Expression of protein S100A4 is a predictor of recurrence in colorectal cancer

AIM: To investigate the prognostic significance of S100A4 expression in colorectal cancer and its correlation with expression of E-cadherin and p53. METHODS: A cohort of archival formalin-fixed paraff inembedded specimens was selected from 127 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical resection between April 2000 and March 2004 at the Department of Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital. The expression of protein S100A4 was evaluated according to the proportion of positively stained cancer cells. In each case, three core biopsies with a diameter of 2 mm were punched out and positioned in a recipient paraff in array block. Four-μm sections of these tissue array blocks were used for immunohistochemical analysis of protein S100A4, E-cadherin, and p53. Clinicopathological data were based on the original histopathologic reports and clinical records of patients. RESULTS: In normal colorectal mucosa, protein S100A4 immunoreactivity was clearly absent in both cytoplasm and nucleus. However, positive immunoreactivity of protein S100A4 was detected in 45 (35.4%) of the tumor cases. There was no significant association between positive immunoreactivity of protein S100A4 and clinicopathological parameters such as tumor differentiation or TNM stage, and also no correlation between the reactivity and E-cadherin or p53 expression. However, positive immunoreactivity of protein S100A4 was found to be associated with tumor recurrence (P = 0.004), and was also associated with significantly worse overall survival in the Kaplan-Meyer survival analysis (P = 0.044). After adjustment for tumor differentiation, tumor depth and nodal status, however, it failed to achieve statistical significance (P = 0.067). CONCLUSION: The expression of protein S100A4 is associated with tumor recurrence and poor overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer.

Risk factors causing structural sequelae after anastomotic leakage in mid to low rectal cancer

AIM: To investigate the risk factors causing structural sequelae after anastomotic leakage in patients with mid to low rectal cancer.METHODS: Prospectively collected data of consecutive subjects who had anastomotic leakage after surgical resection for rectal cancer from March 2006 to May 2013 at Korea University Anam Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Two subgroup analyses were performed. The patients were initially divided into the sequelae(stricture, fistula, or sinus) and no sequelae groups and then divided into the permanent stoma(PS)and no PS groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors of structural sequelae after anastomotic leakage.RESULTS: Structural sequelae after anastomotic leakage were identified in 29 patients(39.7%).Multivariate analysis revealed that diversion ileostomy at the first operation increases the risk of structural sequelae [odds ratio(OR) = 6.741; P = 0.017].Fourteen patients(17.7%) had permanent stoma during the follow-up period(median, 37 mo). Multivariate analysis showed that the tumor level from the dentate line was associated with the risk of permanent stoma(OR = 0.751; P = 0.045).CONCLUSION: Diversion ileostomy at the first operation increased the risk of structural sequelae of the anastomosis, while lower tumor location was associated with the risk of permanent stoma in the management of anastomotic leakage.

Anterograde jejunojejunal intussusception resulted in acute efferent loop syndrome after subtotal gastrectomy

Postoperative intussusception is an unusual clinical entity in adults,and is rarely encountered as a complication following gastric surgery.The most common type after gastric surgery is retrograde jejunogastric intussusception,and jejunojejunal intussusception has been rarely reported.We report a case of anterograde jejunojejunal intussusception after radical subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth Ⅱ anastomosis in a 38-year-old Korean woman with early gastric cancer,and include a review of the literature on this unusual complication.