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Background Our aim was to clarify the incidence of bowel obstruction associated with a feeding jejunostomy (BOFJ) after thoracoscopic esophagectomy and its association to characteristics and postoperative change in body weight. Methods We reviewed 100 consecutive patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction and placement of a jejunostomy feeding catheter for esophageal cancer. The incidence of BOFJ was evaluated and the change in body weight after surgery was compared between patients with and without BOFJ. Results BOFJ developed in 17 patients. Compared to patients without BOFJ, those with BOFJ had a higher preoperative body mass index (23.3 kg/m 2 versus 20.9 kg/m 2 , P = 0.022), and greater postoperative body weight loss rate: 3 month, decrease to 84.2% of initial body weight versus 89.3% ( P = 0.002). Patients with BOFJ had shorter distance between the jejunostomy and midline (40 mm versus 48 mm, P = 0.011) compared to patients without BOFJ. On multivariate analysis, higher preoperative body mass index (odds ratio (OR) = 9.248; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.344–63.609; p = 0.024), higher postoperative weight loss at 3 months (OR = 8.490; 95% CI = 1.765–40.837, p = 0.008), and shorter distance between the jejunostomy and midline (OR = 8.160; 95% CI = 1.675–39.747, p = 0.009) were independently associated with BOFJ. Conclusion Patients of BOFJ had greater preoperative body mass, shorter distance between jejunostomy and midline, and greater postoperative weight loss.

Highlights The authors developed a humanized anti-glypican-1 (GPC1) monoclonal antibody (clone T2) and produced an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) linked to monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). The ADC potently inhibited the growth of GPC1-positive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo, and exhibited bystander killing activity. Humanized GPC1-ADC(MMAE) was effective against BxPC-3-Luc#2 pancreatic cancer liver metastases in mice. Humanized GPC1-ADC(MMAE) may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for GPC1-positive tumors.

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Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly malignant cancer. Many patients need systemic chemotherapy to prevent tumor development and recurrence; however, their prognosis is poor due to the lack of effective therapy. Therefore, a new treatment option is urgently required. We recently identified glypican-1 (GPC1) as a novel cancer antigen of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We also demonstrated the efficacy and safety of GPC1-targeted ADC (GPC1–ADC) conjugating anti-GPC1 mAb possessing high internalization activity with monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF), which is a potent tubulin polymerizing inhibitor. In this study, we confirmed that GPC1 was highly expressed in cholangiocarcinoma cells and tissues. IHC analysis of 49 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patient tumor specimens revealed high expression of GPC1 in 47% of patients. These patients demonstrated significantly poorer prognosis compared with the low-expression group in terms of disease-free survival and overall survival (P < 0.05). GPC1 was also expressed in tumor vessels of cholangiocarcinoma, but not on the vessels of nontumor tissues. MMAF-conjugated GPC1–ADC showed potent tumor growth inhibition against GPC1-positive cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. In a GPC1 knockout xenograft model, GPC1–ADC partially inhibited tumor growth. Vascular endothelial cells in tumor tissues of GPC1-negative xenograft mice expressed GPC1 and were arrested in the G2–M phase of cell cycle by GPC1–ADC. GPC1–ADC exhibits direct as well as indirect antitumor effects via inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. Our preclinical data highlight GPC1–ADC as a promising therapy for GPC1-positive cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of enteral supplementation of vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency in patients who underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: The study enrolled 133 patients who underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Kochi Medical School. Clinical data were obtained to investigate associations between vitamin B12 supplementation and vitamin B12 levels. Vitamin B12 deficiency was defined as serum vitamin B12 less than 200 pg/mL. Baseline characteristics and changes in hematological variables, including vitamin B12 levels, were examined. Results: Vitamin B12 deficiency was present in 71.4% of the 133 patients. Vitamin B12 levels at 3, 6, and 12 months after enteral supplementation were 306 pg/mL, 294 pg/mL, and 367 pg/mL, respectively, which were all significantly higher than those before supplementation (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). The median red blood cell count at 3, 6, and 12 months after enteral supplementation were 380 × 104/mm3, 394 × 104/mm3, and 395 × 104/mm3, respectively, which were all significantly higher than those before supplementation (p = 0.020, p = 0.001, and p = 0.003, respectively). Vitamin B12 levels at 3, 6, and 12 months after supplementation were significantly higher in patients supplemented enterally than those supplemented parenterally (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Conclusions: Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 71.4% of postoperative patients who underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and enteral vitamin B12 supplements might be effective to improve anemia in these patients.

The findings of the present study demonstrate that laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer should not be avoided based on simply the age of the patient.

We report a case of esophageal cancer with a non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve associated with aberrant right subclavian artery that was treated by neck dissection using intraoperative neurological monitoring followed by thoracoscopic esophagectomy. A 76-year-old man had dysphagia. Endoscopy revealed thoracic esophageal cancer, and computed tomography revealed the presence of an aberrant right subclavian artery between the esophagus and vertebrae. We performed neck dissection followed by thoracoscopic esophagectomy. During the neck dissection, we confirmed a non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve through intraoperative neurological monitoring. No postoperative complications were observed, and the patient was discharged 19 days after surgery. We recommend using intraoperative neurological monitoring to avoid injury to the non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve associated with the aberrant right subclavian artery.