Age independent survival benefit for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without metastases at diagnosis: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of death worldwide and its incidence is expected to increase globally. Aim of this study was to assess whether the implementation of screening policies and the improvement of treatment options translated into a real-world survival benefit in HCC patients. DESIGN 4078 patients diagnosed with HCC between 1998 and 2016 from the Munich Cancer Registry were analysed. Tumour characteristics and outcome were analysed by time period and according to age and presence of metastases at diagnosis. Overall survival (OS) was analysed using Kaplan-Meier method and relative survival (RS) was computed for cancer-specific survival. Cox proportional hazard models were conducted to control for prognostic variables. RESULTS While incidence of HCC remained substantially stable, tumours were diagnosed at increasingly earlier stages, although the median age at diagnosis increased. The 3 years RS in HCC improved from 19.8% in 1998-2002, 22.4% in 2003-2007, 30.6% in 2008-2012 up to 31.0% in 2013-2016. Median OS increased from 6 months in 1998-2002 to 12 months in 2008-2016. However, analysis according to the metastatic status showed that survival improved only in patients without metastases at diagnosis whereas the prognosis of patients with metastatic disease remained unchanged. CONCLUSION These real-world data show that, in contrast to the current assumptions, the incidence of HCC did not increase in a representative German region. Earlier diagnosis, likely related to the implementation of screening programmes, translated into an increasing employment of effective therapeutic options and a clear survival benefit in patients without metastases at diagnosis, irrespective of age

Patients with colorectal cancer and brain metastasis: The relevance of extracranial metastatic patterns predicting time intervals to first occurrence of intracranial metastasis and survival

To investigate the predictive impact of extracranial metastatic patterns on course of disease and survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and brain metastasis (BM). A total of 228 patients (134 male [59%], 94 female [41%]) with histologically proven CRC and BM were classified into different groups according to extracranial metastatic patterns. Time intervals to metastatic events and survival times from initial CRC diagnosis, extracranial and intracranial metastasis were analyzed. Extracranial organs mostly affected were liver (102 of 228 [44.7%]) and lung (96 of 228 [42.1%]). Liver and lung metastasis were detected in 31 patients (13.6%). Calculated over the entire course of disease, patients with lung metastasis showed longer OS than patients with liver metastasis or patients without lung metastasis (43.9 vs. 34.6 [p=0.002] vs. 35.0 months [p=0.002]). From the date of initial CRC diagnosis, lung metastasis occurred later in CRC history than liver metastasis (24.3 vs. 7.5 months). Once lung metastasis was diagnosed BM occurred faster than in patients with liver metastasis (15.8 vs. 26.0 months; Δ 10.2 months). Accordingly, OS from the diagnosis of liver metastasis was longer than from lung metastasis (27.1 vs. 19.6 months [p=0.08]). Once BM was present patients with lung metastasis lived longer than patients with liver metastasis (3.8 vs. 1.1 months [p=0.028]). Shortest survival times in all survival categories analyzed revealed patients with concurrent liver and lung metastasis. Patients with CRC and BM form a heterogenous cohort where EM to liver or lung predict survival

Validation of a Novel Immunoline Assay for Patient Stratification according to Virulence of the Infecting Helicobacter pylori Strain and Eradication Status

Helicobacter pylori infection shows a worldwide prevalence of around 50%. However, only a minority of infected individuals develop clinical symptoms or diseases. The presence of H. pylori virulence factors, such as CagA and VacA, has been associated with disease development, but assessment of virulence factor presence requires gastric biopsies. Here, we evaluate the H. pylori recomLine test for risk stratification of infected patients by comparing the test score and immune recognition of type I or type II strains defined by the virulence factors CagA, VacA, GroEL, UreA, HcpC, and gGT with patient's disease status according to histology. Moreover, the immune responses of eradicated individuals from two different populations were analysed. Their immune response frequencies and intensities against all antigens except CagA declined below the detection limit. CagA was particularly long lasting in both independent populations. An isolated CagA band often represents past eradication with a likelihood of 88.7%. In addition, a high recomLine score was significantly associated with high-grade gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric cancer. Thus, the recomLine is a sensitive and specific noninvasive test for detecting serum responses against H. pylori in actively infected and eradicated individuals. Moreover, it allows stratifying patients according to their disease state

Congenital Heart Defects in Patients with Classic Bladder Exstrophy: A Hitherto Neglected Association?

Introduction Classic bladder exstrophy (BE) is regarded as an isolated malformation without any further anomalies, but some studies have indicated a higher incidence of cardiac anomalies. This cross-sectional study is planned to evaluate the prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHDs) and the clinical relevance for patients with BE admitted for primary closure. Materials and Methods Patients were prospectively recruited between March 2012 and January 2019. Patients' profiles including demographic data, results of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), as well as essential peri- and postoperative data were assessed. Results Thirty-nine (25 boys and 14 girls) patients with BE (median age 61 days) underwent delayed primary bladder closure. Thirty-seven (24 boys and 13 girls) patients had received TTE 1 day before surgery. CHD was detected in 7 (18.9%) out of the 39 patients, but no clinical differences between patients with and without CHD were observed peri- or postoperatively. Discussion and Conclusion This prospective systematic evaluation shows an even higher rate of CHD in patients with BE than assumed previously. Although peri- and postoperative outcome did not differ between patients with and without CHD, we consider TTE an important additional method for ensuring a safe peri- and postoperative courses and a short- and long-term care for patients with CHD