Abdominal compartment syndrome as a complication of endoscopic carbon dioxide insufflation in a patient with malignant bowel obstruction: a case report.

BACKGROUND: A self-expandable metal stent is often placed as a bridge to elective surgical treatment of left-sided malignant obstruction of the colon because it allows for primary anastomosis without the need for a temporary stoma, which has a positive impact on the patient's quality of life. However, although a relatively safe procedure, colonic stenting can have complications that require emergency surgery. This case report describes a rare case of abdominal compartment syndrome that occurred as a complication of endoscopic insufflation during colonic stenting. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 72-year-old woman who presented complaining of several days of constipation and loss of appetite. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed obstruction of the sigmoid colon by a tumor. There were no symptoms or computed tomography findings to suggest perforation. Therefore, an attempt was made to insert a self-expandable metal stent. Acute respiratory disturbance and a change in consciousness occurred during the stenting procedure, with marked abdominal distention. Abdominal compartment syndrome was diagnosed and treated by decompressive laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of abdominal compartment syndrome as a complication of endoscopic insufflation during colonic stenting. The possibility of abdominal compartment syndrome should be considered if acute respiratory disturbance or altered consciousness occurs during endoscopic procedure in a patient with malignant bowel obstruction.

Study protocol of a single-arm phase 2 study evaluating the preventive effect of topical hydrocortisone for capecitabine-induced hand-foot syndrome in colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (T-CRACC study).

BACKGROUNDS: Clinical evidence of the preventive effectiveness of medium-class topical corticosteroids for capecitabine-induced hand foot syndrome (HFS) is limited. Although the pathogenesis and mechanism of HFS are unclear, inflammatory reactions are thought to be involved in HFS development. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of medium-class topical corticosteroids (hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1% topical therapy) for capecitabine-induced HFS in patients with colorectal cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin. METHODS: This is a single-center, single-arm, phase 2 study. Patients with colorectal cancer scheduled to receive adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin are enrolled, and topical hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1% is applied prophylactically in addition to standard moisturizing therapy. The primary endpoint is the incidence of grade ≥ 2 HFS within three months. The secondary endpoints are the time to onset of HFS, rates of dose reduction, schedule delay, discontinuation caused by capecitabine-induced HFS, and other adverse events. All adverse events are evaluated by clinical pharmacists and attending physicians. DISCUSSION: This study is expected to contribute to the establishment of new supportive care for preventing HFS, not only for colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, but also for various cancer patients receiving capecitabine-based chemotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT) as jRCTs031220002. Registered 5 April 2022, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/search Protocol version V.1.0, 16 February 2022.

Longer prolapsed rectum length increases recurrence risk after Delorme's procedure.

PURPOSE: Risk factors for recurrence of rectal prolapse after surgery remain unclear. Delorme's procedure is often selected for relatively small-sized rectal prolapse, but there are few reports discussing the association between prolapsed rectum length and prolapse recurrence after Delorme's procedure. We hypothesized that patients with longer rectal prolapses are at a higher risk of recurrence after Delorme's procedure. METHODS: The study population comprised patients with rectal prolapse who underwent Delorme's procedure between January 2014 and December 2019 at Tokyo Yamate Medical Center. We extracted data on patient age, sex, body mass index, previous history of anal surgery, previous history of surgery for rectal prolapse, and length of prolapse, to identify risk factors for prolapse recurrence. RESULTS: Altogether, 96 patients were eligible for analysis. The median length of the prolapsed rectum was 3.0 cm (range, 1.0-6.6 cm). Twenty-four patients (25.0%) experienced recurrence after Delorme's procedure after a median of 7.5 months (interquartile range, 3.2-20.9 months). Multivariate analysis revealed that longer prolapsed rectum length increased the risk of recurrence after Delorme's procedure (hazard ratio, 6.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.83-21.50; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The length of the prolapsed rectum should be measured before Delorme's procedure for rectal prolapse, because length is associated with a risk of recurrence after the surgery.

Epstein-Barr Virus-positive Intestinal Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma in a Japanese Patient with Celiac Disease: First Reported Case and a Literature Review.

A 60-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with celiac disease (CeD) and treated with a gluten-free diet. For five years, she had a good clinical course. However, she complained of inappetence and nausea. Colonoscopy revealed ulcerative tumors in the terminal ileum. A histological examination of biopsy specimens from the ulcerative tumor showed diffuse infiltration of large atypical lymphocytes. Immunohistologically, the atypical lymphoid cells were positive for cluster of differentiation (CD) 10 and CD20. Many Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER)-positive atypical lymphocytes were detected by in situ hybridization. This represents the first reported case of Epstein-Barr virus-positive intestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma complicated with CeD.

Lymphocyte-to-C-Reactive Protein Ratio Is the Most Sensitive Inflammation-Based Prognostic Score in Patients With Unresectable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation contributes to the progression of malignancies. The preoperative lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio has recently been shown to predict survival of patients with colorectal cancer who undergo surgery, but its prognostic value remains unclear in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the prognostic values of inflammation-based prognostic scores in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, focusing on the lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study from a prospectively collected database. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a high-volume multidisciplinary tertiary cancer center in Japan. PATIENTS: The subjects were 756 consecutive patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer who received systemic chemotherapy from 2000 to 2015. The prognostic value of the lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio was evaluated by univariable and multivariable analyses. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was conducted to compare the prognostic impact of the lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio with the impact of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, or the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were the correlations of prognostic scores with overall survival. RESULTS: Median survival times of patients with high, intermediate, and low lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratios were 29.4, 19.3, and 13.1 months (p < 0.001). In all subgroups according to key prognostic factors (performance status, use of targeted agents, pretreatment CEA levels, tumor sidedness, M category, and primary tumor resection), patient prognosis could be clearly stratified into 3 groups by the lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio. Multivariable analysis revealed that decreased lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio was independently associated with reduced survival (low vs high: HR 1.96, p < 0.001; intermediate vs high: HR 1.44, p < 0.001). The time-dependent receiver operating characteristics curve analysis revealed that the lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio was the most sensitive predictor of survival among all inflammation-based prognostic scores on a continuous basis. LIMITATIONS: This study was retrospective in nature. CONCLUSIONS: The lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio is a useful prognostic biomarker for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer and could contribute to accurate prognostication and therapeutic decision making. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B600. RELACIN ENTRE LINFOCITOS Y PROTENA C ES EL SCORE PRONOSTICO INFLAMATORIO MAS SENSIBLE EN PACIENTES CON CNCER COLORRECTAL METASTSICO IRRESECABLE: ANTECEDENTES:La inflamación sistémica contribuye en la progresión de neoplasias malignas. Recientemente se ha demostrado que la proporción preoperatoria de linfocitos -proteína C reactiva predice la supervivencia de los pacientes con cáncer colorrectal que se sometieron a cirugía, pero su valor pronóstico sigue sin estar claro en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal metastásico irresecable.OBJETIVO:Evaluar el valor pronostico de los scores inflamtorios centrandose en linfocito- proteina c reactiva en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal metastásico.DISEÑO:Estudio retrospective evaluando una base de datos.AJUSTE:Este estudio se llevó a cabo en un centro oncológico terciario multidisciplinario de gran volumen en Japón.PACIENTES:Se incluyeron 756 pacientes consecutivos todos con cáncer colorrectal metastásico irresecable que recibieron quimioterapia sistémica de 2000 a 2015. El valor pronóstico de la proteína C reactiva se evaluó mediante análisis univariables y multivariables. Se realizó análisis de la curva de características operativas del receptor dependiente del tiempo para comparar el impacto pronóstico de la proteína linfocito-C-reactiva con el de la proporción de neutrófilos a linfocitos, la proporción de plaquetas a linfocitos, la proporción de linfocitos a monocitos o la proporción de puntuación pronóstica segun escala de Glasgow modificada.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Correlacion de las puntuaciones pronósticas con la supervivencia global.RESULTADOS:La mediana de supervivencia de los pacientes con niveles altos, intermedios y bajos de proteína C reactiva de linfocitos fue de 29,4, 19,3 y 13,1 meses, respectivamente (p <0,001). En todos los subgrupos de acuerdo con los factores pronósticos clave (estado funcional, uso de agentes dirigidos, niveles de antígeno carcinoembrionario antes del tratamiento, lado del tumor, categoría M y resección del tumor primario), el pronóstico del paciente podría estratificarse claramente en tres grupos por linfocito a C- proteína reactiva. El análisis multivariable reveló que la disminución de linfocitos a proteína C reactiva se asoció de forma independiente con una supervivencia reducida (baja frente a alta: cociente de riesgo 1,96, p <0,001; intermedio frente a alto: cociente de riesgo 1,44, p <0,001). El análisis de la curva de características operativas del receptor dependiente del tiempo reveló que de linfocito a proteína C reactiva era el predictor de supervivencia más sensible entre todas las puntuaciones de pronóstico basadas en inflamación de forma continua.LIMITACIONES:Este estudio fue de naturaleza retrospectiva.CONCLUSIONES:La proteína C reactiva de linfocitos a C es un biomarcador pronóstico útil para el cáncer colorrectal metastásico irresecable y podría contribuir a un pronóstico preciso y a la toma de decisiones terapéuticas. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B600.

Comparison of model fit and discriminatory ability of M category as defined by the 7th and 8th editions of the tumor-node-metastasis classification of colorectal cancer and the 9th edition of the Japanese classification.

BACKGROUND: In transitioning from the 7th edition of the tumor-node-metastasis classification (TNM-7) to the 8th edition (TNM-8), colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastasis was newly categorized as M1c. In the 9th edition of the Japanese Classification of colorectal, appendiceal, and anal carcinoma (JPC-9), M1c is further subdivided into M1c1 (without other organ involvement) and M1c2 (with other organ involvement). This study aimed to compare the model fit and discriminatory ability of the M category of these three classification systems, as no study to date has made this comparison. METHODS: The study population consisted of stage IV colorectal cancer patients who were referred to the National Cancer Center Hospital from 2000 to 2017. The Akaike information criterion (AIC), Harrell's concordance index (C-index), and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the three classification systems. Subgroup analyses, stratified by initial treatment year, were also performed. RESULTS: According to TNM-8, 670 (55%) patients had M1a, 273 (22%) had M1b, and 279 (23%) had M1c (87 M1c1 and 192 M1c2 using JPC-9) tumors. Among the three classification systems, JPC-9 had the lowest AIC value (JPC-9: 10546.3; TNM-7: 10555.9; TNM-8: 10585.5), highest C-index (JPC-9: 0.608; TNM-7: 0.598; TNM-8: 0.599), and superior time-dependent ROC curves throughout the observation period. Subgroup analyses were consistent with these results. CONCLUSIONS: While the revised M category definition did not improve model fit and discriminatory ability from TNM-7 to TNM-8, further subdivision of M1c in JPC-9 improved these parameters. These results support further revisions to M1 subcategories in future editions of the TNM classification system.

Primary Tumor-Related Complications Among Patients With Unresectable Stage IV Colorectal Cancer in the Era of Targeted Therapy: A Competing Risk Regression Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Whether prolonged survival with current chemotherapy using molecular target agents has changed the rate of primary tumor-related complications in patients with unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer is unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the rate of primary tumor-related complications among patients receiving targeted therapy as compared with patients receiving chemotherapy without molecular target agents. DESIGN: This was a retrospective review of data from a prospectively maintained database. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a high-volume multidisciplinary tertiary cancer center in Japan. PATIENTS: Subjects were 352 consecutive patients with unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer who received systemic chemotherapy without primary tumor resection from 2001 to 2015. Patients were categorized into nontargeted and targeted groups according to the use of molecular target agents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complication rates attributed to primary tumors were measured. RESULTS: Of the 352 patients, 159 were categorized into the nontargeted group and 193 patients into the targeted group. Competing risk-adjusted univariate analysis revealed that the primary tumor-related complication rates in the nontargeted group were 6.9% (95% CI, 3.8%-11.9%) at 1 year and 8.2% (95% CI, 4.8%-13.8%) at 2 years, whereas the targeted group had complication rates of 11.5% (95% CI, 7.5%-16.6%) at 1 year and 16.7% (95% CI, 12.4%-23.3%) at 2 years. Multivariate analysis revealed that the targeted group was ≈2 times more likely to have primary tumor-related complications (subdistribution HR = 2.04 (95% CI, 1.12-4.01); p = 0.020). Median survival time was 12.0 months in the nontargeted group and 24.1 months in the targeted group (p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted therapy was associated with a significantly increased risk of primary tumor-related complications during chemotherapy. However, targeted therapy also improved overall survival, making it a tolerable therapy. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B536. COMPLICACIONES PRIMARIAS RELACIONADAS CON EL TUMOR ENTRE PACIENTES CON CNCER COLORRECTAL EN ESTADIO IV IRRESECABLE EN LA ERA DE LA TERAPIA DIRIGIDA UN ANLISIS DE REGRESIN DEL RIESGO COMPETITIVO: ANTECEDENTES:No está claro si la supervivencia prolongada con la quimioterapia actual utilizando agentes moleculares dirigidos ha cambiado la tasa de complicaciones relacionadas con el tumor primario en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal en estadio IV irresecable.OBJETIVO:Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar la tasa de complicaciones relacionadas con el tumor primario entre los pacientes que reciben terapia dirigida, en comparación con pacientes que reciben quimioterapia sin agentes moleculares dirigidos.DISEÑO:Revisión retrospectiva de datos de una base de datos mantenida prospectivamente.ESCENARIO CLINICO:Centro oncológico de tercer nivel multidisciplinario de alto volumen en Japón.PACIENTES:352 pacientes consecutivos con cáncer colorrectal en estadio IV irresecable que recibieron quimioterapia sistémica sin resección del tumor primario entre 2001 y 2015. Los pacientes se clasificaron en grupos dirigidos y no dirigidos según el uso de agentes moleculares dirigidos.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE VALORACION:Tasas de complicaciones debidas a tumores primarios.RESULTADOS:De los 352 pacientes, 159 se clasificaron en el grupo no dirigido y 193 pacientes en el grupo dirigido. El análisis univariado ajustado al riesgo competitivo reveló que las tasas de complicaciones primarias relacionadas con el tumor en el grupo no dirigido fueron del 6,9% (intervalo de confianza (IC) del 95%, 3,8 - 11,9%) al año y del 8,2% (IC del 95%, 4,8%). - 13,8%) a los dos años, mientras que el grupo dirigido tuvo tasas de complicaciones del 11,5% (IC del 95%, 7,5 - 16,6%) al año y del 16,7% (IC del 95%, 12,4 - 23,3%) a los dos años. El análisis multivariado reveló que el grupo dirigido tenía aproximadamente dos veces más probabilidades de tener complicaciones relacionadas con el tumor primario (razón de riesgo de subdistribución, 2,04; IC del 95%, 1,12 a 4,01; p = 0,020). La mediana del tiempo de supervivencia fue de 12,0 meses en el grupo no dirigido y de 24,1 meses en el grupo dirigido (p <0,001).LIMITACIONES:Este estudio estuvo limitado por el diseño retrospectivo.CONCLUSIONES:La terapia dirigida se asoció con un riesgo significativamente mayor de complicaciones relacionadas con el tumor primario durante la quimioterapia. Sin embargo, la terapia dirigida también mejoró la SG, convirtiéndola en una terapia tolerable. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B536.

Laparoscopic versus Open Colectomy for Elderly Patients with Colon Cancer: A Propensity Score Analysis with the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score.

The feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for elderly patients remains unclear, as these patients usually present with comorbidities. Recently, the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score has drawn attention as an evaluation score of patients' general status as well as a predictor of survival. We retrospectively analyzed overall survival in 424 patients aged ≥75 years with colon cancer, who underwent curative surgery (laparoscopic (n = 167) or open surgery (n = 257)) between January 2004 and December 2013. To adjust for heterogeneity in both groups, a propensity score-matched analysis was performed, with the CONUT score as a confounding covariate. 5-year overall survival rates of patients with normal (0-1), mildly abnormal (2-4), or abnormal (≥5) CONUT score were 88.6%, 79.4%, and 41.4%, respectively (p < 0.001). T3 or less, N negative, late period (2009-2013), and normal CONUT score were associated with the tendency to undergo laparoscopic surgery (p < 0.001). The analysis of the propensity score-matched cohort (124 pairs) revealed that patients in the laparoscopic surgery group had a similar prognosis to those in the open surgery group, with a 5-year overall survival of 91.9% vs. 82.0%, respectively (p = 0.102). Laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer is an acceptable surgical approach in elderly patients.

Nutritional and inflammatory measures predict survival of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of nutritional and inflammatory measures (controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS)) on overall survival (OS) in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Subjects were 996 patients with stage IV CRC who were referred to the National Cancer Center Hospital between 2001 and 2015. We retrospectively investigated correlations between OS and CONUT score, PNI, and mGPS. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: After adjusting for known factors (age, gender, BMI, ECOG performance status, location of primary tumor, CEA levels, histological type, M category, and prior surgical treatment), all three measures were found to be independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with stage (CONUT score, p < 0.001; PNI, p < 0.001; mGPS, p < 0.001). Significant differences in OS were found between low CONUT score (0/1) (n = 614; 61%) and intermediate CONUT score (2/3) (n = 276; 28%) (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.42, p = 0.032), and intermediate CONUT score and high CONUT score (≥4) (n = 106; 11%) (HR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01-1.67, p = 0.045). Significant differences in OS were found between mGPS = 0 (n = 633; 64%) and mGPS = 1 (n = 234; 23%) (HR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.54-2.19, p < 0.001), but not between mGPS = 1 and mGPS = 2 (n = 129; 13%) (HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.88-1.41, p = 0.349). Patients with low PNI (< 48.0) (n = 443; 44%) showed a significantly lower OS rate than those with high PNI (≥48.0) (n = 553; 56%) (HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.19-1.62, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CONUT score, PNI, and mGPS were found to be independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with stage IV CRC, suggesting that nutritional and inflammatory status is a useful host-related prognostic indicator in stage IV CRC.

Asymptomatic colonic intussusception in ulcerative colitis: a case report.

Intussusception in adults is, especially with ulcerative colitis (UC), rare and only described in a few cases. Most adult patients with intussusception develop abdominal pain or other symptoms of bowel obstruction. This case describes an 18-year-old male with UC who treated with 5-aminosalycilicacid and underwent annual screening colonoscopies. Two attempts revealed that it was impossible to achieve total surveillance through the colonoscopy because multiple polyps were preventing the colonoscope from traversing the entire colon. Therefore, CT scan was performed and colonic intussusception was discovered incidentally, and the patient underwent elective laparoscopic total colectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of asymptomatic intussusception in the adult patient with UC. When total surveillance colonoscopy fails to yield results, a CT may be advisable to pick up such an asymptomatic intussusception.

Prognostic impact of primary tumor location in Stage III colorectal cancer-right-sided colon versus left-sided colon versus rectum: a nationwide multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies investigating the impact of tumor location on colorectal cancer prognosis only compared two groups by location, e.g., 'right-sided colon vs. left-sided colon,' 'colon vs. rectum,' and 'right-sided (right-sided colon) vs. left-sided (left-sided colon and rectum).' This nationwide multicenter retrospective study aimed to clarify the prognostic impact of tumor location in patients with stage III colorectal cancer by classifying tumors into three groups: right-sided colon, left-sided colon, and rectum. METHODS: Subjects were 9194 patients with stage III colorectal cancer who underwent curative surgery from 1997 to 2012. Relapse-free survival (RFS) after primary surgery and overall survival (OS) after recurrence were examined. RESULTS: Rectal cancer (n = 2922) was associated with worse RFS compared to right-sided colon cancer (n = 2362) (hazard ratio (HR) 0.65; 95% CI 0.59-0.72; p < 0.001) and left-sided colon cancer (n = 3910) (HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.66-0.78; p < 0.001) after adjusting for key clinical factors (i.e., sex, age, histological type, CEA, adjuvant therapy, T category, and N category). Among patients with recurrence (n = 2823), rectal cancer was associated with better OS compared to right-sided colon cancer (HR 1.23; 95% CI 1.08-1.40; p = 0.002) and worse OS compared to left-sided colon cancer (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.79-0.99; p = 0.029). Twenty percent of right-sided colon cancer recurrences exhibited peritoneal dissemination, 42% of left-sided colon cancer recurrences were liver metastases, and 33% of rectal cancer recurrences were local recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: The three tumor locations (right-sided colon, left-sided colon, rectum) had different prognostic implications for recurrence after curative resection and overall mortality, suggesting that tumor location serves as a prognostic biomarker in stage III colorectal cancer.

Additive-free, Cost-Effective Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Vinyl Triarylamines.

A series of cost-effective hole-transporting materials (TOP-HTMs) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) was designed and synthesized. The molecules, composed of multiple 4,4'-dimethoxytriphenylamines linked to a benzene core via trans-vinylene units, can be manufactured from inexpensive materials through a simple synthetic route. The photophysical, electrochemical, and thermal properties, as well as hole mobilities, were strongly influenced by the position and number of vinyl triarylamine substituents on the core benzene ring. CH3NH3PbI3-based solar cells using the X-shaped TOP-HTM 3 with additives gave a high power conversion efficiency of 17.5% (forward scan)/18.6% (reverse scan). Crucially, TOP-HTMs gave high working device efficiency without the need for conduction-enhancing additives. The power conversion efficiency for the device with additive-free TOP-HTM 3 was 16.0% (forward scan)/16.6% (reverse scan). Device stability is also enhanced and is superior to the reference HTM, 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD).

Prognostic impact of preoperatively elevated and postoperatively normalized carcinoembryonic antigen levels following curative resection of stage I-III rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative and early postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are known prognostic factors in rectal cancer. Recently, a large-scale study on colon cancer revealed that "preoperatively elevated and postoperatively normalized CEA levels" is not an indicator of poor prognosis. However, whether this hold true in rectal cancer patients is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of preoperatively elevated and postoperatively normalized CEA levels in rectal cancer patients undergoing curative resection. METHODS: Subjects were consecutive stage I-III rectal cancer patients who underwent curative resection without preoperative treatment at National Cancer Center Hospital between 2000 and 2015. Overall survival (OS) and the hazard function of recurrence or death were analyzed according to the CEA levels, as follows: normal preoperative CEA (normal group), preoperatively elevated but postoperatively normalized CEA (normalized group), and preoperatively and postoperatively elevated CEA (elevated group). RESULTS: The normalized group (n =235) had worse OS (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.08-2.04; P = .0142) compared to the normal group (n = 1208), and better OS compared to the elevated group (n = 47) (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.31-0.91; P = .0208). The elevated group had the highest and earliest peak in hazard function, followed by the normalized group and the normal group, with median times to recurrence of 8.8, 15.5, and 18.5 months, respectively (P = .0223). CONCLUSIONS: Prognosis after resection of rectal cancer was worse in patients with preoperatively elevated and postoperatively normalized CEA compared to those with normal preoperative CEA. Patients with elevated preoperative CEA might require intensive follow-up even if levels normalize after resection, especially in earlier periods, for early detection of recurrence.

Controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score as a preoperative risk assessment index for older patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of preoperative general condition to predict postoperative outcomes is important, particularly in older patients who typically suffer from various comorbidities and exhibit impaired functional status. In addition to various indices such as Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), National Institute on Aging and National Cancer Institute Comorbidity Index (NIA/NCI), Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 (ACE-27), and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification (ASA-PS), controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is recently gaining attention as a tool to evaluate the general condition of patients from a nutritional perspective. However, the utility of these indices in older patients with colorectal cancer has not been compared. METHODS: The study population comprised 830 patients with Stage I - IV colorectal cancer aged 75 years or older who underwent surgery at the National Cancer Center Hospital from January 2000 to December 2014. Associations of each index with overall survival (OS) (long-term outcome) and postoperative complications (short-term outcome) were examined. RESULTS: For the three indices with the highest Akaike information criterion values (i.e., CONUT score, CCI and ACE-27), but not the remaining indices (NIA/NCI and ASA-PS), OS significantly worsened as general condition scores decreased, after adjusting for known prognostic factors. In contrast, for postoperative complications, only CONUT score was identified as a predictive factor (≥4 versus 0-3; odds ratio: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.13-3.13; P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: For older patients with colorectal cancer, only CONUT score was a predictive factor of both long-term and short-term outcomes after surgery, suggesting that CONUT score is a useful preoperative risk assessment index.

Prognostic factors of brain metastases from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: For brain metastases from non-specific primary tumors, the most frequently used and validated clinical prognostic assessment tool is Karnofsky performance status (KPS). Given the lack of prognostic factors of brain metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) other than KPS, this study aimed to identify new prognostic factors. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care cancer center. Subjects were patients with brain metastases from CRC among all patients who received initial treatment for CRC at the National Cancer Center Hospital from 1997 to 2015 (n = 7147). Prognostic clinicopathological variables for overall survival (OS) were investigated. RESULTS: There were 68 consecutive patients with brain metastases from CRC, corresponding to 1.0% of all patients with CRC during the study period. Median survival time was 6.8 months. One-year and 3-year OS rates were 28.0 and 10.1%, respectively. Among the six covariates tested (age, KPS, presence of extracranial metastases, control of primary lesion, number of brain metastases, and history of chemotherapy), multivariate analysis revealed KPS (score ≥ 70), number of brain metastases (1-3), and no history of chemotherapy to be independent factors associated with better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to KPS, the number of brain lesions and history of chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with brain metastases from CRC. An awareness of these factors may help gastrointestinal surgeons make appropriate choices in the treatment of these patients.

Long-term outcomes after surgical dissection of inguinal lymph node metastasis from rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The 8th edition of the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification classifies inguinal lymph nodes as regional lymph nodes for anal canal carcinoma but non-regional lymph nodes for rectal carcinoma. This difference might reflect the different prognosis of inguinal lymph node metastasis from anal canal carcinoma and rectal carcinoma. However, long-term outcomes of inguinal lymph node metastasis from rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma are unclear, which we aimed to investigate in this study. METHODS: The study population included 31 consecutive patients with rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma who underwent inguinal lymph node dissection with curative intent at the National Cancer Center Hospital from 1986 to 2017. Long-term outcomes were assessed and clinicopathologic variables analyzed for prognostic significance. RESULTS: Of the 31 patients, 12 patients had rectal adenocarcinoma and 19 patients had anal canal adenocarcinoma. Synchronous metastasis were observed in 14 patients and metachronous metastasis in 17 patients. After dissection of inguinal lymph node metastasis with curative intent, the 5-year overall survival rate was 55.2%, with 12 patients surviving for more than 5 years. Median survival time was 66.6 months. Multivariate analyses revealed that location of primary tumor (rectum versus anal canal) was not a prognostic factor, whereas lateral lymph node metastasis and histological findings were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Given the good prognosis, inguinal lymph node metastasis in patients with rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma appears to be regional rather than distant. If R0 resection can be achieved, inguinal lymph node dissection may be indicated for these patients.

Metachronous metastasis to inguinal lymph nodes from sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma with abdominal wall metastasis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Inguinal lymph node metastasis from rectum is uncommon but well-known occurrence, whereas that from colon adenocarcinoma is extremely rare. Inguinal lymph node metastasis from colon adenocarcinoma has only been reported in previous cases involving primary tumor invasion of the abdominal wall, or in those involving colon cancer metastasis to external iliac lymph nodes. We describe a case of inguinal lymph node metastasis from colon cancer without primary tumor invasion to the abdominal wall. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old female, who had undergone twice cesarean sections before, underwent open sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma and received 12 cycles of FOLFOX regimen as adjuvant chemotherapy. Two years after sigmoidectomy, a follow-up CT scan revealed enlarged inguinal lymph nodes as well as growth of enhanced mass lesions on the abdominal wall at site of the cesarean section scar. Biopsy of both lesions revealed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated positive expression of CDX2, substantiating its gastrointestinal origin. We therefore performed dissection of left inguinal lymph nodes and mass lesion of the abdominal wall. The patient died 51 months after lymph node dissection. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of inguinal lymph node metastasis from colon cancer without invasion of the primary tumor to the abdominal wall or without involvement of the external iliac lymph nodes, suggesting that the pathway of inguinal metastasis originated from the abdominal wall metastasis. When inguinal lymph node metastasis from colon cancer is suspected, if an R0 resection was possible, inguinal lymph node dissection may be a potentially effective treatment.

Prognostic Value of Primary Tumor Sidedness for Unresectable Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: When treated with molecular targeted agents, patients with unresectable colorectal cancer with right-sided tumors have poorer prognoses than those with left-sided tumors. While primary tumor sidedness may have prognostic value, the prognostic value of tumor sidedness in chemotherapy regimens without targeted therapy is unclear. METHODS: Our study population comprised 678 consecutive patients with unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer who received systemic chemotherapy at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Japan from 1999 to 2015. Patients were stratified by treatment subgroup (with or without molecular targeted agents and with or without palliative primary tumor resection), and relationships between overall survival (OS) and primary tumor sidedness were evaluated. Multivariate analyses were also performed. RESULTS: Overall, 193 (28%) tumors were right-sided (cecum to transverse colon) and 485 (72%) were left-sided (splenic flexure to rectum). In the overall population, median survival time was 16.4 months for those with right-sided tumors and 23.4 months for those with left-sided tumors (p < 0.01). Regardless of the use or non-use of targeted agents and performance or non-performance of palliative resection of the primary tumor, those with right-sided tumors showed significantly poorer prognosis than those with left-sided tumors, in all categories. Multivariate analyses showed right-sided tumors to be associated with shorter OS compared with left-sided tumors (hazard ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.53; p =0.024). CONCLUSION: Unresectable stage IV right-sided colorectal tumors were associated with shorter OS compared with left-sided tumors, regardless of treatment strategy. Primary tumor sidedness may be an independent prognostic factor.

Primary Tumor Resection for Stage IV Colorectal Cancer in the Era of Targeted Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: In the current era of targeted therapies, the benefits of resection of primary tumors in patients with unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer, specifically with regard to overall survival, are unknown. METHODS: Our study population comprised 208 consecutive patients with unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer who received chemotherapy containing at least one molecular target agent, bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, at the National Cancer Center Hospital from 2006 to 2013. To lessen the effects of confounding factors between two treatment groups (resection versus non-resection) such as performance status, presence of severe symptoms, M subcategories (M1a versus M1b, M1c) according to the TNM classification, primary tumor site, and CEA value, we conducted three different propensity score analyses (regression adjustment, stratification, and matching). RESULTS: Of the 208 patients, 108 (52%) underwent resection of the primary tumor, while 100 (48%) did not. Regression adjustment revealed that resection was not associated with longer overall survival (hazard ratio of 0.70 (95% CI [0.49-1.00]; p = 0.051)). Stratification analysis of five strata revealed inconsistent results (hazard ratios ranged from 0.50 to 1.58); specifically, resection was associated with longer overall survival in four strata, but with shorter survival in one stratum. The propensity score-matched cohort (64 matched pairs) yielded a hazard ratio of 0.76 (95% CI [0.51-1.15]; p = 0.197). CONCLUSIONS: All three analyses revealed that, in the current era of chemotherapy with target agents, primary tumor resection was only marginally influential and did not significantly improve overall survival over chemotherapy alone.

Prognostic Impact of R0 Resection and Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer with Synchronous Peritoneal Metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend R0 resection and targeted therapy, a combination of cytotoxic and molecular targeted agents, such as bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, for colorectal cancer with synchronous peritoneal metastasis (M1c). While these therapeutic strategies are drawing attention, their efficacy has not been fully examined. METHODS: The study population comprised 248 consecutive M1c patients who were treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital from 1997 to 2013. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate relationships between overall survival and R0 resection and targeted therapy using Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: The 3-year overall survival (3 yOS) was 19.5%, and median survival time (MST) was 16.2 months in 248 M1c patients. R0 resection was performed in 34 patients (14%), yielding a 3-year overall survival (OS) of 48.3% and median survival time (MST) of 29.9 months. Targeted therapy was performed in 54 patients (22%) at least once during the course of treatment, yielding a 3-yr OS of 38.2% and MST of 23.9 months. After adjusting for other key clinical factors, such as the number of organs involved with metastases, performance status, primary tumor site, and extent of peritoneal metastasis, both R0 resection and targeted therapy were independent factors associated with longer OS. Targeted therapy was associated with a significantly longer OS compared with multiple cytotoxic agent therapy [hazard ratio 0.65; 95% confidence interval (0.44-0.94); p = 0.02]. CONCLUSIONS: If achievable, R0 resection is a desirable therapeutic strategy for patients with M1c colorectal cancer. Moreover, targeted therapy might be the optimal chemotherapy in this patient population.