The Impact of Signet Ring Cell Differentiation on Outcome in Patients with Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Little is known about the association between signet ring cell (SRC) differentiation and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with esophageal and junctional adenocarcinoma (EAC). We aimed to assess if SRC differentiation is associated with survival and response to nCT or nCRT in patients with EAC.

Methods: Patients who underwent nCT and nCRT followed by surgery for EAC from 2000 until 2016 were identified from two institutional prospectively maintained databases.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.

Background: The optimal treatment strategy for patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) remains undetermined. This study compared outcomes in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) for EAC.

Methods: Patients who underwent nCT or nCRT followed by surgery for EAC were identified from a prospective database (2000-2017) and included.

Long-term Health-related Quality of Life Following Esophagectomy: A Nonrandomized Comparison of Thoracoscopically Assisted and Open Surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess long-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients after thoracoscopic and open esophagectomy.

Summary Of Background Data: Trials comparing minimally invasive with open transthoracic esophagectomy have shown improved short-term outcomes; however, long-term HRQL data are lacking. This prospective nonrandomized study compared HRQL and survival after thoracoscopically assisted McKeown esophagectomy (TAMK) and open transthoracic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy (TTIL) for esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer.

Assessment of morbidity following regional nodal dissection in the axilla and groin for metastatic melanoma.

Background: This study assessed and compared the morbidity of nodal dissection in the axilla and groin including sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), completion lymph node dissection for a positive SLNB (CLND) and therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND) with and without adjuvant radiotherapy (RT).

Methods: Patients who had nodal dissection in the axilla or groin for cutaneous melanoma over an 18-year period (1995-2013) were prospectively documented on a database. The median follow-up was nearly 3 years.

Melanoma brain metastases: the impact of nodal disease.

Brain metastases (BMs) are a major source of mortality and morbidity in patients with melanoma. This study assesses prognostic nodal factors in patients with nodal metastatic melanoma with respect to the development of BMs. The aim was to identify a high risk subset that may benefit from brain directed management.

Is concurrent radiation therapy required in patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus? A randomised phase II trial.

Introduction: Preoperative chemotherapy (CT) and preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for resectable oesophageal cancer have been shown to improve overall survival in meta-analyses. There are limited data comparing these preoperative therapies. We report the outcomes of a randomised phase II trial comparing preoperative CT and CRT for resectable adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and gastro-oesophageal junction.

Thoracoscopic-assisted esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: analysis of patterns and prognostic factors for recurrence.

Objective: The authors report the recurrence pattern of esophageal cancer after thoracoscopic-assisted esophagectomy (TAE), comparing it to the recurrence pattern after open surgery and identify prognostic factors for recurrence.

Summary Of Background Data: To improve long-term survival for esophageal cancer radical surgery has been proposed increasingly, however, recurrent disease remains a problem. Opinion is divided as to the adequacy of resection possible using minimally invasive techniques with concerns that there may be an increased incidence in locoregional recurrence.

Comparison of the outcomes between open and minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Objective: We report patient outcomes from esophageal resection with respect to morbidity and cancer survival comparing open thoracotomy and laparotomy (Open), with a thoracoscopic/laparotomy approach (Thoracoscopic-Assisted) and a total thoracoscopic/laparoscopic approach (Total MIE).

Methods: From a prospective database of all patients managed with cancer of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction, patients who had a resection using one of three techniques were analyzed to assess postoperative variables, adequacy of cancer clearance, and survival.

Results: The number of patients for each procedure was as follows: Open, 114; Thoracoscopic-Assisted, 309; and Total MIE, 23.