Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer surgery in Japan: Clinical Study Group of Osaka University-A multicenter retrospective study.

Aim: Due to the overwhelming spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its disruption of the healthcare system, delays and reduced numbers were reported for colorectal cancer screening, colonoscopies, and surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. This multicenter retrospective study investigated the still poorly understood impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer treatment in Japan. Methods: This study was organized by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, which comprised 32 major institutions in Osaka. We retrospectively analyzed the number of surgeries and colonoscopies performed and the characteristics of patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer between March 2019 and February 2021. We compared data collected before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also assessed the methods used for detecting colorectal cancer, including fecal occult blood test, abdominal symptoms, and anemia. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic caused reductions in the annual numbers of surgeries (3569 vs 3198) and colonoscopies (67 622 vs 58 183) performed in the 2020 fiscal year, compared to the 2019 fiscal year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significantly lower proportion of patients were treated for clinical stages ≤I (24.2% vs 26.9%; P = .011), compared to the proportion treated before the pandemic. Fecal occult blood tests for detecting colorectal cancer were used significantly less frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic (26.2% vs 29.6%; P = .002). These trends were more significant in larger institutions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of colonoscopies and surgeries performed for colorectal cancer and hindered the detection of asymptomatic early-stage cancers, and its impact varied by hospital size.

Low G9a expression is a tumor progression factor of colorectal cancer via IL-8 promotion.

The histone methyltransferase G9a is expressed in various types of cancer cells, including colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Interleukin 8 (IL)-8, also known as C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), is a chemokine that plays a pleiotropic function in the regulation of inflammatory responses and cancer development. Here, we examined the relationship between G9a and IL-8 and the clinical relevance of this association. We immunohistochemically analyzed 235 resected CRC samples to correlate clinical features. Samples with high G9a expression had better overall survival and relapse-free survival than those with low G9a expression. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that low G9a expression remained a significant independent prognostic factor for increased disease recurrence and decreased survival (P < 0.05). G9a was expressed at high levels in commercially available CRC cell lines HCT116 and HT29. Knockdown of G9a by siRNA, shRNA or the G9a-specific inhibitor BIX01294 upregulated IL-8 expression. The number of spheroids was significantly increased in HCT116 cells with stably suppressed G9a expression, and the number of spheroids was significantly decreased in HCT116 cells with stably suppressed IL-8 expression. Thus, the suppression of IL-8 by G9a may result in a better prognosis in CRC cases with high G9a expression. Furthermore, G9a may suppress cancer stemness and increase chemosensitivity by controlling IL-8. Therefore, G9a is a potential novel marker for predicting CRC prognosis, and therapeutic targeting of G9a in CRC should be controversial.

A case of planar-type gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the transverse colon with perforation.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumor of the human gastrointestinal tract. They usually develop in the stomach and small intestine, but extremely rarely in the colon. Although most GISTs form a mass, some cases showing a flatly proliferating lesion called planar-type GIST have been reported in the sigmoid colon and small intestine. Those are often associated with diverticular lesion and/or perforation. We present here a case of planar-type GIST of the transverse colon with perforation. A 49-year-old Japanese woman abruptly complained of abdominal pain, and was clinically diagnosed as perforation of the transverse colon. Partial resection of the transverse colon including the perforated site was done, and no apparent mass lesion was present. Histology showed that spindle cells flatly proliferated around the perforated area and replaced the layers from submucosa to subserosa. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the spindle cells were KIT-, DOG1- and CD34-positive. Codons 557 and 558 of exon 11 of the c-kit gene were heterozygously deleted at the lesional tissue but not at the normal mucosal tissue. Planar-type GIST of the transverse colon has not been reported yet, and the literature search for the similar cases was done.

A case of single-incision laparoscopic surgery for acute appendicitis with left ventricular assist device.

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is used for patients with severe heart failure. We present a case of a 35-year-old man who had undergone LVAD implantation 2 years ago for dilated phase of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He had right lower abdominal pain and was diagnosed with acute appendicitis. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery for appendicitis was performed. We incised approximately 3 cm of the umbilicus carefully because the driveline of LVAD was passing just caudal to the umbilicus. LVAD is only available for patients waiting for cardiac transplantation in Japan, and the number of patients with LVAD has been increasing. Adequate anticoagulant therapy is necessary because device thrombosis often causes fatal complications, but during emergency cases, the surgeons have to be cautious of bleeding and injury to the driveline of LVAD.

A case of completely isolated advanced enteric duplication cyst cancer performed partial pancreatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Enteric duplication cysts are rare and, in addition, isolated enteric duplication cysts are lower morbidity prevalence rate. These cysts lack a connection to the gastrointestinal tract or the adjacent mesenteric vasculature and have only been reported in 10 case reports. In these reports, only two reports were cases with malignant transformation. Our case was a report for the advanced cancer of the isolated enteric duplication cyst. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 43 year-old woman with slightly abdominal pain and mass formation. The abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed 130 × 100 × 90 mm huge cystic mass existed in right upper peritoneal cavity. The cystic mass had thickened wall and many enhanced nodules. As these imaging findings suggested a tumor originated from pancreas and the preoperative diagnose was suspect of mucinous cystic neoplasm. In operative findings, the tumor originated from pancreatic head and did not attach to gastrointestinal tract. Final pathology indicated the cyst was an isolated advanced enteric duplication cyst cancer and not originated from pancreas. CONCLUSION: We experienced an extremely rare case of completely isolated advanced enteric duplication cyst cancer. Unique to this case, the preoperative diagnosis was suspect of mucinous cystic neoplasm arising from pancreas head and partial pancreatectomy was performed. However, in the pathological findings, this cyst diagnosed advanced enteric duplication cyst cancer.

[An Analysis of Perforated Gastric Cancer with Acute Peritonitis in Our Hospital].

Perforated gastric cancer is relatively rare and the incidence is reported about 1% of all the cases of gastric cancer. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of the consecutive 12 patients with perforated gastric cancer who underwent operation in our hospital between January 2005 and December 2016. There were 5 men and 7 women, with an average age of 65.8 years old(34-87). Perforated gastric cancer occurred in the region U(1 cases), M(6 cases), L(5 cases). There were 11 cases with distant metastasis. We could successfully diagnosed as perforated gastric cancer in 8 cases before emergency operation. Gastrectomy was performed in 5 cases. However, the curative resection was performed only 1 case. Prognosis of perforated gastric cancer is poor. We considered as an appropriate two-step surgical strategy that the first step of surgery is an acute peritonitis treatment followed by radical gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy.

[A Case of Anal Canal Adenocarcinoma Locally Controlled by Rectal Amputation after Chemoradiotherapy].

A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with anal pain. The 10 cm tumor was observed externally at the 3 o' clock side of his anus. He was unable to maintain the sitting position because of pain and had fecal incontinence and erosive skin inflammation. We identified this anal stenosis as anal canal adenocarcinoma(moderately differentiated). Thereby, no distant metastasis was found; we decided to treat the patient with conventional therapy. We made a double-hole colostomy in the sigmoid colon, and then the patient received preoperative chemoradiotherapy(CRT). Radiation therapy(RT)was adminis- tered at 40 Gy/20 Fr and oral capecitabine of 825mg/m / 2/time was administered twice a day on the RT days. The tumor shrinkage was good, and then we performed a laparoscopy-assisted abdominoperineal resection of the rectum. Pathologically therapeutic effect was Grade 1b. His activity of daily living was dramatically improved, and he can now main tan the sitting position. Twelve months postoperatively, he has no sign of recurrence. In this case, we experienced an anal canal adenocarcinoma that was possibly locally controlled by preoperative CRT and rectal amputation.

[A Case of Transverse Colon Cancer in Which Long-Term Chemotherapy Was Performed after Palliative Colonic Stent Placement].

We report a case involving a 76-year-old woman with transverse colon cancer undergoing long-term chemotherapy following palliative colonic stent placement. She visited our hospital with a diagnosis of colonic obstruction. Her abdomen was evidently distended and tender. CT revealed the apple core sign in the transverse colon-hepatic flexure area, and then bowel obstruction. The disseminated lesion occluded the superior mesenteric vein. Multiple masses were found on both lungs; a single tumor was detected in liver S6. Hence, we diagnosed her with unresectable obstructive transverse colon cancer. A colonic stent was inserted to remove the obstruction. Because primary tumor resection was rendered impossible, mFOLFOX6 was initiated with the colonic stent intact. After 5 courses, CT revealed that the liver metastasis disappeared, and lung metastases exhibited SD of a therapeutic effect. She further received 5 courses of mFOLFOX6 and 20 courses of maintenance therapy using FU. However, single liver metastasis recurred, exhibiting PD of a therapeutic effect. Histological diagnosis of liver metastasis was a consistent finding due to metastatic colorectal cancer; RAS mutation was not detected. Currently, 2 years after the diagnosis, FOLFIRI and panitumumab are being administered as the second-line treatment, with no colonic stentrelated complications.

[A Case of Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule from Multiple Colon Cancers].

A 94-year-old woman, who had been treated for multiple colon cancers 4 years ago, complained of umbilicus induration and had been followed up in a previous hospital with a diagnosis of periumbilical inflammation. Four years and 3 months postoperatively, the umbilical induration was enlarged, and umbilical metastasis of adenocarcinoma was diagnosed on biopsy. Umbilical resection was performed, and multiple peritoneal metastases were revealed. Umbilical metastases may worsen the patient's quality of life; thus, local resection was recommended positively.

[Cell-Free and Concentrated Ascites Reinfusion Therapy for Malignant Intractable Ascites from Colorectal Cancer].

Malignant intractable ascites worsens not only patient symptoms but also their daily activities. It often leads to a patient discontinuing or postponing chemotherapy. In the present study, we introduced cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy(CART)for malignant intractable ascites from colorectal cancer. Six patients underwent 12 CART treatments using AHF-WMO as the ascites filterand AHF-UP as the concentrator(Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.)from January 2014 to January 2017. The patients included 2 men and 4 women aged 67-89 years. Primary locations were 3 rectums, 1 transverse colon, 1 descending colon, and 1 cecum. Five patients had peritoneal dissemination, and 1 patient had liver metastasis. All the patients were administrated diuretics, but they were all refractory to the treatment. The median punctured ascites volume was 3,850 mL, and the ascites reinfusion after CART was 485 mL, the median concentration was 7.5. Only one patient had a fever. Performance status(PS)improved significantly after the treatment, and appetite score also improved. One patient was fit to undergo chemotherapy after the treatment. In summary, we found that CART is a safe and acceptable procedure for malignant intractable ascites in colorectal cancer patients.