hMLH1 promoter methylation and BRAF mutations in high-frequency microsatellite instability colorectal cancers not fulfilling the revised Bethesda guidelines.

Purpose: Sporadic colorectal cancers with high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) are related to hypermethylation of mismatch repair (MMR) genes and a higher frequency of BRAF mutations than Lynch syndrome. We estimated the feasibility of hereditary colorectal cancer based on hMLH1 methylation and BRAF mutations.

Methods: Between May 2005 and June 2011, we enrolled all 33 analyzed patients with MSI-H cancer (male:female, 23:10; mean age, 65.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for the treatment of well-differentiated rectal neuroendocrine tumors.

Purpose: Recently, an increase in well-differentiated rectal neuroendocrine tumors (WRNETs) has been noted. We aimed to evaluate transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) for the treatment of WRNETs.

Methods: Between December 1995 and August 2009, 109 patients with WRNETs underwent TEM.

An alternative pathway in colorectal carcinogenesis based on the mismatch repair system and p53 expression in Korean patients with sporadic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Microsatellite instability (MSI) and chromosomal instability are main mechanisms underlying colorectal carcinogenesis. We determined the features and prognosis of colorectal cancer based on MSI including mismatch repair genes and expression of p53.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2008, a total of 2,649 colorectal cancer patients were analyzed using a prospective database.

Early surgical outcomes of NiTi endoluminal compression anastomotic clip (NiTi CAC 30) use in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy.

Background: The NiTi endoluminal Compression Anastomotic Clip (CAC™) 30 (NiTi CAC 30) (NiTi Alloys Technologies, Ltd., Netanya, Israel) is a new device with shape-memory characteristics. We aimed to investigate the safety and early surgical outcomes of NiTi CAC 30 for intestinal anastomosis in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy.

Treatment outcomes of anorectal melanoma.

Purpose: An anorectal melanoma (AM) is a very rare tumor. However, sufficient data supporting effective surgical options for the disease do not exist. This retrospective review aimed to analyze treatment outcomes for an AM.

Oncologic outcome after cessation or dose reduction of capecitabine in patients with colon cancer.

Purpose: Oral capecitabine has been used as adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer patients since the 1990s. Patient-initiated cessation or reduced use of capecitabine occurs widely for various reasons, yet the consequences of these actions are unclear. The present study sought to clarify treatment outcomes in such patients.

Elective laparoscopic repair after colonoscopic decompression for incarcerated morgagni hernia.

Plain radiographs of an 88-year-old woman who had experienced vomiting and abdominal distention for 3 days revealed a severely obstructed ileus, and abdominopelvic computed tomography revealed an incarcerated Morgagni hernia. The endoscope was passed through the constrictions from the diaphragmatic indentations and a thin catheter was placed for decompression. The obstructive ileus regressed markedly after the procedure; the patient underwent elective laparoscopic repair of the hernia 1 week later.

Characteristics of the killing mechanism of human natural killer cells against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and Hep3B.

Purpose: Unlike normal hepatocytes, most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are quite resistant to death receptor-mediated apoptosis when the cell surface death receptor is cross linked with either agonistic antibodies or soluble death ligand proteins in vitro. The resistance might play an essential role in the escape from the host immune surveillance; however, it has not been directly demonstrated that HCCs are actually resistant to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated death. Therefore, this study investigated the molecular mechanism of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against the HCCs, HepG2, and Hep3B, using two distinct cytotoxic assays: a 4-h (51)Cr-release assay and a 2-h [(3)H] thymidine release assay which selectively measures the extent of necrotic and apoptotic target cell death, respectively.