Gastrointestinal carcinoma and sarcoma surgery

A number of advances in both earlier diagnostic imaging and better treatment options for patients with intra-abdominal malignancies have occurred. Frequently such newer therapies rely on the integration of established surgical and radiation approaches potentially with newer chemotherapies and immunomodulators. Unfortunately, with further study some newer therapies have proven less beneficial than initially suggested. Keeping up with the data supporting newer alternatives, and determining which therapies to provide patients can be a challenge. Nonetheless, integrating newer study data into beneficial therapeutic algorithms and understanding the molecular basis and rationale for new therapies remains a critically important role for treating physicians. To help provide busy clinicians and trainees with a current update for the management of intra-abdominal malignancies, this special issue of Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology provides succinct reviews relevant to both diagnosis and treatment for patients with abdominal sarcoma or adenocarcinoma.

A number of current and insightful reviews are provided focusing on both sarcomas and adenocarcinoma. In this special issue a clinically focused review on interpreting liver imaging is provided by Wang and coworkers (1). Schwarz provides articles that provide a clear explanation for a novel method of enteral feeding for patients with abdominal malignancies (2) as well as the impact of outcomes measures for patients with carcinoma of the stomach and esophagus (3). Maluccio and Skill provide a current overview of managing patients with hereditary gastric cancer (4). Quiroz and coworkers examine the evolving management of pediatric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that increasingly must be recognized as a different disease from that arising in older adults (5,6). Milgrom and coworkers similarly provide a balanced review of the overall management strategies for adult sarcoma patients targeted for students, residents, or fellows (7). Similarly, Gbolanhan and O’Neil have provided a very comprehensive review of current adjuvant, and evolving biologic therapies for patients with colon cancer (8). Dr. Grethlein has written a current review of chemotherapy choices for patients with liposarcoma (9). Additionally, articles on the management of solitary fibrous tumors (10), sarcomas of the colon (11), and specific focused problems in the management of patients with GIST are also provided (12,13). Finally, Spera and coworkers provide a useful overview of treatment of tissue defects that arise following complex sarcoma resections (14). Taken together, we hope this special issue will serve as a useful resource for trainees and clinicians treating this challenging set of malignancies.

Acknowledgments

None.

References

1. Wang Q, Koniaris LG, Milgrom DP, et al. CT and MRI imaging and interpretation of hepatic arterioportal shunts. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019;4:34. [Crossref]
2. Schwarz RE. Clinical trends and effects on quality metrics for surgical gastroesophageal cancer care. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018;3:43. [Crossref] [PubMed]
3. Minarich MJ, Schwarz RE. Experience with a simplified feeding jejunostomy technique for enteral nutrition following major visceral operations. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018;3:44. [Crossref] [PubMed]
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Leonidas G. Koniaris