The role of endoscopic evaluation for radiation proctitis in patients receiving intermediate-dose postoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer.

Objectives: High-dose pelvic radiotherapy (RT) is known to be associated with chronic radiation proctitis (RP). However, the effects of intermediate radiation doses are unknown. We assessed the incidence of late clinical RP among patients with rectal cancer receiving intermediate-dose postoperative RT, as well as the role of early endoscopic abnormalities in predicting RP development.

Mapping of lateral pelvic lymph node recurrences in rectal cancer: a radiation oncologist's perspective.

Purpose: Patterns of locoregional rectal cancer recurrences following total mesorectal excision (TME) were analyzed to define the irradiation volume, especially the lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN).

Materials And Methods: Of 1243 patients who underwent TME without pelvic radiotherapy between 2005 and 2012, the data of 826 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma without distant metastases were analyzed for relapse patterns, categorized as distant and locoregional (anastomosis, mesorectum, presacral area, and LPLNs) failure.

Results: The median follow-up was 61.

Reduced pelvic field sparing anastomosis for postoperative radiotherapy in selected patients with mid-upper rectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to report the clinical results of reduced pelvic field radiotherapy (RT), excluding the anastomotic site, after total mesorectal excision in selected patients with rectal cancer. Between 2011 and 2014, 99 patients underwent upfront surgery for clinically less-advanced tumors but were finally diagnosed as pT3/N+. Among them, 50 patients with mid-upper rectal cancer who received postoperative RT with a reduced pelvic field were included in this retrospective review.

The role of primary colectomy after successful endoscopic stenting in patients with obstructive metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Although the initial clinical efficacy of self-expandable metal stents is acceptable, doubt still remains about long-term clinical outcomes and complications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the stoma formation rate and risk factors for complications after successful stenting in patients with obstructive metastatic colorectal cancer.

Design: This was a tertiary-care center retrospective study.

Long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy during the learning curve period: comparative study with cases after the learning curve period.

Background: This study aimed to assess the learning curve in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and compare the long-term oncologic outcomes of the learning curve period.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 97 patients who underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy by a single surgeon between July 2006 and January 2009. Among them, 87 patients, excluding patients with stage IV (n=10) disease, were evaluated for long-term oncologic outcomes.

The magnetic resonance imaging-based approach for identification of high-risk patients with upper rectal cancer.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying upper rectal cancer patients who are at high risk for local recurrence.

Methods: 110 upper rectal cancer patients with locally advanced (pT3-4N0 or pTanyN+) tumors treated with tumor-specific mesorectal excision and no adjuvant radiotherapy were identified from an institutional database at a large academic medical center in Korea. Information on the extent of mesorectal invasion, sacral-side involvement was collected from preoperative MRI.

Prognostic value of mucinous histology depends on microsatellite instability status in patients with stage III colon cancer treated with adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The close association between mucinous histology and microsatellite instability (MSI) may have hindered the evaluation of prognostic significance of mucinous histology. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate whether mucinous histology was associated with a worse prognosis, independent of MSI status, compared to nonmucinous histology in patients with stage III colon cancer.

Methods: This study enrolled 394 consecutive patients with stage III colorectal cancer treated with adjuvant FOLFOX after curative resection (R0).

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy effects on anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer resection: a propensity score matching analysis.

Objective: To assess the effects of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on anastomotic leakage (AL) after rectal cancer resection, using propensity score matching.

Background: Conflicting data have emerged over the last decade regarding the effect of preoperative CRT on AL.

Methods: We reviewed 1437 consecutive patients with rectal cancer who underwent low anterior resection (LAR) at our institution between 2005 and 2012.

Oncologic outcomes and perioperative clinicopathologic results after robot-assisted tumor-specific mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

Background: Robot-assisted surgery is a new and emerging surgical procedure for rectal cancer patients. However, there is a lack of information regarding oncologic outcomes for this procedure. We aimed to evaluate oncologic and perioperative clinicopathologic outcomes of surgical resection using robotic instruments for rectal cancer.

The differential impact of microsatellite instability as a marker of prognosis and tumour response between colon cancer and rectal cancer.

Background: Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a distinct molecular phenotype of colorectal cancer related to prognosis and tumour response to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy. We investigated the differential impact of MSI between colon and rectal cancers as a marker of prognosis and chemotherapeutic response.

Methods: PCR-based MSI assay was performed on 1125 patients.

Long-term outcome of palliative therapy for malignant colorectal obstruction in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancers: endoscopic stenting versus surgery.

Background: Self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) provide a promising alternative for initial palliation of malignant bowel obstruction. However, data on the long-term outcomes of SEMSs are limited.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of endoscopic stenting with those of surgery for palliation in patients with incurable obstructive colorectal cancer.