Ricerc@Sapienza

In addition to classical metastatic pathways, recently gastric cancer was described having an alternative route
called “endoluminal exfoliation”. Provisional analyses demonstrated, in fact, this kind of shedding is associated
with several clinico-pathological features indicative of aggressive behavior and resulted to be an independent
prognostic factor entailing poor prognosis. Compared with non-sowing counterparts, in fact, patients affected
with exfoliating early and advanced gastric carcinomas met with shorter overall survival, disease free survival,

Background/Aim: Detecting free tumor cells in the peritoneal lavage fluid of gastric cancer patients permits to assess a more accurate prognosis, predict peritoneal recurrence and select cases for a more aggressive treatment. Currently, cytology and molecular biology comprise the two most popular methods of detection that are under constant study by researchers. Materials and Methods: We burrowed into the available literature comparing cytological with molecular detection of free intraperitoneal gastric cancer cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM:
To date, the combination of gastroscopy with biopsy remains the only test validated for screening gastric cancer (GC). Currently, analysis of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) is providing interesting information on GC prognosis, but since these molecules are shared by several types of cancer, its clinical use could be questionable and difficult. MicroRNAs in gastric juice (GJ) could represent a cogent alternative to screening GC by biopsy.

OBJECTIVE:
As of 2017, the pathobiology of gastric cancer (GC) is far from fully understood; consequently, new methods of basic and advanced research have been proposed and tested. The presence (GL1) vs absence (GL0) of malignant cells exfoliated in gastric lavage (GL) of GC patients was formerly evaluated with diagnostic intent but not for staging or prognostic assessment. We investigated this hitherto unreported application of cytopathology.

BACKGROUND/AIM:
Concerning gastric cancer (GC), nasogastric tube (NGT) is routinely employed for peri-operative decompression and palliative enteral nutrition. Additionally, we believe to have found a further application.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Between April 2012 and April 2017, 96 GC patients received preoperative nasogastric lavage (GL). All samples were cytologically examined to detect the presence (GL1) or absence (GL0) of malignant cells. Data were analyzed with classificatory, staging and prognostic purpose.

Historically, analysis of intragastric exfoliative cytology (IEC) of gastric cancer (GC) was used with diagnostic intent only. With the successful advent of endoscopic biopsy, the rate of detection of GC has improved worldwide and, as a consequence, IEC has been progressively abandoned. Today, however, there is a renewed interest in this field of research as witnessed by several pertinent publications. As discussed in this review, in fact, currently the importance of analyzing IEC in patients with early and advanced GC seems to reside in its clinicopathological and prognostic significance.

BACKGROUND/AIM:
Although reckoned necessary for survival benefit, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) of gastric cancer (GC) patients has so far provided questionable results. Consequently, searching for new and clearer systems of response to NAC, post-NAC re-evaluation and prognostic prediction appears essential. The purpose of this study was to examine endogastric cytopathology and hemoglobin level count as new features, potentially useful for GC patients after NAC.

Background/aim: As of 2020, carbohydrate antigen 72.4 (Ca 72.4) has been rarely investigated in the gastric juice (GJ) of patients with gastric cancer (GC). Our aim was to analyze the significance and role of this tumor antigen in the GJ of our GC population.
Patients and methods: Between April 2012 and July 2013, 37 patients with operable GC were prospectively investigated to determine the GJ Ca 72.4 levels before surgical manipulation.

Background: The results of D1-plus lymphadenectomy following gastric resection are seldom investigated. The aim of this study was to compare results of D1-plus vs D2 resections and to provide a literature review. Methods: Patients who underwent upfront R0 gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma from 2000 to 2016 in three Institutions were selected using propensity scores and categorized according to lymphadenectomy. Statistical analyses were performed for the nodal harvest (LNH) and survival.

BACKGROUND/AIM:
Gastric cancer is the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related death. The only potentially curative treatment is surgical resection, which is associated with potentially severe complications, such as anastomotic leakage. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the relationship between anastomotic leakage and overall and disease-free survival after surgery for gastric cancer.