The liver is the main target organ for hematogenous metastases of colorectal cancer, and colorectal liver metastasis is one of the most difficult and challenging situations in the treatment of colorectal cancer. In order to improve the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of colorectal liver metastasis in China, the guidelines have been edited and revised for several times since 2008, including the overall evaluation, personalized treatment goals and comprehensive treatments, to prevent the occurrence of liver metastases, increase the local damage rate of liver metastases, prolong long-term survival, and improve quality of life. The revised guideline version 2023 includes the diagnosis and follow-up, prevention, multidisciplinary team (MDT), surgery and local ablative treatment, neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy, and comprehensive treatment, with state-of-the-art experience and findings, detailed content, and strong operability.
Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Quality of Life ; Liver Neoplasms/secondary* ; China/epidemiology*

Advances in novel drugs, therapies, and genetic techniques have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, substantially improving cancer patients' prognosis. Although rare tumors account for a non-negligible number, the practice of precision medicine and development of novel therapies are largely hampered by many obstacles. Their low incidence and drastic regional disparities result in the difficulty of informative evidence-based diagnosis and subtyping. Sample exhaustion due to difficulty in diagnosis also leads to a lack of recommended therapeutic strategies in clinical guidelines, insufficient biomarkers for prognosis/efficacy, and inability to identify potential novel therapies in clinical trials. Herein, by reviewing the epidemiological data of Chinese solid tumors and publications defining rare tumors in other areas, we proposed a definition of rare tumor in China, including 515 tumor types with incidences of less than 2.5/100 000 per year. We also summarized the current diagnosis process, treatment recommendations, and global developmental progress of targeted drugs and immunotherapy agents on the status quo. Lastly, we pinpointed the current recommendation chance for patients with rare tumors to be involved in a clinical trial by NCCN. With this informative report, we aimed to raise awareness on the importance of rare tumor investigations and guarantee a bright future for rare tumor patients.
Humans ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Biomarkers ; Prognosis ; Oceans and Seas ; China/epidemiology*

Objective: To investigate the outcome of patients with esophagogastric junction cancer undergoing thoracoscopic laparoscopy-assisted Ivor-Lewis resection. Methods: Eighty-four patients who were diagnosed with esophagogastric junction cancer and underwent Ivor-Lewis resection assisted by thoracoscopic laparoscopy at the National Cancer Center from October 2019 to April 2022 were collected. The neoadjuvant treatment mode, surgical safety and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Results: Siewert type Ⅱ (92.8%) and adenocarcinoma (95.2%) were predominant in the cases. A total of 2 774 lymph nodes were dissected in 84 patients. The average number was 33 per case, and the median was 31. Lymph node metastasis was found in 45 patients, and the lymph node metastasis rate was 53.6% (45/84). The total number of lymph node metastasis was 294, and the degree of lymph node metastasis was 10.6%(294/2 774). Among them, abdominal lymph nodes (100%, 45/45) were more likely to metastasize than thoracic lymph nodes (13.3%, 6/45). Sixty-eight patients received neoadjuvant therapy before surgery, and nine patients achieved pathological complete remission (pCR) (13.2%, 9/68). Eighty-three patients had negative surgical margins and underwent R0 resection (98.8%, 83/84). One patient, the intraoperative frozen pathology suggested resection margin was negative, while vascular tumor thrombus was seen on the postoperative pathological margin, R1 resection was performed (1.2%, 1/84). The average operation time of the 84 patients was 234.5 (199.3, 275.0) minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 90 (80, 100) ml. One case of intraoperative blood transfusion, one case of postoperative transfer to ICU ward, two cases of postoperative anastomotic leakage, one case of pleural effusion requiring catheter drainage, one case of small intestinal hernia with 12mm poke hole, no postoperative intestinal obstruction, chyle leakage and other complications were observed. The number of deaths within 30 days after surgery was 0. Number of lymph nodes dissection, operation duration, and intraoperative blood loss were not related to whether neoadjuvant therapy was performed (P>0.05). Preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy or immunotherapy was not related to whether postoperative pathology achieved pCR (P>0.05). Conclusion: Laparoscopic-assisted Ivor-Lewis surgery for esophagogastric junction cancer has a low incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications, high safety, wide range of lymph node dissection, and sufficient margin length, which is worthy of clinical promotion.
Humans ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Esophagectomy ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Lymph Node Excision ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Laparoscopy ; Esophagogastric Junction/pathology*

Objective: To compare the incidence of radiation-related toxicities between conventional and hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and to explore the risk factors of hypofractionated radiotherapy-induced toxicities. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from consecutive limited-stage SCLC patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from March 2016 to April 2022. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups according to radiation fractionated regimens. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE, version 5.0) was used to evaluate the grade of radiation esophagus injuries and lung injuries. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with radiation-related toxicities in the hypofractionated radiotherapy group. Results: Among 211 enrolled patients, 108 cases underwent conventional IMRT and 103 patients received hypofractionated IMRT. The cumulative incidences of acute esophagitis grade ≥2 [38.9% (42/108) vs 35.0% (36/103), P=0.895] and grade ≥ 3 [1.9% (2/108) vs 5.8% (6/103), P=0.132] were similar between conventional and hypofractionated IMRT group. Late esophagus injuries grade ≥2 occurred in one patient in either group. No differences in the cumulative incidence of acute pneumonitis grade ≥2[12.0% (13/108) vs 5.8% (6/103), P=0.172] and late lung injuries grade ≥2[5.6% (6/108) vs 10.7% (11/103), P=0.277] were observed. There was no grade ≥3 lung injuries occurred in either group. Using multiple regression analysis, mean esophageal dose ≥13 Gy (OR=3.33, 95% CI: 1.23-9.01, P=0.018) and the overlapping volume between planning target volume (PTV) and esophageal ≥8 cm(3)(OR=3.99, 95% CI: 1.24-12.79, P=0.020) were identified as the independent risk factors associated with acute esophagitis grade ≥2 in the hypofractionated radiotherapy group. Acute pneumonitis grade ≥2 was correlated with presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, P=0.025). Late lung injuries grade ≥2 was correlated with tumor location(P=0.036). Conclusions: Hypofractionated IMRT are tolerated with manageable toxicities for limited-stage SCLC patients treated with IMRT. Mean esophageal dose and the overlapping volume between PTV and esophageal are independently predictive factors of acute esophagitis grade ≥2, and COPD and tumor location are valuable factors of lung injuries for limited-stage SCLC patients receiving hyofractionated radiotherapy. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.
Humans ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/pathology* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Lung Injury ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiation Injuries/epidemiology* ; Esophagitis/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications*

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare tumors characterized by variable biology and delayed diagnosis. However, the nationwide epidemiology of NENs has never been reported in China. We aimed to estimate the incidence and survival statistics of NENs in China, in comparison to those in the United States during the same period. METHODS: Based on the data from 246 population-based cancer registries covering 272.5 million people of China, we calculated age-specific incidence on NENs in 2017 and multiplied by corresponding national population to estimate the nationwide incidence in China. The data of 22 population-based cancer registries were used to estimate the trends of NENs incidence from 2000 to 2017 through the Joinpoint regression model. We used the cohort approach to analyze the 5-year age-standardized relative survival by sex, age group, and urban-rural area between 2008 and 2013, based on data from 176 high-quality cancer registries. We used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 program to estimate the comparable incidence and survival of NENs in the United States. RESULTS: The overall age-standardized rate (ASR) of NENs incidence was lower in China (1.14 per 100,000) than in the United States (6.26 per 100,000). The most common primary sites were lungs, pancreas, stomach, and rectum in China. The ASRs of NENs incidence increased by 9.8% and 3.6% per year in China and the United States, respectively. The overall 5-year relative survival in China (36.2%) was lower than in the United States (63.9%). The 5-year relative survival was higher for female patients than male patients, and was higher in urban areas than in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS The disparities in burden of NENs persist across sex, area, age group, and site in China and the United States. These findings may provide a scientific basis on prevention and control of NENs in the two countries.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; United States/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Neuroendocrine Tumors/pathology* ; Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Registries ; Urban Population ; China/epidemiology*

Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; China/epidemiology*

Objective: To compare the prognosis and perioperative situation of patients with stage Ⅱ endometrial cancer (EC) between radical hysterectomy/modified radical hysterectomy (RH/mRH) and simple hysterectomy (SH). Methods: A total of 47 patients diagnosed EC with stage Ⅱ [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009] by postoperative pathology, from January 2006 to January 2021 in Peking University People's Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were (54.4±10.7) years old, and the median follow-up time was 65 months (ranged 9-138 months). They were divided into RH/mRH group (n=14) and SH group (n=33) according to the scope of operation. Then the prognosis of patients between the groups were compared, and the independent prognostic factors of stage Ⅱ EC were explored. Results: (1) The proportions of patients with hypertension in RH/mRH group and SH group were 2/14 and 45% (15/33), the amounts of intraoperative blood loss were (702±392) and (438±298) ml, and the incidence of postoperative complications were 7/14 and 15% (5/33), respectively. There were significant differences (all P<0.05). (2) The median follow-up time of RH/mRH group and SH group were 72 vs 62 months, respectively (P=0.515). According to Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank method, the results showed that there were no significant difference in 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate (94.3% vs 84.0%; P=0.501), and 5-year overall survival rate (92.3% vs 92.9%; P=0.957) between the two groups. Cox survival analysis indicated that age, pathological type, serum cancer antigen 125 (CA₁₂₅), and estrogen receptor (ER) status were associated with 5-year PFS rate (all P<0.05). But the scope of hysterectomy (RH/mRH and SH) did not affect the 5-year PFS rate of stage Ⅱ EC patients (P=0.508). And level of serum CA₁₂₅ and ER status were independent prognostic factors for 5-year PFS rate (all P<0.05). Conclusions: This study could not find any survival benefit from RH/mRH for stage Ⅱ EC, but increases the incidence of postoperative complications. Therefore, the necessity of extending the scope of hysterectomy is questionable.
Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Disease-Free Survival ; Retrospective Studies ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Endometrial Neoplasms/pathology* ; Hysterectomy/methods* ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathology*

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and quality of life between uncut Roux-en-Y and Billroth II with Braun anastomosis in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Inclusion criteria: (1) 18 to 75 years old; (2) gastric cancer proved by preoperative gastroscopy, CT and pathological results and tumor was suitable for D2 radical distal gastrectomy; (3) postoperative pathological diagnosis stage was T1-4aN0-3M0 (according to the AJCC-7th TNM tumor stage), and the margin was negative; (4) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) physical status score <2 points, and American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade 1 to 3; (5) no mental illness; (6) able to answer questionnaires independently; (7) patients agreed to undergo laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and signed an informed consent. Exclusion criteria: (1) patients with severe chronic diseases and American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade >3; (2) patients with other malignant tumors; (3) patients suffered from serious mental diseases; (4) patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy. According to the above criteria, clinical data of 200 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy at the Department of General Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2016 to December 2019 were collected. Of the 200 patients, 108 underwent uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis and 92 underwent Billroth II with Braun anastomosis. The general data, intraoperative and postoperative conditions, complications, and endoscopic evaluation 1 year after the surgery were compared. Besides, the quality of life of two groups was also compared using the Chinese version of the European Organization For Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and quality of life questionnaire-stomach 22 (QLQ-STO22). Results: There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). All the 200 patients successfully underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy without intraoperative complications, conversion to open surgery or perioperative death. There were no significant differences between two groups in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, time to flatus, time to removal of gastric tube, time to liquid diet, time to removal of drainage tube or length of postoperative hospital stay (all P>0.05). Endoscopic evaluation was conducted 1 year after surgery. Compared to Billroth II with Braun group, the uncut Roux-en-Y group had a significantly lower incidences of gastric stasis [19.8% (17/86) vs. 37.0% (27/73), χ(2)=11.199, P=0.024], gastritis [11.6% (10/86) vs. 34.2% (25/73), χ(2)=20.892, P<0.001] and bile reflux [1.2% (1/86) vs. 28.8% (21/73), χ(2)=25.237, P<0.001], and the differences were statistically significant. The EORTC questionnaire was performed 1 year after surgery, there were no significant differences in the scores of QLQ-C30 scale between the two groups (all P>0.05), while the scores of QLQ-STO22 showed that, compared to the Billroth II with Braun group, the uncut Roux-en-Y group had a lower pain score (median: 8.3 vs. 16.7, Z=-2.342, P=0.019) and reflux score (median: 0 vs 5.6, Z=-2.284, P=0.022), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05), indicating milder symptoms. Conclusion: The uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis is safe and reliable in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, which can reduce the incidences of gastric stasis, gastritis and bile reflux, and improve the quality of life of patients after surgery.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y/adverse effects* ; Anastomosis, Surgical/adverse effects* ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Gastroenterostomy/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective: To compare the short-term and long-term outcomes between transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (laTME) for mid-to-low rectal cancer and to evaluate the learning curve of taTME. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study. Firstly, consecutive patients undergoing total mesorectal excision who were registered in the prospective established database of Division of Colorectal Diseases, Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital during July 2014 to June 2020 were recruited. The enrolled patients were divided into taTME and laTME group. The demographic data, clinical characteristics, neoadjuvant treatment, intraoperative and postoperative complications, pathological results and follow-up data were extracted from the database. The primary endpoint was the incidence of anastomotic leakage and the secondary endpoints included the 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and the 3-year local recurrence rate. Independent t-test for comparison between groups of normally distributed measures; skewed measures were expressed as M (range). Categorical variables were expressed as examples (%) and the χ(2) or Fisher exact probability was used for comparison between groups. When comparing the incidence of anastomotic leakage, 5 variables including sex, BMI, clinical stage evaluated by MRI, distance from tumor to anal margin evaluated by MRI, and whether receiving neoadjuvant treatment were balanced by propensity score matching (PSM) to adjust confounders. Kaplan-Meier curve and Log-rank test were used to compare the DFS of two groups. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze and determine the independent risk factors affecting the DFS of patients with mid-low rectal cancer. Secondly, the data of consecutive patients undergoing taTME performed by the same surgical team (the trananal procedures were performed by the same main surgeon) from February 2017 to March 2021 were separately extracted and analyzed. The multidimensional cumulative sum (CUSUM) control chart was used to draw the learning curve of taTME. The outcomes of 'mature' taTME cases through learning curve were compared with laTME cases and the independent risk factors of DFS of 'mature' cases were also analyzed. Results: Two hundred and forty-three patients were eventually enrolled, including 182 undergoing laTME and 61 undergoing taTME. After PSM, both fifty-two patients were in laTME group and taTME group respectively, and patients of these two groups had comparable characteristics in sex, age, BMI, clinical tumor stage, distance from tumor to anal margin by MRI, mesorectal fasciae (MRF) and extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) by MRI and proportion of receiving neoadjuvant treatment. After PSM, as compared to laTME group, taTME group showed significantly longer operation time [(198.4±58.3) min vs. (147.9±47.3) min, t=-4.321, P<0.001], higher ratio of blood loss >100 ml during surgery [17.3% (9/52) vs. 0, P=0.003], higher incidence of anastomotic leakage [26.9% (14/52) vs. 3.8% (2/52), χ(2)=10.636, P=0.001] and higher morbidity of overall postoperative complications [55.8%(29/52) vs. 19.2% (10/52), χ(2)=14.810, P<0.001]. Total harvested lymph nodes and circumferential resection margin involvement were comparable between two groups (both P>0.05). The median follow-up for the whole group was 24 (1 to 72) months, with 4 cases lost, giving a follow-up rate of 98.4% (239/243). The laTME group had significantly better 3-year DFS than taTME group (83.9% vs. 73.0%, P=0.019), while the 3-year local recurrence rate was similar in two groups (1.7% vs. 3.6%, P=0.420). Multivariate analysis showed that and taTME surgery (HR=3.202, 95%CI: 1.592-6.441, P=0.001) the postoperative pathological staging of UICC stage II (HR=13.862, 95%CI:1.810-106.150, P=0.011), stage III (HR=8.705, 95%CI: 1.104-68.670, P=0.040) were independent risk factors for 3-year DFS. Analysis of taTME learning curve revealed that surgeons would cross over the learning stage after performing 28 cases. To compare the two groups excluding the cases within the learning stage, there was no significant difference between two groups after PSM no matter in the incidence of anastomotic leakage [taTME: 6.7%(1/15); laTME: 5.3% (2/38), P=1.000] or overall complications [taTME: 33.3%(5/15), laTME: 26.3%(10/38), P=0.737]. The taTME was still an independent risk factor of 3-year DFS only analyzing patients crossing over the learning stage (HR=5.351, 95%CI:1.666-17.192, P=0.005), and whether crossing over the learning stage was not the independent risk factor of 3-year DFS for mid-low rectal cancer patients undergoing taTME (HR=0.954, 95%CI:0.227-4.017, P=0.949). Conclusions: Compared with conventional laTME, taTME may increase the risk of anastomotic leakage and compromise the oncological outcomes. Performing taTME within the learning stage may significantly increase the risk of postoperative anastomotic leakage.
Anastomotic Leak/etiology* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/methods* ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Rectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Rectum/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Transanal Endoscopic Surgery/methods* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To investigate the effect of visceral fat area (VFA) on the surgical efficacy and early postoperative complications of radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: A retrospective cohort study method was used. Clinicopathological data and preoperative imaging data of 195 patients who underwent D2 radical gastric cancer surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2014 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria: (1) complete clinicopathological and imaging data; (2) malignant gastric tumor diagnosed by preoperative pathology, and gastric cancer confirmed by postoperative pathology; (3) no preoperative complications such as bleeding, obstruction or perforation, and no distant metastasis. Those who had a history of abdominal surgery, concurrent malignant tumors, poor basic conditions, emergency surgery, palliative resection, and preoperative neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. The VFA was calculated by software and VFA ≥ 100 cm² was defined as visceral obesity according to the Japan Obesity Association criteria . The patients were divided into high VFA (VFA-H, VFA≥100 cm², n=96) group and low VFA (VFA-L, VFA<100 cm², n=99) group . The clinicopathological characteristics, surgical outcomes and early postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors of early complications. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze predictive values of VFA for early complications. Pearson's χ² test was used to analyze the correlation between BMI and VFA. Results: There were no significant differences in terms of gender, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, preoperative comorbidities, preoperative anemia, tumor TNM staging, N staging, T staging and tumor differentiation, surgical method, extent of resection, and tumor location between the VFA-L group and the VFA-H group (all P>0.05). However, patients in the VFA-H group had higher BMI, larger tumor, lower rate of hypoalbuminemia and greater subcutaneous fat area (SFA) (all P<0.05). The VFA-H group presented significantly longer operation time and significantly less number of harvested lymph nodes as compared to the VFA-L group (both P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, conversion to laparotomy and postoperative hospital stay (all P>0.05). Complications of Clavien-Dindo grade II and above within 30 days after operation were mainly anastomosis-related complications (leakage, bleeding, infection and stricture), intestinal obstruction and incision infection. The VFA-H group had a higher morbidity of early complications compared to the VFA-L group [24.0% (23/96) vs 10.1% (10/99), χ²=6.657, P=0.010], and the rates of anastomotic complications and incision infection were also higher in the VFA group [10.4% (10/96) vs. 3.0% (3/99), χ²=4.274, P=0.039; 7.3% (7/96) vs. 1.0% (1/99), P=0.033]. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that high BMI (OR=3.688, 95%CI: 1.685-8.072, P=0.001) and high VFA (OR=2.526, 95%CI: 1.148-5.559,P=0.021) were independent risk factors for early complications. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of VFA for predicting early complications was 0.645, which was higher than that of body weight (0.591), BMI (0.624) and SFA (0.626). Correlation analysis indicated that there was a significantly positive correlation between BMI and VFA (r=0.640, P<0.001). Conclusion: VFA ≥ 100 cm² is an independent risk factor for early complications after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.It can better predict the occurrence of above early postoperative complications.
Gastrectomy/methods* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/methods* ; Lipids ; Obesity/surgery* ; Obesity, Abdominal/surgery* ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*