Senescent Tumor Cells Build a Cytokine Shield in Colorectal Cancer.

Cellular senescence can either support or inhibit cancer progression. Here, it is shown that intratumoral infiltration of CD8 T cells is negatively associated with the proportion of senescent tumor cells in colorectal cancer (CRC). Gene expression analysis reveals increased expression of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) and colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) in senescent tumor cells.

Prognostic value of changes in serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels for preoperative chemoradiotherapy response in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a standard treatment modality for locally advanced rectal cancer. However, CRT alone cannot improve overall survival. Approximately 20% of patients with CRT-resistant tumors show disease progression.

Differences in biological behaviors between young and elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

Background: We investigated the differences in biological behaviors of sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) between young and elderly patients. CRC is a common cancer, with a mean age at onset of > 65 years. However, recent reports indicate increasing rates in younger populations.

Ultralow Anterior Resection and Coloanal Anastomosis for Low-Lying Rectal Cancer: An Appraisal Based on Bowel Function.

Backgrounds/aims: On the basis of acceptable oncologic results, ultralow anterior resection (ULAR) and colo-anal anastomosis plus hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis have been performed for treating very low-lying rectal cancer. However, many patients experience bowel dysfunction after ULAR. Studies have provided inadequate data on bowel dysfunctions and only a few functional studies have focused on low rectal cancer.

Long-term follow-up of Starion™ versus Harmonic Scalpel™ hemorrhoidectomy for grade III and IV hemorrhoids.

Background: This study represented an effort to design an alternative to Harmonic Scalpel™ with the same effectiveness but at a lower cost. The concomitant use of Starion™ and Harmonic Scalpel™ had been evaluated to determine the differences in terms of the effectiveness immediately after the operation and 3 years post-operatively.

Methods: 114 patients in the SH group (Starion™ hemorrhoidectomy) and 107 patients in the HSH group (Harmonic Scalpel™) were contacted for cumulative inspection 1 week, 4 weeks, and 3 years post-operatively to check for the recurrence rate.

Corrigendum: Correction of the IRB Approval Number. Accuracy of Preoperative Local Staging of Primary Colorectal Cancer by Using Computed Tomography: Reappraisal Based on Data Collected at a Highly Organized Cancer Center.

[This corrects the article on p. 192 in vol. 33, PMID: 29159167.

Accuracy of Preoperative Local Staging of Primary Colorectal Cancer by Using Computed Tomography: Reappraisal Based on Data Collected at a Highly Organized Cancer Center.

Purpose: In patients with colorectal cancer, preoperative staging using various imaging technologies is important for establishing the treatment plan and predicting the prognosis. Although computed tomography (CT) has been used most widely, the versatility of CT accuracy was primarily because of the lack of specialization. In this study, we aimed to identify whether any advancement in abdominal CT accuracy in the prediction of local staging has occurred.

Prognostic Significance of Lymphocyte Counts in Colon Cancer Patients Treated with FOLFOX Chemotherapy.

Purpose: There is increasing interest in immune function in combination with chemotherapy for cancer treatment. However, the effects of chemotherapy on the human immune system remain to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of lymphocyte and neutrophil counts in colon cancer patients who were treated with curative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.

TrkC promotes colorectal cancer growth and metastasis.

The current work reveals that TrkC receptor is crucial to many aspects of tumorigenicity and metastasis of cancer. However, with only a few exceptions, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), where suppressing tumorigenic and metastatic ability via expression of TrkC as tumor suppressor have been proposed. These diverse lines of evidence led us to investigate whether TrkC is involved in CRC progression.

Prognostic significance of systemic inflammatory response in stage II colorectal cancer.

Background: It is considered that stage II colorectal cancers have heterogeneous oncological outcomes. It remains to be determined whether inflammatory markers can predict survival after curative surgery in these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of preoperative inflammatory markers after curative surgery in stage II colorectal cancers.

Preoperative thrombocytosis predicts prognosis in stage II colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: Thrombocytosis is known to be a poor prognostic factor in several types of solid tumors. The prognostic role of preoperative thrombocytosis in colorectal cancer remains limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic role of preoperative thrombocytosis in stage II colorectal cancer.

MicroRNA Expression Signatures Associated With BRAF-Mutated Versus KRAS-Mutated Colorectal Cancers.

BRAF and KRAS genes are known to play a similar role in the activation of RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway in colorectal tumorigenesis. However, BRAF-mutated colorectal cancers (CRCs) have distinct clinicopathologic characteristics different from those of the KRAS mutated ones as in comparison the BRAF-mutated CRCs are associated with a much worse prognosis for the afflicted patients. This study aimed to determine the different miRNA expression signatures associated with BRAF-mutated CRCs in comparison to KRAS-mutated ones, and to identify the specific miRNAs possibly mediating the aggressive phenotype of the BRAF-mutated CRCs.

Preoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio predicts survival in patients with T1-2N0 colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is reported to be associated with prognosis of colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to determine whether the NLR is a predictor of oncological outcomes in patients with stage I colorectal cancer who underwent curative surgery.

Methods: Two hundred sixty-nine patients with stage I colorectal cancer who underwent surgical resection between December 2003 and December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed.

Oncologic Outcome of ypT1-2N0 Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Compared With pT1-2N0 Rectal Cancer.

Objective: To investigate the oncologic outcome of ypT1-2N0 mid and lower rectal cancer after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) compared with pT1-2N0 rectal cancer.

Methods: We compared the oncologic outcome of patients with mid and lower rectal cancer who underwent preoperative CRT and who did not, between February 2005 and August 2012.

Results: Compared with patients who did not receive preoperative CRT, patients who received preoperative CRT did not have significantly different clinicopathologic features except clinical stage and distal resection margin.

Oncologic outcomes following metastasectomy in colorectal cancer patients developing distant metastases after initial treatment.

Purpose: We performed a comparative analysis of the clinicopathologic features and oncologic outcomes of colorectal cancer patients with metachronous versus synchronous metastasis, according to the prognostic factors.

Methods: Ninety-three patients who underwent curative resection for distant metastatic colorectal cancer were included in the study between December 2001 and December 2011. We assessed recurrence-free survival and overall survival in patients with distant metastasis who underwent curative surgery.

Sustaining Blood Lymphocyte Count during Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy as a Predictive Marker for Pathologic Complete Response in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the circulating lymphocyte level during preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and pathologic complete response (pCR) in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: From May 2010 to May 2013, 52 patients treated with preoperative CRT followed by surgery, were analysed. Patients received conventional fractionated radiotherapy (50-54 Gy) with fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

ALDH1 is a prognostic factor for patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical resection for stage III rectal cancer.

Background And Objectives: The factors relating to changes within a tumor after preoperative chemoradiotherapy associated with rectal cancer prognosis remain to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CD133 and ALDH1 and to analyze the predictive and prognostic roles in patients with rectal cancer after chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: We analyzed the expression levels of ALDH1 and CD133 in patients with middle and lower rectal cancers who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy between March 2005 and December 2011.

Clinical application of sentinel lymph node mapping in colon cancer: in vivo vs. ex vivo techniques.

Purpose: Clinical usefulness of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in colorectal cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the SLN mapping technique using serial sectioning, and to compare the results between ex vivo and in vivo techniques.

Methods: From February 2011 to October 2012, 34 colon cancer patients underwent SLN mapping during surgical resection.

Preoperative Localization of Early Colorectal Cancer or a Malignant Polyp by Using the Patient's Own Blood.

Purpose: Preoperative localization is the most important preparation for laparoscopic surgery. Preoperative marking with India ink has widely been used and is considered to be safe and effective. However, India ink can cause significant inflammation, adhesions and bowel obstruction.

Pretreatment selection of regimen according to genetic analysis improves the efficacy of chemotherapy in the first line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background And Objectives: Metastatic colon cancer patients are treated with the chemotherapy regimens, FOLFOX and FOLFIRI, in either order. So far, we cannot predict the response of chemotherapeutic agent, so it is necessary to find which regimen is adequate before starting chemotherapy.

Methods: Enrolled patients are randomized into either conventional treatment or planned treatment preceded by pretreatment genetic analysis.

Oncologic outcomes after adjuvant chemotherapy using FOLFOX in MSI-H sporadic stage III colon cancer.

Background: Little is known of the oncological outcomes after adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer showing microsatellite instability high (MSI-H). In the present study we investigated the prognostic impact of MSI-H in patients with stage III colon cancer receiving FOLFOX chemotherapy.

Methods: We analyzed the MSI status in 127 patients with stage III colon cancer who underwent curative surgical resection followed by FOLFOX chemotherapy between January 2003 and December 2010.

Preoperative colonoscopy for detection of synchronous neoplasms after insertion of self-expandable metal stents in occlusive colorectal cancer: comparison of covered and uncovered stents.

Background/aims: In patients with occlusive colorectal cancers, a complete preoperative evaluation of the colon proximal to the obstruction is often impossible. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of preoperative colonoscopy after stent placement and to determine whether the success rate of colonoscopy differs between covered and uncovered stents.

Methods: Seventy-three patients with malignant colorectal obstruction were enrolled prospectively.

Risk factors for parastomal hernia: based on radiological definition.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological incidence of parastomal hernia and to analyze the risk factors for parastomal hernia.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively 108 patients with end colostomy from January 2003 to June 2010. Age, sex, surgical procedure type, body mass index (kg/m(2)), stoma size, and respiratory comorbidity were documented.