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Abstract Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy with paclitaxel (PTX) for gastric cancer (GC) with peritoneal metastasis (PM) is considered a promising treatment approach, however, there are no useful biomarkers to predict the efficacy of IP therapy. We examined the association between intra-peritoneal exosomes, particularly exosomal micro-RNAs (exo-miRNAs), and IP-chemo sensitivity. MKN45 cells that were cultured with intra-peritoneal exosomes from patients who did not respond to IP therapy with PTX (IPnon-respond group) exhibited resistance to PTX compared with exosomes from responding patients (IPrespond group) (p = 0.002). A comprehensive search for exo-miRNAs indicated that miR-493 was significantly up-regulated in exosomes from the IPnon-respond group compared with those collected from the IPrespond group. The expression of miR-493 in PTX-resistant MKN45 cells (MKN45PTX-res) was higher compared with that in MKN45. In addition, MKN45PTX-res cells exhibited lower MAD2L1 gene and protein expression compared with MKN45. Finally, miR-493 enhancement by transfection of miR-493 mimics significantly down-regulated MAD2L1 expression in MKN45 cells and reduced PTX sensitivity. Our results suggest that intra-peritoneal exo-miR-493 is involved in chemoresistance to PTX by downregulating MAD2L1 in GC with PM. Exo-miR-493 may be a biomarker for chemoresistance and prognosis of GC patients with PM and may also be a promising therapeutic target.

Key Clinical Message Although partial hepatic necrosis often occurs following endovascular treatment for bleeding associated with hepatic trauma, it is relatively rare that additional treatment is required. However, invasive procedures such as hepatic resection should sometimes be considered when infection occurs over massive hepatic necrosis. Abstract Although partial hepatic necrosis following endovascular treatment for bleeding associated with hepatic trauma is occasionally experienced, it is relatively rare for the necrotic area of the liver to require additional treatment. However, invasive procedures such as hepatic resection should sometimes be considered when infection occurs over massive hepatic necrosis.

Abstract Background There are numerous indications for minimally invasive surgery. However, the laparoscopic approach for extended pelvic surgery is currently provided by only a few institutions specializing in cancer treatment, primarily because of technical difficulties that arise in cases involving a narrow pelvis and rigid forceps. We report a case of robot-assisted total pelvic exenteration for rectal cancer involving the prostate. We assessed the feasibility of robot-assisted total pelvic exenteration and compared the short-term outcomes of other conventional and minimally invasive approaches. Case presentation A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital after positive fecal blood test results. The initial diagnosis was clinical T4bN2aM0, Stage IIIC rectal cancer involving the prostate. The patient underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Consequently, robot-assisted total pelvic exenteration with an ileal conduit and end colostomy creation were performed. The total operative duration was 9 h and 20 min. The durations of robot console usage by the colorectal and urological teams were 2 h 9 min and 2 h 23 min, respectively. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 21. The pathological diagnosis was T4b (prostate) N0M0, Stage IIC. The resection margin was 2.5 mm. During reassessment at 2 years after resection, no evidence of recurrence was observed. Conclusions Robot-assisted total pelvic exenteration was performed for a patient with advanced rectal cancer without serious complications. Robot-assisted total pelvic exenteration may provide the advantages of minimally invasive surgery, particularly in the enclosed space of the pelvis.

Abstract Background The modified nutritional geriatric risk index (mGNRI) was developed as a novel index and provides a more appropriate prognostic index than the original GNRI, which was reported to be a useful index for predicting prognoses for various malignancies. This study investigated the prognostic significance of the mGNRI compared with that of the GNRI in patients with pancreatic cancer and the association with psoas muscle volume (PMV) for survival outcomes. Methods This retrospective study included 137 patients who had undergone pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer. The enrolled patients were grouped as high mGNRI (≥ 85.3) or low mGNRI (

Abstract Background Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered appropriate for patients with risk factors for recurrence, rather than for all patients uniformly. However, the risk factors for recurrence remain controversial, and there is limited information, especially for elderly patients. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is widely used as a simple nutritional screening tool in the elderly and is associated with cancer prognosis and recurrence. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for recurrence in the elderly with stage II CRC, focusing on the GNRI. Methods We enrolled 348 elderly patients (≥ 75 years) with stage II CRC who underwent curative resection at the Department of Surgery, Tottori University and our 10 affiliated institutions. The patients were divided into GNRIhigh (≥ 93.465) and GNRIlow (

Abstract Background Thoracoscopic esophagectomy has been extensively used worldwide as a curative surgery for patients with esophageal cancer; however, complications such as anastomotic leakage and stenosis remain a major concern. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of circular stapling anastomosis with indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging, which was standardized for cervical esophagogastric anastomosis after thoracoscopic esophagectomy. Methods Altogether, 121 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy with radical lymph node dissection and cervical esophagogastric anastomosis from November 2009 to December 2020 at Tottori University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Patients who underwent surgery before the anastomotic method was standardized were included in the classical group (n = 82) and patients who underwent surgery after the anastomotic method was standardized were included in the ICG circular group (n = 39). The short-term postoperative outcomes, including anastomotic complications, were compared between the two groups using propensity-matched analysis and the risk factors for anastomotic leakage were evaluated using logistic regression analyses. Results Of the 121 patients, 33 were included in each group after propensity score matching. The clinicopathological characteristics of patients did not differ between the two groups after propensity score matching. In terms of perioperative outcomes, a significantly higher proportion of patients who underwent surgery using the laparoscopic approach (P

Abstract Background The mortality rate of patients with unresectable gastric cancer (UGC) has decreased with the development of chemotherapies and surgical techniques. However, the survival rate remains low. We retrospectively examined the prognostic significance of the pretreatment skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and nutritional and inflammatory factors in patients with UGC. Methods This study included 83 patients diagnosed with UGC at Tottori University Hospital who received palliative chemotherapy based on 5-fluorouracil. Pretreatment computed tomography (CT) measured overall skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and cross-sectional SMM at the third lumbar vertebra (L3). We focused on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as nutritional and inflammatory factors. Results Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed for median survival time (MST) after palliative chemotherapy. SMIs for males and females (43.9 cm2/m2 and 34.7 cm2/m2, respectively) were the cutoff values, and patients were divided into high (SMIHigh; n = 41) and low SMI groups (SMILow; n = 42). Body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in patients in the SMIHigh group than in the SMILow group (p

The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic significance of geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) at the time of recurrence in patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer, and the relationship between GNRI and skeletal muscle mass for survival outcomes after recurrence. This study enrolled 77 patients who developed postoperative recurrence. The skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was used in this study. The patients were divided into a high-GNRI group (n = 36) and a low-GNRI group (n = 41) for the GNRI, and were divided into a high-SMI group (n = 38) and a low-SMI group (n = 39) for SMI. The 2-year post-recurrence overall survival of patients in the high-GNRI group was significantly longer than that of patients in the low-GNRI group (P = 0.001). No significant difference for the 2-year post-recurrence OS curves between the high-SMI group and the low-SMI group was observed (P = 0.125). Upon stratifying the patients with high GNRI or low GNRI according to SMI, There was no significant difference in the 2-year post-recurrence OS curves between the patients with both high GNRI and high SMI and the patients with high GNRI and low SMI (P = 0.399). Similarly, There was no significant difference in the 2-year post-recurrence OS curves between the patients with low GNRI and high SMI and the patients with both low GNRI and low SMI (P = 0.256). Multivariate analysis revealed that the GNRI at the time of recurrence was an independent prognostic risk factor in patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer (P = 0.019). The GNRI at the time of recurrence is useful for predicting the prognosis in patients with recurrence pancreatic cancer. Skeletal muscle mass at the time of recurrence is not contributed to predict post-recurrence survival of patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer.

Background/Aim: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily of ligands and have been shown to promote or suppress colorectal cancer (CRC) growth. Developing treatments that target BMPs is challenging due to their multiple roles, including involvement in the inflammatory response and nutritional status. The present study evaluated the prognostic value of BMP-4, which is believed to be highly expressed in CRC, and its correlation with inflammatory and nutrition statuses in patients with CRC. Materials and Methods: We analyzed BMP-4 expression in tumor tissues from 144 patients who underwent CRC surgery using immunohistochemistry and evaluated the relationship between BMP-4 levels and clinical outcomes. Results: Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that patients with high expression levels of BMP-4 exhibited a shorter overall survival rate than those with low levels of expression. Multivariate analysis revealed that BMP-4 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and death from other diseases in CRC patients. Furthermore, high BMP-4 expression was significantly correlated with high C-reactive protein/Albumin ratio, sarcopenia, and osteopenia. Conclusion: BMP-4 is a significant prognostic factor in CRC, particularly in predicting death from other diseases, while also showing associations with inflammatory and nutritional statuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Preoperative osteopenia, defined as low bone mineral density, is a prognostic factor in patients with digestive tract cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). However, the correlation between preoperative osteopenia and GC in elderly patients is unclear. Patients and Methods: We enrolled 251 patients who had undergone curative surgery for histopathologically diagnosed gastric adenocarcinoma from January 2008 to December 2012. Patients were classified into the non-elderly group (n=169) and the elderly group (n=82). Bone mineral density was calculated as the average pixel density (Hounsfield units) within a circle of the mid-vertebral core at the bottom of the 11th thoracic vertebra on preoperative computed tomography. Results: Although overall survival was significantly shorter in the elderly compared to the nonelderly group (p=0.0062), there was no significant difference in disease-specific survival between the two groups (p=0.71) because of the higher rate of death from other diseases. In addition, the elderly group had a significantly higher incidence of osteopenia (p<0.001) and a significantly lower prognostic nutritional index (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative osteopenia and a low preoperative prognostic nutritional index were significant risk factors for death from other diseases after gastrectomy in elderly patients. Conclusion: In elderly patients with GC, preoperative osteopenia is an important factor to consider in terms of both curability and death from other diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Ferroptosis is a nonapoptotic type of cell death that is dependent on iron and involves the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) are ferroptosis regulators that inhibit ferroptosis through independent pathways. This study assessed the prognostic value of GPX4 and FSP1 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC). We also examined the effects of FSP1 and GPX4 inhibition on cell survival of CRC cells., Materials and Methods: This study included 206 surgical specimens from Stage II or III CRC patients. FSP1 and GPX4 expression was analyzed immunohistochemically, and the association of their expression levels with clinical outcome was evaluated. We also examined the effects of FSP1 and GPX4 inhibitors on the cell proliferative capacity of CRC cell lines., Results: Overall survival and recurrence-free survival were reduced in patients with high expression of FSP1 or GPX4, and those with both GPX4 and FSP1 expression showed worse prognosis. Positivity of both FSP1 and GPX4 was an independent poor prognostic factor for CRC patients. In CRC cells, the combination of GPX4 and FSP1 inhibitors led to more effective cell death than either inhibitor alone., Conclusion: High expression of both GPX4 and FSP1 is a significant poor prognostic factor for CRC. Simultaneous inhibition of GPX4 and FSP1 to induce ferroptosis may be a novel therapeutic strategy in CRC., (Copyright © 2024 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)