Genomic signatures of past and present chromosomal instability in Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal adenocarcinoma.

The progression of precancerous lesions to malignancy is often accompanied by increasing complexity of chromosomal alterations but how these alterations arise is poorly understood. Here we perform haplotype-specific analysis of chromosomal copy-number evolution in the progression of Barrett's esophagus (BE) to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) on multiregional whole-genome sequencing data of BE with dysplasia and microscopic EAC foci. We identify distinct patterns of copy-number evolution indicating multigenerational chromosomal instability that is initiated by cell division errors but propagated only after p53 loss.

Anastomotic complications after esophagectomy: Influence of omentoplasty in propensity-weighted cohorts.

Objective: A recent meta-analysis of 3 randomized controlled trials reported reduced incidence and severity of postesophagectomy anastomotic dehiscence with anastomotic omentoplasty. Unfortunately, these trials excluded neoadjuvant patients who received chemoradiation. We aimed to determine whether anastomotic omentoplasty was associated with differential postesophagectomy anastomotic complications after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

The Association of Nicotine Replacement Therapy With Outcomes Among Smokers Hospitalized for a Major Surgical Procedure.

Background: There are concerns that starting nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in the immediate perioperative period may negatively impact wound healing. We investigated the association of NRT with postoperative outcomes among smokers hospitalized for a surgical procedure.

Methods: This was a retrospective study in 552 hospitals of active smokers hospitalized between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016 for a major surgical procedure (Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Group expected length of stay, ≥ 2 days).

Loss of ARID1A expression is associated with DNA mismatch repair protein deficiency and favorable prognosis in advanced stage surgically resected esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma often presents at an advanced stage and has a dismal prognosis. Current prognostic markers have limited utility. ARID1A is implicated as a tumor suppressor gene in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Prolonged Air Leak After Pulmonary Resection Increases Risk of Noncardiac Complications, Readmission, and Delayed Hospital Discharge: A Propensity Score-adjusted Analysis.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether prolonged air leak (PAL) is associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality following pulmonary resection after adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics using propensity score analysis.

Summary Background Data: Patients with PAL after lung resection have worse outcomes than those without PAL. However, adverse postoperative outcomes may also be secondary to baseline risk factors, such as poor lung function.

Percutaneous computed tomography-guided biopsy performed by thoracic surgeons in 955 patients: A paradigm shift in image-guided thoracic procedures.

Objectives: Computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration (CT-FNA) biopsy is a well-established diagnostic technique in the evaluation of lung nodules that is performed by radiologists in most centers. In this series, we analyzed the diagnostic and perioperative outcomes following CT-FNA performed by a dedicated group of thoracic surgeons.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 955 patients undergoing CT-FNA by the thoracic surgery service.

Genomic Heterogeneity as a Barrier to Precision Medicine in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) is a lethal disease where targeted therapies, even when guided by genomic biomarkers, have had limited efficacy. A potential reason for the failure of such therapies is that genomic profiling results could commonly differ between the primary and metastatic tumors. To evaluate genomic heterogeneity, we sequenced paired primary GEA and synchronous metastatic lesions across multiple cohorts, finding extensive differences in genomic alterations, including discrepancies in potentially clinically relevant alterations.

Extreme chromosome 17 copy number instability is a prognostic factor in patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: A retrospective cohort study.

Gastric and esophageal cancers frequently show genomic instability and aneuploidy. Chromosomal copy number instability (CIN) is a form of genomic instability that exerts pleiotropic effects on cellular biology and is a source of genetic heterogeneity in a population of cells. CIN results in cell-to-cell variation in chromosome copy number which can be detected and quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Mesh cruroplasty in laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernias is not associated with better long-term outcomes compared to primary repair.

Background: Equipoise still exists regarding routine mesh cruroplasty during laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia (PEH). We aimed to determine whether selective mesh cruroplasty is associated with differences in recurrence and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: We compared symptom outcomes (n = 688) and radiographic recurrences (n = 101; at least 10% [or 2 cm] of stomach above hiatus) for 795 non-emergent PEH repair with fundoplication (n = 106 with mesh).

Targeting Immune Checkpoints in Esophageal Cancer: A High Mutational Load Tumor.

Checkpoint inhibitors (eg, programmed cell death protein 1 [PD-1], programmed cell death ligand 1 [PD-L1], cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 [CTLA-4] antibodies) are changing how we understand cancer and provide a means to develop modern immunotherapies. An emergent notion relates success with checkpoint inhibitors with high mutational load tumors. There are few studies that examine checkpoint protein expression and relate these to clinical outcomes after the conventional treatment of patients with esophageal cancer, which has a high mutational load.

A clinical prediction model for prolonged air leak after pulmonary resection.

Objective: Prolonged air leak increases costs and worsens outcomes after pulmonary resection. We aimed to develop a clinical prediction tool for prolonged air leak using pretreatment and intraoperative variables.

Methods: Patients who underwent pulmonary resection for lung cancer/nodules (from January 2009 to June 2014) were stratified by prolonged parenchymal air leak (>5 days).

5-Fluorouracil upregulates cell surface B7-H1 (PD-L1) expression in gastrointestinal cancers.

Background: Resistance to chemotherapy is a major obstacle in the effective treatment of cancer patients. B7-homolog 1, also known as programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), is an immunoregulatory protein that is overexpressed in several human cancers. Interaction of B7-H1 with programmed death 1 (PD-1) prevents T-cell activation and proliferation, sequestering the T-cell receptor from the cell membrane, inducing T-cell apoptosis, thereby leading to cancer immunoresistance.

Cancer Recurrence After Esophagectomy: Impact of Postoperative Infection in Propensity-Matched Cohorts.

Background: Postoperative infection increases cancer recurrence and worsens survival in colorectal cancer, but the relationship for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma after esophagectomy is not well defined. We aimed to determine whether recurrence and survival after minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma were influenced by postoperative infection using propensity-matched analysis.

Methods: We abstracted data for 810 patients (1997-2010) and defined exposure as at least 1 in-hospital or 30-day infectious complication (n = 206 [25%]).

Non-Elective Paraesophageal Hernia Repair Portends Worse Outcomes in Comparable Patients: a Propensity-Adjusted Analysis.

Introduction: Patients undergoing non-elective paraesophageal hernia repair (PEHR) have worse perioperative outcomes. Because they are usually older and sicker, however, these patients may be more prone to adverse events, independent of surgical urgency. Our study aimed to determine whether non-elective PEHR is associated with differential postoperative outcome compared to elective repair, using propensity-score weighting.

Propensity-score analysis in thoracic surgery: When, why, and an introduction to how.

Propensity score matching is a valuable tool for dealing with observational data and nonrandom treatment assignment, which often results in groups that differ systematically in numerous measured and unmeasured variables. When these systematically different variables are associated with both group assignment and the outcome(s) of interest, bias is introduced. Propensity score matching assigns a propensity for group assignment, which is then used to create 2 groups that are balanced across all possible variables that might influence exposure assignment.

Endobronchial Ultrasound-Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for Lymphoma in Patients With Low Suspicion for Lung Cancer and Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy.

Background: Although the role for endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for metastatic lung cancer is well described, the usefulness of EBUS-TBNA for diagnosing lymphoma is less well defined. We aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy for lymphoma of EBUS-TBNA with rapid, on-site evaluation in the evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with a low-suspicion for lung cancer.

Methods: Medical records for all EBUS-TBNA (381 total procedures) from 2007 to 2013 were reviewed, and procedure indication, prior workup, cytologic diagnosis, histologic follow-up, and available ancillary studies were abstracted.