Combining chemotherapy and tislelizumab with preoperative split-course hypofraction radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: study protocol of a prospective, single-arm, phase II trial

INTRODUCTION

Short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) with systemic therapy has the potential to further improve the long-term efficacy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). To maximise the benefits of neoadjuvant therapy for improved prognosis, it is important to determine the optimal mix of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and SCRT.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Fifty treatment-naïve patients with operable LARC (T3-4 and/or N+) will be recruited. Patients will be synchronously treated with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) chemotherapy, tislelizumab and preoperative split-course hypofraction radiotherapy (SCHR) (5×7 Gy) before surgery. Chemotherapy for CAPOX starts on day 1 of every 21-day cycle: on day 1, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² will be injected intravenously. On days 1-14, capecitabine 1000 mg/m² was ingested two times a day. Simultaneously, tocilizumab 200 mg will be given intravenously on the first day of every 21-day cycle. A single 7 Gy SCHR treatment (day 7 of each 21-day cycle) will be delivered five times during the seventh day of treatment. The primary endpoint will be pathological complete response. The secondary outcomes will be the 3-year disease-free survival, local recurrence rate, overall survival, sphincter-sparing surgery rate, R0 resection rate, predictive biomarkers and quality of life.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xiehe Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (XAHFMU) (No. 2021YF025-01). Results from our study will be disseminated in international peer-reviewed journals. All study procedures were developed in order to assure data protection and confidentiality.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05176964.

Impact of glucocorticoids on the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and survival of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Preclinical studies suggest that glucocorticoids (GCs) promote the proliferation and development of colorectal cancer. Because GCs are broadly prescribed for treatment-related adverse events in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT), it's essential to assess the effect of GCs on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

LARC cases treated with NCRT followed by surgery were assessed retrospectively. Evaluation of the relationship between GCs use (GCs vs. non-GCs) and neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score (as a three-level categorical dependent variable) was performed using multivariable multinomial logistic regression (MLR). We also examined the relationship between the accumulated dose of GCs and NAR using multivariate MLR. Survival analysis of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox regression was used to assess confounding factors that could influence OS and DFS.

RESULTS

This retrospective cohort study included 790 patients with newly diagnosed non-metastatic LARC (T3-4/N + M0) who received NCRT followed by surgery between January 2012 and April 2017. The end of the follow-up period was May 11, 2022. Among the 790 patients with LARC, 342 (43.2%) received GCs treatment and 448 (56.8%) did not during the NCRT-to-surgery period. GCs medication was significantly different between mid-NAR (8-16) and low-NAR (< 8) (odds ratio [OR], 0.615; 95% CI, 0.420-0.901; P = 0.013), and the high-NAR (> 16) and low-NAR (0.563; 0.352-0.900; 0.016). Patients exposed to GCs, had a decreased 5-year OS (GCs vs. non-GCs = 80.01% (95% CI, 75.87%-84.37%) vs. 85.30% (82.06%-88.67%), P = 0.023) and poorer 5-year DFS (73.99% (69.45%-78.82%) vs. 78.7% (75.14%-82.78%), P = 0.045). The accumulated dose of GCs was an independent risk factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.007 [1.001-1.014], 0.036) and DFS (1.010 [1.004-1.017], 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Our study revealed that GCs were associated with reduced efficacy of NCRT and worse clinical outcomes in patients with LARC during the NCRT-to-surgery period.

Expression patterns and prognostic value of key regulators associated with m7G RNA modification based on all gene expression in colon adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

N7-methylguanosine (m7G) is present in a wide variety of organisms and has important roles. m7G has been reported to be involved in multiple biological processes, and recent studies have reported that changes in RNA modifications result in tumor cellular transformation and cancer, such as colon adenocarcinoma, lung cancer, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. However, little is known about the function of the m7G in colon adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

We established two clusters based on the expression of all genes associated with m7G to explore the expression pattern of 31 key regulatory factors of m7G RNA and assess the prognostic value of regulatory factors. Wilcoxon test and differential box line plots were applied for bioinformatics analysis. Receiver Operating and Kaplan‒Meier curves were utilized to evaluate the prognostic value. Finally, four genes' expression in the colon cancer cell line was confirmed by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

From The Cancer Genome Atlas database, we found that the expression levels of 25 out of the 31 key N7-methylguanosine RNA modification regulators were significantly different in colon adenocarcinoma. According to 25 methylation regulators' expression, we identified two subgroups by consensus clustering, in which the prognosis was worse in Group 2 than in Group 1 and was significantly correlated with age. Cluster 2 was significantly enriched in tumor-associated pathways, and immune cells were highly infiltrated in Cluster 1 but weakly infiltrated in Cluster 2. Further results indicated that this risk profile may serve as a standalone predictive factor for colon adenocarcinoma, and the four genetic risk profiles' prognostic relatedness was successfully verified through Gene Expression Omnibus dataset. At last, A nomogram for prognosis was created according to age, sex, histological grading, clinicopathological staging, and hazard score to accurately predict patient prognosis in colon adenocarcinoma. We successfully validated the differential expression of four genes using qRT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, we revealed the important contribution of key regulators associated with m7G RNA modifications based on all gene expression in colon adenocarcinoma and developed a signature of risk that serves as a promising prognostic marker for patients with colon adenocarcinoma.

The impact of prophylactic oophorectomy on the survival for postmenopausal patients with pT4a colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic effect of prophylactic oophorectomy (PO) in postmenopausal patients with pT4 colorectal cancers (CRC) in terms of overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and peritoneal metastasis.

METHODS

The data of postmenopausal female patients with pT4 CRC undergoing surgical resection between 2000 and 2019 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate survival outcomes between patients treated with and without PO. Risk factors for DFS and peritoneal metastasis were evaluated using Cox regression analysis. p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Totally, 176 (34.3%) patients received PO. There was no significant difference in estimated blood loss, rates of postoperative complications, and hospitalization between the PO and non-PO groups. The 5-year OS and DFS rates were similar in the two groups (47.9% vs. 54.1%, p = 0.278; 53.5% vs. 50.5%, p = 0.161, respectively). In the subgroup analysis of patients with peritoneal metastasis, the median survival was significantly longer for the PO group compared with the non-PO group (14 vs. 11 months, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Undertaking PO in pT4 CRC female patients did not confer a survival benefit. Indication of PO even for advanced CRC patients should require caution. It has potential survival benefit only when the patients developed metachronous peritoneal metastases.

Minimally invasive para-aortic lymph node dissection in left-sided colonic and rectal cancer: experience based on a high-volume centre

AIM

There is no established consensus on the optimal surgical approach to para-aortic lymph node (PALN) dissection in patients with colorectal cancer. This study aimed to demonstrate the technical and oncological safety of minimally invasive PALN dissection for left-sided colonic and rectal cancer patients with clinically suspected infrarenal PALN metastasis.

METHOD

One hundered and one patients who underwent primary tumour resection and minimally invasive (laparoscopic n = 92, robotic n = 9) PALN dissection for left-sided colonic and rectal cancer were included. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for PALN metastasis. Survival outcomes were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier (log-rank) method.

RESULTS

Para-aortic lymph node metastasis was pathologically confirmed in 23 patients (22.8%). Postoperative complications occurred in 22 patients (21.8%). Pathological N2 stage (OR = 9.337, p = 0.003) and inferior mesenteric artery LN metastasis (OR = 7.499, p = 0.009) were independently associated with PALN metastasis. The median follow-up time was 32 months (range 3-92 months). In all patients, the 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 76.1% and 69.5%, respectively. The 5-year OS and PFS rates in patients with PALN metastasis were 49.8% and 47.5%, respectively. Patients with PALN metastasis had lower 5-year OS (p = 0.023) and PFS rates (p = 0.035) than those without PALN metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Minimally invasive PALN dissection had acceptable postoperative complications and may be oncologically beneficial in selected patients with clinically suspicious PALN metastasis.

MRI diagnose post-operative anastomotic leak in patients with rectal cancer: preliminary experience

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most serious postoperative complications after colorectal anastomosis. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the early detection of AL in patients with clinically suspected AL after rectal anterior resection.

METHODS

This was a prospective study including patients who underwent anterior resection and postoperative MRI examination. AL was diagnosed by comprehensive indictors, which were mainly confirmed by clinical signs, symptoms, and retrograde contrast enema (RCE) radiography. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of diagnosing AL with MRI were calculated.

RESULTS

In total, 347 patients received anterior resection for rectal cancer, and 28 patients were suspected to have AL. Finally, 23 patients were included and received MRI examination. The median time interval from surgery to MRI was 10 days (3-21 days). The median distance from anastomosis to anal verge was 4.0 cm (2.0-10 cm), and 11 patients underwent diverted ileostomy. Eighteen patients had an anastomotic leak, including one patient who had a pelvic abscess and five patients who had no evidence of AL in the MRI examination. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 94.4% (95% CI 70.6% to 99.7%) and 80% (95% CI 29.8% to 98.9%), respectively. The PPV was 0.94 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.99) and the NPV was 0.80 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.99). For patients who had anastomosis less than 5 cm, the diagnostic accuracy of MRI was 93.7% (15/16). T2-weighted imaging with fat suppression can effectively reveal the leak track.

CONCLUSIONS

The accuracy of plain MRI examination in diagnosing AL was favorable for patients with a suspected AL. T2-weighted imaging with fat suppression was the best imaging modality to diagnose AL. A multicenter prospective study with more samples is needed to further determine the safety and feasibility of MRI in the diagnosis of AL.

Development and validation of artificial intelligence models for preoperative prediction of inferior mesenteric artery lymph nodes metastasis in left colon and rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Dissection of lymph nodes at the roots of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMAN) should be offered only to selected patients at a major risk of developing IMAN involvement. The aim of this study is to present the first artificial intelligence (AI) models to predict IMAN metastasis risk in the left colon and rectal cancer patients.

METHODS

A total of 2891 patients with descending colon including splenic flexure, sigmoid colon and rectal cancer undergoing major primary surgery and IMAN dissection were included as a study cohort, which was then split into a training set (67%) and a testing set (33%). Feature selection was conducted using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model. Seven AI algorithms, namely Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Regression (LR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Light Gradient Boosting (LGB), Decision Tree Classifier (DTC), Random Forest (RF) classifier, and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), as well as traditional multivariate LR model were employed to construct predictive models. The optimal hyperparameters were determined with 5 fold cross-validation. The predictive performance of models and the expert surgeon was assessed and compared in the testing set independently.

RESULTS

The IMAN involvement incidence was 4.6%. The optimal set of features selected by LASSO included 10 characteristics: neoadjuvant treatment, age, synchronous liver metastasis, synchronous lung metastasis, signet ring adenocarcinoma, neural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, CA199, endoscopic obstruction, T stage evaluated by MRI. The most accurate model derived from MLP showed excellent prediction power with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.873 and produced 81.0% recognition sensitivity and 82.5% specificity in the testing set independently. In contrast, the judgment of IMAN metastasis by expert surgeon yield rather imprecise and unreliable results with a significantly lower AUROC of 0.509. Additionally, the proposed MLP had the highest net benefits and the largest reduction of unnecessary IMAN dissection without the cost of additional involved IMAN missed.

CONCLUSION

MLP model was able to maintain its prediction accuracy in the testing set better than other models and expert surgeons. Our MLP model could be used to help identify IMA nodal metastasis and to select candidates for individual IMAN dissection.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) characterized by refractory lower gastrointestinal postoperative bleeding with coagulopathy

Bleeding is a common complication after lower gastrointestinal surgery, and cases due to coagulation dysfunction are rare. The current authors encountered a 54-year-old Chinese man with refractory bleeding after endoscopic rectal polypectomy, and multiple endoscopic and surgical interventions failed to control that bleeding. An APTT mixing test could not be corrected and there was no evidence of autoimmune-related disease, so the presence of nonspecific antibodies was considered. After empiric therapy with a cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoid, APTT was corrected and gastrointestinal bleeding stopped. Based on laboratory results and therapeutic results, the patient was ultimately diagnosed with prolonged APTT induced by monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). MGUS and coagulopathy characterized by a prolonged APTT has rarely been reported. Here, studies noting elevated monoclonal immunoglobulins and coagulopathy have been reviewed. If a prolonged APTT of undetermined significance cannot be corrected with an APTT mixing test and if autoimmune-related factors are excluded, then plasma cell-related diseases such as MGUS need to be considered.

Morphology of the anterior mesorectum: a new predictor for local recurrence in patients with rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Pre-operative assessment with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful for assessing the risk of local recurrence (LR) and survival in rectal cancer. However, few studies have explored the clinical importance of the morphology of the anterior mesorectum, especially in patients with anterior cancer. Hence, the study aimed to investigate the impact of the morphology of the anterior mesorectum on LR in patients with primary rectal cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed on 176 patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment and curative-intent surgery. Patients were divided into two groups according to the morphology of the anterior mesorectum on sagittal MRI: (1) linear type: the anterior mesorectum was thin and linear; and (2) triangular type: the anterior mesorectum was thick and had a unique triangular shape. Clinicopathological and LR data were compared between patients with linear type anterior mesorectal morphology and patients with triangular type anterior mesorectal morphology.

RESULTS

Morphometric analysis showed that 90 (51.1%) patients had linear type anterior mesorectal morphology, while 86 (48.9%) had triangular type anterior mesorectal morphology. Compared to triangular type anterior mesorectal morphology, linear type anterior mesorectal morphology was more common in females and was associated with a higher risk of circumferential resection margin involvement measured by MRI (35.6% [32/90] vs . 16.3% [14/86], P   =  0.004) and a higher 5-year LR rate (12.2% vs . 3.5%, P   =  0.030). In addition, the combination of linear type anterior mesorectal morphology and anterior tumors was confirmed as an independent risk factor for LR (odds ratio = 4.283, P  = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

The classification established in this study was a simple way to describe morphological characteristics of the anterior mesorectum. The combination of linear type anterior mesorectal morphology and anterior tumors was an independent risk factor for LR and may act as a tool to assist with LR risk stratification and treatment selection.

The global, regional, and national early-onset colorectal cancer burden and trends from 1990 to 2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

PURPOSE

The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC), which occurs in people under age 50, has been increasing annually. The aim of this study was to provide an up-to-date estimate of the global EO-CRC burden.

METHODS

We used Global Burden of Disease Study data and methodologies to describe changes in the EO-CRC burden from 1990 to 2019, including incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The driving factors for cancer burden variation were further analyzed using decomposition analysis. Frontier analysis was used to visually demonstrate the potential for burden reduction in each country or region based on their development levels.

RESULTS

The global EO-CRC incidence more than doubled, increasing from 95,737 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 90,838-101.042) /100,000 in 1990 to 226,782 (95% UI: 207,495-248,604) /100,000 in 2019. Additionally, related deaths increased from 50,997 (95% UI: 47,692-54,410) /100,000 to 87,014 (95% UI: 80,259-94,339) /100,000, and DALYs increased from 256,1842 (95% UI: 239,4962-2,735,823) /100,000 to 4,297,573 (95% UI: 3,965,485-4,650,790) /100,000. Regarding age-standardized rates, incidence and prevalence increased significantly, while mortality and DALYs rate were basically unchanged. Decomposition analysis showed a significant increase in DALYs in the middle sociodemographic index (SDI) quintile region, in which aging and population growth played a major driving role. Frontier analysis showed that countries or regions with a higher SDI quintile tend to have greater improvement potential.

CONCLUSION

The current EO-CRC burden was found to be the greatest in the high-middle SDI quintile region and East Asia, which may need to adjust screening guidelines accordingly and introduce more effective interventions.

The endorectal incision level of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME): An emphasis on the distance from the anterior vs. posterior mesorectal ends to the anal verge

BACKGROUND

There is no intraluminal guidance to ensure complete inclusion of the mesorectum in transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME). This study aimed to assess the distance difference between the anterior and posterior mesorectal terminal ends and the anal verge as a potential risk for residual mesorectum after resection.

METHODS

Forty-four surgical specimens of extra-levator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) and 28 mid-sagittal cadaveric specimens were included to this study. The distance between the mesorectum terminal end (T) and the endoluminal landmarks (dentate line (D)/anal verge (A)) was measured and compared between men and women. Furthermore, 66 MRI images from The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) were used to validate the same concept in a non-Asian population.

RESULTS

The mesorectal terminal end was found to be aligned along with the levator hiatus. From the midsagittal view, the ELAPE specimens showed that the distance between T and A anteriorly was significantly longer than the same distance posteriorly (34.74±7.79mm vs 23.74±4.24mm, P<0.001). Similarly, the distance measured in the cadaveric specimens was significantly longer anteriorly than posteriorly (P<0.001). The validation cohort of non-Asian MRI image has confirmed the same (56.68±14.17mm vs. 38.18 ±10.42mm, P<0.001(. There was no significant difference between men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of the remarkable distance difference between the anterior and posterior mesorectal terminal ends away from the anal verge, the taTME proctectomy level may not meet the required mesorectal end. Thus, if TME is planned, aligning the proctectomy level around the levator hiatus would be the best place that can ensure complete TME.

The "terminal line": a novel sign for the identification of distal mesorectum end during TME for rectal cancer

Background

Although the clinical importance of complete, intact total mesorectal excision (TME) is the widely accepted standard for decreasing local recurrence of rectal cancer, the residual mesorectum still represents a significant component of resection margin involvement. This study aimed to use a visible intraoperative sign to detect the distal mesorectal end to ensure complete inclusion of the mesorectum and avoid unnecessary over-dissection.

Methods

The distal mesorectum end was investigated retrospectively through a review of 124 operative videos at the Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University (Fujian, China) and Cleveland Clinic (Ohio, USA) by two independent surgeons who were blinded to each other. Furthermore, 28 cadavers and 44 post-operative specimens were prospectively examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Masson's staining to validate and confirm the findings of the retrospective part. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to detect the independent factors that can affect the visualization of the distal mesorectal end.

Results

The terminal line (TL) is the distal mesorectal end of the transabdominal and transanal TME (taTME) and appears as a remarkable pearly white fascial structure extending posteriorly from 2 to 10 o'clock. Histopathological examination revealed that the fascia propria of the rectum merges with the presacral fascia at the TL, beyond which the mesorectum ends, with no further downward extension. In the retrospective observation, the TL was seen in 56.6% of transabdominal TME and 56.0% of taTME operations. Surgical approach and tumor distance from the anal verge were the independent variables that directly influenced the detection of the TL (P = 0.03 and P = 0.01).

Conclusion

The TL is a visible sign where the transabdominal TME should end and the taTME should begin. Recognition of the mesorectal end may impact the certainty of complete mesorectum inclusion. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm the preliminary findings.

Short-term Outcomes of Laparoscopy-Assisted vs Open Surgery for Patients With Low Rectal Cancer: The LASRE Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

The efficacy of laparoscopic vs open surgery for patients with low rectal cancer has not been established.

Objective

To compare the short-term efficacy of laparoscopic surgery vs open surgery for treatment of low rectal cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter, noninferiority randomized clinical trial was conducted in 22 tertiary hospitals across China. Patients scheduled for curative-intent resection of low rectal cancer were randomized at a 2:1 ratio to undergo laparoscopic or open surgery. Between November 2013 and June 2018, 1070 patients were randomized to laparoscopic (n = 712) or open (n = 358) surgery. The planned follow-up was 5 years. Data analysis was performed from April 2021 to March 2022.

Interventions

Eligible patients were randomized to receive either laparoscopic or open surgery.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The short-term outcomes included pathologic outcomes, surgical outcomes, postoperative recovery, and 30-day postoperative complications and mortality.

Results

A total of 1039 patients (685 in laparoscopic and 354 in open surgery) were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis (median [range] age, 57 [20-75] years; 620 men [59.7%]; clinical TNM stage II/III disease in 659 patients). The rate of complete mesorectal excision was 85.3% (521 of 685) in the laparoscopic group vs 85.8% (266 of 354) in the open group (difference, -0.5%; 95% CI, -5.1% to 4.5%; P = .78). The rate of negative circumferential and distal resection margins was 98.2% (673 of 685) vs 99.7% (353 of 354) (difference, -1.5%; 95% CI, -2.8% to 0.0%; P = .09) and 99.4% (681 of 685) vs 100% (354 of 354) (difference, -0.6%; 95% CI, -1.5% to 0.5%; P = .36), respectively. The median number of retrieved lymph nodes was 13.0 vs 12.0 (difference, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.1-1.9; P = .39). The laparoscopic group had a higher rate of sphincter preservation (491 of 685 [71.7%] vs 230 of 354 [65.0%]; difference, 6.7%; 95% CI, 0.8%-12.8%; P = .03) and shorter duration of hospitalization (8.0 vs 9.0 days; difference, -1.0; 95% CI, -1.7 to -0.3; P = .008). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications rate between the 2 groups (89 of 685 [13.0%] vs 61 of 354 [17.2%]; difference, -4.2%; 95% CI, -9.1% to -0.3%; P = .07). No patient died within 30 days.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial of patients with low rectal cancer, laparoscopic surgery performed by experienced surgeons was shown to provide pathologic outcomes comparable to open surgery, with a higher sphincter preservation rate and favorable postoperative recovery.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01899547.

PD-1 blockage combined with vaccine therapy can facilitate immune infiltration in tumor microenvironment of Lynch syndrome colon cancer

Background: Lynch syndrome is a genetic disease resulting from mismatch repair gene mutation. Vaccine therapy can enhance the immunogenicity of Lynch syndrome and improve the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy. However, there is no approved Lynch syndrome vaccine coming onto the market.

Methods: Herein, we used gene knockdown method to construct Lynch syndrome cell model, paving way for us to develop Lynch syndrome tumor lysate vaccine. Then the isograft technique was employed for constructing the tumor-bearing mouse model of Lynch syndrome. And this isograft model was treated with PD-1 monoclonal antibody and tumor vaccine, respectively. Flow cytometry was used for detecting the proportion of immune cells and immunosuppressive cells, and ELISA was used for detecting the contents of chemokines and cytokines in the blood circulation system and tumor tissues of mice. Finally, IHC was used to detect the effects of tumor vaccines as well as PD-1 antibody on tumor tissue proliferation and angiogenesis.

Results: The results demonstrated that tumor vaccine could prolong the overall survival of mice, and improve the disease-free survival rate of mice. The vaccine could increase the proportion of inflammatory cells and decrease the proportion of anti-inflammatory cells in the blood circulation system of mice. In addition, tumor vaccine could also improve inflammatory infiltration in the tumor microenvironment and reduce the proportion of immunosuppressive cells. The results of IHC showed that tumor vaccine could inhibit angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation in mouse tumor tissues.

Conclusion: In colon cancer associated with Lynch syndrome, tumor vaccine can hinder the growth of tumor cells, and assist immunotherapy whose therapeutic effect on this kind of cancer is thus enhanced.

[Historical evolution and ultimate goal of minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer]

Minimally invasive colorectal surgery has been an entity for just over 30 years. Compared with traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgery has the advantages of less trauma, more delicate operation and faster postoperative recovery. At present, minimally invasive surgery for colorectal tumor shows a diversified trend in terms of surgical approach, surgical platform or surgical methods. Besides, standardized comprehensive treatment and immunotherapy have had far-reaching impacts on the development of minimally invasive surgery. The diagnosis and treatment of perioperative complications is still another important topic in the research of minimally invasive surgery in the future. In addition to the short-term outcomes, the most important thing that patients truly require and emphasize is the permanence of the curative effect, that is, long-term survival and good defecation, urination and sexual function. Thus, permanence is the ultimate goal of minimally invasive surgery. To achieve this, we should strive to correct improper treatment methods, rationally select applicable groups of emerging surgical approaches and surgical platforms, pay more attention to comprehensive tumor diagnosis and treatment, and prudently carry out new technology research on the basis of the basic concept of patient safety.

Clinical implication of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index in patients with right-sided colon cancer after complete mesocolic excision: a propensity score-matched analysis

Background

This study aimed to assess the clinical implications of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) in patients with right-sided colon cancer (RCC) after complete mesocolic excision (CME).

Methods

A total of 441 patients with RCC who underwent CME were included. The optimal cut-off value for the ALI was determined using the X-tile software. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for postoperative complications and long-term outcomes. Predictive nomograms for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were constructed after propensity score matching (PSM), and their performance was assessed using the net reclassification improvement index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement index (IDI), and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (time-ROC) curve analysis.

Results

The optimal preoperative ALI cut-off value was 36.3. After PSM, ASA classification 3/4, operative duration, and a low ALI were independently associated with postoperative complications in the multivariate analysis (all P<0.05). Cox regression analysis revealed that an age >60 years, a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) level >37 U/mL, pathological N+ stage, and a low ALI were independently correlated with OS (all P<0.05). A CA19-9 level >37 U/mL, pathological N+ stage, lymphovascular invasion, and a low ALI were independent predictors of DFS (all P<0.05). Predictive nomograms for OS and DFS were constructed using PSM. Furthermore, a nomogram combined with the ALI was consistently superior to a non-ALI nomogram or the pathological tumor-node-metastasis classification based on the NRI, IDI, and time-ROC curve analysis after PSM (all P<0.05).

Conclusion

The ALI was an effective indicator for predicting short- and long-term outcomes in patients with RCC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-022-02712-0.

A LASSO-based survival prediction model for patients with synchronous colorectal carcinomas based on SEER

Background

The nomogram for postoperative prediction of overall survival (OS) in patients’ synchronous colorectal carcinomas (SCC) was developed and validated by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-based Cox regression.

Methods

The data was obtained from the SEER database of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) more than one time between 2004 and 2013. Patients who had CRC more than 3 times or multiple metachronous primary carcinomas were excluded. The cut-off points for the continuous variable were identified by the K-adaptive partitioning algorithm and x-tile software. Using LASSO-based Cox regression, a model for predicting the OS of SCC was built, internally and externally validated, and measured through a calibration curve, C-index, Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (timeROC), time-dependent area under curve (timeAUC), and decision curve analysis (DCA), and results compared to the model developed by the Cox regression.

Results

Patients with SCC were found to be older, more often men, and likely to have a depth of invasion by T3. In addition, there were no significant differences between the model developed by LASSO-based Cox regression and the Cox regression in the C-index (0.712 and 0.710), AIC (33,420 and 33,431), BIC (4.49), IDI (0.002), NRI (–0.009), timeROC, and DCA. Besides, the model developed by LASSO-based Cox regression was found to perform better than the Cox regression in the timeAUC. Moreover, the model developed by LASSO-based Cox regression showed good C-index (0.712, 0.637, and 0.651), AIC (33,420, 34,043, and 33,994), BIC (1,178.76 and 1,098.57), IDI (–0.072 and –0.064), NRI (0.525 and 0.466), timeROC, timeAUC and had a larger net benefit compared to both the first time TNM staging and the combination of two times TNM staging.

Conclusions

This present study indicates that a close follow-up of older patients, male, and T3 should be made. Compared with the traditional Cox regression model, LASSO-based Cox regression decreases the variables of the model, avoids overfitting and collinearity and has clinical significance.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine and triweekly oxaliplatin versus capecitabine monotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: a propensity-score matched study

Background

Distant metastasis has been the main failure pattern for locoregionally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients, and intensified neoadjuvant chemotherapy has become a popular research topic. The present study aimed to compare the survival outcomes, acute toxicities and surgical complications in LARC patients who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy with triweekly oxaliplatin and capecitabine (triweekly XELOX) or capecitabine.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2017, patients with clinically staged II-III rectal cancer who were treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy using either triweekly XELOX (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² plus capecitabine 825 mg/m²) or capecitabine were included. Variables potentially influencing chemotherapy treatment selection were used to generate propensity scores (PS). The association between chemotherapy regimens and survival endpoints, including distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), were evaluated and adjusted with PS. The acute toxicities and surgical complications were also compared.

Results

A total of 810 patients were included in the analysis; 277 (34.2%) patients received triweekly XELOX, and 533 (65.8%) received capecitabine. The pathological complete response (pCR) rates were 20.2 and 19.9% (P = 0.912) for the groups treated with triweekly XELOX and capecitabine, respectively. The 5-year DMFS, OS and DFS with triweekly XELOX versus capecitabine were 75.6% vs. 77.6% (P = 0.555), 79.2% vs. 83.3% (P = 0.101), and 69.9% vs. 73.7% (P = 0.283), respectively. Triweekly XELOX was not associated with an increased risk of severe toxicity during chemoradiotherapy, but it increased the risk of postoperative complications compared to capecitabine. After PS adjustment, the differences between the two groups remained insignificant in pCR rate, survival outcomes, and acute toxicities, and the difference in surgical complications disappeared.

Conclusions

Triweekly XELOX or capecitabine concurrent with neoadjuvant radiotherapy leads to similar long-term survival outcomes, acute toxicities and surgical complications in LARC patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09855-z.