Short-Course TNT Improves Rectal Tumor Downstaging in a Retrospective Study of the US Rectal Cancer Consortium.

Background And Objectives: The RAPIDO trial showed promising rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant short-course radiation with consolidation chemotherapy (total neoadjuvant therapy [SC TNT]) for rectal cancer. Only single-center reviews comparing tumor downstaging between SC TNT and long-course chemoradiation (LCRT) have been published in the United States. We reviewed our multi-institutional experience with both.

How does weight gain since the age of 18 years affect breast cancer risk in later life? A meta-analysis.

Early life factors are important risk factors for breast cancer. The association between weight gain after age 18 and breast cancer risk is inconsistent across previous epidemiologic studies. To evaluate this association, we conducted a meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines and the established inclusion criteria.

Short-course radiation with consolidation chemotherapy does not increase operative morbidity compared to long-course chemoradiation: A retrospective study of the US rectal cancer consortium.

Background And Objectives: Neoadjuvant short-course radiation and consolidation chemotherapy (SC TNT) remains less widely used for rectal cancer in the United States than long-course chemoradiation (LCRT). SC TNT may improve compliance and downstaging; however, a longer radiation-to-surgery interval may worsen pelvic fibrosis and morbidity with total mesorectal excision (TME). A single, US-center retrospective analysis has shown comparable risk of morbidity after neoadjuvant short-course radiation with consolidation chemotherapy (SC TNT) and long-course chemoradiation (LCRT).

Gender and Racial Diversity Among Colon and Rectal Surgery Trainees and Leaders.

Background: Despite recent changes in women and underrepresented minorities in medicine, there still exists large gender and racial gaps in surgical training and leadership.

Objective: We hypothesize that gender and racial representation have improved among general and colorectal surgical trainees and leadership over the past 20 years.

Design: This cross-sectional study examines gender and racial representation of general and colorectal surgery residents, colorectal faculty members, and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Executive Council.

Red-flag signs and symptoms for earlier diagnosis of early-onset colorectal cancer.

Background: Prompt detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) among individuals younger than age 50 years (early-onset CRC) is a clinical priority because of its alarming rise.

Methods: We conducted a matched case-control study of 5075 incident early-onset CRC among US commercial insurance beneficiaries (113 million adults aged 18-64 years) with 2 or more years of continuous enrollment (2006-2015) to identify red-flag signs and symptoms between 3 months to 2 years before the index date among 17 prespecified signs and symptoms. We assessed diagnostic intervals according to the presence of these signs and symptoms before and within 3 months of diagnosis.

Evaluation of Birth by Cesarean Delivery and Development of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer.

Importance: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC), diagnosed younger than 50 years of age, has increased worldwide. Gut dysbiosis throughout the life course is hypothesized as a leading mechanism, yet epidemiologic data are limited.

Objective: To prospectively examine the association between birth by cesarean delivery and early-onset CRC among offspring.

Is There a Role for Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Pathologic Node-Negative Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy?

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NCRT, 5-fluorouracil and radiation) followed by resection and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is one of the standard treatment paradigms for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma. However, the utility of AC in patients with pathologic lymph node (pLN)-negative disease is unclear. Our aim is to assess the value of AC stratified by pLN status.

Human colorectal cancer tissue assessment using optical coherence tomography catheter and deep learning.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can differentiate normal colonic mucosa from neoplasia, potentially offering a new mechanism of endoscopic tissue assessment and biopsy targeting, with a high optical resolution and an imaging depth of ~1 mm. Recent advances in convolutional neural networks (CNN) have enabled application in ophthalmology, cardiology, and gastroenterology malignancy detection with high sensitivity and specificity. Here, we describe a miniaturized OCT catheter and a residual neural network (ResNet)-based deep learning model manufactured and trained to perform automatic image processing and real-time diagnosis of the OCT images.

Cost-effectiveness of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy With Short-Course Radiotherapy for Resectable Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Importance: Short-course radiotherapy and total neoadjuvant therapy (SCRT-TNT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) has emerged as a new treatment paradigm for patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma. However, the economic implication of this treatment strategy has not been compared with that of conventional long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT) followed by TME with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of SCRT-TNT vs LCCRT in conjunction with TME for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Rectal Cancer Treatment Management: Deep-Learning Neural Network Based on Photoacoustic Microscopy Image Outperforms Histogram-Feature-Based Classification.

We have developed a novel photoacoustic microscopy/ultrasound (PAM/US) endoscope to image post-treatment rectal cancer for surgical management of residual tumor after radiation and chemotherapy. Paired with a deep-learning convolutional neural network (CNN), the PAM images accurately differentiated pathological complete responders (pCR) from incomplete responders. However, the role of CNNs compared with traditional histogram-feature based classifiers needs further exploration.

Chronological age does not predict postoperative outcomes following transversus abdominis release (TAR).

Background: Transversus abdominis release (TAR) is an effective procedure for the repair of complex ventral hernias. However, TAR is not a low risk operation, particularly in older adults who are disproportionately affected by multiple age-related risk factors. While past studies have suggested that age alone inconsistently predicts patient outcomes, data regarding age's effect on postoperative outcomes and wound complications following a TAR are lacking.

Sugar-sweetened beverage intake in adulthood and adolescence and risk of early-onset colorectal cancer among women.

Objective: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption had substantially increased across successive US birth cohorts until 2000, and adolescents and young adults under age 50 years have the highest consumption. However, the link between SSBs and early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) remains unexamined.

Design: In the Nurses' Health Study II (1991-2015), we prospectively investigated the association of SSB intake in adulthood and adolescence with EO-CRC risk among 95 464 women who had reported adulthood beverage intake using validated food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) every 4 years.

Preoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Physical Function and Perioperative Complication in Major Abdominal Colorectal Operations.

Background: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function (PF) is a validated tool for capturing a patient's perception of their physical capacity. The goal of this study was to determine whether preoperative PF correlates with a risk of postoperative complications.

Study Design: Patients from a single-institution American College of Surgeons NSQIP database undergoing elective colorectal abdominal operations from January 2018 to June 2019 with a preoperative PROMIS-PF T-score were eligible for this retrospective study.

Immunity, immunotherapy, and rectal cancer: A clinical and translational science review.

Rectal cancer remains a challenging disease to treat. Therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), the most frequent presentation, has evolved to include a multimodal approach of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. While this approach improves local disease control, the distant recurrence rate is nearly 30% and treatment-related morbidity is substantial, thus underscoring the need for new therapeutic approaches with better efficacy and lower side effects.

Assessment of individuals with BRCA1 and BRCA2 large rearrangements in high-risk breast and ovarian cancer families.

BRCA1/2 large rearrangement (LR) testing has been available to patients since 2006. Three existing models commonly used in cancer genetics clinical and research settings (BRCAPRO, Penn II and Myriad II) have not been assessed for their performance in predicting the presence of BRCA1/2 large genomic rearrangements in patients who do not have mutations detectable by the traditional Sanger sequencing approach. This study sought to determine if there is an optimal pre-test probability "cut off" value, calculated using these models, to optimize detection of large rearrangements (LRs).

Clinical outcome of isolated serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas (STIC).

Objective: Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) is recommended for women with BRCA mutation due to increased risk of pelvic serous carcinoma. Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) is a pathologic finding of unknown clinical significance. This study evaluates the clinical outcome of patients with isolated STIC.