTS at West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Sichuan ShangJin Hospital between August 2018 and November 2023. Patients with tumors located at least 2 cm from the lingular segment were included. Propensity score matching (PSM) addressed baseline imbalances between groups. Perioperative outcomes, overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS), and subgroup analyses were assessed.

Results: A total of 1019 patients were included (LUL: 524; LUTS: 495) with a median follow-up of 4.8 years (IQR: 2.5-8.1). Compared to LUL, LUTS was associated with significantly shorter operative times (103 vs. 120 min, p = 0.001), reduced postoperative drainage volume at 3 days (335 vs. 485 ml, p = 0.001) and total (360 vs. 530 ml, p = 0.001), lower conversion to thoracotomy rates (1.0% vs. 3.4%, p = 0.009), and fewer postoperative complications (9.9% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.016). No significant differences were observed in 5-year OS (86.7% vs. 85.4%, HR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.66-1.39; p = 0.821), 5-year RFS (78.4% vs. 75.3%, HR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.63-1.13; p = 0.258), or 5-year LCSS (90.2% vs. 91.3%, HR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.62-1.57; p = 0.956) between the two groups.

Conclusion: For stage I left upper NSCLC, LUTS, while preserving adequate surgical margins, achieves superior perioperative and comparable oncological outcomes to LUL.

Objective: To explore the relationship between vessel invasion (VI) and clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: A total of 3600 cases of patients with GC who underwent radical gastrectomy in gastrointestinal surgery department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from June 2014 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, and filtering them based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. To reduce the possibility of selection bias about the impact of VI, patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of it, and performed a one-to-one propensity score matching (PSM), resulting in 724 patients in each group. In the analysis of data from 3,205 GC patients was employed to examine inter-group variations in VI positivity across diverse clinicopathological factors. Both univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were applied to investigate the correlation between clinicopathological factors and prognosis. The findings were further illustrated through the plotting of Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

Results: 3205 patients were included in this study, of which 989 (30.9%) were VI-positive and 2216 (69.1%) were VI-negative. VI-positive group was found to be significantly associated with age, body mass index (BMI), pTNM stage, tumor location, perineural invasion (PI), Lauren classfication and tumor deposit (TD) (P < .05), but not with gender or basic disease. VI-positive patients had a worse survival than VI-negative patients before (P < .001) and after (P = .007) PSM matching. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve after PSM illustrated that patients with VI had a 5-year survival rate of 58.03%, whereas patients without VI had a higher rate at 66.25%. Further, multivariate analysis after matching demonstrated that VI was an independent risk factor for prognosis (P = .030).

Conclusion: VI is associated with multiple pathological factors and serves as an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of GC.

Background: The combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has demonstrated an enhancement in progression-free survival (PFS) for individuals with advanced and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) when compared to the use of chemotherapy alone. Nevertheless, the extent to which different subgroups of metastatic TNBC patients experience this benefit remains uncertain.

Objectives: Our objective was to conduct subgroup analyses to more precisely identify the factors influencing these outcomes.

Materials and methods: The PubMed database was searched until Dec 2023 for studies that compared PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy (ICT) with chemotherapy (CT) alone. The primary outcome of interest was progression-free survival (PFS). Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.4. was used for the data analysis.

Results: Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 2468 advanced and metastatic TNBC were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. PFS surge with combined therapy was observed in White (HR 0.80 [0.70, 0.91], p = 0.0007) and Asian ethnicities (HR 0.73 [0.58, 0.93], p = 0.01) but not in Blacks (HR 0.72 [0.42, 1.24], p = 0.24). Overall, patients with distant metastasis demonstrated to derive the PFS benefit from additional immunotherapy (HR 0.87 [0.77, 0.99], p = 0.03); however, metastasis to individual distant site was associated with failure to achieve any treatment difference (Bone: HR 0.79 [0.41, 1.52], p = 0.49; Lung: HR 0.85 [0.70, 1.04], p = 0.11; Liver: HR 0.80 [0.64, 1.01], p = 0.06). While number of metastases > 3 also showed to impact the PFS advantage (HR 0.89 [0.69, 1.16], p = 0.39). While patients, regardless of prior chemotherapy, experienced a notable enhancement in PFS with ICT (Overall: HR 0.79 [0.71, 0.88], p < 0.0001; Yes: HR 0.87 [0.76, 1.00], p = 0.05; No: HR 0.67 [0.56, 0.80], p < 0.00001), those previously exposed to chemotherapy exhibited a significantly smaller PFS advantage compared to those without prior chemotherapy, as evidenced by a significant subgroup difference (Test for subgroup difference: P = 0.02, I2 = 82.2%). Patients lacking PD-L1 expression also failed to achieve any additional benefit from immunotherapy (PD-L1-: HR 0.95 [0.81, 1.12]; p = 0.54; PD-L1+: HR 0.73 [0.64, 0.85], p < 0.0001). Age, ECOG status, and presentation with de novo metastasis/recurrent shown no impact on IT-associated PFS advantage.

Conclusions: Patient- and treatment- related factors such as ethnicity, distant metastases, number of metastases (> 3), previous exposure to chemotherapy and PD-L1 expression, seem to influence or restrict the advantage in progression-free survival associated with the addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy, as opposed to chemotherapy alone, in patients with advanced and metastatic TNBC. Larger studies are warranted to validate these outcomes.

Background: Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) can influence the outcome of implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR). This study aims to investigate the complications and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following PMRT between direct-to-implant (DTI) and tissue expander-to-implant (TEI) reconstruction.

Methods: The retrospective study included breast cancer patients undergoing IBBR and PMRT. Patients were divided into a permanent implant group (PI-PMRT) and a tissue expander group (TE-PMRT). Complications, reconstruction failure, and reoperation were compared between the two groups. PROs were assessed using the BREAST-Q scale.

Results: A total of 203 patients were included: 99 in the PI-PMRT group and 104 in the TE-PMRT group. The incidence of severe capsular contracture was significantly higher in the PI-PMRT group compared to the TE-PMRT group (37.4% vs. 24.0%, p = 0.039). The PI-PMRT group had a significantly lower rate of reconstruction failure (9.1% vs. 19.2%, p = 0.039) and reoperation (13.1% vs. 24.0%, p = 0.046). Multivariate analysis revealed that the absence of mesh (OR = 2.177, p = 0.040) and DTI reconstruction (OR = 1.922, p = 0.046) were independent predictors of severe capsular contracture; the absence of mesh (OR = 4.699, p = 0.015) and TEI reconstruction (OR = 2.429, p = 0.043) were independent predictors of reconstruction failure. BREAST-Q scores indicated greater breast satisfaction in the PI-PMRT group (p = 0.031).

Conclusions: Although DTI reconstruction resulted in a higher risk of severe capsular contracture, the higher risk of reconstruction failure and reoperation in patients undergoing TEI reconstruction was even more concerning. Furthermore, patients were more likely to report greater breast satisfaction with DTI reconstruction. Therefore, DTI reconstruction may be a more appropriate option for patients anticipating PMRT.

Background: We aim to explore the impact of excessive glutathione (GSH) intake on chemotherapy sensitivity in breast cancer.

Methods: Clinicopathological data were collected from 460 breast cancer patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy from January 2016 to December 2019 from Zhengzhou University People's Hospital. The clinicopathological characteristics following GSH treatment were collected and compared with those in Non-GSH group after 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM). Intracellular GSH levels and the expression of antioxidant enzymes (NRF2, GPX4 and SOD1) were evaluated in tumor tissues in 51 patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Results: The recurrence rate after adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly higher in the GSH group (n = 28, 31.8%) than that in the Non-GSH group (n = 39, 22.2%; P = 0.010). Additionally, patients in the HGSH group (high GSH intake, ≥ 16 days) exhibited an elevated recurrence rate compared to that in the LGSH group (low GSH intake, < 16 days) (n = 15 (46.8%) vs. n = 52 (22.4%); P = 0.003). Cox regression revealed that High GSH intake, Ki67 ≥ 30%, Triple negative and Lymphovascular invasion were independent risk factors of progression after adjuvant chemotherapy. Among patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, intracellular GSH levels and the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes (NRF2, GPX4 and SOD1) in the resistant patients were substantially higher (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Excessive GSH intake may contribute to chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer, and the levels of intracellular GSH and antioxidant enzymes are elevated in resistant patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, indicating that the standardization of GSH intake may assist in reducing chemotherapy resistance.

Background: The survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy after curative hepatectomy for colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases remains controversial. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in improving recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for CRC liver metastases at a tertiary medical center.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological factors in 89 patients (surgery alone, n = 63; adjuvant chemotherapy, n = 26) who underwent curative hepatectomy for CRC liver metastases from January 2010 to December 2022. Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy or prior hepatectomy were excluded to minimize patient heterogeneity. Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression was conducted to assess the independent effect of adjuvant therapy on RFS and OS.

Results: The 3-year RFS rates were 22.6% in the surgery alone group and 29.6% in the adjuvant chemotherapy group (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-1.21; p = 0.102). The 3-year OS rates were 72.3% in the surgery alone group and 88.5% in the adjuvant chemotherapy group (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-1.25; p = 0.17). Univariate analyses showed that the number of liver metastases (> 2) was significantly associated with poorer OS (hazard ratio, 2.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-5.37; p = 0.027). Additionally, multivariate analyses showed that the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly associated with improved OS (hazard ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.81; p = 0.021).

Conclusions: Adjuvant chemotherapy may improve OS after curative hepatectomy for CRC liver metastases, though it did not significantly impact RFS. Larger-scale multicenter prospective studies with stratified analyses are needed to confirm these findings.

Background: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) has been identified as a prognostic factor in various cancers, but its significance in node-negative gastric cancer remains unclear. Gastric cancer prognosis is notably affected by lymph node metastasis, with LVI potentially indicating metastatic spread.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 5,699 patients who underwent curative radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 1989 and 2018. The median follow-up duration was 62 months (0-362 months). Overall, disease-specific, and disease-free survival were compared based on LVI status and stratified by T stage. Additionally, patients with stage IIA or T2N0 were further evaluated to clarify the clinical significance of LVI in the T2N0 group.

Results: The T2N0 LVI-positive group exhibited significantly poor prognosis than those in the T2N0 LVI-negative group, with no significant differences observed on comparing the T2N0 LVI-positive group with the T2N1 LVI-negative or LVI-positive groups. Furthermore, although the T2N0 LVI-negative group demonstrated better prognosis compared to the IIA group, the T2N0 LVI-positive group exhibited worse survival. In addition, LVI positivity was an independent risk factor for overall survival in T2N0 patients.

Conclusions: LVI in node-negative gastric cancer has clinical significance as a prognostic indicator, indicating an increased risk of disease recurrence and poor survival especially in T2 cohort. This indicates an increased likelihood of lymph node involvement and may influence treatment decisions and follow-up strategies.

Background: At present, the main clinical application of local ablation therapy, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), is to heat the tissue to a certain temperature. However, high temperature will cause thermal damage. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel minimally invasive local ablation technology for tumors. By high-frequency pulse, the tumor cell membrane can be irretrievably perforated, resulting in the destruction of the intracellular environment, which can preserve important structures in the treatment area. However, there are no randomized controlled clinical trials comparing the efficacy of IRE with traditional local ablation in the treatment of liver cancer.

Aims: This study aims to conduct a randomized controlled clinical trial comparing the efficacy of IRE with RFA in the treatment of liver cancer.

Methods: We will conduct a multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled non-inferiority clinical trial to compare the efficacy and safety of IRE and RFA for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One hundred and ninety patients with HCC from five academic medical centers will be enrolled. The patients will be randomized into treatment arm (IRE) and control arm (RFA). The primary outcome is the progress -free survival (PFS) and the key secondary outcome is the Overall survival (OS).

Results: Forty-eight patients had been recruited from 5 centers, of which, 33 patients (median age, 59.1 years) with 38 tumors had completed the 1-month follow-up and 21 patients have complete the 3-month follow up, with 2.3 months median follow up period. The mean largest tumor diameter is 3.9 cm. No end point was observed for PFS or OS in both groups, and the complete ablation rate was 100% in both groups. The lesions in the IRE group showed obvious shrinkage 1 month after procedure. One major adverse event (AE) was occurred in the control group.

Conclusion: This is the first randomized controlled clinical trial to compare the clinical effects of IRE and RFA. The preliminary results suggest that both RFA and IRE are effective in the treatment of HCC, which can provide strong evidence for the use of IRE in HCC and provide more options for the treatment of patients with HCC.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials. gov, identifier NCT05451160.