BackgroundAppendiceal carcinoma has an insidious clinical presentation, and these tumors are rarely suspected prior to surgery, potentially leading to late diagnosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of metastatic disease at initial presentation and potentially associated sociodemographic characteristics. MethodsPatients were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program using the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology-3 (ICD-O-3) histology/behavior codes between 2010 and 2015. Firth logistic regression was performed to determine the association of metastasis at presentation with tumor subtype, adjusted for age, race, sex, insurance and marital status, tumor grade, and tumor and nodal stage using the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. ResultsWe identified a total of 3,447 patients with known metastatic status. A total of 38.4% had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Compared to colonic-type adenocarcinoma (CA), mucinous adenocarcinoma (MA) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SC) were more likely to present with metastasis at diagnosis (OR: 2.34; 95% CI [1.80-3.06]; OR: 1.93 [1.29-2.89], respectively), however, goblet cell carcinoma (GC) was less likely (OR: 0.59 [0.36-0.93]). Compared to tumors invading the submucosa (T1 stage), tumors invading deeper through the visceral peritoneum or nearby organs (T4 stage) were significantly more likely to present with metastatic disease ). Tumors invading the muscularis propria (T2 stage) or deeper into the subserosa, or the mesoappendix (T3 stage) were less likely to present with metastatic disease (OR: 0.34 [0.16-0.71]); OR: 0.55 [0.34-0.91], respectively). Compared to no regional lymph node spread, four or more regional lymph node involvement (N2 stage) was more likely to present with metastatic disease (OR: 2.19 [1.53-3.16]). Men were less likely to present with metastatic disease (OR: 0.60 [0.48-0.73]). A total of 90.1% of CA, 84.2% of GC, 42.2% of MA, and 78.5% of SC patients with metastasis at diagnosis had extraperitoneal distant metastasis (M1b). ConclusionsA significant proportion of patients with newly diagnosed appendiceal carcinoma presented with metastatic disease, concerning substantial diagnostic delay and potentiating the need for aggressive treatments. Predictors of metastatic disease included female sex, histologic subtype, and significant regional lymph node involvement. Future research should focus on earlier detection and explore tumor biology.

Summary Decreasing graft rejection and increasing graft and patient survival are great challenges facing liver transplantation (LT). Different T cell subsets participate in the acute cellular rejection (ACR) of the allograft. Cell-mediated immunity markers of the recipient could help to understand the mechanisms underlying acute rejection. This study aimed to analyse different surface antigens on T cells in a cohort of adult liver patients undergoing LT to determine the influence on ACR using multi-parametric flow cytometry functional assay. Thirty patients were monitored at baseline and during 1 year post-transplant. Two groups were established, with (ACR) and without (NACR) acute cellular rejection. Leukocyte, total lymphocyte, percentages of CD4+CD154+ and CD8+CD154+ T cells, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch between recipient–donor and their relation with ACR as well as the acute rejection frequencies were analysed. T cells were stimulated with concanavalin A (Con-A) and surface antigens were analysed by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. A high percentage of CD4+CD154+ T cells (P = 0·001) and a low percentage of CD8+CD154+ T cells (P = 0·002) at baseline were statistically significant in ACR. A receiver operating characteristic analysis determined the cut-off values capable to stratify patients at high risk of ACR with high sensitivity and specificity for CD4+CD154+ (P = 0·001) and CD8+CD154+ T cells (P = 0·002). In logistic regression analysis, CD4+CD154+, CD8+CD154+ and HLA mismatch were confirmed as independent risk factors to ACR. Post-transplant percentages of both T cell subsets were significantly higher in ACR, despite variations compared to pretransplant. These findings support the selection of candidates for LT based on the pretransplant percentages of CD4+CD154+ and CD8+CD154+ T cells in parallel with other transplant factors.

BackgroundGastric cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world and the third most common cause of death from cancer. The diagnosis and treatment are often complex and require a multifaceted approach. Hence, appropriate and timely management is essential for better patient outcomes. Our aim was to determine if rural inhabitation affects the mortality of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. If such an association exists, we propose to ascertain whether this is related to delayed diagnosis, differing tumor characteristics, or treatment inequalities. MethodsThe Cox model was applied to gastric adenocarcinoma cases diagnosed during 2004-2011 in American residents aged 20+ years in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program to determine the impact of rurality on mortality. Binary logistic regression was used to compare the odds of not receiving surgical treatment for localized tumors between rural and urban areas. It was also used to measure the association of rurality with stage at diagnosis (non-metastatic vs. metastatic). ResultsThere was a significant association of rurality on 5-year mortality [HR 1.14 (1.09-1.20), p < 0.01]. No significant association was observed between rural-urban residency and stage at diagnosis, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.95 (0.87-1.03), p = 0.21. The median time from diagnosis to any first-course treatment was one month for both rural and urban counties. Rural residents were far more likely not to receive surgical treatment for localized tumors than their urban counterparts [OR 1.70 (1.41-2.05), p < 0.01]. A greater percentage of rural inhabitants had cardia tumors as compared to urban ones, 39.8% vs. 33.8% respectively. Non-cardia tumors were far less likely not to receive surgical treatment (i.e., more likely to receive surgical treatment) than cardia tumors , p < 0.01]. ConclusionsRurality is associated with worse gastric adenocarcinoma mortality. This may be due to a lesser probability of receiving surgical treatment for early-stage disease and differences in the primary site of the tumor between rural and urban counties, but not due to differences in stage at presentation. Future research should focus on improving health care access in rural communities.

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5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and its prodrug capecitabine are frequently prescribed in oncology. While usually well tolerated, toxicity can be severe, and even life-threatening. A dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency can cause severe toxicity. Current testing for DPD deficiency does not meet the criteria for a routine screening test prior to 5-FU therapy. A case study of a fatality secondary to capecitabine toxicity is reviewed and literature is examined regarding general screening for DPD deficiency.