Appendiceal goblet cell carcinomas have poor survival despite completion surgery

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Appendiceal goblet cell carcinomas (aGCCs) are rare and aggressive malignancies.
• These tumors are associated with significant patient mortality.
• Understanding the outcomes and prognostic factors for aGCC is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively review the outcomes of patients with aGCC treated at a tertiary referral center.
• To assess the impact of completion surgery and tumor factors on survival in aGCC patients.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current treatment strategies for aGCC.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 41 aGCC patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2016.
• Assessment of survival using Kaplan-Meier analysis.
• Evaluation of the impact of completion surgery, tumor grade, and other factors on recurrence-free and overall survival.

Main Results:

• Completion surgery in 24 patients did not significantly affect overall or recurrence-free survival.
• Disease recurrence occurred in 9 patients, with 7 deaths during follow-up.
• Five-year and ten-year overall survival rates were 85.3% and 62.3%, respectively.

Conclusions:

• The prognosis for aGCC remains poor, with high mortality associated with recurrence.
• Completion surgery did not demonstrate a significant benefit in preventing recurrence or improving survival in this cohort.
• Further studies with larger patient populations are needed to validate these findings and inform treatment recommendations.