ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with laparoscopic gastrectomy in treatment of local advanced gastric cancer. MethodsThe clinical data of 24 patients with local advanced gastric cancer undergoing 2 courses of FLEEOX neoadjuvant chemotherapy from July 2012 to July 2015 were analyzed. The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on radiographic results was evaluated. The gastrectomy was performed on week 2 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were treated with XELOX regimen as adjuvant chemotherapy after laparoscopic gastrectomy. Results① Complete response occurred in 4 cases (16.6%), partial response in 18 cases (75.0%), stable disease in 1 case (4.2%), disease progressive in 1 case (4.2%). The total effective rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 91.6% (22/24). ② The serum tumor markers CEA, CA19-9, and CA125 levels after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were significantly lower than those before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001) and reached normal levels. ③ Two courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and laparoscopic exploration were completed successfully in these 24 patients. Two patients with intraabdominal metastasis were underwent palliative gastrojejunostomy, the other 22 patients were underwent laparoscopic D2 radical gastrectomy. The operative time was (236±45) min, the intraoperative blood loss was (150±50) mL, the number of lymph node dissected was 17.4 ± 5.3, the postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery time was (3.1±0.8) d. ④ There was no death due to surgery. One case suffered anastomotic leakage, 1 case intestinal obstruction, and 1 case pulmonary infection after surgery. The postoperative complications were cured by conservative treatment. ⑤ The haematological adverse events included anemia (9 patients), leukopenia (14 patients), thrombocytopenia (8 patients), aminotransferase abnormality (5 in elevated ALT, 6 in elevated AST), the most common toxicity was nausea (19 patients), 10 patients suffered nerve toxicity. All the patients were relieved after treatment. ⑥ The patients were followed up for 4-39 months, 1 case died of cachexia as the result of extensive abdominal metastasis, 1 case died of liver failure as the result of multiple liver metastases, 1 case was death as the result of brain metastasis, 1 case was death as the result of the other cause, the other 20 patients were alive. ConclusionsThe preliminary results of limited cases in this study show that FLEEOX neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with laparoscopic gastrectomy for local advanced gastric cancer is safe and effective. It has advantages of minimal invasion and fast recovery.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of a decision tree (DT) model based on CT for predicting pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy therapy (NACT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).MethodsThe clinical data and DICOM images of CT examination of 244 patients who underwent radical surgery after the NACT from October 2016 to March 2019 in the Database from Colorectal Cancer (DACCA) in the West China Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The ITK-SNAP software was used to select the largest level of tumor and sketch the region of interest. By using a random allocation software, 200 patients were allocated into the training set and 44 patients were allocated into the test set. The MATLAB software was used to read the CT images in DICOM format and extract and select radiomics features. Then these reduced-dimensions features were used to construct the prediction model. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity values were used to evaluate the prediction model.ResultsAccording to the postoperative pathological tumor regression grade (TRG) classification, there were 28 cases in the pCR group (TRG0) and 216 cases in the non-pCR group (TRG1–TRG3). The outcomes of patients with LARC after NACT were highly correlated with 13 radiomics features based on CT (6 grayscale features: mean, variance, deviation, skewness, kurtosis, energy; 3 texture features: contrast, correlation, homogeneity; 4 shape features: perimeter, diameter, area, shape). The AUC value of DT model based on CT was 0.772 [95% CI (0.656, 0.888)] for predicting pCR after the NACT in the patients with LARC. The accuracy of prediction was higher for the non-PCR patients (97.2%), but lower for the pCR patients (57.1%).ConclusionsIn this preliminary study, the DT model based on CT shows a lower prediction efficiency in judging pCR patient with LARC before operation as compared with homogeneity researches, so a more accurate prediction model of pCR patient will be optimized through advancing algorithm, expanding data set, and digging up more radiomics features.
ObjectiveTo explore whether surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy can bring survival benefits to patients with cervical and upper thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).MethodsThe clinical data of patients with cervical and upper thoracic ESCC who underwent R0 resection and neck anastomosis in our department from 2006 to 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients received neoadjuvant therapy or adjuvant radiotherapy were excluded. The adjuvant chemotherapy group was given a combination of taxanes and platinum based chemotherapy after surgery; the surgery alone group did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival difference between the adjuvant chemotherapy group and the surgery alone group. ResultsA total of 181 patients were enrolled, including 141 (77.9%) males and 40 (22.1%) females, with an average age of 61.0±8.2 years (80 patients aged≤61 years, 101 patients aged>61 years). There were 70 (38.7%) patients of cervical ESCC, and 111 (61.3%) patients of upper thoracic ESCC. Eighty-seven (48.1%) patients underwent postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and 94 (51.9%) patients underwent surgery alone, and the basic clinical characteristics were well balanced between the two groups (P>0.05). The median survival time of patients in the adjuvant chemotherapy group and the surgery alone group was 31.93 months and 26.07 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 35.0% and 32.0%, respectively (P=0.227). There was no statistical difference in median survival time between the cervical ESCC and upper thoracic ESCC group (31.83 months vs. 29.76 months, P=0.763). For cervical ESCC patients, the median survival time was 45.07 months in the adjuvant chemotherapy group and 14.70 months in the surgery alone group (P=0.074). Further analysis showed that the median survival time of lymph node negative group was 32.53 months, and the lymph node positive group was 24.57 months (P=0.356). The median survival time was 30.43 months in the lymph-node positive group with adjuvant chemotherapy and 17.77 months in the lymph-node positive group with surgery alone. The survival curve showed a trend of difference, but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.557).ConclusionThere is no statistical difference in the long-term survival of cervical and upper thoracic ESCC patients after R0 resection. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy may have survival benefits for patients with cervical ESCC and upper ESCC with postoperative positive lymph nodes, but the differences are not statistically significant in this setting.
Objective To explore the accuracy of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting pathological complete remission (pCR) in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy (NAC). Methods The clinicopathological data of 245 patients with invasive breast cancer who had completed the surgical resection after NAC in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from March 2020 to April 2022 were collected retrospectively. According to the results of hormone receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) detected by immunohistochemistry, all patients were divided into four subgroups: HR+/HER2–, HR+/HER2+, HR–/HER2+ and HR–/HER2–. The value of MRI in evaluating the efficacy of NAC was analyzed by comparing the postoperative pathological results as the gold standard with the residual tumor size assessed by preoperative MRI. Meanwhile, the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of pCR predicted by the evaluation results of enhanced MRI were analyzed, and further analyzed its predictive value for pCR of different subtypes of breast cancer. Results There were 88 cases (35.9%) achieved radiological complete response (rCR) and 106 cases (43.3%) achieved pCR in 245 patients. Enhanced MRI in assessing the size of residual tumors overestimated and underestimated 12.7% (31/245) and 9.8% (24/245) of patients, respectively. When setting rCR as the MRI assessment index the specificity, sensitivity and PPV were 84.2% (117/139), 62.3% (66/106) and 75.0% (66/88), respectively. When setting near-rCR as the MRI assessment index the specificity, sensitivity and PPV were 70.5% (98/139), 81.1% (86/106), and 67.7% (86/127), respectively. The positive predictive value of both MRI-rCR and MRI-near-rCR in evaluating pCR of each subtype subgroup of breast cancer was the highest in the HR–/HER2+ subgroup (91.7% and 83.3%, respectively). In each subgroup, compared with rCR, the specificity of near-rCR to predict pCR decreased to different degrees, while the sensitivity increased to different degrees. Conclusions Breast contrast-enhanced MRI can more accurately evaluate the efficacy of localized breast lesions after NAC, and can also more accurately predict the breast pCR after NAC. The HR–/HER2+ subgroup may be a potentially predictable population with pCR exemption from breast surgery. However, the accuracy of the evaluation of pCR by breast enhancement MRI in HR+/HER2– subgroup is low.
ObjectiveTo summarize the current treatment status and progress of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer in order to improve the understanding of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to guide clinical work.MethodThe relevant literatures at home and abroad on neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer were readed and reviewed.ResultsNeoadjuvant chemotherapy could reduce tumor lesions, increase R0 resection rate, decrease postoperative complication rate, and improve patients’ survival, however, there was currently no high quality evidence-based medicine proof. At present, there was no unified neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens for pancreatic cancer in the world. FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine plus S-1, and gencitabine plus Nab-paclitaxel were the three common regimens we used. In addition, the neoadjuvant chemotherapy of pancreatic cancer had no uniform standard, and there were insufficient methods for evaluating therapeutic effects.ConclusionAlthough there are still some core problems need to be solved in neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, however, it’s curative effect is gradually recognized and widely used by clinicians, which is beneficial to provide a better prognosis for pancreatic cancer patients.
Objective To evaluate the risk of management decision combined neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with operation for colorectal cancer by means of the colorectal cancer model of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI-CCM). Methods One hundred and eighty-one eligible patients (102 male, 79 female, mean age 58.78 years), which were pathologically proved colorectal cancer in our ward from July to November 2007, involved 62 colonic and 119 rectal cancer. The enrollment were assigned into multi-disciplinary team (MDT) group (n=65) or non-MDT group (n=116), according to whether the MDT was adopted, and the operative risk was analyzed by ACPGBI-CCM. Results The baseline characteristics of MDT and non-MDT group were coherent. The watershed of lower risk group (LRG) and higher risk group (HRG) was set as predictive mortality=2.07%. The time involving extraction of gastric, urethral and drainage tube, feeding, out-of-bed activity after operation in MDT group, whatever in LRG or HRG, were statistically earlier than those in non-MDT group (P＜0.05). The resectable rate in LRG was statistically higher than that in HRG (P＜0.05), and the proportion of Dukes staging was significantly different (P＜0.05) between two groups; Moreover, predictive mortality in HRG was statistically higher than that in LRG (P＜0.05), while actually there was no death in both groups. Conclusion Dukes staging which is included as an indispensable option by ACPGBI-CCM is responsible for the lower predictive mortality in LRG.Hence, the value of ACPGBI-CCM used to asses the morbidity of complications within 30 days postoperatively would be warranted by further research. The postoperative risk evaluation can serve as a novel routine to comprehensively analyze the short-term safe in the MDT.
Objective To compare the clinical effect between neo-adjuvant chemotherapy combined with operation and simple operation under multi-disciplinary team in rectal cancer. Methods A survey of 72 patients with rectal cancer from Nov. 2007 to Mar. 2008 were studied. Patients were divided into two groups using a simple random method: 33 cases in combined therapy group were treated with single period neo-adjuvant chemotherapy as well as operation and 39 cases in control group received operation only. To compare the differences of perioperative period indexes between two groups. Results During the differences of indexes of age, gender, differentiation degree, clinicopathologic stage as well as the distance to dentate line of tumor, there was no statistical significance between combined therapy group and control group (Pgt;0.05). And at the same time, the operative type, operative time and bleeding quantity in operation had no statistically significant difference between two groups (Pgt;0.05). As for the postoperative rehabilitation indexes, the time of vent to normal in combined therapy group was earlier than that in control group, but the intake time was later than that in control group （Plt;0.05）. Falling range from preoperative CEA to postoperative CEA was larger in combined therapy group than that in control group （Plt;0.05）; and the falling range from preoperative WBC to postoperative WBC had no significant difference between two groups （Pgt;0.05）. Conclusion The clinical effect of combined therapy is obviously superior to simple operation, suggesting that neo-adjuvant chemotherapy combined with operation is feasible and safe.
Objective To explore the tumor shrinking model, the accurate image evaluation of the residual tumor, and the selection criteria for breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods To review literature on the clinical, imaging, and pathologic study of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results The possibility of breast-conserving for patients with large primary tumor is enhanced with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The tumor shrinking mode after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and its correlation factors are still unclear. MRI is the most accurate image evaluation of the residual tumor at present. M.D.Anderson prognostic index and the American National Cancer Institute selection criteria for breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are helpful for selection of surgical type. Conclusion Tumor shrinking mode and its accurate image evaluation is a key to the selection of breast-conserving surgery and the control of local recurrence after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and is the research direction in future.
Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of HER2 protein expression in different degrees in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative breast cancer and the factors related to the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer with low HER2 expression. Methods The clinicopathological data of 161 patients with HER2-negative breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from March 2019 to March 2022 were retrospectively collected. The difference of clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with different levels of HER2 protein expression were analyzed, and the factors influencing the pathological complete remission (pCR) rate of breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with unconditional logistic regression model were analyzed. Results Among 161 HER2 negative breast cancer patients, 108 cases were low HER2 expression, accounting for 67.1%. Compared with those with zero expression of HER2 [immunohistochemistry (IHC) 0], the patients with low HER2 expression had higher axillary lymph node metastasis rate (P=0.048), lower histological grade (P=0.006), and higher proportion of positive hormone receptor expression (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in pCR rate among the HER2 IHC 0, IHC 1+ and IHC 2+ / in situ hybridization (ISH)– (P=0.099) , and the pCR rate of low expression of HER2 was lower than that of zero expression of HER2 in the general population and Luminal subgroup, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in triple negative breast cancer subgroup (P=0.814). The logistic regression analysis showed that age, histological grade and estrogen receptor expression status were independent influencing factors for pCR rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with low HER2 expression (P<0.05). Conclusions Different degrees of HER2 protein expressions in patients with HER2-negative breast cancer have unique clinicopathological characteristics. The pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with low HER2-expression breast cancer is lower than that in patients with zero HER2-expression breast cancer. Age, histological grade and estrogen receptor expression status are independent factors influencing the pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with low HER2-expression breast cancer.
Objective To discuss the safety and clinical differences among elderly people being treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy combined with operation. Methods To analyze retrospectively the data of patients diagnosed definitely as colorectal cancer in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 2007 to December 2007, and to compare the clinical effect differences between elderly group (≥60 years) and non-elderly group (lt;60 years) with combined therapy. Results Among preoperative indexes, the constituent ratios of elderly group combined with cardiac vessels system diseases, endocrine system diseases or other system diseases were all obviously higher than those of non-elderly group, the differences showed statistical significance (Plt;0.05); Constituent ratio of elderly patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus was also higher than that of non-elderly patients, there were still statistical significance (Plt;0.05), but no statistical significances among other preoperative indexes (Pgt;0.05); Differences of indexes during operation between two groups showed no statistical significance (Pgt;0.05). But during postoperative indexes, complications in elderly group were higher than those of non-elderly group, and the differences had statistical significance (Plt;0.05), and the time of removing gastric canal, urinary catheter and drainage tube between two groups showed no statistical significance (Pgt;0.05); Meanwhile, the intake time, venting time and defecation time after operation and out-of-bed activity time after operation also had no statistical significance (Pgt;0.05). As to the adverse effect relate to chemotherapy, there were no statistical significances (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion Elderly patients may have more poor physical condition and it maybe more difficult to treat them. In spite of this, the comprehensive treatment of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy combined with surgical operation will not lead to the delay of surgical therapy, in addition, operating modus during surgical intervention will not be effected and its therapeutic effect in the near future was optimistic. So the application of this combined therapy has some clinical effects and would be safety.