Surgical site infections following short-term radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision: results of a randomized study examining the role of gentamicin collagen implant in rectal cancer surgery.

Background: Despite the findings of several randomized clinical studies, the role of gentamicin collagen implant (GCI) in rectal cancer surgery is unclear. Local pelvic application of GCI following preoperative radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision (TME) was evaluated to determine the risk of surgical site infections (SSI).

Methods: In this single-center trial, 176 patients with rectal cancer after preoperative, short-term radiotherapy (5 × 5 Gy) were randomized either to the study group in which GCI was used or in the control group without GCI.

Risk of permanent stoma after resection of rectal cancer depending on the distance between the tumour lower edge and anal verge.

The distance between the anal verge and lower edge of rectal cancer is one of the most important factors affecting the feasibility of sphincter-preserving resection.The aim of the study was to assess the risk of permanent stoma after resection of rectal tumour depending on the distance between the tumour and the anal verge.Material and methods.

Acceptance of a 5-mm distal bowel resection margin for rectal cancer: is it safe?

Aim: Acceptance of a short distal bowel margin results in a higher rate of anterior resection but may compromise oncological safety. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of a 5-mm distal margin.

Method: A retrospective analysis was carried out of 412 consecutive patients with rectal cancer treated with anterior resection with a negative circumferential resection margin.

Tumour regression grading in patients with residual rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiation.

Background And Purpose: To explore the utility of tumour regression grading (TRG, the amount of residual tumour cells in relation to extension of fibrosis) after chemoradiation of rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Of 131 patients who received preoperative chemoradiation in the frame of the randomized trial, pathological complete response (pCR, TRG0), good regression (TRG1), moderate regression (TRG2), and poor regression (TRG3) were recorded in 17%, 31%, 31%, and 22% of patients, respectively.

Results: The rates of ypN-positive category for TRG0, TRG1, TRG2, and TRG3 groups were 5%, 23%, 45%, and 46%, respectively, p=0.

Clinical significance of serum cytokine measurements in untreated colorectal cancer patients: soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I--an independent prognostic factor.

The aim of this study was to exploit the potential clinical use of circulating cytokine measurements in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The levels of cytokines and cytokine receptors were assessed by ELISA in the sera of 50 healthy volunteers and 157 patients with previously untreated CRC and then related to clinicopathological features and prognosis. All tumors were verified histologically as colorectal adenocarcinomas and staged according to TNM classification.

Prospective, randomized trial examining the role of gentamycin-containing collagen sponge in the reduction of postoperative morbidity in rectal cancer patients: early results and surprising outcome at 3-year follow-up.

Objective: The study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the gentamycin collagen sponge placed in the pelvic cavity after excision of rectal cancer in view of postoperative complications and the risk of cancer recurrence.

Methods: A total of 229 patients were recruited into the study and randomized into two groups: GRM(+), in which a gentamycin collagen sponge was used, and GRM(-), without the sponge. Tumors were resected using a TME technique.

Total cystectomies in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer with prior chemoradiation: analysis of postoperative morbidity and survival.

Background And Aims: Curative surgery for rectal cancer seldom requires urinary tract resections. The study investigated morbidity and survival following resection of rectum with total cystectomy following chemoradiation for primary rectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: 19 consecutive patients with primary nonresectable rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiation and operated on by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons.

Anorectal teratoma in an adult woman.

We present the case of a 21-year-old woman referred to us with the diagnosis of a pelvic mass originating in the lower rectum. Following preoperative assessment she underwent surgery from a posterior approach. The pathology of the removed mass revealed an extremely rare rectal tumor--an anorectal teratoma of the mature type.

Sphincter preservation after short-term preoperative radiotherapy for low rectal cancer--presentation of own data and a literature review.

This report is based on a series of 108 patients with clinically staged T2 (9), T3 (94) and T4 (5) rectal cancer treated with preoperative irradiation with 25 Gy, 5 Gy per fraction given for one week. In 77% of patients. the tumour was located within 7 cm of the anal verge and in 15% the anal canal was involved.

CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in blood serum of colorectal cancer patients.

Blood serum cytokines: TNFalpha, IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 as well as CRP were investigated in patients with colorectal cancer, prior treatment and 1, 10 and 42 days after surgery. There was an increase of the levels of CRP, IL-6 and IL-10 in most patients 24 hours after surgery. The levels of IL-1ra were elevated in patients in stage C and in several patients in stage B of the disease and there was a decrease of circulating TNFalpha in stage B patients.

Dexamethasone and etoposide induce apoptosis in rat thymocytes from different phases of the cell cycle.

Dexamethasone and etoposide both induce apoptosis in immature rat thymocytes. We investigated the dependence of apoptosis on the phase of the cell cycle after incubation with these drugs. Cell cycle progression was followed by a combination of pulse labelling with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), labelling fixed cells with an anti-BrdU antibody and flow cytometry.