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Emerging therapies offer hope for improved gastric cancer survival

Gastric cancer poses a significant global health challenge, with nearly 1 million new cases and over 650,000 deaths annually. The disease shows geographical disparities and a troubling rise in early-onset cases among those under 50. Key risk factors include H. pylori infection and unhealthy lifestyles. While standard treatments include surgical resection and chemotherapy, advancements in minimally invasive techniques and emerging therapies like immunotherapies signal a new era in management, focusing on better survival and quality of life.

Review by Sundar R, Nakayama I (…) Smyth EC et 4 al. in Lancet

Copyright © 2025 Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

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Immune checkpoint inhibitors enhance survival in liver cancer patients

Significant advancements in treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have emerged, particularly with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combinations that increase median survival to over two years, with some patients exceeding five years. Despite this, recent studies found no improvement in recurrence-free survival with adjuvant ICI therapy. However, combining ICI therapies with transarterial chemoembolization has shown enhanced progression-free survival, prompting critical questions regarding patient selection and treatment sequencing for optimal outcomes tailored to individual circumstances.

Review by Singal AG, Salem R, Pinato DJ and Pillai A in Gastroenterology

Copyright © 2025 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Post-surgery adjuvant treatment improves outcomes for HCC patients

A study of 649 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients revealed that those with triple positive tumor markers experienced significantly improved recurrence-free survival when receiving postoperative adjuvant therapy (30.0 months) compared to those who did not (19.6 months, p=0.019). The analysis also showed that the number of positive tumor markers was linked to various clinical and pathological characteristics, suggesting these markers can serve as effective predictors for selecting high-risk patients for tailored postoperative interventions.

Journal Article by Wang F, Xu Y (…) Wang W et 7 al. in J Gastrointest Surg

Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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Wrapping technique reduces major complications in pancreaticoduodenectomy

A systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that arterial and anastomotic wrapping significantly decreases major complications in pancreaticoduodenectomy. Specifically, researchers noted a reduction in postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (OR 0.47; p < 0.001) and postoperative pancreatic fistula with omental wrapping (OR 0.48; p = 0.002). The technique did not increase operative time or reoperation rates, and delayed gastric emptying showed no significant association with wrapping (OR 0.69; p = 0.06). Overall, wrapping improves surgical outcomes.

Review by Lech GE, Viana P (…) Morriello R et 4 al. in HPB (Oxford)

Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Low skeletal muscle index/systemic immune-inflammation index predicts poor survival in HCC patients

A study of 1,504 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma revealed that a low skeletal muscle index/systemic immune-inflammation index (SMI/SII) ratio is a significant independent prognostic factor for poor overall survival (OS). Results showed the high SMI/SII group had a notably better OS compared to the low SMI/SII group across multiple cohorts. Additionally, patients with elevated SMI/SII exhibited anti-tumor properties in their peripheral blood, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for personalized treatment strategies.

Journal Article by Li SX, Huang W (…) Wang TC et 5 al. in World J Surg Oncol

© 2025. The Author(s).

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Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy improves long-term outcomes in esophageal cancer.

The study reveals that neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy significantly enhances long-term survival for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous carcinoma, particularly those with stage III disease or suspected lymph node involvement. An analysis of 397 patients showed that while pathologic complete response rates were similar between immunochemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy groups, the former led to better overall survival rates post-esophagectomy. This suggests that neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy, combined with surgery, is an effective treatment strategy.

Journal Article by Shao K, Du Y (…) Wang C et 8 al. in BMC Surg

Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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Endoscopic resection proves effective for certain esophageal tumors

The study identifies significant clinicopathological differences between esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (e-gist) and gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (g-gist), noting e-gist’s stronger male predominance, older median age, and increased tumor size and ulceration. Remarkably, endoscopic resection (ER) is found to be comparably effective to surgical resection for selected e-gist patients (tumors ≤5 cm without ulceration), with similar recurrence rates and survival outcomes, suggesting a viable treatment option for this rare tumor subtype.

Journal Article by Zhou Y, Peng R (…) Li R et 3 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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Low liver-to-spleen ratio indicates higher intrahepatic recurrence risk

Analysis of 208 patients post-curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma revealed that a low liver-to-spleen ratio (LSR) is a strong predictor of intrahepatic recurrence. Specifically, 53% experienced recurrence, with significantly higher rates in those with low LSR values (<2.0). Multivariable analyses confirmed this relationship, showing low LSR as an independent risk factor alongside other clinical features. Notably, low LSR was linked to late recurrence after one year, underscoring its prognostic significance in patient management.

Journal Article by Notake T, Shimizu A (…) Soejima Y et 11 al. in Hepatol Res

© 2025 Japan Society of Hepatology.

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Elevated levels of EMP and STM predict severe pancreatitis outcomes

Dynamic changes in plasma endothelial microparticles (EMP) and soluble thrombomodulin (STM) levels significantly correlate with prognosis in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). In a study of 128 SAP patients, higher EMP and STM levels were linked to increased mortality rates. Combined detection had a notable sensitivity of 92.39% and specificity of 90.54%, demonstrating superior prognostic accuracy over individual assessments. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring EMP and STM for predicting outcomes in SAP patients.

Journal Article by Chen H and Yuan X in BMC Surg

© 2025. The Author(s).

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Modified stapled hemorrhoidopexy shows improved outcomes over conventional method

A prospective randomized trial involving 110 patients revealed that modified partial stapled hemorrhoidopexy (mpsh) significantly reduced average and peak postoperative pain scores compared to conventional hemorrhoidectomy (ch). Patients in the mpsh group reported shorter laxative usage and earlier return to work, alongside higher satisfaction levels and better symptom improvement. Although the overall complication rates were comparable between both groups, mpsh emerges as a promising and effective alternative to ch for better post-surgical experiences.

Journal Article by Kim TG, Lee CS (…) Jeong GY et 8 al. in Ann Coloproctol

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