Pancreatic cancer treatment has advanced. In particular, effective chemotherapy regimen development has fundamentally altered the therapeutic concept and strategy for pancreatic cancer treatment. Consequently, the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer has gradually improved. Conversion surgery for locally advanced pancreatic cancer may offer long-term survival or even a full recovery in some individuals. In contrast, metastatic pancreatic cancer has long been considered a surgical contraindication because aggressive surgical resection of the metastatic lesions does not prolong patient survival. Unexpectedly positive benefits of anticancer therapy in recent clinical experience were observed even with metastatic pancreatic cancer. To date, little evidence presented the success of surgical resection for metastatic pancreatic cancer treatment in such rare cases. However, hope and concern are growing that surgical intervention, even in patients with metastatic cancer, may result in favorable outcomes. Several studies suggested different surgical intervention effects depending on metastasis sites and patterns. Thus, this review summarizes the current status of surgery in the multidisciplinary treatment of oligometastatic pancreatic cancer and discusses future perspectives.

The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus is increasing in South Korea. Several strategies have been tried to prevent its progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is questionable whether the strategies being tried in the West can be applied adequately in South Korea. However, despite the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in the West, which is considerably higher than that in South Korea, the incidence of high-grade dysplasia/esophageal adenocarcinoma in population-based studies is as low as 0.23%/person-year. Therefore, in Korea, where the prevalence is lower than that, it is necessary to select high-risk groups more carefully for chemoprevention. The age of onset of gastroesophageal reflux disease-like symptoms at least once a week is related to the high-risk group rather than the presence or absence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. The risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma include the patient's sex, age, smoking habit, and obesity. Proton pump inhibitors have a better preventive effect against esophageal adenocarcinoma compared to H2-receptor blockers, but their application to patients in Korea is limited due to the high number of individuals in need of treatment. Therefore, while considering the risk factors for the progression of esophageal adenocarcinoma, the administration of proton pump inhibitors should be considered for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a minimally invasive and effective treatment for early gastric cancer. The criteria for determining the suitability and success of ESD have expanded, with changes in the histopathological classification of gastric carcinoma, including results from molecular research. Treatment methods have also diversified to include targeted therapies and immuno-oncology agents. To improve communication between clinicians and pathologists, it is crucial to understand the standardized diagnostic forms of gastric cancer. This study aims to examine the handling method of ESD specimens and describe the pathological findings of gastric tumors.

Despite recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, clinical results remain dismal. Furthermore, there are no reliable biomarkers or alternatives beyond carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may be a potential biomarker, but their therapeutic application is constrained by their rarity in peripheral venous blood. Theoretically, the portal vein can be a more appropriate location for the detection of CTCs, because the first venous drainage of pancreatic cancer is portal circulation. According to several studies, the number and detection rate of CTCs may be higher in the portal blood than in the peripheral blood. CTC counts in the portal blood are strongly correlated with several prognostic parameters such as hepatic metastasis, recurrence after surgery, and survival. The phenotypic and genotypic properties analyzed in the captured portal CTCs can assist us to comprehend tumor heterogeneity and predicting the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. The investigations to date are limited by small sample sizes and varied CTC detection techniques. Therefore, a large number of prospective studies are required to confirm portal CTCs as a valid biomarker in pancreatic cancer.

Since the 1990s, serrated polyps have been established to contribute to intermediate cancer development, and their importance has begun to be recognized. Serrated polyps are morphologically difficult to detect through endoscopy, and an effective resection method has not been established. Among serrated polyps, studies on sessile serrated lesions, with a relatively high risk of colorectal cancer transformation and detected with difficulty, are in progress. Studies to date describe the endoscopic features as mucus cap, surface debris or stool, attenuation of underlying vasculature, cloud-like surface, dark spots in crypts, and ill-defined irregular border. Additionally, it is expected that relatively large serrated polyps can be safely removed through cold snare resection. A plan for an effective management of serrated polyps through continuous research in the future is warranted.

Distress in patients with digestive cancers can considerably impact not only their treatment adherence but also their health-related quality of life. Early distress recognition in patients, appropriate interventions by the oncology team, or referral to mental health professionals, can enhance the treatment efficiency. This review aims to provide an overview of distress evaluation and its management in patients with cancer, specifically digestive cancers, and to address the psychological responses and distress that occur in those patients during treatment. Furthermore, the review will introduce possible psychological interventions for patients with digestive cancers who experience significant distress, depending on the duration and planning of the treatment.

Oral complications, such as mucositis, infection, or xerostomia, are common in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These complications can cause pain, leading to increased consumption of analgesics, poor oral intake, malnutrition, and even a need for parenteral nutrition. Moreover, they can sometimes interrupt the treatment plan. This review focuses on the proper management and prevention of oral complications that are common in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

One of the most common side effects of chemotherapeutic agents is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The occurrence of CIPN is increasing as the survival rate of patients with cancer improves and the cumulative dose or duration of neurotoxic drugs increases. Approximately 30-40% of patients receiving neurologically toxic drugs experience CIPN, which eventually increases the burden of medical expenses. However, preventive measures against CIPN have not yet been established. Clinical trials have tested various drugs for the management of neuropathic pain, but only duloxetine has shown any significant effect. Further studies should evaluate nonpharmaceutical treatments, such as exercise.

Colorectal cancers often invade adjacent organs; however, direct duodenal invasion is rare. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of colorectal cancer, but an undifferentiated carcinoma type is unusual. Herein, we present a case of undifferentiated carcinoma of the colon that directly invaded the duodenum and metastasized to distant lymph nodes. An 85-year-old female patient was admitted with a 7-cm-sized colonic mass invading the duodenum, detected by computed tomography. Positron emission tomography revealed fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the colon, duodenum, and aortocaval lymph nodes. A large encircling mass in the ascending colon and an ulcerated mass in the duodenum were revealed by colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy, respectively. Pathologic examinations of the colon and the duodenum revealed nonglandular, diffusely infiltrating atypical round cells, confirming undifferentiated carcinoma of the colon. The histologic type of this tumor was distinguished using immunohistochemical (IHC) markers. Finally, microscopic characteristics and IHC markers aided in identifying the histologic type of colorectal cancer.