Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) Correlates to the Anatomical Location of Colorectal Cancer. Implications for Clinical Use.

PURPOSE: The pathological, clinical, and therapeutic features of colorectal cancer (CRC) depend on its anatomical localization. We investigated possible associations between the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and CRC localization. METHODS: Two-hundred eighty-eight consecutive patients with CRC were retrospectively studied. Demographic, clinical, pathological and laboratory data were retrieved from clinical records and reports. RESULTS: Median RDW values were significantly higher in patients with right-sided CRC when compared to those with CRC in other localizations (16.2, IQR: 14.5-20.0 vs 13.8, IQR: 13.0-16.1, p < 0.0001). Anisocytosis was statistically associated to haemoglobin (Hb), mean haemoglobin concentration (MHC), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values in all the patient groups examined. A cut-off value of 14.3% was associated with right-sided localization with sensitivity and specificity of 76.3% and 64.2%, respectively (AUC 0.71). CONCLUSION: Median RDW values were significantly higher in right-sided CRC when compared to other tumour locations, and may represent an additional marker for differential diagnosis.

C reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) as predictor of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most severe complications in colorectal surgery. Currently, no predictive biomarkers of AL are available. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of C reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR) as a predictor of AL in patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on 1183 consecutive patients surgically treated for histologically proven colorectal cancer in the surgical units involved in the study were collected. Data included sex, age, BMI, ASA score, Charlson comorbidity index, localization, histology and stage of the disease, as well as blood tests including albumin and CRP at the 4th postoperative day. Differences in CAR between patients who developed AL and those who did not were analyzed, and the ability of CAR to predict AL was investigated with ROC analysis. RESULTS: CAR was significantly higher in patients with AL in comparison to those without, at the 4th postoperative day. In ROC analysis CAR showed a good ability in detecting AL (AUC 0.825, 95%CI: 0,786-0,859), greater than those of CRP and albumin alone. CAR also showed a high ability in detecting postoperative deaths (AUC 0.750, 95% CI 0,956-0,987). These findings were confirmed in multivariate analysis including the most relevant risk factors for AL. CONCLUSION: Our study evidenced that CAR, an inexpensive and widely available laboratory biomarker, adequately predicts AL and death in patients who underwent elective surgery for colorectal cancer.

The Warburg Effect 97 Years after Its Discovery.

The deregulation of the oxidative metabolism in cancer, as shown by the increased aerobic glycolysis and impaired oxidative phosphorylation (Warburg effect), is coordinated by genetic changes leading to the activation of oncogenes and the loss of oncosuppressor genes. The understanding of the metabolic deregulation of cancer cells is necessary to prevent and cure cancer. In this review, we illustrate and comment the principal metabolic and molecular variations of cancer cells, involved in their anomalous behavior, that include modifications of oxidative metabolism, the activation of oncogenes that promote glycolysis and a decrease of oxygen consumption in cancer cells, the genetic susceptibility to cancer, the molecular correlations involved in the metabolic deregulation in cancer, the defective cancer mitochondria, the relationships between the Warburg effect and tumor therapy, and recent studies that reevaluate the Warburg effect. Taken together, these observations indicate that the Warburg effect is an epiphenomenon of the transformation process essential for the development of malignancy.

Blood cell count indexes as predictors of anastomotic leakage in elective colorectal surgery: a multicenter study on 1432 patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate a series of blood count inflammation indexes in predicting anastomotic leakage (AL) in elective colorectal surgery. METHODS: Demographic, pathologic, and clinical data of 1432 consecutive patients submitted to colorectal surgery in eight surgical centers were retrospectively evaluated. The neutrophil to lymphocyte (NLR), derived neutrophil to lymphocyte (dNLR), lymphocyte to monocyte (LMR), and platelet to lymphocyte (PLR) ratios were calculated before surgery and on the 1st and 4th postoperative days, in patients with or without AL. RESULTS: There were 106 patients with AL (65 males, mean age 67.4 years). The NLR, dNLR, and PLR were significantly higher in patients with AL in comparison to those without, on both the 1st and 4th postoperative days, but significance was greater on the 4th postoperative day. An NLR cutoff value of 7.1 on this day showed the best area under the curve (AUC 0.744; 95% CI 0.719-0.768) in predicting AL. CONCLUSIONS: Among the blood cell indexes of inflammation evaluated, NLR on the 4th postoperative day showed the best ability to predict AL. NLR is a low cost, easy to perform, and widely available index, which might be potentially used in clinical practice as a predictor of AL in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.

Deciduoid mesothelioma of the thorax: A comprehensive review of the scientific literature.

OBJECTIVE: Deciduoid mesothelioma is a rare variant of malignant epithelioid mesothelioma. It often involves the peritoneum, but also thoracic cases have been reported. The aim of the present review is to describe the demographic, clinical, radiological, and pathological features of such a rare variant of thoracic mesothelioma, and the state of the art regarding the therapeutic approaches currently available. DATA SOURCE: English-language articles published from 1985 to June 2016, and related to thoracic deciduoid mesothelioma cases were retrieved using the Pubmed database. STUDY SELECTION: The search terms were "mesothelioma," "thoracic mesothelioma," "epithelial mesothelioma," "pleural mesothelioma," and "deciduoid mesothelioma." RESULTS: Forty-four cases included in 16 articles, published in the period under investigation, were analyzed in detail. CONCLUSIONS: The mean age of the patients was 63 years, and the male to female ratio 1.7:1. Approximately 58% had exposure to asbestos, and 73% had a smoking history; familiarity was rarely reported. The most common anatomical site of origin was the right pleura, and the most frequent clinical manifestations were chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and weight loss. Thoracic X-ray and computed tomography were the imaging techniques most employed for diagnosis and surgical planning. The pathological diagnosis was obtained by examination of surgical or biopsy specimens in most cases. The best treatment strategy of deciduoid mesothelioma is a matter of debate; nevertheless a multidisciplinary approach is currently the best option for the choice of the adequate therapeutic scheme.

Perineural infiltration as a prognostic factor in surgically treated gallbladder cancer A single center experience and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most incident cancer of the biliary tract with only 5-13% of the sufferers surviving for five years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of perineural invasion (PNI) and its association with several clinicopathological variables in a cohort of surgically treated patients, and through a comprehensive review of the scientific literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients submitted to curative surgery for GBC from 2008 through 2016 were enrolled. Demographic, clinical and pathological data were retrieved from medical files, and specimens were re-examined by two experienced pathologists. The Pubmed database was searched for articles reporting on perineural infiltration on gallbladder cancer. RESULTS: Perineural invasion was observed in 14 (56%) cases, and it was more frequent in higher pathological stages. A statistically significant association was found with high preoperative serum Ca 19-9 levels. Fourteen (56%) patients died during the follow-up; survival was lower in patients with perineural invasion in comparison to those without, but not statistically significant. Twelve English-language articles reporting on PNI were retrieved and discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Perineural invasion is associated with higher stage and poorer survival in surgically treated GBC patients. In patients with locally advanced GBC resection of the extrahepatic biliary duct and frozen section examination of the distal stump must be taken into consideration, especially in cases of tumor arising from the hepatic side of the gallbladder. In cases without residual disease but with pathological evidence of PNI, a careful follow-up is suggested to early detect recurrences. KEY WORDS: Adenocarcinoma, Cancer, Gallbladder, Perineural infiltration, Surgery.

Surgical outcomes in patients with hepatic synchronous and metachronous colorectal metastases.

AIM: To evaluate the impact of several clinical and pathological factors on the outcomes of surgery for hepatic colorectal cancer metastasis. METHODS: Eighty-four liver metastasectomies in 77 consecutive patients with 90 colorectal cancer hepatic metastases were performed in our institution from 2009 to 2014. Surgery was carried out in 75 cases, as two patients were not eligible for surgery. Among them 43 (Group A) were affected by synchronous, and 32 (Group B) by metachronous lesions. Furthermore, 9 reoperations were performed in patients with initially synchronous lesions. The follow-up after surgery included total body CT scan every 3 months for the first year, and every 6 months for 4 years thereafter. Blood level of CEA was determined every 3 months. RESULTS: The univariate analysis evidenced significantly more recurrences in patients with synchronous lesions (p=0.011), and higher grade, pN stage and CEA blood levels. In multivariate logistic regression analysis the statistically significant parameters found were: the pT stage (OR: 3.92, p = 0.039), the use of adjuvant chemotherapy for the colonic tumor (OR: 0.19, p = 0.025), and the adjuvant chemotherapy (OR: 4.11, p = 0.048). The global survival was 32 patients (41.5%), 17 with synchronous and 15 with metachronous lesions, and a significant difference in long-term survival between these two groups was found (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The most relevant prognostic factor in patients with hepatic colorectal cancer dissemination is the timing of metastasis; the metachronous lesions present better survival when surgically treated. KEY WORDS: Colorectal cancer, Liver, Metastasis, Surgery.

Surgical treatment of chronic multivascular mesenteric ischemia in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome, abdominal aortic aneurism, and renal cancer: when planning overwhelms complexity.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia is a clinical condition caused by obstructive or occlusive disease of the mesenteric vessels, with potentially lethal consequences. We describe a case of open multiple revascularization in a patient affected by antiphospholipid syndrome and diffuse atherosclerosis, with an abdominal aortic aneurism, a contracted kidney, a renal cancer affecting the contralateral kidney, and as a consequence, a chronic renal failure and hypertension. We revascularized the celiac trunk, the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries, and the right renal artery using saphenous grafts; the aneurism was corrected, and the renal tumor was treated by radiofrequency ablation. Despite the invasiveness and complexity, the surgical strategy adopted allowed to save the patient's life, to treat the chronic mesenteric ischemia and the renal cancer, and to improve the chronic renal insufficiency and hypertension. KEY WORDS: Graft, Mesenteric ischemia, Occlusion, Revascularization.