A novel fluorescent c-met targeted imaging agent for intra-operative colonic tumour mapping: Translation from the laboratory into a clinical trial.

Background: The c-Met protein is overexpressed in many gastrointestinal cancers. We explored EMI-137, a novel c-Met targeting fluorescent probe, for application in fluorescence-guided colon surgery, in HT-29 colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line and an in vivo murine model.

Methods: HT-29 SiRNA transfection confirmed specificity of EMI-137 for c-Met.

The utility of c-Met as a diagnostic tissue biomarker in primary colorectal cancer.

The transmembrane protein, c-Met, is thought to be overexpressed and activated in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study explored its potential as a diagnostic tissue biomarker for CRC in a large human CRC tissue collection obtained from a randomized clinical trial. Tissue microarrays of matched normal colorectal epithelium and primary cancer were prepared from specimens obtained from 280 patients recruited to the MRC CLASICC trial (ISRCTN 74883561) and interrogated using immunohistochemistry for c-Met expression.

Is medullary carcinoma of the colon underdiagnosed? An audit of poorly differentiated colorectal carcinomas in a large national health service teaching hospital.

Aims: Medullary carcinoma is an uncommon colorectal tumour which appears poorly differentiated histologically. Consequently, it may be confused with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS). The principal aim of this study was to review a large series of poorly differentiated colorectal cancers resected at a large National Health Service (NHS) Teaching Hospital to determine how often medullary carcinomas were misclassified .

CT assessment of right colonic arterial anatomy pre and post cancer resection - a potential marker for quality and extent of surgery?

Background: There is conflicting opinion as to the optimum extent of resection for right-sided colonic cancer, which is currently graded by pathological analysis of the resected specimen. It is not known if computed tomography (CT) analysis of residual post-resection arterial stump length could be used as an alternative in vivo marker for extent of mesenteric resection. Ileocolic artery stumps have been demonstrated previously on CT after right hemicolectomy, but only in the early postoperative period.

Histopathological work-up of resection specimens, local excisions and biopsies in colorectal cancer.

The pathological examination of material removed from patients with colorectal neoplasia is important. It provides a wide range of information on, for example, the quality and completeness of excision, the stage and biological aggressiveness, the need for further therapy, and response to therapy. Molecular testing adds valuable information on genetic risk and is required before treatment with anti-EGF-r antibodies.