The diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer is a systematic and frameworking medical task in a multidisciplinary manner. New models, new technologies, new regimens, and new drugs have been developed to explore the best strategies to improve the survival of patients with gastric cancer. Here we discussed the research progress and guideline updates in four aspects, including the accurate staging-classification-based treatment strategy, the quality control in the surgery, the rational perioperative neoadjuvant-adjuvant therapies, and molecular classification joint with precision medicine. The purpose is to further promote the standardized gastric cancer management in China and emphasize its importance. From the updates of knowledge and the transformation of understanding and recognition, to the quality improvement, it’s critical to reduce the heterogeneity of the quality of gastric cancer management in China, as well as enhance adherence to guidelines and consensuses.
The incidence of esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma is gradually increasing, and gastrointestinal surgery and thoracic surgery are paying more and more attention to its surgical treatment. “Chinese expert consensus on the surgical treatment of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (2018 edition)” discussed the core issues in the field of surgical treatment such as definition, classification, surgical approach, lymphadenectomy, digestive tract reconstruction, and neoadjuvant therapy for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma, and gave recommendations. However, there is still some controversy about these issues. The author discussed the consensus and controversial issues relevant to esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma and related research progress in recent years.
Objective To review the development of researches on the stem cells and the tissue engineering technique used in the intestines. Methods We comprehensively reviewed the literature related to the stem cells and the tissue engineering technique used in the intestines, and summarized the conclusions made by the researches concerned. Results The researches on the stem cells and the tissue engineering technique used in the intestines were attractive topics in the recent years and obtained some developments, especially in the field dealing with the characteristics, proliferation and differentiation of the intestinal stem cells as well as the tissue engineering framework of the small intestinal submucosa in vivo. However, the markers for the differentiation of the intestinal stem cells were still a critical problem, which had not been solved yet, and besides, the researches on the intestinal tissue engineering were still in the initial stage. Conclusion There is a broad prospective application of the intestinal stem cells and the tissue engineering technique to the intestinal problem solution. Substantial achievements can be obtained in the treatment of the inflammatory bowel disease, inan exploration on the oncogenesis mechanism, and in the clinical application ofthe intestinal tissue engineering.
Objective To summarize the research progress of digestive tract reconstruction after total gastrectomy in gastric cancer. Methods The domestic and international published literatures about digestive tract reconstruction after total gastrectomy in gastric cancer were retrieved and reviewed. Results More and more attention had been paid to the postoperative quality of life after total gastrectomy in gastric cancer， and the most related factor for postoperative quality of life was the type of digestive tract reconstruction. The pouch reconstruction and preservation of enteric myoneural continuity showed beneficial effects on clinical outcomes. Current opinion considered the pouch reconstruction might be safe and effective， and was able to improve the postoperative quality of life of patients with gastric cancer. However， the preservation of duodenal pathway didn’t show significant benefits. Conclusion The optimal digestive tract reconstruction after total gastrectomy is still debating， in order to resolve the controversies， needs more in-depth fundamental researches and more high-quality randomized controlled trials.
Objective To review the current researches about tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis ligand (TRAIL) and its receptors in gastric carcinoma. Methods Relevant articles of researches on TRAIL and its receptors in gastric carcinoma were searched in electronic databases of PUB-MEDLINE and Chinese Journal Fulltext Database. Results The reported TRAIL expression level of gastric carcinoma was diverse, which was highly correlated to the histological differentiation degree, serosa invasion and lymph node metastasis. Its receptors DR4 and DR5 were both positive in gastric carcinoma tissue, while some researches reported DcR1 and DcR2 were also positive expressed. caspase-3, -8 and survivin were the important factors for regulation of TRAIL signal pathway. 5-Aza-CdR, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, α-TOS and X-ray irradiation might enhance the TRAIL-induced apoptosis of gastric carcinoma cells. Conclusion Gastric carcinoma may be potentially sensitive to TRAIL targeting therapy, but the mechanism of TRAIL-induced apoptosis is quite complex and is regulated by multi-factors. Up to now, there are still many issues to research further, such as how to efficiently enhance and regulate the TRAIL-induced apoptosis of gastric carcinoma, whether any potential toxicities existing, etc.
Objective To investigate the significance and surgical skill for lymphadenectomy around common hepatic artery in gastric cancer. Methods Two hundred and fifty-seven cases with undergoing lymphadenectomy around common hepatic artery in gastric cancer between January 2001 and December 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Experiences and understanding of dealing with this procedure in curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer were concluded. Results The number of dissected No.8 lymph node was 2.2±1.7, and the positive rate of No.8 lymph node was 30.35%. There were no lymphadenectomy related complications, such as anastomotic leakage, lymphatic fistula and postoperative hemorrhage in this series. Dissection around common hepatic artery lymph nodes along artery intrathecal space, division and ligation of left gastric vein at its root, and sufficient exposure of anatomic structures were important to dissection lymph nodes around the common hepatic artery. The exposure of anatomic structures included liberation of common hepatic artery by traction with the band, and the exposure of posterior side of pancreas by Kocher incision.Conclusion Being familiar with the anatomy around common hepatic artery, careful dissection, and attention to the surgical skill of lymphadenectomy are very important to improve the effectiveness of lymphadenectomy around common hepatic artery in gastric cancer.
Objective To provide a current language for clinical and pathological discription of gastric cancer. Methods The literature in recent years on the distribution of lymph nodes and staging of gastric cancer were reviewed. Results The lymph nodes of gastric cancer are distributed near the blood vessel and organs of gastric milieu. To ensure radical gastrectomy rational and scientific, the anatomic structure of gastric milieu should be familiarized. Conclusion The excellent outcome of surgery will be achieved by the effective dissection and removel of lymph nodes in gastric cancer.
Laparoscopy has become a commonly used approach to diagnosis and treatment of acute abdomen, and it has good diagnostic value and therapeutic effect in selective cases. It should be practiced by experienced surgeons in laparoscopic surgery and emergency abdominal surgery. Hemodynamic instability, severe abdominal distension, fecal peritonitis, and tumor perforation are contraindications to laparoscopy. In recent years, more and more acute abdominal diseases can be successfully treated by laparoscopy. Randomized controlled trials have proved the laparoscopic treatment in acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, peptic ulcer perforation, acute gynecological diseases was comparable to open surgery, and had advantages of fewer complications and faster postoperative recovery. The utilization of laparoscopy in other diseases such as blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma, small intestinal obstruction, and diverticulitis with perforation remains controversial, and needs more randomized controlled trials to investigate the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery.
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been used in clinical setting, and is one of the optional treatment for peritoneal surface tumors. It can be used as adjuvant therapy to prevent peritoneal recurrence after gastric or colorectal cancer resection, or to treat those diseases with peritoneal metastasis alone through cytoreductive surgery +HIPEC or HIPEC alone, based on a multidisciplinary model. The updates of European HIPEC-related clinical trials, GASTRIPEC, GASTRICHIP, PRODIGE 7, PROPHYLOCHIP, COLOPEC, COMBATAC, were reported at the 11th International Workshop on Peritoneal Surface Malignancy. In those trials, there was no definitive result surporting that HIPEC treatment might bring survival benefits to patients with gastric or colorectal cancer. However, long-term follow-up results remain to be seen, and some studies are still recruiting. Although several studies were designed as phase Ⅲ trials, the overall sample size was small-scaled. In addition, in the trials, diagnostic laparoscopy were widely used in gastric or colorectal cancer patients, which was helpful to improve staging accuracy and optimizing treatment strategies. The indications for HIPEC therapy (peritoneal cancer index) and technical issues (duration, temperature, approach, and agents) need further investigate.
ObjectiveTo summary the study results of the Sichuan Gastric Cancer Early Detection and Screening Research Program (SIGES). MethodsIn the past 10 years, SIGES program conducted a series of clinical and clinical epidemiological studies on the current situation and strategies of gastric cancer prevention and control in China, which provided evidence for supply-side structural reform to improve the gastric cancer prevention and control. We collected related studies and made a review. ResultsSIGES program systematically and specifically studied carcinogenic pathogens, risk factors, screening strategies, as well as critical technique and system construction of tertiary prevention for gastric cancer. The main results supported that Helicobacter pylori was highly correlated with precancerous atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. Oncoviruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B virus, human cytomegalovirus, human papillomavirus, John Cunningham virus were correlated with the risk of gastric cancer, and should be paid further attention in the prevention and screening strategy of gastric cancer. Ethnicity, domicile, and family history of gastric cancer were also correlated with gastric cancer and gastric cancer-related risk factors, so it was suggested to include in the personalized evaluation criteria system of high-risk groups for gastric cancer. ConclusionsAt present, the prevention and control of gastric cancer in China has achieved substantial achievements, but the burden of gastric cancer keeps heavy. It is still necessary to conduct further scientific research on critical technique or issues in designing prevention and control strategies.