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The significance of molecular analysis of peritoneal fluid in staging laparoscopy of oesophagogastric junction (EGJ) and gastric cancer is still controversial. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospective data collection of all patients diagnosed with locally advanced gastric neoplasia or Siewert II-III EGJ cancer from July 2009 to October 2019 who underwent staging peritoneal lavage prior to neoadjuvant treatment was performed. Cytology studies and molecular analysis of peritoneal lavage were performed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT_PCR) of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) as tumor makers. RESULTS: 168 patients were operated. Citology and molecular analysis were performed in 138 patients. Macroscopic carcinomatosis (P+) was evidenced in 12.3% (17 patients). Of the remaining 87.7% (121 patients), 9.9% (12 patients) had positive cytology. In 21% (29 patients) disseminated macroscopic or microscopic disease (P + or Cyt+) was identified. 11.6% (16 patients) were P0Cyt- but RT-PCR+. Of these, 9 responded to chemotherapy before salvage surgery. The sensitivity of cytology and molecular analysis was 0.70 and 0.76, respectively (p = 0.67). The survival of Cyt-RT_PCR + vs. Cyt + RT_PCR + patients was similar (p = 0.1). However, there were no differences in the survival curves between Cyt-RT_PCR- patients vs Cyt-RT_PCR + patients who underwent salvage surgery (p = 0.69). CONCLUSION: Molecular analysis showed a sensitivity of 76%. In our study, the survival of P0 Cyt-RT_PCR + patients responding to chemotherapy and undergoing surgery was similar to that of P0 Cyt-RT_PCR- patients but less disease free survival.

Subepithelial tumors; Carcinophobia; Multicenter cohort study Tumores subepiteliales; Carcinofobia; Estudio de cohorte multicéntrico Tumors subepitelials; Carcinofòbia; Estudi de cohorts multicèntric Background and aims: Minor nonspecific gastrointestinal subepithelial lesions (usually defined by the term 'tumor') are usually associated with a malignant illness and cancer. The aim of this study was to assess anxiety-distress and carcinophobia in patients referred to specialized monographic outpatient clinics for evaluation and treatment of this type of lesion. Methods: Prospective, multicenter, cohort study. Specific self-reported questionnaires were used to report threatening life-experiences and to assess levels of distress (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and cancer-related worries (The Cancer Worry Scale). Results: Forty participants were included and analyzed at baseline. Pathologic and borderline anxiety were detected in 13% (5/40, 95%CI: 4-27%) and 35% (14/40, 95%CI: 21-52%) of participants, respectively, whereas, cancer-related worries (moderate to very high) were observed in 48% (19/40, 95%CI: 32-64%) of participants. Pathologic global distress was identified in 25% (10/40, 95%CI: 13-42%) of subjects. Higher educational level (university studies), a lack of lifetime psychiatric comorbidity and a lack of family history of cancer were associated with less anxiety, global distress and carcinophobia. Conclusions: Almost half of the patients diagnosed with a minor nonspecific gastrointestinal subepithelial lesion presented anxiety-distress and/or carcinophobia. Specific associations with anxiety-distress reaction and fears were detected.

The prognosis of patients with unresectable M0 gastric cancer remains very poor. We performed a phase II trial to explore the efficacy and toxicity of induction irinotecan-cisplatin (IC) followed by concurrent irinotecan-cisplatin and radiotherapy (IC/RT) in this setting.Patients with unresectable M0 gastric (GC) or oesophageal-gastric junction (EGJC) adenocarcinomas were treated with two courses of IC (irinotecan, 65 mg/m(2); cisplatin, 30 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 21 days) followed by IC/RT (daily radiotherapy-45 Gy-with concurrent IC: irinotecan, 65 mg/m(2), and cisplatin, 30 mg/m(2), on days 1, 8, 15, and 22). Resectability was reassessed after this treatment, and surgical resection was performed if feasible. The primary endpoint was the R0 resection rate after induction treatment.Seventeen patients were included in the study (EGJC: 6; GC: 11). An R0 resection was achieved in only 5 patients (29%), and according to the design of the trial (Simon's optimal two-stage) accrual of patients was terminated after the first stage. No patient died during IC, whereas 3 patients (24%) died during IC/RT and one of 5 resected patients (20%) died during the first 30 days after resection. The median survival was 10.5 months, and the actuarial 2-year survival rate was 27%.Induction IC followed by IC/RT showed poor efficacy and significant toxicity in patients with unresectable GC/EGJC.

Introduction Surgery is the accepted treatment in adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas (ADHP); however, the long-term survival continues to be low. The aim of this study is to define prognostic factors of long-term survival after cephalic duodenopancreatectomy (CDP) due to pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Material and methods We have collected data on the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas by means of a cephalic duodenopancreatectomy performed at the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge (Barcelona) from 1991 to 2007. Results A total of 204 CDP due to ADHP were performed. The histology showed that the resected tumour was larger than 3cm in 70 cases, with lymphatic infiltration in 73%, perineural invasion in 89%, and lymphatic involvement in 89%. More than 15 lymph nodes were resected in 120 patients. A total of 113 (60%) patients received adjuvant treatment after surgery. There were 148 (73%) deaths, of which 55 (27%) were alive at closure. The actual mean survival was 2.54 years (95% CI; 2.02–3.07) and an actuarial survival at 5 years of 13.55% (95% CI; 7.69–19.41). The study of mortality risk factors showed that, female gender, absence of peri-operative transfusion ( P = .003), the resection of more than 15 lymph nodes during the operation ( P = .004), and the administration of adjuvant treatment ( P = .004) had a better long-term prognosis. The multivariate analysis showed that transfusion and gender were the most significant variables. Conclusions Surgery of head of the pancreas adenocarcinoma must include an adequate lymphadenectomy, and must be performed with a low morbidity and without the need of a peri-operative transfusion.

Purpose To determine in a Phase II trial whether preoperative irinotecan–cisplatin (IC) followed by concurrent IC therapy and radiotherapy (IC/RT) improved outcome in patients with resectable, locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) or esophagogastric junction cancer (EGJC). Patients and Methods Patients with resectable Stage II–IV, M0 GC or EGJC made up the study population. The primary endpoint was pathologic complete response (pCR). Two courses of IC (irinotecan, 65mg/m 2 ; cisplatin, 30mg/m 2 on Days 1 and 8 every 21 days) were given. Patients without progression then received IC/RT, consisting of daily radiotherapy (45Gy) with concurrent IC (irinotecan, 65mg/m 2 ; cisplatin, 30mg/m 2 on Days 1, 8, 15, and 22). Surgical resection was performed, if feasible, 5–8 weeks after the end of radiotherapy. Results Twenty-three patients were included in the study: 10 with EGJC and 13 with GC. Two patients (9%) achieved pCR. The incidences of Grade 3–4 toxicities were as follows: IC: neutropenia 35% (febrile 13%), anemia 22%, diarrhea 22%, emesis 8%; IC/RT: neutropenia 52% (febrile 5%), asthenia 19%, anemia 9%, emesis 9%, diarrhea 5%, cardiotoxicity 5%. No patients died during IC or IC/RT. R0 resection was achieved in 15 patients (65%). Median survival was 14.5 months, and the actuarial 2-year survival rate was 35%. Conclusions Preoperative IC followed by IC/RT resulted in moderate response and resection rates with mild toxicity in patients with GC and EGJC.

Chemotherapy has improved the overall survival (OS) in patients (pts) with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Docetaxel (D), oxaliplatin (O) and capecitabine (C) have shown interesting activity in this setting. We defined “suboptimal” pts as those with PS ECOG = 2, weight loss 10–25 % and/or age ≥70 years. This population is usually underrepresented in AGC clinical trials. We explored in 43 previously untreated “suboptimal” AGC pts the effect of “miniDOX” regimen (D: 40 mg/m2 iv, day 1; O: 80 mg/m2 iv, day 1; C: 625 mg/m2 po bid, day 1 to day 21, every 21 days; after six courses, only C was maintained). Primary end point was response rate (RR), and secondary end points were adverse events (AE), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients characteristics: PS ECOG = 2: 12 pts; weight loss 10–25 %: 23 pts; median age 73.3 years (range 40–87; 28 pts were ≥70 years); 32 males; locally advanced: 8 pts/metastatic: 35 pts; primary site: gastric 32 pts/EGJ 11. Worst AE per pt (grade 3–4): neutropenia: 5 pts (febrile neutropenia: 3); pulmonary embolism (PE): 4 pts (3 of them suffered sudden death); diarrhea: 9 pts; paronychia: 2 pts; ictus: 1 pt; renal failure: 1 pt (this pt suffered infection/bacteriemia without neutropenia and died); hand-foot syndrome: 4 pts and asthenia: 5 pts. Response: CR: 1 pt, PR: 23 pts (RR: 56 %), SD: 12 pts, progression: 3 pts, no determined: 4 pts. Median and 1 year actuarial PFS and OS were 5.5 months/18 % and 13.3 months/52 %, respectively. Although miniDOX’s toxicity (mainly PE)has been important, its activity has been promising in “suboptimal” pts with AGC, and this combination should be further investigated in this setting.

Treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancers with high-dose definitive concomitant chemoradiotherapy can lead to high-grade esophageal strictures, or, rarely, total obliteration of the lumen. Strictures can be successfully treated with various endoscopic techniques; however, complete obstruction is a technically challenging problem. Anterograde endoscopic techniques carry the risk of perforation or bleeding. A combined anterograde–retrograde dilation technique, described in a few reports, is another option but requires retrograde access through a prior ostomy [1–4]. We report a novel method for managing complete esophageal obstruction using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided puncture for access to the distal lumen, previously described only in a case of total colonic stricture using a prototype forward-view echoendoscope [5]. A 62-year-old woman had received highdose chemoradiation for a squamous cell esophageal carcinoma (stage IIIC) and her esophagus had completely occluded, with severe compromise to her quality of life (●" Fig.1). Several attempts to pass a guide wire though the stricture were unsuccessful. We decided to attempt recanalization of the lumen using an EUS-guided access. The linear echoendoscope (GF-UCT140AL5;Olympus, Tokyo, Japan)wasadvanced 24cm from the incisors and the distal esophageal lumenwas identified from the proximal endon theEUSimage (●" Fig.2a). A 19G needle (Expect Flex; Boston Scientific Corp, Natick, Massachusetts, USA) was used to puncture the obstructed lumen under EUS guidance (●" Fig.2b). Contrast filling was visualized under fluoroscopy and a 0.035-inch guide wire (Microvasive Jagwire; Boston Scientific) was advanced through the EUS needle (●" Fig.3a,b). An 8-mm biliary balloon (Hurricane RX; Boston Scientific) was used to perform a first dilation under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance (●" Fig.3c). The endoscopic appearance after dilation was satisfactory, with reestablishment of luminal continuity (●" Video 1). The patient underwent four additional endoscopic balloon dilations of up to 15mm (●" Fig.4). She respondedwell, gaining the ability to swallow secretions, drinks, and soft food, andwithout evidence of delayed complications. Fig.2 a,b EUS images of the esophageal total stricture. a A thickened esophageal wall (arrows) continues through the stenosis. b EUS image of the 19G needle through the stricture (arrow).

4098 Background: Perioperative chemotherapy has demonstrated better OS and DFS than surgery alone in resectable stomach or EGJ adenocarcinoma. Trastuzumab has improved OS when added to chemotherapy in pts with HER-2 + metastatic gastric cancer and is interesting to explore its role in the perioperative setting. Methods: A Spanish, multicenter, open-label phase II study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity profile of perioperative XELOX-T (capecitabine 1000 mg/m2/12h po days 1-14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 day 1, trastuzumab 8 mg/kg→ mg/kg day 1, q3w ; 3 preoperative cycles and 3 postsurgery cycles followed by 12 cycles of trastuzumab monotherapy) in patients with T1-2N+M0 or T3-4NxM0 resectable stomach or EGJ adenocarcinoma, HER-2+ ( IHQ3+ or IHQ2+/FISH+). The primary endpoint was 18 months DFS, secondary endpoint included pCR, R0 resection rate, ORR and toxicity of preoperative treatment (NCI CTC v3.0 criteria). Results: From June 2010 to March 2012, 36 pts were included: median age 65 (39-85); ECOG 0/1/2: 16/19/1 pts; localization: stomach 21 pts, EGJ 15 pts; histologic type: intestinal: 23 pts, diffuse: 4 pts, mixed: 1pt, not specified 8 pts; TNM: T 4: 7 pts; N+: 31 pts. Preoperative XELOX-T: Response: PR: 14 pts (39%), SD: 18 pts, PD: 0 pts, NE: 4 pts. G-3-4 toxicity (≥ 5% of pts): diarrhea 22% and asthenia 5%. Surgery was performed in 31 pts: R0: 28 pts (78%, 95% CI: 61-90%), R1: 1 pt, R2: 2 pts (1 had peritoneal carcinomatosis); pCR was observed in 7 pts (19 %; 95% CI: 8-36%) and 22 pts (61%) were pN0. Two pts died due to surgical complications,. We do not have mature data about postoperative XELOX-T yet. Follow-up is still too short for DFS and OS. Conclusions: This preliminary analysis suggests that perioperative XELOX+T in HER-2 positive resectable stomach or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma is feasible and has interesting activity. Clinical trial information: NCT01130337.

Introduction Since 2006, the results of MAGIC trial demonstrated that a perioperative regimen of Epirrubicin-cisplatin-5FU (ECF) decreases tumour size and stage, with significantly improvement in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). However, the survival rate of patients (pts) with locally advanced resectable gastric cancer (LARGC) remains poor. Our aim was to identify prognostic factors and their correlation with a more aggressive disease in our area. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 65 pts with LARGC who were planned to receive perioperative chemotherapy followed by surgery at our institution, between May 2008 and February 2012. We analysed the correlation between mOS and recurrence free survival (RFS) with patient characteristics, sex and age, and some tumour characteristics, as histology, tumour localization, both clinical and pathological stage, and tumour regression rate (TRR). OS and RFS was analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves and the differences with Log-Rank test. Results 16 women and 49 men were analysed, with a median age of 63 years (range 38-78). 41% pts had a diffuse type, 49% an intestinal type and 10% a mixt type adenocarcinoma. 30% of tumours were proximal and 70% were distal. There were clinically 1.6% stage I, 49.2% stage II and 49.2% stage III pts. 58 pts (98%) completed 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. 42 pts received ECF, whereas 23 pts received other schemes (13 pts carboplatin+5FU, 8 pts cisplatin+5FU, 2 pts other combinations). Radiological downstaging was observed in 59% pts. 40 total gastrectomy, 14 partial gastrectomy and 9 Ivor-Lewis were conducted. There was 1 pt who underwent a palliative derivation. We found 1 surgery-related death. Adjuvant chemotherapy was delivered in 45 pts. There were pathologically 22% stage I, 47% stage II, 22% stage III and 9% stage IV pts. Pathological downstaging in terms of TRR (RG1+RG2+RG3) was obtained in 42% pts, achieving 3 complete responses (RG1). 4 pts had marked regression (RG2) and 19 pts had 10-50% viable tumour remaining (RG3), meanwhile 36 pts did not respond (RG4). The median follow-up of the whole group was 24 months. We did not reach nor the mOS neither the mRFS, given that 70% pts were alive after 2 years. 2 year OS was 72% (95 CI, 60.3%-83.6%) and 2 year RFS was 52.5% (95 CI, 39.8%-65.3%). Age Conclusion Preoperative chemotherapy contributes to pathological downstaging and histologic tumour regression in less than 50% pts. Age>60 years, minor pathological downstaging and tumour regression rate have been objectively correlated to poor outcomes. New patient and tumour characteristics must be identified as prognostic and predictive factors. The development of targeted therapies should provide new possibilities in the treatment of LARGC.

Introduction Fluoropyrimidine (F) and platinum (P) combination chemotherapy has been widely used as a first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Docetaxel has been considerable promise against this disease. We want to investigate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel monotherapy as salvage chemotherapy for AGC in clinical practice and determine the prognostic factors in these patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with AGC for whom fluoropyrimidine and platinum had previously failed and who had received docetaxel salvage monotherapy between March 2005 and December 2011. Docetaxel was administered at a dose of 75 mg/m(2) intravenously every 3 weeks with dexamethasone prophylaxis. Results A total of 40 patients received 133 cycles of docetaxel with a median of three cycles per patient (range 1-6). The median age was 63 years (range 38-78 years). The objective response rate was 10%, with 4 partial responses, with response duration of 1.1, 2.2, 2.6 and 7.1 months respectively. An additional 4 patients achieved stable disease. The median time to progression (TTP) for all patients was 1.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-2.7] and the median overall survival (OS) from the start of docetaxel chemotherapy was 4.1 months (95% CI, 3.6-4.6). Grade 3/4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia occurred in 15% of patients and anemia occurred in 12.5%. The incidence of non-hematologic toxicities of grade 3 or worse was asthenia 25%, anorexia 12.5%, diarrhea 2.5% and stomatitis 2.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (0 or 1 versus 2) was an independent prognostic factor for both TTP and OS. Number of metastatic sites was a predictor for better TTP. Conclusion Docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) is relatively active against AGC as a second-line salvage treatment after failure of fluoropyrimidine and platinum combination chemotherapy in general clinical practice. The toxicity profile is moderate. Further investigation in salvage therapy is needed, in order to improve survival and provide palliation of symptoms.