Circulating cytokeratin 18 fragment m65-a potential marker of malignancy in colorectal cancer patients.

Soluble cytokeratin 18 fragments (M30, M65) are released from human cancer cells during cell death and hold potential as biomarkers in colorectal cancer characterized by frequent metastatic spread. A total of 62 colorectal cancer and 27 control patients were included in the study. M65 (necrosis and apoptosis) and M30 (apoptosis) were quantified preoperatively (n = 62) and postoperatively (n = 31) using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Presence of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in the bone marrow was assessed by staining of A45-B/B3-positive cells in aspirates. M65 was significantly elevated in patients with International Union against Cancer stage I and IIA tumors compared to controls. A subgroup (19/31) exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of M65 after tumor surgery (503.9 +/- 230.7 to 342.6 + 94.8 U/l; -32.0 +/- 16.5%), in contrast to 12 patients who revealed higher M65 levels postoperatively (386.5 +/- 128.5 to 519.1 +/- 151 U/l; +37.4 +/- 32.3%). DTC in bone marrow were found in 10% (2/19) of patients with decreasing and 50% (6/12) of the patients with increasing M65 serum concentrations after surgery (p = 0.028). In conclusion, M65 as marker is likely to be valuable to identify patients with a high incidence of systemic disease.

Sacral nerve stimulation in patients after rectal resection--preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: Sacral nerve stimulation is a widely accepted therapeutic option for neurogenic fecal incontinence. More recently, case reports showed a positive effect of sacral nerve stimulation in patients with fecal incontinence following low anterior resection. The purpose of this study was to gain more information for this selected indication for sacral nerve stimulation through a nationwide survey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the period 2002 to 2005, three Austrian departments reported data of patients who underwent SNS for fecal incontinence following rectal resection. Data were available of seven patients (two female, five male) with a median age of 57 years (min 42; max 79). Six patients had undergone rectal resection as a treatment for low rectal cancer. One patient had undergone rectal resection for Crohn's disease, one patient subtotal colectomy and ileorectostomy for slow colon transit constipation. RESULTS: Test stimulation was performed in the foramen S3 unilaterally over a median period of 14 days (2-21 days). Seven patients reported a marked reduction of episodes of incontinence during the observation period and received a permanent stimulation system. After a median follow-up of 32 months (17-46), five patients reported a marked improvement of their continence situation. CONCLUSION: Despite a nationwide survey experiences with SNS as a treatment for fecal incontinence following rectal resection is still limited. Our observations show an improvement of the continence function following SNS. However, the promising results of our series as well as others need further research and more clinical data by a larger number of patients in a prospective trial.

Immunomagnetic CD45 depletion does not improve cytokeratin 20 RT-PCR in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cytokeratin 20 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (CK20 RT-PCR) of blood and bone marrow specimens has been suggested for assessment of hematogenously disseminated tumor cell (DTC) spread in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Considerable discrepancies among the studies reported indicate a need for better evaluation procedures. We investigated whether mononucleated cell (MNC) enrichment by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation followed by immunomagnetic depletion of CD45-positive cells (extended enrichment) allows better detection of DTC-associated CK20 mRNA compared to MNC enrichment by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation alone (Ficoll enrichment). METHODS: We analyzed 53 samples [38 peripheral blood (PB), 15 bone marrow (BM)] from 38 CRC patients. Extended enrichment was performed for 30 specimens (PB and BM, n=15 each), and Ficoll enrichment for 23 blood specimens. Total RNA was extracted, reverse-transcribed and analyzed by real-time RT-PCR using a LightCycler instrument. RESULTS: Despite extended enrichment, 10 PB and 8 BM samples could not be analyzed because of low cellular yield. The depletion efficiency of CD45 separation was 2 log. RT-PCR of the housekeeping gene PBGD resulted in high and varied crossing point values (mean 37.1+3.0) for five PB and seven BM specimens. Ficoll enrichment yielded 23 analyzable blood specimens for which the mean crossing point value was 26.7+0.5 in PBGD RT-PCR. CK20 RT-PCR of 23 blood samples (all from Dukes D patients) revealed CK20 transcripts in four cases (17%). CONCLUSIONS: Extended enrichment was not superior to Ficoll enrichment; in fact, the sensitivity was lower. Improvement of the reported CK20 RT-PCR assay of Ficoll-enriched MNC populations is warranted.

Technique and long-term results of intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Intersphincteric resection of low rectal tumors is a surgical technique extending rectal resection into the intersphincteric space. This procedure is performed by a synchronous abdominoperineal approach with mesorectal excision and excision of the entire or part of the internal sphincter. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term results of this method focused on continence function and oncologic results. METHODS: From 1984 to 2000, a total of 121 patients were operated on. The patients were evaluated prospectively according to a detailed preoperative and postoperative program. RESULTS: One hundred seventeen patients had rectal cancers, two had dysplastic villous adenomas, and two had carcinoid tumors. Cancers were staged according to the Dukes classification (Stage A in 41 percent, Stage B in 28 percent, and Stage C in 31 percent; median distance from the anal margin, 3 (range, 1-5) cm). Postoperative complications were: one death because of pulmonary embolism, 5.1 percent developed an anastomotic fistula, one patient had a fistula to the bladder requiring reoperation, one patient with ileus needed relaparotomy as well as one for intra-abdominal hemorrhage and a small-bowel fistula. One patient developed a fistula after closing the protective colostomy. Five patients developed late strictures of the coloanal anastomosis. After a median follow-up of 72.86 months, 5.3 percent of patients developed local recurrence. The continence status was satisfactory with 16 patients (13.7 percent) showing continence for solid stool only, and 1 patient (0.8 percent) showing episodes of incontinence. A transient problem was a high stool frequency after closure of the protective stoma. CONCLUSIONS: Intersphincteric resection is a valuable procedure for sphincter-saving rectal surgery. We showed that this technique has satisfactory long-term results in functional and oncologic respects. An important prerequisite is a careful preoperative evaluation of local tumor spread with rectal magnetic resonance imaging excluding infiltration of the external sphincter.

Magnetic resonance imaging predicts sphincter invasion of low rectal cancer and influences selection of operation.

BACKGROUND: With the development of numerous sphincter-saving surgical techniques in the last 2 decades, the indication for abdominoperineal resection in radical-elective operations has been markedly reduced. The preoperative assessment of the extent of local tumor growth is essential for the planning of the optimal surgical procedure. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved to be a reliable method for local staging of low rectal carcinoma. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of sphincter invasion in an unselected population with low rectal cancer. METHODS: From 1997 to 1999, 40 patients with histologically verified adenocarcinoma of the lower rectum (+/-5 cm above the linea dentata) without evidence of metastases underwent a MRI with a body coil (no anal endocoil). The MRI results were compared with the operative situs and with pathohistologic findings. RESULTS: An infiltration of the sphincter ani internus was observed in 11 cases (28%), and a combined infiltration of the sphincter ani internus and externus was found in 2 patients (5%). The median distance of the lower tumor edge to the upper border of the anal canal was 2.0 cm (range, 0-4.5 cm). No infiltration of the external sphincter was observed in patients with cancers above the anal canal. Nine patients (22%) were treated with intersphincteric resection and coloanal anastomosis, 12 (30%) with ultralow resection, and 11 (28%) with low anterior resection of the rectum in conjunction with coloanal anastomosis or a stapled anastomosis. Eight (17%) of the patients were treated with abdominoperineal resection. CONCLUSION: An infiltration of the internal sphincter occurs only in 28% of low rectal cancers; an infiltration of the external anal sphincter is extremely rare and occurred only in patients with cancers located in the anal canal. Pelvic MRI offers a precise preoperative visualization of sphincter infiltration in patients with low rectal cancers and is therefore a valuable tool for planning of rectal surgery.

Efficacy of diagnosis of mechanical cholestasis by magnetic resonance cholangiography.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in diagnosing patients with cholestasis and to compare these results to those obtained with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography(ERCP). From January 1996 to December 1998 a total of 85 consecutive patients who were candidates for ERCP because of a suspected diagnosis of mechanical cholestasis were included in this study. All patients underwent MRC and consecutive ERCP 24 to 48 hours later. The sensitivity for detecting common bile duct stones was 93%,specificity 74%, positive predictive value 89%, and negative predictive value 82%. For the determination of tumorous bile duct stenosis the sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. MRC might be an ideal method for evaluating patients with unclear laboratory or ultrasonography findings before laparoscopic cholecystectomy, thereby avoiding unnecessary invasive diagnostic tests with possible harmful complications.