Rectal neuroendocrine tumors in a colon cancer screening colonoscopy program. Sixteen-year single institution experience.

OBJECTIVES: Rectal neuroendocrine tumors (rNETs) are potentially malignant lesions. In our study, we aimed to retrospectively check whether the rectal neuroendocrine tumors were found in colonoscopy examinations carried out as a part of Polish colonoscopy screening program (PCSP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the colonoscopy and histopathological database of examinations conducted as a part of PCSP in our institution in the years 2005-2021. We also checked the method by which the tumor was removed, its characteristics based on photo documentations and followed up the patients. RESULTS: The 10568 colonoscopy examinations were performed in PCSP in the years 2005-2021. Seven patients with a mean age of 53 with rNETs (1 in every 1510 colonoscopy) were detected. The polyp mean size was 5 mm. All the lesions were well differentiated tumors. First half of the colonoscopy examinations was performed in the years 2005-2012 and in that time three rNETs were detected, four rNETs were detected in the years 2012-2021. Even despite their typical appearance the neuroendocrine origin was not suspected in majority of cases and all tumors, except one, were removed with improper method. One of the patients underwent transanal endoscopic microsurgery of the scar. All patients are disease free in median follow-up of 108 months. CONCLUSION: Rectal NETs are detected in the screening colonoscopy program. In majority of cases, they are not suspected by endoscopists on colonoscopy, but diagnosed after removal in histopathological examinations. There is a need of education of endoscopists in recognition and methods of treatment of rNETs.

Colorectal cancer and Blastocystis sp. infection.

BACKGROUND: Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal protozoan found worldwide. Based on gene analysis, 17 subtypes (STs, ST1-ST17) have been identified, 9 of which have been isolated from humans. Differences in clinical consequences may depend on differences among the STs. Here, we evaluated the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to a control group and assessed the relationships between Blastocystis sp. infection and sex; age; and CRC grade, stage, and location. METHODS: The study included 107 CRC patients (41 women and 66 men, median age 65 years); 124 subjects without colorectal cancer or a history of oncological disease comprised the control group (55 women and 69 men, median age 63). Stool samples were collected from patients before oncological treatment and examined using light microscopy (iodine-stained smear). Additionally, PCR-based identification of Blastocystis sp. was performed in 95 stool samples from CRC patients and 76 stool samples from the control group. RESULTS: Light microscopy showed that the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was significantly higher in CRC patients than in the control group (12.15% and 2.42%, respectively; p = 0.0041). Multivariate analysis showed that the odds of Blastocystis sp. infection were fivefold higher in the CRC group than in the control group. PCR-based molecular examinations demonstrated that the proportion of patients infected with Blastocystis sp. was significantly higher in the CRC group than in the control group (12.63% and 2.63%, respectively; p = 0.023). The predominant ST in the CRC group was ST3, detected in nine patients (75%), followed by ST1 (2 patients, 16.7%) and ST2 (1 patient, 8.3%). No association was found between Blastocystis sp. infection and age, sex, or CRC stage, grade, or location. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that CRC was associated with an increased risk of opportunistic Blastocystis sp. infection, even before oncological treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report estimating the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection in CRC patients before oncological treatment in Europe.

Colorectal cancer and Cryptosporidium spp. infection.

Transient or constant impaired immunity is often associated with neoplastic disease or oncological treatment. Among the most common pathogens found in patients with HIV or patients undergoing chemotherapy are protozoans of the Cryptosporidium genus, which cause diarrhea in humans and animals. The present study determined the frequency of Cryptosporidium spp. infections in patients with colorectal cancer (N = 108; 42 women; 66 men; median age, 65 years), before beginning oncological treatment, compared to a control group (N = 125; 56 women, 69 men; median age, 63 years) without colorectal cancer or a history of oncological disease. We also assessed whether Cryptosporidium spp. infections were associated with age, gender, cancer stage (based on Astler-Coller or TNM classification), histological grade, or cancer location. Patients were treated at the Pomeranian Medical University, in 2009-2014. The presence of Cryptosporidium spp. antigen was determined in stool samples, analyzed with a commercial immunoenzymatic test. Cryptosporidium spp. infections occurred significantly more often (p = 0.015) in patients (13%) compared to controls (4%). The patient group showed no significant relationship between Cryptosporidium spp. infection and sex, age, tumor location, cancer grade, or stage. A multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex that included all subjects (patient + control groups, n = 233) showed that the odds of a Cryptosporidium spp. infection were more than three-fold higher in patients than in controls, and more than six-fold higher among men than among women. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Cryptosporidium spp. infections occurred significantly more frequently in patients with colorectal cancer (before oncological treatment) compared to controls, independent of age and sex. 2) Cryptosporidium spp. infections were not associated with the colorectal cancer stage, grade, or location or with patient age. 3) Male gender was significantly related to the frequency of Cryptosporidium spp. infections, independent of age and the presence of colorectal cancer.

Immunohistochemical analysis of thymidylate synthase expression in gastric carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathological parameters and survival.

The correlation of thymidylate synthase (TS) expression in gastric cancers with tumor histology and prognostic or predictive information remains unclear. Most studies have involved Asian populations, with few conducted in European cohorts. Moreover, all published studies analyze TS expression using semi-quantitative methods. This retrospective study evaluated the association of TS expression in tumor cells with gastric carcinoma histological type, with selected clinicopathological parameters, and with the prognosis of patients who underwent surgical treatment. TS expression was detected using immunochemistry and objectively assessed by computerized image analysis of tumor cells in 100 gastric cancers. We found that high TS expression was significantly more common in intestinal than in diffuse type of gastric cancer according to Lauren classification (P=0.0003); in type I carcinomas compared to type IV according to Goseki classification (P=0.002); and in gastric cancers in men than women (P=0.04). Low TS expression was found more often in carcinomas in the middle and lower third of the stomach than in cancers in the upper third of the stomach (P=0.009 and P=0.001, respectively). In the subgroup of 25 patients without lymph node metastases (stage I+II), high TS expression was associated with better DFS (83% for high TS expression versus 38,5% for low TS expression, P=0.03). The results (1) indicate significant correlation between the Lauren and Goseki histopathological classifications of gastric cancer and TS expression in tumor cells, (2) suggest that high TS expression may be a positive prognostic marker with regard to DFS in patients with gastric cancer without involvement of regional lymph nodes who underwent radical surgical treatment and were not treated with preoperative chemotherapy. Prognostic results need confirmation in larger cohorts.

E2F1/TS Immunophenotype and Survival of Patients with Colorectal Cancer Treated with 5FU-Based Adjuvant Therapy.

The predictive value of thymidylate synthase (TS) expression alone for 5FU-based treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been clinically confirmed. Little is known on the association of expression of E2F1, which controls the transcription of genes encoding proteins engaged in DNA synthesis including TS, and survival of patients with CRC. The purpose of this study is to assess the correlation between expression of both E2F1 and TS in CRCs and survival of patients administered adjuvant 5FU-based chemotherapy, in order to find a better predictor of treatment outcome than expression of TS or E2F1 alone. Nuclear TS and E2F1 were detected by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays from 190 CRCs (Astler-Coller stage B2 or C). Multivariate analysis identified significant association of the combined E2F1+TS+ immunophenotype with worse OS (HR = 3,78, P = 0,009) and DFS (HR = 2,30, P = 0,03) of patients with colon cancer. There were significant differences between E2F1+TS+ and E2F1-TS- Kaplan-Meier survival curves in relation to DFS (P = 0.008) and OS (P = 0.01). About 37 and 31 % difference in 3-year DFS and OS respectively were seen between patients with E2F1+TS+ vs. E2F1-TS- colon cancer immunophenotype. The E2F1+TS+ immunophenotype may be a marker of poor prognosis (the worst DFS and OS) of patients with colon cancer treated with 5FU-based adjuvant therapy. A subgroup of patients with this immunophenotype may require different and perhaps more aggressive treatment than 5FU-based chemotherapy. Thus, the combined E2F1/TS immunophenotype could be a potential indicator of colon cancer sensitivity to 5FU.

Liver Expression of Sulphotransferase 2A1 Enzyme Is Impaired in Patients with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: Lack of the Response to Enhanced Expression of PXR.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Sulphotransferase 2A1 (SULT2A1) exerts hepatoprotective effects. Transcription of SULT2A1 gene is induced by pregnane-X-receptor (PXR) and can be repressed by miR-378a-5p. We studied the PXR/SULT2A1 axis in chronic cholestatic conditions: primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). MATERIALS/METHODS: Western-blot/PCRs for SULT2A1/PXR were performed in PSC (n = 11), PBC (n = 19), and control liver tissues (n = 19). PXR and SULT2A1 mRNA was analyzed in intestinal tissues from 22 PSC patients. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood of PSC patients (n = 120) and an equal number of healthy volunteers. Liver miRNA expression was evaluated using Affymetrix-Gene-Chip miRNA4.0. RESULTS: Increased PXR protein was observed in both PSC and PBC compared to controls and was accompanied by a significant increase of SULT2A1 in PBC but not in PSC. Decreased expression of SULT2A1 mRNA was also seen in ileum of patients with PSC. Unlike PBC, miRNA analysis in PSC has shown a substantial increase in liver miR-378a-5p. CONCLUSIONS: PSC is characterized by disease-specific impairment of SULT2A1 expression following PXR activation, a phenomenon which is not noted in PBC, and may account for the impaired hepatoprotection in PSC. miRNA analysis suggests that SULT2A1 expression in PSC may be regulated by miR-378a-5p, connoting its pathogenic role.

NOD2/CARD15 mutations in Polish and Bosnian populations with and without Crohn's disease: prevalence and genotype-phenotype analysis.

Data on prevalence and phenotypic consequences of nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain 2/caspase recruitment domains 15 (NOD2/CARD15) variants in Crohn's disease (CD) population in Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) are nonexistent. We aimed to determine the prevalence of NOD2/CARD15 mutations and their association with disease phenotype in Polish and Bosnian patients with CD and in healthy controls. We prospectively recruited 86 CD patients and 83 controls in Poland and 30 CD patients and 30 controls in B&H, 229 in total. We determined the prevalence of NOD2/CARD15 mutations and their association with the disease phenotype according to Montreal classification. Participants were genotyped for Leu1007fsinsC and Gly908Arg mutations. At least one CD-associated allele was found in 29/86 (33.7%) of Polish CD patients and in 9/83 (10.8%) of healthy controls (p<0.001). In both CD patients and controls in Bosnian sample, at least one NOD2 mutation was found in equal number of patients (3/30; 10%) with all of the NOD2 mutation positive CD patients being homozygous, while controls being heterozygous. In Polish sample, perianal disease was less frequent in CD patients with any NOD2 mutation (1/21; 4.8%) compared to those without (11/41; 26.8%; p=0.046). Higher percentage of patients with NOD2 mutations had history of CD related surgery when compared with those without mutations (66.7% vs. 43.3%; p=0.05). The risk for CD is increased in patients with NOD2 mutations (Poland) and especially in the presence of homozygous NOD2 mutations (Poland and Bosnia). The presence of variant NOD2 alleles is associated with increased need for surgery and reduced occurrence of perianal disease.

Treatment of large colorectal neoplasms by endoscopic submucosal dissection: a European single-center study.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has a high curative resection rate for gastrointestinal mucosal lesions, but is not used widely in Europe because of a high complication rate and a long learning curve. This study analyzed the ESD learning curve at a single European treatment center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ESD and hybrid-ESD (hESD) procedures were used to treat large colonic lesions that could not be resected in one piece by other endoscopic methods. Procedure duration and speed, and en-bloc, complete (R0) resection, and complication rates were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients underwent ESD (37 pure ESD, 16 hESD), most with rectal lesions (n=34, 64.2%). The mean lesion diameter was 3.7 ± 1.1 cm2 (range 2.0-7.0 cm), the median procedure duration was 70.0 min [interquartile range (IQR) 31.0-113.0 min], and the median treatment speed was 0.086 cm2/min (IQR 0.055-0.152). En-bloc and R0 resection rates were 86.5% (32/37) and 81.1% (30/37), respectively. Procedure speed increased significantly after about 25 cases (P=0.0313). The median hESD procedure treatment speed was 0.159 cm/min (n=16, IQR 0.094-0.193), which was better than with classical ESD (P=0.04). The hESD en-bloc and R0 resection rates were comparable to those of classical ESD (P>0.05). The only complication was bleeding, 5.7% (3/53); no perforation occurred. Recurrence was detected during follow-up (median 30.0 months, IQR 12-48) in one patient (1.7%). CONCLUSION: ESD is useful and safe for resection of large colorectal polyps, and procedure speed increased considerably after 25 procedures. hESD was faster than ESD, with a high therapeutic resection rate.

Thymidylate synthase expression and p21(WAF1)/p53 phenotype of colon cancers identify patients who may benefit from 5-fluorouracil based therapy.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) in colorectal cancers (CRCs) have failed to provide unequivocal prognostic or predictive information. Here, we assessed the prognostic significance of TS expression in Astler-Coller stage B2 and C CRCs defined by a p21(WAF1)/p53 immunophenotype in patients subjected to 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based adjuvant therapy. METHODS: A cohort of 189 CRCs was asssessed for TS, p21(WAF1) and p53 expression on tissue microarrays using immunohistochemistry, and associations with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of the patients were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: TS expression led to the stratification of patients with colon cancer, but not rectal cancer, with immunophenotypes other than p21(WAF1)+/p53- (referred to as P&P) into subgroups characterized by a worse (P&P TS+) and a better (P&P TS-) DFS and OS, in univariate (P = 0.006 and P = 0.005, respectively) and multivariate (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.002, respectively) analyses. The p21(WAF1)+/p53- immunophenotype was associated with a favorable prognosis, irrespective of TS expression. CONCLUSIONS: The strong association observed between the P&P TS+ immunophenotype and a worse DFS and OS suggests a predictive significance of TS expression for 5FU-based adjuvant therapy in patients with colon cancers exhibiting the P&P immunophenotype. In addition, our findings suggest that the appropriate target for assessment of TS expression as a prognostic/predictive marker is a subgroup of colon cancers with an immunophenotype other than p21(WAF1)+/p53-, and that only in this subgroup high TS expression is associated with an unfavorable DFS and OS. Therefore, we suggest that assessing TS expression in conjunction with p21(WAF1)/p53 immunophenotyping of colon cancers may improve the selection of patients suitable for 5FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

Thymidylate synthase gene polymorphism and survival of colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant 5-fluorouracil.

Limited studies indicate a possible association of 5'-UTR thymidylate synthase enhancer region polymorphism and treatment outcome in patients medicated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The study was designed to verify the relationship in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), a Polish population that received 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The study analyzed 145 Astler-Coller B2 and C CRC patients. Genotyping for a variable number of tandem repeats and G to C single-nucleotide polymorphism in the 5'-UTR of the thymidylate synthase (TS) gene was carried out. TS genotypes were classified into high expression (high TS) and low expression types (low TS). High TS was found in 22.8% of patients. The right-side tumors were more frequently associated with high TS than the left-side tumors (p=0.024). High TS was only found in 9.3% of rectal tumors, but in 29.7% of colon cancers (p=0.0042). Disease-free survival after 20 months (DFS 20) was longer in subjects with low TS than in high TS (p=0.043). Patients who underwent chemotherapy had longer DFS 20 in the low TS than in the high TS subgroup (p=0.051). The low TS was found to be an independent good prognostic factor for DFS 20 in the whole group as well as in the subgroup treated with chemotherapy (p=0.024 and p=0.034, respectively). Patients with low TS did not show any differences in DFS 20 whether they were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy or not. Proximal CRC tumors are characterized by higher TS expression genotypes than distal tumors, and are at significantly greater risk of early recurrence during the first 20 months after surgery.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. in patients with colorectal cancer.

UNLABELLED: Parasitic protozoans of the Cryptosporidium genus are intracellular intestinal parasites of mammals, causing cryptosporidiosis. Clinically, cryptosporidiosis manifests as chronic diarrhoea. Individuals with immune disorders, including those with neoplasms, are at risk of symptomatic invasion. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: Was the evaluation of Cryptosporidium sp. prevalence in patients with diagnosed colorectal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studied group encompassed 87 patients with diagnosed colorectal cancer, undergoing surgery at the Department of General and Oncological Surgery, Pomeranian Medical University, in the years 2009-2010. Immunoenzymatic tests for Cryptosporidium sp. on faeces samples were performed with the use of commercial test kit, ProSpecT(®)Cryptosporidium Microplate Assay (Remel Inc). RESULTS: The presence of Cryptosporidium sp. was found in 12.6% of studied patients with colorectal cancer. The performed statistical analysis did not reveal any correlation between Cryptosporidium sp. infection and gender, age, neoplasm advancement stage as per Astler-Coller scale, neoplasm differentiation grade, or neoplastic tumour localisation in relation to the splenic flexure. CONCLUSIONS: There was found high prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. in patients with colorectal cancer. It was comparable to the prevalence reported for patients with immune deficiency.

Expression of p21WAF1 in Astler-Coller stage B2 colorectal cancer is associated with survival benefit from 5FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

In several, but not all, previous studies, positive p21(WAF1) expression has been suggested as an indicator of a good prognosis in patients with stage III/IV colorectal cancer. However, it is not known whether the same is true for stage B2 patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of p21(WAF1) expression in tumor cells on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of Astler-Coller stage B2 and C patients with colorectal cancer who underwent 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Nuclear p21(WAF1) was detected by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays from 275 colorectal cancers. The expression of p21(WAF1) was associated with DFS (p = 0.025) and OS (p = 0.008) in the subgroup of stage B2 patients that was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. In multivariate analysis, it remained the only independent prognostic parameter in relation to DFS and OS (p = 0.035 and p = 0.02, respectively). In the subgroup of 72 stage B2 patients with positive p21(WAF1) expression but not in the subgroup of 61 stage B2 patients with negative p21(WAF1) expression, adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with better DFS (85% 5-year survival versus 65% without chemotherapy, p = 0.03) and OS (96% versus 82%, p = 0.014). In the combined stage B2 and C group of patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, positive p21(WAF1) expression was also associated with better DFS and OS (p = 0.03, p = 0.002, respectively). Expression of p21(WAF1) in colorectal tumor cells identifies a subgroup of Astler-Coller stage B2 patients who could benefit significantly from 5FU-based chemotherapy and may improve the selection of patients for adjuvant chemotherapy.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in colonic polyps.

INTRODUCTION: Limited data is available regarding the relationships between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and colorectal cancer formation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in histologically diverse colonic polyps, to determine the association between the expression of this enzyme and selected patho logical and clinical characteristics of polyps, and to establish the location of cells with high COX-2 expression within the polyp. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 212 colonic polyps from 175 patients. Immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal anti-COX-2 antibodies was performed. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences associated with high COX-2 expression were found: in adenomas vs. other polyps (P <0.001), in adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (P <0.000 001), and in polyps of the cecum (P <0.02). Statistically significant differences in COX-2 were also associated with polyp size (P <0.000 001). Cells with high COX-2 expression were usually located in the epithelial layer (P = 0.01). No significant associations were found between high COX-2 expression and the age and sex of patients or the total number of polyps. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that high COX-2 expression is associated with typical risk factors for malignant transformation of colonic polyps. The results suggest the possible role of COX-2 in the early stages of colon carcinogenesis.

Overexpression of 5-lipoxygenase in sporadic colonic adenomas and a possible new aspect of colon carcinogenesis.

PURPOSE: We aimed to study the intracellular expression of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), the primary competitor with cyclooxygenase-2 in arachidonic acid metabolism, as inflammatory enzymes may be involved in blocking apoptosis and promoting cancer growth by changing arachidonic acid metabolism within cells. Our purpose was to investigate the possible connection between 5-LOX expression and colon carcinogenesis by characterizing 5-LOX expression in histologically different colonic adenomas, determining the relationship between high expression of 5-LOX and various conventional clinicopathological features of adenomas, and finally characterizing the histological localization of cells with 5-LOX overexpression. METHODS: A total of 111 patients were examined and 120 histologically different colonic adenomas analyzed (including four cases of intramucosal adenocarcinoma in a polyp). Immunohistochemical staining with polyclonal anti-5-LOX antibodies was performed. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between high 5-LOX expression and patient age, increased polyp size, high grade of intraepithelial neoplasia, villous and tubulovillous adenoma, and histological epithelial localization. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a strong positive correlation between 5-LOX overexpression and the appearance of typical high-risk factors for malignant transformation in adenomatous polyps. The results support the role of 5-LOX in early stages of colon carcinogenesis.

Effects of CYP2C19, MDR1, and interleukin 1-B gene variants on the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori infection by triple therapy with pantoprazole, amoxicillin, and metronidazole.

OBJECTIVE: Eradication of H. pylori is an important treatment strategy in peptic ulcer patients. Current regimens of eradication consist of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and two antibiotics. Effects of PPI may depend on their metabolism, and other factors important for the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease. Aim of the present study was to evaluate an association of CYP2C19, MDR1, and IL-1B polymorphisms with the eradication rate of H. pylori in Polish Caucasian patients treated with a triple therapy of pantoprazole, amoxicillin, and metronidazole. METHODS: A total of 139 peptic ulcer patients, positive for H. pylori infection, were treated with triple therapy (pantoprazole + amoxicillin + metronidazole). Subsequently, the patients were divided into two groups (group 1, success, and group 2, failure of eradication after therapy) and genotyped by the PCR-RFLP method for the presence of CYP2C19 variant alleles (*2, *3, and *17), and MDR1 3435C>T and IL-1B +3954C>T polymorphisms. Pantoprazole serum concentrations were measured using the HPLC method. RESULTS: No significant differences in frequency or distribution of CYP2C19 genotypes were found between the two groups of patients (i.e., with successful H. pylori eradication and treatment failure). However, any carrier of defective CYP2C19*2/*2 genotype was found among patients with treatment failure. Similarly, MDR1 and IL-1B genotypes were found to be significantly associated with the success or failure of H. pylori eradication. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the genotypes did not reveal any significant association between the genotypes and H. pylori eradication. Pantoprazole concentrations differed significantly, and were the highest in patients with defective allele CYP2C19*2 carriers and lowest in hyperactive genotype homozygotes CYP2C19*17/*17. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the CYP2C19 genotype contrary to MDR1 and IL-1B genotypes may have an impact on the efficacy of H. pylori eradication in peptic ulcer patients treated with pantoprazole in Polish Caucasian peptic ulcer patients administered pantoprazole, amoxicillin, and metronidazole.

Nuclear thymidylate synthase expression in sporadic colorectal cancer depends on the site of the tumor.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease with specific epidemiological, pathological, molecular, and clinical characteristics that depend on the location of the tumor relative to the splenic flexure. Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a major target of 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for CRC and high expression of this enzyme in tumor cells can influence the effect of therapy. We examined differences in TS protein expression in nuclei of tumor cells between CRCs located proximal and distal to the splenic flexure. Nuclear TS was detected by immunohistochemistry with a TS 106 monoclonal antibody on tissue microarrays constructed from 269 CRCs. The median histological score of nuclear TS expression of all proximal tumors was two times higher (p = 0.0003) and in men three times higher (p = 0.00023) than that found in distal tumors. In multivariate analysis which included age, sex, Astler-Coller stage, histological grade, and site, only proximal location of the tumor was identified as an independent factor associated with higher TS expression (odds ratio 2.46, 95% confidence interval = 1.29-4.70, p = 0.0062). These results demonstrate significant differences in nuclear TS expression between proximal and distal cancers and suggest the potential importance of the site of the tumor for proper stratification of patients for chemotherapy.

5-Fluorouracil toxicity-attributable IVS14 + 1G > A mutation of the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene in Polish colorectal cancer patients.

DPYD gene encodes dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase which is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolism of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The aim of our study was PCR-RFLP based-genetic testing for the most common 5-FU toxicity-attributable IVS14 + 1G > A DPYD mutation (DPYD(*)2A) in 252 Polish colorectal cancer (CRC) patients treated with this adjuvant chemotherapeutic regimen after surgery. The DPYD(*)2A allele was identified only in one patient: a male who was one of 4 CRC patients suffering from grades 3-4 myelotoxicity upon 5-FU chemotherapy. We conclude that IVS14 + 1G > A DPYD (DPYD(*)2A) variant occurs in the Polish population and is responsible for a significant proportion of life-threatening toxicity of 5-FU.

[Serum anti-p53 antibodies and CEA in monitoring of recurrences of colorectal cancer]. / Przeciwciala przeciwko bialku p53 i antygen rakowo-plodowy w wykrywaniu nawrotu raka jelita grubego.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known regarding the behaviour of serum anti-p53 antibodies (p53 Ab) in postoperative follow-up of patients with colorectal carcinoma and whether it can be used as an additional marker. The aim of this study was to evaluate usefulness of p53 Ab and CEA level for postoperative monitoring of recurrence or metastasis in patients after surgery due to colorectal cancer with normal pre-operative CEA levels and anti-p53 anitbodies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research group consisted of 124 patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed on the basis of histopathological or cytological examination. Colonoscopy, abdominal ultrasound, serum CEA and anti-p53 antibody tests were done at the time of diagnosis and every 6-month from surgery. RESULTS: The occurrence of recurrence or metastasis was preceded by the appearance of anti-p53 antibodies 6 months earlier on average, in 5 patients, and the increased CEA level was preceded 9 months earlier on average, in 7 patients. The relationship between the increased CEA level and the occurrence of recurrence or metastasis was statistically significant (p < 0.0001); however statistically significant relationship was not found in the case of anti-p53 antibodies assessment. Performing these two tests simultaneously, at the same time with the same patients caused the increase of accuracy of recurrence or metastasis from 0.45 to 0.68. CONCLUSION: Multiple assessments of both serum p53 Ab and CEA during postoperative monitoring increase the probability of early detection of recurrence or metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer and normal CEA level before surgery.

[Serum anti-p53 antibodies in gastric cancer patients]. / Przeciwciala przeciwko bialku p53 u chorych na raka zoladka.

UNLABELLED: Mutation of the p53 gene belongs to the most common genetic alteration in human cancer. Prognostic significance of serum anti-p53 antibodies in patients with gastric cancer is still a matter of controversy. The aim of the study was to estimate the presence of anti-p53 antibodies in serum of gastric cancer patients and relationship between anti-p53 antibodies and chosen clinical and pathomorphological data age, sex, localization of cancer, histology, stage of disease, metastases to lymph nodes and the time of survival. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Serum samples from 71 patients with gastric cancer were analyzed by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the presence of serum anti-p53 antibodies. The results were statistically compared with clinical and pathological features and postoperative survival. RESULTS: Anti-p53 antibodies were detected in 16 (23%) gastric cancer patients. The presence of p53 antibodies was connected with intestinal tumor type (p < 0.05) and older age (p = 0.0035). There were no association between anti-p53 antibodies, stage and the time of survival. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in gastric cancer patients serum anti-p53 antibodies detected by ELISA are not predictor of prognosis.

[Acute lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding caused by Dieulafoy lesion in rectum--case report]. / Ostre krwawienie do dolnego odcinka przewodu pokarmowego spowodowane anomalia naczyniowa typu Dieulafoy w odbytnicy--opis przypadku.

Dieulafoy lesion may be one of the rare causes of acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. This pathology mostly appears in the stomach wall, but very rarely it can be found in other parts of GI tract. Authors describe a case of 57-year-old female patient with a history of ulcerative colitis, staying in the complete remission since the moment of diagnosis many years ago, without any treatment. During the week before admission to the hospital, patient observed streaks of blood in the stool and felt some pain in the lower abdomen. On the day of admission to one of surgical departments in Szczecin, acute rectal bleeding had started in the patient, causing very serious state. The primary diagnosis was: rectal bleeding caused by a flare of ulcerative colitis. Sigmoidoscopy was performed in Gastroenterology Departament and it showed a vessel coming out of the rectal wall (like Dleulafoy lesion), with symptoms of active bleeding, while the mucosa was unchanged. The hemoclipping was performed and bleeding has been stopped. There was no recurrent bleeding.