Immunohistochemical hENT1 expression as a prognostic biomarker in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma undergoing adjuvant gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Human equilibrative nucleoside transporters (hENTs) are transmembranous proteins that facilitate the uptake of nucleosides and nucleoside analogues, such as gemcitabine, into the cell. The abundance of hENT1 transporters in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) might make hENT1 a potential biomarker of response to adjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to see whether hENT1 expression, as determined by immunohistochemistry, was a suitable predictive marker for subsequent treatment with gemcitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: A systematic review was performed, searching databases from January 1997 to January 2016. Articles pertaining to hENT1 immunohistochemical analysis in resected PDAC specimens from patients who subsequently underwent adjuvant gemcitabine-based chemotherapy were identified. Eligible studies were required to contain survival data, reporting specifically overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) with associated hazard ratios (HRs) stratified by hENT1 status. RESULTS: Of 42 articles reviewed, eight were suitable for review, with seven selected for quantitative meta-analysis. The total number of patients included in the meta-analysis was 770 (405 hENT1-negative, 365 hENT1-positive). Immunohistochemically detected hENT1 expression was significantly associated with both prolonged DFS (HR 0·58, 95 per cent c.i. 0·42 to 0·79) and OS (HR 0·52, 0·38 to 0·72) in patients receiving adjuvant gemcitabine but not those having fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSION: Expression of hENT1 is a suitable prognostic biomarker in patients undergoing adjuvant gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.

The 5-year outcome of patients having incomplete colonoscopy.

AIM: Incomplete colonoscopy indicated for the detection of neoplasia occurs in 2-23% of patients, but there is little information on the long-term outcome of such patients. METHOD: All patients who underwent colonoscopy over 5 years at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital with a follow-up of up to 5 years were identified. RESULTS: The risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) was 2.9% (312/10 580) for all patients undergoing colonoscopy. For a failed colonoscopy, the risk was five-fold higher [14.3% (99/693)]. The mean age of the patients was 61 years and 58% were female. Following incomplete colonoscopy the risk of finding additional CRC, advanced colonic neoplasia and extracolonic neoplasia on subsequent investigation was 6.2%, 3.2% and 1.9%. The diagnostic yield on subsequent investigation for CRC or colonic polyps was 7% for repeat colonoscopy, 13.4% for computed tomography colonography, 10.3% for standard computed tomography and 1.8% for barium enema. In the 363 patients who were not offered a subsequent investigation, there was no further instance of CRC or CRC-related mortality over a 36-month period. CONCLUSION: Although the risk of CRC is higher in patients who have had a failed colonoscopy, a protocol approach of subsequent investigation should not replace clinical assessment on whether another test is necessary in the light of the good outcome of patients who were not subsequently investigated.

The role of ultrasound in the management of patients with occult groin hernias.

INTRODUCTION: Groin ultrasound scanning is commonly used to examine patients with obscure groin pain or swelling. A recent study has shown ultrasound has a poor positive predictive value (PPV) in diagnosing groin hernias although earlier studies reported PPV values as high as 100%. Our aims were to calculate ultrasound's accuracy in diagnosing occult groin hernias in symptomatic patients and assess how management of these patients is affected by ultrasound result. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 375 symptomatic adult patients, who between February 2008 and March 2010, had ultrasound to diagnose groin hernias when clinical examination was inconclusive. Patients were identified on a prospective radiology database and all groin ultrasounds were performed by either one consultant radiologist or one radiographer. RESULTS: Ultrasound was positive in 199 patients, of which 118 underwent surgery. Using operative findings as the gold standard, ultrasound's PPV for groin hernias was 70% (95% CI: 62-78%). Ultrasound was equivocal in 42 patients of which hernias were diagnosed in 7 of the 10 who had surgery. Ultrasound was negative in 151 patients of which none were later diagnosed with hernias during 3 years' median follow-up. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is poor in diagnosing occult groin hernias with a PPV of 70% suggesting a 30% chance of negative groin exploration. The equivocal ultrasound group requires careful follow-up as a considerable number were later diagnosed with hernia. The absence of subsequent hernia diagnosis in the negative ultrasound group suggests it may be a useful rule-out test to exclude occult groin hernias in symptomatic patients.