[Molecular classification of colorectal carcinoma based on integration of gene expression profile and copy number variation].

Objective: To classify colorectal carcinoma (CRC) by TNM staging integrated with the gene expression profile and copy number variation (CNV).

Methods: Profile data of gene expression and CNV of CRC were downloaded from public database and processed with batch bias adjustment, quartile normalization, missing value estimation and feature filtration. The processed profiles of mRNA and CNV were introduced into the codes of Bayesian consensus clustering (BCC) method and were used to calculate the subclasses of CRC.

[Gene methylation in stool for the screening of colorectal cancer and pre-malignant lesions].

Objective: To evaluate association between DNA methylation of MAL, CDKN2A, and MGMT in stool and development of colorectal cancer, and to evaluate the screening value of these biomarkers in colorectal cancer and pre-malignant lesions.

Methods: Morning stool specimens were collected from 69 patients with colorectal cancer, 24 with colon adenoma, 19 with hyperplastic polyps, and 26 healthy controls. DNA was extracted and treated with bisulfite.

Patterns of lymph node metastasis are different in colon and rectal carcinomas.

Aim: To describe patterns of lymph node metastasis in invasive colon and rectal carcinomas.

Methods: Clinical data of 2340 patients with colorectal carcinoma (stage I to III) who received radical resection, was retrospectively reviewed. Of the 2340 patients, 1314 patients suffered from rectal carcinoma and 1026 from colon carcinoma.

[Lymph node metastasis and its risk factors in T1-2 staging invasive rectal carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the lymph node metastasis and its risk factors in T1-2 staging invasive rectal carcinoma.

Methods: The data of 1116 patients with rectal cancer treated with total mesorectal excision (TME) technique from January 2000 to April 2009 was analyzed retrospectively. The clinicopathological factors analyzed included gender, age, primary symptom type, number of symptoms, duration of symptom, synchronous polyps, preoperative serum carcino-embryonic antigen level, preoperative serum CA19-9 level, the distance of tumor from the anal verge, tumor size, tumor morphological type, tumor circumferential extent, tumor differentiation and tumor T staging.

Could tumor characteristics identified by colonoscopy predict the locally advanced rectal carcinoma?

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is now considered the standard care for locally advanced rectal carcinoma (T3-4 or/and N1-2 lesions), but the accuracy of staging examinations including endorectal ultrasonography (ERUS) and MRI is far from excellent. In addition, the above staging equipment or professionals who perform the examinations may not be available in some hospitals, while preoperative colonoscopy and biopsy are usually obtainable in most hospitals. The objective of the present study was to investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of locally advanced rectal carcinoma and identify candidates for neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

[Analysis on misdiagnosis of 271 patients with rectal cancer].

Objective: To investigate the common reasons for the misdiagnosis of rectal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 568 cases of rectal cancer in the Changhai Hospital from January 2007 to December 2008. Age at diagnosis, gender distribution, symptom, delay in diagnosis, TNM stage, and grade of differentiation were recorded and analyzed.