Stage at diagnosis of colorectal cancer through diagnostic route:Who should be screened?

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a global health concern,with advanced-stage diagnoses contributing to poor prognoses.The efficacy of CRC screening has been well-established;nevertheless,a significant proportion of patients remain unscreened,with>70%of cases diagnosed outside screening.Although identifying specific subgroups for whom CRC screening should be particularly recommended is crucial owing to limited resources,the association between the diagnostic routes and identification of these subgroups has been less appreciated.In the Japanese cancer registry,the diagnostic routes for groups discovered outside of screening are primarily categorized into those with comorbidities found during hospital visits and those with CRC-related symptoms.AIM To clarify the stage at CRC diagnosis based on diagnostic routes.METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study using a cancer registry of patients with CRC between January 2016 and December 2019 at two hospitals.The diagnostic routes were primarily classified into three groups:Cancer screening,follow-up,and symptomatic.The early-stage was defined as Stages 0 or I.Multivariate and univariate logistic regressions were exploited to determine the odds of early-stage diagnosis in the symptomatic and cancer screening groups,referencing the follow-up group.The adjusted covariates were age,sex,and tumor location.RESULTS Of the 2083 patients,715(34.4%),1064(51.1%),and 304(14.6%)belonged to the follow-up,symptomatic,and cancer screening groups,respectively.Among the 2083 patients,CRCs diagnosed at an early stage were 57.3%(410 of 715),23.9%(254 of 1064),and 59.5%(181 of 304)in the follow-up,symptomatic,and cancer screening groups,respectively.The symptomatic group exhibited a lower likelihood of early-stage diagnosis than the follow-up group[P<0.001,adjusted odds ratio(aOR),0.23;95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.19-0.29].The likelihood of diagnosis at an early stage was similar between the follow-up and cancer screening groups(P=0.493,aOR for early-stage diagnosis in the cancer screening group vs follow-up group=1.11;95%CI=0.82-1.49).CONCLUSION CRCs detected during hospital visits for comorbidities were diagnosed earlier,similar to cancer screening.CRC screening should be recommended,particularly for patients without periodical hospital visits for comorbidities.

Recent clinical trials and optical control as a potential strategy to develop microtubule-targeting drugs in colorectal cancer management

Colorectal cancer(CRC)has remained the second and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and in the United States,respectively.Although significant improvement in overall survival has been achieved,death in adult populations under the age of 55 appears to have increased in the past decades.Although new classes of therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy have emerged,their application is very limited in CRC so far.Microtubule(MT)inhibitors such as taxanes,are not generally successful in CRC.There may be some way to make MT inhibitors work effectively in CRC.One potential advantage that we can take to treat CRC may be the combination of optical techniques coupled to an endoscope or other fiber optics-based devices.A combination of optical devices and photo-activatable drugs may allow us to locally target advanced CRC cells with highly potent MT-targeting drugs.In this Editorial review,we would like to discuss the potential of optogenetic approaches in CRC management.

Colorectal cancer screening:A review of current knowledge and progress in research

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide,being the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally.Despite the progress in screening,early diagnosis,and treatment,approximately 20%-25%of CRC patients still present with metastatic disease at the time of their initial diagnosis.Furthermore,the burden of disease is still expected to increase,especially in individuals younger than 50 years old,among whom early-onset CRC incidence has been increasing.Screening and early detection are pivotal to improve CRC-related outcomes.It is well established that CRC screening not only reduces incidence,but also decreases deaths from CRC.Diverse screening strategies have proven effective in decreasing both CRC incidence and mortality,though variations in efficacy have been reported across the literature.However,uncertainties persist regarding the optimal screening method,age intervals and periodicity.Moreover,adherence to CRC screening remains globally low.In recent years,emerging technologies,notably artificial intelligence,and non-invasive biomarkers,have been developed to overcome these barriers.However,controversy exists over the actual impact of some of the new discoveries on CRC-related outcomes and how to effectively integrate them into daily practice.In this review,we aim to cover the current evidence surrounding CRC screening.We will further critically assess novel approaches under investigation,in an effort to differentiate promising inno-vations from mere novelties.

Development and validation of a prediction model for early screening of people at high risk for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a serious threat worldwide.Although early screening is suggested to be the most effective method to prevent and control CRC,the current situation of early screening for CRC is still not optimistic.In China,the incidence of CRC in the Yangtze River Delta region is increasing dramatically,but few studies have been conducted.Therefore,it is necessary to develop a simple and efficient early screening model for CRC.AIM To develop and validate an early-screening nomogram model to identify individuals at high risk of CRC.METHODS Data of 64448 participants obtained from Ningbo Hospital,China between 2014 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.The cohort comprised 64448 individuals,of which,530 were excluded due to missing or incorrect data.Of 63918,7607(11.9%)individuals were considered to be high risk for CRC,and 56311(88.1%)were not.The participants were randomly allocated to a training set(44743)or validation set(19175).The discriminatory ability,predictive accuracy,and clinical utility of the model were evaluated by constructing and analyzing receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and calibration curves and by decision curve analysis.Finally,the model was validated internally using a bootstrap resampling technique.RESULTS Seven variables,including demographic,lifestyle,and family history information,were examined.Multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that age[odds ratio(OR):1.03,95%confidence interval(CI):1.02-1.03,P<0.001],body mass index(BMI)(OR:1.07,95%CI:1.06-1.08,P<0.001),waist circumference(WC)(OR:1.03,95%CI:1.02-1.03 P<0.001),lifestyle(OR:0.45,95%CI:0.42-0.48,P<0.001),and family history(OR:4.28,95%CI:4.04-4.54,P<0.001)were the most significant predictors of high-risk CRC.Healthy lifestyle was a protective factor,whereas family history was the most significant risk factor.The area under the curve was 0.734(95%CI:0.723-0.745)for the final validation set ROC curve and 0.735(95%CI:0.728-0.742)for the training set ROC curve.The calibration curve demonstrated a high correlation between the CRC high-risk population predicted by the nomogram model and the actual CRC high-risk population.CONCLUSION The early-screening nomogram model for CRC prediction in high-risk populations developed in this study based on age,BMI,WC,lifestyle,and family history exhibited high accuracy.

Molecular insights into clinical trials for immune checkpoint inhibitors in colorectal cancer:Unravelling challenges and future directions

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a complex disease with diverse etiologies and clinical outcomes.Despite considerable progress in development of CRC therapeutics,challenges remain regarding the diagnosis and management of advanced stage metastatic CRC(mCRC).In particular,the five-year survival rate is very low since mCRC is currently rarely curable.Over the past decade,cancer treatment has significantly improved with the introduction of cancer immunotherapies,specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors.Therapies aimed at blocking immune checkpoints such as PD-1,PD-L1,and CTLA-4 target inhibitory pathways of the immune system,and thereby enhance anti-tumor immunity.These therapies thus have shown promising results in many clinical trials alone or in combination.The efficacy and safety of immunotherapy,either alone or in combination with CRC,have been investigated in several clinical trials.Clinical trials,including KEYNOTE-164 and CheckMate 142,have led to Food and Drug Administration approval of the PD-1 inhibitors pembrolizumab and nivolumab,respectively,for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high or deficient mismatch repair CRC.Unfortunately,these drugs benefit only a small percentage of patients,with the benefits of immunotherapy remaining elusive for the vast majority of CRC patients.To this end,primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy remains a significant issue,and further research is necessary to optimize the use of immunotherapy in CRC and identify biomarkers to predict the response.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC.The underlying rationale,challenges faced,and potential future steps to improve the prognosis and enhance the likelihood of successful trials in this field are discussed.

Liver transplantation as an alternative for the treatment of non-resectable liver colorectal cancer: Advancing the therapeutic algorithm

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancerrelated mortality,with nearly half of the affected patients developing liver metastases.For three decades,liver resection(LR)has been the primary curative strategy,yet its applicability is limited to about 20%of cases.Liver transplantation(LT)for unresectable metastases was attempted unsuccessfully in the 1990s,with high rates of perioperative death and recurrence.There is now more interest in this strategy due to improvements in systemic therapies and surgical techniques.A significant study conducted by the Oslo group showed that patients receiving liver transplants had a 60%chance of survival after five years.Significantly better results have been achieved by using advanced imaging for risk stratification and further refining selection criteria,especially in the Norvegian SECA trials.This review carefully charts the development and history of LT as a treatment option for colorectal cancer liver metastases.The revolutionary path from the early days of exploratory surgery to the current situation of cautious optimism is traced,highlighting the critical clinical developments and improved patient selection standards that have made LT a potentially curative treatment for such challenging very well selected cases.

Global research trends and prospects of cellular metabolism in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND An increasing number of studies have focused on the role of cellular metabolism in the development of colorectal cancer(CRC).However,no work is currently available to synthesize the field through bibliometrics.AIM To analyze the development in the field of“glucose metabolism”(GM),“amino acid metabolism”(AM),“lipid metabolism”(LM),and“nucleotide metabolism”(NM)in CRC by visualization.METHODS Articles within the abovementioned areas of GM,AM,LM and NM in CRC,which were published from January 1,1991,to December 31,2022,are retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed by CiteSpace 6.2.R4 and VOSviewer 1.6.19.RESULTS The field of LM in CRC presented the largest number of annual publications and the fastest increase in the last decade compared with the other three fields.Meanwhile,China and the United States were two of the most prominent contri-butors in these four areas.In addition,Gang Wang,Wei Jia,Maria Notar-nicola,and Cornelia Ulrich ranked first in publication numbers,while Jing-Yuan Fang,Senji Hirasawa,Wei Jia,and Charles Fuchs were the most cited authors on average in these four fields,respectively.“Gut microbiota”and“epithelial-mesenchymal transition”emerged as the newest burst words in GM,“gut microbiota”was the latest outburst word in AM,“metastasis”,“tumor microenvironment”,“fatty acid metabolism”,and“metabolic reprogramming”were the up-to-date outbreaking words in LM,while“epithelial-mesenchymal transition”and“apoptosis”were the most recently occurring words in NM.CONCLUSION Research in“cellular metabolism in CRC”is all the rage at the moment,and researchers are particularly interested in exploring the mechanism to explain the metabolic alterations in CRC.Targeting metabolic vulnerability appears to be a promising direction in CRC therapy.

Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2:A promising biomarker for colorectal cancer

According to the latest global cancer statistics,colorectal cancer(CRC)has emerged as the third most prevalent malignant tumor across the globe.In recent decades,the medical field has implemented several levels of CRC screening tests,encompassing fecal tests,endoscopic examinations,radiological examinations and blood tests.Previous studies have shown that leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2(LILRB2)is involved in inhibiting immune cell function,immune evasion,and promoting tumor progression in acute myeloid leukemia and nonsmall cell lung cancer.However,its interaction with CRC has not been reported yet.Recently,a study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology revealed that LILRB2 and its ligand,angiopoietin-like protein 2,are markedly overexpressed in CRC.This overexpression is closely linked to tumor progression and is indicative of a poor prognosis.The study highlights the potential of utilizing the concentration of LILRB2 in serum as a promising biomarker for tumors.However,there is still room for discussion regarding the data processing and analysis in this research.

Upregulated lncRNA PRNT promotes progression and oxaliplatin resistance of colorectal cancer cells by regulating HIPK2 transcription

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the third most common cancer and a significant cause of cancer-related mortality globally.Resistance to chemotherapy,especially during CRC treatment,leads to reduced effectiveness of drugs and poor patient outcomes.Long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)have been implicated in various pathophysiological processes of tumor cells,including chemotherapy resistance,yet the roles of many lncRNAs in CRC remain unclear.AIM To identify and analyze the lncRNAs involved in oxaliplatin resistance in CRC and to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms influencing this resistance.METHODS Gene Expression Omnibus datasets GSE42387 and GSE30011 were reanalyzed to identify lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with oxaliplatin resistance.Various bioinformatics tools were employed to elucidate molecular mechanisms.The expression levels of lncRNAs and mRNAs were assessed via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Functional assays,including MTT,wound healing,and Transwell,were conducted to investigate the functional implications of lncRNA alterations.Interactions between lncRNAs and trans-cription factors were examined using RIP and luciferase reporter assays,while Western blotting was used to confirm downstream pathways.Additionally,a xenograft mouse model was utilized to study the in vivo effects of lncRNAs on chemotherapy resistance.RESULTS LncRNA prion protein testis specific(PRNT)was found to be upregulated in oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cell lines and negatively correlated with homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2(HIPK2)expression.PRNT was demonstrated to sponge transcription factor zinc finger protein 184(ZNF184),which in turn could regulate HIPK2 expression.Altered expression of PRNT influenced CRC cell sensitivity to oxaliplatin,with overexpression leading to decreased sensitivity and decreased expression reducing resistance.Both RIP and luciferase reporter assays indicated that ZNF184 and HIPK2 are targets of PRNT.The PRNT/ZNF184/HIPK2 axis was implicated in promoting CRC progression and oxaliplatin resistance both in vitro and in vivo.CONCLUSION The study concludes that PRNT is upregulated in oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cells and modulates the expression of HIPK2 by sponging ZNF184.This regulatory mechanism enhances CRC progression and resistance to oxaliplatin,positioning PRNT as a promising therapeutic target for CRC patients undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

Predicting colorectal cancer prognosis based on long noncoding RNAs of disulfidptosis genes

BACKGROUND A recently hypothesized cause of cell death called disulfidptosis has been linked to the expansion,emigration,and vascular rebuilding of cancer cells.Cancer can be treated by targeting the pathways that trigger cell death.AIM To discover the long non-coding RNA of the disulfidaptosis-related lncRNAs(DRLs),prognosis clinical survival,and treat patients with colorectal cancer with medications.METHODS Initially,we queried the Cancer Genome Atlas database to collect transcriptome,clinical,and genetic mutation data for colorectal cancer(CRC).Training and testing sets for CRC patient transcriptome data were generated randomly.Key long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)related to DRLs were then identified and evaluated using a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator procedure,as well as univariate and multivariate Cox regression models.A prognostic model was then created after risk scoring.Also,Immune infiltration analysis,immune checkpoint analysis,and medication susceptibility analysis were used to investigate the causes of the different prognoses between high and low risk groups.Finally,we validated the differential expression and biomarker potential of riskpredictive lncRNAs through induction using both NCM460 and HT-29 cell lines,as well as a disulfidptosis model.RESULTS In this work,eight significant lncRNAs linked to disulfidptosis were found.Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes between high-and low-risk groups from the prognostic model showed a close relationship with the immune response as well as significant enrichment in neutrophil extracellular trap formation and the IL-17 signaling pathway.Furthermore,significant immune cell variations between the high-risk and low-risk groups were seen,as well as a higher incidence of immunological escape risk in the high-risk group.Finally,Epirubicin,bortezomib,teniposide,and BMS-754807 were shown to have the lowest sensitivity among the four immunotherapy drugs.CONCLUSION Our findings emphasizes the role of disulfidptosis in regulating tumor development,therapeutic response,and patient survival in CRC patients.For the clinical treatment of CRC,these important LncRNAs could serve as viable therapeutic targets.

Identification and validation of a pyroptosis-related prognostic model for colorectal cancer based on bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data

BACKGROUND Pyroptosis impacts the development of malignant tumors,yet its role in colorectal cancer(CRC)prognosis remains uncertain.AIM To assess the prognostic significance of pyroptosis-related genes and their association with CRC immune infiltration.METHODS Gene expression data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and single-cell RNA sequencing dataset GSE178341 from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO).Pyroptosis-related gene expression in cell clusters was analyzed,and enrichment analysis was conducted.A pyroptosis-related risk model was developed using the LASSO regression algorithm,with prediction accuracy assessed through K-M and receiver operating characteristic analyses.A nomo-gram predicting survival was created,and the correlation between the risk model and immune infiltration was analyzed using CIBERSORTx calculations.Finally,the differential expression of the 8 prognostic genes between CRC and normal samples was verified by analyzing TCGA-COADREAD data from the UCSC database.RESULTS An effective pyroptosis-related risk model was constructed using 8 genes-CHMP2B,SDHB,BST2,UBE2D2,GJA1,AIM2,PDCD6IP,and SEZ6L2(P<0.05).Seven of these genes exhibited differential expression between CRC and normal samples based on TCGA database analysis(P<0.05).Patients with higher risk scores demonstrated increased death risk and reduced overall survival(P<0.05).Significant differences in immune infiltration were observed between low-and high-risk groups,correlating with pyroptosis-related gene expression.CONCLUSION We developed a pyroptosis-related prognostic model for CRC,affirming its correlation with immune infiltration.This model may prove useful for CRC prognostic evaluation.

Colorectal cancer cell dormancy:An insight into pathways

Cancer cell dormancy(CCD)in colorectal cancer(CRC)poses a significant challenge to effective treatment.In CRC,CCD contributes to tumour recurrence,drug resistance,and amplifying the disease's burden.The molecular mechanisms governing CCD and strategies for eliminating dormant cancer cells remain largely unexplored.Therefore,understanding the molecular mechanisms governing dormancy is crucial for improving patient outcomes and developing targeted therapies.This editorial highlights the complex interplay of signalling pathways and factors involved in colorectal CCD,emphasizing the roles of Hippo/YAP,pluripotent transcription factors such as NANOG,HIF-1αsignalling,and Notch signalling pathways.Additionally,ERK/p38α/β/MAPK pathways,AKT signalling pathway,and Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer,along with some potential less explored pathways such as STAT/p53 switch and canonical and non-canonical Wnt and SMAD signalling,are also involved in promoting colorectal CCD.Highlighting their clinical significance,these findings may offer the potential for identifying key dormancy regulator pathways,improving treatment strategies,surmounting drug resistance,and advancing personalized medicine approaches.Moreover,insights into dormancy mechanisms could lead to the development of predictive biomarkers for identifying patients at risk of recurrence and the tailoring of targeted therapies based on individual dormancy profiles.It is essential to conduct further research into these pathways and their modulation to fully comprehend CRC dormancy mechanisms and enhance patient outcomes.

Epigenetic regulators as the foundation for molecular classification of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for approximately 10% of newly diagnosed cancer cases and cancer-related deaths worldwide~1. The identification of molecular subtypes of CRCs has significantly advanced treatment strategies,including targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Non-participation of asymptomatic candidates in screening protocols reduces early diagnosis and worsens prognosis of colorectal cancer

The Agatsuma et al’s study shows that despite the evidence of the benefits of an early colorectal cancer(CRC)diagnosis,through screening in asymptomatic subjects,up to 50%of candidates reject this option and many of those affected are diagnosed later,in advanced stages.The efficacy of screening programs has been well-established for several years,which reduces the risk of CRC morbidity and mortality,without taking into account the test used for screening,or other tools.Nevertheless,a significant proportion of patients remain unscreened,so understanding the factors involved,as well as the barriers of the population to adherence is the first step to possibly modify the participation rate.These barriers could include a full range of social and political aspects,especially the type of financial provision of each health service.In Japan,health services are universal,and this advantageous situation makes it easier for citizens to access to these services,contributing to the detection of various diseases,including CRC.Interestingly,the symptomatic CRC group had a lower early-stage diagnosis rate than the patients detected during follow-up for other comorbidities,and symptomatic and cancer screening groups showed similar early-stage diagnosis.

Improving the value of molecular testing:current status and opportunities in colorectal cancer precision medicine

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide1.Surgical radical resection with adjuvant chemotherapy remains the primary treatment choice for CRC,but the 5-year postoperative survival rate is only approximately 60%,and approximately one-third of patients with CRC experience recurrence within 2 years of surgery2.Fortunately,the transformation of high-throughput sequencing has accelerated the development of precision medicine.For example,KRAS mutations indicate resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)-targeted therapies in CRC3.Furthermore,molecular-guided individualized therapy has brought new promise in major clinical areas and challenges,such as novel biomarkers predicting sensitivity and resistance to immunotherapy for microsatellite stable(MSS)CRC.

Application of exosomal miRNA mediated macrophage polarization in colorectal cancer:Current progress and challenges

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a major global health problem with high morbidity and mortality rates.Surgical resection is the main treatment for early-stage CRC,but detecting it early is challenging.Therefore,effective therapeutic targets for advanced patients are still lacking.Exosomes,tiny vesicles in body fluids,play a crucial role in tumor metastasis,immune regulation,and drug resistance.Interestingly,they can even serve as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.Studies have shown that exosomes can carry miRNA,mediate the polarization of M1/M2 macrophages,promote the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells,and affect the prognosis of CRC.Since the gastrointestinal tract has many macrophages,understanding the mechanism behind exosomal miRNA-mediated macrophage polarization in CRC treatment is crucial.This article summarizes recent advancements in the study of exosomal miRNAs in CRC and their potential as diagnostic and prognostic markers.

CSCO guidelines for colorectal cancer version 2024:Updates and discussions

According to the latest global cancer statistics,colorectal cancer(CRC)is the most common malignancy of the digestive system and the second most lethal among all cancer types(1).In China,CRC is the second most prevalent cancer,following only after lung cancer(2).The first version of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology(CSCO)guideline was launched in 2017 and has been updated annually based on the latest findings of clinical research,drug accessibility and expert consensus(3-8).Here,we present the main updates of the 2024 version compared to the 2023 version.

Refining the targeted population and achieving better for colorectal cancer screening

This editorial comments on the article entitled“Stage at diagnosis of colorectal cancer through diagnostic route:Who should be screened?”by Agatsuma et al,who conducted a retrospective study aiming at clarifying the stage at colorectal cancer(CRC)diagnosis based on different diagnostic routes.We share our opinion about CRC screening programs.The current situation suggests the need for a more specific and targeted population for CRC screening.

Trends in colorectal cancer incidence according to an increase in the number of colonoscopy cases in Korea

BACKGROUND The incidence of colorectal cancer(CRC)and preinvasive CRC(e.g.,early colon cancer and advanced adenoma)is gradually increasing in several countries.AIM To evaluate the trend in incidence of CRC and preinvasive CRC according to the increase in the number of colonoscopies performed in Korea.METHODS This retrospective cohort study enrolled Korean patients from 2002 to 2020 to evaluate the incidence of CRC and preinvasive CRC,and assess the numbers of diagnostic colonoscopies and colonoscopic polypectomies.Colonoscopy-related complications by age group were also determined.RESULTS The incidence of CRC showed a rapid increase,then decreased after 2012 in the 50-75 year-age group.During the study period,the rate of incidence of preinvasive CRC increased at a similar level in patients under 50 and 50-75 years of age.Since 2009,the increase has been rapid,showing a pattern similar to the increase in colonoscopies.The rate of colonoscopic polypectomy in patients aged under 50 was similar to the rate in patients over 75 years of age after 2007.The rate of complications after colonoscopy and related deaths within 3 mo was high for those over 75 years of age.CONCLUSION The diagnosis of preinvasive CRC increased with the increase in the number of colonoscopies performed.As the risk of colonoscopy-related hospitalization and death is high in the elderly,if early lesions at risk of developing CRC are diagnosed and treated under or at the age of 75,colonoscopy-related complications can be reduced for those aged 76 years or over.

Colorectal Cancer Segmentation Algorithm Based on Deep Features from Enhanced CT Images

Colorectal cancer,a malignant lesion of the intestines,significantly affects human health and life,emphasizing the necessity of early detection and treatment.Accurate segmentation of colorectal cancer regions directly impacts subsequent staging,treatment methods,and prognostic outcomes.While colonoscopy is an effective method for detecting colorectal cancer,its data collection approach can cause patient discomfort.To address this,current research utilizes Computed Tomography(CT)imaging;however,conventional CT images only capture transient states,lacking sufficient representational capability to precisely locate colorectal cancer.This study utilizes enhanced CT images,constructing a deep feature network from the arterial,portal venous,and delay phases to simulate the physician’s diagnostic process and achieve accurate cancer segmentation.The innovations include:1)Utilizing portal venous phase CT images to introduce a context-aware multi-scale aggregation module for preliminary shape extraction of colorectal cancer.2)Building an image sequence based on arterial and delay phases,transforming the cancer segmentation issue into an anomaly detection problem,establishing a pixel-pairing strategy,and proposing a colorectal cancer segmentation algorithm using a Siamese network.Experiments with 84 clinical cases of colorectal cancer enhanced CT data demonstrated an Area Overlap Measure of 0.90,significantly better than Fully Convolutional Networks(FCNs)at 0.20.Future research will explore the relationship between conventional and enhanced CT to further reduce segmentation time and improve accuracy.