Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Biomed Pharmacother 2019 Feb 18;112:108593. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

National Glycoengineering Research Center and School of Life Science, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China. Electronic address:

An extracellular polysaccharide (EPS1-1) of Rhizopus nigricans was found to enhance immunity and reduce colon cancer cell proliferation. Here, the effect of EPS1-1 on a mouse model of colitis-associated cancer (CAC) induced by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was investigated. Pathological symptoms, including weight loss, piloerection, hematochezia and insensitivity caused by AOM/DSS, were relieved by EPS1-1. Read More

J Surg Res 2019 Feb 19;239:14-21. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Background: Adjuvant therapy for early-stage colorectal cancer improves survival. Biologic agents have shown promise as adjuncts to chemotherapy in metastatic colon cancer, but the effect on earlier stage cancer remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the additive effect of biologic agents to adjuvant chemotherapy on survival in colorectal cancer (all comers and subpopulations defined by microsatellite instability, BRAF and KRAS status, and stage). Read More

Am J Surg 2019 Mar 16;217(3):541-545. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Spectrum Health General Surgery Residency Program, Grand Rapids, MI, USA; Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Department of Surgery, Grand Rapids, MI, USA; Spectrum Health Medical Group, Division of Surgical Oncology, Grand Rapids, MI, USA. Electronic address:

The practice of hepatic surgery has become increasingly complex as additional therapeutic options emerge to treat both primary and metastatic tumors of the liver. Liver-directed therapy options include selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy, chemoembolization, bland embolization, hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), and ablative techniques such as microwave or radiofrequency ablation. Hepatocellular carcinoma has been treated with many of these therapies for palliation of symptoms, definitive treatment, and as a bridge to transplantation. Read More

Exp Cell Res 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

University of Portsmouth, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, White Swan Road, St. Michael's Building PO1 2DT, Portsmouth, United Kingdom; University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Cancer Biology Program, 701 Ilalo street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA. Electronic address:

Over the last decade there has been growing evidence that Brain Expressed X-Linked 2 (BEX2) has a significant role in the process of carcinogenesis. Collectively, available studies suggest a pro-oncogenic function for this gene in multiple malignancies, including breast, colorectal and hepatocellular cancers in addition to brain tumors. The identification of BEX2 in breast cancer resulted from gene expression microarray studies. Read More

AJR Am J Roentgenol 2019 Feb 19:1-6. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

1 Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the imaging characteristics of liver metastases overlooked at contrast-enhanced CT.

Materials And Methods: The records of 746 patients with a diagnosis of liver metastases from colorectal, breast, gastric, or lung cancer between November 2010 and September 2017 were reviewed. Images were reviewed when liver metastases were first diagnosed, and images from prior contrast-enhanced CT examinations were checked if available. Read More

Cancer Lett 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510180, China; Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, China. Electronic address:

PD-L1 is critical for tumor cell escape from immune surveillance by inhibiting T cell function via the PD-1 receptor. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies might potently enhance antitumor effects in various tumors, but the effect of PD-L1 on colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) remains unclear. We observed high PD-L1 expression in CD133CD44 colorectal CSCs and CSC-enriched tumorspheres. Read More

Singapore Med J 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.

Introduction: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) provides a higher en bloc and R0 resection rate than endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Colorectal ESD is not widely used because of its technical difficulty and risk of complications, especially for right-sided colonic lesions. We audited the clinical outcomes of our initial experience with colorectal ESD. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 Feb 14;235:255-267. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Shanghai 200235, China.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Studies have shown that the etiology and pathogenesis of colorectal cancer are closely related to the tumor microenvironment, and the cancer tissue is still in the state of "energy deficit" and has to promote energy generation through high glycolysis. Rhus chinensis Mill is a Chinese herbal medicine used to treat various types of solid tumors in China. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease group caused by abnormal changes in glucose metabolism resulted in lactic acid production, which remodels acidosis. Read More

Int J Cancer 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.

Our aim was to estimate how long-term mortality following breast cancer diagnosis depends on age at diagnosis, tumor estrogen receptor (ER) status, and the time already survived. We used the population-based Australian Breast Cancer Family Study which followed-up 1,196 women enrolled during 1992-99 when aged <60 years at diagnosis with a first primary invasive breast cancer, over-sampled for younger ages at diagnosis, for whom tumor pathology features and ER status were measured. There were 375 deaths (median follow-up=15. Read More

Gene Ther 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Research Center for Gene Therapy, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo Rua Mirassol, 207 CEP 04044-010, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is the main tumor-associated antigen of colorectal cancers. Previously, we developed a DNA vaccine using scFv6.C4, a CEA surrogate, against CEA-expressing tumors; 40% of the vaccinated mice were tumor-free after tumor challenge. Read More

Cell Death Dis 2019 Feb 15;10(3):150. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Mounting evidences indicated that long non-coding RNA is dysregulated and involved in the pathology of tumors. However, the role of lncRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is not fully determined. Differentially expressed lncRNA profile in CRC was conducted by lncRNA microarray in 15 pairs of CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and validated by real-time PCR analysis in another 106 pairs of tissues. Read More

Cell Death Dis 2019 Feb 15;10(3):152. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Pharmacology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.

The global morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) are ranked the third among gastrointestinal tumors in the world. MiR-451a is associated with several types of cancer, including CRC. However, the roles and mechanisms of miR-451a in CRC have not been elucidated. Read More

BMC Cancer 2019 Feb 14;19(1):150. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N2, Canada.

Background: Cognitive impairment is commonly reported in patients receiving chemotherapy, but the acuity of onset is not known. This study utilized the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) and trail-making test B (TMT-B) to assess cognitive impairment immediately post-chemotherapy.

Methods: Patients aged 18-80 years receiving first-line intravenous chemotherapy for any stage of breast or colorectal cancer were eligible. Read More

Acta Oncol 2019 Feb 15:1-5. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

a Department of Surgery , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.

Introduction: To assess the performance of Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) in the differentiation between benign and malignant tumors in the rectum.

Material And Methods: We enrolled 8 subjects with rectal tumors suspected to be an early rectal cancer during colonoscopy. All subjects underwent Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Endorectal Ultrasound (ERUS) for staging. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Feb 5;20(3). Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Medicine, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.

Colorectal cancer is the source of one of the most common cancer-related deaths worldwide, where the main cause of patient mortality remains metastasis. The aim of this study was to determine the role of CCL7 (chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7) in tumor progression and finding whether it could predict survival of colorectal cancer patients. Initially, our study focused on the crosstalk between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and CT26 colon carcinoma cells and resulted in identifying CCL7 as a chemokine upregulated in CT26 colon cancer cells cocultured with MSCs, compared with CT26 in monoculture in vitro. Read More

Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Footscray Hospital, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.

Background: Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with a right-sided primary (RC) have an inferior survival to mCRC arising from a left-sided primary (LC). Previous analyses have suggested multiple factors contribute.

Methods: The Treatment of Recurrent and Advanced Colorectal Cancer (TRACC) Registry prospectively captured data on consecutive mCRC patients. Read More

Clin Chem Lab Med 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Cellular Physiology, G. Papanicolaou Research Center of Oncology, "Saint Savvas" Cancer Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Background Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) are a subgroup of serine proteases located on chromosome 19q13.3. Most KLKs have been extensively studied as potential biomarkers for several carcinomas and other diseases. Read More

Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao 2019 Jan;35(1):13-26

State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.

As a member of the Sirtuins family in mammals, SIRT7 locates in nucleus and is a highly specific H3K18Ac (acetylated lysine 18 of histone H3) deacetylase. Recent studies showed that SIRT7 could participate in the ribosomal RNA transcription, cell metabolism, cell stress and DNA damage repair through various signaling pathways. In addition, SIRT7 is also closely related with aging, heart disease and fatty liver. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Biotherapy, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality around the world. The aim of this study was to determine the genes significantly associated with the overall survival (OS) of CRC patients and predict their function in the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation networks. We constructed the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks according to the differentially expressed RNAs from the The Cancer Genome Atlas data sets of 561 CRC patients. Read More

Surg Case Rep 2019 Feb 12;5(1):20. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Surgery, Kitasato University Kitasato Institute Hospital, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Leiomyosarcomas (LMSs) of the colon are extremely rare and highly aggressive. Although treatment of gastrointestinal LMS is not standardized, surgical resection is generally performed. The fact that the tumors are usually large at the time of diagnosis may explain why no report on laparoscopic resection of a colonic LMS has appeared. Read More

Surg Endosc 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Gastroenterology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100853, China.

Background And Aims: Non-ampullary duodenal laterally spreading tumors (NAD-LSTs) mimic the morphological features and natural history of colorectal LSTs, even achieving a large size but lacking invasive behavior; thus, they are suited for endoscopic resection (ER). At present, the endoscopic therapeutic approach in NAD-LSTs has not been clearly established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ER for NAD-LSTs and to evaluate the risk factors for delayed perforation after ER of NAD-LSTs. Read More

Pathologe 2019 Feb;40(1):21-35

Pathologisches Institut, Medizinische Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Deutschland.

The present article summarises the relevant aspects of the S3 guidelines on endometrioid carcinomas. The recommendations include the processing rules of fractional currettings as well as for hysterectomy specimens and lymph node resections (including sentinel lymph nodes). Besides practical aspects, the guidelines consider the needs of the clinicians for appropriate surgical and radiotherapeutic treatment of the patients. Read More

Am J Cancer Res 2019 1;9(1):22-35. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200127, P. R. China.

The tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP/ACP5) correlated with tumor progression in many malignancies. However, the role of ACP5 in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been thoroughly elucidated. In this study, we sought to identify the role for ACP5 in CRC progression. Read More

Oncologist 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Institute of Oncology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel.

Background: Anatomic location of primary tumors across the colon correlate with survival in the metastatic setting, whereas left-sided tumors may exhibit superior survival compared with right-sided tumors. The Oncotype Recurrence Score (RS) assay is a clinically validated predictor of recurrence risk in patients with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC). Previous studies had indicated that without adjuvant chemotherapy, CDX2-negative stage II CRC tumors are associated with a lower rate of disease-free survival than CDX2-positive stage II CRC tumors. Read More

World J Surg Oncol 2019 Feb 12;17(1):30. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guoxuexiang Street, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.

Background: Oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) represents a part of the interleukin-six (IL6) cytokine group that was discovered recently to be closely associated with cell's growth and differentiation, inflammation, and enhancement of metastatic capacity. A comprehensive study suggests a close relationship between OSMR and papillary thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and other tumors. However, the relationship between OSMR and bladder cancer has yet to be determined. Read More

Cas Lek Cesk 2019 ;157(8):419-428

The tumors of the peritoneal surface, both primary and secondary, are associated with a very poor prognosis and rapid progression through conventional oncology treatment including systemic chemotherapy, targeted treatment, radiotherapy, surgery, and symptomatic treatment. Until recently, most of them were considered incurable. In the 1980s, the first cytoreductive surgery ("CRS") combined with intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy ("HIPEC") became the standard of treatment for selected tumor peritoneal tumor (pseudomyxoma peritonei and primary peritoneal malignant mesothelioma). Read More

Cancer Cell 2019 Feb;35(2):256-266.e5

Department of Human Genetics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Biallelic germline mutations affecting NTHL1 predispose carriers to adenomatous polyposis and colorectal cancer, but the complete phenotype is unknown. We describe 29 individuals carrying biallelic germline NTHL1 mutations from 17 families, of which 26 developed one (n = 10) or multiple (n = 16) malignancies in 14 different tissues. An unexpected high breast cancer incidence was observed in female carriers (60%). Read More

Int J Radiat Biol 2019 Feb 12:1-23. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

a Molecular Stress and Stem Cell Biology Group , School of Biotechnology, KIIT University , Bhubaneswar , Odisha - 751024 , India.

Purpose: Radiation therapy is an integral part of current treatment modality for colorectal cancer. Recent studies have revealed the presence of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) population, in different tumors are responsible for therapeutic resistance and disease relapse, including colorectal cancer with poorer survival rate. Hence, characterization of effect of Ionizing Radiation (IR) in colorectal cancer may serve to explain possible mechanisms. Read More

Thyroid 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

The Ohio State University, Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Columbus, Ohio, United States ;

Background: Inactivation of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) and the resulting microsatellite instability (MSI) are frequently observed in endometrial, stomach and colorectal cancers as well as more rarely in other solid tumor types. The prevalence of MSI in thyroid cancer has not been explored in-depth, although recent studies utilizing data from large cancer sequencing efforts such as The Cancer Genome Atlas indicate MSI is absent or at least very rare in the most common and most well-studied histologic subtype, papillary carcinoma. In this study, we aim to determine the prevalence of MSI in thyroid cancer by using a large series comprising all major histological subtypes. Read More

Surg Endosc 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Background: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is the treatment of choice for benign rectal tumors and select early rectal cancers. This surgical approach has become ubiquitous and surgeons are seeing recurrent lesions after TEM resection. This study aims to outline the safety and outcomes of repeat TEM when compared to primary TEM procedures. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2019 Feb;7(3):335-339

Department of General Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.

Background: Surgery 5-10 d after stent insertion was recommended by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy for obstructing colonic cancer. For some obstructive patients, this may be not a good choice. Here, we report the successful treatment of obstructing colonic cancer by combining self-expandable stent and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Read More

Int J Med Sci 2019 1;16(2):292-301. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Pathophysiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.

Circular (circ)RNAs, a newly recognized class of noncoding RNA, have been implicated in the occurrence and development of several diseases, including neurological and cardiovascular diseases. Studies of human tumors, including those of liver cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer, have shown differential expression profiles of circRNAs, suggesting regulatory roles in cancer pathogenesis and metastasis. In this review, we discuss the most recent research into tumor-related circRNAs, providing a comprehensive summary of the expression or/and function of these circRNAs and proposing rational perspectives on the potential clinical application of circRNAs as helpful biomarkers or therapeutic targets in human tumors. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2019 Feb 11;7(1):40. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Background: Several predictive biomarkers are currently approved or are under investigation for the selection of patients for checkpoint blockade. Tumor PD-L1 expression is used for stratification of non-small cell lung (NSCLC) patients, with tumor mutational burden (TMB) also being explored with promising results, and mismatch-repair deficiency is approved for tumor site-agnostic disease. While tumors with high PD-L1 expression, high TMB, or mismatch repair deficiency respond well to checkpoint blockade, tumors with lower PD-L1 expression, lower mutational burdens, or mismatch repair proficiency respond much less frequently. Read More

Cancer Sci 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Project for Development of Liquid Biopsy, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently the most common types of cancer in Japan, and its prognosis has been improved because of development of diagnosis and advancement in treatments including surgery and chemotherapy. However, because of intra-tumor heterogeneity, and clonal evolution, tumors often develop resistance to treatments. Genotyping tumor tissue in search of somatic genetic alterations for actionable information has become routine examination in the clinical practice. Read More

Ann Ital Chir 2019 Feb 4;8. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The aetiology of CRC is complex and involves interaction on environmental and genetic factors. The two most important pathways are the EGFR (Epidermal Grow Factor Receptor) signaling pathway, with the involvement of KRAS and BRAF, and the DNA mismatch repair (MMR). Read More

BMC Cancer 2019 Feb 9;19(1):133. Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Discipline of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.

Background: Differentiating between cancer patients who will experience metastasis within a short time and who will be long-term survivors without metastasis is a critical aim in healthcare. The microsatellite instability (MSI)-high tumor phenotype is such a differentiator in colorectal cancer, as patients with these tumors are unlikely to experience metastasis. Our aim in this study was to determine if germline genetic variations could further differentiate colorectal cancer patients based on the long-term risk and timing of metastasis. Read More

Neoplasia 2019 Feb 6;21(3):269-281. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address:

Dysfunctional inflammatory pathways are associated with an increased risk of cancer, including colorectal cancer. We have previously identified and enriched for a self-renewing, colon cancer stem cell (CCSC) subpopulation in primary sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC) and a related subpopulation in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients defined by the stem cell marker, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Subsequent work demonstrated that CCSC-initiated tumors are dependent on the inflammatory chemokine, CXCL8, a known inducer of tumor proliferation, angiogenesis and invasion. Read More

Int J Cancer 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Pathology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25, 2ZD, UK.

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most common types of malignancy and a leading cause of cancer related death. The aberrant expression of a brown fat-like phenotype in cancer cells has been previously implicated in tumour growth. Therefore, the expression of brown fat-associated proteins in colorectal cancer could be associated with tumour prognosis. Read More

AAPS J 2019 Feb 8;21(2):27. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 455 Kapoor Hall, Buffalo, New York, 14214, USA.

Tumor doubling time can significantly affect the outcome of anticancer therapy, but it is very challenging to determine. Here, we present a statistical approach that extracts doubling times from progression-free survival (PFS) plots, which inherently contains information regarding the growth of solid tumors. Twelve cancers were investigated and multiple PFS plots were evaluated for each type. Read More

J Surg Res 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Division of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore. Electronic address:

Background: Mutant KRAS tumors are purported to metastasize differently than wild-type KRAS tumors. The biological heterogeneity of tumors from different parts of the colon are also reported to affect metastasis. This study aims to characterize the metastatic profile by evaluating these factors in unison. Read More

Bull Cancer 2019 Feb 5;106(2):143-150. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, UPEC, hôpital Henri-Mondor, département d'oncologie médicale, 94010 Créteil, France; Centre hospitalier intercommunal de Créteil, département d'oncologie médicale, 94010 Créteil, France. Electronic address:

Checkpoints inhibitors are known to induce striking tumor responses in advanced MSI colorectal cancers, which used to be related to a poor clinical outcome. The incidence of the MSI phenotype is highly heterogeneous across non-colorectal cancers. The highest incidence rates are found in endometrioid forms of uterine cancers and in gastric tumors (20 to 40 % and 10 to 33 %, respectively). Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2019 Feb 8;7(1):37. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1701 Trinity Street, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.

Background: The success of agents that reverse T-cell inhibitory signals, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies, has reinvigorated cancer immunotherapy research. However, since only a minority of patients respond to single-agent therapies, methods to test the potential anti-tumor activity of rational combination therapies are still needed. Conventional murine xenograft models have been hampered by their immune-compromised status; thus, we developed a hematopoietic humanized mouse model, hu-CB-BRGS, and used it to study anti-tumor human immune responses to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line and patient-derived colorectal cancer (CRC) xenografts (PDX). Read More

J Pers Med 2019 Feb 7;9(1). Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Medical School, University of Ioannina, Stavros Niarchou Avenue, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide. Surgery remains the most important treatment for non-metastatic CRC, and the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy depends mainly on the disease stage, which is still the strongest prognostic factor. A refined understanding of the genomics of CRC has recently been achieved thanks to the widespread use of next generation sequencing with potential future therapeutic implications. Read More

Histopathology 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Nottingham Molecular Pathology Node and Academic Unit of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.

Background And Aims: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an essential component of biomarker research in cancer. Automated biomarker quantification is hampered by the failure of computational algorithms to discriminate "negative" tumour cells from "negative" stromal cells. We sought to develop an algorithm for segmentation of tumour epithelium in colorectal cancer (CRC) irrespective of the biomarker expression in the cells. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 7;9(1):1629. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic.

The first step in the development of human colorectal cancer is aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Wnt signaling hyperactivation is predominantly caused by loss-of-function mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene that encodes the pathway negative regulator. In order to identify genes affected by the Apc loss, we performed expression profiling of intestinal epithelium isolated from mice harboring a conditional Apc allele. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Feb;98(6):e14420

State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy.

Inflammation-based indexes such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and systemic immune-inflammation indexes (SII) have been reported to be associated with prognosis in cancer patients.The aim of this study was to estimate the prognostic significance of inflammation-based indexes such as NLR, PLR, LMR, and SII in stage III/IV colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undertaking adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).Two hundred twenty stage III/IV CRC patients were enrolled in this study. Read More

PLoS One 2019 7;14(2):e0212142. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America.

The SMAD4 tumor suppressor gene product inhibits transforming growth factor-β-mediated signaling and is mutated in ~10% of colorectal carcinomas. The prognostic significance of SMAD4 mutations has been controversial. We studied the pathological and clinical characteristics of SMAD4-mutated intestinal adenocarcinomas using a retrospective case-control study design. Read More

Dis Colon Rectum 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Background: Correctly predicting the depth of tumor invasion in the colorectal wall is crucial for successful endoscopic resection of superficial colorectal neoplasms.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of magnifying chromoendoscopy in a Western medical center to predict the depth of invasion by the pit pattern classification in patients with colorectal neoplasms with a high risk of submucosal invasion.

Design: This single-center retrospective study, from a prospectively collected database, was conducted between April 2009 and June 2015. Read More

Niger J Clin Pract 2019 Feb;22(2):194-200

General Surgery Department, Marmara University Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: Colorectal cancers are third most common cancer in both genders. They are associated with genetic and environmental factors. Staging is important in the prognosis. Read More

Fam Cancer 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, 3800 N. Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR, 97227, USA.

A subset of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases are attributable to Lynch syndrome (LS), a hereditary form of CRC. Effective evaluation for LS can be done on CRC tumors to guide diagnostic testing. Increased diagnosis of LS allows for surveillance and risk reduction, which can mitigate CRC-related burden and prevent cancer-related deaths. Read More