Michelle Sittig

PURPOSE: The 2-year Russian oncology residency focuses on diagnosis and treatment of malignancies but lacks evidence-based medicine (EBM) and patient communication skills (PCS) training. To overcome these educational disparities, the 5-year national program, the Higher School of Oncology (HSO), involving Russian expatriate physicians trained in the United States was established. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. Highly motivated oncology residents were enrolled in the program through the three-step selection process. US-trained Russian expatriate physicians acted as mentors. EBM skills were taught through weekly online journal clubs and clinical case presentations. PCS training included live seminars and simulations after journal clubs. EBM knowledge was assessed using Fresno test among newly enrolled and postgraduate year (PGY) 2-5 HSO residents. PCS were evaluated via simulation exam including two clinical scenarios (maximum score 100 each) among 17 PGY2 HSO residents and seven non-HSO trainees. RESULTS: Overall, 54 residents were enrolled over 5 years (8-13 annually); four were released from the program. The mean age was 24 ± 1 years, and 56% were females. Median scores of Fresno test were significantly higher among PGY 2-4 HSO residents compared with newly enrolled participants: 111 (IQR, 71-128) versus 68 (IQR, 42-84), P = .042; moreover, performance correlated with year of program participation (r_s = 0.5; P < .0001). PCS assessment score was significantly higher among HSO residents than non-HSO trainees: 71 (IQR, 58-84) versus 15 (IQR, 10-30) for scenario number 1 ( P < .0001) and 78 (IQR, 71-85) versus 22 (IQR, 4-58) for scenario number 2 ( P = .005), respectively. CONCLUSION: The involvement of Western-trained expatriates in remote education improves EBM and PCS among oncology trainees from their home country. This strategy can be useful in overcoming global medical education disparities in other specialties and in countries facing similar challenges.

Diaphragmatic resection (DR) is often required during cytoreductive surgery/hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) to achieve complete

Introduction Despite optimal patient selection and surgical effort, recurrence is seen in over 70% of patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal metastases (PM). Apart from the Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI), completeness of cytoreduction and tumour grade, there are other factors like disease distribution in the peritoneal cavity, pathological response to systemic chemotherapy (SC), lymph node metastases and morphology of PM which may have prognostic value. One reason for the underutilisation of these factors is that they are known only after surgery. Identifying clinical predictors, specifically radiological predictors, could lead to better utilisation of these factors in clinical decision making and the extent of peritoneal resection performed for different tumours. This study aims to study these factors, their impact on survival and identify clinical and radiological predictors. Methods and analysis There is no therapeutic intervention in the study. All patients with biopsy-proven PM from colorectal, appendiceal, gastric and ovarian cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma undergoing CRS will be included. The demographic, clinical, radiological, surgical and pathological details will be collected according to a prespecified format that includes details regarding distribution of disease, morphology of PM, regional node involvement and pathological response to SC. In addition to the absolute value of PCI, the structures bearing the largest tumour nodules and a description of the morphology in each region will be recorded. A correlation between the surgical, radiological and pathological findings will be performed and the impact of these potential prognostic factors on progression-free and overall survival determined. The practices pertaining to radiological and pathological reporting at different centres will be studied. Ethics and dissemination The study protocol has been approved by the Zydus Hospital ethics committee (27 July, 2020) and Lyon-Sud ethics committee (A15-128). Trial registration number CTRI/2020/09/027709; Pre-results.

Introduction: Despite optimal patient selection and surgical effort, recurrence is seen in over 70% of patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery(CRS) for peritoneal metastases (PM). Apart from the peritoneal cancer index(PCI), completeness of cytoreduction and tumor grade, there are other factors like disease distribution in the peritoneal cavity, pathological response to systemic chemotherapy(SC), lymph node metastases and morphology of PM which may have prognostic value. One reason for the underutilization of these factors is that they are known only after surgery. Identifying clinical predictors, specifically radiological predictors, could lead to better utilization of these factors in clinical decision making and the extent of peritoneal resection performed for different tumors. This study aims to study these factors, their impact on survival and identify clinical and radiological predictors. Methods and analysis: There is no therapeutic intervention in the study. All patients with biopsy proven PM from colorectal, appendiceal, gastric and ovarian cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma undergoing CRS will be included. The demographic, clinical, radiological, surgical and pathological details will be collected according to a pre-specified format that includes details regarding distribution of disease, morphology of PM, regional node involvement and pathological response to SC. In addition to the absolute value of PCI, the structures bearing the largest tumor nodules and a description of the morphology in each region will be recorded. A correlation between the surgical, radiological and pathological findings will be performed and the impact of these potential prognostic factors on progression-free and overall survival determined. The practices pertaining to radiological and pathological reporting at different centers will be studied. Ethics and dissemination: The study protocol has been approved by the Zydus Hospital ethics committee (27 ^th July, 2020) and Lyon-sud ethics committee (A15-128). It is registered with the clinical trials registry of India (CTRI/2020/09/027709). The results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Strength and limitations: A prospective correlation between the radiological, surgical and pathological findings in patients undergoing CRS will be performed which has not been done before. Being prospective in nature it will also enable us to evaluate the impact of the current treatment practices on the clinical end-points There is fixed protocol for radiological and pathological evaluation for which there are no specific guidelines The data collection format will capture all the relevant data but this may affect compliance. Despite the large sample size planned for each primary site, the heterogeneity of treatment protocols may be a limiting factor while evaluating the impact on survival.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is predominantly performed and studied in academic centers. While developing CRS/HIPEC programs in nonacademic hospitals can increase accessibility, its safety and oncological efficacy remains unclear. We evaluated CRS/HIPEC outcomes in a nonacademic setting.Methods: A single‐center descriptive study was conducted using a prospective database. Data of all CRS/HIPEC attempts in peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) patients from October 1994 to November 2019 were extracted. Surgical and survival outcomes were measured. Center experience was assessed by quartiles of cases.Results: Overall, 856 patients underwent 948 CRS/HIPEC attempts: 788 (83%) completed CRS/HIPECs, 144 (15%) aborted HIPECs, and 16 (2%) complete cytoreductions (CC‐0/1) without chemoperfusion. For completed CRS/HIPECs, median peritoneal cancer index was 24 (interquartile range: 10–33) and CC‐0/1 rate was 88%. Major complications occurred in 23.5% with 30‐ and 100‐day mortality of 1.0% and 2.3%, respectively. Median overall survival was 68 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 50–86). Median progression‐free survival was 37 months (95%CI: 28–46). Incomplete cytoreduction and major complication rates decreased over time, while mortality remained low and constant.Conclusions: CRS/HIPEC at a nonacademic center with advanced surgical and auxiliary services is a safe option to treat PSM with favorable surgical and oncological outcomes.

Background. Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) showed promise as initial treatment for stage IIIC (SIII) epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC); however, stage IV (SIV) outcomes are rarely reported. We assessed our experience and outcomes treating newly diagnosed SIV EOC with NACT plus CRS/HIPEC compared to SIII patients. Methods. Advanced EOC from 2015–2018 managed with NACT (carboplatin/paclitaxel) due to unresectable disease or poor performance status followed by interval CRS/HIPEC were reviewed. Perioperative factors were assessed. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed by stage. Results. Twenty-seven FIGO stage IIIC (n = 12) and IV (n = 15) patients were reviewed. Median NACT cycles were 3 and 4, respectively. Post-NACT omental caking, ascites, and pleural effusions decreased/resolved in 91%, 91%, and 100% of SIII and 85%, 92%, and 71% of SIV. SIII/SIV median PCI was 21 and 20 obtaining 92% and 100% complete cytoreduction (≤0.25 cm), respectively. Median organ resections were 6 and 7, respectively. Grade III/IV surgical complications were 0% SIII and 23% SIV, without hospital mortality. Median time to adjuvant chemotherapy was 53 and 74 days, respectively ( ). SIII OS at 1 and 2 years was 100% and 83% and 87% and 76% in SIV ( ). SIII 1-year PFS was 54%; median PFS: 12 months. SIV 1- and 2- year PFS was 47% and 23%; median PFS: 12 months ( ). Conclusion. Outcomes in select initially diagnosed and unresectable SIV EOC are similar to SIII after NACT plus CRS/HIPEC. SIV EOC may benefit from CRS/HIPEC, and further studies should explore this treatment approach.