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The article discuss how limited affordable veterinary and pet wellness services disadvantage millions of people and their pets across the U.S. It mentions that Pets for Life Program promotes the understanding within the larger animal protection movement that a lack financial means does not equate to a lack of love for a pet. It delivers direct care to pets in underserved communities each year.

Recent reports have indicated that KRAS and TP53 mutations predict response to therapy in colorectal cancer. However, little is known about the relationship between these two common genetic alterations. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs), a class of noncoding RNA implicated in cellular processes, have been increasingly linked to KRAS and TP53. We hypothesized that lethal-7a (let-7a) miRNA regulates KRAS through TP53. To investigate the relationship between KRAS, TP53, and let-7a, we used HCT116 KRASmut human colorectal cancer cells with four different genotypic modifications in TP53 (TP53−/−, TP53+/−, TP53mut/+, and TP53mut/−). Using these cells we observed that K-Ras activity was higher in cells with mutant or knocked out TP53 alleles, suggesting that wild-type TP53 may suppress K-Ras activity. Let-7a was present in HCT116 KRASmut cells, though there was no correlation between let-7a level and TP53 genotype status. To explore how let-7a may regulate K-Ras in the different TP53 genotype cells we used let-7a inhibitor and demonstrated increased K-Ras activity across all TP53, thus corroborating prior reports that let-7a regulates K-Ras. To assess potential clinical implications of this regulatory network, we examined the influence of TP53 genotype and let-7a inhibition on colon cancer cell survival following chemoradiation therapy (CRT). We observed that cells with complete loss of wild-type TP53 alleles (−/− or −/mut) were resistant to CRT following treatment with 5-fluorouracil and radiation. Further increase in K-Ras activity with let-7a inhibition did not impact survival in these cells. In contrast, cells with single or double wild-type TP53 alleles were moderately responsive to CRT and exhibited resistance when let-7a was inhibited. In summary, our results show a complex regulatory system involving TP53, KRAS, and let-7a. Our results may provide clues to understand and target these interactions in colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To predict node-positive disease in colon cancer using computed tomography (CT)., Methods: American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I-III colon cancer patients who underwent curavtive-intent colectomy between 2007-2010 were identified at a single comprehensive cancer center. All patients had preoperative CT scans with original radiology reports from referring institutions. CT images underwent blinded secondary review by a surgeon and a dedicated abdominal radiologist at our institution to identify pericolonic lymph nodes (LNs). Comparison of outside CT reports to our independent imaging review was performed in order to highlight differences in detection in actual clinical practice. CT reviews were compared with final pathology. Results of the outside radiologist review, secondary radiologist review, and surgeon review were compared with the final pathologic exam to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, false positive and negative rates, and accuracy of each review. Exclusion criteria included evidence of metastatic disease on CT, rectal or appendiceal involvement, or absence of accompanying imaging from referring institutions., Results: From 2007 to 2010, 64 stageI-III colon cancer patients met the eligibility criteria of our study. The mean age of the cohort was 68 years, and 26 (41%) patients were male and 38 (59%) patients were female. On final pathology, 26 of 64 (40.6%) patients had node-positive (LN+) disease and 38 of 64 (59.4%) patients had node-negative (LN-) disease. Outside radiologic review demonstrated sensitivity of 54% (14 of 26 patients) and specificity of 66% (25 of 38 patients) in predicting LN+ disease, whereas secondary radiologist review demonstrated 88% (23 of 26) sensitivity and 58% (22 of 38) specificity. On surgeon review, sensitivity was 69% (18 of 26) with 66% specificity (25 of 38). Secondary radiology review demonstrated the highest accuracy (70%) and the lowest false negative rate (12%), compared to the surgeon review at 67% accuracy and 31% false negative rate and the outside radiology review at 61% accuracy and 46% false negative rate., Conclusion: CT LN staging of colon cancer has moderate accuracy, with administration of NCT based on CT potentially resulting in overtreatment. Active search for LN+ may improve sensitivity at the cost of specificity.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading worldwide health concern that is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. The primary source of mortality for patients with CRC is the development and subsequent progression of metastatic disease. The most common site for distant metastatic disease is the liver. Although patients with metastatic disease to the liver have several effective treatment options, the only one for cure remains surgical resection of the liver metastases. Historically, most patients with liver metastases have had unresectable disease, and only a small percentage of patients have undergone complete curative resection. However, improved systemic therapies have led to an evolution in strategies to treat metastatic CRC to the liver. Under most conditions the management of these patients remains complex; and as chemotherapy options and new targeted therapies continue to improve outcomes, it is clear that a multidisciplinary approach must be the foundation on which advanced surgical and medical techniques are employed. Here, in this review, we highlight the role of targeted therapies in the surgical management of patients with metastatic CRC to the liver.