Myoferlin: A Potential Marker of Response to Radiation Therapy and Survival in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Purpose: Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer often require neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy to downstage the disease, but the response is variable with no predictive biomarkers. We have previously revealed through proteomic profiling that myoferlin is associated with response to radiation therapy. The aims of this study were to further validate this finding and explore the potential for myoferlin to act as a prognostic and/or therapeutic target.

Genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors in diverticular disease: systematic review.

Background: Diverticulosis is a normal anatomical variant of the colon present in more than 70% of the westernized population over the age of 80. Approximately 3% will develop diverticulitis in their lifetime. Many patients present emergently, suffer high morbidity rates and require substantial healthcare resources.

SF-CORNER (splenic flexure colorectal cancer): an international survey of operative approaches and outcomes for cancers of the splenic flexure.

Aim: The optimum surgical approach to splenic flexure cancers (SFCs) remains uncertain. The aim of this survey was to explore the opinions of an international surgical community on the management and outcomes of SFC.

Method: A questionnaire was constructed comprising five sections (information about respondents; definition and prognosis of SFC; operative approach; approach in specific scenarios; outcomes) and circulated through an international dissemination committee and social media.

Enhancing radiotherapy outcomes in rectal cancer: A systematic review of targeting hypoxia-induced radioresistance.

Introduction: Neoadjuvant radiotherapy is successfully used in rectal cancer to improve overall survival. However, treatment response is both unpredictable and variable. There is strong evidence to show that the phenomenon of tumour hypoxia is associated with radioresistance, however the mechanism(s) behind this are poorly understood.

Chemotherapy-induced infiltration of neutrophils promotes pancreatic cancer metastasis via Gas6/AXL signalling axis.

Objective: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic disease and cytotoxic chemotherapy is the standard of care treatment for patients with advanced disease. Here, we investigate how the microenvironment in PDAC liver metastases reacts to chemotherapy and its role in metastatic disease progression post-treatment, an area which is poorly understood.

Design: The impact of chemotherapy on metastatic disease progression and immune cell infiltrates was characterised using flow and mass cytometry combined with transcriptional and histopathological analysis in experimental PDAC liver metastases mouse models.

Evaluating the potential utility of three-dimensional printed models in preoperative planning and patient consent in gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

Introduction: The report from the Royal College of Surgeons of England acknowledges the important role that three-dimensional imaging will play in support of personalised surgical interventions. One component of this is preoperative planning. We investigated surgeons' and patients' perceptions of this evolving technology.

Management of benign anastomotic strictures following rectal resection: a systematic review.

Aim: Benign anastomotic strictures following colorectal surgical resection are a commonly under-reported complication in up to 30% of patients, with a significant impact upon quality of life. In this systematic review, we aim to assess the utility of endoscopic techniques in avoiding the need for surgical reintervention.

Method: A literature search was performed for published full text articles using the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases.

Proton beam therapy in rectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Locally advanced rectal cancer is often treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery. Radiotherapy carries significant risk of toxicity to organs at risk (OAR). Proton beam therapy (PBT) has demonstrated to be effective in other cancers, delivering equivalent dosimetric radiation but with the benefit of improved sparing of OAR.

Rectal cancer management during the COVID-19 pandemic (ReCaP): multicentre prospective observational study.

Concerns over unacceptable high mortality in patients with rectal cancer undergoing surgery or systemic therapy who contract COVID-19 have led to widespread adoption of alternative treatment strategies.The ReCaP study aimed to study these variations and associated outcomes.

Sarcopenia estimation using psoas major enhances P-POSSUM mortality prediction in older patients undergoing emergency laparotomy: cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Emergency laparotomy is a considerable component of a colorectal surgeon's workload and conveys substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly in older patients. Frailty is associated with poorer surgical outcomes. Frailty and sarcopenia assessment using Computed Tomography (CT) calculation of psoas major area predicts outcomes in elective and emergency surgery.

Failure of nonoperative management in patients with acute diverticulitis complicated by abscess: a systematic review.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess failure rates following nonoperative management of acute diverticulitis complicated by abscess and trends thereof.

Method: Pubmed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched. Nonoperative management was defined as a combination of nil per os, IV fluids, IV antibiotics, CT scan-guided percutaneous drainage, and total parenteral nutrition.

Metformin as a radiosensitiser for pelvic malignancy: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: The treatment of pelvic malignancies has continued to improve over recent years, with neoadjuvant radiotherapy often considered the gold standard to downstage disease. Radiosensitisers are routinely employed in an attempt to improve response of cancers to radiotherapy. Previous preclinical evidence has suggested a role for metformin, a commonly used drug for type 2 diabetes.

Targeting Acid Ceramidase to Improve the Radiosensitivity of Rectal Cancer.

Previous work utilizing proteomic and immunohistochemical analyses has identified that high levels of acid ceramidase (AC) expression confers a poorer response to neoadjuvant treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer. We aimed to assess the radiosensitising effect of biological and pharmacological manipulation of AC and elucidate the underlying mechanism. AC manipulation in three colorectal cancer cell lines (HT29, HCT116 and LIM1215) was achieved using siRNA and plasmid overexpression.

Intra-operative assessment of left-sided colorectal anastomotic integrity: a systematic review of available techniques.

Aim: Anastomotic leak (AL) after colorectal resection is associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality: potential permanent stoma formation, increased local recurrence, reduced cancer-related survival, poor functional outcomes and associated quality of life. Techniques to reduce leak rates are therefore highly sought.

Method: A literature search was performed for published full text articles using PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases with a focus on colorectal surgery 1990-2020.

Hartmann's procedure versus intersphincteric abdominoperineal excision (HiP Study): a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Aim: In patients with low rectal cancer it is occasionally necessary to avoid a low coloanal anastomosis due to patient frailty or poor function. In such situations there are two alternative approaches: Hartmann's procedure (HP) or intersphincteric abdominoperineal excision (IAPE). There are few data to guide surgeons as to which of these two procedures is the safest.

NAP1L1: A Novel Human Colorectal Cancer Biomarker Derived From Animal Models of Inactivation.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide and most deaths result from metastases. We have analyzed animal models in which , a gene that is frequently mutated during the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis, was inactivated and human samples to try to identify novel potential biomarkers for CRC.

Materials And Methods: We initially compared the proteomic and transcriptomic profiles of the small intestinal epithelium of transgenic mice in which and/or had been inactivated.

Does tamoxifen have a therapeutic role outside of breast cancer? A systematic review of the evidence.

Introduction: Tamoxifen is a widely used hormonal based therapy for breast cancer in the adjuvant and metastatic setting, prolonging overall and recurrence-free survival. There has been increasing interest in the potential for novel "off-target" effects of tamoxifen and its metabolite N-desmethyltamoxifen across a number of cancer types. We aim to review the current literature regarding the potential use of tamoxifen in other primary malignancies.