Coexistence of perineural invasion and lymph node metastases is a poor prognostic factor in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by radical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy

To determine the role of lymph node metastases [ypN] and perineural invasion [PNI] in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer [LARC]. Eighty-eight LARC patients receiving preoperative chemoradiotherapy from April 2006 to November 2011 were enrolled in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the association between clinicopathologic features and clinical outcome. The presence of ypN [p = 0.011] and PNI [p = 0.032] was a significant adverse prognostic factor for disease-free survival [DFS]. High histologic grade [p = 0.015], PNI+ [p = 0.043] and ypN+ [p = 0.041] were adverse prognostic factors for overall survival [OS]. Positive PNI was significantly associated with a higher risk of distant failure [odds ratio = 6.09; 95% CI: 1.57-27.05; p = 0.008]. Moreover, patients with a coexistence of ypN+ and PNI+ had the significantly worst DFS [p < 0.001] and OS rates [p < 0.001] compared with other phenotypes. The presence of either PNI or ypN was a significant prognostic factor for predicting poor survival rates in LARC patients, especially those with a coexistence of both factors. Accordingly, we recommend an intensive follow-up and therapeutic programs for LARC patients with simultaneous PNI+ and ypN+

FOLFIRI combined with bevacizumab as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer patients with hyperbilirubinemia after UGT1A1 genotyping

To report a metastatic colorectal cancer patient with hyperbilirubinemia treated with a combination of bevacizumab and FOLFIRI [5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan] using uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase [UGT1A1] genotyping.Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 46-year-old male was diagnosed with rectosigmoid colon cancer with liver metastases and hyperbilirubinemia presenting with severe jaundice. UGT1A1 genotyping was used before therapy to ascertain whether genotype-adjusted dosages of irinotecan plus bevacizumab could alleviate the toxicity. Then, the patient was treated with FOLFIRI. The FOLFIRI regimen was successfully used in this patient without concerns regarding toxicity