• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.598-608
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• 2023

Purpose: Lymph node (LN) metastasis is a crucial factor in the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC) and is known to occur more frequently in cases with an advanced T stage. This study aimed to analyze the survival data of patients with advanced LN metastasis in T1 GC. Materials and Methods: From January 2008 to June 2018, 677 patients with pathological stage II GC who underwent radical gastrectomy were divided into an early GC group (EG: T1N2 and T1N3a, n=103) and an advanced GC (AGC) group (AG: T2N1, T2N2, T3N0, T3N1, and T4aN0, n=574). Short- and long-term survival rates were compared between the 2 groups. Results: A total of 80.6% (n=83) of the patients in the EG group and 52.8% (n=303) in the AG group had stage IIA AGC. The extent of LN dissection, number of retrieved LNs, and short-term morbidity and mortality rates did not differ between the 2 groups. The 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) of all patients was 87.8% and the overall survival was 84.0%. RFS was lower in the EG group than in the AG group (82.2% vs. 88.7%, P=0.047). This difference was more pronounced among patients with stage IIA (82.4% vs. 92.9%, P=0.003). Conclusions: T1 GC with multiple LN metastases seems to have a worse prognosis compared to tumors with higher T-stages at the same level. Adjuvant chemotherapy is highly recommended for these patients, and future staging systems may require upstaging T1N2-stage tumors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4445-4452
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• 2012

Background: Prognosis of breast cancer depends on classic pathological factors and also tumor angiogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological factors of breast cancer in a tertiary centre with a focus on the relationship between tumor angiogenesis and clinicopathological factors. Methods: Clinicopathological data were retrieved from the archived formal pathology reports for surgical specimens diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma, NOS. Microvessels were immunohistochemically stained with anti-CD34 antibody and quantified as microvessel density. Results: At least 50% of 94 cases of invasive breast ductal carcinoma in the study were advanced stage. The majority had poor prognosis factors such as tumor size larger than 50mm (48.9%), positive lymph node metastasis (60.6%), and tumor grade III (52.1%). Higher percentages of estrogen and progesterone receptor negative cases were recorded (46.8% and 46.8% respectively). Her-2 overexpression cases and triple negative breast cancers constituted 24.5% and 22.3% respectively. Significantly higher microvessel density was observed in the younger patient age group (p=0.012). There were no significant associations between microvessel density and other clinicopathological factors (p>0.05). Conclusions: Majority of the breast cancer patients of this institution had advanced stage disease with poorer prognostic factors as compared to other local and western studies. Breast cancer in younger patients might be more proangiogenic.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3815-3817
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is a common cancer worldwide. With the establishment of Thailand's population-based cancer registry and availability of complete data from 2002-2011, it is of interest to investigate the epidemiologic and clinic-pathological profiles of breast cancer based on the population-based registry data. Methods: The data of all breast cancer patients in the registry for the period of 2002-2011 were included. All medical records of the patients diagnosed from documents of National Cancer Registry of Thailand were retrieved and the following information abstracted: age, clinical characteristics, and histological variables. Thailand census data for the period of 2002-2011 were used to provide the general population's statistics on age, gender, and other related demographic factors. Results: Over the 10 year-period, 7,711 breast cancer cases were included. The disease incidence under age 40 years was relatively low (4.13/$10^5$) while the incidence in the age groups 40 and older was very high (39.2/$10^5$). The vast majority of breast cancer cases (88.8%) were diagnosed by histology as primary lesions in the breast. The most common of patients with breast cancer (36.4%) had regional lymph node involvement and the most common of histopathology diagnosed in patients (84.2%) was an infiltrating duct carcinoma. Conclusions: This study showed a high incidence of breast cancer in older subjects, and high rate of breast cancer in Thailand. Future studies should explore clinical and molecular disease patterns.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2016

Purpose: The utility of N classification has been questioned after the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) was published. We evaluated the correlation between ratio-based N (rN) classification with the overall survival of pathological T4 gastric cancer patients who underwent D2 lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 222 cases of advanced gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2006 and December 2015. The T4 gastric cancer patents were classified into four groups according to the lymph node ratio (the number of metastatic lymph nodes divided by the retrieved lymph nodes): rN0, 0%; rN1, ${\leq}13.3%$; rN2, ${\leq}40.0%$; and rN3, >40.0%. Results: The rN stage showed a large down stage migration compared with pathological T4N3 (AJCC/UICC). There was a significant difference in overall survival between rN2 and rN3 groups in patients with pT4N3 (P=0.013). In contrast, the difference in metastatic lymph nodes was not significant in these patients (${\geq}16$ vs. <15; P=0.177). In addition, the rN staging system showed a more distinct difference in overall survival than the pN staging system for pathological T4 gastric cancer patients. Conclusions: Our results confirm that rN staging could be a good alternative for pathological T4 gastric cancer patients who undergo D2 lymphadenectomy. However, before applying this system to gastric cancer patients who undergo D2 lymphadenectomy, a larger sample size is required to further evaluate the usefulness of the rN staging system for all stages, including less advanced stages.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8871-8876
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• 2014

Background: Postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) of gastric carcinoma improves survival among high-risk patients. This study was undertaken to analyse long-term survival probability and the impact of certain covariates on the survival outcome in affected individuals. Materials and Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2005, 244 patients with gastric cancer underwent adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in our institution. Data were retrieved retrospectively from patient files and analysed with SPSS version 21.0. Results: A total of 244 cases, with a male to female ratio of 2.2:1, were enrolled in the study. The median age of the patients was 52 years (range, 20-78 years). Surgical margin status was positive or close in 72 (33%) out of 220 patients. Postoperative adjuvant RT dose was 46 Gy. Median follow-up was 99 months (range, 79-132 months) and 23 months (range, 2-155 months) for surviving patients and all patients, respectively. Actuarial overall survival (OS) probability for 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year was 79%, 37%, 24% and 16%, respectively. Actuarial progression free survival (PFS) probability was 69%, 34%, 23% and 16% in the same consecutive order. AJCC Stage I-II disease, subtotal gastrectomy and adjuvant CRT were significantly associated with improved OS and PFS in multivariate analyses. Surgical margin status or lymph node dissection type were not prognostic for survival. Conclusions: Postoperative CRT should be considered for all patients with high risk of recurrence after gastrectomy. Beside well-known prognostic factors such as stage, lymph node status and concurrent chemotherapy, the type of gastrectomy was an important prognostic factor in our series. With our findings we add to the discussion on the definition of required surgical margin for subtotal gastrectomy. We consider that our observations in gastric cancer patients in our clinic can be useful in the future randomised trials to point the way to improved outcomes.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2011

Purpose: In an effort to examine the clinicopathological characteristics of GC and the status of its surgical treatment, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) conducted a nationwide survey targeting surgically-treated gastric cancer patients in 2009. Materials and Methods: A standardized electrical case report was sent to every member institution of the KGCA via E-mail with detailed instructions regarding the survey data. Completed data forms were retrieved from each institution and analyzed by the KGCA information committee. Results: Data on 14,658 patients was collected from 59 institutions. The mean patient age was $59.2{\pm}11.9$ years with a male to female ratio of 2.05 : 1. Lower third cancer (56.0%) was the most common among all gastric cancers. The histological type revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (34.1%) to be the most common, and the Lauren classification revealed the intestinal type (50.0%) to be the most prevalent. Curative surgery was performed in 92.4% of patients with laparoscopic surgery in 25.8% of patients. A Billroth I reconstruction was performed most frequently after a distal gastrectomy (63.4% of distal gastrectomy). T1 cancers accounted for 57.6% of all cases, and 62.6% of patients showed no lymph node metastasis. Compared to previous reports, it was found that patients are becoming older, laparoscopic surgery is being performed increasingly, and the proportion of T1 cancer is increasing with time. Conclusions: This survey presented the clinicopathological characteristics and current status of the surgical treatment of gastric cancer in Korea. This survey is expected aid research studies as well as planning and evaluation programs targeting cancer control.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6591-6594
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• 2015

Background: Mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL) is a unique entity of peripheral B-cell lymphoma that has a discrete morphologic, immunologic, and genetic phenotype, with more common 'classic' and less frequent 'blastoid' and 'pleomorphic' variants, associated with an aggressive clinical course. The aim of this study was to analyze proliferation (Ki-67) indices of 'classic' (c-MCL) and 'blastoid' (b-MCL) variants of a cohort of MCL and to suggest cut off values for the Ki-67 proliferation index in these two subsets. Materials and Methods: MCL cases diagnosed over $4{\frac{1}{2}}$ years at Section of Histopathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi were retrieved and reviewed. Ki-67 labelling was scored and analysed. Results: A total of 90 of cases of MCL were scrutinized. Mean age ${\pm}SD$ was $60.2{\pm}12.5$ years and the male to female ratio was 4:1, with 67 (75%) cases of c-MCL and 23 (25%) cases of b-MCL. Most samples were lymph node biopsies (n=68), whereas the remainder were from various extranodal sites The mean Ki-67 proliferation index was $29.5%{\pm}14.4%$ in classic variants and $64.4{\pm}15.2%$ for the blastoid variant, the difference being statistically significant (p = 0.029). Conclusions: It was concluded that differential cut-off values of Ki-67 labeling may be used in more objective way to reliably classify MCL into classic or blastoid variants by diagnostic pathologists. We propose a < 40 proliferative index to be suggestive of c-MCL and one of > 50 for the blastoid variant.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.308-318
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• 2021

Purpose: The benefits of robotic gastrectomy remain controversial. We designed this study to elucidate the advantages of a hybrid robot and laparoscopic gastrectomy over conventional laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Methods: A total of 176 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were included in this study. We compared 88 patients treated with hybrid robotic and laparoscopic gastrectomy (HRLG) and 88 patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (CLG). In HRLG, suprapancreatic lymph node (LN) dissection was performed in a robotic setting. Clinicopathological characteristics, operative details, and short-term outcomes were analyzed for the patients. Results: The number of LNs retrieved from the suprapancreatic area was significantly greater in the HRLG group (11.27±5.46 vs. 9.17±5.19, P=0.010). C-reactive protein levels were greater in the CLG group on both postoperative day (POD) 1 (5.11±2.64 vs. 4.29±2.38, P=0.030) and POD 5 (9.86±6.51 vs. 7.75±5.17, P=0.019). In addition, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly greater in the CLG group on both POD 1 (7.44±4.72 vs. 6.16±2.91, P=0.031) and POD 5 (4.87±3.75 vs. 3.81±1.87, P=0.020). Pulmonary complications occurred only in the CLG group (4/88 [4.5%] vs. 0/88 [0%], P=0.043). Conclusions: HRLG is superior to CLG in terms of suprapancreatic LN dissection and postoperative inflammatory response.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2006

Purpose: The laparoscopy assisted gastrectomy has been increasingly reported as the treatment of choice for early gastric cancer. However, expert surgeons, who have performed a conventional open gastrectomy for a long time, tend to have a negative attitude toward laparoscopic procedures. The aim of this study was to determine the learning curve of a laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for a surgeon expert in performing an open gastrectomy and to analyze the factors that have an effect on a LADG. Materials and Methods: Between April 2005 and March 2006, 62 patients underwent a LADG with D1+beta lymph-node dissection. The 62 patients were divided into 10 sequential groups with 6 cases in each group (the last group was 8 cases), and the time required to reach the plateau of the learning curve was determined by examining the average operative times of these 10 groups. Other factors, such as sex, BMI, complications, transfusion requirements, the number of retrieved lymph nodes, and change of postoperative hemoglobin level, were also analyzed. Results: With the $5^{th}$ group (after 30 cases), the operative time reached a plateau (average: 170 min/operation). The differences between before the $30^{th}$ case and after the $31^{st}$ case with respect to changes in the postoperative hemoglobin level, the number of retrieved lymph nodes, the transfusion requirements, and the complications rate were not significant. Conclusion: According to an analysis of the operative time, experience with 30 LADGs in patients with early gastric cancer is the point at which the plateau of the learning curve (7 months) is reached. Abundant experience with a conventional open gastrectomy and a well-organized laparoscopic surgery team are important factors in overcoming the learning curie earlier.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2008

Purpose: With advancements in laparoscopic surgery, there have been efforts to expand the indication for laparoscopic surgery up to advanced gastric cancer. However, scant data are available regarding the feasibility and advantages of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with standard radical D2 lymph node dissection. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients who were preoperatively diagnosed with cT1N0M0 gastric cancer underwent LADG with standard D2 lymphadenectomy between February and August 2007. They were compared with patients who underwent conventional open D2 lymphadenectomy with respect to clinicopathologic features, surgical outcomes, and postoperative course. Results: The mean operative time was significantly longer in the LADG group than in the open group ($160{\pm}25min$ vs. $135{\pm}21min$, P<0.001). However, surgical outcomes, such as surgical margin and number of retrieved lymph nodes ($25.7{\pm}11.1$ vs. $26.9{\pm}9.2$, P=ns) were comparable between the groups. The LADG group exhibited quicker postoperative recovery, and both groups exhibited similar postoperative morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy is feasible and safe, with short-term surgical outcomes comparable to those seen in open D2 lymphadenectomy. Further prospective clinical investigation will be needed to better evaluate the advantages of LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy.