Overexpression of annexin 1 in pancreatic cancer and its clinical significance

AIM: To investigate the expression of annexin I in pancreatic cancer and its relationship with the clinicopathologic factors,and to evaluate its potential clinical significance.METHODS: Annexin I expression was analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and multi-tissue microarrays (MTAs).RESULTS: Western blot analysis showed that annexin I was overexpressed in 84.6% (11/13) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. Immunohistochemistry analysis of pancreatic cancer in MTAs showed that annexin I protein was 71.4%(30/42) positive which was markedly increased compared with that in the tumor matched normal pancreas tissues 18.4%(7/38) (P<0.01). In the meantime, the high expression of annexin 1 was correlated with the poor differentiation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.CONCLUSION: Annexin 1 overexpression is a frequent biological marker and correlates with the differentiation of pancreatic cancer during tumorigenesis.

Local excision carcinoma in early stage

AIM: To assess the validity of local excision for the early stage low rectal cancer as an effective treatment alternative to radical resection.METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review was done in 47 patients with early stage low rectal carcinoma who underwent local excision from November 1980 through November 1999 at Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS). The patients were treated by either transanal (40 cases), trans-sacral (5 cases), or trans-vaginal (2 cases) excision of tumors and no death was related to surgery. Sixteen patients received postoperative radiotherapy.RESULTS: T1 and T2 lesion was found in 36 (76.6 %) and 11 patients (23.4 %) respectively. The overall local tumor recurrence rate was 14.9 % (7/47), with an average recurrence time of 21 months. Among these 7 recurrent patients, there were 4 T1 and 3 T2 lesions. Microscopically,the surgical incisal margin was negative in 45 (95.7 %) and positive in 2 patients (4.3 %); Both of the later had developed local recurrence. The overall 5-year survival rate was 91.7 %,in which there were 94.4 % for T1 and 83.3 % for T2 tumors.T stage, intravessel tumor thrombosis, lymphocytic infiltration and histological grade were not found to be significant by related to the local recurrence and survival (P＞0.05).CONCLUSION: Local tumor excision was a safe procedure for the treatment of early stage low rectal carcinoma with minimal morbidity and mortality, which might serves as one of the primary surgical treatment methods for the disease of this kind.

Surgical salvage therapy of anal cancer

AIM:To evaluate the results of salvage resection in the management of persistent or locally recurrent anal canal cancer.METHODS: Details of all patients with anal canal cancer treated from 1978 to 1994 at Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) were reviewed retrospectively.Sixteen patients who presented with persistent or locally recurrent anal canal cancer received salvage surgery. Before surgery all of the patients had received radiotherapy alone as their primary treatments.RESULTS:Of the 16 patients, 14 received salvage abdominoperineal resection (APR) and two had transanal local excision. There were no deaths attributable to operation.Delayed healing of the perineal wound occurred in eight patients. Complications unrelated to the perineal wound were found in five patients. The median follow-up time was 120 (range 5-245) months after salvage surgery. Nine patients died of disease progression, with a median survival time of 16 (range 5-27) months. Six patients had a long-term survival.CONCLUSION:Salvage resection after radiotherapy can yield a long-time survival in selected patients with anal canal cancer. However it offers little hope to patients with T4 and/or N2-3 tumors.