PURPOSE We previously reported on the pilot study assessing the feasibility of using the Japanese translation of the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool to measure financial toxicity (FT) among Japanese patients with cancer. In this study, we report the results of the prospective survey assessing FT in Japanese patients with cancer using the same tool. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients were receiving chemotherapy for a solid tumor for at least 2 months. In addition to the COST survey, socioeconomic characteristics were collected by using a questionnaire and medical records. RESULTS Of the 191 patients approached, 156 (82%) responded to the questionnaire. Primary tumor sites were colorectal (n = 77; 49%), gastric (n = 39; 25%), esophageal (n = 16; 10%), thyroid (n = 9; 6%), head and neck (n = 4; 3%), and other (n = 11; 7%). Median COST score was 21 (range, 0 to 41; mean ± standard deviation, 12.1 ± 8.45), with lower COST scores indicating more severe FT. On multivariable analyses using linear regression, older age (β, 0.15 per year; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.28; P = .02) and higher household savings (β, 8.24 per ¥15 million; 95% CI, 4.06 to 12.42; P < .001) were positively associated with COST score; nonregular employment (β, −5.37; 95% CI, −10.16 to −0.57; P = .03), retirement because of cancer (β, −5.42; 95% CI, −8.62 to −1.37; P = .009), and use of strategies to cope with the cost of cancer care (β, −5.09; 95% CI, −7.87 to −2.30; P < .001) were negatively associated with COST score. CONCLUSION Using the Japanese version of the COST tool, we identified various factors associated with FT in Japanese patients with cancer. These findings will have important implications for cancer policy planning in Japan.

Background. KRAS is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes in colorectal cancer (CRC). Recently, a novel therapy targeting KRAS G12C mutation has demonstrated promising activities for corresponding advanced solid tumors, including metastatic CRC (mCRC). However, the prognostic impact of the KRAS G12C mutation remains unclear in patients with mCRC. Materials and Methods. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with mCRC who received first-line chemotherapy between January 2005 and December 2017 at four large oncology facilities in Japan. Survival outcomes were compared between patients with KRAS G12C and those with non-G12C mutations. Results. Among 2,457 patients with mCRC, 1,632 met selection criteria, and of these, 696 had KRAS exon 2 mutations, including 45 with KRAS G12C mutation tumors. Patient characteristics were not significantly different between the KRAS G12C and non-G12C groups. At a median follow-up of 64.8 months, patients with the KRAS G12C mutation showed significantly shorter first-line progression-free survival (PFS; median, 9.4 vs. 10.8 months; p = .015) and overall survival (OS; median, 21.1 vs. 27.3 months; p = .015) than those with non-G12C mutations. Multivariate analysis also showed that KRAS G12C mutation was significantly associated with shorter PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.96, p = .030) and OS (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.01-2.00; p = .044). Conclusion.We demonstrate that, compared with non-G12C mutations, KRAS G12C mutation is significantly correlated with shorter first-line PFS and OS. These findings indicate the relevance of a stratified treatment targeting KRAS G12C mutation in mCRC.

Background: Metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma (mSBA) is a rare condition with a poor prognosis. Enough data are not available on second-line chemotherapy (SLC) for mSBA. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of SLC for mSBA patients.

Background A regional cancer hospital has been identified to be crucial in the management of malignancies of undefined primary origin (MUO) and cancer of unknown primary (CUP). This hospital primarily consists of oncologists with expertise in CUP, pathologists, and interventional radiologists. Early consultation or referral of MUO and CUP to a cancer hospital is deemed important. Methods This study retrospectively collected and analyzed the clinical, pathological, and outcome data of all patients (n = 407) referred to the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital (ACCH) in Japan over an 8-year period. Results In total, 30% of patients were referred for a second opinion. Among 285 patients, 13% had non-neoplastic disease or confirmed primary site and 76% had confirmed CUP (cCUP), with 29% of cCUP being identified as favorable risk. In 155 patients with unfavorable-risk CUP, 73% had primary sites predicted by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and distribution of metastatic sites, whereas 66% of them received site-specific therapies based on the predicted primary sites. The median overall survival (OS) was found to be poor in patients with MUO (1 month) and provisional CUP (6 months). In addition, the median OS of 206 patients with cCUP treated at the ACCH was 16 months (favorable risk, 27 months; unfavorable risk, 12 months). No significant difference was noted in OS between patients with non-predictable and predictable primary-sites (13 vs 12 months, p = 0.411). Conclusion The outcome of patients with unfavorable-risk CUP remains to be poor. Site-specific therapy based on IHC is not recommended for all patients with unfavorable-risk CUP.

Results: sT+ and pT+ was observed in 225 patients (44.9%) and in 132 patients (26.3%), respectively. Regarding the concordance between sT and pT, sT+/pT+ was observed in 108 patients (21.6%), sT+/pT-in 117 patients (23.4%), sT-/pT+ in 24 patients (4.8%), and sT-/pT-in 252 patients (50.3%), respectively. Both sT and pT were selected as independent risk of peritoneal recurrence, with the hazard ratio of 5.04 (95% CI, 2.15-11.83) in sT and 5. 09 (2.30-11.30) in pT by multivariable analysis. Multivariable analysis showed both sT and pT were independent factors for RFS with hazard ratio of 2.09 (1.52-2.87) in sT and 2.14 (1.54-2.99) in pT. The 5-year RFS according to the subgroup was 50.0% in sT+/pT+, 63.2% in sT+/pT-, 62.5% in sT-/pT +, and 81.7% in sT-/pT-. Survival in sT+/pT-was almost identical to that in sT-/pT+.Conclusions: Macroscopic serosal invasion diagnosed at the time of surgery showed a similar predictive value for peritoneal recurrence as pathologically diagnosed serosal invasion. Establishment of novel staging system incorporating macroscopic serosal invasion is warranted.Clinical trial identification: NCT00112099.