The 100 most influential manuscripts in gastric cancer: a bibliometric analysis

Background Bibliometric analysis highlights the key topics and publications which have shaped the understanding and management of Gastric cancer. Here the 100 most cited manuscripts in the field of gastric cancer (GC) are analysed. Methods The Thomson Reuters Web of Science database with the search terms 'gastric cancer’ or ‘gastric carcinoma’ or ‘stomach cancer’ or ‘stomach carcinoma’ or ‘gastroscopy’ was used to identify all English language full manuscripts for the study. The 100 most cited papers were further analysed by topic, journal, author, year and institution. Results 122,616 eligible papers were returned and the median (range) citation number was 417 (2893–299). The most cited paper (by Parsonnet) focused on H.Pylori risk and gastric cancer (2893 citations). Cancer Research published the highest number of papers (n = 13, 6901 citations) and The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) had the most citations (n = 8, 9358 citations). The country and year with the greatest number of publications were the USA (n = 29), and 1998 (n = 10). The most ubiquitous topic was the pathology of gastric cancer (n = 57) followed by aetiology of gastric cancer (n = 47), and basic science of gastric cancer (n = 44). Conclusion The most cited manuscripts highlighted in this study describe the science related to the pathogenesis of GC including surgery and regimens that have resulted in the contemporary understanding and treatment of GC. This work provides the most influential references related to GC and serves as a guide as to what makes a citable paper

Additional value of EUS in oesophageal cancer patients staged N0 on PET/CT: validation of a prognostic model

Background Lymph node metastases are a major prognostic indicator in oesophageal cancer. Radiological staging largely influences treatment decisions and is becoming more reliant on PET and CT. However, the sensitivity of these modalities is suboptimal and is known to under-stage disease. The primary aim of this study was to validate a published prognostic model in oesophageal cancer patients staged N0 with PET/CT, which showed that EUS nodal status was an independent predictor of survival. The secondary aim was to assess the prognostic significance of pathological lymph node metastases in this cohort. Methods An independent validation cohort included 139 consecutive patients from a regional upper gastrointestinal cancer network staged N0 with PET/CT between 1st January 2013 and 31st June 2015. Replicating the original study, two Cox regression models were produced: one included EUS T-stage and EUS N-stage, and one included EUS T-stage and EUS N0 versus N+. The primary outcome of the prognostic model was overall survival (OS). Kaplan–Meier analysis assessed differences in OS between pathological node-negative (pN0) and node-positive (pN+) groups. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The mean OS of the validation cohort was 29.8 months (95% CI 27.1–35.2). EUS T-stage was significantly and independently associated with OS in both models (p = 0.011 and p = 0.012, respectively). EUS N-stage and EUS N0 versus N+ were not significantly associated with OS (p = 0.553 and p = 0.359, respectively). There was a significant difference in OS between pN0 and pN+ groups (χ2 13.315, df 1, p < 0.001). Conclusion Lymph node metastases have a significant detrimental effect on OS. This validation study did not replicate the results of the developed prognostic model but the continued benefit of EUS in patients staged N0 with PET/CT was demonstrated. EUS remains a valuable component of a multi-modality approach to oesophageal cancer staging

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prognostic significance of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) After R0 gastrectomy for cancer

Abstract Purpose A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients undergoing potentially curative gastrectomy for cancer (GC). Methods Thomson Reuters Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE(R) and PUBMED databases were searched for relevant articles using search terms neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), GC and survival. Articles reporting overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival and disease-free survival (DFS), in patients undergoing R0 gastrectomy, were studied. Results Articles numbering 365 were identified during the preliminary search, and 10 containing 4164 patients were included in the final review. Most patients were &gt; 60 years of age, male (67%) and 2239 (53.8%) had pT3 disease. The number of NLR dichotomization thresholds reported numbered 7, with 2.00 and 3.00 (n = 2) the most common. NLR was associated with poor survival in eight studies with hazard ratios ranging from 1.54 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–1.89) to 2.99 (1.99–4.49). Pooled odds ratio (OR) for OS was 2.31 (1.40–3.83, p = 0.001) and for DFS 2.72 (1.14–6.54, p = 0.020). Four studies presented T-stage data, OR 1.62 (1.33–1.96, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion NLR is an important prognostic indicator associated with both OS and DFS after R0 resection of GC, but the critical level is equivocal. </jats:sec

Esophageal cancer's 100 most influential manuscripts: a bibliometric analysis

Bibliometric analysis highlights key topics and publications that have shaped the understanding and management of esophageal cancer (EC). Here, the 100 most cited manuscripts in the field of EC are analyzed. The Thomson Reuters Web of Science database with the search terms ‘esophageal cancer’ or ‘esophageal carcinoma’ or ‘oesophageal cancer’ or ‘oesophageal carcinoma’ or ‘gastroscopy’ was used to identify all English language full manuscripts for the study. The 100 most cited papers were further analyzed by topic, journal, author, year, and institution. A total of 121,556 eligible papers were returned and the median (range) citation number was 406.5 (1833 to 293). The most cited paper focused on the role of perioperative chemotherpy in EC (1833 citations). Gastroenterology published the highest number of papers (n = 15, 6362 citations) and The New England Journal of Medicine received the most citations (n = 12, 12125 citations). The country and year with the greatest number of publications were the USA (n = 50), and 1998, 1999, and 2000 (n = 7). The most ubiquitous topic was the pathology of EC (n = 66) followed by management of EC (n = 54), and studies related to EC prognosis (n = 44). The most cited manuscripts highlighted the pathology, management, and prognosis of EC and this bibliometirc review provides the most influential references serving as a guide to popular research themes

Prognostic significance of post-operative morbidity severity score after potentially curative D2 gastrectomy for carcinoma

Background Survival and relapse after gastric cancer surgery are largely attributed to tumor biology and surgical radicality; yet, other prognostic factors have been reported, including respiratory sepsis and anastomotic leakage, but not global morbidity severity score (MSS). The hypothesis tested was that MSS would be associated with both disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Methods Consecutive 373 patients undergoing potentially curative surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2016 in a UK cancer network were studied. Complications were defined prospectively as any deviation from a pre-determined post-operative course within 30 days of surgery and classified according to the Clavien-Dindo severity classification (CDSC). Primary outcome measures were DFS and OS. Results Post-operative complications were identified in 127 (34.0%) patients, which was associated with 9 (2.4%) post-operative deaths. Five-year DFS and OS were 35.9 and 38.5% for patients with a post-operative complication compared with 59.5 and 61.5% in controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). On multivariable DFS analysis, post-operative morbidity [hazard ratio (HR) 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–2.50, p = 0.026] was independently associated with poor survival. On multivariable OS analysis, post-operative morbidity HR 2.25 (95% CI 1.04–4.85, p = 0.039) and CDSC HR 1.76 (95% CI 1.35–2.29, p < 0.001) were independently associated with poor survival. These associations were also observed in patients with TNM stage I and II disease with morbidity HR 7.06 (95% CI 1.89–26.38, p = 0.004) and CDSC HR 2.93 (95% CI 1.89–4.55, p < 0.001) offering independent prognostic value. Conclusion Post-operative CDSC was an important independent prognostic factor after potentially curative gastrectomy for carcinoma associated with both DFS and OS. Prehabilitation strategies to minimize complications are warranted

Propensity score regression analysis of oesophageal cancer treatment with surgery alone or neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Background: Propensity score (PS) regression analysis can be used to minimize differences between cohorts in order to perform comparisons The aim of this study was to use PS analysis to examine the outcomes of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) treatment with surgery alone or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery (NACS), to see whether the benefits seen in a randomized trial (MRC OE02) were reproducible in a UK cancer network clinical practice. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing potentially curative treatment for OAC in a regional cancer network were studied. Multiple regression models, including PS analysis, were developed to account for confounding factors. Primary outcome measures were disease‐free (DFS) and overall (OS) survival. Results: A cohort of 440 patients was included in a regression analysis controlling for confounders (176 surgery alone, 264 NACS). NACS was associated with a higher positive margin status rate compared with surgery alone (42·4 versus 26·7 per cent respectively; P < 0·001), an inferior 5‐year DFS rate (32·1 versus 56·9 per cent; P < 0·001) and a worse 5‐year OS rate (27·5 versus 47·3 per cent; P < 0·001). On regression adjustment based on propensity scores, NACS was not associated with DFS (P = 0·220) or OS (P = 0·431). The Mandard tumour regression grade (TRG) score was significantly associated with DFS (hazard ratio (HR) 0·21, 95 per cent c.i. 0·07 to 0·70) and OS (HR 0·27, 0·13 to 0·59). Five‐year DFS and OS rates related to TRG were 64 and 62 per cent respectively for 25 good responders versus 8·0 and 8·6 per cent for 127 poor responders (P < 0·001). Conclusion: The prescription of NAC to all patients with OAC risks delay in effective treatment of patients who are relatively chemoresistant, given the variability in pathological response. Identification of patients with OAC who may derive the most benefit from NAC should be the focus

Prognostic significance of serum inflammatory markers in gastric cancer

Background The aim of this study was to assess the relative prognostic value of biomarkers to measure the systemic inflammatory response (SIR) and improve prognostic modeling in a cohort of patients undergoing potentially curative surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma. The hypothesis was that a single SIR biomarker would be associated with the most prognostic value. Methods Consecutive 331 patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer between 2004 and 2016 within a regional UK cancer network were identified. Serum measurements of hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, albumin, modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, and differential white cell counts were obtained before surgery, and correlated with histopathological factors (pTNM stage, differentiation, and vascular invasion) and survival. Primary outcome measures were disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Consecutive 331 patients were identified and 291 underwent potentially curative gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma. On univariable DFS analysis, female gender (p = 0.027), proximal location (p = 0.018), pT stage (p < 0.001), pN stage (p < 0.001), pTNM stage (p < 0.001), vascular invasion (p < 0.001), poor differentiation (p = 0.001), lymph node ratio (p < 0.001), R1 status (p < 0.001), platelet count (p = 0.038), and mGPS (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with poor survival. The mGPS was associated with advanced pT stage (p = 0.001), pTNM stage (p = 0.013), and poor differentiation (p = 0.030). On multivariable DFS analysis, mGPS [hazard ratio (HR) 2.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35–4.65, p = 0.011] was the only inflammatory marker to retain independent significance. Multivariable OS analysis revealed similar findings; mGPS (HR 2.75, (95% CI 1.65– 4.59), p < 0.001). Conclusion mGPS is an important and only SIR-related prognostic biomarker independently associated with both DFS and OS in gastric cance