Category Archives: Ann Surg Oncol

Factors Associated with Short-Term Mortality After Surgical Oncologic Emergencies.

Ann Surg Oncol. 2015 Nov 9;

Authors: Bosscher MR, Bastiaannet E, van Leeuwen BL, Hoekstra HJ

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The clinical outcome of patients with oncologic emergencies is often poor and mortality is high. It is important to determine which patients may benefit from invasive treatment, and for whom conservative treatment and/or palliative care would be appropriate. In this study, prognostic factors for clinical outcome are identified in order to facilitate the decision-making process for patients with surgical oncologic emergencies.
METHODS: This was a prospective registration study for patients over 18 years of age, who were consulted for surgical oncologic emergencies between November 2013 and April 2014. Multiple variables were registered upon emergency consultation, and the follow-up period was 90 days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with 30- and 90-day mortality.
RESULTS: During the study period, 207 patients experienced surgical oncologic emergencies-101 (48.8 %) men and 106 (51.2 %) women, with a median age of 64 years (range 19-92). The 30-day mortality was 12.6 % and 90-day mortality was 21.7 %. Factors significantly associated with 30-day mortality were palliative intent of cancer treatment prior to emergency consultation (p = 0.006), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score (ECOG-PS) >0 (p for trend: p = 0.03), and raised lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p < 0.001). Additional factors associated with 90-day mortality were low handgrip strength (HGS) (p = 0.01) and low albumin (p = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS: Defining the intent of prior cancer treatment and the ECOG-PS are of prognostic value when deciding on treatment for patients with surgical oncologic emergencies. Additional measurements of HGS, LDH, and albumin levels can serve as objective parameters to support the clinical assessment of individual prognosis.

PMID: 26553441 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Deep Lymph Node Metastases in the Groin Significantly Affects Prognosis, Particularly in Sentinel Node-Positive Melanoma Patients.

Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 Jul 10;

Authors: Niebling MG, Wevers KP, Suurmeijer AJ, van Ginkel RJ, Hoekstra HJ

Abstract
BACKGROUND: In order to define patients eligible for only a superficial groin dissection or a combined superficial and deep groin dissection, this study aimed to determine the incidence of deep lymph node metastases (LNM) in patients with melanoma metastasized to the groin, to identify patient and melanoma factors that predict deep nodal involvement, and to analyze the impact of deep nodal involvement on survival and recurrence.
METHODS: Patients who underwent a combined superficial (inguinal) and deep (iliac and obturator) complete (CLND) or therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND) of the groin between 1994 and 2012 were analyzed.
RESULTS: QueryDeep LNM were found in 8 of 62 CLND patients (13 %) and in 21 of 67 TLND patients (31 %). More than three superficial LNM was the only independent predictor for deep LNM in both CLND and TLND patients. The 5-year melanoma-specific survival (MSS) for CLND and TLND patients with deep LNM was 14.3 and 16.6 %, respectively, and was significantly worse (hazard ratio [HR] 3.39, 95 % CI 1.34-8.58, p = 0.010; and HR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.04-3.88, p = 0.039) compared with CLND and TLND patients without deep LNM (5-year MSS: 54.1 and 37.2 %, respectively). Distant recurrence was significantly associated with deep LNM in CLND patients (p = 0.032).
CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that LNM in the deep area of the groin are fairly common in both CLND and TLND patients and significantly affect prognosis, especially in CLND patients. The number of superficial LNM is the only factor that was found to predict a finding of deep nodal metastases.

PMID: 25008028 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Different recurrence pattern after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy compared to surgery alone in esophageal cancer patients.

Ann Surg Oncol. 2013 Nov;20(12):4008-15

Authors: Smit JK, Güler S, Beukema JC, Mul VE, Burgerhof JG, Hospers GA, Plukker JT

Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate and pattern of recurrences after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in esophageal cancer patients.
METHODS: We described survival and differences in recurrences from a single center between neoadjuvant CRT (carboplatin/paclitaxel and 41.4 Gy) and surgery alone for the period 2000-2011. To reduce bias, we performed a propensity score matched analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 204 patients were analyzed, 75 treated with neoadjuvant CRT and 129 with surgery alone. The pathologic response to neoadjuvant CRT was 69% with a complete response rate of 25%. After matching, baseline characteristics between the groups (both n = 75) were equally distributed. The 3- and 5-year disease-free survival was 53 and 42% in the neoadjuvant CRT group compared with 24 and 18% in the surgery-alone group (P = 0.011). After 3 and 5 years’ CRT, patients had an estimated locoregional recurrence-free survival of 83 and 73% compared with 52 and 49% in the surgery-alone group (P = 0.015). The distant recurrence-free survival was comparable in both groups. Locoregional recurrences were located less in the paraesophageal lymph nodes in the CRT group than in the surgery-alone group, 9 versus 21%, respectively (P = 0.041). With respect to differences in distant recurrences, we observed more skeletal recurrences in the surgery-alone group compared to CRT, 12 versus 1% (P = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS: The neoadjuvant CRT regimen we used offers a significant improvement in outcome, with a different recurrence pattern compared with surgery alone. This effect is probably due to both the pathologic complete response and eradication of micrometastases in CRT group.

PMID: 23838922 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

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Loss of CD44 and SOX2 Expression is Correlated with a Poor Prognosis in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Patients.

Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 May 16;

Authors: Honing J, Pavlov KV, Meijer C, Smit JK, Boersma-van Ek W, Karrenbeld A, Burgerhof JG, Kruyt FA, Plukker JT

Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that markers associated with cancer stem cells (CSC) may play a role in esophageal cancer. Our aim was to investigate the expression pattern of proposed CSC markers ALDH1, Axin2, BMI1, CD44, and SOX2 in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and to relate their expression to survival.
METHODS: In this study we included 94 EAC patients and examined the expression of the above-mentioned markers by using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. Expression was scored as positive or negative or categorized as low or high in terms of an immunoreactivity score (IRS). Expression rates were related to clinicopathologic characteristics and overall and disease-free survival (DFS).
RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis, negative expression of CD44 and of SOX2 were both significant prognostic factors for DFS [hazard ratio (HR), 1.73; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.00-2.96; P = 0.046 and HR, 2.06; 95 % CI 1.14-3.70 P = 0.016). When CD44 and SOX2 expression were analyzed together, negative SOX2 expression was an independent prognostic factor for DFS (HR, 1.91; 95 % CI 1.05-3.46; P = 0.034). Low IRS scores for ALDH1 or Axin2 were associated with a reduced median survival (12.8 vs. 28.7 and 12.1 vs. 25.5 months, respectively). However, these markers and BMI1 were not prognostic factors for survival.
CONCLUSIONS: Loss of CD44 expression and loss of SOX2 expression are prognostic factors of poor survival in EAC patients. This suggests a role of these proteins in EAC that requires further investigation.

PMID: 24833101 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Factors Influencing the Use of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Netherlands.

Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 May 12;

Authors: Huismans AM, Niebling MG, Wevers KP, Schuurman MS, Hoekstra HJ

Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the US, whether a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is performed depends on tumor and patient factors, including socioeconomic status (SES) and type of health care insurance. We analyzed which patient and tumor characteristics influenced the use of SLNB in a country where every patient has equal access to healthcare.
METHODS: Patients diagnosed with a cutaneous invasive melanoma of ≥1 mm between 2004 and 2011 and living in the northeastern part of the Netherlands were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Regression analysis was performed to assess the association of patient and tumor characteristics and SLNB use.
RESULTS: SLNB was performed in 42 % of the 2,413 included patients. The frequency of performing SLNB increased between 2004 and 2011 from 24 to 55 % (p < 0.001). Patients were less likely to undergo SLNB if they had a melanoma located in the head and neck area (p < 0.001), when they were over 55 years (p = 0.001), and if they had a low SES (p = 0.03). SLNB use was more likely when the diagnosis of melanoma was made in the university hospital (p = 0.045) or when the Breslow thickness was 2.01-4.0 mm (p = 0.03).
CONCLUSIONS: The use of SLNB has increased significantly between 2004 and 2011. However, in 2011 it was still performed in only 55 % of the Dutch patients with a melanoma ≥1 mm. In patients with head and neck melanoma, older patients, and patients with low SES, SLNB was less frequently performed. Patients with T3 melanomas and a diagnosis made in the university hospital more often had an SLNB performed.

PMID: 24819123 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Comparison of Two Preoperative Inspiratory Muscle Training Programs to Prevent Pulmonary Complications in Patients Undergoing Esophagectomy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 Mar 7;

Authors: van Adrichem EJ, Meulenbroek RL, Plukker JT, Groen H, van Weert E

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are the most commonly reported complications after esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to examine the effect and feasibility of preoperative inspiratory muscle training-high intensity (IMT-HI), and IMT-endurance (IMT-E) on the incidence of PPCs in patients following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer (EC).
METHOD: A single-blind, randomized, clinical pilot study was conducted between 2009 and 2012. Forty-five participants were assigned to either IMT-HI or IMT-E. Effectiveness was assessed by analyzing PPCs, length of hospital stay (LOS), duration of mechanical ventilation, stay on the intensive care unit, and number of reintubations. Maximal inspiratory pressure and lung function changes were recorded pre- and post-training. Feasibility was assessed by IMT-related adverse events, training compliance, and patients’ satisfaction.
RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients could be analyzed, 20 patients in the IMT-HI arm and 19 patients in the IMT-E arm. The incidence of PPCs differed significantly between groups and was almost three times lower for the IMT-HI group (4 vs. 11 patients; p = 0.015). Other differences in favor of the IMT-HI group were LOS (13.5 vs. 18 days; p = 0.010) and number of reintubations (0 vs. 4 patients; p = 0.030). Both interventions proved to be equally feasible.
CONCLUSION: Preoperative IMT-HI showed to be a promising, effective, and feasible intervention to reduce PPCs in EC patients undergoing esophagectomy. Further research with a larger sample size is recommended.

PMID: 24604584 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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