Serum Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 and Endothelial Dysfunction in Hepatic Cirrhosis: Searching for New Prognostic Markers.

Endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in the development of liver cirrhosis. Among the biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, the soluble form of Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (sVAP-1) is an unconventional and less known adhesion molecule endowed also with amine oxidase activity. The aim of this study was to explore and correlate the behavior of sVAP-1 with that of the soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and with the severity of liver cirrhosis.

Outcomes of Laparoscopic Surgery in Very Elderly Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Survival Analysis and Comparative Study.

(1) Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a global health concern, particularly among the elderly population. This study aimed to assess the impact of laparoscopic surgery on CRC patients aged ≥80 years. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from consecutive CRC patients who underwent surgery at our institution between July 2018 and July 2023.

Right colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis for cancer: a prospective comparison between robotics and laparoscopy.

Robotics in right colectomy are still under debate. Available studies compare different techniques of ileocolic anastomosis but results are non-conclusive. Our study aimed to compare intraoperative outcomes, and short-term postoperative results between robotic and standard laparoscopic right colectomies for cancer with intracorporeal anastomosis (ICA) fashioned with the same technique.

Correction to: Standard (8 weeks) vs long (12 weeks) timing to minimally-invasive surgery after NeoAdjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer: a multicenter randomized controlled parallel group trial (TiMiSNAR).

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that the family name of the author, Ludovica Baldari, was misspelled.

Patient-Derived Scaffolds of Colorectal Cancer Metastases as an Organotypic 3D Model of the Liver Metastatic Microenvironment.

The liver is the most common site for colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis and there is an urgent need for new tissue culture models to study colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) as current models do not mimic the biological, biochemical, and structural characteristics of the metastatic microenvironment. Decellularization provides a novel approach for the study of the cancer extracellular matrix (ECM) as decellularized scaffolds retain tissue-specific features and biological properties. In the present study, we created a 3D model of CRC and matched CRLM using patient-derived decellularized ECM scaffolds seeded with the HT-29 CRC cell line.

Standard (8 weeks) vs long (12 weeks) timing to minimally-invasive surgery after NeoAdjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer: a multicenter randomized controlled parallel group trial (TiMiSNAR).

Background: The optimal timing of surgery in relation to chemoradiation is still controversial. Retrospective analysis has demonstrated in the recent decades that the regression of adenocarcinoma can be slow and not complete until after several months. More recently, increasing pathologic Complete Response rates have been demonstrated to be correlated with longer time interval.

Decellularized colorectal cancer matrix as bioactive microenvironment for in vitro 3D cancer research.

Three-dimensional (3D) cancer models are overlooking the scientific landscape with the primary goal of bridging the gaps between two-dimensional (2D) cell lines, animal models and clinical research. Here, we describe an innovative tissue engineering approach applied to colorectal cancer (CRC) starting from decellularized human biopsies in order to generate an organotypic 3D-bioactive model. This in vitro 3D system recapitulates the ultrastructural environment of native tissue as demonstrated by histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy analyses.

Circulating miR-182 is a biomarker of colorectal adenocarcinoma progression.

MiR-182 expression was evaluated by qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization in 20 tubular adenomas, 50 colorectal carcinoma (CRC), and 40 CRC liver metastases. Control samples obtained from patients with irritable bowel syndrome, or tumor-matched normal colon mucosa were analyzed (n=50). MiR-182 expression increased progressively and significantly along with the colorectal carcinogenesis cascade, and in CRC liver metastases.

A pilot characterization of human lung NSCLC by protein pathway activation mapping.

Background: An understanding of the activated protein signaling architecture in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is of critical importance to the development of new therapeutic approaches and identification of predictive and prognostic biomarkers for patient stratification.

Methods: We used reverse-phase protein microarrays to map the activated protein signaling networks of 47 NSCLC tumors, 28 of which were node negative, which were subjected to tumor cellular enrichment using laser capture microdissection. The phosphorylation/cleavage levels of 111 key signaling proteins and total levels of 17 proteins were measured for broadscale signaling analysis.

Protein pathway activation mapping of colorectal metastatic progression reveals metastasis-specific network alterations.

The mechanism by which tissue microecology influences invasion and metastasis is largely unknown. Recent studies have indicated differences in the molecular architecture of the metastatic lesion compared to the primary tumor, however, systemic analysis of the alterations within the activated protein signaling network has not been described. Using laser capture microdissection, protein microarray technology, and a unique specimen collection of 34 matched primary colorectal cancers (CRC) and synchronous hepatic metastasis, the quantitative measurement of the total and activated/phosphorylated levels of 86 key signaling proteins was performed.

Multiplexed protein signal pathway mapping identifies patients with rectal cancer that responds to neoadjuvant treatment.

Background: Currently there is no reliable technique for predicting clinical or pathologic complete tumor response after radiochemotherapy (RCT) in patients with rectal cancer. We applied reverse phase protein microarray (RPMA) technology to find a signal pathway that may predict the response to preoperative treatment.

Patients And Methods: Fifteen rectal cancer samples were collected during preoperative RCT.

Prognostic value of putative circulating cancer stem cells in patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis.

Background: Although surgery is the gold standard treatment of hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC), many patients ultimately die of their disease. We tested the hypothesis that the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) might identify patients at high risk of dying of disease recurrence after apparently radical liver surgery.

Methods: We considered 50 patients undergoing radical surgery for liver-confined hepatic metastasis from CRC.

Protein pathway biomarker analysis of human cancer reveals requirement for upfront cellular-enrichment processing.

Tissues are complex structures composed of different cell types, each of which present specific functions and characteristics. To better understand and measure the effect of tumor cell enrichment on protein pathway profiling and drug target activation measurements, the signaling activation portraits of laser capture microdissected (LCM) cancer epithelium and tumor stroma were compared with patient-matched whole-tissue specimens from 53 primary colorectal cancer samples. Microdissected material and whole-tissue lysate from contiguous cryostat sections were subjected to reverse-phase protein microarray analysis to determine the level of phopshorylation and expression of 75 different proteins known to be involved in cancer progression.

Hepatic arterial infusion for unresectable colorectal liver metastases combined or not with systemic chemotherapy.

Background: The hypothesis was tested that systemic chemotherapy might contribute to improving overall survival (OS) of patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases treated with hepatic arterial infusion (HAI).

Patients And Methods: We considered 153 consecutive patients retrospectively divided into group A (n=72) treated with HAI alone (floxuridine [FUDR] + leucovorin [LV]), and group B (n=81) treated with HAI combined with systemic chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil [5FU] + LV).

Results: No significant difference in OS was observed between the two groups.

Multiplexed cell signaling analysis of metastatic and nonmetastatic colorectal cancer reveals COX2-EGFR signaling activation as a potential prognostic pathway biomarker.

The identification of prognostic determinants of colorectal cancer (CRC), including prediction of occult metastasis, is of urgent consideration, based on the tremendous differences in outcome and survival between patients who present with metastasis or develop metastasis versus those patients with organ-confined or nonrecurrent disease. Currently, a great deal of attention has been focused on using gene expression profiles of tumor specimens as a launch point for prognostic biomarker discovery. In our study, we chose to focus on functional protein-based pathway biomarkers as a new information archive because it is these proteins that form the functional signaling networks that control cell growth, motility, apoptosis, survival, and differentiation.

Multiplexed Cell Signaling Analysis of Metastatic and Nonmetastatic Colorectal Cancer Reveals COX2-EGFR Signaling Activation as a Potential Prognostic Pathway Biomarker.

The identification of prognostic determinants of colorectal cancer (CRC), including prediction of occult metastasis, is of urgent consideration, based on the tremendous differences in outcome and survival between patients who present with metastasis or develop metastasis versus those patients with organ-confined or nonrecurrent disease. Currently, a great deal of attention has been focused on using gene expression profiles of tumor specimens as a launch point for prognostic biomarker discovery. In our study, we chose to focus on functional protein-based pathway biomarkers as a new information archive because it is these proteins that form the functional signaling networks that control cell growth, motility, apoptosis, survival, and differentiation.

Celiomesenteric trunk aneurysm.

A celiomesenteric trunk (CMT) is an extremely rare anatomic variant that consists of celiac and superior mesenteric arteries having a common origin from the aorta. CMT accounts for less than 1% of all splanchnic artery anomalies. Aneurysm involving a CMT is an even rarer vascular abnormality, and, to our knowledge, only eight cases of CMT aneurysm have been reported in literature.

Multiplexed cell signaling analysis of human breast cancer applications for personalized therapy.

Phosphoprotein driven cellular signaling events represent most of the new molecular targets for cancer treatment. Application of reverse-phase protein microarray technology for the study of ongoing signaling activity within breast tumor specimens holds great potential for elucidating and profiling signaling activity in real-time for patient-tailored therapy. Analysis of laser capture microdissection primary human breast tumors and metastatic lesions reveals pathway specific profiles and a new way to classify cancer based on functional signaling portraits.

Primary great saphenous vein leiomyosarcoma: report of a case.

Leiomyosarcomas rarely arise in primary veins, especially the great saphenous vein. We have found only 20 case reports of leiomyosarcoma arising in the great saphenous vein, most of which manifested as nonspecific symptoms of advanced disease, such as a palpable mass, swelling, and back or abdominal pain. We report the case of greater saphenous vein leiomyosarcoma diagnosed in a 48-year-old man with a 4-month history of an inguinal mass.

Serum proteomic analysis identifies a highly sensitive and specific discriminatory pattern in stage 1 breast cancer.

Background: Mass spectrometry (MS)-based profiling was used to determine whether ion fingerprints could distinguish women with stage 1 breast cancer from women without breast cancer.

Methods: The initial study population consisted of 310 subjects: 155 women with yearly negative breast examination and negative mammography findings for at least 4 years, and 155 women undergoing surgery for pathology-proven stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. High-resolution SELDI-TOF (surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight) analysis was performed on serum obtained from blood samples collected before mammography in controls, and before surgery in patients with breast cancer.

Gene expression profile of primary gastric cancer: towards the prediction of lymph node status.

Background: The identification of gastric tumors associated with a higher risk of lymph node metastasis could help surgeons select patients who may benefit from extended lymph node dissection. The aim of this study was to screen the genome in the search of primary gastric cancer gene expression profiles that might predict lymph node status.

Methods: The gene expression profile was evaluated in frozen tumor samples obtained from 32 patients with primary gastric adenocarcinomas.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR): mutational and protein expression analysis in gastric cancer.

Background: Since specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) somatic mutations have been demonstrated to influence the response to anti-EGFR therapy in non-small cell lung cancer, EGFR gene mutational analysis of different types of neoplasm is under investigation.

Patients And Methods: EGFR protein expression and gene mutations in exons 18, 19 and 21 were investigated in 49 gastric adenocarcinomas.

Results: no specific EGFR gene mutations were detected, while EGFR positive staining was detected in 6% of the cases.