Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the world, the epidemiology of which has changed within last decades. A trend of steady decline in gastric cancer incidence rates is the effect of the increased standards of hygiene, conscious nutrition, and Helicobacter pylori eradication, which together constitute primary prevention. Avoidance of gastric cancer remains a priority. However, patients with higher risk should be screened for early detection and chemoprevention. Surgical resection enhanced by standardized lymphadenectomy remains the gold standard in gastric cancer therapy. This review briefly summarizes the most important aspects of gastric cancers, which include epidemiology, risk factors, classification, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. The paper is mostly addressed to physicians who are interested in updating the state of art concerning gastric carcinoma from easily accessible and credible source.

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Gastric cancer: epidemiology, prevention, classification, and treatment.

Authors M. Moehler, S.-E. Al-Batran, T. Andus, M. Anthuber, J. Arends, D. Arnold, D. Aust, P. Baier, G. Baretton, J. Bernhardt, H. Boeing, E. Böhle, C. Bokemeyer, J. Bornschein, W. Budach, E. Burmester, K. Caca, W. A. Diemer, C. F. Dietrich, M. Ebert, A. Eickhoff, C. Ell, J. Fahlke, H. Feußner, R. Fietkau, W. Fischbach, W. Fleig, M. Flentje, H. E. Gabbert, P. R. Galle, M. Geissler, I. Gockel, U. Graeven, L. Grenacher, S. Groß, J. T. Hartmann, M. Heike, V. Heinemann, B. Herbst, T. Herrmann, S. Höcht, R. D. Hofheinz, H. Höfler, T. Höhler, A. H. Hölscher, M. Horneber, J. Hübner, J. R. Izbicki, R. Jakobs, C. Jenssen, S. Kanzler , M. Keller, R. Kiesslich, G. Klautke, J. Körber, B. J. Krause, C. Kuhn, F. Kullmann, H. Lang, H. Link, F. Lordick, K. Ludwig, M. Lutz, R. Mahlberg, P. Malfertheiner, S. Merkel, H. Messmann, H.-J. Meyer, S. Mönig, P. Piso, S. Pistorius, R. Porschen, T. Rabenstein, P. Reichardt, K. Ridwelski, C. Röcken, I. Roetzer, P. Rohr, W. Schepp, P. M. Schlag, R. M. Schmid, H. Schmidberger, W.-H. Schmiegel, H.-J. Schmoll, G. Schuch, C. Schuhmacher, K. Schütte, W. Schwenk, M. Selgrad, A. Sendler, J. Seraphin, T. Seufferlein, M. Stahl, H. Stein, C. Stoll, M. Stuschke, A. Tannapfel, R. Tholen, P. Thuss-Patience, K. Treml, U. Vanhoefer, M. Vieth, H. Vogelsang, D. Wagner, U. Wedding, A. Weimann, H. Wilke, C. Wittekind und die Mitglieder der Autorengruppe

[German S3-Guideline "Diagnosis and Treatment of Esophagogastric Cancer"]

Purpose: Despite recent therapeutic advances, prognosis of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains poor. Analyses from tumor tissues present limitations; identification of informative marker from blood might be a promising alternative. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and the prognostic value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Experimental Design: From 2011 to 2015, blood samples were prospectively collected from all consecutive patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated in our center. Identification of ctDNA was done with next-generation sequencing targeted on referenced mutations in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and with picoliter droplet digital PCR. Results: A total of 135 patients with resectable (n = 31; 23%), locally advanced (n = 36; 27%), or metastatic (n = 68; 50%) pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included. In patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 104), 48% (n = 50) had ctDNA detectable with a median mutation allelic frequency (MAF) of 6.1%. The presence of ctDNA was strongly correlated with poor overall survival (OS; 6.5 vs. 19.0 months; P Conclusions: ctDNA is an independent prognostic marker in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, it arises as an indicator of shorter disease-free survival in resected patients when detected after surgery. Clin Cancer Res; 23(1); 116–23. ©2016 AACR.

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Plasma Circulating Tumor DNA in Pancreatic Cancer Patients Is a Prognostic Marker.

There is currently no standard second-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (MPA), and progression-free survival is consistently <4 months in this setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (A+G) after Folfirinox failure in MPA. From February 2013 to July 2014, all consecutive patients treated with A+G for histologically proven MPA after Folfirinox failure were prospectively enrolled in 12 French centres. A+G was delivered as described in the MPACT trial, until disease progression, patient refusal or unacceptable toxicity. Fifty-seven patients were treated with Nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine, for a median of 4 cycles (range 1–12). The disease control rate was 58%, with a 17.5% objective response rate. Median overall survival (OS) was 8.8 months (95% CI: 6.2–9.7) and median progression-free survival was 5.1 months (95% CI: 3.2–6.2). Since the start of first-line chemotherapy, median OS was 18 months (95% CI: 16–21). No toxic deaths occurred. Grade 3–4 toxicities were reported in 40% of patients, consisting of neutropenia (12.5%), neurotoxicity (12.5%), asthenia (9%) and thrombocytopenia (6.5%). A+G seems to be effective, with a manageable toxicity profile, after Folfirinox failure in patients with MPA.

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Nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma after Folfirinox failure: an AGEO prospective multicentre cohort

Purpose To compare heart and coronary artery radiation exposure using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) vs. four-field three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) treatment plans for patients with distal esophageal cancer undergoing chemoradiation. Methods and Materials Nineteen patients with distal esophageal cancers treated with IMRT from March 2007 to May 2008 were identified. All patients were treated to 50.4 Gy with five-field IMRT plans. Theoretical 3D-CRT plans with four-field beam arrangements were generated. Dose–volume histograms of the planning target volume, heart, right coronary artery, left coronary artery, and other critical normal tissues were compared between the IMRT and 3D-CRT plans, and selected parameters were statistically evaluated using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results Intensity-modulated radiotherapy treatment planning showed significant reduction ( p p = 0.11. There was no significant difference in percentage of total lung volume receiving at least 10, 15, or 20 Gy or in the mean lung dose between the planning methods. There were also no significant differences observed for the kidneys, liver, stomach, or spinal cord. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy achieved a significant improvement in target conformity as measured by the conformality index (ratio of total volume receiving 95% of prescription dose to planning target volume receiving 95% of prescription dose), with the mean conformality index reduced from 1.56 to 1.30 using IMRT. Conclusions Treatment of patients with distal esophageal cancer using IMRT significantly decreases the exposure of the heart and right coronary artery when compared with 3D-CRT. Long-term studies are necessary to determine how this will impact on development of coronary artery disease and other cardiac complications.

Comparison of heart and coronary artery doses associated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy versus three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for distal esophageal cancer.

EORTC-ROG expert opinion: radiotherapy volume and treatment guidelines for neoadjuvant radiation of adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction and the stomach.

Guidelines for time-to-event end-point definitions in trials for pancreatic cancer. Results of the DATECAN initiative (Definition for the Assessment of Time-to-event End-points in CANcer trials) ☆

Erich Gerber

Papers

EORTC-ROG expert opinion: radiotherapy volume and treatment guidelines for neoadjuvant radiation of adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction and the stomach.

Guidelines for time-to-event end-point definitions in trials for pancreatic cancer. Results of the DATECAN initiative (Definition for the Assessment of Time-to-event End-points in CANcer trials) ☆