A long noncoding RNA, lncRNA-ATB, is involved in the progression and prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Background/aim: A long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) activated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β (lncRNA-ATB) was recently described to promote the invasion-metastasis cascade in hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinicopathological role and prognostic relevance of lncRNA-ATB in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Materials And Methods: lncRNA-ATB expression was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 124 patients with CRC.

Preventive effect of sivelestat on postoperative respiratory disorders after thoracic esophagectomy.

Purpose: Sivelestat, a selective inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, has been reported to reduce acute lung injury associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. This study retrospectively investigated the effect of sivelestat on respiratory function in patients who underwent esophagectomy.

Methods: Patients who underwent esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2010 were included in this study.

Usefulness of transcription-reverse transcription concerted reaction method for detecting circulating tumor cells in patients with colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The CellSearch system (Veridex, LLC) is useful for detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in various carcinomas, including colorectal cancer (CRC); however, there are some problems associated with its clinical use. A transcription-reverse transcription concerted reaction (TRC) method, which is a PCR-based technique producing more stable and reliable results, because it is a more simplified process compared with the conventional techniques, has been introduced for detecting micrometastasis in some carcinomas. We aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of TRC method in the CTC detection.