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Background: Predictors of the efficacy of endoscopic dilation for caustic esophageal stricture have been poorly studied.Methods: All patients undergoing an endoscopic dilation for an esophageal caustic stricture between 1990 and 2015 in a French national reference center were included. Success of dilation was defined by self-food autonomy without the need for reconstructive esophageal surgery.Results: During the study period, 894 patients were admitted after caustic ingestion. Among them, 101 patients developed esophageal stricture and 92 patients were eligible for analysis (missing data in 8 cases, 1 patient died before endoscopic dilation). In this cohort (median age 42 years, women 53%, strong alkali 74%, suicide attempt 77%, hydrostatic balloon use 93%), the overall success rate of dilation was 57% with a median number of 3 dilation sessions (274 sessions, range 1-17). Factors predicting the success of the procedure were: non-inflammatory stricture or non-inflammatory intercalated mucosa between stricture (88% vs 47%, p = 0.001), a single stricture versus 2 or more strictures (69% vs 47% vs 33%, respectively, p = 0.04), a stricture of less than 5 cm (70% vs 27%, p < 0.001) and the existence of mild/ moderately tight or very tight stricture (70% vs 21% of success, p < 0.001). Perforation rate was 6.5% (18/274) requiring emergency surgery in 2 cases.Conclusion: Several characteristics of caustic esophageal strictures are significantly associated with the success rate of endoscopic dilation. Our data may be useful for customizing treatment strategies in patients with a caustic stricture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have explored the association between baseline characteristics and the occurrence of early toxicities in patients treated with first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Individual patient data of 2190 patients enrolled in 10 prospective FFCD (Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive) trials were analysed. Severe early toxicity was defined as the occurrence of grade ≥III toxicity within 3 months after initiation of chemotherapy (ET3). Patients received monotherapy based on 5-FU (n = 1068), a cytotoxic doublet (n = 395) or tritherapy with a cytotoxic doublet plus anti-VEGF agent or a cytotoxic triplet (n = 727). The patients received 5-FU (100%), Irinotecan (39.6%), Oxaliplatin (13.4%), Bevacizumab (29.6%) or Aflibercept (1.8%). ET3 occurred in 244 patients (22.8%) with monotherapy, 248 patients (62.8%) with doublet and 392 patients (53.9%) with tritherapy. The most frequent ET3s were related to biological abnormalities and/or gastrointestinal, general and vascular disorders. The prognostic factors for the occurrence of an ET3 in multivariate analysis were a performance status of 2 rather than 0–1 (OR 2.57; 95% CI [1.16, 5.73]; p = 0.02), tritherapy versus monotherapy (OR 2.31; 95% CI [0.84, 6.33]; p = 0.02), alkaline phosphatase > 300 UI/l (OR 3.07; 95% CI [1.79, 5.27]; p < 0.001) and non-resected primary tumour versus resection (OR 1.59; 95% CI [1.06, 2.39]; p = 0.02). Median overall survival in patients without ET3 was significantly longer than that in patients with ET3 (HR 0.87; 95% CI [0.80–0.96]; p = 0.004). ET3 is frequent whatever the treatment regimen and is associated with certain baseline characteristics. The clinical impact of ET3 on prognosis in mCRC warrants further investigation. • Severe drug toxicity has a negative impact on prognosis in metastatic colorectal cancer. • Early toxicity within 3 months after first-line regimen initiation may be a key factor. • Early grade III or more toxicity is a new prognostic marker. • Some baseline characteristics are associated with ET3 occurrence. • Early grade III or more toxicity correlates with poorer overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with multiple risk factors, including infection with human papillomavirus and human immunodeficiency virus, immunosuppression, multiple sex partners, receptive anal sex and tobacco smoking. The aim of our study was to identify prognostic factors associated with poor outcomes after radiotherapy for anal cancer. We analysed retrospectively the medical records of 171 patients treated by (chemo)radiotherapy for non-metastatic anal cancer in our institution from 2000 to 2015. Patients and tumour characteristics, treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy [RT] and surgery) and outcomes were reported. Colostomy-free survival (CRF), disease-free survival and overall survival (OS) at 5 years were studied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by logistic regression to determine factors associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS). Patients' characteristics were as follows: median age, 62 years (range = 36–89); gender, 45 men (26%) and 126 women (74%); HIV serology, positive: 21 patients (12%); tobacco smoking, 86 patients (50%), among whom 28 patients and 58 patients were current and former smokers, respectively. Tumours were classified as locally limited (T1–2, N0, M0) for 86 patients (50%) and locally advanced (T3–4 or N+, M0) for 85 patients (50%). The median total dose was 64.4 Gy (range = 54–76.6), and 146 patients were treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Factors associated with poor PFS in univariate analysis were as follows: tumour size >4 cm, lymph node involvement, tobacco smoking, no initial surgical excision and anal warts at diagnosis. In multivariate analysis, only tobacco smoking status was significantly associated with poor PFS (hazard ratio = 2.85, 95% confidence interval [1.25–6.50], p = 0.013). Five-year PFS for non-smokers, former smokers and current smokers was 88.1%, 76.7% and 73.8%, respectively (p = 0.038). Tobacco smoking was also associated with poor overall survival (p = 0.03), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS; p = 0.05) and CFS (p = 0.02). Tobacco smoking status is associated with poor OS, LRFS, PFS and CFS in patients treated for anal cancer by high RT dose ± chemotherapy. • The patients's smoking status is associated with increased risk for anal cancer recurrence, colostomy and death. • The patient's smoking history (current smoker; ex-smoker; never smoker) is also associated with patient's outcome. • The patient's smoking status overcomes all prognostic factors in anal cancer treated by radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Cohort studies have described the short‐term effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab in treating patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), but data beyond 1 year are lacking. Aim: To assess the effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab after 162 weeks in patients with UC and CD. Methods: Between June and December 2014, 294 patients including 173 patients with CD and 121 with UC were treated with vedolizumab induction therapy. Among them, 149 continued to be treated with vedolizumab beyond week 54 (78 patients with CD and 71 with UC). Disease activity was assessed using the Harvey‐Bradshaw Index for CD and the partial Mayo Clinic score for UC. The primary outcome was steroid‐free clinical remission at week 162, computed for the whole population included at week 0. Results: Steroid‐free clinical remission rates at week 162 were 19.9% and 36.1% in patients with CD and UC respectively. Vedolizumab dose optimisation to 300 mg every 4 weeks instead of 300 mg every 8 weeks was at investigator's discretion and occurred in 58.7% and 52.1% of patients with CD and UC respectively. The 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐year persistence rates of vedolizumab were 48.5%, 31.4% and 26.3% respectively, in patients with CD and 61.0%, 49.9% and 42.9% respectively, in patients with UC. No new safety signal was identified. Conclusion: Vedolizumab is able to maintain steroid‐free clinical remission in patients with UC and CD up to week 162. Loss of response resulting in discontinuation of vedolizumab occurred in 10% of patients per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]