Oncological outcomes of complete versus conventional mesocolic excision in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Background: Complete mesocolic excision (CME) has been proposed for colon cancer to improve oncological outcomes. The risks and benefits of laparoscopic CME have not been examined fully. We compared short- and long-term outcomes of CME with a conventional mesocolic excision (non-CME) in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (RHC) for right-sided colon cancer.

Difference in Tumor Area as a Predictor of a Pathological Complete Response for Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Purpose: This study was conducted to discover the clinical factors that can predict pathologically complete remission (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), so that those factors may help in deciding on a treatment program for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: A total of 137 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were retrospectively enrolled in this study, and data were collected retrospectively. The patients had undergone a total mesorectal excision after neoadjuvant CRT.

Prognostic value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography for adjuvant chemotherapy of colon cancer.

Background: To assess the prognostic value of preoperative F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with high-risk stage II or stage III colon cancer who underwent FOLFOX chemotherapy.

Methods: The study included 166 patients with high-risk stage II or stage III colon cancer who received FOLFOX4 chemotherapy. Retrospective patient data were analysed including pathological stage, histology, disease-free survival (DFS) and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV ) of the primary tumour on F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

The Prognostic Value of Circumferential Resection Margin Involvement in Patients with Extraperitoneal Rectal Cancer.

The prognostic influence of circumferential resection margin (CRM) status in extraperitoneal rectal cancer probably differs from that of intraperitoneal rectal cancer because of its different anatomical and biological behaviors. However, previous reports have not provided the data focused on extraperitoneal rectal cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of the CRM status in patients with extraperitoneal rectal cancer.

Association Between Time (Initiation and Length) and Oncological Outcomes for the Patients with Colon Cancer Treated with Adjuvant Chemotherapy.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is benefit for high-risk stage II and stage III colon cancer after curative resection. But, the optimal time between surgical and initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy remains unclear. Moreover, no study of efficacy with different lengths of adjuvant chemotherapy has appeared.

Clinical Practice in the Use of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients with Colon Cancer in South Korea: a Multi-Center, Prospective, Observational Study.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy is a crucial part of treatment for patients with locally advanced colon cancer. This study was conducted to investigate the actual practice in the use of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with high-risk stage II or stage III colon cancer in South Korea.

Methods: This was a 24-month open-label, prospective, observational study conducted at 12 centers across South Korea.

ERCC1 as a Predictive Marker for FOLFOX Chemotherapy in an Adjuvant Setting.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) as a predictive marker for FOLFOX adjuvant chemotherapy in stages II and III colon cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 166 high risk stages II and III colon cancer patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study, and data were collected prospectively. They underwent a curative resection followed by FOLFOX4 adjuvant chemotherapy.

T4 stage and preoperative anemia as prognostic factors for the patients with colon cancer treated with adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy.

Background: FOLFOX-based adjuvant chemotherapy is a benefit for high-risk stage II and stage III colon cancer after curative resection. But, the prognostic factor or predictive marker for the efficacy of FOLFOX remains unclear. This study was aimed to identify the prognostic value and cumulative impact of adjuvant FOLFOX on the stage II and III colon cancer patients.

Association between a close distal resection margin and recurrence after a sphincter-saving resection for t3 mid- or low-rectal cancer without radiotherapy.

Purpose: To maintain the patient's quality of life, surgeons strive to preserve the sphincter during rectal cancer surgery. This study evaluated the oncologic safety of a sphincter-saving resection with a distal resection margin (DRM) <1 cm without radiotherapy in T3, mid- or low-rectal cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 327 patients who underwent a sphincter-saving resection for proven T3 rectal cancer located <10 cm from the anal verge and without radiotherapy between January 1995 and December 2011.

Prognostic significance of the decreased rate of perioperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level in the patients with colon cancer after a curative resection.

Purpose: The serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a clinical prognostic factor in the follow-up evaluation of patients with colon cancer. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the rate of decrease of the perioperative serum CEA level in patients with colon cancer after a curative resection.

Methods: A total of 605 patients who underwent a curative resection for colon cancer between January 2000 and December 2007 were enrolled retrospectively.

All the commercially available adhesion barriers have the same effect on adhesion prophylaxis?; A comparison of barrier agents using a newly developed, severe intra-abdominal adhesion model.

Background: Various types of adhesion barriers are widely used to prevent intra-abdominal adhesion. However, few studies have compared the efficacy of adhesion barriers using the same animal model. The aim of this study was to compare the anti-adhesive effects of various barrier agents using a newly developed, severe adhesion model.

Association of MUC6-minisatellite variants with susceptibility to rectal carcinoma.

A secreted MUC6 mucin is reported to be expressed highly in the stomach and gall bladder. In previous our study, the five minisatellites were identified and a significant association between MUC6-MS5 alleles and gastric cancer was reported. Because of aberrant MUC6 expression is often found in gastrointestinal diseases, we evaluated a relationship between MUC6-MS5 and susceptibility to colorectal cancers.

Adipose-tissue-derived Stem Cells Enhance the Healing of Ischemic Colonic Anastomoses: An Experimental Study in Rats.

Purpose: This experimental study verified the effect of adipose-tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) on the healing of ischemic colonic anastomoses in rats.

Methods: ASCs were isolated from the subcutaneous fat tissue of rats and identified as mesenchymal stem cells by identification of different potentials. An animal model of colonic ischemic anastomosis was induced by modifying Nagahata's method.

Oncologic Outcomes and Risk Factors for Recurrence after Tumor-specific Mesorectal Excision of Rectal Cancer: 782 Cases.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the oncologic outcomes and the risk factors for recurrence after a tumor-specific mesorectal excision (TSME) of resectable rectal cancer in a single institution.

Methods: A total of 782 patients who underwent a TSME for resectable rectal cancer between February 1995 and December 2005 were enrolled retrospectively. Oncologic outcomes included 5-year cancer-specific survival and its affecting factors, as well as risk factors for local and systemic recurrence.

Adipose-derived stem cells on the healing of ischemic colitis: a therapeutic effect by angiogenesis.

Background: There has been no specific treatment for ischemic colitis. We verified the effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) on ischemia-induced colitis in a rat model.

Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (10 weeks old; weight, 350 ± 20 g) were divided into two groups: a control group (only fibrinogen and thrombin injected, n = 20) and an ASC group (local implantation of ASCs mixed with thrombin and fibrinogen, n = 20).

Prognostic Significance of Lymph Node Ratio in Stage III Rectal Cancer.

Purpose: Although nodal metastasis is the most powerful prognostic factor in rectal cancer, marked heterogeneity exists within stage III rectal cancer. Recent studies of rectal cancer have shown a prognostic superiority of the lymph node ratio (LNR) compared with N stage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the LNR in the era of the 7th edition of the TNM classification.

Massive small bowel bleeding caused by scrub typhus in Korea.

A 79-year-old man was diagnosed with scrub typhus based on fever, eschar, skin rash and a markedly elevated serum tsutsugamushi antibody and doxycycline was started. Five days later, hematochezia developed and multiple small bowel ulcerations with hemorrhage were seen on colonoscopy. Despite intensive therapy, the massive hematochezia worsened and the distal small bowel was resected.

A human monoclonal antibody scFv to urokinase plasminogen activator.

A human monoclonal antibody can be a good method for tumor diagnosis and treatment. This study is aimed at the generation of human antibody fragments against urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) known to be related to tumor metastasis using the naive human antibody phage display library. Three clones--A2, A8, and E4--were selected from 1 x 10(10) sized human naïve antibody phage library using BIAcore rescue and screen.

Peripheral blood gene expression of B7 and CD28 family members associated with tumor progression and microscopic lymphovascular invasion in colon cancer patients.

Purpose: To associate the global gene expression of B7/CD28 family transcripts with pathologic features of colon cancer, we determined the B7/CD28 family transcripts in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from normal subjects and patients with adenomatous polyps and colon cancer, and correlated the results with pathologic features of colon cancer.

Methods: PBMCs from age-matched normal subjects and patients with adenomatous polyps and colon cancer were analyzed for peripheral blood transcripts (PBTs) of B7/CD28 family using real-time PCR. Differences in expression levels of B7/CD28 PBTs across all cancer stages and between colon cancer patients with or without microscopic lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were analyzed.

Cyanoacrylate for colonic anastomosis; is it safe?

Background: This experimental study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of using cyanoacrylate adhesive for sutureless colonic anastomosis and as a protective seal to prevent leakage.

Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats (300 +/- 10 g, 9 weeks old) were divided into three groups: in group I, the anastomosis was sutured in a single layer with 5-0 polypropylene; in group II, the anastomosis was fixed using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl(R)); and in group III, the anastomosis was sutured and then sealed with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. The rats were sacrificed on postoperative day 7.

Risk factors for early postoperative small-bowel obstruction after colectomy in colorectal cancer.

Background: Currently, colectomies are the most frequently performed procedure to manage colorectal cancer. However, early postoperative small-bowel obstruction (EPSBO) is a common serious complication after colectomy. The purpose of our study was to assess the incidence of EPSBO after colectomy for colorectal cancer, and attempt to identify associated risk factors for EPSBO.