MCCC2 is a novel mediator between mitochondria and telomere and functions as an oncogene in colorectal cancer.

Background: The mitochondrial gene MCCC2, a subunit of the heterodimer of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase, plays a pivotal role in catabolism of leucine and isovaleric acid. The molecular mechanisms and prognostic value still need to be explored in the context of specific cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: In vitro and in vivo cell-based assays were performed to explore the role of MCCC2 in CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration.

Aquaporin 9 is involved in CRC metastasis through DVL2-dependent Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation.

Background: Aquaporin 9 (AQP9) is permeable to water or other small molecules, and plays an important role in various cancers. We previously found that AQP9 was related to the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to identify the role and regulatory mechanism of AQP9 in CRC metastasis.

A PDX model combined with CD-DST assay to evaluate the antitumor properties of KRpep-2d and oxaliplatin in KRAS (G12D) mutant colorectal cancer.

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models are more faithful in maintaining the characteristics of human tumors than cell lines and are widely used in drug development, although they have some disadvantages, including their relative low success rate, long turn-around time, and high costs. The collagen gel droplet embedded culture drug sensitivity test (CD-DST) has been used as an drug sensitivity test for patients with cancer because of its high success rate of primary cell culture, high sensitivity, and good clinical relevance, but it is based on an cell culture and may not simulate the tumor microenvironment accurately. This study aims to combine a PDX model with CD-DST to evaluate the efficiency of antitumor agents.

Epigenetic silencing and tumor suppressor gene of HAND2 by targeting ERK signaling in colorectal cancer.

Background: The screening biomarkers for early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is lacking. The aim is to identify epigenetic silenced genes and clarify its roles and underlying mechanism in CRC. We conducted integrative analyses of epigenome-wide Human Methylation 450 K arrays and transcriptome to screen out candidate epigenetic driver genes with transcription silencing.

Laparoscopic Proximally Extended Colorectal Resection With Two-Stage Turnbull-Cutait Pull-Through Coloanal Anastomosis for Late Complications of Chronic Radiation Proctopathy.

Background: Chronic radiation proctopathy (CRP) is a common complication after radiation therapy for pelvic malignancies. Compared with diversion surgery, resection surgery removes the damaged tissue completely to avoid the risks of recurrence and improve patients' outcome. Hence, resection surgery could be an optimal surgical approach when CRP is complicated by late complications.

Metabolomics reveals that CAF-derived lipids promote colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis by enhancing membrane fluidity.

Patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) of colorectal cancer (CRC) have poorer overall survival outcomes than those without PM. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the tumor microenvironment and mediate CRC progression and PM. It is imperative to identify and develop novel therapeutic targets for PM-CRC driven by CAFs.

TSG-6 promotes Cancer Cell aggressiveness in a CD44-Dependent Manner and Reprograms Normal Fibroblasts to create a Pro-metastatic Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer.

Tumor necrosis factor α stimulated gene 6 (TSG-6), a 30-KD secretory protein, plays an essential role in modulating inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix remodeling. However, little is known regarding the role of TSG-6 in human cancers. Here, we investigated the mechanism of action and the role of TSG-6 in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis.

ORMDL1 is upregulated and associated with favorable outcomes in colorectal cancer.

Background: The ORMDL1 gene is known as a crucial negative regulator of sphingolipid biogenesis. However, the ORMDL1 gene has rarely been studied in a tumor-related context. Therefore, its prognostic value and functional significance in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain to be explored.

Enhancing cancer-associated fibroblast fatty acid catabolism within a metabolically challenging tumor microenvironment drives colon cancer peritoneal metastasis.

Most cancer-related deaths result from the progressive growth of metastases. Patients with peritoneal metastatic (PM) colorectal cancer have reduced overall survival. Currently, it is still unclear why colorectal cancer (CRC) cells home to and proliferate inside the peritoneal cavity, and there is no effective consolidation therapy for improved survival.

EGF Relays Signals to COP1 and Facilitates FOXO4 Degradation to Promote Tumorigenesis.

Forkhead-Box Class O 4 (FOXO4) is involved in critical biological functions, but its response to EGF-PKB/Akt signal regulation is not well characterized. Here, it is reported that FOXO4 levels are downregulated in response to EGF treatment, with concurrent elevation of COP9 Signalosome subunit 6 (CSN6) and E3 ubiquitin ligase constitutive photomorphogenic 1 (COP1) levels. Mechanistic studies show that CSN6 binds and regulates FOXO4 stability through enhancing the E3 ligase activity of COP1, and that COP1 directly interacts with FOXO4 through a VP motif on FOXO4 and accelerates the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of FOXO4.

KRAS and PIK3CA bi-mutations predict a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients: A single-site report.

Study Rationale: The coexistence of KRAS and PIK3CA mutations in cells implies potential synergistic hyperactivation of the Ras/MAPK and PI3K/Akt oncogenic pathways. Therefore, it is desirable to investigate the concomitant mutations of KRAS and PIK3CA in colorectal cancer (CRC) samples and whether the concomitant mutations are associated with a poor prognosis in CRC patients.

Aim: To investigate the clinicpathological characteristics and prognostic value of concomitant mutations of KRAS and PIK3CA in CRC samples.

To what extent should the intestinal be resected proximally after radiotherapy: hint from a pathological view.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is associated with post-operative anastomotic complications in rectal-cancer patients. Anastomosis involving at least one non-irradiated margin reportedly significantly reduces the risk of post-operative anastomotic complications in radiation enteritis. However, the exact scope of radiotherapy on the remaining sigmoid colon remains unknown.

Ubiquitin ligase TRIM65 promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by targeting ARHGAP35 for protein degradation.

Tripartite motif-containing protein 65 (TRIM65) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a critical regulator of a variety of cellular processes as well as tumor progression. Therefore, more substrates must be identified in the physiology or disease context. Here, we found that TRIM65 is upregulated and associated with poor survival in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Efficacy and complications of argon plasma coagulation for hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis.

Background: Chronic radiation proctitis (CRP) is a complication which occurs in 1%-5% of patients who undergo radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies. Although a wide range of therapeutic modalities are available, there is no literature to date showing any particularly appropriate therapeutic modality for each disease stage. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is currently recommended as the first-choice treatment for hemorrhagic CRP, however, its indication based on long-term follow-up is still unclear.

Downregulation of TRIM58 expression is associated with a poor patient outcome and enhances colorectal cancer cell invasion.

TRIM58 is a member of the tripartite motif protein (TRIM) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Aberrant gene methylation of TRIM58 has been reported in liver and lung cancer and indicates a poor patient prognosis. However, the expression level and functional role of TRIM58 in colorectal cancer (CRC) have yet to be elucidated.

Role of Angiogenesis in Chronic Radiation Proctitis: New Evidence Favoring Inhibition of Angiogenesis Ex Vivo.

Background: Chronic radiation proctitis (CRP), a common complication after radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies, compromises patient quality of life. Vascular damage and aberrant angiogenesis in the mucosal layer are essential histological features, but changes to the submucosal layer are unclear. Thus, we evaluated the histological characteristics and distribution changes of key angiogenic factors in full-layered human CRP samples.

Investigation of correlation between mutational status in key EGFR signaling genes and prognosis of stage II colorectal cancer.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between mutations of key genes in the EGFR signaling pathway and the prognosis of stage II colorectal cancer patients without chemotherapy.

Materials & Methods: The incidence of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA mutations and deficient DNA mismatch repair were assessed in 160 stage II colorectal cancer patients who had been treated by radical operation without adjuvant chemotherapy.

Results: Mutations in KRAS, BRAF or PIK3CA were associated with poor prognosis, while the deficient DNA mismatch repair status was not associated with the prognosis.

AQP9-induced cell cycle arrest is associated with RAS activation and improves chemotherapy treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer.

Aquaporin-9 (AQP9) expression is associated with arsenic sensitivity in leukemia cells. However, the role of AQP9 in regulating tumor sensitivity to adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that AQP9 can serve as an independent predictive marker for adjuvant chemotherapy in CRC.

Pseudolaric acid B induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis in both 5-fluorouracil-sensitive and -resistant colorectal cancer cells.

5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy is the main chemotherapeutic approach for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Because chemoresistance occurs frequently and significantly limits CRC therapies, a novel agent is needed. Pseudolaric acid B (PAB), a small molecule derived from the Chinese medicinal herb ''Tujinpi'', exhibits strong cytotoxic effects on a variety of cancers.

Alternative splicing of spleen tyrosine kinase differentially regulates colorectal cancer progression.

Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) has been reported as a potential tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of alternative splicing of SYK in carcinogenesis remains unclear. In the present study, SYK isoforms were overexpressed in the human CRC HCT 116 cell line using lentiviral expression vectors to investigate the biological functions of full length SYK [SYK(L)] and short form SYK [SYK(S)] in CRC.