γ-Catenin acts as a tumor suppressor through context-dependent mechanisms in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: γ-Catenin is a protein closely related to β-catenin. While the overexpression of β-catenin has been linked with impaired prognosis and survival in various malignancies, both oncogenic and tumor suppressor functions have been described for γ-catenin. Thus, its role in cancer remains controversial.

[Colorectal cancer: prevention and early detection].

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer associated morbidity and mortality. Main risk factors include advanced age, affected family members, male sex and lifestyle factors. The development of early adenoma to invasive cancer requires 10 and more years.

Addition of local hepatic therapy to sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (stage BCLC C).

Background/aims: For most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), diagnosis is invariably done only in the advanced stages of the disease. For advanced, non-metastatic stage, standard therapy is transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). For metastatic disease, the recommended therapy is systemic treatment with sorafenib.

A direct comparison of the prevalence of advanced adenoma and cancer between surveillance and screening colonoscopies.

Background/aims: Surveillance colonoscopy is recommended after polypectomy of adenoma and surgery for colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of advanced adenoma and cancer in colonoscopies performed for surveillance compared to screening colonoscopies.

Methods: Analysis of relative frequencies of findings in colonoscopies performed for post-adenoma surveillance (post-ad), post-cancer surveillance (post-crc), screening, and follow-up of a positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT).

Risk factors for advanced neoplasia within subcentimetric polyps: implications for diagnostic imaging.

Objective: Diagnostic imaging by CT colonography and capsule endoscopy is used to detect colonic lesions. Controversy exists regarding the work-up of subcentimetric lesions. The aim of this study was to identify risk indicators for advanced neoplasia (AN) in subcentimetric polyps.

γ-Catenin is an independent prognostic marker in early stage colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Expression and role of γ-catenin in colorectal carcinogenesis is not well understood. We aimed at characterizing γ-catenin's expression pattern during colorectal carcinogenesis.

Methods: The expression pattern of γ-catenin was characterized in adenomas, primary colorectal carcinomas, and their corresponding metastases.

Conference scene: DGVS spring conference 2009.

The 3rd annual DGVS Spring Conference of the German Society for Gastroenterology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten) was held at the Seminaris Campus Hotel in Berlin, Germany, on 8-9 May, 2009. The conference was organized by Roland Schmid and Matthias Ebert from the Technical University of Munich, Germany. The central theme of the meeting was 'translational gastrointestinal oncology: towards personalized medicine and individualized therapy'.

Attitude to secondary prevention and concerns about colonoscopy are independent predictors of acceptance of screening colonoscopy.

Background: Colonoscopy in combination with endoscopic polypectomy has been shown to be an efficient measure for reducing colorectal cancer incidence. In Germany, a colorectal cancer screening program based on colonoscopy for individuals aged 55 and above was introduced in 2002. However, for largely unknown reasons, participation rates remain low.

Wnt signaling as a therapeutic target for cancer.

The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is tightly regulated and has important functions in development, tissue homeostasis, and regeneration. Deregulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is frequently found in various human cancers. Eighty percent of colorectal cancers alone reveal activation of this pathway by either inactivation of the tumor-suppressor gene adenomatous polyposis coli or mutation of the proto-oncogene beta-catenin.