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BackgroundAdrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but aggressive malignancy, and many prognostic factors that influence survival remain undefined. Individually, the GRAS (Grade, Resection status, Age, and Symptoms of hormone hypersecretion) parameters have demonstrated their prognostic value in ACC. This study aimed to assess the value of a cumulative GRAS score as a prognostic indicator after ACC resection.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent surgical resection for ACC between 1993 and 2014 was performed using the United States Adrenocortical Carcinoma Group (US-ACCG) database. A sum GRAS score was calculated for each patient by adding one point each when the criteria were met for tumor grade (Weiss criteria ≥ 3 or Ki67 ≥ 20%), resection status (micro- or macroscopically positive margin), age (≥ 50 years), and preoperative symptoms of hormone hypersecretion (present). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) by cumulative GRAS score were analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test.ResultsOf the 265 patients in the US-ACCG database, 243 (92%) had sufficient data available to calculate a cumulative GRAS score and were included in this analysis. The 265 patients comprised 23 patients (10%) with a GRAS of 0, 52 patients (21%) with a GRAS of 1, 92 patients (38%) with a GRAS of 2, 63 patients (26%) with a GRAS of 3, and 13 patients (5%) with a GRAS of 4. An increasing GRAS score was associated with shortened OS (p < 0.01) and DFS (p < 0.01) after index resection.ConclusionIn this retrospective analysis, the cumulative GRAS score effectively stratified OS and DFS after index resection for ACC. Further prospective analysis is required to validate the cumulative GRAS score as a prognostic indicator for clinical use.

We sought to define the impact of cortisol-secreting status on outcomes after surgical resection of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). The U.S ACC group database was queried to identify patients who underwent ACC resection between 1993 and 2014. The short-term and long-term outcomes were assessed. The incidence of all functional and cortisol-secreting tumors was 40.6% and 22.6%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, cortisol secretion remained associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications (odds ratio = 2.25, 95 % confidence interval = 1.04 to 4.88; P = .04). At a median follow-up of 17.6 months, 118 patients (50.4%) had developed a recurrence. On multivariable analysis, after adjusting for patient and disease-related factors cortisol secretion independently predicted shorter recurrence-free survival (Hazard ratio = 2.05, 95% confidence interval = 1.16 to 3.60; P = .01). Cortisol secretion was associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. Recurrence remains high among patients with ACC after surgery; cortisol secretion was independently associated with a shorter recurrence-free survival. Tailoring postoperative surveillance of ACC patients based on their cortisol secreting status may be important. •Cortisol secretion was associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity.•Cortisol-secretion was associated with a shorter recurrence-free survival.•Cortisol secreting status may be important for tailoring postoperative surveillance.

Background and Objectives Minimally invasive surgery for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is controversial. We sought to evaluate the perioperative and long-term outcomes following minimally invasive (MIS) and open resection (OA) of ACC in patients treated with curative intent surgery. Methods Retrospective data from patients who underwent adrenalectomy for primary ACC at 13 tertiary care cancer centers were analyzed, including demographics, clinicopathological, and operative outcomes. Outcomes following MIS were compared to OA. Results A total of 201 patients were evaluated including 47 MIS and 154 OA. There was no difference in utilization of MIS approach among institutions ( p  = 0.24) or 30-day morbidity (29.3 %, MIS, vs. 30.9 %, OA; p  = 0.839). The only preoperatively determined predictor for MIS was smaller tumor size ( p  < 0.001). There was no difference in rates of intraoperative tumor rupture ( p  = 0.612) or R0 resection ( p  = 0.953). Only EBL ( p  = 0.038) and T stage ( p  = 0.045) were independent prognostic indicators of overall survival after adjusting for significant factors. The surgical approach was not associated with overall or disease-free survival. Conclusion MIS adrenalectomy may be utilized for preoperatively determined ACC ≤ 10.0 cm; however, OA should be utilized for adrenal masses with either preoperative or intraoperative evidence of local invasion or enlarged lymph nodes, regardless of size.

Background and objectives It is unknown how patients with locally advanced rectal cancer with significant response to preoperative radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy fare relative to patients with true pathologic 0–1 disease undergoing upfront surgery. We aimed to determine whether survival is improved in locally advanced rectal cancer downstaged to pathologic stage 0–1 disease compared to true pathologic stage 0–1 tumors. Methods A retrospective review of the National Cancer Database between 2004 and 2016 was conducted. Three groups were identified: (1) clinical stage 2–3 disease downstaged to pathologic stage 0–1 disease after radiotherapy, (2) clinical stage 2–3 disease not downstaged after radiotherapy, and (3) true pathologic 0–1 tumors undergoing upfront surgery. The primary endpoint was overall survival and was compared using Kaplan–Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results The study population consisted of 59,884 patients. Of the 40,130 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiation, 12,670 (31.5%) had significant downstaging (group 1), while 27,460 (68.4%) had no significant downstaging (group 2). A total of 19,754 had pathologic 0–1 disease treated with upfront resection (group 3). On Kaplan–Meier analysis, downstaged patients had significantly better overall survival compared to both non-downstaged and true pathologic stage 0–1 patients (median 156 vs. 99 and 136 months, respectively, p  < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, downstaged patients had significantly better survival (HR 0.88, p  < 0.001) compared to true pathologic 0–1 patients. Conclusions Locally advanced rectal cancer downstaged after preoperative radiotherapy has significantly better survival compared to true pathologic stage 0–1 disease treated with upfront surgery. Response to chemoradiotherapy likely identifies a subset of patients with a particularly good prognosis.

Background The influence of surgical margin status on long-term outcomes of patients undergoing adrenal resection for ACC remains not well defined. We studied the impact of surgical tumor margin status on recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients undergoing resection for ACC. Methods A total of 165 patients who underwent adrenal resection for ACC and met inclusion criteria were identified form a multi-institutional database. Clinicopathological data, pathologic margin status, and long-term outcomes were assessed. Patients were stratified into two groups based on margin status: R0 (margin >1 mm) versus R1. Results R0 resection was achieved in 126 patients (76.4 %), whereas 39 patients (23.6 %) had an R1 resection. Median and 5-year OS for patients undergoing R0 resection were 96.3 months and 64.8 % versus 25.1 months and 33.8 % for patients undergoing an R1 resection (both p  < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, surgical margin status was an independent predictor of worse OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.22, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.03–4.77; p  = 0.04). The incidence of recurrence also differed between the two groups; 5-year RFS was 30.3 % among patients with an R0 resection versus 13.8 % among patients who had an R1 resection ( p  = 0.03). Lymph node metastasis (N1) was an independent predictor of RFS (HR 2.70, 95 % CI 1.04–6.99; p  = 0.04). Conclusions A positive margin after ACC resection was associated with worse long-term survival. Patient selection and an emphasis on surgical technique to achieve R0 margins are pivotal to optimizing the best chance for long-term outcome among patients with ACC.

Background Lymph node metastasis is an established predictor of poor outcome for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC); however, routine lymphadenectomy during surgical resection of ACC is not widely performed and its therapeutic role remains unclear. Methods Patients undergoing margin-negative resection for localized ACC were identified from a multi-institutional database. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on the surgeon’s effort or not to perform a lymphadenectomy as documented in the operative note. Clinical, pathologic, and outcome data were compared between the 2 groups. Results Of 120 patients who met inclusion criteria from 1993 to 2014, 32 (27 %) underwent lymphadenectomy. Factors associated with lymphadenectomy were tumor size (12 vs. 9.5 cm; p  = .007), palpable mass at presentation (26 vs. 12 %; p  = .07), suspicious lymph nodes on preoperative imaging (44 vs. 7 %; p  < .001), and need for multivisceral resection (78 vs. 36 %; p  < .001). Median number of lymph nodes harvested was higher in the lymphadenectomy group (5.5 vs. 0; p  < .001). In-hospital mortality (0 vs. 1.3 %; p  = .72) and grade 3/4 complication rates (0 vs. 12 %; p  = .061) were not significantly different. Patients who underwent lymphadenectomy had improved overall survival (5-year 76 vs. 59 %; p  = .041). The benefit of lymphadenectomy on overall survival persisted on multivariate analysis (HR = 0.17; p  = .006) controlling for adverse preoperative and intraoperative factors associated with lymphadenectomy, such as tumor size, palpable mass, irregular tumor edges, suspicious nodes on imaging, and multivisceral resection. Conclusions In this multicenter study of adrenocortical carcinoma patients undergoing R0 resection, the surgeon’s effort to dissect peritumoral lymph nodes was independently associated with improved overall survival.

Background Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and patterns of recurrence after curative-intent surgery for ACC. Methods Patients who underwent curative-intent resection for ACC between 1993 and 2014 were identified from 13 academic institutions participating in the United States ACC study group. Patients with metastasis or an R2 margin were excluded. Patterns and rates of recurrence were determined and classified as locoregional and distant recurrence. Results A total of 180 patients with a median age of 52 years (interquartile range 43–61) were identified. Most patients underwent open surgery ( n  = 111, 64.5 %) and had an R0 resection margin ( n  = 117, 75.0 %). At last follow-up, 116 patients (64.4 %) had experienced recurrence (locoregional only, n  = 41, 36.3 %; distant only, n  = 51, 45.1 %; locoregional and distant, n  = 21, 18.6 %). Median time to recurrence was 18.8 months. Several factors were associated with locoregional recurrence, including left-sided ACC location (odds ratio [OR] 2.71, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.06–6.89) and T3/T4 disease (reference T1/T2, OR 3.04, 95 % CI 1.19–7.80) (both p  < 0.05). Distant recurrence was associated with larger tumor size (OR 1.11, 95 % CI 1.01–1.24) and T3/T4 disease (reference T1/T2, OR 5.23, 95 % CI 1.70–16.10) (both p  < 0.05). Patients with combined locoregional and distant recurrence had worse survival (3- and 5-year survival: 39.5, 19.7 %) versus patients with distant-only (3- and 5-year survival 55.1, 43.3 %) or locoregional-only recurrence (3- and 5-year survival 81.4, 64.1 %) ( p  = 0.01). Conclusions Nearly two-thirds of patients experienced disease recurrence after resection of ACC. Although a subset of patients experienced recurrence with locoregional disease only, many patients experienced recurrence with distant disease as a component of recurrence and had a poor prognosis.

BackgroundThe 7th AJCC T-stage system for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), based on size and extra-adrenal invasion, does not adequately stratify patients by survival. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is a known poor prognostic factor. We propose a novel T-stage system that incorporates LVI to better risk-stratify patients undergoing resection for ACC.MethodPatients undergoing curative-intent resections for ACC from 1993 to 2014 at 13 institutions comprising the US ACC Group were included. Primary outcome was disease-specific survival (DSS).ResultsOf the 265 patients with ACC, 149 were included for analysis. The current T-stage system failed to differentiate patients with T2 versus T3 disease (p = 0.10). Presence of LVI was associated with worse DSS versus no LVI (36 mo vs. 168 mo; p = 0.001). After accounting for the individual components of the current T-stage system (size, extra-adrenal invasion), LVI remained a poor prognostic factor on multivariable analysis (hazard ratio 2.14, 95% confidence interval 1.05–4.38, p = 0.04). LVI positivity further stratified patients with T2 and T3 disease (T2: 37 mo vs. median not reached; T3: 36 mo vs. 96 mo; p = 0.03) but did not influence survival in patients with T1 or T4 disease. By incorporating LVI, a new T-stage classification system was created: [T1: ≤ 5 cm, (−)local invasion, (+/−)LVI; T2: > 5 cm, (−)local invasion, (−)LVI OR any size, (+)local invasion, (−)LVI; T3: > 5 cm, (−)local invasion, (+)LVI OR any size, (+)local invasion, (+)LVI; T4: any size, (+)adjacent organ invasion, (+/−)LVI]. Each progressive new T-stage group was associated with worse median DSS (T1: 167 mo; T2: 96 mo; T3: 37 mo; T4: 15 mo; p < 0.001).ConclusionsCompared with the current T-stage system, the proposed T-stage system, which incorporates LVI, better differentiates T2 and T3 disease and accurately stratifies patients by disease-specific survival. If externally validated, this T-stage classification should be considered for future AJCC staging systems.

Perioperative blood transfusion is associated with decreased survival in pancreatic, gastric, and liver cancer. The effect of transfusion in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) has not been studied. Patients with available transfusion data undergoing curative-intent resection of ACC from 1993 to 2014 at 13 institutions comprising the United States Adrenocortical Carcinoma Group were included. Factors associated with blood transfusion were determined. Primary and secondary end points were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), respectively. Out of 265 patients, 149 were included for analysis. Out of these, 57 patients (38.3%) received perioperative transfusions. Compared to nontransfused patients, transfused patients more commonly had stage 4 disease (46% vs 24%, P = 0.01), larger tumors (15.8 vs 10.2 cm, P < 0.001), inferior vena cava involvement (24.6% vs 5.4%, P = 0.002), additional organ resection (78.9% vs 36.3%, P < 0.001), and major complications (29% vs 2%, P < 0.001). Transfusion was associated with decreased RFS (8.9 vs 24.7 months, P = 0.006) and OS (22.8 vs 91.0 months, P < 0.001). On univariate Cox regression, transfusion, stage IV, hormonal hypersecretion, and adjuvant therapy were associated with decreased RFS. On multivariable analysis, only transfusion [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 51.0–2.9, P = 0.04], stage IV (HR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.7–5.9, P < 0.001), and hormonal hypersecretion (HR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.5–4.2, P < 0.001) were associated with worse RFS. When applying this model to OS, similar associations were seen (transfusion HR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1–3.8, P = 0.02; stage 4 HR = 6.2, 95% CI = 3.1–12.4, P < 0.001; hormonal hypersecretion HR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.9–6.4, P < 0.001). There was no difference in outcomes between patients who received 1 to 2 units versus >2 units of packed red blood cells in median RFS (8.9 vs 8.4 months, P = 0.95) or OS (26.5 vs 18.6 months, P = 0.63). Peri-operative transfusion is associated with earlier recurrence and decreased survival after curative-intent resection of ACC. Strategies and protocols to minimize blood transfusion should be developed and followed.

Background The association of postoperative complications with long-term oncologic outcomes remains unclear. We sought to determine the incidence of complications among patients who underwent surgery for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and define the relationship of morbidity with long-term survival. Methods Patients who underwent surgery for ACC between 1993 and 2014 were identified from 13 academic institutions participating in the US ACC group study. The incidence and type of the postoperative complications, the factors associated with them as well their association with long-term survival were analyzed. Results A total of 265 patients with median age of 52 years (IQR 44–63) were identified; at surgery, the majority of patients underwent an open abdominal procedure ( n  = 169, 66.8 %). A postoperative complication occurred in 99 patients for a morbidity of 37.4 %; five patients (1.9 %) died in hospital. Factors associated with morbidity included a thoraco-abdominal operative approach (reference: open abdominal; OR 2.85, 95 % CI 1.00–8.18), and a hormonally functional tumor (OR 3.56, 95 % CI 1.65–7.69) (all P  < 0.05). Presence of any complication was associated with a worse long-term outcome (median survival: no complication, 58.9 months vs. any complication, 25.1 months; P  = 0.009). In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for patient- and disease-related factors postoperative infectious complications independently predicted shorter overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) 5.56, 95 % CI 2.24–13.80; P  < 0.001). Conclusion Postoperative complications were independently associated with decreased long-term survival after resection for ACC. The prevention of complications may be important from an oncologic perspective.