IN-VITRO evidence for the protective properties of the main components of the Mediterranean diet against colorectal cancer: A systematic review.

AIM: Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) vary over 10-fold worldwide where within Westernized societies lower rates are observed amongst populations living within the Mediterranean basin, suggesting a significant influence of environment and dietary style in CRC carcinogenesis. Interpretation of the data concerning the benefits of mediterranean (MD) diet is difficult in vivo because of the variability of alimentary regimens used, the differing compliance with dietary supplementation and because of the non-uniform duration of patient cohort observation. Therefore, the aim of this review is to evaluate the in-vitro effects on colorectal cancer cell lines. METHODS: the literature concerning the in-vitro effects of 4 of the principal components symbolizing the MD such as olive oil (polyphenol), red chili (capsaicin), tomato (lycopene) and red grapes (resveratrol) have been systematically reviewed. RESULTS: Several studies have demonstrated that polyphenols form olive oil, lycopene, resveratrol and capsaicin have multiple anticancer properties affecting several metabolic pathways involved in cancerogenesis, apoptosis, and metastasis in CRC cell lines. CONCLUSION: This review summarizes some of the most recent data potentially supportive of the use of MD in CRC chemoprevention, analyzing the in vitro effects of individual components of the MD on CRC cell development, progression, metastasis and apoptosis.

Disseminated tumour cells in bone marrow in experimental colon cancer: metastatic or resident?

AIM: There are conflicting data on the biological and prognostic significance of disseminated tumour cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow of colorectal cancer patients since bone metastasis is rare in this disease. The study aimed to determine the origin of bone marrow DTCs using human colorectal cancer cells in in vivo and in vitro experimental settings. METHOD: CD1 nude female mice were xenotransplanted with SW620 cells (a colorectal cancer cell line isolated from a male patient) injected in the colon wall. At autopsy, the presence of SW620 in the bone marrow (BM), colon and other organs/tissues was recognized by detection of the epithelial marker cytokeratin-19 (CK19) and Y chromosome. In addition SW620 cells or their conditioned medium were cultured with human BM cells. RESULTS: Macroscopically evident CK19+/Y-chromosome-positive tumours developed only in five mice receiving SW620 cells while putative DTCs (CK19+) were found in the bone marrow of all treated mice. Most of these CK19+ cells were Y chromosome negative, only few being Y chromosome positive. In vitro SW620 cells or their conditioned medium induced CK19 expression in cultured human bone marrow cells. CONCLUSION: Experimental colorectal cancer can induce the appearance of two distinct CK19+ cell populations in the bone marrow, one of metastatic origin and the other of murine origin. These findings suggest that bone marrow cells may undergo phenotypic modifications induced by cancer cells.

Anti-oestrogen therapy in the treatment of desmoid tumours: a systematic review.

AIM: The treatment of desmoid tumours (DTs) is controversial. Anti-oestrogen therapy has frequently been used, but clear information of its efficacy is lacking. In this systematic review we have undertaken a comprehensive analysis to assess the effectiveness of anti-oestrogen therapy in terms of ability to induce partial or complete regression of DTs. METHOD: A systematic review of articles published in English between January 1983 and December 2009 was carried out according to the RECIST criteria. A literature search was performed on electronic databases including: United States National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE-PubMed), Excerpta Medica (EMBASE), Cochrane Library and Google search engine. Two-hundred articles dealing with DTs were identified but only fourty-one were were selected as appropriate for the study. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Data on 168 DTs treated with anti-oestrogen agents, alone or in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, were identified with an overall response rate of 51%. There was no difference in response according to the type of DTs or between different anti-oestrogen therapies. Combination with anti-inflammatory drugs did not improve the outcome. Toremifene was sometimes effective in cases resistant to tamoxifen. Response did not seem to be related to oestrogen receptor status. CONCLUSIONS: Despite potential inaccuracies in the methodology, the results of the review indicate that anti-oestrogen therapy produces some effect in about one half of patients with DTs. Its indication compared with other treatments is discussed.