Carbon-adsorbed mitomycin prophylaxis against recurrence of gastric cancer.
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Adsorption↗
Biomedical subjects
F Bozzetti
Publications and source records attributed to F Bozzetti.
Repeated hepatic resection for recurrent metastases from colorectal cancer.
Since 1980 120 patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer underwent surgery at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan. Of these, 34 developed recurrence in the liver only and 11 underwent repeat surgery. The median interval between the two resections was 10 months and operative morbidity and mortality rates were 40 per cent and 9 per cent respectively. Nine patients with adequate follow-up were evaluated and after a median follow-up of 17 months four were alive and disease-free, two were alive with lung metastases and hepatic relapse and three had died. The overall median survival of these patients was 23 months.
Aged↗
Adequacy of paracardial dissection in subtotal versus total gastrectomy.
Right and left paracardial dissection represents an obligatory step in gastrectomy for gastric cancer of the lower half of the stomach because a second-level lymphadenectomy is part of the radical surgery for malignancy at this site. Whereas right and left paracardial dissection is easily accomplished during total gastrectomy, there is doubt as to whether subtotal gastrectomy achieves the same radical clearance of these groups of lymph nodes. This study therefore compared the number of lymph nodes dissected and the frequency of metastases in these compartments in 14 patients undergoing total gastrectomy and 22 submitted to subtotal gastrectomy. The mean number of lymph nodes dissected in the right paracardial compartment was 7.1 per patient undergoing total gastrectomy and 6.7 per patient in subtotal gastrectomy (P = 0.7). The mean numbers of left paracardial lymph nodes dissected in total and subtotal gastrectomy were 3.4 and 4.1 per patient respectively (P = 0.3). These data show that the same degree of radical clearance can be achieved in these nodal compartments, irrespective of the extent of gastric resection.
Adult↗
Double versus single stapling technique in rectal anastomosis.
A retrospective analysis to compare the single vs double stapled technique for rectal anastomosis was carried out on patients that underwent radical surgical resection between January 1986 and January 1989 at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan. In 143 patients anastomotic integrity had been checked both intraoperatively with air insufflation and postoperatively by water soluble contrast enema. A single stapled anastomosis (SST) was performed using the EEA instrument in 94 patients, and in 49 patients a double stapled (DST) using the EEA and TA instruments was performed. The level of the anastomosis was less than or equal to 10 cm from the anal margin in 94 patients (54 SST, 40 DST). In 52 patients it was greater than 10 cm (40 SST, 12 DST) (SST vs DST ns). The presence of anastomotic dehiscence occurred in 29 (20%) patients (17 SST, 12 DST). This was not related either to the anastomotic site or to the suture technique used. The dehiscence was located on the posterior wall in 79% of cases and in 58% the size was less than 1 cm. In 78% clinical symptoms were evident. There was no difference between SST and DST patients. Further surgery (colostomy) was necessary in six patients (2 SST, 4 DST). Two patients died through complications (1 SST, 1 DST); making an overall mortality rate of 1.0% and 2.0% in each group. There was no difference in infection rate and length of postoperative stay in the two groups. Our data demonstrate that both methods give similar results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Anastomosis, Surgical↗
How long is a 6 cm margin of resection in the stomach?
In order to assess whether the gastric wall undergoes some change in length during gastrectomy operation for cancer, we measured the variation in length of the anterior gastric wall in 25 patients. The first measurement was made at the beginning of laparotomy by placing two stitches on the anterior gastric wall and registering the distance between them. A second and a third measurement were recorded when the stomach was fully isolated just before its transection and subsequently on the anatomic table. The results indicate that the usual recommendations made by pathologists to maintain a 6 cm margin of tissue clearance proximally to the cephalic edge of the tumour, can be safely followed by the surgeons who can correctly assess, during operation, the distance between tumour and the desirable line of transection since no misleading reduction in size of the resected specimen takes place.
Adult↗
Total versus subtotal gastrectomy in cancer of the distal stomach: facts and fantasy.
The purpose of this review is to analyse critically the pros and cons of 'en principle' total gastrectomy for cancers of the distal stomach. The theoretical advantages of total gastrectomy would be the guarantee of no infiltration of the margin of proximal transection owing to multicentric cancers or to a microscopical intramural spreading of tumoral cells beyond the macroscopically detectable boundaries of the lesion. However, these expectations are not substantiated since multicentric tumours are rare, a safe margin of resection can be achieved maintaining a proximal clearance of 6 cm from the cranial edge of the tumour. Moreover, recurrences confined to the gastric stump, after subtotal gastrectomy (and originally preventable with a total gastrectomy) are extremely rare according to literature. Furthermore, current experience suggests that the extent of lymph node dissection is not affected by the extent of the resection of the stomach. Analysis of the published series of patients undergoing an en principle total gastrectomy fails to demonstrate any advantage for long-term survival compared with patients treated by subtotal gastrectomy. A recent randomized trial comparing these two procedures is in keeping with the above-mentioned conclusions. It is true, however, that the gap in surgical mortality for total and subtotal gastrectomy tends to disappear when total gastrectomy is electively performed in patients with tumours of the distal stomach. So, whereas the long-term oncological results of the two surgical procedures seem to be similar, the main disadvantage of total gastrectomy is the onset of malnutrition, which is common, but incapacitating only in a few patients. This condition is likely to be of relevance should the patients be selected for aggressive postoperative adjuvant treatments which require good general status and nutritional integrity. The main disadvantage of subtotal gastrectomy is that the patients are exposed to the risk of a gastric stump cancer. However, this risk, owing to the advanced median age of the resected patients and the actual reconstructive procedures which minimize the biliary reflux, cannot be quantified. We think that when two surgical procedures are compared, if the oncological results are the same, the operation which is associated with least discomfort and impairment of the quality of life, should be chosen.
Gastrectomy↗
Morbidity and mortality after surgical resection of liver tumors. Analysis of 229 cases.
Two hundred and twenty-nine resections of hepatic tumors were performed over the past 10 years. The intraoperative death rate, 30-day operative mortality and major complication rate were 1.3%, 8.3% and 20%, respectively. Both morbidity and mortality were significantly related to the type of surgery and to the extent of the resection to contiguous organs and/or structures. Cirrhotic patients (40% in hepatocellular carcinoma) had a higher mortality rate (19%). Intraoperative blood loss was related to the extent of the resection and was significantly higher in patients with major complications and/or death. The main problem was postoperative liver failure in cirrhotic patients, which is difficult to predict and to treat.
Adolescent↗
One hundred patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer treated by resection: analysis of prognostic determinants.
One hundred patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer underwent 'radical' liver resection from 1980 to 1989. At least 1 cm of normal parenchyma surrounded the tumour and no microscopic invasion of resection margins was evident. The disease was staged according to our own staging system. Lobectomy was performed in 50 patients and non-anatomical resection in the remainder. The postoperative mortality rate was 5 per cent and the major morbidity rate was 11 per cent. The actuarial 5-year survival rate for patients in stages I, II and III was 42 per cent, 34 per cent and 15 per cent respectively (P less than 0.001). The overall actuarial 5-year survival rate was 30 per cent. The prognostic importance of various patient and tumour variables was evaluated by univariate analysis and then by multivariate analysis. Age of patient, site of primary, disease-free interval between treatment of primary and of hepatic metastases, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and number of metastases, did not relate to prognosis, while sex (P = 0.024), stage of primary (P = 0.026), extent of liver involvement (P less than 0.001), distribution of metastases (P = 0.01) and type of surgery (P = 0.028) significantly affected prognosis as single factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that only the extent of liver involvement and stage of the primary tumour were independent predictors of survival. We conclude that liver resection is effective in selected patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. In resectable patients it is not yet possible to formulate a clear prognosis based on clinical factors. The extent of liver involvement and the staging system used may be significant, although not absolute, indicators of outcome.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Reduced natural killer cell activity and IL-2 production in malnourished cancer patients.
Natural killer (NK) cell activity was measured in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from malnourished (MN) and well-nourished (WN) cancer patients and in healthy controls. A marked depression of NK activity was observed in MN cancer patients with moderate protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM), but not in WN cancer patients nor in the healthy controls. The depression of NK activity did not correlate with the localisation of the tumour, patient's age or body weight reduction. The defective NK activity of PBMC from MN cancer patients was restored to normal by rIL-2, but not by alfa-rIFN. Parenteral nutrition of MN patients with the proper amount of proteins and calories quickly corrected the depressed NK activity, indicating a central role of malnutrition in the genesis of their immune disfunction. PBMC from MN cancer patients produced lower amounts of IL-2, as compared with healthy controls, when stimulated in vitro; the most frequently affected were the responses to recall antigens such as influenza virus vaccine (FLU), while those to allogeneic PBMC (ALLO) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were less affected. However, for each patient the ability to produce IL-2 in vitro did not correlate with NK activity, thus showing how the impairment of NK activity is not subsequent to a decreased production of endogenous IL-2. In summary, it can be concluded that malnutrition, rather than malignancy, plays a major role in the immune dysfunction of cancer patients.
Adult↗
Early and late results of extended surgery for cancer of the stomach.
The experience of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan of 143 patients who underwent extended surgery for cancer of the stomach from 1965 to 1980 is reviewed. They represent 16.3 per cent of the patients who underwent curative surgery. The operative mortality rate was 15.4 per cent but this significantly decreased in recent years to 8 per cent and the morbidity rate to 17.5 per cent. The overall 5-year survival rate was 19 per cent. Survival was analysed according to tumour penetration (pT) and nodal status (N). It was found that patients without tumour penetration of adjacent structures and nodal involvement (pT3N-) had a better 5-year survival rate (21 per cent) than patients with nodal involvement (pT3N+) (2 per cent). Patients with tumour penetration of adjacent structures and without nodal involvement (pT4N-) had a better 5-year survival rate (29 per cent) than patients with nodal involvement (pT4N+) (5 per cent). These differences were significant on log rank test (P less than 0.000001 and P less than 0.001 respectively) and suggest that nodal status is a stronger prognostic variable than pT level. The role of extended surgery is discussed from the viewpoint of the oncological surgeon who has to weigh up the difficulty of a preoperative diagnosis of tumour infiltration of adjacent structures (predictive positive value 0.39), with the operative mortality rate of at least 8 per cent and long-term results which are strongly affected by the nodal status.
Digestive System Neoplasms↗
The role of CEA and liver function tests in the detection of hepatic metastases from colo-rectal cancer.
Carcinoembryonic antigen and some liver function tests (alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, lactic dehydrogenase and cholinesterase) were evaluated in patients with primary colorectal cancer in order to define their role in the pre-operative detection of liver metastases. The records of 278 consecutive patients admitted to the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan between January 1982 and December 1983 who were suffering from primary invasive colo-rectal cancer and who underwent laparotomy were retrospectively analyzed. At laparotomy, liver metastases were found in 38 pts (13.7%). Considering single tests, CEA was the most sensitive (71%); no single test was found to be reliably predictive, when the result was abnormal. On the contrary, the normal value of each test was associated with a good prediction. When we considered all the five tests together in the single patient their predictive value, when abnormal, proved to be quite good only if four or five results were abnormal. On the other hand, liver metastases in the presence of all normal tests were found only in two patients, so giving a negative predictive value of about 97%. So we conclude that, in the lack of an infallible imaging technique for liver evaluation, in the presence of all normal tests any other investigation on the liver could be avoided. However, when liver tests are pathologic, some other imaging technique should be performed in order to supply the surgeon with information about the extent and the spread of the metastases.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗
Catheter sepsis from infusate contamination.
Ten patients harboring an indwelling CVC with contamination of the infusate are described. Six patients developed sepsis, which was resolved in all patients except one who died from misdiagnosed septic shock. The majority of microorganisms responsible for the infusate contamination were opportunistic pathogens and in five cases were S. epidermidis. There was no apparent correlation between contamination rate of the infusate and subsequent sepsis of the patients. Reasons for the high prevalence of Staphylococcus epidermidis include ubiquitous diffusion of this microorganism, marked affinity for prosthetic devices, especially by the slime-producing strains, and increased susceptibility of debilitated cancer patients to infection. Recognition that the possibility exists for infusate contamination during compounding should alert all members of the Nutritional Support Team to use aseptic technique when preparing and handling the intravenous solutions. Infusate-related sepsis is a potentially lethal but preventable event.
Catheterization, Central Venous↗
[Malnutrition as a cause of decreased NK activity in cancer patients].
In this work we investigated the effects of malnutrition on the immune response in neoplastic patients. We studied the basal NK activity of 34 neoplastic malnourished patients and 10 neoplastic not malnourished patients and a control group of blood donors, by a standard 51 Cr release assay against K562 cells. We observed that the neoplastic malnourished patients have a defective NK activity in spite of a normal number of NK cells, as ascertained by HNK-1 monoclonal antibodies. The reduced NK activity of the neoplastic malnourished patients is only partially restored by rIFN alpha 2a but is normalized by rIL-2 stimulation. We also found that the endogenous IL-2 production from some of these patients is slightly reduced as compared to controls. On the contrary, there are no significative differences between the neoplastic not malnourished patients and blood donors, as concerns the NK activity. These results suggest that nutritional status plays a very important role in the maintenance of an efficient immune response in neoplastic patients.
Adult↗
[Cholangitis and percutaneous biliary drainage].
The binomial PTBD-cholangitis often stands under different and sometimes even opposite relations. Among its indications the procedure lists, the treatment of cholangitis which, on the other hand, may be itself a complication of biliary drainage. The present work proposes a critical review of cholangitis-PTBD correlations, from an ordinary clinical-radiological point of view. Different pathogenetic hypothesis of cholangitis (inflammation, cholestasis, surgical manipulation) are discussed together with risk factors (impaired macrophagic-phagocytic system, immunosuppression, wide neoplastic liver involvement, multiple intrahepatic ductal obstructions, chronic liver diseases, aged patients, etc.). The authors also report about prevention and treatment of septic complications which must be carried out following technical and therapeutic strategies, such as chemoprophylaxis and focused antibiotic therapy according to bile culture samples, slow injection of small amounts of contrast medium, peripheral branches approach, gentle handling of catheters and guidewires, flushing with saline solutions and brushing of the catheter itself, and finally use of large gauge catheters in the presence of bile sludge.
Bacterial Infections↗
Intrahepatic chemotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
From 1976 to 1983, 28 patients (24 male and four female) with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated by intraarterial chemotherapy at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan, Milan, Italy. Tumors were retrospectively classified by a previously proposed staging system. Two patients were classified as Stage I and 26 as Stage II. Liver cirrhosis was present only in the males (in 50% of them). Nineteen patients were treated with doxorubicin (Adriamycin [Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH]) and nine with 5-fluorouracil. Systemic toxicity was mild, but the treatment induced hepatic toxicity (ascites, clinical jaundice, or biochemical impairment) in 18% of noncirrhotic and 66% of cirrhotic patients. Clinical reduction of hepatomegaly was observed in 50% of noncirrhotic versus 16% of cirrhotic patients. Doxorubicin was effective in 66% of noncirrhotic patients and 20% of cirrhotic patients, with an overall response rate of 42%. 5-fluorouracil was effective only in patients without cirrhosis, with an overall response rate of 22%. Overall median actuarial survival was 3.5 months, with a significant difference between noncirrhotic and cirrhotic patients (6 versus 2 months, respectively). Overall median survival of patients who responded to the treatment was 13 versus 2 months for nonresponders (P less than 0.001). Liver cirrhosis was the most important prognostic factor in terms of liver toxicity, response rate, and survival. This study emphasized the negative impact of the treatment on cirrhotic patients. Also, the real value of intraarterial administration of doxorubicin was investigated.
Adult↗
Patterns of failure following surgical resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases: rationale for a multimodal approach.
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Colonic Neoplasms↗
The occurrence of cholangitis after percutaneous biliary drainage: evaluation of some risk factors.
Sepsis of the biliary tract is often reported after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and is considered a life-threatening condition. The authors studied 39 patients with biliary stenosis (35 with neoplastic stricture and four with benign disease) with the purpose of identifying some factors possibly associated with a higher risk of cholangitis. None of the patients complained of biliary sepsis at the first clinical examination. Several factors were taken into account and were statistically tested according to Miettinen rate ratios to differentiate patients in whom cholangitis would consequently develop: nature, site and extent of basic disease, type and functioning of PTBD, skin contamination at puncture site of PTBD, and bile contamination at PTBD and at follow-up. The presence of bacteria in the first bile (31.5%) was not related to a higher risk. All subjects showed bile contamination after PTBD, but cholangitis developed in only 15 patients, and it was always supported by enteric microorganisms. When we compared patients with cholangitis and subjects without infection, it was possible to demonstrate a statistically significant association of cholangitis and the following: nature of the stricture, presence of multiple intrahepatic biliary obstruction, neoplastic invasion or compression on the duodenum, and presence of Staphylococcus aureus on the skin at puncture site at drainage.
Adult↗
Impact of hospitalization on the nutritional status of cancer patients.
This study was undertaken to examine the influence of hospitalization on the nutritional status of cancer patients. We examined 126 patients consecutively admitted to the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan. At admission, all patients underwent standard evaluations, including actual weight, percentage weight loss, arm circumference, triceps skinfold, serum proteins, serum albumin, total iron binding capacity, cholinesterase and peripheral lymphocytes. Finally, from all patients a 24-h dietary recall was obtained, in order to calculate calorie and protein intake. All the patients underwent another evaluation after 1 week of hospitalization; after 2 weeks only 37 of them were evaluated again, since some were operated, some were treated with radio-chemotherapy, some were discharged or had died. Results showed that after one week of hospitalization some variables were significantly altered, such as arm circumference in male patients, serum proteins, cholinesterase, total iron binding capacity, peripheral lymphocytes, calorie and protein intake. A significant weight loss was seen after 2 weeks. The reduced calorie and protein assumption was correlated with depletion of some of the nutritional variables (body weight, arm circumference in males, total iron binding capacity, serum albumin, cholinesterase, lymphocytes). Our data show that hospitalization plays an important role in deterioration of nutritional status in our patient population, and this problem is generally overlooked by the clinicians primarily involved in the care of cancer patients.
Adult↗