Neoadjuvant chemoradiation with or without PD-1 blockade in locally advanced rectal cancer: a randomized phase 2 trial.

Radiotherapy displays unique antitumor synergism with immune checkpoint inhibitors, which is indicated by high pathological complete response (pCR) rates from single-arm trials of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Here we test the efficacy and safety of the radiation-immune checkpoint inhibitor combination in patients with LARC in a phase 2, randomized trial conducted in eight major colorectal cancer centers in Beijing. In total, 186 eligible all-comer (proficient mismatch repair and deficient mismatch repair) participants were enrolled.

A novel liquid-liquid phase separation-related gene signature for predicting prognosis in colon cancer.

Background: An increasing body of evidence indicates that dysregulation of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in cellular processes is implicated in the development of diverse tumors. Nevertheless, the association between LLPS and the prognosis, as well as the tumor immune microenvironment, in individuals with colon cancer remains poorly understood.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the LLPS cluster in 1010 colon cancer samples from the TCGA and GEO databases, utilizing the expression profiles of LLPS-related prognostic differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

N-glycosylation Modification of CTSD Affects Liver Metastases in Colorectal Cancer.

Liver metastasis is the primary factor contributing to unfavorable prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Although N-glycosylation is implicated in metastasis, there is a notable paucity of comprehensive studies addressing the N-glycosylation proteomics associated with liver metastasis in CRC. In this study, N-glycosylated proteins and N-glycosylation sites of differential expression between primary lesions and paired liver metastatic lesions are identified.

The benefit of surgery during systematic therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor liver metastasis: a SEER-based retrospective study.

Background: The liver is the most common site of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) metastasis. Most patients who develop metastases gradually develop multiline drug resistance during long-term systematic treatment. We aimed to evaluate the benefit of surgery during the systematic treatment of GIST liver metastases.

CT assessed morphological features can predict higher mitotic index in gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation of the mitotic index (MI) of 1-5 cm gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (gGISTs) with CT-identified morphological and first-order radiomics features, incorporating subgroup analysis based on tumor size.

Methods: We enrolled 344 patients across four institutions, each pathologically diagnosed with 1-5 cm gGISTs and undergoing preoperative contrast-enhanced CT scans. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the independent CT morphological high-risk features of MI.

The expression of ERAP1 is favorable for the prognosis and immunotherapy in colorectal cancer: a study based on the bioinformatic and immunohistochemical analysis.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) is an emerging pharmacological target in cancer immunotherapy. This study was set out to examine the expression profiles and implications for prognosis and immunotherapy of ERAP1 in CRC.

Methods: Based on bioinformatics and immunohistochemical analysis, we analyzed ERAP1 for potential diagnostic and prognostic significance in CRC.

Machine learning-based prediction models affecting the recovery of postoperative bowel function for patients undergoing colorectal surgeries.

Purpose: The debate surrounding factors influencing postoperative flatus and defecation in patients undergoing colorectal resection prompted this study. Our objective was to identify independent risk factors and develop prediction models for postoperative bowel function in patients undergoing colorectal surgeries.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted for patients who undergoing colorectal surgeries at Peking University People's Hospital from January 2015 to October 2021.

L3MBTL3 Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker and Correlates with Immune Infiltrations in Gastric Cancer.

Recent research has linked lethal (3) malignant brain tumor-like 3 (L3MBTL3) to cancer aggressiveness and a dismal prognosis, but its function in gastric cancer (GC) is unclear. This research investigated the association between L3MBTL3 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of GC cases, as well as its prognostic value and biological function based on large-scale databases and clinical samples. The results showed that L3MBTL3 expression was upregulated in malignant GC tissues, which was associated with a shortened survival time and poor clinicopathological characteristics, including TNM staging.

Characteristics of alpha-fetoprotein-positive gastric cancer revealed by analysis of cancer databases and transcriptome sequencing data.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)-positive gastric cancer (AFPP-GC) is considered a special entity among gastric cancers. There is still controversy regarding the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of AFPP-GC, and the potential mechanism underlying its high malignant potential is still unclear.

Novel Genomic Risk Stratification Model for Primary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) in the Adjuvant Therapy Era.

Purpose: Traditional risk stratification schemes in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) were defined in the pre-imatinib era and rely solely on clinicopathologic metrics. We hypothesize that genomic-based risk stratification is prognostically relevant in the current era of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapeutics.

Experimental Design: Comprehensive mutational and copy-number profiling using MSK-IMPACT was performed.

Young adults with colon cancer: clinical features and surgical outcomes.

Background: The clinicopathological features, surgical outcomes, and long-term survival of patients with young-onset colon cancer (≤ 40 years old) remain controversial.

Methods: The clinicopathologic and follow-up data of patients aged < 40 years with colon cancer between January 2014 and January 2022 were reviewed. The primary objectives were clinical features and surgical outcomes.

Lymph node metastasis in T1-2 colorectal cancer: a population-based study.

Background: We performed this study to identify predictive factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) and analyze the impact of LNM on the prognosis of patients with T1-2 colorectal cancer (CRC), with the intention of providing guidance for the treatment.

Methods: The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result database was used to identify 20,492 patients diagnosed with T1-2 stage CRC between 2010 and 2019, who underwent surgery and lymph node evaluation and had complete prognostic information. Clinicopathological data of patients with T1-2 stage colorectal cancer treated with surgery at Peking University People's Hospital from 2017 to 2021 with complete clinical information were retrieved.

C6orf15 acts as a potential novel marker of adverse pathological features and prognosis for colon cancer.

Objective: To investigate the expression of chromosome 6 open reading frame 15 (C6orf15) in colon cancer and its effects on clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Methods: Using the transcriptome and clinical data of colon cancer and normal tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the expression of C6orf15 mRNA in colon cancer samples and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis were explored. The expression level of C6orf15 protein in 23 colon cancer tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Prognostic Biomarker SPOCD1 and Its Correlation with Immune Infiltrates in Colorectal Cancer.

The biological role of the spen paralogue and orthologue C-terminal domain containing 1 (SPOCD1) has been investigated in human malignancies, but its function in colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. This study investigated the association between SPOCD1 expression and clinicopathological features of CRC cases, as well as its prognostic value and biological function based on large-scale databases and clinical samples. The results showed that the expression level of SPOCD1 was elevated in CRC, which was generally associated with shortened survival time and poor clinical indexes, including advanced T, N, and pathologic stages.

Safety and Efficacy of Laparoscopic Surgery versus Open Surgery in Elderly Patients with Colon Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Cohort Study.

Introduction: The safety of laparoscopic surgery (LS) and its effect on survival have not been sufficiently assessed in elderly colon cancer patients.

Methods: Clinicopathologic data of patients aged ≥75 years who underwent colectomy for primary colon cancer, between January 2018 and June 2021, were reviewed. Patients were divided into the LS and open surgery (OS) groups according to the intention-to-treat principle and were compared using propensity score matching.

Examined lymph node numbers influence prognosis in rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy.

Background: The number of lymph nodes examined (LNe) is often insufficient in patients with rectal cancer (RC) treated with neoadjuvant therapy; however, its prognostic value remains controversial. Thus, we retrospectively explored whether LNe had an influence on staging and prognosis and investigated whether there was a cut-off value for better prognosis in patients with RC treated with neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods: Data were collected from seven prospective hospital databases in China from July 2002 to May 2018.

Transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Beijing, China: An epidemiological and genomic analysis.

Background: Understanding multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) transmission patterns is crucial for controlling the disease. We aimed to identify high-risk populations and geographic settings of MDR-TB transmission.

Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective study of MDR-TB patients in Beijing from 2018 to 2020, and assessed MDR-TB recent transmission using whole-genome sequencing of isolates.