Search

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a distinct class of non-coding RNAs that play regulatory roles in the initiation and progression of tumors. With advancements in transcriptome sequencing technology, numerous circRNAs that play significant roles in tumor-related genes have been identified. In this study, we used transcriptome sequencing to analyze the expression levels of circRNAs in normal adjacent tissues, primary colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues, and CRC tissues with liver metastasis. We successfully identified the circRNA hsa_circ_0020134 (circ0020134), which exhibited significantly elevated expression specifically in CRC with liver metastasis. Importantly, high levels of circ0020134 were associated with a poor prognosis among patients. Functional experiments demonstrated that circ0020134 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, upregulation of circ0020134 was induced by the transcription factor, PAX5, while miR-183-5p acted as a sponge for circ0020134, leading to partial upregulation of PFN2 mRNA and protein levels, thereby further activating the downstream TGF-β/Smad pathway. Additionally, downregulation of circ0020134 inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CRC cells, which could be reversed by miR-183-5p inhibitor treatment. Collectively, our findings confirm that the circ0020134-miR-183-5p-PFN2-TGF-β/Smad axis induces EMT transformation within tumor cells, promoting CRC proliferation and metastasis, thus highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for patients with CRC liver metastasis.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor that affects the large bowel or the rectum. Cuproptosis, recently discovered programmed cell death process, may play an important role in CRC tumorigenesis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can alter the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells through the control and activation of gene expression. To date, cuproptosis-related lncRNAs, have not been investigated as potential predictive biomarkers in colorectal cancer.Methods: The mRNA and lncRNA expression data of colorectal cancer were gathered from The Tumor Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and Pearson correlation analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis were used to identify the lncRNAs with differential prognosis. Colorectal cancer was classified using consistent clustering, and the clinical significance of different types, tumor heterogeneity, and immune microenvironment differences was investigated. The differential lncRNAs were further screened using LASSO regression to develop a risk scoring model, which was then paired with clinicopathological variables to create a nomogram. Finally, the copy number changes in the high-risk and low-risk groups were compared.Results: Two clusters were formed based on the 28 prognostic cuproptosis-related lncRNAs, and the prognosis of cluster 2 was found to be significantly lower than that of cluster 1. Cluster 1 showed increased immune cell infiltration and immunological score, as well as strong enrichment of immune checkpoint genes. Next, LASSO regression was used to select 11 distinctive lncRNAs, and a risk score model was constructed using the training set to distinguish between high and low-risk groups. Patients in the high-risk group had a lower survival rate than those in the low-risk group, and both the test set and the total set produced consistent results. The AUC value of the ROC curve revealed the scoring model’s efficacy in predicting long-term OS in patients. Moreover, the model could be used as an independent predictor when combined with a multivariate analysis of clinicopathological features, and our nomogram could be used intuitively to predict prognosis.Conclusion: Collectively, we developed a risk model using 11 differential lncRNAs and demonstrated that the model has predictive value as well as clinical and therapeutic implications for predicting prognosis in CRC patients.

Introduction: Comparison of transanal specimen extraction (TSE) and transabdominal specimen extraction (TASE) in laparoscopic rectal surgery is still sparsely reported. Trauma, pain, scarring, and bad psychological suggestion have long been considered an inevitable outcome of surgery. For laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery, whether TSE or TASE is beneficial in terms of technical platforms, indications, contraindications, technical requirements for aseptic operation, tumor-free operation, prevention and treatment of complications still has not reached a unified consensus and standards. Recently, comparison of TSE and TASE in laparoscopic rectal surgery has still been sparsely reported. Aim: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the short-term outcomes of TSE and TASE in laparoscopic rectal surgery in a single institution in southern China. Material and methods: Patients who underwent laparoscopic radical rectal cancer surgery using either TSE or TASE were recruited. Data, including patient demographics, perioperative and postoperative variables, were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Sixty-seven patients were included in this study. Thirty patients underwent TSE and 37 patients underwent TASE. The two groups were similar in demographics and tumor characteristics. Postoperative complications were similar in both groups, except that wound infection was lower for the TSE group (p = 0.122). The TSE group had a better cosmetic result with no abdominal incision and no differences in circumferential margins, distal resection margins or completeness of total mesorectal excision. Conclusions: Laparoscopic TSE is recommended in the treatment of rectal cancer with similar oncologic outcomes compared with conventional TASE. It is mini-invasive surgery and has the advantage of better cosmetic results. There is a need for further randomized studies to refine the applicability of laparoscopic TSE in rectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of vascularizing lymph node dissection (VLND) and non-vascularizing lymph node dissection (NVLND) from a single institution., Methods: Data of 315 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent standard D2 lymphadenectomy with curative intent was collected between January 1994 and December 2006. One hundred and fifty-two patients received VLND while 163 patients received NVLND. Short- and long-term clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups., Results: The median followed-up time was 82 mo. The rate of postoperative complications in the VLND group was 13.2%, while that in the NVLND group was 11.7% (P = 0.686). The overall 5-year survival rate was 64% in the VLND group and 59% in the NVLND group (P = 0.047). When subgroup analyses were performed according to Bormann type, type of differentiation and lymph node status, survival benefit was demonstrated in patients with Bormann type III or IV (59% vs 50%, P = 0.032), undifferentiated type (63% vs 49%, P = 0.021) or presence of lymph node metastasis (53% vs 38%, P = 0.010) in the VLND group., Conclusion: D2 VLND in advanced gastric cancer treatment allows survival benefit with acceptable morbidity and mortality. VLND for patients with potentially curable advanced gastric cancer is feasible and safe when performed by a well-trained surgical team.

Aim: To investigate the clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of caveolin-1 (CAV-1) in both tumor and stromal cells in colorectal cancer (CRC)., Methods: A total of 178 patients with CRC were included in this study. The correlation between CAV-1 expression and clinicopathologic features and survival was studied., Results: CAV-1 expression was detected in tumor and stromal cells. The expression of stromal CAV-1 was closely associated with histological type (P=0.022), pathologic tumor-node-metastasis stage (P=0.047), pathologic N stage (P=0.035) and recurrence (P=0.000). However, tumor cell CAV-1 did not show any correlation with clinical parameters. Additionally, the loss of stromal CAV-1 expression was associated with shorter disease-free survival (P=0.000) and overall survival (P=0.000). Multivariate analysis revealed that the loss of stromal CAV-1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (P=0.014) and disease-free survival (P=0.006)., Conclusion: The loss of stromal CAV-1 expression in CRC was associated with poor prognosis and could be a prognostic factor for CRC patients.

Aim: To study the effect of somatostatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer who received D2 lymphadenectomy and vagina vasorum dissection., Methods: Using a prospective, single-blind, placebo-controlled design, patients with advanced gastric cancer were randomized into a study group (n = 61) and a control group (n = 59). Patients in the study group were given somatostatin for 5-7 d starting 6 h after the operation, and patients in the control group were given normal saline. Preoperative and nonoperative complications in the perioperative period, as well as different types of postoperative drainage in the two groups were compared., Results: There was no significant difference between the study group and the control group for preoperative clinicopathological indicators. We found no significant difference between the two groups for the overall incidence of complications, but a lower percentage of peritoneal effusion was observed in the treatment group (1.6% vs 10.2%, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of postoperative pancreatic dysfunction and chylous fistula. However, there were significant differences in the amylase concentration in drainage fluid, volume and duration of drainage, volume and duration of chylous fistula and peritoneal drainage, and volume and duration of gastric tube drainage. The study group did not show any increase in mean hospitalization cost and the cost reduced when the postoperative complications occurred., Conclusion: Postoperative somatostatin reduces volume and duration of surgical drainage and related complications. Somatostatin may improve safety of gastric cancer surgery, reducing postoperative complications and promoting recovery.

Aim: To investigate whether transanal natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) is a better technique for rectal cancer resection., Methods: A prospectively designed database of a consecutive series of patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer with various tumor-node-metastasis classifications from March 2011 to February 2012 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University was analyzed. Patient selection for transanal specimen extraction and intracorporeal anastomosis was made on the basis of tumor size and distance of rectal lesions from the anal verge. Demographic data, operative parameters, and postoperative outcomes were assessed., Results: None of the patients was converted to laparotomy. Respectively, there were 16 cases in the low anastomosis and five in the ultralow anastomosis groups. Mean age of the patients was 45.4 years, and mean body mass index was 23.1 kg/m². Mean distance of the lower edge of the lesion from the anal verge was 8.3 cm. Mean operating time was 132 min, and mean intraoperative blood loss was 84 mL. According to the principle of rectal cancer surgery, we performed D2 lymph node dissection in 13 cases and D3 in eight. Mean lymph nodes harvest was 17.8, and the number of positive lymph nodes was 3.4. Median hospital stay was 6.7 d. No serious postoperative complication occurred except for one anastomotic leakage. All patients remained disease free. Mean Wexner score was 3.7 at 11 mo after the operation., Conclusion: Transanal NOSE for total laparoscopic low/ultralow anterior resection is feasible, safe and oncologically sound. Further studies with long-term outcomes are needed to explore its potential advantages.