The Association of Mismatch Repair Status with Microscopically Positive (R1) Margins in Stage III Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: There is mounting evidence that microscopically positive (R1) margins in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) may represent a surrogate for aggressive cancer biology rather than technical failure during surgery. However, whether detectable biological differences exist between CRC with R0 and R1 margins is unknown. We sought to investigate whether mismatch repair (MMR) status differs between Stage III CRC with R0 or R1 margins. METHODS: Patients treated for Stage III CRC from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019 were identified by using the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group database. Patients were stratified according to MMR status (proficient [pMMR] vs. deficient [dMMR]) and margin status. Outcomes of interest included the R1 rate according to MMR and overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 3636 patients were included, of whom 473 (13.0%) had dMMR colorectal cancers. Patients with dMMR cancers were more likely to be elderly, female, and have right-sided cancers. R1 margins were significantly more common in patients with dMMR cancers (20.5% vs. 15.2%, p < 0.001), with the greatest difference seen in the rate of R1 margins related to the primary tumour (8.9% vs. 4.7%) rather than to lymph node metastases (11.6% vs. 10.5%). This association was seen in both right- and left-sided cancers. On multivariable analyses, R1 margins, but not MMR status, were associated with poorer survival, alongside age, pN stage, perineural invasion, and extramural venous invasion. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Stage III CRC, dMMR status is associated with increased risks of R1 margins following potentially curative surgery, supporting the use of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in this patient group.

Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Rectal Cancer.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions have resulted in delayed diagnoses across various tumor entities, including rectal cancer. Our hypothesis was based on the expectation of a reduced number of primary operations due to higher tumor stages compared to the control group. Methods: In a single-center retrospective study conducted from 1 March 2018 to 1 March 2022, we analyzed 120 patients with an initial diagnosis of rectal cancer. Among them, 65 patients were part of the control group (pre-COVID-19), while 55 patients were included in the study group (during the COVID-19 pandemic). We compared tumor stages, treatment methods, and complications, presenting data as absolute numbers or mean values. Results: Fewer primary tumor resections during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.010), as well as a significantly lower overall number of tumor resections (p = 0.025) were seen compared to the control group. Twenty percent of patients in the COVID-19 group received their diagnosis during lockdown periods. These patients presented significantly higher tumor stages (T4b: 27.3% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.025) compared to the control group prior to the pandemic. In addition, more patients with angiolymphatic invasion (ALI) were identified in the COVID-19 group following neoadjuvant treatment compared to the control group (p = 0.027). No differences were noted between the groups regarding complications, stoma placement, or conversion rates. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during lockdown, appears to have contributed to delayed diagnoses, resulting in higher tumor stages and a decreased number of surgeries. The quality of rectal cancer treatment can be maintained under pandemic conditions.

Comparison of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging with postoperative pathology results in rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy.

BACKGROUND: Locally advanced rectal cancer often requires neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) before surgical intervention. This study aimed to assess the concordance between preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and postoperative pathology results after NAT in rectal cancer patients. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 52 patients who underwent NAT and subsequent surgery at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital between May 2019 and May 2023 was conducted. Demographics, preoperative MRIs, time intervals between NAT, MRI, and surgery, and postoperative pathology were assessed. RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 59 years, with a male predominance (76.9%). Tumour T stage (κ = 0.157), lymph node stage (κ = 0.138), and circumferential resection margin (κ = 0.138) concordance showed poor agreement between post-neoadjuvant treatment (PNT) MRI and pathology. PNT MRI demonstrated a limited correlation with postoperative pathology. CONCLUSIONS: While preoperative MRI is commonly used for restaging after NAT in rectal cancer, our study highlights its limited concordance with postoperative pathology. The sensitivity and specificity metrics, although reported in the literature, should be interpreted alongside concordance assessments for a comprehensive evaluation.

Dental visits and colon-rectum cancer: A nationwide population-based nested case-control study in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Although oral health and systemic diseases are closely associated, little is known about the utilization of ambulatory dental visits in patients prior to diagnosis of colon-rectum cancer (CRC). In this study, a nested case-control study based on the population-based health claim database was conducted to clarify the relationship between dental visits and CRC in Taiwan. Materials and methods: From the Longitudinal Health Insurance Research Database 2010 (LHIRD 2010), we identified 4787 patients who were newly diagnosed with CRC from 2005 to 2013. We also recruited 19,148 control subjects matched in a 1:4 ratio based on sex and age at the index date from LHIRD 2010. Both groups were retrospectively traced back to 1997 to obtain any records of ambulatory dental visits that occurred within 8 years prior to the index date. ICD-9 codes 520-529 for diseases of oral cavity, salivary glands, and jaw were defined as dental visits. Results: The mean frequency of dental visits within 8 years prior to index date among patients with CRC were significantly higher than the control group (P = 0.005). Patients with CRC had significantly higher proportions of certain co-morbidities than control group. However, periodontal treatment, caries filling, and tooth extraction were borderline and not significantly related to CRC after adjustment. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the utilization of ambulatory dental visits is significantly increased in patients with CRC prior to its diagnosis. Certain co-morbidities may also affect the frequency of dental visits and the occurrence of CRC.

Potential dosimetric error in the adaptive workflow of a 1.5 T MR-Linac from patient movement relative to immobilisation systems.

In magnetic resonance- (MR-) based adaptive workflows for an MR-linac, the treatment plan is optimized and recalculated online using the daily MR images. The Unity MR-linac is supplied with a patient positioning device (ppd) using pelvic and abdomen thermoplastic masks attached to a board with high-density components. This study highlights the dosimetric effect of using this in such workflows when there are relative patient-ppd displacements, as these are not visualized on MR imaging and the treatment planning system assumes the patient is fixed relative to the ppd. The online adapted plans of two example rectum cancer patients treated at a Unity MR-linac were perturbed by introducing relative patient-ppd displacements, and the effect was evaluated on plan dosimetry. Forty-eight perturbed clinical adapted plans were recalculated, based on online MR-based synthetic computed tomography, and compared with the original plans, using dose-volume histogram parameters and gamma analysis. The target volume covered by the prescribed dose ( D pre ) and by at least 107% of D pre varied up to - 1.87% and + 3.67%, respectively for 0.5 cm displacements, and to - 3.18% and + 4.96% for 2 cm displacements; whilst 2%-2 mm gamma analysis showed a median value of 92.9%. The use of a patient positioning system with high-density components in a Unity MR-based online adaptive treatment workflow can introduce unrecognized errors in plan dosimetry and it is recommended not to use such a device for such treatments, without modifying the device and the workflow, followed by careful clinical evaluation, or alternatively to use other immobilization methods.

Clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer patients under 30 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second cause of cancer death in the world and is estimated to have been responsible for almost 935,000 deaths during 2020. OBJECTIVE: Describe clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in CRC patients under 30 years. METHOD: This is a retrospective cohort study in patients under 30 years diagnosed with CRC. RESULTS: From 2017 to 2021, 1823 patients were diagnosed with CRC, of which 54 (2.96%) were under 30 years. The OS, during 4 years, was 41.5%. The clinical stage found IV (hazard ratio [HR]: 6.212; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.504-15.414; p < 0.001), giving neoadjuvant therapy (HR: 0.705; 95% CI: 0.499-0.996; p = 0.047) and no medical history of Lynch syndrome (HR: 3.925; 95% CI: 1.355-11.364; p = 0.012) are independent predictors of mortality. The PFS, during 4 years, was 21.3%. Clinical stage IV (HR: 2.418; 95% CI: 1.000-5.850; p < 0.050), and no diagnosis of Lynch syndrome (HR: 3.800; 95% CI: 1.398-10.326; p = 0.009) are independent predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients are usually diagnosed with CRC in advanced stages. Early symptoms and evaluation, irrespective of age, are crucial.

ANTECEDENTES: El cáncer colorrectal (CCR) es la segunda causa de muerte por cáncer en el mundo y se estima que fue responsable de casi 935,000 muertes durante el año 2020. OBJETIVO: Describir las características clinicopatológicas, la supervivencia global (SG) y la supervivencia libre de progresión (SLP) en pacientes con CCR menores de 30 años. MÉTODO: Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo en pacientes con diagnóstico de CCR menores de 30 años. RESULTADOS: Entre 2017 y 2021 se diagnosticaron 1823 pacientes con CCR, de los cuales 54 (2.96%) eran menores de 30 años. La SG a 4 años fue del 41.5%. Se encontró que la etapa clínica IV (hazard ratio [HR]: 6.212; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 2.504-15.414; p < 0.001), recibir tratamiento neoadyuvante (HR: 0.705; IC95%: 0.499-0.996; p = 0.047) y no tener antecedente de síndrome de Lynch (HR:3.925; IC95%: 1.355-11.364; p = 0.012) son predictores de mortalidad independientes. La SLP a 4 años fue del 21.3%. La etapa clínica IV (HR: 2.418; IC95%: 1.000-5.850; p < 0.050) y el no contar con diagnóstico de síndrome de Lynch (HR: 3.800; IC95%: 1.398-10.326; p = 0.009) son predictores independientes. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes jóvenes son diagnosticados con CCR en etapas avanzadas. Los síntomas iniciales, junto con la evaluación, independientemente de la edad, son cruciales.

Our Experience With Left Colon and Rectal Cancer Surgery and the Impact of Preoperative Sarcopenia on Complication Rates.

BACKGROUND: Evidence about the importance of sarcopenia in patients operated on for gastrointestinal cancers and that it may have both early and long-term impacts is expanding. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of sarcopenia on the outcomes of the patients we operated on for left colon and rectum cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the electronic records of 38 patients operated on for left colon and rectal cancer between 2010 and 2020, and demographic variables, clinical stages, laboratory tests, body mass index (BMI), psoas muscle index (PMI), pathological stages, and Dindo Clavien complication scores were interpreted. We also assigned our patients into two groups according to their preoperative PMI values. We compared the first group of 12 patients with preoperative sarcopenia with the second group of 26 patients without preoperative sarcopenia. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients who underwent curative surgery for left colon and rectal cancer, 20 were female and 18 were male. The median age of the group was 59.9 years. The most common tumour localization was in the rectosigmoid region in 17 patients, and the tumour in 6 patients was in the left colon. Therapy had been initiated with neoadjuvant treatment in 19 patients. At the preoperative evaluation, sarcopenia was present in 12 patients. Thirty-four patients underwent robot-assisted surgery. Postoperative pathologies were reported as stage 3 in 15 patients. Complications were reported in 17 patients, and nine were minor (Dindo-Clavien score < 3), but in eight patients, they were moderate to severe (Dindo-Clavien score ≥ 3). When the first group, 12 patients with preoperative sarcopenia, and the second group, 26 patients without preoperative sarcopenia, were compared, the patients with sarcopenia were found to be older (p=0.001), and male patients were in the majority (p=0.017). The postoperative follow-up of 12 patients with preoperative sarcopenia revealed that 7 (58.8%) had complications. Complications were observed in 10 (38.4%) patients in the second group. When the two groups were compared, the risk of developing complications was significantly higher in the sarcopenia group (p=0.016). Only one patient in the first group had moderate to severe complications, but seven patients without sarcopenia had moderate to severe complications. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that many patients we have operated on for left colon and rectal cancer have preoperative sarcopenia for which we should care. The sarcopenia rate was higher in males and elderly patients, and the risk of overall postoperative complications increased significantly in patients with preoperative sarcopenia. In consequence, the results of our study provide evidence that preoperative sarcopenia status is an important parameter to determine the risk status of the patient, and patients with preoperative sarcopenia should be monitored more closely. Thus, we may be able to diagnose and intervene early in the complications.

Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Sexual Function in Rectal Cancer Patients Before and After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: The association of treatment-related side effects and tumor characteristics with sexual function, depression, and anxiety were investigated in patients with locally advanced rectum cancer (LARC) receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients who received neoadjuvant CRT with LARC were included. The Arizona Sexual Experiences (ASEX) Scale was used to determine the sexual function status whereas the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to evaluate the depression and anxiety status of the patient, respectively. The patients were asked to fill these scales before and at least 4 weeks after the neoadjuvant CRT. T-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for the comparison of values. RESULTS: Median age was 52.5 years (range: 33-76). Twenty-six patients were male, and 6 patients were female. At presentation, the tumor was located mostly in lower third rectum (72%), and 69% of the patients had T3 tumors. There was a statistically significant deterioration in the sexual functions of the patients (p < 0.001), a statistically significant decrease in their anxiety level after CRT (p: 0.037). Depression level was changed from mild to minimal during this process (p: 0.17). A significant deterioration in the ASEX scale was observed especially in patients with grade 2 and above gastrointestinal side effects (p: 0.01). CONCLUSION: This prospective study showed that the patient's anxiety and depression levels had decreased during the treatment process probably due to the decrease in the patient's symptoms. However, deterioration of the sexual function status which might be correlated to increased gastrointestinal side effects during CRT has been observed. So, clinical and psychiatric support including therapies for sexual dysfunctions is needed for LARC patients during and after the neoadjuvant CRT.

Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma and Rectal Adenocarcinoma Detected by Tubo-Ovarian Abscess: A Case Report.

Most cases of tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) are due to transvaginal infection, while other internal diseases may also be associated with TOAs. We experienced a case of ovarian clear cell carcinoma and rectal carcinoma that was discovered to be a result of TOA. A 46-year-old woman was diagnosed with TOA and referred to our hospital. Laparoscopic abscess drainage was performed, and pathological findings confirmed the presence of ovarian clear cell carcinoma inside the abscess. The tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was elevated, and rectal cancer was diagnosed by a gastrointestinal endoscopy. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a left adnexal abscess with an air image inside, and penetration of the abscess wall and rectal cancer were observed. Histopathologically, there was an accumulation of neutrophils around the rectal tumor cells. We concluded that the rectal cancer had penetrated the existing ovarian tumor and formed TOA. Non-gynecological diseases may be associated with TOA. It is necessary to consider the possibility that other clinical diseases may be associated with the trigger of TOA.

Relationship between body mass index and short-term postoperative prognosis in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a state in which excess heat is converted into excess fat, which accumulates in the body and may cause damage to multiple organs of the circulatory, endocrine, and digestive systems. Studies have shown that the accumulation of abdominal fat and mesenteric fat hypertrophy in patients with obesity makes laparoscopic surgery highly difficult, which is not conducive to operation and affects patient prognosis. However, there is still controversy regarding these conclusions. AIM: To explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and short-term prognosis after surgery for colorectal cancer. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Web of Science, CNKI, and China Biology Medicine Disc databases were searched to obtain relevant articles on this topic. After the articles were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and the risk of literature bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, the prognostic indicators were combined and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 16 articles were included for quantitative analysis, and 15588 patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery were included in the study, including 3775 patients with obesity and 11813 patients without obesity. Among them, 12 articles used BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and 4 articles used BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 for the definition of obesity. Four patients underwent robotic colorectal surgery, whereas 12 underwent conventional laparoscopic colorectal resection. The quality of the literature was good. Meta-combined analysis showed that the overall complication rate of patients with obesity after surgery was higher than that of patients without obesity [OR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.23-1.48, Z = 6.25, P < 0.0001]. The incidence of anastomotic leak after surgery in patients with obesity was not significantly different from that in patients without obesity [OR = 0.99, 95%CI: 0.70-1.41), Z = -0.06, P = 0.956]. The incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) after surgery in patients with obesity was higher than that in patients without obesity [OR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.16-1.78, Z = 3.31, P < 0.001]. The incidence of reoperation in patients with obesity after surgery was higher than that in patients without obesity; however, the difference was not statistically significant [OR = 1.15, 95%CI: 0.92-1.45, Z = 1.23, P = 0.23]; Patients with obesity had lower mortality after surgery than patients without obesity; however, the difference was not statistically significant [OR = 0.61, 95%CI: 0.35-1.06, Z = -1.75, P = 0.08]. Subgroup analysis revealed that the geographical location of the institute was one of the sources of heterogeneity. Robot-assisted surgery was not significantly different from traditional laparoscopic resection in terms of the incidence of complications. CONCLUSION: Obesity increases the overall complication and SSI rates of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery but has no influence on the incidence of anastomotic leak, reoperation rate, and short-term mortality rate.

Survival of Patients With Metastatic Rectum Cancer Who Underwent Metastasectomy Following Conversion Chemotherapy Sans Pelvic Radiotherapy: A Turkish Oncology Group Study.

BACKGROUND: The management of early rectal cancer is different from that of colon cancer in terms of radiotherapy (RT) requirements or neoadjuvant treatment. It is not clear how the course of rectal cancer differs from that of the colon in a metastatic setting or how it should be approached differently. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes after combining downsizing chemotherapy (CTx) with rescue surgery. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients (57 men and 32 women) diagnosed with metastatic rectal cancer with resectable disease after systemic CTx were included in the study. All patients underwent surgery for the primary mass and metastasis, but none received radiation therapy before or after surgery. Survival curves for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test for subgroups. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 28.8 (17.6-39.4) months. During the follow-up, 54 (60.7%) patients died and 78 (87.6%) patients had a PFS event. Cancer relapsed in 72 (80.9%) patients. Median OS was 35.2 (95% CI: 28.5-41.8) months, and median PFS was 17.7 (95% CI: 14.4-21) months. The five-year OS and PFS were 19% and 3.5%, respectively. Male sex (p=0.04) and a better Mandard score (p=0.021) were associated with a longer OS, while obesity was associated with a shorter PFS (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study is the first to evaluate the effects of metastasectomy after conversion therapy in metastatic rectal cancer independent of colon cancer. As a result of the study, it was seen that the survival after metastasectomy in rectal cancer is worse than the colon cancer data known from previous studies.

The effect of primary tumour resection on patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab-containing regimens.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the effect of primary tumour resection (PTR) on patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with cetuximab. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary cancer center in Turkey. Patients with mCRC between January 2009 and December 2020 were extracted from the electronic hospital management system. Patients with RAS wild-type synchronous metastatic left-sided colon or rectum cancer who had cetuximab-containing treatment protocol were included in the study. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary outcome was response rates. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients with mCRC were included in this study. PTR was performed in 57.7% of all patients. Fifty-nine (53.2%) and 52 (46.8%) patients had rectal and left colon tumours, respectively. The combination treatment with cetuximab was FOLFIRI in 62.2% and FOLFOX in 29.7% of all patients. In subgroup analysis, the median PFS was 7.9 and 9 months in PTR (+) and PTR (-) patients, respectively. The difference between the groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.3). The median OS was 33 months in all patients. In subgroup analysis, the median OS was 39 and 27.9 months in PTR (+) and PTR (-) patients, respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (P = 0.002). After adjusting for confounding factors, PTR and ECOG performance score were the independent prognostic factors for OS. CONCLUSION: PTR improved the OS in patients with RAS wild-type synchronous left-sided colon or rectum cancer treated with cetuximab-containing chemotherapy regimens.

Functional outcomes of intersphincteric resection in low rectal tumors.

Objectives: Currently, sphincter-saving procedures are increasingly performed in the treatment of low rectal cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent intersphincteric resection. Material and Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study. We evaluated the electronic data files of 29 patients who had intersphincteric resections at our institute between 2008 and 2018. Bowel function outcomes were assessed prospectively using Wexner incontinence score. Histopathological, surgical and functional outcomes were analyzed. Results: Mean age of nine female and 20 male patients included in the study was 55.8 ± 12.8 (30-76) years. A tumor-free surgical margin was achieved in all patients. Anastomotic leakage was detected in two patients. Mean Wexner incontinence score of 20 patients who still had functional anastomosis was 8.35, whereas 65% of the patients (n= 13) had a good continence status. There was no relationship between the continence status and sex, tumor distance from anal verge, T stage, distal surgical margin, and lymph node involvement. Twenty-one patients underwent primary coloanal anastomosis and eight patients underwent two-stage coloanal anastomosis. Conclusion: In the treatment of distal rectal cancer, adequate oncological surgery and relatively acceptable functional outcomes can be obtained with intersphincteric resection technique in suitable patients.

Watch and wait, worth It?

Background: The surgery with total mesorectal excision recommended by R. J. Heald in 1982 is the gold standard. Rectal cancer (RC) surgery has a morbidity rate ranging from 6 to 35%, and it can cause functional issues such as sexual, urinary, and bowel dysfunction in the long term. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been gaining ground in patients with lesions in the middle and lower rectum. The aim of the present study is to present the experience of a reference service in the treatment of RC. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study involving 53 patients diagnosed with RC between January 2017 and December 2019 with follow-up until December 2020. We examined tumor location, disease stage, digital rectal exam findings, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), therapeutic modality offered, and follow-up time. Results: A total of 32% of the patients were men and 68% were women, with a mean age of 60 years old. Location: upper rectum in 6 cases, middle rectum in 21 cases, and lower rectum in 26 cases with evolution from 9.8 to 13.5 months. The most frequent complaints were hematochezia and constipation. A total of 36 patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy: 11 complete clinical response (CCR) (30.5%), 20 (55.5%) partial clinical response (PCR), and no response in 5 patients (14%). The follow-up ranged from 12 to 48 months, with a mean of 30.5 months. A total of 25% of the patients had RC that went beyond the mesorectal fascia, and 22.64% had metastases in other parts of the body when they were diagnosed. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant radio and chemotherapy present themselves as an alternative in the treatment of rectal cancer. In 36 patients, 30.5% had a complete clinical response, 55.5% had a partial clinical response, and 14% had no response. It was worth doing the "Watch and Wait" (W&W) to sample. A definitive colostomy was avoided. However, it is necessary to expand the study to a larger follow-up and more patients. Additionally, it is necessary to implement a multicenter study. (AU)

Cancer of the Rectum and Rectosigmoid Junction: 20-Year Comparative Survival and Mortality Analysis by Age, Sex, Race, Stage, Grade, Cohort Entry Time-Period and Disease Duration: A Systematic Review of 266,898 Cases for Diagnosis Years 1973-2014: (SEER*Stat 8.3.4).

This article reviews a 20-year retrospective population-based study using the statistical database of SEER*Stat 8.3.4 to compare the occurrence, long-term survival and mortality indices of 266,898 patients with cancer of the rectum and rectosigmoid junction (RSJ) juxtaposed by age, sex, race, stage, grade, disease duration, in two cohort entry time-periods, 1973-1994 & 1995-2014.

Absceso hepático por Enterobius vermicularis como diagnóstico diferencial de metástasis hepática en cáncer colorrectal, reporte de caso / Liver Abscess Caused by Enterobius vermicularis as a Differential Diagnosis for Liver Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer, Case Report

Resumen Introducción: el cáncer colorrectal es la cuarta causa de mortalidad asociada con cáncer en el mundo. La identificación de las metástasis de este tumor en el momento prequirúrgico es cada vez más frecuente por los estudios imagenológicos con los que se cuenta en la actualidad. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con infección por Enterobius vermicularis que simula la presencia de metástasis hepáticas. Presentación del caso: se presenta el caso de una paciente femenina proveniente del área rural, con dolor abdominal de 1 año de evolución asociado con hemorragia de vías digestivas bajas y pérdida de peso. Las imágenes y estudios endoscópicos muestran una lesión tumoral en el colon sigmoide con biopsias que reportan adenocarcinoma de colon sigmoides, además de lesiones hepáticas sugestivas de malignidad. Se llevó a resección anterior de recto y sigmoides con anastomosis alta y toma de biopsias hepáticas, que descartaron la malignidad e informaron la presencia de infección hepática por E. vermicularis. Discusión: La infección por E. vermicularis a nivel hepático presentada en el caso es poco frecuente, dicha infección puede simular la presencia de metástasis hepáticas, por lo cual debe tenerse en cuenta como diagnóstico diferencial de enfermedad metastásica de cáncer colorrectal.

Abstract Introduction: colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The identification of the metastases of this tumor in the preoperative stage is increasingly frequent due to the imaging studies currently available. We present the case of a patient with an infection caused by Enterobius vermicularis that simulates the presence of liver metastases. Case presentation: a female patient from a rural area showing a one-year abdominal pain evolution associated with lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding and weight loss. Endoscopic imaging and studies displayed a tumor lesion in the sigmoid colon, with biopsies reporting sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma and liver lesions suggesting malignancy. Anterior resection of the rectum and sigmoid was performed with high anastomosis and liver biopsies, which ruled out malignancy and reported the presence of liver infection by E. vermicularis. Discussion: in this case, the hepatic E. vermicularis infection was rare. This infection can simulate the presence of liver metastases; therefore, it should be considered a differential diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer.

MORPHEUS Phase II-III Study: A Pre-Planned Interim Safety Analysis and Preliminary Results.

BACKGROUND: We explored image-guided adaptive endorectal brachytherapy patients electing non-operative management for rectal cancer. We present the first pre-planned interim analysis. METHODS: In this open-label phase II-III randomized study, patients with operable cT2-3ab N0 M0 rectal cancer received 45 Gy in 25 fractions of pelvic external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with 5-FU/Capecitabine. They were randomized 1:1 to receive either an EBRT boost of 9 Gy in 5 fractions (Arm A) or three weekly adaptive brachytherapy (IGAEBT) boosts totaling 30 Gy (Arm B). Patient characteristics and toxicity are presented using descriptive analyses; TME-free survival between arms with the intention to treat the population is explored using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were in this analysis. Baseline characteristics were balanced; acute toxicities were similar. Complete clinical response (cCR) was 50% (n = 10/20) in Arm A and 90% in Arm B (n = 18/20). Median follow-up was 1.3 years; 2-year TME-free survival was 38.6% (95% CI: 16.5-60.6%) in the EBRT arm and 76.6% (95% CI: 56.1-97.1%) in the IGAEBT arm. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation intensification with IGAEBT is feasible. This interim analysis suggests an improvement in TME-free survival when comparing IGAEBT with EBRT, pending confirmation upon completion of this trial.

The role of the PTEN/mTOR axis in clinical response of rectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has long been accepted as a method to improve survival and lifetime quality of rectal cancer patients. However, physiologic effects of these therapies largely depend on the resistance of cells to the radiation, type of chemotherapeutic agents and individual responses. As one of the signaling cascades involved in chemo- or radiation- resistance, the present study focused on several proteins involved in pTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway to explore their prognostic significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples from advanced stage rectal cancer patients were analyzed to detect expression levels of pTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway related proteins pTEN, mLST8, REDD1, BNIP3, SAG and NOXA, together with p53, by RT-qPCR. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess expression-survival relation and correlations among all proteins and clinicopathological features were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Except p53, none of the proteins showed prognostic significance. High p53 expression presented clear impact on overall survival and disease free survival. It was also significantly related to pathologic complete response. p53 showed high correlation to local recurrence as well. On the other hand, strong correlation was observed with PTEN expression and tumor response, but not with survival. High associations were also observed between mLST8/REDD1, PTEN and NOXA, confirming their role in the same cascade. CONCLUSION: The contentious role of p53 as a prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer was further affirmed, while PTEN and REDD1 could be suggested as potential candidates. Additionally, NOXA emerges as a conjunctive element for different signaling pathways.

High Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio and Low Lymphocyte Levels Are Correlated With Worse Pathological Complete Response Rates.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hemogram parameters on predicting pathological complete response (pCR) in locally advanced rectal cancer. METHODOLOGY: A total of 227 patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into two subgroups as high or low hemogram parameters according to the cut-off value obtained using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: In patients with low neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) levels, pCR rate was statistically significantly higher than the group with high NLR and PLR levels (for NLR: 39.77% vs. 5.34%; p<0.001, for PLR: 32.38% vs 7.01%; p<0.001 respectively). In addition, the pCR rate was significantly better in patients with high lymphocyte levels compared to the group with low lymphocyte levels (33.33% vs. 7.5%; p<0.001, respectively). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis result, NLR and PLR levels were considered as independent predictors to predict pathological complete response [p<0.001, HR: 0.128 (95% CI=0.051 - 0.322) for NLR; p=0.017, HR: 0.332 (95% CI=0.134 - 0.821) for PLR, respectively]. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that high NLR, PLR, and low lymphocyte levels were correlated with worse pCR rates. In addition to that, NLR and PLR emerged as independent predictive markers.