Survival and prognostic factors in patients with rectal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the rectum is a rare form of gastrointestinal malignancy. The current knowledge on the natural history is primarily derived from case series.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), we determined the prognostic factors and overall survival (OS) outcomes of rectal SCC reported to NCDB between 2004 and 2015.

Novel staging system using carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 in extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma and its implications on overall survival.

Background: CA19-9 elevation has shown to be associated with poor prognosis in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECCA). However, the role of CA19-9 in staging of ECCA has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that CA19-9 elevation is a marker of aggressive biology in ECCA and that inclusion of CA19-9 in the staging system may improve overall survival (OS) discrimination.

Phase II Trial of Trifluridine/Tipiracil in Patients with Advanced, Refractory Biliary Tract Carcinoma.

Lessons Learned: Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) shows promising antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma, including patients with 5-fluorouracil refractory tumors. FTD/TPI has an acceptable safety profile and should be studied further in patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma after progression on standard first-line therapy.

Background: Patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) refractory to first-line therapy lack an established second-line option.

Survival and prognostic factors in patients with pancreatic squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of pancreas is rare entity with poorly defined prognostic factors and therapeutic outcomes. We sought to determine the overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors of patients with pancreatic SCC using National Cancer Database (NCDB) (2004-15).

Methods: Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to perform OS analysis.

Association between treatment facility volume, therapy types and overall survival in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: To determine the association between the number of patients with intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) treated annually at a treatment facility (volume) and overall survival (outcome).

Methods: Patients with IHCC reported to the National Cancer Database (years 2004-2015) were included. We classified facilities by tertiles (T; mean IHCC patients treated/year): T1: <2.