CXCR4/SDF-1 axis is involved in lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma

AIM:To investigate the role of CXC chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma.METHODS:In 40 cases of gastric cancer,expression of CXCR4 mRNA in cancer and normal mucous membrane and SDF-1 mRNA in lymph nodes around the stomach was detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (TaqMan) and immunohistochemistric assay.SGC-7901 and MGC80-3 cancer cells were used to investigate the effect of SDF-1 on cell proliferation and migration.RESULTS:Quantitative reverse transcription PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression level of CXCR4 in gastric cancer was significantly higher than that in normal mucous membrane (1.6244 ± 1.3801 vs 1.0715 ± 0.5243,P < 0.05).The expression level of CXCR4 mRNA in gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis was also significantly higher than that without lymph node metastasis (0.823 ± 0.551 vs 0.392 ± 0.338,P < 0.05).CXCR4 expression was significantly related to poorly differentiated,high tumor stage and lymph node metastasis.Significant differences in the expression level of SDF-1 mRNA were found between lymph nodes in metastatic gastric cancer and normal nodes (0.5432 ± 0.4907 vs 0.2640 ± 0.2601,P < 0.05).The positive expression of SDF-1 mRNA in lymph nodes of metastatic gastric cancer was consistent with the positive expression of CXCR4 mRNA in gastric cancer (r=0.776,P < 0.01).Additionally,human gastric cancer cell lines expressed CXCR4 and showed vigorous proliferation and migratory responses to SDF-1.AMD3100 (a specific CXCR4 antagonist) was also found to effectively reduce the migration of gastric cancer cells.CONCLUSION:The CXCR4/SDF-1 axis is involved in the lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer.CXCR4 is considered as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor successfully treated with chemotherapy and nonsteroidals:A case report

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor(IMT) occurring at retroperitoneal sites has rarely been reported.We report the case of a previously well 14-year-old girl with no history of abdominal disease whose past medical history and family tumor history were unremarkable.She complained of intermittent abdominal pain for one month.An abdominal mass was found on physical examination and abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT) showed a hypodense soft mass,the size and location of which suggested a well delineated retroperitoneal tumor surrounding the superior mesenteric vessels measuring 3.3 cm × 4.5 cm × 4.5 cm with enlarged lymph nodes.The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy followed by biopsy and was subsequently diagnosed with retroperitoneal IMT.She was successfully treated with postoperative chemotherapy and oral diclofenac sodium.Following completion of therapy the mass was no longer palpable and no longer visible on CT scanning.The use of methotrexate and cisplatin for aggressive myofibroblastic tumors is also reviewed.

Extralevator abdominoperineal excision for advanced low rectal cancer:Where to go

Since its introduction,extralevator abdominoperineal excision(ELAPE)in the prone position has gained significant attention and recognition as an important surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced low rectal cancer.Most studies suggest that because of adequate resection and precise anatomy,ELAPE could decrease the rate of positive circumferential resection margins,intraoperative perforation,and may further decrease local recurrence rate and improve survival.Some studies show that extensive resection of pelvic floor tissue may increase the incidence of wound complications and urogenital dysfunction.Laparoscopic/robotic ELAPE and trans-perineal minimally invasive approach allow patients to be operated in the lithotomy position,which has advantages of excellent operative view,precise dissection and reduced postoperative complications.Pelvic floor reconstruction with biological mesh could significantly reduce wound complications and the duration of hospitalization.The proposal of individualized ELAPE could further reduce the occurrence of postoperative urogenital dysfunction and chronic perianal pain.The ELAPE procedure emphasizes precise anatomy and conforms to the principle of radical resection of tumors,which is a milestone operation for the treatment of advanced low rectal cancer.

Successful treatment of obstructing colonic cancer by combining self-expandable stent and neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A case report

BACKGROUND Surgery 5-10 d after stent insertion was recommended by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy for obstructing colonic cancer. For some obstructive patients, this may be not a good choice. Here, we report the successful treatment of obstructing colonic cancer by combining self-expandable stent and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 72-year-old man who was admitted with a chief complaint of abdominal pain for more than 1 mo. Computed tomography(CT) scanning revealed that there was a mass in the descending colon, which led to intestinal obstruction. On admission, a series of therapeutic measures, such as fasting and water deprivation, gastrointestinal decompression, total parenteral nutrition, and octreotide acetate, were taken to improve the obstructive symptoms. At the same time, a self-expandable metal stent was successfully placed across the stenosis,and a biopsy was obtained and diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. CT scanning 14 d after insertion of the stent revealed that the intestine was swollen significantly.Systemic chemotherapy with modified FOLFOX6(mFOLFOX6) was administered. After two courses of mFOLFOX6, CT scanning showed clearly that swelling of the intestine was improved. Subsequently, the patient underwent left hemi-colectomy without stoma placement. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he has been disease-free for 6 mo after surgery.CONCLUSION This modified treatment strategy may provide an alternative therapy for patients with obstructing colonic cancers.

Successful management of tubular colonic duplication using a laparoscopic approach: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Alimentary duplication is a rare congenital disease with a reported incidence of 1 per 4500 persons,although the exact incidence has been difficult to ascertain.According to previous reports,the most common site of duplication is the ileum,and colonic duplication is rare.Due to different types and locations of the duplication,the manifestations are varied,which makes establishing an accurate diagnosis before surgery a challenge.CASE SUMMARY A 17-year-old female patient sought evaluation in our department with constipation and chronic abdominal pain for 12 years;she had difficulty defecating and had dry stools since she was a child.An abdominal computed tomography revealed two extremely enlarged loops of bowel full of stool-like intestinal contents in the left lower abdomen,which led us to consider the possibility of colonic duplication.A laparoscopic exploration was performed,which revealed a tubular duplicated colon that shared a common opening with the transverse colon.A left hemi-colectomy was performed with a side-to-side anastomosis.The pathologic results confirmed the diagnosis.At the 6-mo followup,the patient was doing well without constipation or abdominal pain.CONCLUSION Colonic duplication is a rare alimentary abnormality in adults.Due to the nonspecific manifestations and low incidence,it is usually difficult to make an accurate diagnosis pre-operatively.Surgery is the mainstay of treatment,even though some patients are asymptomatic.

Preliminary Outcome of Individualized Abdominoperineal Excision for Locally Advanced Low Rectal Cancer

Background： The introduction of individualized abdominoperineal excision （APE） may minimize operative trauma and reduce the rate of complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of individualized APE for low rectal cancer. Methods： Fifty-six patients who underwent individualized APE from June 2011 to June 2015 were evaluated retrospectively in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University. The main outcome measures were circumferential resection margin （CRM） involvement, intraoperative perforation, postoperative complications, and local recurrence. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0. Results： Fifty （89%） patients received preoperative chemoradiotherapy： 51 （91%） patients were treated with the sacrococcyx preserved; 27 （48%） patients with the levator ani muscle partially preserved bilaterally; 20 （36%） patients with the levator ani muscle partially preserved unilaterally and the muscle on the opposite side totally preserved; 7 （13%） patients with intact levator ani muscle and part of the ischioanal fat bilaterally dissected; and 2 （4%） patients with part of the ischioanal fat and intact lavator ani muscle dissected unilaterally and the muscle on the opposite side partially preserved. The most common complications included sexual dysfunction （12%）, perineal wound complications （13%）, urinary retention （7%）, and chronic perineal pain （5%）. A positive CRM was demonstrated in 3 （5%） patients, and intraoperative perforations occurred in 2 （4%） patients. On multiple logistic regression analysis, longer operative time （P = 0.032） and more intraoperative blood loss （P = 0.006） were significantly associated with perineal procedure-related complications. The local recurrence was 4% at a median follow-up of 53 months （range： 30–74 months）. Conclusion： With preoperative chemoradiotherapy, individualized APE may be a relatively safe and feasible approach for low rectal cancer with acceptable oncological outcomes.

Chinese guideline for the application of rectal cancer staging recognition systems based on artificial intelligence platforms (2021 edition)

Development and Application of Artificial Intelligence Recognition Systems in Rectal Cancer Staging Whether for surgical treatment or for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy,imaging evaluation has become an important basis to perform the treatment plans.[1]The reading of imaging results requires a large number of experienced radiologists to complete,but shortages and uneven distributions of personnel cause delays and biases in imaging results.Therefore,independent research and development of automatic recognition systems of rectal cancer staging based on artificial intelligence(AI)platforms aim to partially replace practitioners’work and achieve rapid and accurate identification of rectal cancer staging.