Oncologic investigation of the interval from stent placement to surgery in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement is widely used as a bridge to surgery (BTS) procedure for obstructive colorectal cancer. However, evidence regarding the optimal interval between SEMS placement and elective surgery is lacking. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from patients with BTS between January 2013 and October 2021. Inverse probability treatment-weighted propensity score analyses were used to compare short- and long-term outcomes between the short-interval (SI) and long-interval (LI) groups, using a cutoff of 20 days. RESULTS: In total, 138 patients were enrolled in this study (SI group, n = 63; LI group, n = 75). In the matched cohort, the patients' backgrounds were well balanced. The incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ II postoperative complications was not significantly different between the SI and LI groups (19.0% vs. 14.0%, P = 0.47). There were no significant differences between the SI and LI groups in the 3-year recurrence-free survival (68.0% vs. 76.4%, P = 0.73) or 3-year overall survival rates (86.0% vs. 90.6%, P = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: A longer interval did not deteriorate the oncological outcomes. Individual perioperative management with an appropriate interval to improve the patient's condition is required to ensure safe surgery.

Segmental or right hemi-colectomy? The optimal surgical procedure for transverse colon cancer: a propensity score-matched, multicenter, retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Extended colectomy is sometimes chosen for treatment of transverse colon cancer (TCC) because of concerns about short- and long-term outcomes. However, there is still a lack of evidence regarding the optimal surgical procedure. METHODS: We retrospectively collected and analyzed data of patients who underwent surgical treatment of pathological stage II/III TCC at four hospitals from January 2011 to June 2019. We excluded the patients with TCC located at distal transverse colon, and just evaluated and analyzed proximal and middle third TCC. Inverse probability treatment-weighted propensity score analyses was used to compare short- and long-term outcomes between patients who underwent segmental transverse colectomy (STC) and those who underwent right hemicolectomy (RHC). RESULTS: In total, 106 patients were enrolled in this study (STC group, n = 45; RHC group, n = 61). The patients' backgrounds were well balanced after matching. The incidence of major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III) was not significantly different between the STC and RHC groups (4.5% vs. 5.6%, respectively; P = 0.53). The 3-year recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates were not significantly different between the STC and RHC groups (88.2% vs. 81.8%, P = 0.86 and 90.3% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.79, respectively). CONCLUSION: RHC has no significant benefits over STC with respect to either short- or long-term outcomes. STC with necessary lymphadenectomy could be an optimal procedure for proximal and middle TCC.

Postoperative infectious complications have a negative oncological impact in patients after stent placement with malignant large bowel obstruction.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the oncological impact of postoperative infection in patients with malignant large bowel obstruction managed by self-expandable metallic stent placement as a bridge to surgery. METHODS: The cohort of this multicenter retrospective study comprised 129 patients with pathological stage II/III malignant large bowel obstruction who had undergone bridge to surgery. Patients were allocated to no-postoperative infection (n = 116) and postoperative infection groups (n = 13). RESULTS: The postoperative infection group had a significantly greater proportion of men, fewer harvested lymph nodes, and longer postoperative hospital stays than did the no-postoperative infection group. Self-expandable metallic stent-related variables, including clinical failure, were not associated with postoperative infection. Male sex and low body mass index were identified as risk factors for postoperative infection by multivariate logistic regression. Three-year relapse-free survival rates were 75.5% and 30.8% in the no-postoperative infection and postoperative infection groups, respectively; this difference is statistically significant. Male sex, postoperative infection, and T4 were identified as independent prognostic factors by multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. The postoperative infection group had a significantly higher total recurrence rate and shorter interval to recurrence than did the no-postoperative infection group. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that postoperative infection in bridge to surgery patients has a negative oncological impact. This finding indicates that further improvement in perioperative management of bridge to surgery patients is required to minimize postoperative infection and that patient-risk stratification and additional therapy would contribute to improving oncological outcomes.

The utility of serum osteopontin levels for predicting postoperative complications after colorectal cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Osteopontin (OPN) is a secretory glycoprotein, which is expressed not only in osteoblasts, but immune cells including macrophages and activated T cells. Its pleiotropic immune functions, such as bone remodeling, cancer progression, immune response, and inflammation have been reported previously. However, the association between OPN and postoperative complications (POC) after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery has not been studied, so far. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected before (pre) and immediately after surgery (post), and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7. Serum OPN levels were measured by ELISA. In total, 78 patients who underwent elective CRC surgery were divided into the No-POC (n = 54) and POC (n = 24) groups. RESULTS: The POC group had significantly higher OPN levels than the No-POC group throughout the postoperative observation period. The maximum OPN levels from pre- to postsurgical samples showed the best predictive potential for POCs (cut off: 20.75 ng/mL, area under the curve: 0.724) and were correlated with length of postoperative stays. OPN values were significantly correlated with C-reactive protein on POD3 and were identified as an independent predictive marker for POCs (odds ratio: 3.88, 95% CI: 1.175-12.798, P = 0.026). The severity of POCs was reflected in increased OPN levels. CONCLUSION: Increased postoperative OPN was associated with increased postoperative inflammatory host responses and POC after CRC surgery. Serum OPN level may be a useful biomarker for early prediction of POC and it may provide additional information for treatment decisions to prevent POC.

First description of Lachnoanaerobaculum orale as a possible cause of human bacteremia.

Lachnoanaerobaculum spp. is an obligate anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacillus. Here, we report the first known case of bacteremia due to L. orale, which was detected in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A 69-year-old man developed neutropenic fever with severe stomatitis during chemotherapy for leukemia. The bacteria strain isolated from blood culture was successfully identified as L. orale via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Susceptibility testing revealed that the strains showed low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of beta-lactams, clindamycin, and metronidazole, but higher MICs of fluoroquinolones. The present case study indicates that Lachnoanaerobaculum can be a cause of human infection, including bloodstream infection.

Establishing an internal quality control method for the stable extraction of nucleic acids of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and RT-PCR-based detection.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is detected using real-time RT-PCR. However, there are limitations pertaining to quality control, particularly with respect to establishing quality control measures for extraction of viral nucleic acids. Here, we investigated the quality control measures for the various processes using an extrinsic quality control substance and quality control charts. METHODS: An extrinsic quality control substance was added to the sample, and then, real-time RT-PCR was performed. Samples with negative test results and the corresponding data were analyzed; a quality control chart was created and examined. RESULTS: Data analysis and the quality control charts indicated that SARS-CoV-2 could be reliably detected using real-time RT-PCR, even when different nucleic acid extraction methods were used or when different technicians were employed. CONCLUSION: With the use of quality control substances, it is possible to achieve quality control throughout the process-from nucleic acid extraction to nucleic acid detection-even upon using varying extraction methods. Further, generating quality control charts would guarantee the stable detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Does the diameter of colonic stent influence the outcomes in bridge-to-surgery patients with malignant large bowel obstruction?

PURPOSE: This study investigated the short- and long-term outcomes of 18- and 22-mm-diameter self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) as a bridge to surgery (BTS) in patients with malignant large bowel obstruction (MLBO). METHODS: Sixty-nine pathological stage II and III colorectal cancer patients who underwent BTS were included in this multi-institutional retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups regarding the diameter of SEMS: an 18-mm group (n = 30) and a 22-mm group (n = 39). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the clinical success rate, but both of the two re-obstructions observed occurred in the 18-mm group. The 18-mm group showed a trend toward a higher incidence of overall postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grading ≥ II) than the 22-mm group (33.3% vs. 10.3%, P = 0.061). The 3-year disease-free and overall survival showed no significant differences between the 18- and 22-mm groups (78.2% vs. 68.8%, P = 0.753 and 92.8% vs. 82.1%, P = 0.471, respectively). CONCLUSION: SEMS of 18 and 22 mm diameter confer statistically equivalent short- and long-term outcomes as a BTS.

Colonic stent-induced mechanical compression may suppress cancer cell proliferation in malignant large bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: The short-term safety and efficacy of insertion of a self-expandable metallic colonic stent (SEMS) followed by elective surgery, "bridge to surgery (BTS)", for malignant large bowel obstruction (MLBO) have been well described; however, the influence on long-term oncological outcomes is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in oncological characteristics in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues after SEMS insertion, focusing on growth factors, cell cycle and apoptosis. METHODS: From January 2013 to September 2014, a total of 25 patients with MLBO who underwent BTS at our single institution were retrospectively included. Paired CRC tissue samples before (endoscopic biopsy) and after SEMS insertion (surgically resected) were collected from each patient. EGFR, VEGF, Ki-67, p27kip1 and TUNEL expression were determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No clinical or subclinical perforations evaluated by mechanical ulceration pathologically were observed. Epithelial exfoliation, tumour necrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibrosis were observed in SEMS-inserted surgically-resected specimens. Overall, 84% (21/25) and 60% (15/25) of patients exhibited no change or a decrease in staining category, respectively, for EGFR and VEGF expression after SEMS insertion. A significant decrease in Ki-67 expression was observed in surgically-resected specimens compared with endoscopic biopsy specimens (P < 0.01). The upstream cell cycle inhibitor, p27kip1, was significantly increased after SEMS insertion (P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Although the long-term safety of BTS should be determined in a future clinical trial, mechanical compression by SEMS may suppress cancer cell proliferation and this result could provide some insights into the issue.

Short-term outcomes of a self-expandable metallic stent as a bridge to surgery vs. a transanal decompression tube for malignant large-bowel obstruction: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Preoperative intestinal decompression, using either a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) as a bridge to surgery (BTS) or a transanal decompression tube (TDT), provides an alternative to emergency surgery for malignant large-bowel obstruction (MLBO). We conducted this meta-analysis to compare the short-term outcomes of SEMS placement as a BTS vs. TDT placement for MLBO. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive electronic search of literature published up to March, 2018, to identify studies comparing the short-term outcomes of BTS vs. TDT. Decompression device-related and surgery-related variables were evaluated and a meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to calculate odd ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: We analyzed 14 nonrandomized studies with a collective total of 581 patients: 307 (52.8%) who underwent SEMS placement as a BTS and 274 (47.2%) who underwent TDT placement. The meta-analyses showed that the BTS strategy conferred significantly better technical and clinical success, helped to maintain quality of life by allowing free food intake and temporal discharge, promoted laparoscopic one-stage surgery without stoma creation, and had equivalent morbidity and mortality to TDT placement. CONCLUSIONS: Although the long-term outcomes are as yet undetermined, the BTS strategy using SEMS placement could be a new standard of care for preoperative decompression to manage MLBO.

Relationship between Pericardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and Early Impairment of Left Ventricular Function, Both Evaluated on Echocardiography.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is metabolically bioactive, and accumulation of this tissue is related to early impairment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function as well as diastolic function. However, pericardial adi- pose tissue (PAT), located outside the EAT, has recently been demonstrated to be more closely associated with metabolic risk factors than EAT. The present study aimed to clarify whether PAT thickness is related to early impairment of LV function in a similar manner to EAT thickness, with both evaluated echocardio- graphically. Subjects were 49 women (mean age, 68ill years) composed of both patients with metabolic diseases and those with other diseases, and ejection fraction (EF) >55%. Systolic function was assessed by measuring EF, systolic mitral annular velocity (S'), and tissue mitral annular displacement percentage (TMAD%). Diastolic function was assessed by measuring early rapid filling wave velocity (E)/late filling wave velocity due to atrial contraction (A) ratio (E/A), peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e'), and E/e' ratio. Correlations between EAT or PAT thickness and LV systolic or diastolic function were assessed. EAT thickness correlated with S' and TMAD%(r=-0.399, p=0.005 and r=-0.570, p<0.001, respective- ly), but not with EF. However, PAT thickness was not correlated with any of these. EAT thickness corre- lated with E/A, e' and E/e'(r=-0.382, p=0.007; r=-0.493, p<0.001; and r=0.331, p=0.020, respective- ly). Again, PAT thickness was not correlated with any of these. PAT thickness appears unrelated to early impairment of LV function.

Significance of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Obstructive Colorectal Cancer After Stent Placement: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To explore the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for obstructive colorectal cancer (OCRC) managed by self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement as a bridge to surgery (BTS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine patients with pathological stage II/III OCRC who underwent BTS using a SEMS were included in this multicenter retrospective study. Patients were divided into the no-adjuvant chemotherapy group (No-Adj group) (n=52) and adjuvant chemotherapy group (Adj group) (n=77), and relapse-free survival (RFS) was compared. RESULTS: The No-Adj group had more fragile patient background factors, such as higher age, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and lower preoperative albumin compared with the Adj group. The 3-year RFS rates for the overall cohort were significantly different between the No-Adj and Adj groups (56.4% and 78.5%, respectively; p=0.003). Significant RFS benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy were observed in both pathological stage II and III cancer. Characteristics of more advanced cancer, such as high carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), pathological T4, and lymphovascular invasion, were associated with survival improvement by adjuvant chemotherapy. T4 and adjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with RFS in the multivariate Cox proportional analysis. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with OCRC undergoing BTS using a SEMS. Adjuvant chemotherapy is basically recommended regardless of the cancer stage and is strongly recommended with more advanced characteristics, such as high CEA, T4, and lymphovascular invasion.

Can Individuals with Suboptimal Antibody Responses to Conventional Antiviral Vaccines Acquire Adequate Antibodies from SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination?

In Japan, healthcare workers (HCWs) are vaccinated against measles, rubella, chickenpox, mumps, and hepatitis B to prevent nosocomial infection; however, some do not produce sufficient antibodies ("suboptimal responders"). This study compared immune responses to a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 mRNA) vaccine among HCWs with normal and suboptimal responses to conventional vaccines. In this prospective cohort study, 50 HCWs received two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine 3 weeks apart. SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibodies were measured 11 times, starting before the first vaccination and ending 5 months after the second vaccination. Antibody titers of four suboptimal and 46 normal responders were compared. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody activity was measured twice in suboptimal responders, 1 week/1 month and 5 months after the second vaccination. The SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibody was detectable in the samples from suboptimal and normal responders at each timepoint after vaccination. Suboptimal responders exhibited SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody activity 1 week/1 month as well as 5 months after the second vaccination; however, activity was slightly reduced at 5 months. Our findings show that suboptimal responders do acquire adequate SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies from vaccination to prevent SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines should thus be recommended for both normal and suboptimal responders to conventional vaccines.

Systemic Chemotherapy is a Promising Treatment Option for Patients with Colonic Stents: A Review.

Approximately 10% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) develop malignant large bowel obstruction (MLBO) at diagnosis. Furthermore, for 35% of patients with MLBO, curative primary tumor resection is unfeasible because of locally advanced disease and comorbidities. The practice of placing a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) has dramatically increased as an effective palliative treatment. Recent advances in systemic chemotherapy for metastatic CRC have significantly contributed to prolonging patients' prognosis and expanding the indications. However, the safety and efficacy of systemic chemotherapy in patients with SEMS have not been established. This review outlines the current status of this relatively new therapeutic strategy and future perspectives. Some reports on this topic have demonstrated that 1) systemic chemotherapy and the addition of molecular targeted agents contribute to prolonged survival in patients with SEMS; 2) delayed SEMS-related complications are a major concern, and this requires strict patient monitoring; however, primary tumor control by chemotherapy might result in decreased complications, especially regarding re-obstruction; and 3) using bevacizumab could be a risk factor for SEMS-related perforation, which may be lethal. Although this relatively new approach for unresectable stage IV obstructive CRC requires a well-planned clinical trial, this therapy could be promising for patients who are unideal candidates for emergency surgery and require immediate systemic chemotherapy.

The Efficacy of Posttreatment with Synthetic C-Reactive Protein in Murine Bacterial Peritonitis via Activation of FcγRI-Expressing Kupffer Cells.

Pretreatment with synthetic C-reactive protein (CRP), a functional CRP peptide, has the potential to augment macrophage phagocytosis by bacterial challenge. However, the posttreatment is clinically ideal. We investigated the efficacy of posttreatment with synthetic CRP on murine cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), focusing on liver macrophages. Mice received CLP, and 1 h later, synthetic CRP or saline was intraperitoneally administered. Posttreatment with synthetic CRP increased the murine survival after CLP. It reduced viable bacterial counts in the liver 24 h after CLP with an increase in the number of Kupffer cells but not monocyte-derived liver macrophages. Posttreatment with synthetic CRP increased the phagolytic activity of Kupffer cells against Escherichia coli (E. coli) as well as capsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae at 3 h after CLP. Synthetic CRP therapy augmented TNF production by E. coli-phagocytosing Kupffer cells, resulting in an increase in tissue TNF levels in the liver at 24 h. Kupffer cells substantially expressed FcγRI, which is a ligand of CRP, and their FcγRI expression was further increased after CLP. In contrast, synthetic CRP therapy affected neither the phagocytic function of monocyte-derived liver macrophages (showing a weak FcγRI expression) nor their TNF production. Depletion of Kupffer cells in mice inhibited these beneficial effects of synthetic CRP in CLP mice. Conclusion: Posttreatment with synthetic CRP effectively improves murine bacterial peritonitis via the activation of phagocytosis of FcγRI-expressing Kupffer cells.

Use of a plasma test for verifying epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) mutations in fluid samples from non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Because epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are effective in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations, it is critical to obtain accurate EGFR mutation test results. For NSCLC patients, EGFR mutation testing is performed using the commercial Cobas EGFR Mutation test v2.0, which can be used to analyze both formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue (FFPE test, or FT) and plasma samples (plasma test, or PT). Since primary tumor tissues are often unavailable from relapsed patients, fluid samples are often used for EGFR mutation testing, but they are often tested using the FT. Here, we report three cases in which EGFR mutations were detected using the FT with FFPE primary tumor tissue samples, but were not detected using fluid samples (two pleural effusion and one cerebrospinal fluid sample). Because the FT may not be capable of detecting EGFR mutations in fluid samples, we used the PT, which is more sensitive, to verify the presence of EGFR mutations using the same fluid samples. As expected, the PT detected the same EGFR mutations in fluid samples as the FT did in FFPE primary tumor tissue samples.

Prognostic Role of the Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated With Aflibercept.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The efficacy of aflibercept plus 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) therapy has been demonstrated in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in global and Japanese clinical trials. However, a practical biomarker to predict its efficacy is lacking. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single-institution retrospective study of 21 patients with mCRC consecutively treated with aflibercept plus FOLFIRI from March 2018 to July 2019. We investigated the association and predictive value of pretreatment blood inflammation and immune-based scores, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, using their median values as cut-offs, in regard to disease control (DC), progression-free (PFS), and overall (OS) survival. RESULTS: The number of patients in each treatment line of aflibercept was as follows: Second, 14 (66.7%); third, four (19.0%); fourth, two (9.5%); eighth, one (4.8%). The median number of aflibercept treatment courses was seven (range=2-17). The median follow-up time was 391 days. In univariate analysis, patients with DC had a significantly lower PLR than those without DC. Only the PLR was significantly negatively associated with PFS, but not with OS. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly poor prognostic impact of a high PLR on PFS (hazard ratio=10.28; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: A low pretreatment PLR might be a predictor of aflibercept efficacy in patients with mCRC and may be clinically useful for selecting patient responders.

Pulmonary metastasectomy for esophageal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma component at 66 months after esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Solitary pulmonary metastasis from esophageal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) components is an extremely rare recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old Japanese woman was found to have a suspected malignant mass, approximately 2 cm in diameter, in her left lower pulmonary lobe, at 66 months after undergoing a curative esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection for esophageal SCC with a focal basaloid component. After a CT-guided biopsy, pathological examination indicated a metastasis from esophageal BSCC components. She underwent a thoracoscopic partial resection of the left lower pulmonary lobe for the solitary pulmonary metastasis. The pathohistology of the resected specimen led to diagnosis of metastatic esophageal BSCC, which showed immunohistochemical findings similar to those of the primary esophageal carcinoma. The patient received two courses of adjuvant chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, docetaxel plus nedaplatin) and recovered to resume a normal life with maintenance therapy. However, multiple lung and brain metastases were diagnosed at 2 years after the pulmonary metastasectomy. She survived 5 years and 6 months after the pulmonary metastasectomy, but died at 10 years and 6 months after her initial esophagectomy. CONCLUSION: This was a rare surgical resected case of solitary pulmonary metastasis from esophageal BSCC components.

Comparison Between Biweekly and Weekly Cetuximab in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Although weekly administration of cetuximab is the standard regimen in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), the efficacy and safety of a biweekly regimen is a pending issue. We conducted this meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of a biweekly vs. a weekly regimen of cetuximab in the treatment of mCRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive electronic literature search up to January 2020 to identify studies directly comparing the efficacy and safety of biweekly cetuximab administration and conventional weekly administration in patients with mCRC. We then performed a meta-analysis using random-effects models to calculate risk ratios and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Four studies with a total of 381 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that biweekly administration conferred equivalent efficacy, including objective response rate, disease-control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival, as well as safety, including skin toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, and hematologic toxicity, compared with weekly administration in patients with mCRC. CONCLUSION: Results from this meta-analysis support the administration of biweekly instead of weekly cetuximab, which is beneficial for both patients and health resources.

Blood Galectin-3 Levels Predict Postoperative Complications after Colorectal Cancer Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggested that galectin-3 may act as a pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular pattern. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between blood galectin-3 and postoperative complications (POC) after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 35 patients with CRC before surgery, immediately after surgery, and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7. Blood galectin-3 and interleukin-6 levels were measured by commercially available ELISA. Patients were divided into those with (POC group) and without POC (no-POC group). RESULTS: Significantly higher galectin-3 levels were observed pre- and postoperatively in the POC group (n=10) compared with those of the no-POC group (n=25). Galectin-3 levels on POD1 showed the best predictive potential for POC (cut-off: 3.18 pg/mL, area under the curve: 0.868). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that increased perioperative blood galectin-3 levels may be associated with POC after CRC surgery.

Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Survival After TAS-102 Treatment of Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: TAS-102 is recommended as salvage-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but practical predictors for its efficacy are lacking. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a single-institutional retrospective study of 33 patients treated with TAS-102, we investigated the predictive value of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte (LMR) ratios for progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival. Predictive ability using cut-offs of the median value (3.14) and 5 for NLR were compared. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score, NLR, and PLR were negatively significantly associated with PFS and OS. The number of treatment lines was negatively associated with PFS. The NLR cut-off of 5 was superior to the median value. Multivariate analyses showed a significant prognostic impact for NLR at cut-off 5 (hazard ratio(HR)=6.26, p=0.02 for PFS; HR=6.97, p=0.07 for OS). CONCLUSION: The pretreatment NLR is a prognostic biomarker for patients with mCRC who receive TAS-102 treatment.