Establishing a COVID-secure site for elective surgery during the COVID pandemic: An observational study.

Introduction: Maintaining timely and safe delivery of major elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to manage cancer and time-critical surgical conditions. Our NHS Trust established a COVID-secure elective site with a level 2 Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) facility. Patients requiring level 3 Intensive Care Unit admission were transferred to a non-COVID-secure site.

The molecular landscape of well differentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

Well differentiated liposarcoma (WD-LPS) is a relatively rare tumour, with fewer than 50 cases occurring per year in the UK. These tumours are both chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-resistant and present a significant treatment challenge requiring radical surgery. Little is known of the molecular landscape of these tumours and no current targets for molecular therapy exist.

Clinical-grade whole-genome sequencing and 3' transcriptome analysis of colorectal cancer patients.

Background: Clinical-grade whole-genome sequencing (cWGS) has the potential to become the standard of care within the clinic because of its breadth of coverage and lack of bias towards certain regions of the genome. Colorectal cancer presents a difficult treatment paradigm, with over 40% of patients presenting at diagnosis with metastatic disease. We hypothesised that cWGS coupled with 3' transcriptome analysis would give new insights into colorectal cancer.

Evaluation of a bundle of care to reduce incisional surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is associated with morbidity, mortality and increased care costs; many SSIs are considered preventable. The aim of the present study was to test implementation of a pragmatic, evidence-based bundle designed to reduce incisional SSI after emergency laparotomy and elective major lower gastrointestinal surgery.

Method: This was a prospective before-and-after study.

Validation of epigenetic markers to identify colitis associated cancer: Results of module 1 of the ENDCAP-C study.

Background: Chronic inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis (UC) causes a pro-neoplastic drive in the inflamed colon, leading to a markedly greater risk of invasive malignancy compared to the general population. Despite surveillance protocols, 50% of cases proceed to cancer before neoplasia is detected. The Enhanced Neoplasia Detection and Cancer Prevention in Chronic Colitis (ENDCaP-C) trial is an observational multi-centre test accuracy study to ascertain the role of molecular markers in improving the detection of dysplasia.

Discovery and Validation of Methylation Biomarkers for Ulcerative Colitis Associated Neoplasia.

Background And Aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with a higher background risk of dysplasia and/or neoplasia due to chronic inflammation. There exist few biomarkers for identification of patients with dysplasia, and targeted biopsies in this group of patients are inaccurate in reliably identifying dysplasia. We aimed to examine the epigenome of UC dysplasia and to identify and validate potential biomarkers.

Whole Genome Methylation Analysis of Nondysplastic Barrett Esophagus that Progresses to Invasive Cancer.

Objective: To investigate differences in methylation between patients with nondysplastic Barrett esophagus who progress to invasive adenocarcinoma and those who do not.

Background: Identifying patients with nondysplastic Barrett esophagus who progress to invasive adenocarcinoma remains a challenge. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential utility of epigenetic markers for identifying this group.

Methylation changes in the TFAP2E promoter region are associated with BRAF mutation and poorer overall & disease free survival in colorectal cancer.

Introduction: BRAF mutant colorectal cancer carries a poor prognosis which is thought to be related to poor response to conventional chemotherapy. BRAF mutation is associated with the serrated tumour phenotype. We hypothesised that one of the mechanisms by which BRAF mutant colorectal cancer demonstrate poor outcomes with chemotherapy is abnormal gene methylation.

A systematic review of transarterial embolization versus emergency surgery in treatment of major nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background: Emergency surgery or transarterial embolization (TAE) are options for the treatment of recurrent or refractory nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Surgery has the disadvantage of high rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Embolization has become more available and has the advantage of avoiding laparotomy in this often unfit and elderly population.