Assessing regional hepatic function changes after hypertrophy induction by radioembolisation: comparison of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and Tc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy.

Background: To compare Gd-ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Tc-labelled mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) as imaging-based liver function tests after unilateral radioembolisation (RE) in patients with primary or secondary liver malignancies.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with primary or secondary liver malignancies who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI within a prospective study (REVoluTion) were evaluated. REVoluTion was a prospective open-label, non-randomised, therapy-optimising study of patients undergoing right-sided or sequential RE for contralateral liver hypertrophy at a single centre in Germany.

Efficacy and quality of life for FOLFOX/bevacizumab +/- irinotecan in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer-final results of the AIO CHARTA trial.

Background: FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab has demonstrated benefits for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. However, challenges arise in its clinical implementation due to expected side effects and a lack of stratification criteria.

Methods: The AIO "CHARTA" trial randomised mCRC patients into clinical Group 1 (potentially resectable), 2 (unresectable/risk of rapid progression), or 3 (asymptomatic).

Multimodal Treatment of cT3 Rectal Cancer in a Prospective Multi-Center Observational Study: Can Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Be Omitted in Patients with an MRI-Assessed, Negative Circumferential Resection Margin?

Background/aim: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) in rectal cancer is associated with significant long-term morbidity. It is unclear whether nCRT in resectable mesorectal fascia circumferential resection margin (mrCRM)-negative rectal cancer treated by adequate total mesorectal excision (TME) is beneficial. The aim was to determine if nCRT can be omitted in patients with MRI-assessed cT3 rectal cancer and a negative mrCRM undergoing good-quality TME.

The Impact of Unilateral Y-radioembolization on Functional Changes in the Contralateral Hepatic Lobe: The Prospective, Open-label RadioEmbolization, Volumetry, and Liver FuncTion Measurements (REVoluTion) Study.

Objectives: To investigate how metabolic function of the contralateral liver lobe is affected by unilateral radioembolization (RE), and to compare the changes in volume and metabolic function.

Background: Unilateral RE induces contralateral liver hypertrophy, but it is unknown if metabolic liver function improves in line with volume increases.

Methods: This prospective open-label, nonrandomized, therapy-optimizing study included all consecutive patients undergoing right-sided or sequential Y-RE for liver malignancies without underlying liver disease or biliary obstruction at a single center in Germany.

Correlation of skin rash and overall survival in patients with pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine and erlotinib - results from a non-interventional multi-center study.

Background: Gemcitabine/erlotinib treatment offers limited benefit in unselected patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Development of skin rash has been associated with favorable outcomes in patients treated with gemcitabine/erlotinib. This study aimed to extend knowledge on the effectiveness of gemcitabine/erlotinib in metastatic PDAC in the context of clinical practice and with focus on skin rash.

Protocol of the PANCALYZE trial: a multicenter, prospective study investigating the tumor biomarkers CXCR4, SMAD4, SOX9 and IFIT3 in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma to predict the pattern of recurrence of the disease.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies today with an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Biomarker analysis helps to better understand tumor biology and might emerge as a tool to develop personalized therapies. The aim of the study is to investigate four promising biomarkers to predict the clinical course and particularly the pattern of tumor recurrence after surgical resection.

Cytokines and Y-Radioembolization: Relation to Liver Function and Overall Survival.

Background: To evaluate the course of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines after Y-radioembolization (RE) of liver malignancies and to identify prognosticators for liver-related adverse events and survival.

Methods: In 34 consecutive patients with secondary or primary liver tumors scheduled for RE, the following cytokines were measured prior to and 2 h, 3 days, and 6 weeks after RE: interleukin (IL) -1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-γ. Liver function impairment was defined as an elevation of liver-related laboratory values as graded by CTCAE ≥ 2 and/or serum bilirubin ≥30 µmol/l and/or development of ascites at 6-week follow-up.

Adjuvant treatment for resected rectal cancer: impact of standard and intensified postoperative chemotherapy on disease-free survival in patients undergoing preoperative chemoradiation-a propensity score-matched analysis of an observational database.

Aims: Adjuvant chemotherapy for resected rectal cancer is widely used. However, studies on adjuvant treatment following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and total mesorectal excision (TME) have yielded conflicting results. Recent studies have focused on adding oxaliplatin to both preoperative and postoperative therapy, making it difficult to assess the impact of adjuvant oxaliplatin alone.

Y90 Radioembolization in chemo-refractory metastastic, liver dominant colorectal cancer patients: outcome assessment applying a predictive scoring system.

Background: In treatment-refractory liver dominant metastatic colorectal cancer, the role of liver directed therapies still is unclear. We sought to determine a prognostic score for Y90 radioembolization in these patients.

Methods: We analyzed 106 patients with refractory liver dominant mCRC who had undergone a total of 178 Y90 radioembolizations with resin microspheres was collected.

Modified transarterial chemoembolization with locoregional administration of sorafenib for treating hepatocellular carcinoma: feasibility, efficacy, and safety in the VX-2 rabbit liver tumor model.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the feasibility, efficacy and safety of a local application of sorafenib within a conventional transarterial chemoembolization in the VX-2 tumor-bearing rabbit model.

Methods: VX-2 tumors were induced in the left liver lobe of 10 New Zealand White rabbits. After two weeks, growth was verified by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT).

Locally ablative treatment of breast cancer liver metastases: identification of factors influencing survival (the Mammary Cancer Microtherapy and Interventional Approaches (MAMMA MIA) study).

Background: Liver metastases from breast cancer (LMBC) are typically considered to indicate systemic disease spread and patients are most often offered systemic palliative treatment only. However, retrospective studies suggest that some patients may have improved survival with local treatment of their liver metastases compared to systemic therapy alone. In the absence of randomized trials, it is important to identify patient characteristics indicating that benefit from local treatment can be expected.

Radiation-induced liver damage: correlation of histopathology with hepatobiliary magnetic resonance imaging, a feasibility study.

Purpose: Radiotherapy of liver malignancies shows promising results (radioembolization, stereotactic irradiation, interstitial brachytherapy). Regardless of the route of application, a certain amount of nontumorous liver parenchyma will be collaterally damaged by radiation. The functional reserve may be significantly reduced with an impact on further treatment planning.

Left-liver hypertrophy after therapeutic right-liver radioembolization is substantial but less than after portal vein embolization.

Unlabelled: In patients with liver malignancies potentially amenable to curative extended right hepatectomy but insufficient size of the future liver remnant (FLR), portal vein embolization (PVE) of the tumor-bearing liver is used to induce contralateral liver hypertrophy but leaves the tumor untreated. Radioembolization (RE) treats the tumor in the embolized lobe along with contralateral hypertrophy induction. We performed a matched-pair analysis to compare the capacity for hypertrophy induction of these two modalities.

Epidemiology, surgical management and early postoperative outcome in a cohort of gastric cancer patients of a tertiary referral center in relation to multi-center quality assurance studies.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to analyze epidemiologic parameters, treatment-related data and prognostic factors in the management of gastric cancer patients of a university surgical center under conditions of routine clinical care before the onset of the era of multimodal therapies. By analyzing our data in relation with multi-center quality assurance trials [German Gastric Cancer Study - GGCS (1992) and East German Gastric Cancer Study - EGGCS (2004)] we aimed at providing an instrument of internal quality control at our institution as well as a base for comparison with future analyses taking into account the implementation of evolving (multimodal) therapies and their influence on treatment results.

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively gathered data of gastric cancer patients treated at a single institution during a defined 10-year time period with multivariate analysis of risk factors for early postoperative outcome.

Conversion in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery: impact on short- and long-term outcome.

Introduction: Despite the well-documented safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in curative intention, the role of conversion and its impact on short- and long-term outcome after resection of a carcinoma are unclear and continue to give rise to controversial discussion.

Methods: Within the framework of a prospective, multicenter observational study (Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Study Group), into which a total of 5,863 patients from 69 hospitals were recruited over a period of 10 years, a subgroup of all patients who had undergone curative resection was analyzed with regard to the effects of conversion.

Results: Of the 1409 patients who had undergone curative resection for colorectal carcinoma, conversion had to be performed in 80 (5.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal carcinoma: effects on anastomotic leak rate and postoperative bladder dysfunction after non-emergency sphincter-preserving anterior rectal resection. Results of the Quality Assurance in Rectal Cancer Surgery multicenter observational trial.

Introduction: Randomized trials have demonstrated a reduction in local recurrence rate in rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision (TME) compared to patients undergoing TME alone. Accordingly, preoperative chemoradiotherapy in all UICC stages II and III rectal cancers has been recommended in the German treatment guidelines as of 2004. However, this policy has been questioned in recent years, partly due to concern regarding an increase in postoperative complications through preoperative therapy.