The anthropometric definition of the rectum is highly variable.

Purpose: The precise definition of the rectum is essential for localizing colorectal pathology, yet current definitions are nebulous. The objective of this study is to determine the anthropometric definition of common pelvic landmarks in relation to patient characteristics.

Methods: Seventy-one patients underwent open proctectomy with intra-operative measurements from the anal verge to various pelvic landmarks, and patient characteristics were evaluated.

Expression of RORγt marks a pathogenic regulatory T cell subset in human colon cancer.

The role of regulatory T cells (T(regs)) in human colon cancer (CC) remains controversial: high densities of tumor-infiltrating T(regs) can correlate with better or worse clinical outcomes depending on the study. In mouse models of cancer, T(regs) have been reported to suppress inflammation and protect the host, suppress T cells and protect the tumor, or even have direct cancer-promoting attributes. These different effects may result from the presence of different T(reg) subsets.

Incorporating fertility preservation into the care of young oncology patients.

As the number of cancer survivors continues to increase, oncologists are faced with the challenge of providing cancer therapy to patients who may 1 day want to have children. Yet, gonadotoxic cancer treatments can compromise future fertility, either temporarily or permanently. There are established means of preserving fertility before cancer treatment; specifically, sperm cryopreservation for men and in vitro fertilization and embryo cryopreservation for women.

HIV and anal cancer outcomes: a single institution's experience.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of HIV status on outcome of treatment for squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on all patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal treated at a single academic institution between January 1996 and December 2006.

Results: Our search identified 87 (21 HIV-positive) patients who had invasive squamous-cell cancer.

Use and outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted colectomy for cancer in the United States.

Background: Laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) has gained acceptance for the treatment of colon cancer. However, long-term outcomes of LAC have not been examined at the national level outside of experienced centers.

Objective: To compare use and outcomes of LAC and open colectomy (OC).

Laparoscopic colectomy for cancer is not inferior to open surgery based on 5-year data from the COST Study Group trial.

Purpose: Oncologic concerns from high wound recurrence rates prompted a multi-institutional randomized trial to test the hypothesis that disease-free and overall survival are equivalent, regardless of whether patients receive laparoscopic-assisted or open colectomy.

Methods: Eight hundred seventy-two patients with curable colon cancer were randomly assigned to undergo laparoscopic-assisted or open colectomy at 1 of 48 institutions by 1 of 66 credentialed surgeons. Patients were followed for 8 years, with 5-year data on 90% of patients.

Preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancer: results of multimodality management and analysis of prognostic factors.

Background: Our goals were to examine the impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer on surgical outcomes and to determine prognostic factors predicting improved survival.

Methods: Retrospective cohort of 56 male and 44 female patients.

Results: After preoperative chemoradiation, 73% of patients had sphincter-preserving surgery.

A comparison of laparoscopically assisted and open colectomy for colon cancer.

Background: Minimally invasive, laparoscopically assisted surgery was first considered in 1990 for patients undergoing colectomy for cancer. Concern that this approach would compromise survival by failing to achieve a proper oncologic resection or adequate staging or by altering patterns of recurrence (based on frequent reports of tumor recurrences within surgical wounds) prompted a controlled trial evaluation.

Methods: We conducted a noninferiority trial at 48 institutions and randomly assigned 872 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon to undergo open or laparoscopically assisted colectomy performed by credentialed surgeons.

Comparative analysis of cell adhesion molecules, cell cycle regulatory proteins, mismatch repair genes, cyclooxygenase-2, and DPC4 in carcinomas arising in inflammatory bowel disease and sporadic colon cancer.

Colon carcinoma arising in inflammatory bowel disease often exhibits aggressive behavior compared to sporadic carcinomas. The rationale for the different biological behaviors of these two groups of tumors is not fully understood. In this study, we have examined carcinomas arising in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and sporadic carcinomas (SCA) for molecular differences that may provide clues for the behavioral disparity of these tumors.

Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound for restaging rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy.

Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) provides important information in the initial staging of patients with rectal cancer. Preoperative combined modality chemotherapy and radiation (neoadjuvant therapy) for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer may reduce local recurrence and improve survival. The accuracy of EUS restaging of rectal cancer after chemoradiation has not been extensively studied and its usefulness is unclear.