Background:The objective of the study was to examine the role of microsatellite instability (MSI) and BRAFV600Emutation in colorectal cancer (CRC) by categorising patients into more detailed subtypes based on tumour characteristics.Methods:Tumour samples from 762 population-based patients with sporadic CRC were analysed for MSI and BRAFV600E by immunohistochemistry. Patient survival was followed-up for a median of 5.2 years.Results:Compared with microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC, MSI was prognostic for better disease-free survival (DFS; 5 years: 85.8% vs 75.3%, 10 years: 85.8% vs 72.9%, P=0.027; HR 0.49, CI 0.30–0.80, P=0.005) and disease-specific survival (DSS; 5 years: 83.2% vs 70.5% 10 years: 83.2 vs 65.0%, P=0.004). Compared with BRAF wild type, BRAFV600E was a risk for poor survival (overall survival; 5 years: 62.3% vs 51.6%, P=0.014; HR 1.43, CI 1.07–1.90, P=0.009), especially in rectal cancer (for DSS, HR: 10.60, CI: 3.04–36.92, P<0.001). The MSS/BRAFV600E subtype was a risk for poor DSS (HR: 1.88, CI: 1.06–3.31, P=0.030), but MSI/BRAFV600E was a prognostic factor for DFS (HR: 0.42, CI: 0.18–0.96, P=0.039). Among stage I–II patients, the MSS/BRAFV600E subtype was independently associated with poor DSS (HR: 5.32, CI: 1.74–16.31, P=0.003).Conclusions:Microsatellite instable tumours were associated with better prognosis compared with MSS. BRAFV600E was associated with poor prognosis unless it occurred together with MSI. The MSI/BRAFV600E subtype was a favourable prognostic factor compared with the MSS/BRAF wild-type subtype. BRAFV600E rectal tumours showed particularly poor prognosis. The MSS/BRAFV600E subtype was associated with increased disease-specific mortality even in stage I–II CRC.

Background: This population-based study aimed to examine the incidence, patterns and results of multimodal management of metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods: A retrospective population-based study was conducted on patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in Central Finland in 2000-2015. Clinical and histopathological data were retrieved and descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the pattern of metastatic disease, defined as synchronous, early metachronous (within 12 months of diagnosis of primary disease) and late metachronous (more than 12 months after diagnosis). Subgroups were compared for resection and overall survival (OS) rates. Results: Of 1671 patients, 296 (17⋅7 per cent) had synchronous metastases, and 255 (19⋅6 per cent) of 1302 patients with resected stage I-III tumours developed metachronous metastases (94 early and 161 late metastases). Liver, pulmonary and intraperitoneal metastases were the most common sites. The commonest metastatic patterns were a combination of liver and lung metastases. The overall metastasectomy rate for patients with synchronous metastases was 16⋅2 per cent; in this subgroup, 3and 5-year OS rates after any resection were 63 and 44 per cent respectively, compared with 7⋅1 and 3⋅3 per cent following no resection (P < 0⋅001). The resection rate was higher for late than for early metachronous disease (28⋅0 versus 17 per cent respectively; P = 0⋅048). Three-and 5-year OS rates after any resection of metachronous metastases were 78 and 62 per cent respectively versus 42⋅1 and 18⋅2 per cent with no metastasectomy (P < 0⋅001). Similarly, 3-and 5-year OS rates after any metastasectomy for early metachronous metastases were 57 and 50 per cent versus 84 and 66 per cent for late metachronous metastases (P = 0⋅293). Conclusion: The proportion of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer was consistent with that in earlier population-based studies, as were resection rates for liver and lung metastases and survival after resection. Differentiation between synchronous, early and late metachronous metastases can improve assessment of resectability and survival.

Purpose To compare laparoscopic non-CME colectomy with laparoscopic CME colectomy in two hospitals with similar experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods Data was collected retrospectively from Päijät-Häme Central Hospital (PHCH, NCME group) and Central Finland Central Hospital (CFCH, CME group) records. Elective laparoscopic resections performed during 2007-2016 for UICC stage I-III adenocarcinoma were included to assess differences in short-term outcome and survival. Results There were 340 patients in the NCME group and 325 patients in the CME group. CME delivered longer specimens (p < 0.001), wider resection margins (p < 0.001), and more lymph nodes (p < 0.001) but did not result in better 5-year overall or cancer-specific survival (NCME 77.9% vs CME 72.9%, p = 0.528, NCME 93.2% vs CME 88.9%, p = 0.132, respectively). Thirtyday morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay were similar between the groups. Conversion to open surgery was associated with decreased survival. Discussion Complete mesocolic excision (CME) is reported to improve survival. Most previous studies have compared open CME with open non-CME (NCME) or open CME with laparoscopic CME. NCME populations have been historical or heterogeneous, potentially causing bias in the interpretation of results. Studies comparing laparoscopic CME with laparoscopic NCME are few and involve only small numbers of patients. In this study, diligently performed laparoscopic non-CME D2 resection delivered disease-free survival results comparable with laparoscopic CME but was not safer.

This retrospective population-based study examined the impact of age and comorbidity burden on multimodal management and survival from colorectal cancer (CRC). From 2000 to 2015, 1479 consecutive patients, who underwent surgical resection for CRC, were reviewed for age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) including 19 well-defined weighted comorbidities. The impact of ACCI on multimodal management and survival was compared between low (score 0–2), intermediate (score 3) and high ACCI (score ≥ 4) groups. Changes in treatment from 2000 to 2015 were seen next to a major increase of laparoscopic surgery, increased use of adjuvant chemotherapy and an intensified treatment of metastatic disease. Patients with a high ACCI score were, by definition, older and had higher comorbidity. Major elective and emergency resections for colon carcinoma were evenly performed between the ACCI groups, as were laparoscopic and open resections. (Chemo)radiotherapy for rectal carcinoma was less frequently used, and a higher rate of local excisions, and consequently lower rate of major elective resections, was performed in the high ACCI group. Adjuvant chemotherapy and metastasectomy were less frequently used in the ACCI high group. Overall and cancer-specific survival from stage I-III CRC remained stable over time, but survival from stage IV improved. However, the 5-year overall survival from stage I–IV colon and rectal carcinoma was worse in the high ACCI group compared to the low ACCI group. Five-year cancer-specific and disease-free survival rates did not differ significantly by the ACCI. Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that high ACCI was an independent predictor of poor overall survival (p < 0.001). Our results show that despite improvements in multimodal management over time, old age and high comorbidity burden affect the use of adjuvant chemotherapy, preoperative (chemo)radiotherapy and management of metastatic disease, and worsen overall survival from CRC.

Background: Hepatopancreatobiliary surgery is prone to complications. Methods are needed to monitor surgical outcomes and enable comparison between institutions. Methods: Complications were collected prospectively and reviewed using the modified Accordion SeverityGrading System (MASGS) and the Postoperative Morbidity Index (PMI). Results: This study included 527 consecutive patients receiving either pancreatic or liver resection in 2000-2017 in Central Finland Central Hospital. The PMI was 0.177 for all patients, and 0.192, 0.094, 0.285, and 0.129 for patients receiving major pancreatic (n=218), minor pancreatic (n=93), major liver (n=73), and minor liver (n=143) resection, respectively. The rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomies (n=200) were 6.5% for grade B and 5.5% for grade C; rates for biliary leak were 1.0% (grade A), 2.5% (grade B), and 0.5% (grade C). Similarly, the rates for delayed gastric emptying (DGE) were 2.8% (grade A), 15.6% (grade B), and 3.7% (grade C). Postoperative hepatic dysfunction occurred in 2.3%, major surgical site bleeding in 2.3%, and biloma in 7.9% of patients after liver resection. Ninety-day mortality rates were 3.7% and 1.1% in major and minor pancreatic resections, and 8.2% and 0.7% in major and minor liver resections. Major complications occurred in 13.3% and 3.3% in pancreatic, and 19.2% and 6.3% in liver resections, respectively. Conclusions: Major pancreatic and hepatic surgery are associated with significant morbidity and burden in our center, comparable with previous population-based studies. PMI is an informative way to monitor surgical outcomes and enable comparison between institutions.