The Significance of C-Reactive Protein Value and Tumor Grading for Malignant Tumors: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Malignant tumors represent a significant pathology with a profound global impact on the medical system. The fight against cancer represents a significant challenge, with multidisciplinary teams identifying numerous areas requiring improvement to enhance the prognosis. Facilitating the patient's journey from diagnosis to treatment represents one such area of concern. One area of research interest is the use of various biomarkers to accurately predict the outcome of these patients. A substantial body of research has been conducted over the years examining the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and malignant tumors. The existing literature suggests that combining imaging diagnostic modalities with biomarkers, such as CRP, may enhance diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on the PubMed and Web of Science platforms with the objective of documenting the interrelationship between CRP value and tumor grading for malignant tumors. After the application of the exclusion and inclusion criteria, 17 studies were identified, published between 2002 and 2024, comprising a total of 9727 patients. RESULTS: These studies indicate this interrelationship for soft tissue sarcomas and for renal, colorectal, esophageal, pancreatic, brain, bronchopulmonary, ovarian, and mesenchymal tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated CRP levels are correlated with higher grading, thereby underscoring the potential utility of this biomarker in clinical prognostication.

Dynamics of RAS Mutations in Liquid Biopsies in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients-Case Series and Literature Review.

Liquid biopsies can accurately identify molecular alterations in patients with colorectal cancer with high concordance with tissue analysis and shorter turnaround times. Circulating tumor (ct) DNA analysis can be used for diagnosing and monitoring tumor evolution in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who are treated with EGFR inhibitors. In this article, we reported three clinical cases to illustrate the relevance of RAS mutations identified in ctDNA samples of patients with wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer who received an EGFR inhibitor plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment. The identification of RAS mutations in these patients is one of the most frequently identified mechanisms of acquired resistance. However, detecting a KRAS mutation via liquid biopsy can be caused by inter-tumor heterogeneity or it can be a false positive due to clonal hematopoiesis. More research is needed to determine whether ctDNA monitoring may help guide therapy options in metastatic colorectal cancer patients. We performed a literature review to assess the technologies that are used for analysis of RAS mutations on ctDNA, the degree of agreement between tissue and plasma and the importance of tissue/plasma discordant cases.

Multimodal Treatment of Metastatic Rectal Cancer in a Young Patient: Case Report and Literature Review.

Metastatic colorectal cancer requires a multidisciplinary and individualized approach. Herein, we reported the case of a young woman diagnosed with metastatic rectal cancer who received an individualized multimodal treatment strategy that resulted in a remarkable survival. There were several particular aspects of this case, such as the early onset of the disease, the successful use of conversion therapy, the application of liquid biopsy to guide treatment, and the specific nature of the bone metastasis. To offer more insights for navigating such challenges in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, we have conducted a literature review to find more data related to the particularities of this case. The incidence of early onset colorectal cancer is on the rise. Data suggests that it differs from older-onset colorectal cancer in terms of its pathological, epidemiological, anatomical, metabolic, and biological characteristics. Conversion therapy and surgical intervention provide an opportunity for cure and improve outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer. It is important to approach each case individually, as every patient with limited liver disease should be considered as a candidate for secondary resection. Moreover, liquid biopsy has an important role in the individualized management of metastatic colorectal cancer patients, as it offers additional information for treatment decisions.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration pancreatic adenocarcinoma samples yield adequate DNA for next-generation sequencing: A cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: Genetic tests are increasingly performed for the management of unresectable pancreatic cancer. For genotyping aimed samples current guidelines recommend using core specimens, although based on moderate quality evidence. However, in clinical practice among the endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided tissue acquisition methods, fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the most widely performed. AIM: To assess the adequacy for next generation sequencing (NGS) of the DNA yielded from EUS-FNA pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) samples. METHODS: Between November 2018 and December 2021, 105 patients with PDAC confirmed by EUS-FNA were included in the study at our tertiary gastroenterology center. Either 22 gauge (G) or 19G FNA needles were used. One pass was dedicated to DNA extraction. DNA concentration and purity (A260/280, A260/230) were assessed by spectrophotometry. We assessed the differences in DNA parameters according to needle size and tumor characteristics (size, location) and the adequacy of the extracted DNA for NGS (defined as A260/280 ≥ 1.7, and DNA yield: ≥ 10 ng for amplicon based NGS, ≥ 50 ng for whole exome sequencing [WES], ≥ 100 ng for whole genome sequencing [WGS]) by analysis of variance and t-test respectively. Moreover, we compared DNA purity parameters across the different DNA yield categories. RESULTS: Our cohort included 49% male patients, aged 67.02 ± 8.38 years. The 22G needle was used in 71% of the cases. The DNA parameters across our samples varied as follows: DNA yield: 1289 ng (inter quartile range: 534.75-3101), A260/280 = 1.85 (1.79-1.86), A260/230 = 2.2 (1.72-2.36). DNA yield was > 10 ng in all samples and > 100 ng in 93% of them (one sample < 50 ng). There were no significant differences in the concentration and A260/280 between samples by needle size. Needle size was the only independent predictor of A260/230 which was higher in the 22G samples (P = 0.038). NGS adequacy rate was 90% for 19G samples regardless of NGS type, and for 22G samples it reached 89% for WGS adequacy and 91% for WES and amplicon based NGS. Samples with DNA yield > 100 ng had significantly higher A260/280 (1.89 ± 0.32 vs 1.34 ± 0.42, P = 0.013). Tumor characteristics were not corelated with the DNA parameters. CONCLUSION: EUS-FNA PDAC samples yield DNA adequate for subsequent NGS. DNA amount was similar between 22G and 19G FNA needles. DNA purity parameters may vary indirectly with needle size.

Bevacizumab Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in Real-World Clinical Practice.

Background and Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity worldwide. Bevacizumab was approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) based on favorable benefit-risk assessments from randomized controlled trials, but evidence on its use in the real-world setting is limited. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the outcomes and safety profile of bevacizumab in mCRC in a real-world setting in Romania. Patients and Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, multicentric, cohort study conducted in Romania that included patients with mCRC treated with bevacizumab as part of routine clinical practice. Study endpoints were progression-free survival, overall survival, adverse events, and patterns of bevacizumab use. Results: A total of 554 patients were included in the study between January 2008 and December 2018. A total of 392 patients (71%) received bevacizumab in the first line and 162 patients (29%) in the second line. Bevacizumab was mostly combined with a capecitabine/oxaliplatin chemotherapy regimen (31.6%). The median PFS for patients treated with bevacizumab was 8.4 months (interquartile range [IQR], 4.7-15.1 months) in the first line and 6.6 months (IQR, 3.8-12.3 months) in the second line. The median OS was 17.7 months (IQR, 9.3-30.6 months) in the first line and 13.5 months (IQR, 6.7-25.2 months) in the second line. Primary tumor resection was associated with a longer PFS and OS. The safety profile of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy was similar to other observational studies in mCRC. Conclusions: The safety profile of bevacizumab was generally as expected. Although the PFS was generally similar to that reported in other studies, the OS was shorter, probably due to the less frequent use of bevacizumab after disease progression and the baseline patient characteristics. Patients with mCRC treated with bevacizumab who underwent resection of the primary tumor had a higher OS compared to patients with an unresected primary tumor.

Circulating Angiogenic Markers in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of tumors that raise challenges in terms of diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. Despite continuous efforts, no biomarker has showed satisfying accuracy in predicting outcome or response to treatment. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to determine relevant circulating biomarkers for angiogenesis in neuroendocrine tumors. We searched three databases (Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science) using the keywords "neuroendocrine" and "biomarkers", plus specific biomarkers were searched by full and abbreviated name. From a total of 2448 publications, 11 articles met the eligibility criteria. RESULTS: VEGF is the most potent and the most studied angiogenic molecule, but results were highly controversial. Placental growth factor, Angiopoietin 2 and IL-8 were the most consistent markers in predicting poor outcome and aggressive disease behavior. CONCLUSIONS: There is no robust evidence so far to sustain the use of angiogenic biomarkers in routine practice, although the results show promising leads.

Oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy and colo-rectal cancer patient's quality of life: Practical lessons from a prospective cross-sectional, real-world study.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer is one the most common forms of cancer in both sexes. Due to important progress in the field of early detection and effective treatment, colon and rectal cancer survivors currently account for 10% of cancer survivors worldwide. However, the effects of anti-cancer treatments, especially oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, on the quality of life (QoL) have been less evaluated. Although the incidence of severe chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIPN) in clinical studies is below 20%, data from real-world studies is scarce, and CIPN is probably under-reported due to patient selection and the patients' fear that reporting side-effects might lead to treatment cessation. AIM: To determine the impact of CIPN on QoL in colorectal cancer patients with a recent history of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. METHODS: We performed a prospective cross-sectional study in two major Romanian oncology tertiary hospitals-the Regional Institute of Oncology Iași (Iasi, Romania) and the Fundeni Clinical Oncology Institute (Bucharest, Romania). All consecutive patients with colon or rectal cancer, undergoing Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy that consented to enroll in the study, were assessed by means of two questionnaires-the EORTC QQ-CR29 (quality of life in colon and rectal cancer patients) and the QLQ-CIPN20 (assessment of neuropathy). Several demographical, social, clinical and treatment data were also collected. Statistical analysis was performed by means of SPSS v20. The student t test was used to assess the relationship between the QLQ-CIPN20 and QLQ-CR29 results. Kaplan Meyer-curves were used to report 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) in patients that discontinued chemotherapy vs those that completed the recommended course. RESULTS: Of the 267 patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria in the pre-specified time frame, 101 (37.8%) agreed to participate in the clinical study. At the time of the enrolment in the study, over 50% of the patients had recently interrupted their oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, most often due to neuropathy. Almost 85% of the responders reported having tingling or numbness in their fingers or hands, symptoms that were associated with pain in over 20% of the cases. When comparing the scores in the two questionnaires, a statistically significant relationship (P < 0.001) was found between the presence of neuropathic symptoms and a decreased quality of life. This correlation was consistent when the patients were stratified by sex, disease stage, comorbidities and the presence of stoma or treatment type, suggesting that neuropathy in itself may be a reason for a decreased quality of life. At the 3 year final assessment, median recurrence-free survival in stage III patients was 26.88 mo. When stratified by completion of chemotherapy, median recurrence free-survival of stage III patients that completed chemotherapy was 28.27 mo vs 24.33 mo in patients that discontinued chemotherapy due to toxicity, a difference that did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: CIPN significantly impacts QoL in colorectal cancer patients. CIPN is also the most frequent reason for treatment discontinuation. Physicians should actively assess for CIPN in order to prevent chronic neuropathy.

Namodenoson in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Child-Pugh B Cirrhosis: Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Namodenoson, an A3 adenosine-receptor agonist, showed promising results in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and moderate hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh B; CPB) in a phase I/II clinical study. This phase II study investigated namodenoson as second-line therapy in such patients. Patients were randomized 2:1 to twice a day (BID) namodenoson (25 mg; n = 50) or placebo (n = 28). The primary endpoint (overall survival [OS]) was not met. Median OS was 4.1/4.3 months for namodenoson/placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-1.38; p = 0.46). Pre-planned subgroup analysis of CPB7 patients (34 namodenoson-treated, 22 placebo-treated) showed a nonsignificant improvement in OS/progression-free survival (PFS). OS: 6.9 versus 4.3 months; HR, 0.81; 95% CI: 0.45-1.43, p = 0.46. PFS: 3.5 versus 1.9 months; HR, 0.89; 95% CI: 0.51-1.55, p = 0.67 (log-rank test). The difference in 12-month OS was significant (44% versus 18%, p = 0.028). Response rates were determined in patients for whom ≥ 1 assessment post-baseline was available (34 namodenoson-treated, 21 placebo-treated). Partial response was achieved by 3/34 (8.8%) and 0/21 (0%) patients, respectively. Namodenoson was well-tolerated, with a safety profile comparable to that of the placebo group. No treatment-related deaths were reported; no patients withdrew due to toxicity. In conclusion, namodenoson demonstrated a favorable safety profile and a preliminary efficacy signal in HCC CPB.

Clonal Hematopoiesis and Liquid Biopsy in Gastrointestinal Cancers.

The use of blood liquid biopsy is increasingly being incorporated into the clinical setting of gastrointestinal cancers care. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) occurs naturally as a result of the accumulation of somatic mutations and the clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells with normal aging. The identification of CH-mutations has been described as a source of biological noise in blood liquid biopsy. Incorrect interpretation of CH events as cancer related can have a direct impact on cancer diagnosis and treatment. This review summarizes the current understanding of CH as a form of biological noise in blood liquid biopsy and the reported clinical significance of CH in patients with GI cancers.

Influence of the Primary Tumor Location on the Pattern of Synchronous Metastatic Spread in Patients with Stage IV Colorectal Carcinoma, According to the 8 th Edition of the AJCC Staging System.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The correlations between primary tumor location (right colon cancer - RCC, left colon cancer - LCC and rectal cancer - RC) and the incidence of metastatic sites are scarce and divergent. The current study is the first which compares the pattern of metastatic distribution (M1a: metastasis to one organ/site, excluding peritoneum; M1b: two or more metastatic sites; M1c: peritoneal metastases) between RCC, LCC and RC, respectively. METHODS: All patients operated for colorectal cancer (CRC) between January 2006 and December 2015 were analyzed to assess the primary tumor location, the presence and site of synchronous metastases. Univariate analysis determined the statistical significance of association between each CRC location and the metastatic pattern. Multinomial logistical regression model compared the prevalence of each metastatic pattern for each CRC location. RESULTS: Out of 5,107 patients, 1,318 (25.80%) had metastases on the moment of CRC diagnosis. There were no statistically significant association between the metastatic pattern and the patients' gender (M1a, p=0.321; M1b, p=0.539; M1c, p=0.417, Chi-square) or patients' age (p=0.616 Mann-Whitney U-test). RC had a significant higher relative risk for M1a (RR of 1.437, p=0.014) and a lower relative risk for M1c (RR of 0.564, p=0.001), compared to LCC. On the contrary, compared with LCC, the RCC showed a significant lower relative risk for M1a (RR of 0.673, p=0.006) and a higher relative risk for M1c (RR of 1.834, p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: There is a strong correlation between the primary location of CRC and the pattern of the metastatic spread, with potential prognostic implications.

The Coexistence of RAS and BRAF Mutations in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The coexistence of RAS and BRAF mutations is extremely rare, occurring in approximately 0.05% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Starting from a case presentation, this review aims to examine the prevalence, clinical, histopathological and molecular features of tumors with concomitant mutations. METHODS: Case report and systematic review. We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed and EMBASE using the following MeSH terms: "coexistence" OR "concomitant" AND "RAS" AND "BRAF" AND "colorectal cancer" from the inception of the databases onwards. RESULTS: We present the case of a 53-year-old man diagnosed with metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma with both a KRAS and a BRAF mutation. The review included eleven papers reporting on a total of 30 mCRC cases with concomitant RAS and BRAF mutations. The male/female ratio was 11/5. The average age was 58.5 years. The tumor was located in nine cases on the right colon and in two cases in the left colon. 43.3% of subjects had liver metastases, and 6.6% had lung metastases. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used in 36.6% of cases and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 16.6% of cases. KRAS mutations were present in 83.3% of patients and NRAS mutations in 16.6% of patients. Survival could be assessed in 10 patients and the median was 21.1 months (about 30% lower than the survival in the general mCRC population). CONCLUSION: The results of this systematic review suggest the need to design a cohort study (either prospective or retrospective) to better characterize the patients with concomitant RAS and BRAF mutations and to establish the optimal treatment for this rare situation.

Treatment of Patients With Late-Stage Colorectal Cancer: ASCO Resource-Stratified Guideline.

PURPOSE: To provide expert guidance to clinicians and policymakers in resource-constrained settings on the management of patients with late-stage colorectal cancer. METHODS: ASCO convened a multidisciplinary, multinational Expert Panel that reviewed existing guidelines, conducted a modified ADAPTE process, and used a formal consensus process with additional experts for two rounds of formal ratings. RESULTS: Existing sets of guidelines from four guideline developers were identified and reviewed; adapted recommendations from five guidelines form the evidence base and provided evidence to inform the formal consensus process, which resulted in agreement of ≥ 75% on all recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Common elements of symptom management include addressing clinically acute situations. Diagnosis should involve the primary tumor and, in some cases, endoscopy, and staging should involve digital rectal exam and/or imaging, depending on resources available. Most patients receive treatment with chemotherapy, where chemotherapy is available. If, after a period of chemotherapy, patients become candidates for surgical resection with curative intent of both primary tumor and liver or lung metastatic lesions on the basis of evaluation in multidisciplinary tumor boards, the guidelines recommend patients undergo surgery in centers of expertise if possible. On-treatment surveillance includes a combination of taking medical history, performing physical examinations, blood work, and imaging; specifics, including frequency, depend on resource-based setting.Additional information is available at www.asco.org/resource-stratified-guidelines.

Molecular predictors of prevention of recurrence in HCC with sorafenib as adjuvant treatment and prognostic factors in the phase 3 STORM trial.

OBJECTIVE: Sorafenib is the standard systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Survival benefits of resection/local ablation for early HCC are compromised by 70% 5-year recurrence rates. The phase 3 STORM trial comparing sorafenib with placebo as adjuvant treatment did not achieve its primary endpoint of improving recurrence-free survival (RFS). The biomarker companion study BIOSTORM aims to define (A) predictors of recurrence prevention with sorafenib and (B) prognostic factors with B level of evidence. DESIGN: Tumour tissue from 188 patients randomised to receive sorafenib (83) or placebo (105) in the STORM trial was collected. Analyses included gene expression profiling, targeted exome sequencing (19 known oncodrivers), immunohistochemistry (pERK, pVEGFR2, Ki67), fluorescence in situ hybridisation (VEGFA) and immunome. A gene signature capturing improved RFS in sorafenib-treated patients was generated. All 70 RFS events were recurrences, thus time to recurrence equalled RFS. Predictive and prognostic value was assessed using Cox regression models and interaction test. RESULTS: BIOSTORM recapitulates clinicopathological characteristics of STORM. None of the biomarkers tested (related to angiogenesis and proliferation) or previously proposed gene signatures, or mutations predicted sorafenib benefit or recurrence. A newly generated 146-gene signature identifying 30% of patients captured benefit to sorafenib in terms of RFS (p of interaction=0.04). These sorafenib RFS responders were significantly enriched in CD4+ T, B and cytolytic natural killer cells, and lacked activated adaptive immune components. Hepatocytic pERK (HR=2.41; p=0.012) and microvascular invasion (HR=2.09; p=0.017) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: In BIOSTORM, only hepatocytic pERK and microvascular invasion predicted poor RFS. No mutation, gene amplification or previously proposed gene signatures predicted sorafenib benefit. A newly generated multigene signature associated with improved RFS on sorafenib warrants further validation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00692770.

Current Management of Gastric Cancer in Europe.

Gastric cancer is one the most common maligancies and a considerable health problem throughout the world. Multimodal approach, encompassing both radical surgery and perioperative chemotherapy provides the best chance to cure resectable gastric cancer. Data originating from well-conducted randomized trials demonstrate that chemotherapy improves survival in patients with metastatic disease. During the last years, two targeted therapies have been approved in metastatic setting. Based on promising clinical trials results, it is expected for the near future that immunotherapy to be incorporated in the multimodal treatment of gastric cancer.