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The clinical significance of many RAS-family mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of mutations on an exon basis (i.e., mutations in KRAS exons 2, 3 and 4 and in NRAS) with clinicopathological features and prognosis in CRC. We performed a retrospective cohort study of the medical records and frozen tissue samples of 268 consecutive patients with stage I-III CRC who underwent curative resection at a single institution in 2014–2018. The RAS mutation rate was significantly associated with age and histology. Patients with KRAS exon 2 mutations exhibited shorter RFS compared to those with KRAS wild-type, KRAS exon 3 mutations, KRAS exon 4 mutations and NRAS mutations (73.0% vs. 85.5%, 86.7%, 85.7%. p = 0.031). Age and histology were independent risk factors for RAS mutations. RAS mutations were independent prognostic factors with respect to RFS in patients with stage I–III CRC. In stage I–III CRC patients, KRAS exon 2 mutations have the worst prognosis, while RAS wild type, RAS exon 3 mutations, RAS exon 4 mutations and NRAS mutations have better prognoses.

Background and objectives Most guidelines of colorectal cancers (CRCs) recommend evaluating the serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level during postoperative surveillance to detect tumor recurrence, which originates from postsurgery residual tumor cells. We hypothesized that the postadjuvant chemotherapy CEA level may be the most accurate biomarker to predict tumor recurrence, and we evaluated the prognostic significance of the postadjuvant chemotherapy CEA level in patients with stage II and III CRCs. Patients and methods We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 150 Stage II-III CRC patients who had undergone curative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Preoperative, postoperative, and postadjuvant chemotherapy CEA levels were evaluated, and their associations with recurrence-free survival (RFS) were assessed. Results The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that a high preoperative CEA level, high postoperative CEA, and high postadjuvant chemotherapy CEA were associated with poor RFS (p = .001, .0001, and .001, respectively). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that high postadjuvant chemotherapy CEA was an independent factor for poor RFS (HR 2.55, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-6.05, p = .033), whereas high preoperative and postoperative CEA levels were not. Conclusions The serum levels of postadjuvant chemotherapy CEA were a strong prognostic biomarker in patients with Stage II-III CRCs who had undergone surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background/aim The prognosis of colorectal cancer is reported to differ depending on the tumor site, and clinical differences depending on the site of occurrence have gained attention. The aim was to compare nutrition index and inflammatory markers according to the site of colon cancer. Patients and methods We retrospectively analyzed 272 cases of stage I-III colon cancer (55% males, 45% females). The clinical characteristics, nutrition index and inflammatory markers were compared between patients with right colon cancer (RCC, n=119) and those with left colon cancer (LCC, n=153), and the relapse-free survival was then compared. Results RCC was associated with older age (p=0.03), female gender (p=0.003), higher T stage (p=0.01), elevated platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (p=0.009), and elevated CONUT score (p=0.028). The prognostic values differed between RCC and LCC (RCC: CONUT score, p=0.04, LCC: PLR, p=0.02). Conclusion RCC was associated with an elevated CONUT score and PLR. In RCC, the CONUT score was an independent recurrence factor, and in LCC, the PLR was an independent recurrence factor.

The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is a marker of nutrition and is associated with poor survival in various kinds of cancers. However, no reports have yet compared risk factors for colorectal cancer recurrence using a nutritional index. We assessed the predictive value of the CONUT score compared with the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We performed a retrospective cohort study of the medical records of 336 consecutive patients with stage I-I I I CRC who underwent curative resection at a single institution in 2012–2017. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify prognostic factors associated with relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). The low CONUT score group exhibited higher RFS and longer OS compared to the high CONUT score group (82.2% vs. 63.3%, p = 0.002 and 95.5% and 86.2%, p = 0.005, respectively). The Akaike’s information criterion values of each index for RFS and OS were superior in CONUT score (723.71 and 315.46, respectively) compared to those of PNI (726.95 and 316.52) and mGPS (728.15 and 318.07, respectively). The CONUT score was found to be a good predictor of RFS and OS in patients with resectable CRC.

Background: It was reported that in surveillance colonoscopy (SC), targeted and random biopsies detected similar proportions of neoplasias. However, that study was conducted by experienced endoscopists familiar with colitic cancer. We report two cases of disseminated colitic cancer in patients who had undergone SC. Case Presentation: Case-1: A 69-year-old Japanese man first suffered from ulcerative colitis (UC) in 1979. Annual SCs had been performed since 1998. In 2017, colonoscopy confirmed a cancer in the ascending colon. A laparoscopy-assisted anal-preserving total proctocolectomy was performed in 2018. Histological findings showed the cancer reaching serosa and lymph node metastasis. Peritoneal dissemination occurred 1 year after the surgery. Two years after the first surgery, an ileostomy was created due to bowel obstruction caused by peritoneal dissemination. Case-2: A 77-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with UC at another hospital in 2010. SCs were performed annually since 2011. In April 2019, he developed frequent bowel movements, bleeding, and weight loss. Colonoscopy revealed stenosis at the rectum and sigmoid colon. The biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma. Laparoscopy-assisted surgery was performed in July 2019. The yellow ascites was aspirated and submitted for lavage cytology, which revealed signet-ring cell carcinoma. Many white nodules were found in the peritoneum and were diagnosed as peritoneal dissemination. A colostomy was performed. Chemotherapy was administered. Five months have passed since the operation, and the patient is alive. Conclusion: Chromoendoscopy had not been performed in either patient. It is advisable to use chromoendoscopy when a target biopsy is performed.

Purpose: T The world is becoming longer-lived, and the number of elderly colorectal cancer patients is increasing. It is very important to identify simple and inexpensive postoperative predictors in elderly colorectal cancer patients. The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is a marker of systemic nutrition and is associated with poor survival in various kinds of cancers. A few reports have investigated recurrence factors using preoperative GNRI with CRC patients. This study aimed to investigate whether preoperative GNRI is associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in elderly patients with CRC.Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 259 patients with StageⅠ-Ⅲ CRC who were more than 65 years old and underwent curative surgery at a single institution in 2012–2017. We classified them into low GNRI (RFS: ≤90.5, OS ≤101.1) group and high GNRI (RFS:>90.5, OS >101.1) group.Results: Multivariable analyses showed low GNRI group was an independent risk factor for 3-year RFS (P = 0.006) and OS (P = 0.001) in the patients with CRC. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed 3-year RFS and 3-year OS were significantly worse in the low GNRI group than in high GNRI group (p = 0.001, 0.0037).Conclusion: A low-preoperative GNRI was significantly associated with a poor prognosis in elderly CRC patients.

A 47-year-old male patient without a documented past medical history was referred to Sanno Hospital because of constipation and abdominal pain, which he had had for more than 5 years. Abdominal X-ray and CT scan showed an enlarged ascending colon from the cecum to the transverse colon, without apparent mechanical obstruction. The patient was diagnosed with chronic idiopathic colonic pseudo-obstruction, and because his symptoms were resistant to medication, surgical treatment was required. Laparoscopic subtotal colectomy was performed without any complications. Constipation was relieved, and the patient began defecating 2-3 times a day without medication. Pathological specimens showed that Meissner's plexus and Auerbach's plexus had decreased and that there were fewer ganglion cells-findings consistent with chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

It has been shown that nutritional status correlates with survival in patients with various kinds of cancers. Besides, cancer causes inflammation which has been suggested to stimulate cancer progression. Therefore, inflammation status also has shown to reflect prognosis of cancers. In this study, we evaluated several kinds of nutritional and inflammation parameters in preoperative blood samples and constructed new risk model predicting a survival in patients with CRC (colorectal cancers). We retrospectively examined 286 patients with stage I-III CRC who had undergone curative resection in Teikyo University Hospital between 2013 to 2017. The association between overall survival (OS) and preoperative body mass index, albumin (Alb), cholesterol (Chol), and lymphocyte count, white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (Neu), platelet count (Plt), C-reactive protein (CRP) were examined using Kaplan-Meier curve and log rank test. and eventually Alb, Chol, Neu, Plt, and CRP were shown to correlate with OS. Alb, Chol, Neu, Plt, and CRP were shown to correlate with OS. We constructed a new risk model (NIS: nutrition inflammation status) using these factors, and compared its usefulness with known models such as CRP-albumin ratio (CAR), Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR). NIS prepared using nutritional indicators and inflammatory findings was useful as a new model for predicting overall survival in patients undergoing curative resection for CRC, compared with known models.

Background/Aim: To evaluate the benefits of the addition of oxaliplatin (OX) to fluoropyrimidine (FP)-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with locally advanced rectal cancers (LARCs). Patients and Methods: We performed retrospective analyses comparing the pathological complete response (pCR) rate, overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) between FP-based and FP+OX-based CRT groups and for patients who had completed the CRT. Results: One hundred patients were included in the analyses: the pCR rate, OS, RFS, and LRFS were similar between these groups. The FP+OX group showed significantly more frequent incompleteness of the CRT compared to the FP group (p=0.049). Among the patients who had completed the CRT, the FP+OX group demonstrated significantly improved LRFS compared to the FP group (p=0.048). Conclusion: The addition of OX to an FP regimen in neoadjuvant CRT for LARC may reduce local recurrence in patients who have achieved good compliance to CRT.

Background Although there are reports linking ulcerative colitis (UC) to prostate cancer (PC), those reports are of PC patients who were previously diagnosed with UC. There are no reports of the development of UC during radiotherapy. Here we describe the first case of a patient who developed UC during radiotherapy for PC. The UC progressed rapidly and required emergency surgery. Case presentation A 61-year-old Japanese man underwent a prostate biopsy at another hospital due to a high prostate-specific antigen level and was diagnosed with PC. Goserelin and bicalutamide treatment was initiated in 2019, and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (total of 60 Gy/20 Fr) was administered in 2020. Diarrhea began during the radiotherapy and bleeding began post-radiotherapy. He was admitted to another hospital 14 days after the end of the radiotherapy, and colonoscopy revealed a deep ulcer in the colon, which led to the suspicion of UC. He was transferred to our hospital, and colonoscopy showed a widespread map-like ulcer, pseudopolyposis, and very easy bleeding in the colon. We diagnosed severe UC, and it worsened rapidly with uncontrollable bleeding, which we considered an indication for surgery. Emergency surgery (a total colectomy and ileostomy creation) was performed. The specimens confirmed an extensively spreading ulcer throughout the colon. The pathological report was UC in the active phase. The postoperative course was good. Conclusions When a patient exhibits diarrhea while undergoing radiotherapy for PC, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of UC in addition to radiation colitis, and colonoscopy should be considered.

Background The term “mesenteric inflammatory veno-occlusive disease (MIVOD)” is used to describe an ischemic injury resulting from phlebitis or venulitis that affects the bowel or mesentery in the absence of arteritis. MIVOD is difficult to diagnose because of its rarity and frequent confusion with other diseases. The incidence and etiology of MIVOD remain unclear; only a few cases have been reported. We describe a case of the successful surgical management of a patient with MIVOD with characteristic images. Case presentation A 65-year-old Japanese man visited a hospital with the chief complaint of abdominal pain in January 2018. CT showed edema and thickening of the intestinal wall from the descending colon to the rectum. The patient was admitted to the hospital. Suspected diagnoses were enteritis, ulcerative colitis, amyloidosis, vasculitis, malignant lymphoma, and venous thrombus, but no definitive diagnosis was obtained. The patient was transferred to our hospital for the treatment of stenosis (located from the descending colon to the rectum) and bowel obstruction. An emergency transverse colostomy was performed. The sigmoid colon and mesentery were too rigid and edematous to resect. Colonic hemorrhage occurred 2 weeks after the surgery. With radiology intervention, coiling for the arteriovenous fistula in the descending colon was performed, and hemostasis was obtained. A colonoscopy at 6 months post-surgery showed neither ulceration nor stenosis in the rectum, indicating that the rectum could be preserved in the next surgery. However, severe stenosis in the descending and sigmoid colon remained unchanged. Ten months after the transverse colostomy, we performed a subtotal colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis, and an ileostomy was created. The sigmoid colon and mesentery were not so rigid compared to the first surgery’s findings, and we were able to resect intestine and mesentery. Histopathology revealed phlebitis and venulitis, fibrinoid necrosis, and normal arteries, meeting the diagnostic criteria for MIVOD. Postoperatively, the patient showed no recurrence for 8 months. Conclusion Clinicians should consider MIVOD when examining a patient with intestinal ischemia. When MIVOD is suspected, the patient is indicated for surgery based on an accurate diagnosis and good prognosis.

Background A tumor composed exclusively or predominantly of human melanin black 45 (HMB45)-positive epithelioid cells is called a perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa). We report a very rare case of a PEComa of the greater omentum. Case presentation MRI conducted to examine the orthopedic disease of the patients, a 49-year-old Japanese woman, also identified a tumor in her pelvis. A CT scan revealed a tumor mass on the right side of the pelvic floor and clear nutrient vessels originating from the splenic and celiac arteries. An omental primary tumor or accessory spleen was thus suspected, and tumor resection was performed. The tumor was a light brown solid tumor with a smooth margin, measuring 5.2 × 3.8 × 3.5 cm. Histopathologically, the tumor was composed mainly of spindle and epithelioid cells, and large and small blood vessel formation was observed. In the immunohistochemical staining, tumor cells were positive for human melanin black 45 (HMB-45) and Melan-A and partially positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin. The final diagnosis was PEComa of the greater omentum. Conclusions Although omental PEComa is very rare, it should be considered as a differential disease of an omental primary tumor.

High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of systemic inflammation and is associated with poor survival in localized or metastatic cancer. Preoperative NLR in colorectal cancer reportedly correlates with recurrence-free survival and is useful as a recurrence prediction factor. No reports have yet investigated recurrence factors using postoperative NLR. This study assessed the predictive value of NLR preoperatively and on the first (NLR1) and seventh day (NLR7) postoperatively in patients with stage II colorectal cancer. We performed a retrospective cohort study involving patients undergoing colorectal resection at a single institution between January 2012 and December 2016; we used medical records of 176 consecutive patients with stage II colorectal cancer undergoing curative tumor resection. NLRs as well as clinical, histopathologic, and laboratory data were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify prognostic factors associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS). Univariate analysis revealed that elevated NLR, NLR7, and lymphatic invasion were significantly associated with decreased RFS (p

Angiotensin signaling is suggested to be involved in tumorigenesis, tumor proliferation, and metastases. In colorectal cancer (CRC), it was demonstrated that angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may reduce the risk of CRC; however, their impact on tumor recurrence remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the impact of ACEIs/ARBs on tumor recurrence in CRC patients. We retrospectively investigated the clinicopathological data of 461 stage I–III CRC patients. We divided the patients into those who took an ACEI and/or ARB (the ACEI/ARB+ group) and those who did not (the ACEI/ARB− group), and we compared the two groups’ recurrence-free survival (RFS) using a Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and log rank test. We also examined the impact of AGTR1 expression on tumor recurrence, using two public CRC datasets. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed a trend toward improved RFS in the ACEI/ARB+ group versus the ACEI/ARB− group (p = 0.063). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the RFS was significantly better in the ACEI/ARB+ group versus the ACEI/ARB− group in the patients with left-sided CRC (p = 0.030) and those with stage I CRC (p = 0.009). Consistent with these findings, the AGTR1 expression was higher in the left-sided versus right-sided colon (p = 0.048). High AGTR1 expression levels were associated with poor RFS in the GSE39582 dataset’s stage I–III CRC patients (p

Liquid biomarkers for the early detection of resistance to chemotherapy are important for improving prognosis. This study investigated the usefulness of plasma exosomal microRNA-125b (ex-miRNA-125b) for the early detection of resistance to modified fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6)-based first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced or recurrent (advanced/recurrent) colorectal cancer (CRC). First, ex-miRNAs associated with resistance to mFOLFOX6-based chemotherapy were profiled via miRNA microarray analysis. In this analysis, ex-miR-125b exhibited the greatest upregulation in patients with progressive disease (PD) compared with the findings for patients with stable disease (SD) and healthy controls. Next, another 55 patients with advanced/recurrent CRC who received mFOLFOX6-based first-line chemotherapy underwent a validation study of ex-miR-125b. Blood samples were collected before and during treatment until tumor progression. Ex-miRNA levels were measured via TaqMan microRNA assays. Patients with CRC had significantly higher ex-miR-125b levels than healthy controls. In patients with partial responses, ex-miR-125b levels at the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) judgment point were significantly lower than those measured before treatment. In patients with SD, ex-miR-125b levels did not differ before and during treatment. In patients with PD, ex-miR-125b levels at the RECIST judgment point were significantly higher than those measured before treatment. These changes in ex-miR-125b levels were significantly different between groups even 1 month after the initiation of chemotherapy. Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly worse in patients with high baseline ex-miR-125b levels than in those with low levels. In the Cox analysis, baseline ex-miR-125b levels and KRAS mutation were indicated to be independent prognostic factors for PFS. The present results suggest that plasma ex-miR-125b levels may be useful for the early detection of resistance to mFOLFOX6-based first-line chemotherapy. Furthermore, ex-miR-125b before chemotherapy is a predictive biomarker for PFS in patients with advanced/recurrent CRC.

The increased incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has necessitated the development of novel prognostic and predictive factors from which new diagnostic tests could evolve. Evidence suggests the KRAS gene represents such a factor; its mutations are considered to be early indicators of CRC progression. This study assessed the prognostic impact of specific known KRAS codon 12/13 mutations on survival in patients with CRC. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks or sections from primary were obtained from patients registered between 2014 and 2016 for genomic DNA extraction. KRAS gene was analyzed by direct sequencing or Luminex assay. The primary endpoint was the frequency of KRAS gene mutations and the secondary endpoints were differences in KRAS mutation rates by various stratification factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate relationships between KRAS mutation rates and patient background factors. Sequencing of 200 CRC primary tumor samples demonstrated 74 (37.5%) with KRAS mutations in codons 12 (77%; 57/74) and 13 (23%; 17/74), all of which were TNM stages I–III. Tumors with KRAS mutations were more frequently located in the right side of the colon. Multivariate analysis indicated that G12V or G12C mutations were associated with poor prognosis [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.77, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.54–8.39 and HR = 6.57; 95% CI, 1.90–17.7, respectively] in terms of recurrence-free survival. KRAS codon 12G-to-V or G-to-C mutations are independent prognostic factors in patients with stage I–III CRC.

Background: The number of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients is increasing in Japan and other countries. Selective depletion of myeloid lineage leucocytes by adsorptive granulocyte and monocyte apheresis (GMA) with an Adacolumn (JIMRO, Takasaki, Japan) was introduced as a nonpharmacologic treatment strategy in UC patients in 2000. GMA has been reported to be effective in clinical trials; however, the effect of concomitant prednisolone (PSL) on GMA needs to be clarified. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with active UC were treated with GMA at our institute between June 2009 and September 2018. All patients received GMA therapy once or twice a week with the Adacolumn. Conventional medication was to be continued during the whole GMA treatment course. The clinical response was retrospectively evaluated. Results: According to the partial Mayo score, remission was 33.3%, significant efficacy 25.6%, effective 25.6%, and no response 15.4%. The average partial Mayo score was 6.2 ± 1.4 at entry and significantly declined to 1.8 ± 1.8 after GMA sessions (p < 0.0001). The average number of bowel movements was 9.5 ± 5.6 at entry and significantly declined to 3.0 ± 2.8 after GMA sessions (p < 0.0001). In a comparison between the group treated with concomitant PSL and the group without PSL, the change in partial Mayo score or the number of bowel movements from entry to after GMA sessions was not significantly different. Among 24 patients treated by GMA with concomitant PSL, 75% (18/24) became steroid free. Conclusions: The effect of GMA with concomitant PSL and that of GMA without PSL were not different, and GMA was effective irrespective of PSL administration. The present study showed that GMA had efficacy and led many UC patients treated by PSL to be steroid free with no safety concern in the real world, although there is the possibility of recruitment bias due to the retrospective nature of the study.

To verify the safety and validity of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer in elderly patients.A meta-analysis was performed of a systematic search of studies on an electronic database. Studies that compared laparoscopic colectomy (LAC) in elderly colorectal cancer patients with open colectomy (OC) were retrieved, and their short and long-term outcomes compared. Elderly people were defined as 65 years old or more. Inclusion criteria were set at: Resection of colorectal cancer, comparison between laparoscopic and OC and no significant difference in backgrounds between groups.Fifteen studies were identified for analysis. LAC was performed on 1436 patients, and OC performed on 1810 patients. In analyses of short-term outcomes, operation time for LAC was longer than for OC (mean difference = 34.4162, 95%CI: 17.8473-50.9851, P0.0001). The following clinical parameters were lower in LAC than in OC: Amount of estimated blood loss (mean difference = -93.3738, 95%CI: -132.3437 to -54.4039, P0.0001), overall morbidity (OR = 0.5427, 95%CI: 0.4425-0.6655, P0.0001), incisional surgical site infection (OR = 0.6262, 95%CI: 0.4310-0.9097, P = 0.0140), bowel obstruction and ileus (OR = 0.6248, 95%CI: 0.4519-0.8638, P = 0.0044) and cardiovascular complications (OR = 0.4767, 95%CI: 0.2805-0.8101, P = 0.0062). In analyses of long-term outcomes (median follow-up period: 36.4 mo in LAC, 34.3 mo in OC), there was no significant difference in overall survival (mean difference = 0.8321, 95%CI: 0.5331-1.2990, P = 0.4187) and disease specific survival (mean difference = 1.0254, 95%CI: 0.6707-1.5675, P = 0.9209). There was also no significant difference in the number of dissected lymph nodes (mean difference = -0.1360, 95%CI: -4.0553-3.7833, P = 0.9458).LAC in elderly colorectal cancer patients had benefits in short-term outcomes compared with OC except operation time. The long-term outcomes and oncological clearance of LAC were similar to that of OC. These results support the assertion that LAC is an effective procedure for elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

The clinical significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) including cancer stem cells (CSCs) (CTC/CSC) in the tumor drainage vein blood of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. In this study, we investigated the prognostic value of CTC/CSC that express carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) cytokeratin 19 (CK19), CK20 and/or CD133 (CEA/CK/CD133) mRNA in the tumor drainage blood of CRC patients with Dukes' stage B and C. We examined tumor drainage blood from 197 patients with Dukes' stage B and C CRC. CTCs that expressed CEA, CK19, CK20 and CD133 mRNA were detected using the quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Each mRNA level was normalized with GAPDH mRNA levels. In the relationship between the expression of CEA/CK/CD133 in the tumor drainage blood and clinicopathological factors, a significant correlation was observed between CEA/CK/CD133 expression and Dukes' stage (p0.041). In CRC patients with Dukes' stage B and C, disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with CEA/CK/CD133 positive in the tumor drainage blood were significantly worse than that of marker gene negative patients. In contrast, in patients with Dukes' stage A, no significant differences were shown between these groups. By Cox progression analysis, it was shown that CEA/CK/CD133 mRNA in tumor drainage blood was an independent prognostic factor for DFS and OS in patients with Dukes' stage B and C. These results suggest that detecting CEA/CK/CD133 mRNA in tumor drainage blood by the real-time RT-PCR method would have a prognostic value in CRC patients with Dukes' stage B and C.

Adverse events may occur in patients receiving preoperative radiotherapy (PRT) for rectal cancers. The aim of this study is to clarify the clinical and pathological features of the patients with PRT-related adverse events, and the significance of the adverse events on the clinical outcome. Seventy-five patients with T3 or T4 low rectal cancers curatively resected following PRT were studied. Thirty-one patients received radiotherapy, and 44 patients received chemoradiotherapy with tegafur-uracil and leucovorin. The total radiation dose was 50–50.4 Gy given in 25–28 fractions and the operation was performed 4–8 weeks after PRT. PRT-related adverse events were graded in accordance with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0. The most frequent adverse events were leukocytopenia and diarrhea, observed in 12% and 24% of patients, respectively. The majority of the leukocytopenia and diarrhea was grade 1–2 toxicity. Women experienced leukocytopenia more frequently than men (28% vs. 7%, p = 0.0317); however, no other predisposing factor for adverse events was recognized. Patients with leukocytopenia or diarrhea showed a better 5-year relapse-free survival rate than those without (94 ± 5% vs. 49 ± 9%, p = 0.00054), and the presence of these adverse events was an independent prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis. The presence of leukocytopenia or diarrhea was an independent predictor of a fair prognosis after curative operation following PRT, and thus these adverse events seem not to discourage oncologists and patients from considering PRT for rectal cancers.

Williams syndrome is rare and associated with physical anomalies and mental retardation. It is a disease resulting from a gene deletion of chromosome 7. The main concurrent medical conditions typically associated with Williams syndrome are heart defects such as supravalvular aortic stenosis, mental retardation, and unusual physical characteristics. It is also associated with colon diverticulosis and diverticulitis. In the present article, we report on 2 cases of diverticulitis in patients with Williams syndrome, in whom surgery was performed. In many cases of diverticulitis in patients with Williams syndrome, surgical treatment is indicated. It is important to take diverticulitis into consideration when examining a patient with Williams syndrome presenting with abdominal pain and consider surgical treatment if necessary.

Objective: The clinical significance of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and miR-155 in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients remains elusive. In this study, we established the prognostic value of miR-21 and miR-155 using clinical samples from CRC patients. Furthermore, relationships between these microRNAs and target genes (PDCD4 and TP53INP1 mRNAs) were examined. Methods: miR-21 and miR-155 expression was assessed in tumor tissue and in adjacent normal tissue of 156 CRC patients by TaqMan MicroRNA assays, and PDCD4 and TP53INP1 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Results: High miR-21 expression was significantly associated with venous invasion, liver metastasis and tumor stage, and high miR-155 expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastases. The overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates of patients with high miR-21 expression were significantly worse than those of patients with low miR-21 expression. The OS and DFS of patients with high miR-155 expression were also significantly worse than those in patients with low miR-155 expression. miR-21 and miR-155 expression levels in CRC tissue were independent prognostic factors for OS and DFS. Significant inverse correlations were demonstrated between miR-21 and PDCD4 mRNA, and miR-155 and TP53INP1 mRNA. Conclusion: Increases in miR-21 and miR-155 expression may represent effective biomarkers for the prediction of a poor prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer patients with lymph node metastases (stage III) show poorer prognosis than those without. Predicting development of recurrence may guide the need for intensive follow-up and/or adjuvant chemotherapy in such patients. The authors' objective was to identify a set of discriminating genes that could predict recurrence in stage III colorectal cancer. METHODS: Thirty-six stage III colorectal cancer patients were studied. Tumor samples were obtained from surgically resected specimens. Thirteen patients developed recurrence, whereas 23 patients did not. Gene expression profiles were determined using human HG-U133 Plus 2.0 Gene Chip (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, Calif). RESULTS: The authors identified 45 discriminating genes between patients with and without recurrence. By using this gene set, they established a new model to predict recurrence with an accuracy of 90.9%. The discriminating genes included calcineurin-binding protein 1 (CABIN1), whose expression differed remarkably between patients with and without recurrence (P = .0073). The authors further examined the DNA copy number of CABIN1 and were able to show a significant relation with recurrence (P < .012). Patients having CABIN1 gene loss demonstrated a higher risk of recurrence (odds ratio, 18.8). DNA copy number of CABIN1 alone could predict recurrence with an accuracy of 80.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study demonstrated that gene expression profiling is useful in predicting recurrence in stage III colorectal cancer. The authors identified CABIN1 among discriminating genes that may play a key role in the development of recurrence. These results may help to establish an individualized therapy for stage III colorectal cancer. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.

A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital with suspicion of rectal tumor, hilar tumor, and urinary tumor. Colonoscopic findings were intermittent nodular lesions with redness which were atypical to primary rectal cancer. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed narrowing of the bilateral intrahepatic bile duct. However, the findings were improved 1 month later. Blood biochemistry showed high level of serum IgG4 up to 1140 mg/dl. The patient matched to comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related disease as a possible diagnostic case. Laparoscopic low anterior resection with creation of ileostomy was performed for rectal cancer. Histological findings revealed cancer cells spread horizontally at submucosal layer and subserosal layer. There was marked infiltration of the plasma cells and lymphocytes at tumor stroma, and more than half of the plasma cells were positive for IgG4. After surgery, the level of serum IgG4 was decreased to 597 mg/dl. Although the association with IgG4-related disease and colorectal disease is unclear, the tumor progression was atypical for rectal cancer. Some report that the disease may rise up the risk of a malignant disease. It is necessary to perform systemic examination keeping in mind for concurrence of malignancy.

We aimed to clarify the oncological significance of the number of lymph nodes in rectal cancers treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.We studied 126 curatively operated patients with clinical T3-T4 and M0 rectal cancers. The number of lymph nodes and clinicopathological features were compared between the patients treated with surgery alone (OP group, n = 45) and those treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (50-50.4 Gy in 25-28 fractions with tegafur-uracil and leucovorin, CRT group, n = 81). Factors influencing lymph node count and its prognostic significance were analyzed.The CRT group had significantly fewer lymph nodes than the OP group (12.4 vs. 21.1, P0.0001). High histological regression of rectal lesions was significantly correlated with decreased lymph node count in the CRT group. In the OP group, the 5-year cancer-specific survival rate of the patients with 12 or more lymph nodes was significantly better than those with fewer than 12 lymph nodes (75.1% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.02); in the CRT group, on the other hand, these survival rates did not differ (84.5% vs. 77.5%, P = 0.6).The number of lymph nodes in rectal cancer was correlated with the response of primary rectal lesions to chemoradiotherapy, and was not associated with patient survival.

A 6 8-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with lower abdominal pain. Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy showed type 2 advanced cancer in the ascending colon. Histopathological examination after endoscopical biopsy revealed both moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and well-differentiated squamous carcinoma. Subsequently, right hemicolectomy was performed. The tumor was 55 × 40 mm in size and was diagnosed as an adenosquamous carcinoma A, type 2, pSS, pN0, sH0, sP0, sM0, fStageII. Adenosquamous carcinoma is extremely rare, represents about 0.1% of all colorectal cancer, and usually has a poor prognosis. Thirty-one months after surgery, the patient is still in good health and displays no signs of recurrence.

When a relatively small anastomotic recurrence of colorectal cancer is detected in the low rectum, trans-anal resection (TAR) might be an option both for curative intent and for preservation of anal function. We report 3 such cases. Case No. 1: A 58-year-old woman presented with an anastomotic recurrence of sigmoid colon cancer. Low anterior resection(LAR)was performed. Two small recurrent nodules were detected at the suture line 1 year after LAR, which were successfully treated with TAR. The depth of the nodules indicated T2 cancer. The patient remained cancer free 5 years after TAR. Case No. 2: A 56-year-old man developed a severe anastomotic stenosis and an anastomotic recurrence 6 months after LAR for low rectal cancer. TAR was performed circumferentially to resect both the stricture and the recurrence. The depth of the nodule indicated T2 cancer. The patient was cancer free for 7 years after TAR. Case No. 3: A 54-year-old man developed 2 small recurrent nodules at the suture line after LAR for low rectal cancer. TAR was performed. The depth of the nodule indicated T1 cancer. One of the nodules was not resected, which necessitated intersphincteric resection (ISR) 10 months later. In conclusion, in cases of a relatively small recurrence of low rectal anastomosis after colorectal cancer surgery, TAR is an effective treatment option.

A 66-year-old man presented to the urology clinic with hematuria. Cystoscopy with biopsy was performed for suspected bladder cancer, and a pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was made. Colonoscopy revealed sigmoid colon cancer, and he was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed sigmoid colon cancer with urinary bladder invasion. Sigmoidectomy with lymph node dissection and partial cystectomy were performed under laparotomy. The pathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma: T4b (bladder), N1, M0, and the bladder margin was negative. Four months after surgery, CT revealed a small mass in the bladder. Cystoscopy showed a papillary pedunculated tumor at the bladder trigone, and a transurethral resection was performed. Pathological examination revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, similar to the prior sigmoid colon cancer, which was diagnosed as an intravesical recurrence of the tumor. More than 8 years after the transurethral resection, the patient has shown no signs of recurrence.

Intestinal pneumatosis refers to the presence of gas in the gastrointestinal wall. It is often difficult to clinically differentiate this condition from gastrointestinal perforation, sometimes resulting in emergency surgery. Imaging studies are important to establish the differential diagnosis. However, there have been few studies showing the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) colonography in diagnosing pneumatosis. We report a case of intestinal pneumatosis in which CT colonography was of significant diagnostic value. A 43-year-old man was referred to our hospital for a detailed investigation of multiple submucosal tumor-like lesions associated with multiple pneumatosis from the cecum to the ascending colon. These lesions were revealed by colonoscopy performed in another hospital on May 21, 2008. Abdominal 3-dimensional CT showed multiple pneumatic lesions from the cecum to the ascending colon, and the patient was diagnosed as having intestinal pneumatosis. The patient is being followed conservatively because he is asymptomatic.

Current imbalance can be estimated by the solution of the circuit equation, which depends on the result of the measurement of the self- and mutual inductances. Strand circuit is coupled with each other strongly, and therefore the matrix calculation is stiff. This situation leads to enhance the error of the measurement. In order to study this problem, we made a magnet, in which the cable was composed of the nine insulated strands, and measured the inductance matrix of the strand circuits by the LCR-meter. The inductance of the magnet is 11 mH, and the error of the measurement is the order of micro Henry to 10 mH. The average coupling factor of the magnet is 0.9956, and therefore this inductance matrix is almost singular. Finally, we calculated the currents of the strand. The accuracy of the inductance measurement is the order of 5–6 digits. We used ™ Mathematica to solve the circuit equation, and we tested the accuracy of the calculation precision. Random number method is introduced to estimate the required accuracy of the inductance measurement. The required accuracy of the inductance measurement is the order of micro Henry in this magnet to obtain the accuracy of 5% for the strand currents.

The safety of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has not been fully established. The aim of our retrospective study was to examine the outcomes and the factors contributing to the difficulty of laparoscopic surgery after CRT. Eighty-seven consecutive rectal cancer patients treated with CRT were analyzed. Clinicopathological factors were compared between laparoscopic surgery (n = 57) and open surgery (n = 30) groups, and factors that correlated with operation time and blood loss were analyzed in low anterior resection (LAR) cases in the laparoscopic surgery group (n = 46). There was less blood loss in the laparoscopic surgery group than in the open surgery group (191 vs. 1,043 ml, p = 0.0001), and the operation time in the two groups was similar (329 vs. 322 min, p = 0.8). The rate of conversion from laparoscopic surgery to open surgery was 1.8 %. There was no significant difference in the morbidity rate (laparoscopic surgery 22.8 % vs. open surgery 33.3 %, p = 0.3). All circumferential resection margins were clear. Three-year cumulative rates of local recurrence were as follows: laparoscopic surgery: 1.9 % vs. open surgery: 8.4 % (p = 0.4), and distant recurrence was 28.5 % in laparoscopic surgery vs. 22.7 % in open surgery (p = 0.8) and these rates were not significantly different. In laparoscopic LAR cases, a shorter distance of the tumor from the anal verge was associated with a longer operation time. A high computed tomography Hounsfield units value of the mesorectum (CTV) was associated with increased blood loss in the first 23 cases, but not in the other 23 cases. Laparoscopic surgery following CRT was safe and feasible. A shorter anal verge was associated with a longer operation time. Blood loss increased in cases with high CTV, but this can likely be mitigated by experience.