Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Wladyslaw Januszewicz, Klaudiusz Witczak, Paulina Wieszczy, Magda Socha, Maryla H. Turkot, Urszula Wojciechowska, Joanna Didkowska, Michal F. Kaminski, Jaroslaw Regula
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics and risk factors of upper gastrointestinal cancers (UGICs) missed during endoscopy. The results showed that esophageal adenocarcinomas were most frequently missed, and missed cancers occurred more frequently within the primary care sector, in women, and in individuals with multiple comorbidities.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Leo Alexandre, Theo Tsilegeridis-Legeris, Stephen Lam
Summary: There is a delay in the diagnosis of post-endoscopy upper gastrointestinal cancers (PEUGIC), and patients with PEUGIC are less likely to present with alarm symptoms compared to detected cancers. PEUGICs are typically smaller and associated with less advanced disease staging at diagnosis compared to detected cancers. Most patients with PEUGIC have abnormalities reported at the preceding cancer-negative endoscopy.
Review
Oncology
Leo R. Brown, Barry J. A. Laird, Stephen J. Wigmore, Richard J. E. Skipworth
Summary: Considerable advances have been made in the investigation and management of oesophagogastric cancer, but outcomes remain poor. Cancer cachexia, often neglected, is a critical factor that limits progress in care. Host factors can influence treatment efficacy, and most patients do not respond to current treatments. Utilizing this information in clinical decision-making can enhance patient outcomes.
CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Hans-Olov Adami, Ina Trolle Andersen, Uffe Heide-Jorgensen, Ellen T. Chang, Mette Norgaard, Henrik Toft Sorensen
Summary: A large prospective study using high-quality data found no evidence to support the hypothesis that ranitidine increases the risk of upper gastrointestinal cancers. There was no consistent association observed in comparison with other histamine-2 receptor blockers or proton pump inhibitors. These results should be reassuring for past users of ranitidine.
CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY BIOMARKERS & PREVENTION
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Elaine Buckley, Lennie Wong, Yanghee Woo, Laleh Melstrom, Susanne Warner, Mustafa Raoof, Yuman Fong, Virginia Sun
Summary: This study characterized activities of daily living (ADLs) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancers, finding an association between inability to perform specific ADLs and worse cancer-specific survival outcomes.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Violet Kayamba
Summary: Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancers are common and have significant associations with certain types of food. Fruit and vegetables are believed to reduce UGI cancer risk, while processed foods increase the risk. Specific diets may be associated with reduced cancer risk, but their effectiveness in high-risk locations is unclear.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Tzu-Pin Lu, Chien-Hui Wu, Chia-Chen Chang, Han-Ching Chan, Amrita Chattopadhyay, Wen-Chung Lee, Chun-Ju Chiang, Hsin-Ying Lee, Yu-Wen Tien
Summary: Lymph node involvement and tumor grade are predictive factors for survival in stage-III pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. The CART algorithm stratified patients into four subgroups with significantly different survival rates. This new precise classification system can help guide treatment planning for advanced-stage pancreatic cancer.
ANNALS OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Oncology
Hans-Olov Adami, Ina Trolle Andersen, Uffe Heide-Jorgensen, Mette Norgaard, Henrik T. Sorensen
Summary: This study highlights the limitations of RCTs in studying harm, leading to reliance on nonrandomized studies to assess the cancer risk associated with ranitidine. Despite issues in the existing epidemiologic literature, the study aims to provide the most informative data available globally.
CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY BIOMARKERS & PREVENTION
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Kristina Zalevskaja, Jukka-Pekka Mecklin, Toni T. Seppala
Summary: Patients with Lynch syndrome (LS) have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer (PC) and biliary tract cancer (BTC), which have poor prognosis due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options. A retrospective study analyzed the records of LS patients diagnosed with PC or BTC between 1982 and 2020. The survival rate of LS patients with pancreatic and biliary tract cancers was found to be relatively low.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shun-Long Ou, Jing Luo, Hua Wei, Xiao-Li Qin, Qian Jiang
Summary: This study comprehensively evaluated the value of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. The results showed that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors did not meet the valuable threshold in gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer, while pembrolizumab met the valuable threshold in advanced microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancer. Camrelizumab and toripalimab may be more worth paying in oesophageal cancer.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Noel E. Donlon, Robert Power, Conall Hayes, Maria Davern, John V. Reynolds, Joanne Lysaght
Summary: Combining radiotherapy with immune checkpoint therapy can modulate the tumor microenvironment to enhance anti-tumor immunity, showing promising results for the treatment of locally advanced operable and metastatic upper gastrointestinal tract diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Keita Kouzu, Hironori Tsujimoto, Yoji Kishi, Hideki Ueno, Nariyoshi Shinomiya
Summary: Gut microbiota is closely associated with the onset and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, and bacterial translocation plays an important role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of these cancers.
Review
Oncology
Kuo-Shyang Jeng, Chiung-Fang Chang, I-Shyan Sheen, Chi-Juei Jeng, Chih-Hsuan Wang
Summary: Patients with liver cirrhosis have a higher incidence rate of upper gastrointestinal cancer, which is caused by factors such as gastric ulcers, congestive gastropathy, zinc deficiency, alcohol drinking, tobacco use, and gut microbiota. Radical gastrectomy can be performed in cirrhotic patients, particularly in Child class A patients, to reduce the risk of upper gastrointestinal cancer.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Fredy Nehme, Jeffrey H. Lee
Summary: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality with most patients presenting with advanced disease. Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) has traditionally been used to improve surgical outcomes, but recent data suggests potential increased complications with systematic PBD. Indications for PBD include cholangitis, delayed surgery, and jaundice relief in patients planned to receive neoadjuvant therapy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is the preferred method for PBD, with self-expanding metal stents shown to be cost-effective and safe compared to plastic stents.
DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Jose J. G. Marin, Maria J. Monte, Rocio I. R. Macias, Marta R. Romero, Elisa Herraez, Maitane Asensio, Sara Ortiz-Rivero, Candela Cives-Losada, Silvia Di Giacomo, Javier Gonzalez-Gallego, Jose L. Mauriz, Thomas Efferth, Oscar Briz
Summary: Hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal cancers account for 36% of the approximately 10 million cancer-related deaths worldwide each year. One primary reason for this high mortality is the lack of response of these cancers to pharmacological treatment. More than 100 genes have been identified as responsible for seven mechanisms of chemoresistance, but only a few play a critical role, including ABC proteins (mainly MDR1, MRP1-6, and BCRP), whose expression pattern greatly determines individual tumor sensitivity to pharmacotherapy.
Article
Surgery
Charles H. C. Pilgrim, Leonard Brennan
Summary: This study reviewed the surgical management of injuries sustained by deployed members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during their operations in Afghanistan. The results showed that most injured personnel required surgery and were returned to Australia. Gun-shot wounds and blast injuries were the most common mechanisms of injury, and orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeries were the most common procedures. The study emphasized the differences between military and civilian trauma systems and suggested strengthening communication, documentation, and regular review to improve the quality of military trauma surgery.
ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Sander Ubels, Eric Matthee, Moniek Verstegen, Bastiaan Klarenbeek, Stefan Bouwense, Mark I. van Berge Henegouwen, Freek Daams, Jan Willem T. Dekker, Marc J. van Det, Stijn van Esser, Ewen A. Griffiths, Jan Willem Haveman, Grard Nieuwenhuijzen, Peter D. Siersema, Bas Wijnhoven, Gerjon Hannink, Frans van Workum, Camiel Rosman, Joos Heisterkamp, Fatih Polat, Jeroen Schouten, Pritam Singh
Summary: This study aimed to assess the differences in failure to rescue (FTR) after anastomotic leak (AL) between different centers. The results showed that high-volume centers had lower FTR, which could be explained by lower leak severity, lower secondary ICU readmission rate, and higher availability of therapeutic modalities.
Article
Oncology
Jaidyn Muhandiramge, Erica T. Warner, John R. Zalcberg, Andrew Haydon, Galina Polekhina, Gijsberta J. van Londen, Peter Gibbs, Wendy B. Bernstein, Jeanne Tie, Jeremy L. Millar, Victoria J. Mar, John J. McNeil, Robyn L. Woods, Suzanne G. Orchard, ASPREE Investigator Group
Summary: Planning and delivering cancer treatment in older adults is complex and requires balancing survival benefits, quality of life, and treatment-related risks. In a study of healthy older patients with cancer, it was found that the majority received some form of treatment, with surgery being the most common.
Article
Surgery
Charles H. C. Pilgrim, Norah Finn, Ella Stuart, Jennifer Philip, Simone Steel, Dan Croagh, Belinda Lee, Niall C. Tebbutt
Summary: The second Pancreas Cancer Summit in 2021 was convened by the Victorian Government to assess care variations from 2016 to 2019 and compare them with the first Summit in 2017. State-wide administrative data were analyzed, and it was found that 63% of diagnosed patients had metastatic pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma. One-year survival rates improved overall, but deficiencies in multidisciplinary meeting presentations, supportive care, and overall care coordination were identified.
ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)
Review
Surgery
Henry Richard Edward Drysdale, David Allan Watters, Yit Leang, Benjamin N. J. Thomson, Wendy Ann Brown, Andrew Wilson, Victorian Surgical Directors Grp
Summary: Victoria experienced three major waves of COVID-19, with Melbourne being locked down for 267 days. The state implemented strict social restrictions, contact tracing, furlough, escalating PPE guidance, and respiratory protection measures, which effectively reduced healthcare worker infections.
ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Chiara Chadwick, Paul R. R. Burton, Dianne Brown, Jennifer F. F. Holland, Angus Campbell, Jenifer Cottrell, Jennifer Reilly, Andrew D. D. MacCormick, Ian Caterson, Wendy A. A. Brown
Summary: This study aimed to define the expected average length of stay (ALOS) of bariatric surgery in Australia and to identify factors that influence ALOS. The study found that increased patient age, diabetes, rural living, procedural complications, and surgeon and hospital case volume all contributed to a small increase in ALOS following bariatric surgery.
ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Lydia Treleaven, Paul Komesaroff, Camille La Brooy, Ian Olver, Ian Kerridge, Jennifer Philip
Summary: Eligibility for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in Victoria requires a prognosis of 6 or 12 months or less. However, prognostic determination is often inaccurate and causes discomfort among clinicians. Prognostic tools based on functional capacity and clinical and biochemical markers have been developed to improve the accuracy of life expectancy predictions.
INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sarah Heynemann, Wendy Lipworth, Sue-Anne McLachlan, Jennifer Philip, Tom John, Ian Kerridge
Summary: Many factors influence patients' decisions to participate in clinical trials, with the primary motivation being the possibility of benefiting from participation. However, it can be problematic if patients fail to recognize the distinction between research and clinical care, known as the 'therapeutic misconception'. This issue is exacerbated by the increasing complexity of clinical trial designs and their integration into routine clinical care.
INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Jennifer Philip, Brian Le, Camille Le Brooy, Ian Olver, Ian Kerridge, Paul Komesaroff
Summary: In considering the impact of medically hastened death (MHD) on cancer care, various factors need to be taken into account, including demographic factors, diagnoses, local cultural factors, and legislative frameworks. Findings reveal that for patients and families, both physical and existential distress are common underlying factors for MHD requests, but the latter is often overlooked by health professionals. While differing views may remain, there seems to be some accommodation of MHD in palliative care practice over time. In cancer practice, individual professionals need to reflect on their roles and establish new relationships and pathways in response to patients' MHD requests.
CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Anna Collins, David Hui, Sara N. Davison, Kathryn Ducharlet, Fliss Murtagh, Yuchieh Kathryn Chang, Jennifer Philip
Summary: For patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), access to palliative care is often delayed or absent. This study aimed to identify criteria for referral to specialist palliative care for adults with advanced CKD and improve the utilization of these services. The results showed that clinicians consider various criteria, such as treatment decision making, symptoms, prognosis, age, and comorbidities, when considering referral to palliative care.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Henry E. Badgery, Tjuntu Muhlen-Schulte, John R. Zalcberg, Bianka D'souza, Jan F. Gerstenmaier, Craig Pickett, Jaswinder Samra, Daniel Croagh
Summary: In this multicentre observational study, a high degree of interobserver variability was found among clinicians and radiologists in assessing resectability of pancreatic cancer, with higher agreement among radiologists. This highlights the importance of central review and quality control initiatives to ensure consistent clinical decision making for patients with PDAC.
Article
Oncology
Jessica L. Chitty, Michelle Yam, Lara Perryman, Amelia L. Parker, Joanna N. Skhinas, Yordanos F. I. Setargew, Ellie T. Y. Mok, Emmi Tran, Rhiannon D. Grant, Sharissa L. Latham, Brooke A. Pereira, Shona C. Ritchie, Kendelle J. Murphy, Michael Trpceski, Alison D. Findlay, Pauline Melenec, Elysse C. Filipe, Audrey Nadalini, Sipiththa Velayuthar, Gretel Major, Kaitlin Wyllie, Michael Papanicolaou, Shivanjali Ratnaseelan, Phoebe A. Phillips, George Sharbeen, Janet Youkhana, Alice Russo, Antonia Blackwell, Jordan F. Hastings, Morghan C. Lucas, Cecilia R. Chambers, Daniel A. Reed, Janett Stoehr, Claire Vennin, Ruth Pidsley, Anaiis Zaratzian, Andrew M. Da Silva, Michael Tayao, Brett Charlton, David Herrmann, Max Nobis, Susan J. Clark, Andrew V. Biankin, Amber L. Johns, David R. Croucher, Adnan Nagrial, Anthony J. Gill, Sean M. Grimmond, Marina Pajic, Paul Timpson, Wolfgang Jarolimek, Thomas R. Cox
Summary: By inhibiting the activity of pan-lysyl oxidase, PXS-5505 can reduce fibrosis and stiffness in pancreatic tumors, decrease cancer cell invasion and metastasis, and enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy.
Article
Oncology
Jessica L. Chitty, Michelle Yam, Lara Perryman, Amelia L. Parker, Joanna N. Skhinas, Yordanos F. I. Setargew, Ellie T. Y. Mok, Emmi Tran, Rhiannon D. Grant, Sharissa L. Latham, Brooke A. Pereira, Shona C. Ritchie, Kendelle J. Murphy, Michael Trpceski, Alison D. Findlay, Pauline Melenec, Elysse C. Filipe, Audrey Nadalini, Sipiththa Velayuthar, Gretel Major, Kaitlin Wyllie, Michael Papanicolaou, Shivanjali Ratnaseelan, Phoebe A. Phillips, George Sharbeen, Janet Youkhana, Alice Russo, Antonia Blackwell, Jordan F. Hastings, Morghan C. Lucas, Cecilia R. Chambers, Daniel A. Reed, Janett Stoehr, Claire Vennin, Ruth Pidsley, Anaiis Zaratzian, Andrew M. Da Silva, Michael Tayao, Brett Charlton, David Herrmann, Max Nobis, Susan J. Clark, Andrew V. Biankin, Amber L. Johns, David R. Croucher, Adnan Nagrial, Anthony J. Gill, Sean M. Grimmond, Amber L. Johns, Anthony J. Gill, Lorraine A. Chantrill, Paul Timpson, Angela Chou, Marina Pajic, Tanya Dwarte, David Herrmann, Claire Vennin, Thomas R. Cox, Brooke A. Pereira, Shona C. Ritchie, Daniel A. Reed, Cecilia R. Chambers, Xanthe L. Metcalf, Max Nobis, Gloria Jeong, Lara Kenyon, Nicola Waddell, John V. Pearson, Ann-Marie Patch, Katia Nones, Felicity Newell, Pamela Mukhopadhyay, Venkateswar Addala, Stephen Kazakoff, Oliver Holmes, Conrad Leonard, Scott Wood, Sean M. Grimmond, Oliver Hofmann, Jaswinder S. Samra, Nick Pavlakis, Jennifer Arena, Hilda A. High, Ray Asghari, Neil D. Merrett, Amitabha Das, Peter H. Cosman, Kasim Ismail, Alina Stoita, David Williams, Allan Spigellman, Duncan Mcleo, Judy Kirk, James G. Kench, Peter Grimison, Charbel Sandroussi, Annabel Goodwin, R. Scott Mead, Katherine Tucker, Lesley Andrews, Michael Texler, Cindy Forrest, Mo Ballal, David Fletcher, Maria Beilin, Kynan Feeney, Krishna Epari, Sanjay Mukhedkar, Nikolajs Zeps, Nan Q. Nguyen, Andrew R. Ruszkiewicz, Chris Worthley, John Chen, Mark E. Brooke-Smith, Virginia Papangelis, Andrew D. Clouston, Andrew P. Barbour, Thomas J. O'Rourke, Jonathan W. Fawcett, Kellee Slater, Michael Hatzifotis, Peter Hodgkinson, Mehrdad Nikfarjam, James R. Eshleman, Ralph H. Hruban, Christopher L. Wolfgang, Aldo Scarpa, Rita T. Lawlor, Vincenzo Corbo, Claudio Bassi, Andrew V. Biankin, Nigel B. Jamieson, David K. Chang, Stephan B. Dreyer, Paul Timpson, Thomas R. Cox, Marina Pajic, Anthony J. Gill, Jaswinder S. Samra, Brooke A. Pereira, David Herrmann, Amber L. Johns, Gloria Jeong, Shona C. Ritchie, Daniel A. Reed, Cecilia R. Chambers, Janett Stoehr, Morghan C. Lucas, Joanna N. Skhinas, Lea Abdulkhalek, Max Nobis, Tatjana Schmitz, Victoria Lee, Xanthe L. Metcalf, Sean M. Grimmond, Kym Pham Stewart, Mehreen Arshi, Angela M. Steinmann, Lara Kenyon, Marina Pajic, Paul Timpson, Wolfgang Jarolimek, Thomas R. Cox
Summary: The pan-lysyl oxidase inhibitor PXS-5505 reduces chemotherapy-induced desmoplasia and stiffness, improving chemotherapy response and survival in pancreatic cancer models.
Letter
Surgery
Aldenb Lorenzo, David Goltsman, Xin L. Wong, Kevin Jia, Neil Merrett
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)