RAS-expanded Mutations and HER2 Expression in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A New Step of Precision Medicine.

Cetuximab and panitumumab monoclonal antibodies are a milestone in the history of treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and point toward future directions for personalized treatment. Recent studies have shown that broader RAS testing is needed to select patients for targeted therapy. The objectives of our study were to identify the prevalence of RAS mutations and evaluate human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression in KRAS exon 2 wild-type (WT) mCRC patients, correlating the findings with objective response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival.

Are biopsy specimens predictive of HER2 status in gastric cancer patients?

Background: Trastuzumab has been recently proposed as a treatment for patients with HER2-positive advanced/metastatic gastric cancer (GC). Since most patients have inoperable disease at diagnosis, accurate assessment of HER2 status on biopsy specimens is essential to select the patients who may benefit from therapy.

Aim: The aim of this study is to establish whether HER2 status assessed on biopsy material could be reliable for treatment decisions using anti-HER2 agents.

Functional foods: salient features and clinical applications.

The term "functional food" refers to foods or ingredients of foods providing an additional physiological benefit beyond their basic nutritional needs. Health benefits are best obtained through a varied diet containing fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes and seeds. However, fortified foods and dietary supplements have been marketed and food industry have made functional food one of their current leading trends.

Genetic and biochemical changes in colorectal carcinoma in relation to morphologic characteristics.

A distinct genetic pathway may be involved in the development of polypoid and flat colorectal cancers, two morphologically different cancer subtypes. The present study was undertaken to clarify whether different combinations of some genetic alterations commonly involved (such as K-ras and p53 gene mutations) may exist between polypoid and flat types. In addition, to investigate any different proliferative behavior between the two distinct types of colorectal cancer, we tested the enzymatic activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC).

Oestrogen receptors and microsatellite instability in colorectal carcinoma patients.

About 10-15% of sporadic colorectal cancers show microsatellite instability (MIN), a mutator phenotype of mismatch repair genes. It seems that oestrogens may inhibit the pathway to colorectal carcinoma which involves a mismatch repair deficiency. Oestrogen receptorial status was evaluated in the neoplastic tissue and uninvolved surrounding mucosa of 17 MIN-positive and 33 MIN-negative tumours using an immunoenzymatic assay.

Duodenogastric reflux and gastric mucosal polyamines in the non-operated stomach and in the gastric remnant after Billroth II gastric resection. A role in gastric carcinogenesis?

Background: The relationship between bile reflux and gastric cancer is not defined. In order to verify whether a relationship exists, we evaluated the duodenogastric reflux and the mucosal polyamines concentration, polycation compounds actively involved in cell proliferation, in the non-operated stomach and in gastric remnant after Billroth II gastric resection, a precancerous condition.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed on three groups of subjects: A) 43 subjects with slight dispeptic symptoms, never operated on; B) 54 cholecystectomized subjects; C) 38 subjects operated on Billroth II gastric resection for duodenal ulcer.

Detection of Helicobacter pylori cagA gene by polymerase chain reaction in faecal samples.

Objective: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been extensively and successfully used to detect Helicobacter pylori in gastric juice and gastric biopsies. In contrast, the results obtained using faeces as biological samples for PCR are rather conflicting. This may be due to the presence of faecal inhibitory compounds (polysaccharides) which can inhibit the amplification reaction.

Asymptomatic gallstones. What to do in patients undergoing colonic surgery for cancer?

Twenty-three patients who underwent elective surgery for colorectal cancer in our hospital between 1983 and 1989, underwent concomitant cholecystectomy for asymptomatic gallstones. In order to assess whether additional cholecystectomy increases postoperative morbidity and mortality, a comparison was made between these cases and 23 controlled patients (without gallstones) matched for sex, age (+/- 3 years), Dukes stage and type of primary colonic surgery. The duration of postoperative stay was similar in the two groups (14.

Duodenogastric reflux of bile acids, gastrin and parietal cells, and gastric acid secretion before and 6 months after cholecystectomy.

In order to evaluate the effect of cholecystectomy on the gastric mucosa, the duodenogastric reflux of total and single bile acids, the number of parietal and gastrin cells, and the volume of gastric acid secretion were examined in 15 patients with gallstones and functioning gallbladders before and 6 months after cholecystectomy. The duodenogastric reflux of the total bile acids increased from a mean preoperative value of 1.9 mumol/hour to a mean postoperative value of 21 mumol/hour (p = 0.