YAP acts as an independent prognostic marker and regulates growth and metastasis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors via FBXW7-YAP pathway.

Background: Although imatinib (IM) and subsequent tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) significantly improve the prognosis of GIST patients by delaying metastasis and recurrence, most patients experience limited efficacy due to toxicity and secondary resistance. We evaluated Yes-associated protein (YAP), a coactivator of the Hippo pathway accounting for IM resistance and aggressive GIST phenotypes, in GISTs. The degradation of YAP is mediated by FBXW7, and FBXW7 predicts recurrence and IM efficacy for GIST patients.

Presence of Fusobacterium nucleatum in relation to patient survival and an acidic environment in oesophagogastric junction and gastric cancers.

Background: Fusobacterium nucleatum inhabits the oral cavity and affects the progression of gastrointestinal cancer. Our prior findings link F. nucleatum to poor prognosis in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma via NF-κB pathway.

Body Composition and Clinical Outcomes in Esophageal Cancer Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Background: Obesity is associated with increased mortality in various cancers, but the relationship between obesity and clinical outcomes in unresectable or recurrent esophageal cancer who receive immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains unknown. This study investigated the association between body composition and clinical outcomes in patients with unresectable or recurrent esophageal cancer who received ICIs.

Methods: Utilizing an unbiased database of 111 unresectable or recurrent esophageal cancers, we evaluated the relationships between body composition (body mass index, waist circumference, psoas major muscle volume, and subcutaneous and visceral fat areas) at the initiation of ICI treatment and clinical outcomes including the disease control rate and progression-free survival (PFS).

Relationship between the severity of emphysematous change in the lung and morbidity after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: A retrospective study on a novel strategy for risk prediction.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence increases post-esophagectomy morbidity. However, the association between COPD severity and post-esophagectomy morbidity remains unclear because of the lack of an objective method to classify COPD severity. Low attenuation volume ratio (LAVR) estimated using Ziostation2 may reflect the extent of emphysematous changes in the lungs and COPD severity, thereby predicting post-esophagectomy morbidity.

Evolution of immune and stromal cell states and ecotypes during gastric adenocarcinoma progression.

Understanding tumor microenvironment (TME) reprogramming in gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) progression may uncover novel therapeutic targets. Here, we performed single-cell profiling of precancerous lesions, localized and metastatic GACs, identifying alterations in TME cell states and compositions as GAC progresses. Abundant IgA plasma cells exist in the premalignant microenvironment, whereas immunosuppressive myeloid and stromal subsets dominate late-stage GACs.

Proteogenomic landscape of gastric adenocarcinoma peritoneal metastases.

Advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) often leads to peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) and is associated with very poor outcome. Here we report the comprehensive proteogenomic study of ascites derived cells from a prospective GAC cohort (n = 26 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, PC). A total of 16,449 proteins were detected from whole cell extracts (TCEs).

Frailty Assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale is Associated with Prognosis After Esophagectomy.

Background: The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a simple and validated tool for assessing frailty, and higher CFS scores are correlated with worse perioperative outcomes after cardiovascular surgery. However, the relationship between the CFS scores and postoperative outcomes after esophagectomy remain unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 561 patients with esophageal cancer (EC) who underwent resection from August 2010 to August 2020.

Immune-related adverse events and prognosis in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer treated with nivolumab.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly being used for the treatment of upper gastrointestinal cancers [esophageal cancer and gastric cancer (GC)]. They cause imbalances in immunological tolerance, resulting in immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Although irAEs have been reported to be associated with the efficacy of ICIs in some cancers, the relationship between irAEs and prognosis of upper gastrointestinal cancers remains unknown.

Intratumour Fusobacterium nucleatum and immune response to oesophageal cancer.

Background: Experimental evidence suggests a role of intratumour Fusobacterium nucleatum in the aggressive behaviour of gastrointestinal cancer through downregulating anti-tumour immunity. We investigated the relationship between intratumour F. nucleatum and immune response to oesophageal cancer.

C-Reactive Protein Levels After Esophagectomy are Associated with Increased Surgical Complications and Poor Prognosis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are reported to predict complications and survival after surgery in various cancers. However, the relationship between postoperative CRP levels and short- and long-term outcomes of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients after esophagectomy is unclear.

Method: We reviewed the records of 543 ESCC patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction at Kumamoto University Hospital between August 2010 and July 2021.

Localized Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma in the Elderly: Is Age a Factor Associated with Suboptimal Treatment?

Introduction: Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma is relatively common in elderly patients as the incidence increases with age. However, the optimal treatment approach is not well established in this group of patients. The aim of this study is to review our experience for localized gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma in patients aged ≥80 years and to assess association between patient characteristics, clinical factors, and overall survival (OS) in order to optimize the therapeutic approaches for this population.

Postoperative respiratory morbidity can adversely affect prognosis in thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: a retrospective study.

Background: Esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is associated with frequent respiratory morbidities, which may deteriorate postoperative survival outcomes. Thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE) is less invasive and is associated with fewer respiratory morbidities than open esophagectomy. However, the relationship between post-TE respiratory morbidity and prognosis has not been well established.

Successful Management of Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma With Liver and Ovary Metastases: A Case Report.

Background/aim: Chemoradiation is the recommended initial treatment for locally advanced squamous anal cancer. However, there is still no consensus on the course of treatment for anal canal cancer with distant metastasis, and the significance of surgical resection of distant metastases is also unclear.

Case Report: A 48-year-old woman presented to the referral hospital complaining of prolonged bleeding for the past 6 months.

Dynamic Alteration in HLA-E Expression and Soluble HLA-E via Interaction with Natural Killer Cells in Gastric Cancer.

Background: Some reports showed the immune tolerance of soluble human leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E), but the role that soluble HLA-E plays in gastric cancer (GC) is unknown. We aimed to clarify the molecular mechanism and clinical significance of soluble HLA-E in GC.

Methods: We examined the expression of HLA-E on GC cells and soluble HLA-E under co-culture with natural killer (NK) cells in a time-dependent manner.

Preoperative Smoking Cessation and Prognosis After Curative Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Several cohort studies have reported that post-esophagectomy morbidities may worsen prognosis. Smoking cessation is an effective prophylactic measure for reducing post-esophagectomy morbidity; however, whether smoking cessation can contribute to the improvement of prognosis is unknown due to the absence of reliable databases covering the cessation period. This study aimed to elucidate whether sufficient preoperative smoking cessation can improve prognosis after esophageal cancer surgery by reducing post-esophagectomy morbidity.

A retrospective study of preoperative malnutrition based on the Controlling Nutritional Status score as an associated marker for short-term outcomes after open and minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Purpose: Preoperative malnutrition is a significant risk factor for post-esophagectomy morbidity. The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) is an index used to assess nutritional status, and it has been suggested to predict post-esophagectomy morbidity. However, the difference in the predictive value of CONUT in estimating morbidities between open esophagectomy (OE) and minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has not yet been elucidated.

Evaluation of clinical outcomes with propensity-score matching for colorectal cancer presenting as an oncologic emergency.

Aim: Oncologic emergencies such as perforation and obstruction associated with colorectal cancer are serious diseases that can lead to sepsis. Peritoneal dissemination and other factors may cause cancer progression and worsen the patients' long-term prognosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of colorectal cancer presenting as oncologic emergencies on the patients' clinical course.

Evaluation of HLA-E Expression Combined with Natural Killer Cell Status as a Prognostic Factor for Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Background: The NKG2A/HLA-E pathway functions as an immune checkpoint with potential for inhibition using therapeutic antibodies. Through this pathway, immune cells lose activity, which allows cancers to progress. We aimed to determine whether HLA-E expression combined with NK cell status serves as a prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer (GC).

Prognostic Value of Pretreatment Red Blood Cell Distribution Width in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Who Underwent Esophagectomy: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: This comprehensive analysis aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying how high pretreatment red blood cell distribution width (RDW) reflects poor prognosis after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Background: Several cohort studies have reported that preoperative RDW might be a predictive marker for poor prognosis after esophagectomy; however, the underlying mechanism of this relationship has not been elucidated.

Methods: This study included 626 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy between April 2005 and November 2020.

Intraperitoneal therapy for gastric cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Introduction: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide and has a poor prognosis. Multidisciplinary therapies are used in its treatment, but the prognosis for GAC patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) remains poor and there is no effective established approach.

Areas Covered: This review summarizes the results of recent clinical studies and recent advances in the management, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression via the NOD1/RIPK2/NF-κB pathway.

Fusobacterium nucleatum, found in the oral cavity, influences the progression of gastrointestinal cancers. Additionally, our previous results suggested that F. nucleatum is associated with poor patient prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Pan-immune-inflammation Value and Prognosis in Patients With Esophageal Cancer.

Mini-abstract: The pan-immune-inflammation value was associated with clinical outcomes and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in 866 esophageal cancers. Systemic immune competence may influence patient prognosis through local immune response.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV), tumor immunity, and clinical outcomes in 866 patients with esophageal cancer.

Impact of Type of Gastrectomy on Death from Pneumonia in Elderly Patients with Gastric Cancer Over the Long Term.

Background: Gastrectomy may induce significant postoperative disabilities and worsen the quality of life in elderly patients. Without a functioning esophagogastric junction (EGJ), swallowing is impaired because of the anatomical and physiological changes after surgery, which increases the risk of postoperative pneumonia. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of the type of surgical procedure on death from pneumonia in elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC) over the long term.

Preoperative transferrin level is a novel indicator of short- and long-term outcomes after esophageal cancer surgery.

Background: This study aimed to examine whether preoperative serum transferrin, a rapid-turnover protein, correlates with short- and long-term outcomes after esophagectomy.

Methods: Preoperative transferrin levels, calculated by summing serum iron and unsaturated iron-binding capacity, were evaluated in 224 patients who underwent esophagectomy for stage I-III esophageal cancer without preoperative treatment. Transferrin levels are directly proportional to total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and we defined TIBC < 250 μg/dL as low transferrin.

Clinical Significance of Pretreatment Red Blood Cell Distribution Width as a Predictive Marker for Postoperative Morbidity After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Clinical significance of red blood cell distribution (RDW) as a predictive marker for the incidence of postoperative morbidity after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer has not been established.

Methods: This study included 634 consecutive patients who underwent three-incisional esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer between April 2005 and November 2020. Correlation between pretreatment RDW and patient background, cancer background, and short-term outcome after esophagectomy were retrospectively investigated.