Perioperative blood transfusions and survival in resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients given multimodality therapy.

Background And Objectives: The impact of perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) on outcomes for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients given multimodality therapy (MMT) remains undefined. We sought to evaluate the association of PBT with survival after PDAC resection.

Methods: Pancreatectomy patients (July 2011-December 2017) who received MMT were abstracted from a prospective database.

Impact of Intraoperative Dexamethasone on Surgical and Oncologic Outcomes for Patients with Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Administration of dexamethasone to mitigate postoperative nausea and vomiting has been suggested to improve short- and long-term outcomes after pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) resection. This study aimed primarily to evaluate these hypotheses in a contemporary patient cohort treated with multimodality therapy.

Methods: The clinicopathologic and perioperative characteristics of consecutive resected PDAC patients (July 2011 to October 2018) were analyzed from a prospectively maintained database.

Anesthetic and operative considerations for laparoscopic liver resection.

We enumerate the broad range of anesthetic considerations that affect the outcome of patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection. Key elements for excellent outcomes after laparoscopic liver resection are careful patient selection and risk stratification, appropriate monitoring, techniques to reduce blood loss and transfusion, and active recovery management. Although some of these key elements are the same for open liver operation, there are specific anesthetic considerations of which both the surgical and anesthesia teams must be aware to achieve optimal patient outcomes after laparoscopic liver resection.

A multidisciplinary cancer center maximizes surgeons' impact.

Background: Colorectal cancer patients require care across different disciplines. Integration of multidisciplinary care is critical to accomplish excellent oncologic results. We hypothesized that the establishment of a dedicated colorectal cancer center (CRCC) around specialty-trained surgeons will lead to increased multidisciplinary management and improved outcomes in colorectal cancer patients.

Neurogenesis in colorectal cancer is a marker of aggressive tumor behavior and poor outcomes.

Background: Colorectal cancer staging criteria do not rely on examination of neuronal tissue. The authors previously demonstrated that perineural invasion is an independent prognostic factor of outcomes in colorectal cancer. For the current study, they hypothesized that neurogenesis occurs in colorectal cancer and portends an aggressive tumor phenotype.

Minimally invasive surgery improves short-term outcomes in elderly colorectal cancer patients.

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for colorectal resection has been shown to improve short-term outcomes compared with open surgery in patients with colorectal cancer. Currently, there is a paucity of data demonstrating similar efficacy between MIS and open colorectal resection in the elderly population. We hypothesized that minimally invasive surgery provides improved short-term outcomes in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

Establishment of a minimally invasive program at a Veterans' Affairs Medical Center leads to improved care in colorectal cancer patients.

Background: Despite significant advantages to patients, less than 5% of all colorectal surgeries for cancer are performed laparoscopically. A minimally invasive colorectal cancer program was created in our Veterans' Affairs hospital with the intent of increasing access and improving quality of patient care while maintaining patient safety and oncologic standards.

Methods: Sixty consecutive laparoscopic colorectal cancer resections and 60 age-matched open resections were identified.

The role of angiocidin in sarcomas.

Background: Angiocidin, first identified as a tumor-associated thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) receptor, is a key mediator of tumor progression. TSP-1, an extracellular protein produced by stromal cells, up-regulates gelatinases and tumor cell invasion in epithelial malignancies. The authors recently developed 2 angiocidin-inhibitory peptides that block angiocidin-TSP-1 binding.

Perineural invasion in cancer: a review of the literature.

Perineural invasion (PNI) is the process of neoplastic invasion of nerves and is an under-recognized route of metastatic spread. It is emerging as an important pathologic feature of many malignancies, including those of the pancreas, colon and rectum, prostate, head and neck, biliary tract, and stomach. For many of these malignancies, PNI is a marker of poor outcome and a harbinger of decreased survival.

Rectal cancer patients benefit from implementation of a dedicated colorectal cancer center in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Background: A dedicated colorectal cancer (CRC) center was created in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center with the intent of improving quality of patient care and multidisciplinary cooperation.

Methods: Retrospective and prospective databases before and after creation of the CRC center, respectively, were created. Patients entered in each database included those requiring surgical intervention for CRC treatment.

Decreased expression of fibulin-5 correlates with reduced elastin in thoracic aortic dissection.

Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysmal diseases are characterized by degeneration of elastin within the aortic wall. Although proteinases, such as matrix metalloproteinase, appear to contribute to elastin degradation, little is known about the role of elastic fiber assembly in such diseases. Fibulin-5 is an extracellular protein that is expressed in the vascular basement membrane and regulates elastic fiber assembly by microfibril machinery.

Matrix metalloproteinases in ascending aortic aneurysms: bicuspid versus trileaflet aortic valves.

Background: Abnormal matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) expression contributes to the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Recent data suggest that MMP-2 and MMP-9 may also play a role in thoracic aortic disease. We sought to determine (1) whether ascending aortic aneurysms are associated with increased MMP expression and (2) whether aortic inflammation and MMP expression differ between patients with congenital bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) and those with trileaflet aortic valves (TAVs).