A Prospective Clinical Trial to Evaluate Mesothelin as a Biomarker for the Clinical Management of Patients With Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the utility of serum soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) and tumor mesothelin expression in the management of esophageal adenocarcinoma (ADC).

Background: Clinical management of esophageal ADC is limited by a lack of accurate evaluation of tumor burden, treatment response, and disease recurrence. Our retrospective data showed that tumor mesothelin and its serum correlate, SMRP, are overexpressed and associated with poor outcomes in patients with esophageal ADC.

The Case of the Vanishing Vessel Loop: Unrecognized Removal Via Laparoscopic Suction Device.

Although the incidence rate of retained surgical items is low, it remains an important cause of patient injury and can lead to harm, death, and waste of time and resources when looking for the missing item. Perioperative counting of equipment is a common method to identify missing surgical items. We present a rare case report of a missing vessel loop that was suctioned by a suction irrigator device.

Two-Year Quality of Life Outcomes After Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive and Open Esophagectomy.

Background: Robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) is a safe alternative to open esophagectomy (OE). However, differences in quality of life (QOL) after these procedures remain unclear. We previously reported short-term QOL outcomes after RAMIE and OE and describe here our results from 2 years of follow-up.

A prospective trial of intraoperative tissue oxygenation measurement and its association with anastomotic leak rate after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Background: Anastomotic leak following Ivor Lewis esophagectomy is associated with increased morbidity/mortality and decreased survival. Tissue oxygenation at the anastomotic site may influence anastomotic leak. Methods for establishing tissue oxygenation at the anastomotic site are lacking.

Lean Lobectomy: Streamlining Video-Assisted Lobectomy to Increase the Value of Lung Cancer Care.

Purpose: A review of the outcomes of patients who received our video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung lobectomy in 2015 revealed long lengths of stay, inefficient care transitions, and overuse of resources. Focused process redesign offers a proven method for instituting improvement and changes in health care. We sought to use systems process improvement to streamline VATS lobectomies at our institution, and we targeted cost drivers to optimize quality of care and minimize overuse of resources.

Early Quality of Life Outcomes After Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive and Open Esophagectomy.

Background: Minimally invasive esophagectomy may improve some perioperative outcomes over open approaches; effects on quality of life are less clear.

Methods: A prospective trial of robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) and open esophagectomy was initiated, measuring quality of life via the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Esophageal and Brief Pain Inventory. Mixed generalized linear models assessed associations between quality of life scores over time and by surgery type.

Preservation of replaced left hepatic artery during robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy: A case series.

Objective: Finding of a significant replaced left hepatic artery (RLHA) during esophagectomy is relatively rare, with an incidence of approximately 5%. Sparing of the artery may be required to avoid complications of liver ischemia. Robotic assistance during esophagectomy may provide a technically superior method of artery preservation with minimally invasive approaches.

Incidence of occult pN2 disease following resection and mediastinal lymph node dissection in clinical stage I lung cancer patients.

Objectives: Early clinical stage (T1 and T2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is commonly treated with anatomic lung resection and lymph node sampling or dissection. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence and the distribution of occult N2 disease according to tumour location and the short- and long-term outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with clinical stage I NSCLC who underwent anatomic lung resection and lymphadenectomy.

Phase II study of bevacizumab and preoperative chemoradiation for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: A standard-of-care for locally advanced esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma is pre-operative chemoradiation. Elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been associated with worse outcomes following chemoradiation and anti-VEGF therapies can potentiate radiation efficacy.

Methods: In this single-arm phase II study, we added bevacizumab to induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin/irinotecan for locally advanced esophageal and GEJ adenocarcinomas.

Long-term Survival Based on the Surgical Approach to Lobectomy For Clinical Stage I Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer: Comparison of Robotic, Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery, and Thoracotomy Lobectomy.

Objective: To compare the long-term outcomes among robotic, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), and open lobectomy in stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: Survival comparisons between robotic, VATS, and open lobectomy in NSCLC have not yet been reported. Some studies have suggested that survival after VATS is superior, for unclear reasons.

Attaining Proficiency in Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy While Maximizing Safety During Procedure Development.

Objective: Robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) is an emerging complex operation with limited reports detailing morbidity, mortality, and requirements for attaining proficiency. Our objective was to develop a standardized RAMIE technique, evaluate procedure safety, and assess outcomes using a dedicated operative team and 2-surgeon approach.

Methods: We conducted a study of sequential patients undergoing RAMIE from January 25, 2011, to May 5, 2014.

Use of positron emission tomography scan response to guide treatment change for locally advanced gastric cancer: the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center experience.

Background: Early metabolic response on 18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) during neoadjuvant chemotherapy is PET non-responders have poor outcomes whether continuing chemotherapy or proceeding directly to surgery. Use of PET may identify early treatment failure, sparing patients from inactive therapy and allowing for crossover to alternative therapies. We examined the effectiveness of PET directed switching to salvage chemotherapy in the PET non-responders.

Detection of Recurrence Patterns After Wedge Resection for Early Stage Lung Cancer: Rationale for Radiologic Follow-Up.

Background: Wedge resection for selected patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer is considered to be a valid treatment option. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recurrence patterns after wedge resection, to analyze the survival of patients under routine follow-up, and to recommend a follow-up regimen.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was done of 446 consecutive patients between May 2000 and December 2012 who underwent a wedge resection for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Early operative outcomes and learning curve of robotic assisted giant paraesophageal hernia repair.

Background: We have previously described our technique of robotic-assisted giant paraesophageal hernia repair (RA-GPEHR). The purpose of this study was to report our initial experience, early outcomes and learning curve with RA-GPEHR using a four-arm robotic platform.

Methods: 24 consecutive patients presenting with symptomatic giant paraesophageal hernias (GPEH) underwent RA-GPEHR from April 2011 to February 2014.

Unusual late presentation of metastatic extrathoracic thymoma to gastrohepatic lymph node treated by surgical resection.

In advanced stages, thymic tumors tend to spread locally. Distant metastatic disease is rare. We present the first report of single metastatic abdominal lymph node in a 37-year-old female patient and 5 years after an extrapleural pneumonectomy for stage IV thymoma followed by radiotherapy with no other evidence of abdominal disease successfully treated by robotic surgical resection.

Postinduction positron emission tomography assessment of N2 nodes is not associated with ypN2 disease or overall survival in stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: Induction therapy is often recommended for patients with clinical stage IIIA-N2 (cIIIA/pN2) lung cancer. We examined whether postinduction positron emission tomography (PET) scans were associated with ypN2 disease and survival of patients with cIIIA/pN2 disease.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database to identify patients with cIIIA/pN2 non-small cell lung cancer treated with induction chemotherapy followed by surgery between January 2007 and December 2012.

Pretreatment Dysphagia in Esophageal Cancer Patients May Eliminate the Need for Staging by Endoscopic Ultrasonography.

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy is commonly administered to patients with localized disease who have T3-4 esophageal disease as staged by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Previously, we noted that patients who present with dysphagia have a higher EUS T stage. We hypothesized that the presence of dysphagia is predictive of EUS T3-4 disease and that staging EUS could be forgone for esophageal cancer patients with dysphagia.

Endoscopic Management of Esophageal Anastomotic Leaks After Surgery for Malignant Disease.

Background: Esophageal anastomotic leaks after cancer surgery remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic interventions, including covered metal stents (cSEMS), clips, and direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (dPEJ) tubes are increasingly used despite limited published data regarding their utility in this setting. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a multimodality endoscopic approach to anastomotic leak management after operation for esophageal or gastric cancer.

International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society classification predicts occult lymph node metastasis in clinically mediastinal node-negative lung adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: We investigated the role of the 2011 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, American Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory Society (IASLC/ATS/ERS) classification in predicting occult lymph node metastasis in clinically mediastinal node-negative lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We reviewed lung adenocarcinoma patients who had clinically N2-negative status, were evaluated by preoperative positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) and had undergone lobectomy or pneumonectomy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (n = 297). Tumours were classified according to the 2011 IASLC/ATS/ERS classification.

Resected Lung Cancer Patients Who Would and Would Not Have Met Screening Criteria.

Background: Current eligibility criteria for lung cancer screening may underestimate the risk of malignancy for some individuals. We compared the predicted risk of lung cancer among patients who would have met screening criteria to those who would not have despite being at moderate-risk.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of resected lung cancer patients was performed.

Solid Predominant Histologic Subtype in Resected Stage I Lung Adenocarcinoma Is an Independent Predictor of Early, Extrathoracic, Multisite Recurrence and of Poor Postrecurrence Survival.

Purpose: To examine the significance of the proposed International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, American Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory Society (IASLC/ATS/ERS) histologic subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma for patterns of recurrence and, among patients who recur following resection of stage I lung adenocarcinoma, for postrecurrence survival (PRS).

Patients And Methods: We reviewed patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma who had undergone complete surgical resection from 1999 to 2009 (N = 1,120). Tumors were subtyped by using the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification.

Chest Wall Reconstruction Using a Methyl Methacrylate Neo-Rib and Mesh.

Prosthetic reconstruction of the chest wall after oncologic resection is performed by means of various techniques using different materials. We describe a new technique of chest wall reconstruction that includes the use of Marlex mesh and the creation of a neo-rib from a Steinmann pin and methyl methacrylate.

A Predictive Model for Lymph Node Involvement with Malignancy on PET/CT in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Accurate assessment of lymph node (LN) involvement with malignancy is critical to staging and management of non-small-cell lung cancer. The goal of this retrospective study was to determine the tumor and imaging characteristics independently associated with malignant involvement of LNs visualized on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Methods: From 2002 to 2011, 172 patients with newly diagnosed non-small-cell lung cancer underwent PET/CT within 31 days before LN biopsy.

Chylothorax and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury Associated With Robotic Video-Assisted Mediastinal Lymph Node Dissection.

Objective: Although the technical aspects of robotic video-assisted thoracic surgery (RVATS) for lung resections may be advantageous, compared with standard thoracoscopy, complications of chylothorax and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RLNI) associated with mediastinal lymph node dissection (MLND) may be significant.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent RVATS anatomic lung resection for suspected or confirmed cancer and experienced RLNI or chylothorax were identified and reviewed from a prospectively maintained database. Complications were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.

Ratio of Lymph Node to Primary Tumor SUV on PET/CT Accurately Predicts Nodal Malignancy in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Unlabelled: Thoracic lymph nodes with marginally elevated maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on PET/CT a diagnostic challenge in staging non-small-cell lung cancer. We evaluated the ratio of lymph node to primary tumor SUVmax (SUVN/T) in predicting nodal malignancy among 132 sampled nodes from 85 patients both a primary tumor SUVmax > 2.5 and LN SUVmax 2.