Practices and expectations on the use of circulating tumor DNA in colorectal cancer patients: A bi-national AGEO/AIOM/GERCOR/FFCD/FRENCH survey.

Background: Increasing evidence shows that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a valuable tool in providing molecular, prognostic, predictive and dynamic information in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. This study aimed to make a picture of knowledge, practice, attitudes and expectations about ctDNA in CRC patients.

Material And Methods: An online CRC-ctdna survey was distributed from November 2019 to January 2020 to French and Italian cooperative and scientific groups of Hepato-Gastroenterologists (HGE), Medical Oncologists (MO), Radiotherapists (RT) and Digestive Surgeons (DS).

COVID-19 epidemic: Proposed alternatives in the management of digestive cancers: A French intergroup clinical point of view (SNFGE, FFCD, GERCOR, UNICANCER, SFCD, SFED, SFRO, SFR).

Introduction: Patients treated for malignancy are considered at risk of severe COVID-19. This exceptional pandemic has affected countries on every level, particularly health systems which are experiencing saturation. Like many countries, France is currently greatly exposed, and a complete reorganization of hospitals is ongoing.

Predictive factors for early progression during induction chemotherapy and chemotherapy-free interval: analysis from PRODIGE 9 trial.

Background: Identifying patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who will have an early disease progression during induction chemotherapy (IC) and identifying patients who may have a chemotherapy-free interval (CFI) after IC are two major challenges.

Methods: A logistic model was used to identify factors associated with early progression during IC and with short duration of the first CFI in 488 patients enrolled in the PRODIGE 9 trial. Independent factors were defined with a threshold 0.

Good clinical practice recommendations for the use of PET/CT in oncology.

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is a nuclear medicine functional imaging technique with proven clinical value in oncology. PET/CT indications are continually evolving with fresh advances made through research. French practice on the use of PET in oncology was framed in recommendations based on Standards-Options-Recommendations methodology and coordinated by the French federation of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (FNLCC).

Prospective comparison of whole-body MRI with diffusion-weighted and conventional imaging for the follow-up of neuroendocrine tumors.

Aim: To determine whether whole-body magnetic resonance imaging is valuable in staging of neuroendocrine tumors by comparison with the conventional imaging defined by the combination of computed tomography and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy.

Methods: This study concerned the patients included in the multicenter prospective study NCT02786303 with the following inclusion criteria: well-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors or of unknown primary, and computed tomography, whole-body magnetic resonance imaging and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy performed within 6 weeks. Results of the conventional imaging were compared with those of magnetic resonance imaging.

Early evaluation using a radiomic signature of unresectable hepatic metastases to predict outcome in patients with colorectal cancer treated with FOLFIRI and bevacizumab.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to build and validate a radiomic signature to predict early a poor outcome using baseline and 2-month evaluation CT and to compare it to the RECIST1·1 and morphological criteria defined by changes in homogeneity and borders.

Methods: This study is an ancillary study from the PRODIGE-9 multicentre prospective study for which 491 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated by 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) and bevacizumab had been analysed. In 230 patients, computed texture analysis was performed on the dominant liver lesion (DLL) at baseline and 2 months after chemotherapy.

Efficacy, Tolerability, and Safety of Low-Volume Bowel Preparations for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: The French Multicentre CLEAN Study.

Background: Standard high-volume polyethylene glycol [PEG] bowel preparations [PEG-4L] are recommended for patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] undergoing colonoscopy. However, low-volume preparations [≤2 L of active volume] are often used in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of the various bowel preparations for patients with IBD, including low-volume preparations.

Evaluating bevacizumab in combination with FOLFIRI after the failure of platinum-etoposide regimen in patients with advanced poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma: The PRODIGE 41-BEVANEC randomized phase II study.

Introduction: Patients with gastroenteropancreatic (GEP), metastatic or locally advanced, non-resectable, grade 3 poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) are treated with cisplatin (or carboplatin)-etoposide in first-line palliative chemotherapy (CT1). However, nearly all patients will develop resistance and there is no standard second-line treatment.

Aim: PRODIGE 41-BEVANEC is an academic randomized, phase II study designed to evaluate the efficacy of bevacizumab in combination with FOLFIRI after failure of CT1 in unknown primary NEC and GEP-NEC.

Accuracy in obtaining 100 μg from 10 mg of morphine for spinal anesthesia.

Study Objective: Dilution is often required to obtain appropriate concentrations of intrathecal morphine for analgesia. We compared techniques of diluting by measuring the quantity of morphine actually obtained in the final solution.

Design: This is an experimental study by 3 experienced anesthesiologists.

Multiparametric MRI and post implant CT-based dosimetry after prostate brachytherapy with iodine seeds: The higher the dose to the dominant index lesion, the lower the PSA bounce.

Purpose: To determine whether post-implant MRI-based dosimetry of the Dominant Intra-prostatic Lesion (DIL) could best predict the occurrence of PSA bounce after prostate brachytherapy.

Methods And Materials: We selected 66 patients with a low risk prostate cancer treated with (125)I prostate brachytherapy as monotherapy. Post-implant dosimetry based on day 30 CT-scan and multiparametric MRI co-registration was generated: planned D90, D95, V100, V150 values were calculated for each DIL.

Oesophageal cancer: exploring controversies overview of experts' opinions of Austria, Germany, France, Netherlands and Switzerland.

Background: Oesophageal carcinoma is a rare disease with often dismal prognosis. Despite multiple trials addressing specific issues, currently, many questions in management remain unanswered. This work aimed to specifically address areas in the management of oesophageal cancer where high level evidence is not available, performing trials is very demanding and for many questions high-level evidence will not be available in the forseeable future.

Psychological experience of patients 3 months after a stay in the intensive care unit: A descriptive and qualitative study.

Purpose: The purpose was to describe psychological experiences of patients 3 months after a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) using qualitative methods.

Methods: Twenty patients underwent clinical interview lasting 1 hour and completed the Impact of Event Scale-Revised and Hospital Anxiety and Depression questionnaires. All interviews were recorded and coded using thematic analysis.

Gemcitabine plus cisplatin versus chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced biliary tract cancer: Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive 9902 phase II randomised study.

Background: Chemoradiotherapy (CHRT) is often advocated for locally-advanced biliary tract cancer (LABTC). However there was not comparative study with chemotherapy alone (CH).

Patients And Methods: Patients with hilar or extrahepatic non-metastatic, LABTC could be included in this phase II trial.

Pattern of occult nodal relapse diagnosed with (18)F-fluoro-choline PET/CT in prostate cancer patients with biochemical failure after prostate-only radiotherapy.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe the pattern of nodal relapse with (18)F-fluoro-choline (FCH) Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography (PET/CT) in prostate cancer patients after radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-three patients had a FCH PET/CT at time of biochemical failure. Of 65 patients with positive findings, 33 had positive nodes.

A 3-month at-home tube feeding in 118 bulimia nervosa patients: a one-year prospective survey in adult patients.

Background & Aims: To study the 1-yr follow-up of 118 bulimia nervosa (BN) patients after a 3-month at-home tube feeding (TF) in a prospective study.

Methods: At-home TF lasted 3 months, including one month of exclusive TF (no food). All patients fulfilled 4 questionnaires (score of binge/purging episodes (BP), eating disorder inventory, anxiety, depression), before, at the 3-month TF point, and 6 and 12 months latter.

Surrogate end points for overall survival and local control in neoadjuvant rectal cancer trials: statistical evaluation based on the FFCD 9203 trial.

Background: In resectable rectal cancer trials, pathological parameters are early preoperative treatment efficacy measures. Their validation as surrogate end points for long-term clinical outcomes would allow to reduce trial duration. The aim was to evaluate potential surrogates for overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) in preoperative T3/T4 rectal cancer trials.

Pilot study of transarterial chemoembolization with pirarubicin and amiodarone for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Further to a previous study whereby we reported that an in vitro emulsion of pirarubicin, amiodarone, and lipiodol was more stable and cytotoxic than a classic doxorubicin-lipiodol mixture, we designed a pilot study to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of a transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) procedure using a combination of pirarubicin, amiodarone, lipiodol, and gelatin sponge.

Methods: The 43 patients included in this study underwent TACE for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Computed tomography scans were performed to assess tumor response (RECIST) and lipiodol uptake after the first session.

Chemoradiation followed by surgery compared with chemoradiation alone in squamous cancer of the esophagus: FFCD 9102.

Purpose: Uncontrolled studies suggest that chemoradiation has similar efficacy as surgery for esophageal cancer. Therefore, a randomized trial was carried out to compare, in responders only, chemoradiation alone with chemoradiation followed by surgery in patients with locally advanced tumors.

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients had operable T3N0-1M0 thoracic esophageal cancer.

MRI for evaluating congenital bile duct abnormalities.

Congenital bile duct diseases consist of ductal plate development abnormalities and are genetically determined. These biliary abnormalities are encountered mainly in congenital fibrocystic diseases, represented by congenital hepatic fibrosis and different forms of Caroli disease. On the other hand, polycystic hepatic diseases also present cystic abnormalities, which could be confused with biliary dilatations, especially in the perihilar area.

MR cholangiography in the evaluation of hepatic and biliary abnormalities in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: study of 93 patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to conduct an MR cholangiography study of hepatobiliary abnormalities in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and to correlate these abnormalities with the risk of infection.

Method: Cystic and intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) abnormalities identified by MR cholangiography in 93 ADPKD patients were studied retrospectively. A blind study of liver function tests, renal insufficiency, and infectious episodes was also carried out.