Patient preferences and predicted relative uptake for targeted therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer: a discrete choice experiment.

Objective: Ras wild-type metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRC) may be treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agents. We aim to estimate patients' preferences for mCRC treatment and relative importance of cost, efficacy improvement, avoidance of side effects and therapy convenience, and relative uptake between profiles that resemble Bevacizumab (anti-VEGF) and Cetuximab (anti-EGFR), two commonly prescribed mCRC targeted therapies.

Methods: Discrete choice experiment (DCE) was administered to English- or Chinese-speaking Stage 2 or 3 colon cancer patients at the National Cancer Centre Singapore.

Prediction of overall survival following colorectal cancer surgery in elderly patients.

Background: With advanced age and chronic illness, the life expectancy of a patient with colorectal cancer (CRC) becomes less dependent on the malignant disease and more on their pre-morbid condition. Justifying major surgery for these elderly patients can be challenging. An accurate tool demonstrating post-operative survival probability would be useful for surgeons and their patients.

Analytical Validation of Multiplex Biomarker Assay to Stratify Colorectal Cancer into Molecular Subtypes.

Previously, we classified colorectal cancers (CRCs) into five CRCAssigner (CRCA) subtypes with different prognoses and potential treatment responses, later consolidated into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMS). Here we demonstrate the analytical development and validation of a custom NanoString nCounter platform-based biomarker assay (NanoCRCA) to stratify CRCs into subtypes. To reduce costs, we switched from the standard nCounter protocol to a custom modified protocol.

Author Correction: Reference component analysis of single-cell transcriptomes elucidates cellular heterogeneity in human colorectal tumors.

In the version of the article published, the author list is not accurate. Igor Cima and Min-Han Tan should have been authors, appearing after Mark Wong in the author list, while Paul Jongjoon Choi should not have been listed as an author. Igor Cima and Min-Han Tan both have the affiliation Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore, Singapore, and their contributions should have been noted in the Author Contributions section as "I.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the use of serum procalcitonin levels to predict intra-abdominal infections after colorectal surgery.

Purpose: There has been much recent interest in the use of procalcitonin (PCT) as a marker of intra-abdominal infection (IAI) following colorectal surgery. However, the literature remains divided on the value of PCT in this setting. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the value of PCT in predicting IAI after colorectal surgery.

A Novel Derivation Predicting Survival After Primary Tumor Resection in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Validation of a Prognostic Scoring Model and an Online Calculator to Provide Individualized Survival Estimation.

Background: A prognostic scoring model has been devised previously to predict survival following primary tumor resection in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and unresectable metastases. This has yet to be validated.

Objective: The main objectives of this study are to validate the proposed prognostic scoring model and create an interactive online calculator to estimate an individual's survival after primary tumor resection.

Reference component analysis of single-cell transcriptomes elucidates cellular heterogeneity in human colorectal tumors.

Intratumoral heterogeneity is a major obstacle to cancer treatment and a significant confounding factor in bulk-tumor profiling. We performed an unbiased analysis of transcriptional heterogeneity in colorectal tumors and their microenvironments using single-cell RNA-seq from 11 primary colorectal tumors and matched normal mucosa. To robustly cluster single-cell transcriptomes, we developed reference component analysis (RCA), an algorithm that substantially improves clustering accuracy.

Genomics of Hereditary Colorectal Cancer: Lessons Learnt from 25 Years of the Singapore Polyposis Registry.

Introduction: The Singapore Polyposis Registry (SPR) was established in 1989 in Singapore General Hospital (SGH). The aims were to provide a central registry service to facilitate identification, surveillance and management of families and individuals at high risk of colorectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: This is a review of published literature in the department.

Short and long-term outcomes of a randomised controlled trial of vertical periumbilical wound versus transverse left iliac fossa wound for specimen retrieval in laparoscopic anterior resections.

Background: The ideal incision for laparoscopic specimen extraction is not known. There has been no randomised study thus far evaluating extraction site in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The aim of our study was to compare post-operative outcomes, pain scores and quality of life scores of vertical periumbilical (VW) versus transverse left iliac fossa (TW) incisions for specimen extraction in laparoscopic anterior resections.

Risk prediction score in laparoscopic colorectal surgery training: experience from the English National Training Program.

Objective: The overall aim was to develop and validate a risk prediction score for laparoscopic colorectal surgery training cases.

Background: Published risk prediction scores are not transferable between hospitals because they are derived from a single institution's data and are not designed for use in training situations.

Methods: Cases from the prospectively collected database of the National Training Programme in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery, between July 2008 and July 2012, were analyzed.

Opportunistic screening for colorectal neoplasia in Singapore using faecal immunochemical occult blood test.

Introduction: The use of faecal immunochemical occult blood test (FIT) has been reported to decrease mortality from colorectal cancer. The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) gives out FIT kits to encourage opportunistic screening of colorectal cancer. Any Singapore citizen or permanent resident aged ≥ 50 years is eligible to receive two FIT kits.

Conventional laparoscopic versus single-incision laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: a case cohort comparison of short-term outcomes in 144 consecutive cases.

Background: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is a recent development of minimally invasive surgery for colorectal disease. The literature comparing it against conventional laparoscopic colectomy remains limited.

Methods: A retrospective case-cohort study compared the benefits and outcomes of SILS right hemicolectomy (SRH) with those of conventional laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (LRH).

Evaluation of laparoscopic versus open colorectal surgery in elderly patients more than 70 years old: an evaluation of 727 patients.

Background: With longer life expectancy, surgeons can expect to operate on older patients. Laparoscopic colorectal (LC) surgery has been demonstrated to be superior to open surgery. Controversy persists, however, regarding benefits of LC in the elderly due to increase in operative time.

Krukenberg tumors of colorectal origin: a dismal outcome--experience of a tertiary center.

Background: Krukenberg tumor (KT) is described as metastases of the ovary usually from a tumor of gastric origin. As colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the most common cancer in Singapore, we are seeing more KT with colorectal origin.

Purpose: To determine the pattern of presentation of KT from CRC origin in terms of patient demographics, time of onset related to the diagnosis of CRC, presence of elevated serum tumor markers, carcinomatosis peritoneii, and survival of patients.

Laparoscopic versus open right hemicolectomy: a comparison of short-term outcomes.

Background: The laparoscopic approach is increasingly becoming the gold standard for colorectal resections. While laparoscopic surgery of the left colon and rectum has been evaluated in many studies, laparoscopic resection of the right colon has not been as widely examined. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term outcomes after laparoscopic right hemicolectomies and to determine if they were superior when compared with those after open resection.

Brain metastases in colorectal cancers.

Background: Although colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Singapore, brain metastases associated with colorectal primaries are quite rare, with reported incidences ranging from less than 1% to 4%. This is a review of the incidence, presentation, and prognosis of brain secondaries from colorectal primaries in our institution.

Methods: From a prospectively collected database, 4378 patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancers between 1995 and 2003.