Postoperative chemotherapy after conversion surgery for clinical stage IV gastric cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Conversion surgery following systemic chemotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy for clinical stage IV gastric cancer. However, the role of postoperative chemotherapy in improving survival outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of postoperative chemotherapy on survival, comparing single-agent and combination regimens.

[Case Report of a Patient Who Underwent Open Left Hepatic Lobectomy Followed by Robot-Assisted High-Anterior Resection after Preoperative Chemotherapy for Multiple Simultaneous Liver Metastases of Rectal Cancer].

A woman in her 60s visited our hospital after colonoscopy revealed a circumferential type 2 lesion located 10 cm from the anal verge. Computed tomography revealed metastases in liver S4 and S8. The regional lymph nodes were markedly enlarged, compressing the sciatic nerve.

Intraoperative visualization of lymphatic flow along the ileocolic artery using ICG fluorescence imaging and its implications for right-sided colon cancer surgery.

Background: In colorectal cancer surgery, especially for right-sided colon cancer, understanding the anatomical course of lymphatic flow along the ileocolic artery (ICA) is crucial for safe and oncologically adequate mesenteric dissection. However, the precise spatial relationship between the ICA and the accompanying lymphatic vessels has not been well-established.

Methods: Seventeen patients undergoing laparoscopic right-sided colon cancer surgery were enrolled.

Impact of prophylactic 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic colorectal cancer surgery: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication of surgery. This study evaluated the efficacy of prophylactic 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist (5HT3RA) in preventing PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery.

Methods: Between April and June, 2022, 100 consecutive patients received 5HT3RA prophylaxis before anesthesia induction.

A 14-Gene Panel for Predicting Colorectal Cancer Recurrence Using Circulating Tumor DNA in Different Testing Conditions.

Detecting minimal residual disease after surgery is critical for assessing colorectal cancer recurrence risk. Traditional methods, including histology and carcinoembryonic antigen testing, have limited sensitivity. As circulating tumor DNA has emerged as a promising minimal residual disease biomarker, we evaluated circulating tumor DNA detection using a sensitive, targeted 14-gene panel, the Sysmex Plasma-Safe-SeqS colorectal cancer assay, in resectable colorectal cancer cases.

Enhancing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair with three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction.

Zhang highlighted the importance of three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction and myopectineal orifice measurement in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Their findings indicated that preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography provides precise anatomical mapping, allowing surgeons to optimize mesh selection and reduce recurrence rates. Recent studies have corroborated these results, demonstrating that a personalized mesh size based on myopectineal orifice dimensions leads to superior patient outcomes.

Clinical implications of a machine learning model predicting colorectal polyp recurrence after endoscopic mucosal resection.

The machine learning model developed by Shi for predicting colorectal polyp recurrence after endoscopic mucosal resection represents a significant advancement in the field of clinical gastroenterology. By integrating patient-specific factors, such as age, smoking history, and infection, the eXtreme Gradient Boosting algorithm enables precise personalised colonoscopy follow-up planning and risk assessment. This predictive tool offers substantial benefits by optimising surveillance intervals and directing healthcare resources more efficiently toward high-risk individuals.

Clinical and prognostic characteristics of metastatic colorectal cancer with minor mutations.

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) presents notable therapeutic challenges. Rat sarcoma virus () mutations, including those in exon 2, are critical for treatment decisions; however, the role of minor mutations ( exons 3 and 4, and ) remains underexplored. Because these mutations are increasingly identified in routine practice due to advances in mutation testing that now routinely includes exons 3 and 4, and , clarifying their clinical relevance has become important for ensuring appropriate treatment selection.

Safety and short-term outcomes of adjuvant nivolumab therapy at 480 mg dose every four weeks in resected esophageal cancer: a prospective cohort study.

Aim: Nivolumab, approved for adjuvant therapy in resected esophageal cancer, is typically administered at 240 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W) or 480 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W). However, data on the 480 mg Q4W regimen as an initial therapy are limited. In this study, we evaluated its safety and efficacy.

Short-term outcomes of robot-assisted ultralow anterior resection and robot-assisted rectectomy with transanal anastomosis for rectal cancer in Japan: A multicenter retrospective cohort study (ROSEMARY study).

Background: The complex procedures of ultralow anterior resection and intersphincteric resection require precise manipulation at the deepest pelvis, where the advantages of robotic surgery in particular could be leveraged, despite limited reports of such procedures. We aimed to evaluate the short-term outcomes of robot-assisted ultralow anterior resection and robot-assisted intersphincteric resection at 31 institutions in Japan.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study was performed by a total of 31 institutions with the largest number of robot-assisted rectal cancer surgeries based on the survey conducted by the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery.

Clinical outcomes of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for postoperative recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has been the first-line treatment for metastatic or unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer. However, postoperative recurrences have not been sufficiently investigated. We investigated the clinical outcomes of pembrolizumab plus cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (CF) therapy for postoperative recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The unique role of cuproptosis in the prognosis and treatment of rectum adenocarcinoma.

Background: The incidence of digestive system cancers has increased significantly in recent years. Among these, rectum adenocarcinoma (READ), which exhibits distinct features compared to colon adenocarcinoma, has emerged as a unique subtype. Cuproptosis, a recently identified form of non-apoptotic programmed cell death, plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis; however, its relationship with READ and its potential effect on prognosis remains poorly understood.

Impact of body mass index as a continuous variable on short- and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer.

Background: The impact of obesity on colon cancer remains unclear. Very few studies of colon cancer surgery have analyzed body mass index (BMI) as a continuous variable, with no such reports from Japan. This study examined the association between BMI as a continuous variable and short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for obese colon cancer patients.

Short- and long-term outcomes of robotic versus conventional laparoscopic surgery for middle or lower rectal cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: The potential benefits of robotic surgery (RS) for rectal cancer (RC) remain uncertain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of RS compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery (LS) for stage I-III middle or lower RC.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 350 consecutive patients with stage I-III middle or lower RC who underwent curative surgery from 2017 to 2021, employing propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.

Survival Impact of Adjuvant Nivolumab Therapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Docetaxel Plus 5-Fluorouracil and Cisplatin.

Background: The efficacy of adjuvant nivolumab following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in managing locally advanced esophageal cancer remains unclear. This study evaluated the survival benefits of adjuvant nivolumab after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin (DCF) regimen in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: This single-center, retrospective study included 439 consecutive patients with locally advanced ESCC who underwent radical esophagectomy following neoadjuvant DCF chemotherapy.

Outcomes of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer under non‑smoking conditions confirmed by measuring expiratory CO levels: An observational study.

The outcomes of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) under non-smoking conditions in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcomes in patients with LARC who underwent neoadjuvant CRT under non-smoking conditions, followed by total mesorectal excision (TME). To this end, the medical records of 28 patients treated with CRT and surgery for LARC between January 2014 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.

Two cases of protein-losing enteropathy induced by zolbetuximab in patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer.

The GLOW and SPOTLIGHT trials have demonstrated the efficacy of chemotherapy plus zolbetuximab for HER2-negative, claudin-18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2)-positive unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer (AGC)/gastroesophageal junction cancer. However, data on adverse events in real-world clinical practice are still insufficient.

Efficacy of lymph node dissection around the inferior mesenteric artery with preservation of the left colic artery for rectal cancer.

Objective: We investigated how Japanese D3 dissection with left colic artery (LCA) preservation affects anastomotic leakage after anterior resection with anastomosis for rectal cancer, based on the leak rate. The correlation between LCA preservation, survival, and cancer recurrence after resection was also analyzed.

Summary And Background Data: It remains unclear how LCA preservation affects the anastomotic leak rate and oncological outcomes after resection remains unclear.

Robotic and laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: comparative insights into perioperative performance and three-year survival outcomes.

Background: The primary treatment for gastric cancer (GC) is surgical resection, particularly for locally advanced cases. While laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) has shown short- and long-term benefits, robotic gastrectomy (RG) offers enhanced precision and may lead to better outcomes, especially in advanced-stage disease.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 1538 patients with pathological Stage I-III GC who underwent RG or LG between 2014 and 2021.

[A Case of Curative Resection for Primary Small Bowel Cancer and Lymph Node Metastasis Incidentally found during Surgery for Colorectal Cancer].

The patient was a 51-year-old man. He was diagnosed with cStage Ⅲb descending colon cancer after a positive stool occult blood test, and the patient was referred to our department for laparoscopic left hemicolectomy with D3 lymph node dissection. Intraoperatively, we incidentally found a mass lesion at the end of the ileum and a large hard enlarged lymph node in the nearby mesentery of the small intestine, so we additionally performed a partial resection of the small intestine and dissection of the regional lymph node.

The Efficacy of FOLFIRI Plus Ramucirumab in Recurrent Colorectal Cancer Refractory to Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin/Fluoropyrimidine-Including Biomarker Analyses.

Background: FOLFIRI (5-FU + leucovorin + irinotecan) plus ramucirumab is one of the standards in second-line metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients progressing after treatment with oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine with bevacizumab, but there is no evidence on its efficacy without prior bevacizumab. Moreover, VEGF-D has not been confirmed as a predictive biomarker for ramucirumab's efficacy, either.

Methods: The RAINCLOUD study was a multicenter, single-arm, phase II trial conducted in Japan.

Influence of the rotation of the diverting loop ileostomy in rectal cancer surgery on small-bowel obstruction: A multicenter prospective study conducted by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, Colorectal Group.

Aims: Whether rotation of a diverting loop ileostomy during rectal cancer surgery, for reducing the catastrophic effect of an anastomotic leakage, affects the incidence of small-bowel obstruction has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study is to explore whether technical maneuvers in diverting loop ileostomy creation, including its rotation, are associated with increased incidence of small-bowel obstruction in rectal tumor surgery.

Methods: This multicenter prospective study was conducted by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, which comprises 24 major institutions.

Phase II study of long-course chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy as total neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer in Japan: ENSEMBLE-2.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of total neoadjuvant therapy with long-course chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy in Japanese patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter, single-arm, phase II trial was conducted at 10 centers. The eligibility criteria included age ≥20 y, locally advanced rectal cancer within 12 cm of the anal verge, and cT3-4N0M or TanyN+M0 at diagnosis, enabling curative resection.

Phase II trial evaluating the long-term efficacy and peripheral sensory neuropathy of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) as adjuvant therapy in Japanese patients with operated stage III colon cancer.

Adjuvant oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (XELOX) therapy is recommended for patients with curatively resected colon cancer. However, prospective data on its practical application in Japanese patients are limited. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a long-term clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of adjuvant XELOX in patients with curatively resected stage III colon cancer (MCSCO-1024).