Preoperative skeletal muscle status is associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer.

Background: Sarcopenia is associated with poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), but the mechanisms contributing to this association remain unclear. We hypothesized that skeletal muscle status is associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in patients with CRC. Therefore, this study investigated the clinical effect of sarcopenia and its relationship with the local immune system in CRC patients.

Clinical impact of perirenal thickness on short- and long-term outcomes of gastric cancer after curative surgery.

Background: A variety of factors for short- and long-term outcomes have been reported after radical resection for gastric cancer (GC). Obesity and emaciation had been reported to be a cause of poor short- and long-term outcomes with gastrointestinal cancer. However, the indicators are still controversial.

Essential updates 2020/2021: Colorectal diseases (benign)-Current topics in the surgical and medical treatment of benign colorectal diseases.

The development of new drugs for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is remarkable, and treatment strategies using multiple agents and various techniques are required; however, the treatment strategy is likely to be complex. Therefore, appropriate evaluation of traditional surgical treatment strategies and accurate knowledge of the efficacy and limitations of novel treatments are required. Total infectious complications were found to be associated with the use of corticosteroids and anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents, but not with immunomodulators, anti-integrin agents, and 5-aminosalicylic acid.

The advanced lung cancer inflammation index is a novel independent prognosticator in colorectal cancer patients after curative resection.

Background: The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI), which comprehensively evaluates the patient body composition and inflammation/nutritional status, is reportedly associated with the patient outcome in lung cancer. However, the clinical significance in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients after curative resection remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 813 CRC patients after curative resection between April 2005 and June 2019 in a single institution were retrospectively enrolled.

A Nationwide Survey on Digestive Reconstruction Following Pharyngolaryngectomy With Total Esophagectomy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in Japan.

Aim: Digestive reconstruction after pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy (PLTE) remains challenging, with the optimal method remaining unclear. The current study aimed to clarify the short-term outcomes after PLTE and determine the optimal digestive reconstruction method.

Methods: Based on a nationwide survey of 151 patients who underwent PLTE, outcomes of digestive reconstruction methods are described.

Overall survival after recurrence in stage I-III colorectal cancer patients in accordance with the recurrence organ site and pattern.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prognosis after recurrence in patients with stage I-III colon cancer (CC) and rectal cancer (RC).

Methods: Cancer recurred in 116 (15.2%) out of 763 patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer.

Adapted systemic inflammation score as a novel prognostic marker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Background: The adapted systemic inflammation score (aSIS), calculated from serum albumin and the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, has been reported to be a novel prognostic marker for some types of cancers. However, the prognostic impact of aSIS in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains controversial. This study aimed to examine the prognostic effects of aSIS in a large cohort of 509 ESCC patients.

Predictive model for postoperative pleural effusion after hepatectomy.

Aim: Severe postoperative pleural effusion (sPOPE) after hepatectomy can lead to respiratory distress and may require thoracic drainage, leading to prolonged hospitalization. Preventive chest tube insertion may be useful for patients at high risk for sPOPE. We aimed to develop a predictive model for sPOPE after hepatectomy and evaluate indications for preventive chest tube insertion using our model.

Analysis of the survival and clinical characteristics of colorectal cancer patients with mental disorders.

Aim: Many studies have shown that patients with mental disorders are less likely than non-psychiatric patients to be diagnosed with or treated for various types of cancers because of their low awareness and understanding of the disease as well as reduced ability to cooperate with medical staff. We analyzed the clinical features of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and preexisting mental illness.

Methods: All patients underwent primary tumor resection for CRC.

Preoperative transferrin level is a novel prognostic marker for colorectal cancer.

Aim: This study investigated whether preoperative serum transferrin, a rapid-turnover protein, was associated with prognosis after colorectal cancer (CRC) resection.

Methods: We evaluated preoperative transferrin, which was calculated as iron and unsaturated iron-binding capacity, in 501 patients who underwent surgery for Stage I-III CRC. Transferrin level was directly proportional to total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and TIBC < 250 μg/dl was defined as low transferrin.

Esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma shares characteristics with gastric adenocarcinoma: Literature review and retrospective multicenter cohort study.

The incidence of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma has been gradually increasing in Asia, just like in Western countries a few decades ago. Despite recent advances in next-generation sequencing and multimodal treatments, EGJ adenocarcinoma is still an aggressive malignancy with poor outcomes. Clinically, EGJ adenocarcinoma can be separated into Barrett's adenocarcinoma and cardiac adenocarcinoma, with frequent similarities observed.

Surgical treatment for gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare neoplasms, with an estimated annual incidence of 6.9/100 000. They arise from cells of the diffuse endocrine system, which are mainly dispersed throughout the gastrointestinal (GI), pancreatic, and respiratory tracts.

Precision medicine for adjuvant chemotherapy of resected colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in Japan. Surgical resection is the only curative option for localized disease. However, undetectable micrometastases remaining after curative surgery may cause disease recurrence.

Precautions for avoiding pulmonary morbidity after esophagectomy.

Pulmonary morbidity is the most common complication after esophagectomy. Importantly, it is the main cause of surgery-related mortality and possibly adversely affects the long-term outcome after surgery in patients with esophageal cancer. There is considerable accumulated evidence on multidisciplinary approaches to reduce post-operative pulmonary morbidity.

Programmed death ligand-1 expression in gastrointestinal cancer: Clinical significance and future challenges.

Cancer immunotherapy has caused a paradigm shift from conventional therapies that directly target cancer cells to innovative therapies that utilize the host immune system. In particular, programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitors have achieved an impressive breakthrough and been approved for clinical use in several types of cancer including gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. To identify and develop predictive biomarkers for PD-1 inhibitors is of great concern in clinical practice.

Development and validation of grade-based prediction models for postoperative morbidity in gastric cancer resection using a Japanese web-based nationwide registry.

Aim: Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Surgery is the mainstay treatment for gastric cancer. There are no prediction models that examine the severity of postoperative morbidity.

Multidisciplinary approach of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) represent most of the causes of death in patients with colorectal cancer. Surgical resection is the only treatment that can provide the possibility of prolonged survival, or even cure, for patients with CRLM. Over the last few decades, survival of these patients has improved dramatically thanks to more effective chemotherapy, extension of surgical indications, and development of new surgical procedures.

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare and mesenchymal in origin with a yearly incidence of 10-15 cases per million people. If it is technically resectable, surgical resection is the mainstay of therapy regardless of tumor location,. Although complete (R0) resection can be achieved in up to 85% of patients with primary disease, approximately 50% of patients experience recurrence or metastases within 5 years of primary resection.

Microvascular invasion of single small hepatocellular carcinoma ≤3 cm: Predictors and optimal treatments.

Background: Small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC ≤3 cm) are generally considered to have low malignant potential; however, some of them display pathological microvascular invasion (MVI).

Methods: Between 1991 and 2013, 414 patients with a single HCC ≤3 cm underwent curative hepatic resection (HR). Predictors for MVI were identified.

Surgical management of recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: predictors, adjuvant chemotherapy, and surgical therapy for recurrence: A multi-institutional study by the Kyushu Study Group of Liver Surgery.

Objectives of the present study were to identify predictors of the recurrence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and to evaluate the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy and surgical treatment for ICC recurrence. A multi-institutional retrospective study was carried out in 356 patients with ICC who underwent curative surgery at one of 14 institutions belonging to the Kyushu Study Group of Liver Surgery. A total of 214 patients (60%) had recurrence.

Evaluation of patients with hepatic portal venous gas who can be treated with conservative therapy.

Aim: Hepatic portal venous gas is an indication for emergency surgery and reportedly has a high mortality rate. However, these days, cases of hepatic portal venous gas associated with milder disease are increasing. In this report, we compared two groups to investigate whether there were any objective indicators for selecting conservative therapy.