Efficacy of nodal dissection for locoregional gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective observational study.

Background: Gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy for which no standard treatment has been established for locoregional disease. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to evaluate the prognostic relevance and therapeutic efficacy of lymph node dissection in this setting.

Methods: A total of 118 patients with gastric NEC or mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) who underwent gastrectomy with lymph node dissection were analyzed.

A multicenter Phase II study of mFOLFOX6 plus nivolumab for gastric cancer with severe peritoneal metastases: WJOG16322G.

Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients with severe peritoneal metastases (SPM), characterized by massive ascites and/or inadequate oral intake, have a poor prognosis with the median overall survival of around 7 months, even when treated with fluorouracil/l-leucovorin plus oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6), despite being a treatment options for these patients demonstrated in the WJOG10517G study. However, these patients were excluded from pivotal Phase III trials, including the CheckMate 649 study, which demonstrated the benefit of adding nivolumab to mFOLFOX6, due to tumor-related complications. Given the lack of data on the efficacy and safety of combining nivolumab with mFOLFOX6 for AGC patients with SPM, we initiated a Phase II study to evaluate this combination.

Nivolumab Plus 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin+Oxaliplatin for Gastric Cancer With Severe Peritoneal Metastasis.

Background/aim: Based on the CheckMate 649 study, nivolumab plus chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced gastric cancer (AGC). 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin+oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) is often used for patients with AGC with severe peritoneal metastasis (PM) who cannot tolerate oral intake. Nivolumab monotherapy has shown efficacy against PM.

The efficacy and safety of FOLFOX therapy for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treatment. However, the 5-fluorouracil plus L-leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) regimen is available in Japan as an alternative to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, but its efficacy and safety remain unclear. Hence, we aimed to evaluate patients with advanced ESCC who received FOLFOX therapy retrospectively.

Palliative use of self-expanding metal stents in initially anticancer treatment-intolerant patients with esophageal cancer.

Background: The post-insertion clinical course of esophageal self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) in initially frail patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC) with dysphagia remains unclear. This study aimed to assess dysphagia improvement and evaluate prognosis in initially frail patients with advanced EC following SEMS insertion.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed EC patients with EC who underwent esophageal SEMS insertion at our institution between January 2014 and March 2023.

Complete response induced by nivolumab monotherapy in gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma: a case report.

No standard treatment has been established for gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (G-NEC). We present the case of a patient with recurrent G-NEC who achieved a complete response (CR) with nivolumab. A woman in her 70 s, with no significant medical or family history of illness, underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, which revealed a Borrmann type 2 tumor in the gastric antrum.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic submucosal dissection using an ultrathin endoscope: a retrospective, single-center evaluation.

Background: Recent studies have reported the therapeutic use of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) using an ultrathin endoscope for targeting pharyngeal and distal side lesions in the stenosis or as a less invasive treatment via the nasal route. However, the effectiveness and safety of these treatments remain undetermined. Therefore, this study aimed to review treatment outcomes and discuss the advantages and precautions of the treatments based on our experience.

Real-World Treatment Sequencing in Vulnerable Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Data regarding treatment sequence for vulnerable patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in a real-world setting are lacking.

Objective: We aimed to assess treatment outcomes in second-line or later chemotherapy for vulnerable patients with mCRC in a real-world setting.

Patients And Methods: Vulnerable patients with mCRC who received less intensive treatment ('vulnerable') regimens, i.

Clinical Effect of the C-Reactive Protein to Serum Albumin Ratio in Patients with Metastatic Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Treated with Trifluridine/Tipiracil.

Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) is an oral anticancer agent used as a third- or later-line treatment for patients with metastatic gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer (mGC/GEJC). The C-reactive protein-to-serum albumin ratio (CAR) is an inflammation-based prognostic marker in gastric cancer. This retrospective study evaluated CAR's clinical significance as a prognostic factor in 64 patients with mGC/GEJC administered FTD/TPI as a third- or later-line therapy.

Clinical Significance of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio/Serum Albumin Ratio in Patients With Metastatic Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Administered Trifluridine/Tipiracil.

Background/aim: Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) is an anticancer-agent that is administered as third-line or later chemotherapy for metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (mGC/GEJC). Although inflammatory and nutritional statuses have attracted attention as prognostic factors for patients with mGC/GEJC in this therapy, their usefulness has not been fully clarified. Thus, this study investigated the clinical significance of prognostic nutritional index (PNI), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and NLR/serum albumin (Alb) ratio in patients administered FTD/TPI.

Successful resection of gastric cancer arising from a heterotopic gastric gland in the submucosa by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Heterotopic gastric gland (HGG)-originating early gastric cancer was endoscopically resected. We resected the HGG, widely marked the perimeter outside the submucosal tumor-like area, injected from outside the markings into the submucosa, dissected the muscular layer, and used fine-tip hood. HGG removal and ensuring negative horizontal and vertical margins are critical.

Endoscopic mucosal resection using a ligation device for duodenal neuroendocrine tumors: a simple method.

Introduction: Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors (DNETs) smaller than 1 cm in diameter, without invasion to the muscularis propria, have a low risk of metastasis. Therefore, DNETs are frequently resected endoscopically. However, among the various procedures, the best fit for DNET in terms of feasibility, effectiveness, and simplicity is unclear.

Feasibility, efficacy, and cautionary note of endoscopic resection for gastric tube cancer after esophagectomy.

Background: Gastric tube cancer (GTC), whose usual histology is adenocarcinoma, occurs frequently as a result of improved survival after esophagectomy. Whether endoscopic resection (ER) for GTC is safe and suitable and guidelines for treatment and follow-up remains unclear.

Methods: Patients with GTC who underwent ER at Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital between 1997 and 2020 were studied retrospectively to evaluate clinical characteristics and short- and long-term outcomes.

Prognostic Impact of Immune-related Adverse Events in Gastric Cancer Patients Treated With Nivolumab.

Background/aim: To evaluate the impact of development of nivolumab monotherapy-induced immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and continuing nivolumab with irAEs on the survival of patients with gastric cancer (GC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with unresectable advanced GC and recurrence after curative resection who received nivolumab monotherapy were included in the study. Survival was compared between patients who did and did not develop irAEs, and between those who continued and discontinued treatment due to irAEs.

Feasibility of gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection in elderly patients aged ≥ 80 years.

Background: Endoscopic resection, especially endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), is increasingly performed in elderly patients with early gastric cancer, and lesions beyond the expanded indications are also resected endoscopically in some patients. It is essential to assess whether gastric ESD is safe and suitable for elderly patients and investigate what type of lesions carry an increased risk of ESD-related complications.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and feasibility of gastric ESD for elderly patients, and define high-risk lesions and prognostic indicators.

A case of esophageal granular cell tumor diagnosed by mucosal incision-assisted biopsy.

For an esophageal submucosal mass suspicious of granular cell tumor (GCT) based on gross appearance and endoscopic ultrasound findings, a sufficient number of biopsy specimens is required for a definite diagnosis using immunohistochemical examination. When the specimen obtained by forceps biopsy is insufficient, endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is believed to be an useful alternative. However, it may be difficult to obtain an adequate amount of tumor material using EUS-FNA.

Feasibility and efficacy of chemoradiotherapy with concurrent split-dose cisplatin after induction chemotherapy with docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil for locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with concurrent high-dose cisplatin (CDDP) is a standard treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN). Docetaxel plus CDDP and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) induction chemotherapy (ICT) prior to CRT is considered for patients at high risk of distant metastases. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of CRT with split-dose CDDP after TPF-ICT for LA-SCCHN.

Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients With Resistance to Standard Systemic Chemotherapies.

Background/aim: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is a treatment option for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with extensive liver metastasis (LM); however, the appropriate regimen and the treatment effects have not been discussed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HAIC with the 5-FU, epirubicin, and mitomycin-C (FEM) regimen.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed MBC patients with critical LM who were resistant to standard systemic chemotherapies and had received HAIC with an FEM regimen.

Comparison of enteral nutrition with total parenteral nutrition for patients with locally advanced unresectable esophageal cancer harboring dysphagia in definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The nutritional status of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) harboring dysphagia is often poor. The efficacy and safety of enteral nutrition (EN) versus total parenteral nutrition (TPN) have not been addressed in patients with ESCC requiring nutritional support during definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 51 locally advanced unresectable ESCC patients with dysphagia receiving EN (n = 28) or TPN (n = 23) during dCRT between 2009 and 2016.

Clinical and pathological features of sarcopenia-related indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Sarcopenia is diagnosed with the skeletal muscle index (SMI) or the sarcopenia index (SI). We previously reported that the ratio of skeletal muscle mass to body fat mass (SF ratio) was a novel index of sarcopenia in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate sarcopenia with these indices in patients with NAFLD.

Presence of varices in patients after hepatitis C virus eradication predicts deterioration in the FIB-4 index.

Aims: The liver function of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who obtained sustained virologic response (SVR) has been known to improve after HCV eradication. However, a predictor of liver function after SVR has not been definitively identified. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify a predictor of deteriorated liver function and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index after SVR was achieved by direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment.