Selective Resection of Type 1 Gastric Neuroendocrine Neoplasms and the Risk of Progression in an Endoscopic Surveillance Programme.

BACKGROUND: Current guidance for type 1 gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (gNENs) recommends either resection of all visible lesions or selective resection of gNENs >10 mm. We adopt a selective strategy targeting lesions approaching 10 mm for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and provide surveillance for smaller lesions. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the incidence of type 1 gNENs requiring endoscopic/surgical resection and the risk of disease progression (both considered significant disease) on endoscopic surveillance. The secondary objective was to assess the risk factors for disease progression during surveillance and the incidence of gastric dysplasia/adenoma/adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We collected consecutive patients with type 1 gNENs and obtained demographic and clinical data through the electronic patient record. RESULTS: In our cohort of 57 patients, 12 patients had EMR at index gastroscopy; 7 patients had surgery (4: large/multiple gNENs and 3: nodal metastases) (5.2% [3/57] risk of nodal metastases); and a patient with nodal and liver metastases (1.8% [1/57] risk of distant metastases). The prevalence of gastric adenocarcinoma in our study was 3.5% with an incidence rate of 9.59 per 1,000 persons per year. For patients undergoing surveillance, 29.5% (13/44) of patients progressed requiring resection. Serum gastrin was significantly higher in patients who progressed to resection (p value = 0.023). CONCLUSION: We concluded that up to a third of patients with type 1 gNENs have significant disease requiring resection. Hence, endoscopic surveillance and resect strategy would benefit patients.

Barrett's Registry Collaboration of academic centers in Ireland reveals high progression rate of low-grade dysplasia and low risk from nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus: report of the RIBBON network.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the main pathological precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or EAC from nondysplastic BE (NDBE), low-grade dysplasia (LGD) and indefinite for dysplasia (IND) varies widely between population-based studies and specialized centers for many reasons, principally the rigor of the biopsy protocol and the accuracy of pathologic definition. In the Republic of Ireland, a multicenter prospective registry and bioresource (RIBBON) was established in 2011 involving six academic medical centers, and this paper represents the first report from this network. A detailed clinical, endoscopic and pathologic database registered 3,557 patients. BE was defined strictly by both endoscopic evidence of Barrett's epithelium and the presence of specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM). A prospective web-based database was used to gather information with initial and follow-up data abstracted by a data manager at each site. A total of 2,244 patients, 1,925 with no dysplasia, were included with complete follow-up. The median age at diagnosis was 60.5 with a 2.1:1 male to female ratio and a median follow-up time of 2.7 years (IQR 1.19-4.04), and 6609.25 person years. In this time period, 125 (5.57%) progressed to HGD/EAC, with 74 (3.3%) after 1 year of follow-up and 38 (1.69%) developed EAC, with 20 (0.89%) beyond 1 year. The overall incidence of HGD/EAC was 1.89% per year; 1.16% if the first year is excluded. The risk of progression to EAC alone overall was 0.57% per year, 0.31% excluding the first year, and 0.21% in the 1,925 patients who had SIM alone at diagnosis. Low-grade dysplasia (LGD) progressed to HGD/EAC in 31% of patients, a progression rate of 12.96% per year, 6.71% with the first year excluded. In a national collaboration of academic centers in Ireland, the progression rate for NDBE was similar to recent population studies. Almost one in two who progressed was evident within 1 year. Crucially, LGD diagnosed and confirmed by specialist gastrointestinal pathologists represents truly high-risk disease, highlighting the importance of expertise in diagnosis and management, and providing indirect support for ablative therapies in this context.

Whole Body MRI in the Staging of Esophageal Cancer--A Prospective Comparison with Whole Body 18F-FDG PET-CT.

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) is established in the staging of esophageal cancer. In this study, an MRI protocol was designed to emulate the anatomical (T1-weighed (T1W) and T2W imaging) and functional information (diffusion-weighted imaging) provided by PET-CT. METHODS: In all, 49 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus underwent PET-CT and whole-body MRI (WBMRI). WBMRI was carried out using dedicated sequences tailored to detect metastatic disease at each area corresponding to the anatomical coverage of PET-CT. Nodal status was determined from histopathology and endoscopic ultrasound biopsy (EUS). RESULTS: PET-CT and WBMRI identified the primary tumor in 46/49 (94%) and 48/49 (98%) patients, respectively. Nodal analysis in patients undergoing surgery (n = 18) yielded sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of 27, 100, 100, 47 and 56% for PET-CT, compared with 30, 100, 100, 53 and 61% for WBMRI. When nodal analysis included both surgical specimens and EUS criteria (n = 39), sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 46, 91, 93, 40 and 59% for PET-CT compared with 59, 92, 94, 50 and 67% for WBMRI. Both imaging modalities identified distant metastases in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: WBMRI has similar accuracy to PET-CT in detecting the primary tumor, nodal deposits and for exclusion of systemic metastatic disease.

Seek and ye shall find: the importance of careful macroscopic examination and thorough sampling in 2522 cholecystectomy specimens.

Gallbladder dysplasia and carcinoma (GBDC) vary greatly in incidence worldwide. We aimed to determine their prevalence in an Irish population, to assess the influence of tissue sampling protocols upon GBDC diagnosis, and to correlate various macroscopic and microscopic features with GBDC. We retrospectively reviewed histology reports of cholecystectomy specimens accessioned from 2000 to 2013. A total of 2522 cholecystectomy reports were reviewed, from 1860 female and 662 male patients. Male patients were significantly older (54.8 vs 46.8 years). There were 29 cases of dysplasia (1.15%) and 12 cases of carcinoma (0.48%), of which 10 were primary gallbladder cancers (0.4%). In 83.4% of cases, there was pathologic or radiologic evidence of cholelithiasis. Histologic findings included chronic (91.1%) or acute (15.4%) cholecystitis, cholesterosis (10.9%), adenomyomatous hyperplasia (2.1%), xanthogranulomatous inflammation (2.02%), and "porcelain" gallbladder (0.2%). Patients with GBDC were more likely to have a macroscopically identifiable lesion (29.4% vs 1.8%, positive predictive value, 18.18%, negative predictive value, 99.03%). Gallbladder dysplasia and carcinoma patients also had larger gallstones (median, 19 vs 12 mm) and were more likely to have adenomyomatous hyperplasia (8.8% vs 2.05%). When cases with a macroscopically identifiable lesion or clinical details suggestive of a gallbladder tumour were excluded (n = 2385), GBDC was significantly more frequently diagnosed if multiple tissue blocks had been sampled (2.91% vs 0.76%; relative risk (RR), 3.836). Rates of GBDC in Irish cholecystectomy specimens are low. The absence of a macroscopically identifiable lesion has a high (but not 100%) negative predictive value for GBDC. Sampling with more than 1 block significantly increases pickup rates of GBDC in these cases.

Classification of pathologic response to neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal and junctional cancer: assessment of existing measures and proposal of a novel 3-point standard.

OBJECTIVE: To assess existing measures of pathologic response to neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal and junctional cancer, and to recommend an optimum classification. BACKGROUND: Multimodal therapy is increasingly the standard of care for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Numerous measures of pathologic response have been studied; however, no international standardization exists and no measure is incorporated into the current American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. METHODS: A total of 393 consecutive patients completing multimodal therapy were studied, all with prospectively recorded Mandard tumor regression grades (TRG). Seven other published methods of response were compared, and a novel 3-point TRG [TRG 1 (complete); TRG 2/3 (partial); TRG 4/5 (none/minimal)] was tested. Clinical and pathologic evidence of nodal regression was assessed in a consecutive subset of 200 comprehensively staged patients. RESULTS: All models had similar discriminatory and stratification power, and they predicted survival (P < 0.0001) on univariate analysis. Conversely, only the 3-point TRG (P = 0.042) along with ypN (P < 0.001) and ypT stage (P < 0.001) independently predicted survival. The median survival for TRG 1 was 71 months compared with 30 and 17 months for TRG 2/3 and TRG 4/5, respectively (P < 0.0001). Apparent complete nodal response (cN1 to ypN0) was seen in 64% of the TRG 1 group, 30% of the TRG 2/3 group, and 5% of the TRG 4/5 group (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: No existing response measure independently predicts outcome. A complete response (TRG 1) defines a unique cohort after neoadjuvant therapy, associated closely with nodal response, and overall survival. This classification merits consideration for standardization of treatment response, and for inclusion in staging nomenclature.

Appraisal of staging endoscopic ultrasonography in a modern high-volume esophageal program.

BACKGROUND: Accurate pretreatment staging is essential to decision making for patients with esophageal and junctional cancers, particularly when choosing endoscopic therapy or a multimodal approach. As the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been reported as variable, we assessed it prospectively in a large cohort from a high-volume center. METHODS: The EUS data from 2007 to 2011 were reviewed and analyzed. We conducted a comparative analysis with computed tomography-positron emission tomography (CT-PET) staging and pathology. Survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier testing on EUS-predicted T- and N-stage cohorts. RESULTS: Altogether, 222 patients underwent EUS. Among patients undergoing primary surgical resection, preoperative EUS diagnosed the T stage correctly in 71 % (55/77) of cases. Sensitivity and specificity for T1, T2, and T3 tumors were 94 and 89 %, 55 and 80 %, and 66 and 93 %, respectively. Mean maximum standard uptake volume on CT-PET correlated moderately with the EUS T stage (r = 0.42, p < 0.0001). EUS accuracy for nodal disease was 65 %. Survival was statistically better for the EUS T1 group than for those with T3 tumors (p = 0.01). Nodal metastases diagnosed on EUS predicted a significantly worse prognosis than EUS-negative nodes on both univariate and multivariate analyses (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.005 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant relation between EUS T and N stages and overall survival. EUS demonstrated 71 % accuracy for the overall T stage. Staging accuracy of EUS for large lesions was less effective than for T1 tumors, underlining the need for a multimodal investigative approach to stage esophageal tumors accurately.

Gastric neuroendocrine tumours.

BACKGROUND: Gastric neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are increasingly recognised, and management decisions may be difficult due to an incomplete understanding of aetiology, natural history and optimum therapy. This article presents a current understanding based on recent advances in epidemiology, classification, molecular profiling, and treatment. METHODS: Relevant medical literature was identified from searches of PubMed and references cited in appropriate articles identified. Selection of articles was based on peer review, journal and relevance. RESULTS: Gastric NETs may be divided into three clinical prognostic groups: type I is associated with autoimmune atrophic gastritis and hypergastrinaemia, type II is associated with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and type III lesions are gastrin-independent, have the greatest metastatic potential and poorest prognosis. There has been an increased frequency of gastric NETs reported. Management approaches have evolved in parallel with advances in endoscopic staging and surgery, as well as improved understanding of the biology and natural history of NETs. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric NETs present a spectrum of activity from indolent tumours to metastatic malignancy. Treatment decisions for patients must be individualised and are best managed by a multidisciplinary team approach. The current evidence base is limited to small series and efforts to treat patients within clinical networks of expertise are warranted.

Extramural venous invasion (EMVI) in colorectal cancer is associated with increased cancer recurrence and cancer-related death.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes vary depending on tumour biology, with several features used to predict disease behaviour. Extramural venous invasion (EMVI) is associated with negative outcomes and its presence has been established as an indicator of more aggressive disease in CRC. METHODS: A prospectively maintained database was examined for patients undergoing curative resection for non-metastatic CRC between 2012 and 2018 in a tertiary institution. Clinicopathological factors were compared to assess their impact on recurrence, all-cause mortality and cancer-related death. Kaplan Meier analysis of the association between EMVI and these endpoints was performed, and univariable and multivariable analysis was carried out to establish the relationship of predictive factors in oncological outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-eight (13.5%) of 654 patients developed recurrence. The mean time to recurrence was 19.8 ± 13.5 months. There were 36 (5.5%) cancer-related deaths at a mean duration of follow-up of 46.3 ± 21.6 months. Two hundred and sixty-six patients had extramural venous invasion (40.7%). EMVI was significantly associated with reduced overall recurrence-free survival, systemic recurrence-free survival, and increased cancer-related death on univariate analysis (p < 0.001 for all, Fig. 1), and multivariable analysis (OR 1.8 and 2.1 respectively, p < 0.05 for both). CONCLUSION: EMVI is associated with a poor prognosis, independent of stage, nodal status and other histopathological features. The presence of EMVI should be strongly considered as an indication for adjuvant therapy.

Serum proteomic profiling reveals that pretreatment complement protein levels are predictive of esophageal cancer patient response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

OBJECTIVE: To identify serum-based biomarkers predicting response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neo-CRT) in esophageal cancer. PURPOSE: Increasingly, the standard of care for esophageal cancer involves neo-CRT followed by surgery. The identification of biomarkers predicting response to therapy may represent a major advance, enabling clinical trials and improved outcomes. BACKGROUND DATA: Patients with esophageal cancer (n = 31) received a standard neo-CRT regimen. Histopathologic response to therapy was assessed by using the Mandard tumor regression grade (TRG) classification. Serum was collected pretreatment and at 24-hour and 48-hour time points into treatment. Serum samples were analyzed by using Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A leave-one-out cross-validation predictive algorithm assessed the ability of validated biomarkers to correctly predict therapeutic outcome. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent (16) of patients were poor responders (TRG 3-5), whereas 49% (15) responded well (TRG 1-2). On CM10 biochips, serum expression of 9 protein peaks was significantly different between the response groups. Two differential spectrum peaks were identified as complement C4a and C3a and were subsequently analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pretreatment serum C4a and C3a levels were significantly higher in poor responders versus good responders. Subdivision of the response groups by TRG indicated an inverse correlation between levels of C4a and C3a and pathological response to neo-CRT. The leave-one-out cross-validation analysis revealed that these serum proteins could predict response to neo-CRT with a sensitivity and specificity of 78.6% and 83.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This translational application of proteomics technology identifies pretreatment serum levels of C4a and C3a as predictive biomarkers of response. Large validation studies in an independent cohort are merited.

Double check: diagnosis and management of adult Hirschsprung disease.

Hirschsprung disease (HD) is a gut motility disorder usually diagnosed acutely in infancy, although variants of HD may present later in life with indolent symptoms. This report highlights the rarity of diagnosing HD and hypoganglionosis in adulthood and the nuances that need consideration for their surgical management. We present a report of a 49-year-old man presenting with chronic constipation. A full thickness rectal biopsy confirmed aganglionosis, and HD in adulthood was diagnosed. He underwent a defunctioning left-sided colostomy to ensure histological confirmation of ganglia in his left colon, and adequate colonic function via the colostomy.This served also as an assessment of the proximal conduit for any future anastomosis. He later underwent ultra-low anterior resection, coloanal anastomosis and loop ileostomy with subsequent reversal. His final histology revealed hypoganglionosis of the resected segment, with normal innervation to the site of the colostomy. He made full recovery with normal bowel movements.

Dataset for the reporting of carcinoma of the esophagus in resection specimens: recommendations from the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A standardized data set for esophageal carcinoma pathology reporting was developed based on the approach of the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR) for the purpose of improving cancer patient outcomes and international benchmarking in cancer management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ICCR convened a multidisciplinary international expert panel to identify the best evidence-based clinical and pathological parameters for inclusion in the data set for esophageal carcinoma. The data set incorporated the current edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours of the Digestive System, and Tumour-Node-Metastasis staging systems. RESULTS: The scope of the data set encompassed resection specimens of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction with tumor epicenter ≤20 mm into the proximal stomach. Core reporting elements included information on neoadjuvant therapy, operative procedure used, tumor focality, tumor site, tumor dimensions, distance of tumor to resection margins, histological tumor type, presence and type of dysplasia, tumor grade, extent of invasion in the esophagus, lymphovascular invasion, response to neoadjuvant therapy, status of resection margin, ancillary studies, lymph node status, distant metastases, and pathological staging. Additional non-core elements considered useful to report included clinical information, specimen dimensions, macroscopic appearance of tumor, and coexistent pathology. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first international peer-reviewed structured reporting data set for surgically resected specimens of the esophagus. The ICCR carcinoma of the esophagus data set is recommended for routine use globally and is a valuable tool to support standardized reporting, to benefit patient care by providing diagnostic and prognostic best-practice parameters.

Modern oncological and operative outcomes in oesophageal cancer: the St. James's hospital experience.

BACKGROUND: Oesophageal cancer has a reputation for poor survival, and a relatively high risk of major postoperative morbidity and mortality. Encouragingly, a recent international cancer registry study reports a doubling of survival outcomes in Ireland over the last 20 years. This study focused on both oncologic and operative outcomes in patients treated with curative intent requiring surgery at a high-volume center. METHODS: All patients undergoing surgery or multimodal therapy with curative intent from 2009 to 2018 were studied. All data was recorded prospectively and maintained internally. The period 2009-2013 was compared with 2014-2018 to monitor any change in trends. RESULTS: Four hundred and seventy-five patients (adenocarcinoma 77%, mean age 65; 76% male; 64% neoadjuvant therapy) underwent open surgical resection, 54% via en bloc 2-stage, 19.8% en bloc 3-stage, and 26.5% by a transhiatal approach. New onset atrial fibrillation was the commonest index complication, in 108 (22.7%), 80 (18%) developed suspected pneumonia/respiratory tract infection, 20 (4.2%) an anastomotic leak, and 25 (5.2%) a chyle leak. The 90-day mortality rate was 1.2% and 0.8% at 30 days. The median survival was 77.17 months, with a 5-year survival of 56%. CONCLUSION: Consistent with registry data on population survival for oesophageal cancer, this study highlights markedly improved survival outcomes in patients treated curatively, reflecting international trends, as well as low mortality rates; however, cardiorespiratory complications remain significant.

Differential pathologic variables and outcomes across the spectrum of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) as described by Siewert et al. is classified as one entity in the latest (7th Edition) American Joint Cancer Committee/International Union Against Cancer (AJCC/UICC) manual, compared with the previous mix of esophageal and gastric staging systems. The origin of AEG tumors, esophageal or gastric, and their biology remain controversial, particularly for AEG type II (cardia) tumors. METHODS: We adapted a large prospective database (n = 520: 180 type I, 182 type II, 158 type III) to compare AEG tumors under the new TNM system Pathological variables associated with prognosis were compared (pT, pN, stage, differentiation, R status, lymphovascular invasion, perineural involvement, number of positive nodes, percent of positive nodes, and tumor length), as well as overall survival. RESULTS: Compared with AEG type I tumors, type II and type III tumors had significantly (p < 0.05) more advanced pN stages, greater number and percentage of positive nodes, poorer differentiation, more radial margin involvement, and more perineural invasion. In AEG type I, 14/180 patients (8%) had >6 involved nodes (pN3), compared with 16 and 30% of patients classified type II and III, respectively. Median survival was significantly (p = 0.03) improved for type I patients (38 months) compared with those with tumors classified as type II (28 months) and type III (24 months). In multivariate analysis node positivity and pN staging but not AEG site had an impact on survival. CONCLUSIONS: In this series AEG type I is associated with more favorable pathologic features and improved outcomes compared with AEG type II and III. This may reflect earlier diagnosis, but an alternative possibility, that type I may be a unique paradigm with more favorable biology, requires further study.

Gene expression analysis of diagnostic biopsies predicts pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy of esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored gene expression differences in predicting response to chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer. PURPOSE: A major pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation is observed in about 40% of esophageal cancer patients and is associated with favorable outcomes. However, patients with tumors of similar histology, differentiation, and stage can have vastly different responses to the same neoadjuvant therapy. This dichotomy may be due to differences in the molecular genetic environment of the tumor cells. BACKGROUND DATA: Diagnostic biopsies were obtained from a training cohort of esophageal cancer patients (13), and extracted RNA was hybridized to genome expression microarrays. The resulting gene expression data was verified by qRT-PCR. In a larger, independent validation cohort (27), we examined differential gene expression by qRT-PCR. The ability of differentially-regulated genes to predict response to therapy was assessed in a multivariate leave-one-out cross-validation model. RESULTS: Although 411 genes were differentially expressed between normal and tumor tissue, only 103 genes were altered between responder and non-responder tumor; and 67 genes differentially expressed >2-fold. These included genes previously reported in esophageal cancer and a number of novel genes. In the validation cohort, 8 of 12 selected genes were significantly different between the response groups. In the predictive model, 5 of 8 genes could predict response to therapy with 95% accuracy in a subset (74%) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified a gene microarray pattern and a set of genes associated with response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in esophageal cancer. The potential of these genes as biomarkers of response to treatment warrants further investigation.

Screening for mismatch repair deficiency in colorectal cancer: data from three academic medical centers.

Reflex immunohistochemistry (rIHC) for mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression can be used as a screening tool to detect Lynch Syndrome (LS). Increasingly the mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) phenotype has therapeutic implications. We investigated the pattern and consequence of testing for dMMR in three Irish Cancer Centres (CCs). CRC databases were analyzed from January 2005-December 2013. CC1 performs IHC upon physician request, CC2 implemented rIHC in November 2008, and CC3 has been performing rIHC since 2004. The number of eligible patients referred to clinical genetic services (CGS), and the number of LS patients per center was determined. 3906 patients were included over a 9-year period. dMMR CRCs were found in 32/153 (21%) of patients at CC1 and 55/536 (10%) at CC2, accounting for 3% and 5% of the CRC population, respectively. At CC3, 182/1737 patients (10%) had dMMR CRCs (P < 0.001). Additional testing for the BRAF V600E mutation, was performed in 49 patients at CC3 prior to CGS referral, of which 29 were positive and considered sporadic CRC. Referrals to CGS were made in 66%, 33%, and 30% of eligible patients at CC1, CC2, and CC3, respectively. LS accounted for CRC in eight patients (0.8%) at CC1, eight patients (0.7%) at CC2, and 20 patients (1.2%) at CC3. Cascade testing of patients with dMMR CRC was not completed in 56%. Universal screening increases the detection of dMMR tumors and LS kindreds. Successful implementation of this approach requires adequate resources for appropriate downstream management of these patients.

Rectal site and suboptimal nodal yield predict systemic recurrence in resected colorectal carcinoma: a case-control study.

We assessed the contribution of histopathological features to systemic recurrence (SR) in patients with colorectal cancer, using a case-control design: 71 cases and 184 controls were included, with a mean time until SR of 1.4 ± 0.1 years and a mean follow-up of controls of 1.6 ± 0.06 years. Cases had significantly greater odds of rectal site (odds ratio [OR] = 1.82), stage ≥ pT3 (OR = 2.11), suboptimal (<12) lymph node yield (OR = 4.6), stage ≥ pN1 (OR = 2.46), KRAS mutation (OR = 2.76), and extramural venous invasion (OR = 1.97). By multiple regression analysis, rectal site, stage ≥ pT3, suboptimal lymph node yield, and lymph node positivity independently predicted SR. Rectal cancers were more likely to have a suboptimal node yield than nonrectal cancers (relative risk = 1.6) among the entire cohort. We conclude that rectal cancers have greater risk of SR than colon cancers. A lower yield of lymph nodes in rectal cancer specimens may contribute to this.

Altered mitochondrial function and energy metabolism is associated with a radioresistant phenotype in oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) is increasingly the standard of care for locally advanced oesophageal cancer. A complete pathological response to CRT is associated with a favourable outcome. Radiation therapy is important for local tumour control, however, radioresistance remains a substantial clinical problem. We hypothesise that alterations in mitochondrial function and energy metabolism are involved in the radioresistance of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). To investigate this, we used an established isogenic cell line model of radioresistant OAC. Radioresistant cells (OE33 R) demonstrated significantly increased levels of random mitochondrial mutations, which were coupled with alterations in mitochondrial function, size, morphology and gene expression, supporting a role for mitochondrial dysfunction in the radioresistance of this model. OE33 R cells also demonstrated altered bioenergetics, demonstrating significantly increased intracellular ATP levels, which was attributed to enhanced mitochondrial respiration. Radioresistant cells also demonstrated metabolic plasticity, efficiently switching between the glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation energy metabolism pathways, which were accompanied by enhanced clonogenic survival. This data was supported in vivo, in pre-treatment OAC tumour tissue. Tumour ATP5B expression, a marker of oxidative phosphorylation, was significantly increased in patients who subsequently had a poor pathological response to neoadjuvant CRT. This suggests for the first time, a role for specific mitochondrial alterations and metabolic remodelling in the radioresistance of OAC.

Development and progress of Ireland's biobank network: Ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI), standardized documentation, sample and data release, and international perspective.

Biobank Ireland Trust (BIT) was established in 2004 to promote and develop an Irish biobank network to benefit patients, researchers, industry, and the economy. The network commenced in 2008 with two hospital biobanks and currently consists of biobanks in the four main cancer hospitals in Ireland. The St. James's Hospital (SJH) Biobank coordinates the network. Procedures, based on ISBER and NCI guidelines, are standardized across the network. Policies and documents-Patient Consent Policy, Patient Information Sheet, Biobank Consent Form, Sample and Data Access Policy (SAP), and Sample Application Form have been agreed upon (after robust discussion) for use in each hospital. An optimum sequence for document preparation and submission for review is outlined. Once consensus is reached among the participating biobanks, the SJH biobank liaises with the Research and Ethics Committees, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, The National Cancer Registry (NCR), patient advocate groups, researchers, and other stakeholders. The NCR provides de-identified data from its database for researchers via unique biobank codes. ELSI issues discussed include the introduction of prospective consent across the network and the return of significant research results to patients. Only 4 of 363 patients opted to be re-contacted and re-consented on each occasion that their samples are included in a new project. It was decided, after multidisciplinary discussion, that results will not be returned to patients. The SAP is modeled on those of several international networks. Biobank Ireland is affiliated with international biobanking groups-Marble Arch International Working Group, ISBER, and ESBB. The Irish government continues to deliberate on how to fund and implement biobanking nationally. Meanwhile BIT uses every opportunity to promote awareness of the benefits of biobanking in events and in the media.