title: Oncologic Outcomes Following Laparoscopic versus Open Resection of pT4 Colon Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Locally advanced colon cancer is considered a relative contraindication for laparoscopic resection, and clinical trials addressing the oncologic safety are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to synthesize the oncologic outcomes associated with laparoscopic versus conventional open surgery for locally advanced colon cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically searched Medline, Embase, Central, and ClinicalTrials.gov.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two reviewers independently screened the literature for controlled trials or observational studies comparing curative-intent laparoscopic and open surgery for colon cancer. Studies were included if it was possible to determine outcomes for the T4 colon cancers separately, either reported in the article or calculated with individual patient data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included studies were systematically reviewed and assessed for risk of bias. Meta-analyses were done by using random-effects models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcomes of interest were disease-free survival, overall survival, resection margins, and lymph node harvest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2878 identified studies, 5 observational studies met eligibility criteria with a total of 1268 patients (675 laparoscopic, 593 open). There was no significant difference in overall survival (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.94-1.72), disease-free survival (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.90-1.61), or positive surgical margins (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.58-2.32) between the groups. The open group had a larger lymph node retrieval (pooled mean difference, 2.26 nodes; 95% CI, 0.58-3.93). The pooled rate of conversion from laparoscopy to an open procedure was 18.6% (95% CI, 9.3%-27.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results are limited by the inherent selection bias in the included nonrandomized studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the available literature, minimally invasive resection of selected locally advanced colon cancer is oncologically safe. There is a small increase in lymph node harvest with open resections, but it is unclear whether this is clinically significant. Surgeons should be prepared for a significant rate of conversion to laparotomy as required to perform en bloc resection.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2 Institute of Health Policy, Management and Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 3 Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 4 Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Adina E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Feinberg
authors.forename: Tyler R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Chesney
authors.forename: Sergio A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Acuna
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sammour
authors.forename: Fayez A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Quereshy
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D000072662:Margins of Excision; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D015996:Survival Rate