Update on the management of elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common tumours worldwide, and 70% of CRC patients are over 65 years of age. However, the scientific evidence available for these patients is poor, as they are underrepresented in clinical trials. Therefore, a group of experts from the Oncogeriatrics Section of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the Spanish Cooperative Group for the Treatment of Digestive Tumours, (TTD) and the Multidisciplinary Spanish Group of Digestive Cancer (GEMCAD) have reviewed the scientific evidence available in older patients with CRC.

Circulating NPTX2 methylation as a non-invasive biomarker for prognosis and monitoring of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal cancer with a dismal prognosis mainly due to diagnosis at advanced stage and ineffective treatments. CA19-9 levels and computed tomography (CT) imaging are the main standard criteria for evaluating disease progression and treatment response. In this study we explored liquid biopsy-based epigenetic biomarkers for prognosis and monitoring disease in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC).

Metabolic shift underlies tumor progression and immune evasion in S-nitrosoglutathione reductase-deficient cancer.

S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) is a denitrosylase enzyme that has been suggested to play a tumor suppressor role, although the mechanisms responsible are still largely unclear. In this study, we show that GSNOR deficiency in tumors is associated with poor prognostic histopathological features and poor survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). GSNOR-low tumors were characterized by an immunosuppressive microenvironment with exclusion of cytotoxic CD8 T cells.

Effect of aflibercept plus FOLFIRI and potential efficacy biomarkers in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: the POLAF trial.

Background: Aflibercept is an antiangiogenic drug against metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) combined with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/irinotecan (FOLFIRI); however, no antiangiogenic biomarker has yet been validated. We assessed aflibercept plus FOLFIRI, investigating the biomarker role of baseline vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).

Methods: Phase II trial in oxaliplatin-treated mCRC patients who received aflibercept plus FOLFIRI.

Improving selection of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to benefit from cetuximab based on KIR genotypes.

Aim: Cetuximab is a standard-of-care treatment for wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but it may also be effective in a subgroup of mutant patients by its immunomodulatory activity. Here, we explore if KIR (killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor) genotyping can provide a significant added value in the clinical outcome of patients with mutant mCRC based on cetuximab treatment.

Methods: We included 69 patients with histologically confirmed mCRC and mutation, positive EGFR expression, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤2.

Comparison of the Clinical Sensitivity of the Idylla Platform and the OncoBEAM RAS CRC Assay for KRAS Mutation Detection in Liquid Biopsy Samples.

KRAS mutations are common in colorectal cancer (CRC). In this setting, mutation status determination in circulating-free DNA from blood samples (liquid biopsy) has been shown to be a viable alternative to tissue testing. The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity of two liquid biopsy methods for detecting KRAS mutations in plasma samples from metastatic CRC patients.

Role of anti-EGFR target therapy in colorectal carcinoma.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has become an important target in cancer treatment. In consequence, drugs directed at this and other molecular targets are an increasingly important part of the treatment of numerous tumours. Cetuximab and panitumumab, two monoclonal antibodies that target EGFR, have proved to be effective in metastatic colorectal cancer treatment.

Pseudomembranous colitis associated with chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil.

Pseudomembranous colitis is frequently associated with antibiotics and more rarely with chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil. The objective of this study is to show that it is possible to confuse this infection with chemotherapy associated toxicity. We present a 54 year old woman who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer and in the first cycle of chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil developed pseudomembranous colitis.