ZNF37A downregulation promotes TNFRSF6B expression and leads to therapeutic resistance to concurrent chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients.

The identification a signature comprising a group of genes as markers of cancer response to chemoradiotherapy would be more appropriate and effective for predicting chemoradiotherapy efficacy. This study investigated the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to chemoradiotherapy resistance and established a multigene expression model for predicting the sensitivity of rectal cancer to chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients, elucidated the mechanism of resistance to synchronized chemoradiotherapy. The genome-wide expression profiling microarray were performed in the tissues of 81 rectal cancer patients before neoadjuvant therapy to analyze and discover DEGs related to chemoradiotherapy resistance, and the results were verified in 45 rectal cancer patients, and finally a 20-gene signature was proposed to be a predictor of chemoradiotherapy response.

Prognostic and Predictive Value of a Modified Diagnostic Biopsy-Adapted Immunoscore in Patients with Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Treatment: A Translational Study From the STELLAR Trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of the modified diagnostic biopsy-adapted immunoscore (mIS) in determining the outcomes for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) in a neoadjuvant setting.

Methods And Materials: We included 181 patients with LARC from a single subcenter of a prospective study comparing total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) based on short-course radiation therapy with long-term chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Tumor biopsies at baseline were stained for CD8+ and CD3+ T-cell densities.

Role of microenvironment characteristics and MRI radiomics in the risk stratification of distant metastases in rectal cancer: A diagnostic study.

Objectives: To compare the value of tumor stroma ratio (TSR) and radiomic signature from baseline MRI for stratifying the risk of distant metastases (DM) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Materials And Methods: Data from 302 patients with LARC who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision in our hospital between 2015 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed, and the patients were randomly allocated into the training and validation cohorts in a ratio of 7:3. Patients were followed-up for more than 3 years postoperatively with metachronous DM as the endpoint.

Response to PD-1 inhibitor in SMARCB1‑deficient undifferentiated rectal carcinoma with low TMB, proficient MMR and BRAF V600E mutation: a case report and literature review.

Background: Despite major advancements, effective treatment for patients with SMARCB1-deficient cancers has remained elusive. Here, we report the first case of a SMARCB1-deficient undifferentiated carcinoma in the rectum expressing high PD-L1 and responding to a PD-1 inhibitor, as well as with low tumor mutation burden (TMB), proficient mismatch repair (MMR) and BRAF V600E mutation.

Case Presentation: A 35-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of increased defecation frequency, bloody stools and weight loss of 3 kg for one month.

Predicting the microvascular invasion and tumor grading of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma based on magnetic resonance imaging radiomics and morphological features.

Background: Preoperative diagnosis of microvascular invasion (MVI) and tumor grading of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC) using imaging findings can facilitate patient treatment decision-making. This study was conducted to establish and validate nomograms based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics and morphological features for predicting the MVI and tumor grading of IMCC before radical hepatectomy.

Methods: A total of 235 patients with resected IMCC at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College were divided into a training set (n=167) and a validation set (n=68), retrospectively.

Enlarged tumour-draining lymph node with immune-activated profile predict favourable survival in non-metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: The tumour-draining lymph node (TDLN) plays a pivotal role in the suppression of malignant tumour, however, the immunological profile and prognostic differences between large TDLN (L-TDLN) and small TDLN (S-TDLN) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear.

Methods: We conducted a study using data from the Chinese National Cancer Center (CNCC) database, identifying 837 CRC patients with non-metastatic TDLN, and categorised them into L-TDLN and S-TDLN groups. The long-term survival outcomes and adjuvant therapy efficacy were compared between the two groups.

Preoperative MRI features predicting very early recurrence of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma after R0 resection: a comparison with the AJCC 8th edition staging system.

Purpose: This study aimed to establish a nomogram based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features to predict the very early recurrence (VER, less than 6 months) of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC) after R0 resection.

Methods: This study enrolled a group of 193 IMCC patients from our institution between March 2010 and January 2022. Patients were allocated into the development cohort (n = 137) and the validation cohort (n = 56), randomly, and the preoperative clinical and MRI features were collected.

Sequential liquid-based cytology based on exfoliative cells of 18-gauge core needle groove to improve renal mass core needle biopsy yield: a real-world observational study.

Background: Renal mass biopsy (RMB) has regained clinical interest in recent years due to the pursuit of individualized and precision medicine. Renal mass core needle biopsy (RMCNB) for histopathology (HP), with or without liquid-based cytology (LBC), has been used increasingly in our hospital. This study investigated factors influencing the HP diagnostic yield of RMCNB, and compared the diagnostic rate between HP alone and HP plus LBC.

A multiple-time-scale comparative study for the added value of magnetic resonance imaging-based radiomics in predicting pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Objective: Radiomics based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows potential for prediction of therapeutic effect to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC); however, thorough comparison between radiomics and traditional models is deficient. We aimed to construct multiple-time-scale (pretreatment, posttreatment, and combined) radiomic models to predict pathological complete response (pCR) and compare their utility to those of traditional clinical models.

Methods: In this research, 165 LARC patients undergoing nCRT followed by surgery were enrolled retrospectively, which were divided into training and testing sets in the ratio of 7:3.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with modified FOLFOXIRI for locally advanced rectal cancer to transform effectively EMVI and MRF from positive to negative: results of a long-term single center phase 2 clinical trial.

Purpose: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) remains the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This phase 2 clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant triplet chemotherapy with mFOLFOXIRI (folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) in LARC.

Patients And Methods: The patients with LARC (the lower edge more than 5 cm from the anal verge) received up to 5 cycles of mFOLFOXIRI.

Prediction of lymph node metastasis in stage T1-2 rectal cancers with MRI-based deep learning.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether a deep learning (DL) model based on preoperative MR images of primary tumors can predict lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with stage T1-2 rectal cancer.

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with stage T1-2 rectal cancer who underwent preoperative MRI between October 2013 and March 2021 were included and assigned to the training, validation, and test sets. Four two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D) residual networks (ResNet18, ResNet50, ResNet101, and ResNet152) were trained and tested on T2-weighted images to identify patients with LNM.

The diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in breast ductal abnormalities.

Background: Ductal lesions are an important, often overlooked, and poorly understood issue in breast imaging, which have a risk of underlying malignancy ranging from 5 to 23%. Ultrasonography (US), which has largely replaced galactography or ductography, has become an important imaging method to assess patients with ductal lesions. However, it is difficult to distinguish benign from malignant ductal abnormalities only by ultrasonography, most of which are recommended to be at least in subcategory 4A; these require biopsy according to the ACR BI-RADS®atlas 5th Edition-breast ultrasound.

Predictive factors of microvascular invasion in patients with intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma based on magnetic resonance images.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to develop and validate a preoperative nomogram for predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: In this retrospective study, 224 consecutive patients with clinicopathologically confirmed IMCC were enrolled. Patients whose data were collected from February 2010 to December 2020 were randomly divided into the training (131 patients) and internal validation (51 patients) datasets.

Significance of Siglec-15 expression in colorectal cancer: association with advanced disease stage and fewer tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Siglec-15, a novel immune suppressor, is upregulated in many human cancers. The aim of this study was to explore the expression of Siglec-15 in colorectal cancer (CRC), and investigate whether Siglec-15 could be a potential target for cancer immunotherapy in patients with CRC. We performed immunohistochemical analyses of Siglec-15 on a cohort of 805 patients with CRC and made comparisons between clinicopathological characteristics, PD-L1 expression, CD3, CD8, CD45RO tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and prognosis.

Prognostic and immunotherapeutic significance of mannose receptor C type II in 33 cancers: An integrated analysis.

The type 2 mannose receptor C (MRC2) is involved in tumor biological processes and plays a new role in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix turnover. Previous studies have demonstrated MRC2 expression profiling and prognostic relevance in some tumor types. However, the clinical and immunotherapeutic value of MRC2 in pan-cancers remains controversial.

Comparison of Colonoscopy, Fecal Immunochemical Test, and Risk-Adapted Approach in a Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial (TARGET-C).

Background & Aims: The screening yield and related cost of a risk-adapted screening approach compared with established screening strategies in population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening are not clear.

Methods: We randomly allocated 19,373 participants into 1 of the 3 screening arms in a 1:2:2 ratio: (1) one-time colonoscopy (n = 3883); (2) annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) (n = 7793); (3) annual risk-adapted screening (n = 7697), in which, based on the risk-stratification score, high-risk participants were referred for colonoscopy and low-risk ones were referred for FIT. Three consecutive screening rounds were conducted for both the FIT and the risk-adapted screening arms.

Predicting perineural invasion using histogram analysis of zoomed EPI diffusion-weighted imaging in rectal cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the utility of histogram analysis of zoomed EPI diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for predicting the perineural invasion (PNI) status of rectal cancer (RC).

Methods: This prospective study evaluated 94 patients diagnosed with histopathologically confirmed RC between July 2020 and July 2021. Patients underwent preoperative rectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, including the zoomed EPI DWI sequence.

Artificial Intelligence Assisted Topographic Mapping System for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Specimens.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), a minimally invasive surgery used to treat early gastrointestinal malignancies, has been widely embraced around the world. The gross reconstruction of ESD specimens can facilitate a more precise pathological diagnosis and allow endoscopists to explore lesions thoroughly. The traditional method of mapping is time-consuming and inaccurate.

Noninvasive urinary protein signatures associated with colorectal cancer diagnosis and metastasis.

Currently, imaging, fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tests are not adequate for the early detection and evaluation of metastasis and recurrence in colorectal cancer (CRC). To comprehensively identify and validate more accurate noninvasive biomarkers in urine, we implement a staged discovery-verification-validation pipeline in 657 urine and 993 tissue samples from healthy controls and CRC patients with a distinct metastatic risk. The generated diagnostic signature combined with the FIT test reveals a significantly increased sensitivity (+21.

Preoperative Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Versus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: Phase II Randomized Study.

Objective: We evaluated and compared the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) in a single-center randomized phase II trial.

Methods: Patients with LAGC were enrolled and received either NACT or NACRT, followed by gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was an R0 resection rate.

Multicenter, Randomized, Phase III Trial of Short-Term Radiotherapy Plus Chemotherapy Versus Long-Term Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (STELLAR).

Purpose: To ascertain if preoperative short-term radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy is not inferior to a standard schedule of long-term chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients with distal or middle-third, clinical primary tumor stage 3-4 and/or regional lymph node-positive rectal cancer were randomly assigned (1:1) to short-term radiotherapy (25 Gy in five fractions over 1 week) followed by four cycles of chemotherapy (total neoadjuvant therapy [TNT]) or chemoradiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks, concurrently with capecitabine [chemoradiotherapy; CRT]). Total mesorectal excision was undertaken 6-8 weeks after preoperative treatment, with two additional cycles of CAPOX (intravenous oxaliplatin [130 mg/m, once a day] on day 1 and capecitabine [1,000 mg/m, twice a day] from days 1 to 14) in the TNT group and six cycles of CAPOX in the CRT group.