Assessment of Elastic Laminal Invasion Contributes to an Objective pT3 Subclassification in Colon Cancer.

The extent of tumor spread influences on the clinical outcome, and which determine T stage of colorectal cancer. However, pathologic discrimination between pT3 and pT4a in the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)-TNM stage is subjective, and more objective discrimination method for deeply invasive advanced colon cancer is mandatory for standardized patient management. Peritoneal elastic laminal invasion (ELI) detected using elastic staining may increase the objective discrimination of deeply invasive advanced colon cancer. In this study, we constructed ELI study group to investigate feasibility, objectivity, and prognostic utility of ELI. Furthermore, pT classification using ELI was investigated based on these data. At first, concordance study investigated objectivity using 60 pT3 and pT4a colon cancers. Simultaneously, a multi-institutional retrospective study was performed to assess ELI's prognostic utility in 1202 colon cancer cases from 6 institutions. In the concordance study, objectivity, represented by κ, was higher in the ELI assessment than in pT classification. In the multi-institutional retrospective study, elastic staining revealed that ELI was a strong prognostic factor. The clinical outcome of pT3 cases with ELI was significantly and consistently worse than that of those without ELI. pT classification into pT3 without ELI, pT3 with ELI, and pT4a was an independent prognostic factor. In this study, we revealed that ELI is an objective method for discriminating deeply invasive advanced colon cancer. Based on its feasibility, objectivity, and prognostic utility, ELI can subdivide pT3 lesions into pT3a (without ELI) and pT3b (with ELI).

Assessment of the efficacy and safety of a Judo exercise program in improving the quality of life among elderly patients.

Objectives: Several reports have shown that Tai Chi Chuan can be an effective way to prevent falls among the elderly. However, an exercise program that can prevent injury during falls has not been reported previously. The judo technique called ukemi is used to prevent injuries. To evaluate whether a judo-based exercise program could prevent falls in the elderly, we had the participants practice ukemi as part of a therapeutic routine. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical significance of the program and to predict its safety. Methods: From July 2016 to March 2017, we examined 53 individuals who participated in the exercise program. The individuals were divided into high (n=39) and low (n=14) movement ability groups (HMA and LMA groups, respectively), and their physical and psychological functions were evaluated using scores from the Short-Form Health Survey 36. We also collected and analyzed data from questionnaires obtained from 384 patients who participated in the program from July 2016 to July 2019. Results: The HMA group showed a significant increase in the mental component summary scores before and after the exercise program. In the LMA group, physical functioning, social functioning, and physical component summary scores were significantly improved. Of the participants surveyed, 94.8% had a high level of satisfaction, and 93.2% began accepting the exercise as a daily habit. No adverse events were observed during these exercises. Conclusion: This novel exercise program was performed safely, and positive effects were observed, especially in individuals with a low quality of life.

Current status of the histopathological assessment, diagnosis, and reporting of colorectal neuroendocrine tumors: A Web survey from the Japanese Society for Cancer of Colon and Rectum.

Although new classifications for neuroendocrine tumors were established by the World Health Organization, the current procedures and terms used in pathology laboratories are not known. A Web-based questionnaire was distributed to 491 institutions affiliated with the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum, and 150 participated. The questionnaires included questions regarding routine pathological reporting, staining, and assessment of neuroendocrine tumors. Next, the time taken to assess Ki-67 index and mitotic count according to recommendation was evaluated to determine its feasibility. Most laboratories recorded diagnostic term, depth of invasion, size, lymph-vascular invasion, Ki-67 index, and mitotic count. However, only 32.2% reported tumor stage. Chromogranin A and synaptophysin were common neuroendocrine markers. D2-40 and elastica stain were frequently used to confirm lymph-vascular invasion. Only 62.1% counted more than 500 cells for the Ki-67 index, and only 17.0% counted more than 50 fields for the mitotic count, as suggested by the recommendations. Median time of 7 cases was 18.0 and 27.3 min to assess mitotic count in 50 fields with Ki-67 index in 500 and 2000 cells, respectively. For more standardized pathological reporting, education about standardized staging systems are needed in Japan. Practical and standardized procedures for mitotic index and Ki-67 index are also required.

Assessment of elasticity of colorectal cancer tissue, clinical utility, pathological and phenotypical relevance.

Generally, cancer tissue is palpated as a hard mass. However, the elastic nature of cancer tissue is not well understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical utility of measuring the elastic modulus (EM) in colorectal cancer tissue. Using a tactile sensor, we measured the EM of 106 surgically resected colorectal cancer tissues. Data on the EM were compared with clinicopathological findings, including stromal features represented by Azan staining and the α-SMA positive area ratio of the tumor area. Finally, a cDNA microarray profile of the tumors with high EM were compared with the findings of tumors with low EM. A higher EM in tumors was associated with pathological T, N, and M-stage tumors (P < 0.001, P = 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). Patients with high EM tumors had shorter disease-free survival than had patients with low EM. The EM showed strongly positive correlation with the Azan staining positive area ratio (r = 0.908) and the α-SMA positive area ratio (r = 0.921). Finally, the cDNA microarray data of the tumors with high EM revealed a distinct gene expression profile compared with data from those tumors with low EM. The assessment of the elasticity of colorectal cancer tissue may allow a more accurate clinical stage and prognosis estimation. The distinct phenotypical features of the high EM tumors and their strong association with stromal features suggest the existence of a biological mechanism involved in this phenomenon that may contribute to future therapy.