Clinical parameters predicting pathologic complete response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.

Introduction: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT), followed by total mesorectal excision, has become the standard of care for patients with clinical stages II and III rectal cancer. Patients with pathologic complete response (pCR) to preoperative CRT have been reported to have better outcomes than those without pCR. However, the factors that predict the response to neoadjuvant CRT have not been well defined.

Outcome of Laparoscopic Versus Open Resection for Transverse Colon Cancer.

Background: Laparoscopic resection for transverse colon cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for transverse colon cancer.

Methods: A total of 278 patients with transverse colon cancer from a single institution were included.

Impact of previous abdominal surgery on the outcome of laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer: a case-control study in 756 patients.

Background: A history of previous abdominal surgery (PAS) may increase the complexity of laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of PAS on the outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal resection for colorectal cancer.

Methods: A total of 378 colorectal cancer patients (group A) with a history of PAS were 1:1 matched to 378 controls (group B) without PAS from our prospective laparoscopic colorectal surgery database.

Outcome of laparoscopic versus open resection for rectal cancer in elderly patients.

Background: Laparoscopic colorectal resection has been gaining popularity over the past two decades. However, studies about laparoscopic rectal surgery in elderly patients with long-term oncologic outcomes are limited. In this study, we evaluated the short-term and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open resection in patients with rectal cancer aged ≥ 70 y.

Lymph node ratio is an independent prognostic factor in node positive rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by curative resection.

Background: The lymph node ratio (LNR) has been shown to be an important prognostic factor for colorectal cancer. However, studies focusing on the prognostic impact of LNR in rectal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by curative resection have been limited. The aim of this study was to investigate LNR in rectal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by curative resection.

Impact of interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery for rectal cancer on surgical and oncologic outcome.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a longer interval between long-course neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery on surgical and oncologic outcome.

Methods: A total of 233 consecutive patients with clinical stage II and III rectal cancer were divided into 2 groups according to the neoadjuvant-surgery interval: short-interval group (≤ 7 weeks, n = 111), and long-interval group (>7 weeks, n = 122). Data on neoadjuvant-surgery interval, operative time, perioperative complications, final pathology, disease recurrence, and mortality were prospectively collected and analyzed.

Prognostic factors for desmoid tumor: a surgical series of 233 patients at a single institution.

Desmoid tumors are rare soft tissue tumors with limited data on their management and prognosis. We sought to determine the rates of recurrence after surgery for desmoid tumors and analyze factors predictive of recurrence-free survival (RFS). From February 1976 to October 2011, 233 consecutive patients with desmoid tumors who underwent macroscopically complete resection were included in this study.

Short-term outcomes of laparoscopically assisted surgery for rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: a single-center experience.

Objective: The efficacy of laparoscopic treatment of rectal cancer remains unclear, and little is known about its effect on sphincter preservation. We compared short-term outcomes of laparoscopically assisted and open surgeries following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for mid and low rectal cancer.

Methods: This study enrolled 137 patients with mid-low rectal cancer who underwent curative resection, 51 by laparoscopically assisted (Lap group) and 86 by conventional open (Open group) surgeries, following neoadjuvant CRT from July 2007 to July 2012.

Age, is it an obstacle for older surgeons to learn laparoscopic approach for colorectal cancer?

Laparoscopic colorectal resection has been extensively accepted for treatment of colorectal cancer. There are several reports about surgeon's age as a factor to have influence on learning laparoscopic approach, and there is no consensus on this point. This study was designed to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal resection in period of learning curve completed by surgeons with different age in order to make clear whether older surgeons may learn laparoscopic approach with more difficulty than younger.

[Research progress on determination of lignans from Schiandra chinensis and its preparations].

The latest research progress on quantitative determination methods of main active components-lignans from Schisandra chinensis and its preparations has been summarized, such as spectrophotometry, thin-layer chromatography scanning, high performance liquid chromatograpy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and capillary electrochromatography. The characteristics and application areas of every analytical method have also been stated. It offers reference on quality control of crude drug and its preparations of S.