Expression profiling of angiogenic genes for the characterisation of colorectal carcinoma.

The development of new blood and lymphatic vessels is a crucial event for cancer growth, metastatic spread and relapse after therapy. In this work, the expression levels of chemokines, angiogenic and angiostatic factors and their receptors were determined in paired mucosal and tumour samples of patients with colorectal carcinoma and correlated with clinical and histological parameters by advanced multivariate analyses. The most important predictors to discriminate between tumour and paired normal mucosa turned out to be the levels of expression of plexin-A1 and stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), the former overexpressed and the latter downregulated in tumours.

[Emergencies in colorectal carcinoma: negative prognostic factor?].

The authors analyze a consecutive series of 219 patients affected by complicated colorectal cancer who underwent surgery in emergency. In hospital mortality, 5-year survival and recurrence's incidence in 104 of these patients who underwent curative treatment are calculated and compared with a series of 701 patients who underwent elective surgical treatment. There was no significative statistical difference between emergency and elective group.

[Inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver: case report and review of the literature].

We report a case of inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver in a 53-year-old woman who over the previous month had presented malaise, fever and right-sided hypochondralgia. On physical examination the liver was tender at palpation 2 cm below the right costal margin. Laboratory data were normal.

[Functional complications of the lower urinary tract after curative exeresis for cancer of the rectum].

The aim of the study is to assess the incidence and the pathogenesis of urinary dysfunction in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer. A series of 219 patients, who underwent surgery for rectal cancer with normal urinary preoperative function, was submitted to a prospective follow-up for the urinary function. Symptomatic patients in the follow-up were studied by ultrasonography, cystomanometry and pressure-flow electromyography.

[Preoperative CEA: prognostic significance in colorectal carcinoma].

The prognostic meaning of preoperative CEA level and its relation to the other risk factors are still under debate. In 512 patients who underwent surgical treatment for colorectal cancer, CEA preoperative plasma level had been evaluated. The prognostic value of CEA was compared with other prognostic factors and the characteristics of the tumor.